‘John’s a chauvinist twit-and he’s not
‘He’s a very worthy person,’ her mother said sternly. Then a matching twinkle to her daughter’s flashed into her older eyes. ‘But you’re right. He lacks a sense of humour, poor John. Your father and I are very relieved that you’ve finally seen it. It’s only…’
‘You think I’m jumping from the frying pan into the fire?’
‘I would never have called John a frying pan.’ Her mother chuckled and Shanni had to smile. ‘But maybe…’
‘Maybe nothing.’ Shanni took a deep breath. ‘I’m a big girl now, Mum, and I’m not looking to get involved with a magistrate. Especially one who’s carrying the scars Nick is. But Harry thinks Nick is great and if I can get a relationship going between them… That baby needs someone who cares.’
‘You care.’
‘Harry needs a male.’
‘He needs a daddy-and where there’s a daddy there’s usually a mother, too.’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake…’ Shanni glowered, half-laughing, half-indignant. ‘Mum, I am
‘Yes, dear,’ her mother said, and Shanni knew she didn’t believe a word of it.
And maybe…maybe she didn’t either.
And Nick?
Nick drove home feeling more claustrophobic than he’d felt in his life before. All he wanted to do was to turn his car to head for the city and never come back.
Or was it? Wasn’t it that he wanted to turn the car and return to Shanni?
No! He wanted to leave this town!
Which was really stupid. His career plans said he had to stick this place out for two years, and so far he’d done less than a week. Great! And he’d be welcomed back to the city with open arms-he didn’t think!
If he appeared back in chambers next Monday morning they’d assume he’d failed. His long-term plan was high-court judge, and this was step one. He had to take it.
He didn’t want to stay. He didn’t want this involvement! Not with the child-or the girl.
He could concentrate on being a fine barrister, he thought desperately, and there was a possibility he could move sideways to the high court…
Ha! He’d looked at that option and he knew it depended hugely on luck. What he was doing now was the most certain way to get where he wanted. Put in the hard work, Abe had told him, and Abe was right.
Which meant putting up with country life-putting up with the gossip and the people-and staying uninvolved. But, for heaven’s sake, he’d only been here for a few days and already he was involved up to his neck. He should ring Shanni and tell her their Sunday date was off.
‘I do not want to go on a family picnic with a baby and a gorgeous girl and her grandma and grandpa and her brothers and sisters…’
Yes, he did. Sort of…
He wanted to be there, he knew, but he wanted to walk away at the end, heart-whole and fancy-free.
But he was starting to think there was no way that could happen, and the thought scared him witless.
Friday and Saturday were endless. Even the witnesses and defendants in court seemed to know what was happening in his life and to be summing him up.
‘They think you’re turning the place upside down,’ Mary told him at the break of a long and boring case deciding whether a farmer’s cows were damaging an access road. ‘You arrive, we’ve had a hostage drama which will keep the district talking for years, the kindergarten teacher has broken off with her intended…’
‘He wasn’t her intended.’
‘John sure intended, even if Shanni didn’t. And now…the kids have spread it all over town that their sister’s in love with you.’
They’d asked for that with their kissing stunt in the car, Nick thought wryly, and grimaced.
‘I’m darned if I can see why everyone thinks it’s their business.’
‘This is Bay Beach,’ Mary said simply. ‘Everything’s everyone’s business. Speaking of which…’
‘Don’t…’
But she was unstoppable. ‘I meant to tell you before this case started… Bill Nuggins could quite easily drive his cows to the dairy across his back paddock instead of using the road. He’s using the road because the folk bought the place next door as a weekend home and he wanted to buy it himself. So now he likes the idea of them having to drive through cow dung.’
‘Gee, thanks.’ This was useful information but it wasn’t up to his clerk of court to give it to him.
‘Think nothing of it,’ she said blandly. ‘They’re nice people and he’s giving them a hard time so I thought you should know. I’m off after this, so I’ll see you Sunday at the picnic. Oh, and you’d best make your mind up about Shanni. She’s not one to tread water very long.’
What did she mean by that?
Nick didn’t know, and he couldn’t allow himself to care.
But he did care, and not just about Shanni. He finished work-advising the farmer to re-route his cows-took himself for a solitary walk on the beach and found his feet taking him to Harry’s home. It was bedtime, and Wendy greeted him as if she’d been expecting him.
‘He’s been waiting for you.’
‘I didn’t say I’d come.’
‘He knew you would.’
Nick figured he’d have to ignore that. Its implications were enormous. ‘How did the assessment go today?’
‘We’re giving him another two weeks,’ she said. ‘If he doesn’t settle by then…’ She left the words unspoken but Nick knew exactly what she was saying. If Nick hadn’t pulled off a miracle…
He shouldn’t be here!
But, despite his reservations, he sat by the little boy’s bed and read him a story about a
‘He’s so little and his body’s still healing,’ Wendy told him as he emerged, surprised by how ready for sleep Harry had been. ‘He needs an afternoon sleep but he won’t let himself relax. He’s exhausted but he fights sleep every inch of the way.’
Why did that sound familiar?
‘Shanni’s taking him clothes-shopping tomorrow morning,’ Wendy told him, closing the door on the sleeping child. She was carrying a little girl on her hip and there were two older boys making hot chocolate in the kitchen. Much as Wendy might care for Harry, there were limits to the personal attention he could get here, and Shanni must know it. ‘She’s picking him up at ten. Would you like to go with them?’
‘No.’ Nick shook his head. ‘I’m busy.’
But the next day it took an iron will to keep him reading legal briefs in his apartment when he knew they’d be shopping. He had to read the briefs-if he didn’t keep up with the legal world he’d turn into a country bumpkin-but Shanni and Harry were out choosing clothes without him and for some reason the thought was deeply disturbing.
This was crazy! He was going nuts.
One week down, he thought desperately. One hundred and three to go…
Beach day. Grandpa’s birthday.
Nick woke at six and spent an hour composing urgent messages telling Shanni why he had to go to the city right now. Then he went for a jog on the beach, thought of a few more messages, showered, composed a few more…
Combed his hair flat. City-lawyer style.
Picked up the phone. Put down the phone.
