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I fight the chuckle working its way up. This woman is one tough cookie, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. “The traffic was bad.”
She scowls. “Likely story, young man.” Gesturing for us to enter, she steps back to let us in.
I make my way to her kitchen and place the groceries we bought her on the kitchen counter. I then unpack them and put them away while Sean grabs the cat food and attempts to feed Jasper and Callie’s strays. They don’t always come out for him, but he lives in hope.
Mrs Harper joins me in her kitchen. I know what she’s about to do because we do this dance every week when I visit to stock up her groceries and check if any maintenance needs to be done around her home.
I get in first. “No, I haven’t spoken to her and I have no plans to do so.”
The scowl is still sitting on her face. “You are a fool, Mr Hardy.”
I eye her. “So I’ve been told.”
“But you’ll be seeing her next week, yes?”
My movements halt. “Yes, but it won’t change anything.”
“You are so focused on the fact you think she needs her work more than she needs you. Have you ever stopped to consider she could have both?”
“I’ve considered this from every angle I can. And I always come up with the same thing—what if I ask her to give up her job and move home and she does that, but then resents me for asking that of her? What if she never finds her dream job again? I won’t be that man, Mrs Harper.”
“That’s a lot of what-ifs. You can’t live your life with those guiding you. You need to take charge and put all your cards on the table. Callie is a strong woman. She’ll make the right decision for her. There’s no harm in asking for what you want, Luke. It’s time you started putting yourself first. Live a little. God knows life flies by so fast that if we don’t make ourselves happy while we have the chance, we’ll grow old in a puddle of regret.” Her eyes glint with joy when she adds, “Now, where is that boy of yours? I’ve got a present for him.”
She shuffles away from me in search of Sean. Mrs Harper has become the grandmother to Sean he never had. My mum loves him, but she doesn’t spend time passing wisdom on to him. Mrs Harper showers him with time and attention. I often find them snuggling up on the couch, poring over the atlas or a history book while she relays stories of her life to him. He adores her and craves time here. I crave time here for a whole other reason.
45
Callie
I am never travelling on a plane for that long ever again. Thank God I don’t have to.
I exit the cab outside the Daydream Island resort where Estelle booked me a room and close my eyes so I can breathe in the Queensland air.
It’s so good to be back in Australia.
Home.
“Good afternoon, ma’am.” The porter greets me and begins unloading my luggage.
I give him a huge smile. “Hello. I hope you’re having a wonderful day today. The weather is divine!”
He returns my smile and nods. “Every day on this island is a good day, ma’am.”
“I can imagine,” I murmur.
I make my way to the check-in desk and fiddle in my handbag for my phone while I wait.
“Long flight?” a man asks me from behind.
I turn to find one of the best looking men I’ve seen in a long time smiling at me. “How can you tell?”
He grins. “I can’t. I was just trying to initiate conversation.”
I laugh. Clearly I’m out of practice with this flirting thing. “Oh… well, I’ve just flown in from LA.”
He whistles low. “Ouch.”
“Yes. I won’t be doing that flight again in a hurry.”
