It lasts longer than it probably should, but right now, I don’t care. When I pull back and turn to our group, there’s a booster seat on the grass with Molly’s ruck-sack on top. I glance around, searching for Marcus. “He said he’d call you in the week,” Charlie says, trying to hide his amusement.
“Let me go put this in the car.” Olly kisses my temple, then grabs it before I can object.
“That boy is smitten,” says Felicity, coming to my side, twisting her hair around her finger, watching him walk away.
“He’s not the only one,” I reply, honestly, and she gives me a knowing smile, linking her arm with mine.
Chapter Forty-Five
RACHEL
Other than the situation with my mum and Marcus earlier, today has turned out to be one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Nate and Felicity took over hosting the annual Help for Heroes charity day from his Nan, and this year has exceeded every year since.
I wasn’t in a position of being able to bid on the auction, but I was able to offer a painting instead.
“I still can’t believe you paint.” Sophie’s eyes trace over the canvas. “It’s beautiful.” I shrug, still self-conscious about my work. “I better win it,” she says squiggling on the clipboard on the table.
I try to stop her, but she shakes me off. “Soph, I’ll paint you something else—I have some extra materials.”
She holds up her palm. “It’s for charity, and besides I wantthisone. But I will be commissioning you to do some pieces for the shop. I think with Felicity’s photographs and some paintings of yours, it will help showcase local talent.”
I’m stunned,local talent.
I’m grabbed from behind and pulled into a hard body. I squeal and laugh when Olly whispers into my ear, “I told you, you were talented.”
“You’re biased,” I say, giggling as his teeth scrape over my earlobe.
I’m so caught up in how he makes me feel, I don’t even notice my mum standing beside us until she speaks a greeting. I startle, tensing in Olly’s arms. He goes to pull away, but my hands close over his that are wrapped around my waist.
Mum eyes the work, reads the description. A small sound escapes her, but she’s quick to cover it up.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Soph says, standing on her other side.
“Yes,” she replies with a smile. I let out a breath, not sure what I expected her to say. Her voice sounded like admiration. It’s a recreation of a day trip I took to the beach with my parents. A rare occurrence, but one I always remembered so vividly—the way the sea breathed in and out, the waves lapping against the shore. My father and I made a dozen sand castles as my mum watched on, contentment in her expression.
I turn in Olly’s arms. “Let’s go look at the other stalls.”
He obliges, and we walk off, not saying anything as we leave. I glance at random items, but I’m paying no attention to what’s in front of me. I try to recall if my mum has ever said she’s proud of me or congratulated me for any of my achievements.
“Your dad is different than I had imagined,” Olly says, drawing my attention back to him.
I frown. “Yeah, totally unlike him…maybe he’s having a mid-life crisis.” I shrug, and he lets out a laugh.
“Did you not know he had a tattoo, ortattoos, as the case might be?”
I shake my head. “No. I had no idea. He’s always been so…bland,” I reply.
Olly chuckles and the sound makes my lady parts clench. “Well, he’s coming this way.”
“Hey Rachel, do you have a moment? I’m leaving but wanted to have a quick word before I do.”
“I’ll go see if Felicity needs a hand trying to pry Molly off the bouncy castle,” Olly says. I laugh with a nod.
“Walk with me?” My dad holds out his arm, and we walk away from the milling crowds and stalls and towards the treehouse. “I’m just going to get straight to the point.”
“Okay,” I reply, apprehensive, as he stops and faces me.
“It’s about your mother.” He takes my hands in his, totally out of character for him, and my palms sweat at the contact. “She won’t say it, Rachel, but she needs you.” I roll my eyes and try to pull my hands free. “There’s things you don’t know—things you don’t understand.”
