Attainment

“You’re a funny man, Graeme. But I wouldn’t give Alexis back for the world,” I honestly say.

“Good. As much as I love her, I’m too old for her drama-filled life.”

I give him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “Rest assured, I’m keeping her.”

“I always thought you were a crazy fucker,” Jake pipes in as he takes a swig of his beer. “From that very moment Lex and Jen told me you were flying around the farm in your helicopter, I thought you were cracked.”

I laugh at Jake’s stab and give him a very firm manly slap on the back, causing him to choke on some of his beer. “Thanks, Mate. So, I need to know what Alexis is afraid of. She tells me nothing, but that’s just bullshit.”

“Spiders,” they both say simultaneously.

Jake then chuckles. “Big, fat, furry, spiders...Huntsmen and Wolf Spiders to be exact.”

“You’d think she would be used to them after growing up on a farm,” Graeme adds while shaking his head in mild disappointment. “But I guarantee, if one just happened to be in her close proximity now, she’d scream the place down.”

“Spiders...really?” I ponder. “I thought she just didn’t like them.”

Jake slaps my back in return and steps away. “She doesn’t, she bloody hates them.”

I smile to myself and tip my beer to my lips, while eye-fucking Alexis with a scheming smirk.

“Whatever it is you are planning on doing, Bryce. Don’t!” Graeme warns, interrupting my train of thought. “I’m serious, I don’t want her back. And that look you have on your face, tells me that could quite possibly be an option.”

* * *

Gently tapping a spoon on the side of my glass, I indicate to the room that we want quiet and to make an announcement.

“Star!” Brayden squeals and claps himself while pointing to his big, yellow, smiley-faced, star birthday cake. He leans forward in order to grab it.

“No, not yet, Sweetheart. In a minute,” Alexis reassures him while securing him tightly to her hip.

“Just quickly, before Brayden loses patience and attempts to plough head first into his cake, we just want to say thanks for coming and celebrating this little man’s first birthday with us...” I am about to continue when I hear Charli behind me, making a racket. Turning around, I spot her dragging her Karaoke machine into position.

“Charlotte, what are you doing?” Alexis whispers.

“I want to sing Brayden a song.”

I subdue a smile with pursed lips and make eye contact with Alexis. She too hides her grin. “Oh...okay.” She turns back around and addresses the room. “Um...apparently Charli has a little something she wants to share.”

“I want to sing happy birthday to Brayden,” Charli announces just a bit too loudly into the microphone, sending a high pitched tone throughout the room. “He is the best brother, ever!” she continues while squinting her eyes and poking her tongue out at Nate.

Alexis slaps her hand to her forehead.

Brayden lunges for the cake again.

Nate smacks a balloon into Charlotte’s head.

Tash screeches and dodges its rebound.

Charlotte growls.

And...I just laugh.

* * *

After Charli performs her entertaining version of Happy Birthday, Alexis and I decide to inform every one of our decision to get married in six months.

“Oh, and one last minor detail,” I express playfully, receiving an elbow to the ribs from Alexis. “We have finally set a date for the wedding! Mark out February fourth on your calendars.”

“About time!” Tash calls out from her position at the bi-fold doors, the furthest spot from the balloons.

“There’s still time to change your mind, Bryce,” Jake calls out, Johanna snorting in response.

Rick and Claire step up to us, Claire smiling meekly while Rick embraces Alexis. Months ago, I would have wanted to punch the fucker for being this close to her.

“Congratulations! Sorry, but we really need to head off. RJ has his soccer semi-final later today,” Rick explains before they make an early departure.

Approximately one month ago, Rick informed Alexis that he and Claire were expecting a child. Alexis—not surprisingly—took the news really well, being genuinely happy for the two of them. Charlotte had refused—and still does to this day—to accept that her next sibling was going to be anything other than a girl. And Nate just carried on as if an extra baby in his life was nothing new. Seeing all three of them react with pleasant attitudes, I decided there and then to let go of my grudge and anger toward Rick. If Alexis was happy, then so was I.

Re-entering the lounge area after seeing Claire and Rick out, we are both smothered by Maryann with congratulatory hugs. “Wonderful. I can’t wait. We need to sit down and start planning—“

“Mum, back off. You know what happened last time you interfered with wedding plans,” Jen cautions.

“Yeah, well...your sister isn’t as nasty as you. She wouldn’t make me wear a stupid t-shirt to her hen’s night, would you, Alexis Darling?” Maryann says with gag-worthy sweetness.

Alexis rolls her eyes at her mother’s attempt at buttering her up. “Actually, I’m not having a hen’s night.”

“Like fun you aren’t,” Carly interjects. “Trust me, you are having one whether you are in attendance or not.”

“Carly, we’ve decided to just have a get together here...” I add, taking Brayden from Alexis. “...set up the band...that sort of thing—“

“Not gonna happen, Mate,” Derek implies as he raises his beer. “Consider yourself havin’ a Buck’s night.”

Alexis turns to face me, drops her head on her my shoulder, and closes her eyes.

“Ake up, Mum,” Brayden shouts—Wiggles style.

Alexis grumbles with a laugh. “Mummy isn’t sleeping like Jeff.”

“Ake up, Mum,” he hollers, again.

I can’t help but laugh.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Five months down the track, and it is decided that yes, we are having a Hen’s night and Buck’s party. It is also decided—not by us, mind you—that Carly and Derek are in charge of the entire event.

The plans are to start off together at Opals as one big group, where Live Trepidation will dedicate their entire set to Alexis and play all of her favourite songs. Then, we are to head off our separate ways, and what’s to follow unknown to the both of us. That minor detail I did not like; I didn’t like it at all.

“I can’t believe we agreed to this,” Alexis mumbles from our walk-in wardrobe.

I’m standing in the ensuite, latching the buckle on my denim jeans and fastening the last button on my short sleeved, light grey, shirt. “We didn’t really have a choice, Hunny. Did you want to argue with Carly and Derek?”

“No,” she groans. “Hey! Maybe we could just stay at Opals together? Refuse to leave?” she suggests, a spark of renewed hope sounding in her voice.

“Yeah, don’t think that is gonna work.”

I finish off with a little gel in my hair and step out into our bedroom to put on my shoes. Sitting on the edge of the bed and bending over, I slide my foot into the black loafer. Before I can reach for the other shoe, I notice two black high-heels only centimetres from my feet.