Читать книгу A Forever Family Collection - Коллектив авторов - Страница 46

TESS WORKED HARD at making the memorial service a celebration of Sarah’s and Bruce’s lives. The scheduled day dawned cold and still, with barely a breath of breeze to stir the leaves in the Kurrajong trees. Cameron’s canola had been planted and, while winter had arrived, the blue skies and constant sunshine made her feel as if she, Ty and Krissie were moving into a smoother, calmer period. Truly a new beginning.

Even though she missed Sarah every single day.

Even though whenever she thought of Cameron leaving Bellaroo Creek her heart trembled and her throat would close over.

Still, at least she would know that somewhere in the world Cam was following his heart. If his heart could never belong to her, then she just wanted him happy.

When the day of the memorial service dawned—with Cam due to leave Bellaroo Creek the very next day—Tess bounced out of bed and lifted her chin. She had so much—a home, two beautiful children, and a bright future. Today she meant to count her blessings, not her sorrows.

The entire town turned out for the memorial service. The women wore their best dresses, and while not all the men owned suits, they all wore ties. It touched her to the very centre of her being.

The minister gave a brief but heartfelt sermon. Lorraine led them all in a stirring version of ‘Amazing Grace’. Tess, with Ty and Krissie at her side, gave a eulogy—she spoke about Sarah’s generosity, her love for her family, and how much she’d have loved Bellaroo Creek. Both Krissie and Ty told a little story about their mum—even their dad. There wasn’t a dry eye after that. They ended the service with a recording of Sarah’s favourite song—the Hollies hit ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’.

A wake was held at the community hall. After refreshments and cake had been amply consumed, Tess strode up to the podium and called the room to order. ‘Ty, Krissie and I wanted today to be a celebration of Sarah’s life and you’ve all helped make that possible and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

Without any effort at all, she found Cam’s tall broad bulk in the crowd. The smile he sent her warmed her to her toes. ‘We miss Sarah every single day, but we don’t want to focus any longer on all the bad stuff about missing her, but on how much better our lives are for having known her. Today, you helped us do that.’

She smoothed her hair back behind her ears. ‘Something Ty, Krissie and I have taken to doing at dinnertime is naming something that has made us happy for that day or something that we’re grateful for. Every single day I’m grateful that Sarah was my sister, but when she died I turned my back on my music. A very special guy here in Bellaroo Creek, though, showed me what a mistake that was. I’m very grateful to Cameron Manning for that lesson. I want to now play you all a piece that was one of my sister’s favourites.’

She moved to the side where she’d stowed her guitar case and retrieved the guitar she’d had couriered from Sydney. She hadn’t played it in over five months. She slipped the strap over her head, seated herself on a stool, and looked out at the sea of faces staring back at her. ‘Sarah, honey, this one’s for you,’ she whispered.

She met Cam’s eyes, drew in a breath at his encouraging nod, and then her fingers touched the strings and magic filled her. She lost herself to it, pouring her heart into the music.

When she finished she smiled at Ty and Krissie sitting on the floor in front of her. And then at Cam. He was right. The music was a gift, and there was room in her heart for it all—for Ty and Krissie, and for the music. She should embrace it.

‘I want to invite anyone who’d like to take part, to come up here and share something that’s made you happy or that you’re grateful for.’

Cam stared in awe.

Tess Laing was the most amazing woman he’d ever met. If Bellaroo Creek could attract another couple of women with her spunk the town would be safe for the next hundred years. It wouldn’t just be saved. It’d flourish!

Krissie walked up onto stage to the microphone. ‘You should go down there now,’ she whispered to Tess, pointing at the crowd, obviously not meaning for everyone to hear, but the microphone picking it up as Tess adjusted it for her.

With a kiss to the top of the child’s head, Tess made her way down to the crowd to stand with Ty. Without consciously meaning to, Cam made his way to her side. She smiled at him, turning automatically as if she’d sensed him there. It made his gut clench.

