Page 13 of Road to Rosalee

She cleared her throat, wishing her head would clear as well. ‘My mum asked me to tell you something important.’ With her heart skipping beats, she met eyes that matched the colour of her own, and then, before she could stop herself, said, ‘I’m your daughter.’

Chapter

5

Shocked to his very core, Zai found it hard to believe what he’d just overheard. He couldn’t even begin to fathom how Matt would be feeling right now. For a few dragging moments, he was rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to process, and powerless to help. Standing at the kitchen window with Sarah by his side, he felt as if he’d just been involved in a car crash, ricocheting from one soul-jarring impact to another – the stunning stranger’s bombshell, Matt’s flinch swiftly followed by a look of absolute disbelief, the extended silence as they stared at each other as if looking into a mirror, the cliff-hanging moment when time seemed to stall, suspend, stop. The silence was almost deafening. Melody’s anguish was written all over her exquisitely delicate face.

Zai wanted to kiss a smile onto her downturned lips.

Matt remained speechless – unbelieving, perhaps? Blinking fast, Melody said something softly, her gaze beseeching. And then, with Matt’s lack of response, as if giving up on any hope of getting to know her father, she stood, shoulders slumped, and turned to walk away. Only then Matt snapped to and leapt from his chair, hustling to grab her. She turned back to him, a look of optimism replacing the trepidation. Matt hesitatingly reached out, holding her at arm’s length and staring for a heartbeat, then two, then three. She smiled awkwardly. Then, as if finally grasping what she was saying, Matt said something quietly, closed the bit of distance, and took her into his arms. Melody resisted for a second, but then her handbag dropped to the ground and she grabbed hold of him as if her life depended upon it. They clung to each other wordlessly for a few long moments, and it was only then that Zai felt able to pull his gaze away.

Sarah’s desperate breaths, and Beau humming to himself as he innocently continued drawing, came into his scope.

Turning to offer Sarah support, he was met with fear-filled, teary eyes. ‘Sar, are you okay?’

She nodded but continued to breathe as if suffocating. As soon as he placed a hand on her back, she broke into hushed sobs. He wasn’t sure what to say, and not being a man who spoke empty words, he offered comfort by rubbing her back, waiting for her to catch her breath. As he did, the magnitude of the revelation really sank in. How was this going to affect a woman who’d tragically lost her baby daughter when Matt had rolled the ute? Would this drive Matt back to the bottle? God, Zai hoped not.

Regathering herself, Sarah finally went to say something, but then stopped short. She turned to look over her shoulder at Beau, still oblivious to what was unfolding. Clearly relieved, her hands went to protectively cradle her belly. She looked pale, unsteady on her feet. Zai placed an arm around her in case she collapsed, and guided her towards the dining table, where he sat her in a chair, then pulled one up beside her.

She brought owl-eyes to his, and he held them for a beat, shifting a little uneasily in his chair. ‘I don’t really know what to say, but I’m all ears, Sar.’

‘I don’t really know what to say either, Zai.’ She slowly shook her head. ‘Did that really just happen?’ Her voice shook. ‘Did I really just hear her say she’s his daughter?’

‘Yeah, crazy, huh.’ He heaved a sigh. ‘I take it you didn’t know anything about another child out there that was Matt’s?’

‘No way, and neither did Matt, because he would have told me.’ Her fingers came to her lips, and she shook her head again. ‘I feel stunned, and numb, all at the same time.’ Heavy tears rolled down her cheeks again. She half smiled, then shrugged. ‘Here I am, worrying about me, but I can’t even imagine what Matt feels like right now.’ She dared a glance back out the window.

‘Yeah, true.’ Zai clasped his hands tightly. ‘Me either.’

Beau’s chair scraped along the timber floorboards and he ran over to his mum, climbing up and onto her lap. ‘Why are you crying, Mummy?’ He wiped the tears from her cheeks, his little eyes filled with concern.

‘Oh, Mummy’s fine, sweetie. I’m just tired, that’s all.’

‘Okay.’ He beamed her a heartwarming smile. ‘I cry when I’m tired too.’

Sarah chuckled softly as she wiped a smudge of chocolate from his cheek. ‘You do, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’ He nodded exaggeratedly. ‘And when I hurt myself. And when I’m hungry.’

Beau’s honesty and sweet goodness was endearing, and both Zai and Sarah couldn’t help but laugh. ‘You’re an awesome little whippersnapper,’ Zai said, ruffling Beau’s already chaotic curly hair. ‘God love ya.’

Wrapping his arms around Sarah’s neck, Beau chortled, baring his teeth like a lion.

Footsteps sounded across the verandah and the back door swung open. Matt and Melody stepped in. Zai straightened and met his mate’s unsettled gaze. Matt looked like he’d seen a ghost and Melody’s mascara was smudged beneath her pretty latte-coloured eyes. Compelled to go to her, to somehow comfort her, Zai shot to his feet before sense took over and he stepped back a little, giving them some space. Beau leapt off Sarah’s lap and skipped over to his dad, begging him for an aeroplane ride around the house.

Matt flashed his little boy an unsteady smile. ‘Soon, buddy, but how about you go and finish colouring in first?’ With Beau doing as he was asked, Matt regarded Sarah apologetically. ‘From the looks of things in here, you obviously heard what was said out there?’

‘Uh-huh.’ Sarah stood and closed the distance, gently touching Matt’s cheek. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yeah. You?’

She tipped her head to the side and shrugged. ‘Sort of.’

‘Can you come here for a sec?’ Without waiting for a response, he took Sarah by the hand and guided her out of the kitchen.

Now alone with a woman who stole his breath away, Zai caught her darting gaze, momentarily locking it to his so he could offer her some silent consolation – he may not know this exquisite looking woman, but he knew exactly what it was like to feel as if you were a superfluous cog in the workings of a close-knit family. Not that Sarah and Matt would make Melody feel like that once the news settled in; this was the just the initial aftermath of a gobsmacking situation, he was sure.

The ticking of the clock above the stove suddenly sounded extremely loud, as did the drip of the tap. Zai reached out to tighten it, but to do so, he had to brush past her. Their arms touched and something shot through him, kicking his heart rate into top gear.