Читать книгу Four Weddings: A Woman To Belong To / A Wedding in Warragurra / The Surgeon's Chosen Wife / The Playboy Doctor's Marriage Proposal - Fiona Lowe, Fiona Lowe - Страница 17

EPILOGUE

TOM LEANED OVER the fence gazing out over the emerald green paddocks. The colour reminded him of Vietnam but, instead of rice, he stared at black and white cows.

A firm, work-worn hand clamped down on his shoulder. ‘It’s half an hour before Mum dishes up, son. She’s cooked the works—roast lamb, baked veggies and rhubarb crumble for dessert.’

Tom turned toward his dad’s tanned, smiling face. Kind sky-blue eyes looked at him from under a battered akubra hat. ‘Mum always cooks that when we’re heading back to Vietnam.’

His father nodded. ‘She needs to send you off with your favourite meal. Besides, Minh adores Aussie lamb and this time next year the baby will be chomping it down, too.’

Tom laughed. ‘You’re probably right.’ He walked up to the house with his dad, matching his stride. ‘Minh’s just blossomed on the farm this holiday. It’s been a great two months, Dad, thanks.’

His dad nodded in agreement. ‘We love it when you all come to stay.’ He cleared his throat. ‘It’s wonderful to see you so happy, Tom. Your mother and I worried about you for a long time. If we’d known you’d end up marrying Bec we could have saved ourselves a lot of sleepless nights. She’s the perfect life partner for you.’

‘I’ve been blessed, Dad. First with you and Mum adopting me, and now with Bec.’

His dad gave him a firm pat on the back.

The wire door on the farmhouse slammed open. A three-year-old boy with a rolling gait and a splint on his left leg hurtled out of the house. ‘Grandpa!’

Tom’s dad bent down, opening his arms as Minh raced into them, squealing with delight. ‘The dog had puppies.’

‘Did she, now? Well, you’d better show me, then.’ He held Minh’s hand and let the little boy lead him over to the shed.

Tom smiled as a childhood memory of him doing much the same thing spun through his mind.

‘Penny for them.’

He looked up. Bec was leaning against a veranda post, wearing a thick Aran jumper to ward against the cold Gippsland winter evenings. Jeans clung to her legs, outlining their delicious curves, and she’d snagged her hair back in a ponytail. She looked fresh, vibrant and incredibly sexy. It was hard to believe she’d given birth to their gorgeous black-haired baby girl only six weeks previously.

He stepped up to her, leaning in close, pinning her gently to the post. He nuzzled her neck, trailing kisses along her jaw until he captured her mouth with his. ‘Mmm, you taste of sugar and spice.’

‘I licked the mixing bowl. Your mum made cinnamon biscuits.’ She wrapped her arms around his waist. ‘What were you thinking about?’

‘Minh’s enthusiasm for the new puppies reminded me of myself at much the same age. I can still feel my small hand inside Dad’s bigger one.’ He sighed at the memory.

‘Do you want to stay longer?’ Questioning violet eyes full of love, scanned his face.

‘Yes and no. It’s always hard to leave, but that’s part of belonging to two countries, isn’t it?’ He rested his chin on her hair, breathing in her apple scent. ‘It’s time to introduce Lily to her other home.’

Bec nodded. ‘Your mum’s going to come to Hanoi for Christmas and stay a couple of months. She says babies grow so quickly and change so fast that she can’t bear to miss an entire year.’ She stroked his jaw. ‘Your parents are the best grandparents any kid could hope for.’

‘They are. I’m thinking next year we might take six months out and work from the Melbourne office. Spend a bit more time down here.’ He laughed. ‘Give the grandparents so much exposure to the kids they’ll be putting us on the plane to Vietnam.’