Did he truly mean to leave this woman?

‘I want to say that one thing that makes me happy is my auntie Tess. We do lots of fun things together like singing, and we dance around the backyard and colour-in together. she’s not a very good dancer…’

Everyone laughed. Cam remembered seeing Tess dance and shook his head. She was a great dancer.

‘But she’s going to teach me guitar and I love living with her.’

He held Tess back when Krissie finished. ‘Let her do it all under her own steam,’ he counselled.

‘I’m fussing, huh?’

He didn’t interfere though when she bent down to encompass the child in a hug once Krissie had reached them. It wasn’t until she righted herself, though, that he saw Ty had moved to the microphone.

‘My auntie Tess is awesome, but today I want to say I’m happy Cam has been our neighbour. He’s shown me how to stake tomato plants and how to nail chicken wire and how to teach Barney to fetch a ball. I’m going to miss him when he goes to Africa.’

There were a few ‘hear, hears’ from the crowd and Cam found his throat thickening. He lifted Ty up in a bear hug when he rejoined them. ‘Thanks, buddy, I’m going to miss you too.’

‘Me too?’ Krissie tugged on his sleeve, demanding a hug of her own.

‘You too,’ he said, hugging her close.

Damn it! Did he really mean to leave these kids behind?

‘Me three.’ Tess leaned across and kissed his cheek. She backed up pretty quick again too, though, and he didn’t blame her. Not if the heat threatened her in the same way it did him.

One by one the townsfolk walked up to the microphone to name the things that made them happy—family, a good wheat crop, a clean bill of health, family, friends who rallied around in times of need, good rainfall, grandchildren, family. Family. It figured high on everyone’s happiness radar. Not a single person mentioned going to Africa—or any other place for that matter. Bellaroo Creek and family, that was what mattered.

Bellaroo Creek and family.

Cameron stared at Tess and the kids. Could he truly leave them? Did he want to leave them?

He stared at his mother. She’d miss him dreadfully. He knew that now, even if she was putting a brave face on it.

Family and Bellaroo Creek.

Lance and Fiona canoodled in a corner like the lovesick couple they were and he didn’t even feel a pang. Instead he felt hopeful. Lance was keeping his word and working hard. Having finally emerged from under Cam’s shadow, he was even showing some natural aptitude on the sheep-breeding programme. And it was obvious he had no intention of breaking Fiona’s heart as Cam had feared.

Family and Bellaroo Creek.

Once upon a time that had been his dream too. When it had failed him he’d turned his back on it, proclaimed it impossible. His heart started to thump. But it wasn’t impossible, was it? It was within reach if he had the courage to try for it.

He stared at Tess and Ty and Krissie, remembered the laughter and light they’d brought to Kurrajong House, the life they’d sent flowing through it.

That dream of his wasn’t impossible. Oh, it hadn’t been possible with Fiona, and all he could do was be thankful that she’d realised it in time.

That dream of his was absolutely possible.

If only he wasn’t too afraid to reach for it again.

His heart thundered in his ears. Tess had found the courage to embrace her music again. Could he find the same courage within himself?

He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared hard at the floorboards at his feet. What did he truly want? What would he lay his life down for and be glad to do it?

Tess.

That single word filled his soul.

‘I’m next!’ He pointed to the microphone. Everyone turned to stare at him. He swung to Tess, seized her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. His lips memorised every single curve and contour of hers and she kissed him back with such unguarded love it fed something essential inside him.

He let her go. He squeezed Krissie’s and Ty’s shoulders before striding up to the stage and the microphone.

Tess watched Cam adjust the microphone while the blood crashed through her veins.

He’d kissed her.

In front of everyone!

What did he mean by it?

Ty and Krissie grinned up at her. She couldn’t help but grin back.

Cam cleared his throat. Her attention flew back to his tall frame and those powerful shoulders and lean hips…and long, long legs with their powerful thighs. Her knees quivered and her heart tripped and fluttered.

His gaze wandered about the crowd until she thought he must’ve made eye contact with everyone. ‘I know every single one of you by your full name. I’ve listened to you recite the things that make you happy, the things that are most important to you, and the message has come through loud and clear—you love your families, your properties and Bellaroo Creek.’

He shifted. ‘All I’ve ever wanted is to grow a big bustling family at Kurrajong Station, but a year ago that dream came crashing down around my ears and I thought it would never happen. That’s when I made my decision to leave. I knew it would be too hard living here day in and day out with that dream mocking me.’

Her heart burned for all he’d been through.

‘I want to say now that I’m grateful to Fiona for realising we weren’t well suited and calling our engagement off before we made a dreadful mistake. I only wish I could’ve seen that truth sooner.’

He didn’t love Fiona? Her hands clenched and unclenched until, to stop their fidgeting, she gripped them together.

‘Because now I know what true love is.’

He did?

When his gaze moved to her, she had to press her hands to her heart to make sure it didn’t leap right out of her chest.

‘Loving someone means wanting them to be happy, even if it means giving up your own dreams. It means supporting them in the things that are important to them, even if you don’t understand that importance.’ He suddenly grinned. ‘Like White Bearded Silkies and marigolds in a vegetable garden.’

Krissie tugged on Tess’s blouse. ‘Cam loves us, Auntie Tess.’ She grinned as if it were the best news in the world.

‘Course he does,’ Ty scoffed, as if he’d always known as much.

She swallowed. Had she truly thought they wouldn’t welcome another person into their lives? It was obvious that they’d welcome Cam.

Except…

Her heart started to wilt. Loving someone meant supporting their dreams. Cam’s dream was to go to Africa—to experience the world, to make a difference. She couldn’t stand in the way of that.

‘Loving someone means risking your heart, even if you’ve vowed to never do that again, even if you don’t feel ready to take that leap.’

He was going to risk his heart for her, wasn’t he? She wanted him to. Oh, how she wanted him to, but…

Africa. His dream.

‘I want you all to know that I won’t be going to Africa after all.’

Applause broke out along with several cheers. Tess couldn’t bear to glance around. Her heart had slumped to her ankles.

‘I’m going to fight for the life I want. I’m going to fight for my dream. If that dream proves impossible, I’m going to stay here in Bellaroo Creek anyway. I’m not going to turn my back on the town. This is where I belong.’

He climbed down from the stage and made his way directly to where she stood. Taking both Krissie’s and Ty’s hands, he led them away to the far side of the room and knelt down to speak to them. With his back to her she couldn’t see what he said. She could only see the smiles that lit the children’s faces, their decisive nods, and the hopeful glances they sent her way.

She wanted to close her eyes. She couldn’t let him do this. When he rose and beckoned to her, she pulled in a breath and moved towards them. With a smile designed to heat her from the inside out, Cam took her hand. ‘You guys go join the party again. Your aunt and I are going to talk.’

And with that he led her out of a side door and away from the noise of the hall until they stood beneath the fronds of a pepper tree that partially hid them from view. He stared down into her face, plucked one of the fronds from her hair, but he didn’t say anything.

Loving someone means wanting them to be happy.

‘When did you realise I’d fallen in love with you, Cameron?’

He touched her cheek with the backs of his fingers. He kept a firm grip on her hand. ‘That day at my mother’s.’

‘It was the day I realised I loved you.’ She paused and bit back a sigh. ‘I don’t think I’m very good at keeping things from you.’

His lips lifted. ‘I’m glad about that.’

She gently detached her hand and moved a couple of steps back until she leant against the hard, rough trunk of the tree. He stiffened. ‘I hope you mean to tell me what’s troubling you now?’

Oh, how she would miss him!

Behind her, she closed her fingers about the rough bark. She dragged in a breath that hurt her lungs. ‘All your life you’ve taken responsibility for other people. For your father when he cut himself off from the world, and for continuing his legacy in providing your mother with a haven if she should ever need it. For taking on the management of the property your stepfather left to her…and even for helping Lance find his feet. You help Edna and Ted Fairchild run cattle so they can stay in the home they love, and heaven only knows how many other people you help out in a similar way. You’re amazing, Cameron, a true-blue hero. I swear I have yet to meet anyone with more decency and integrity.’

He adjusted his stance, legs wide and hands on hips, and her heart stuttered in her chest. ‘Why, then,’ he said, ‘am I suddenly not happy to hear this?’

She ached to rush forward and throw her arms around his neck and tell him how much she loved him, but…

He deserved to chase his dreams.

‘Because all your life you’ve taken on everyone else’s responsibilities, but now you have a chance to travel and to find out where you truly want to be.’

‘I know where I want to be.’

She wanted to believe him, but…‘Do you know how much responsibility it is raising two kids? Do you know how needy and…and…Cam, we—Ty, Krissie and me—we’re not your responsibility.’ She might not have given birth to Ty and Krissie, but they were hers now and she loved them as if she had. ‘I know when you look at us you see a single mum with two kids who need rescuing, but—’

‘Garbage!’ He slashed a hand through the air, making her blink. ‘I look at you, Tess, and I see an incredibly strong woman who manages to make me laugh even when I’m feeling my bleakest and grumpiest. I look at you and see a desirable woman I want to take to my bed and make love with thoroughly and comprehensively.’

She pressed hands to cheeks that burned.

He moved in close until all she could smell was the scent of cut grass and hot man, and all she could see was him.

‘I look at you, Tess, and my soul sings and my heart is at rest and there’s glitter in my world.’

He reached out to touch her face. ‘I don’t see a woman who needs rescuing. I see a woman with a safety net ready for me if I should ever fall. Tess, when I look at you I don’t see a responsibility. I see my future. I see my soul mate. I see the woman I love.’

Her heart all but stopped.

His hands clenched, his eyes blazed with resolution. ‘I don’t know how long it will take me to convince you of the truth of that, but I want you to know I’m going to dedicate my life to doing exactly that.’

‘But Africa,’ she whispered. She wanted him happy. She wanted him to follow his dream.

‘To hell with Africa! It was my consolation prize. I’m not running away. I’m not leaving Bellaroo Creek. And let me tell you another thing.’ He jabbed a finger at her nose. ‘I’m not making way for some other single farmer to make a move on you.’ He thrust out his jaw. ‘I’m not going anywhere!’

She stared at him. He stared back, his eyes a glowing, gleaming green. ‘Africa is not where I want to be. Wherever you are, Tess, that’s where I’m going to make my home—whether that be at Kurrajong House, your little farmhouse or in Sydney.’

He meant it. Every single word.

And she could see the exact moment when he clocked her belief in him. His smile was like drought-ridden land coming back to life after vital rain.

He reached out to cup her face. ‘Your eyes tell me you’re going to say yes when I ask you to marry me.’

She grinned. She couldn’t help it. She reached up to touch his cheek, before moving in closer to wind her arms about his neck. ‘Yours tell me you’ve already asked for the children’s permission.’

‘They gave it gladly.’

Of course they had. They adored Cam as much as she did. ‘My eyes don’t lie, Cameron. I love you. My heart is completely and utterly yours.’

Just as his was hers. And she meant to treasure it and keep it safe for ever.

He stared down at her as if her words were magic. She moved against him suggestively. ‘So, what do you mean to do with your Bellaroo Creek bride once you have her?’

His head dipped towards her, blocking out the sun. ‘I mean to make her the happiest woman on the planet,’ he murmured against her lips, before he captured them in a kiss of such pure joy Tess felt as if she were flying and swooping among the treetops.