AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Especially in public. There were a few people who might remember who she’d been hanging around with before the twins were born, without the dead giveaway of Gabby’s resemblance to the Cavanaugh’s absent son. Now he was home they could make the comparison without the misty glaze of fading memory. Today had already started them thinking. It would be up to Morgan and his parents as to how they met any gossip. Becca’s lips had been sealed by her promise since the twins were born. So far she’d kept her side of the bargain and Grace had kept hers.
There had been no provision for what would happen if the tacit silence was broken. Not by either party, but by the knowing looks and curious tongues of the town. The twins had already guessed the truth, but they’d followed the adult’s lead in keeping silent. If the other children started talking, it could hurt both of them.
A rattle at the door startled her, but it was Dan. Not that she’d expected Morgan to come back.
His clothes were filthy but he was beaming as he usually did coming back after a day on the farm. He’d miss it once he moved to Bialga, but maybe Thackery might know someone nearer there who could use an extra hand on weekends.
He placed a box of produce and a carton of eggs from the farm on the table and looked around the room with an expectant gleam in his eyes. ‘Who’s visiting?’
‘No-one.’
‘There’s a four by four out the front.’
Morgan’s car? ‘We had Morgan Cavanaugh visiting earlier. Maybe he left his car there while he visited his parents.’
‘Morgan Cav’nuh. I remember him.’ His forehead wrinkled. ‘I thought he was gone.’
‘He’s taking over Doctor Farrell’s surgery.’
‘Oh.’ He seemed to lose interest, opening the fridge. He usually went to the hospital clinic in Bialga so he wouldn’t be Morgan’s patient anyway. ‘Can I have some pizza?’
Becca sighed. ‘Have one piece. Then you need to have a shower.’
‘Okeydoke.’
He wandered off down the hallway munching his pizza. A few minutes later he was in the shower and by the time she’d finished her preparation for tomorrow’s breakfast, he was in his room, leaving her free to go to bed.
One worry was gone. She’d half expected some animosity considering the ongoing friction between them when she’d been going out with Morgan. It might be a different matter from Morgan’s point of view. He still had his memories and he’d had no time for Dan before he’d thought there was something between Becca and him.
And she’d gone and invited Morgan to the birthday party. She’d have to organise for them to meet beforehand in case something blew up.
She peered out the window at Morgan’s car, still parked out the front, gleaming with frost in the moonlight. There was a light at the Maiden place. Morgan’s place. He must have walked home. Had he been too angry to drive? Or too sickened by her almost-kiss? Nausea crawled along her gut. She didn’t want to have to face him. Unfortunately, she’d have to. Every damn day if she was going to keep her job. She flicked off the light.
Tomorrow was another day. And she was going to have to face a man who had declared years ago in no uncertain terms that he didn’t give a damn.
Chapter 7
Morgan shivered in the early morning chill. He’d been a fool to leave his car behind at Becca’s place. He’d almost kissed her. She wasn’t free but he’d wanted a taste. So. Damn. Much. His body was shaking so hard from the control he’d slammed on at the last minute, he’d needed to walk off the agitation. By the time he’d got back, the windscreens were solid with ice. It was simpler and quieter to go home and come back in the morning once the sun melted the frost.
He could see ice crystals glinting in the sunlight on the roof of the car, but it was already melting on the glass. A few minutes with the demister and he’d be good to go. Digging into his jacket pocket, he pulled out the keys. He hesitated, checking the windows of the house. Sunday morning they would be having a sleep in. Unless they were going to church.
‘Hyah, Morgan.’
He blinked into the shadows on the far side of the house as a bulky figure in a maroon tracksuit and uggies emerged with a bottle of juice in one hand and a piece of toast in the other.
‘Dan.’ He was still easily recognisable with the extra weight, close cropped blond hair and two-day stubble with a touch of ginger. The ginger gave him pause, but he shook it off. There was no resemblance between him and either of the two children. Gabby’s hair was pure red and Dan’s eyes were a lighter shade of brown and different shape to Edward’s and his skin tones tended to reddening under the sun before tanning.
The younger man leaned over the fence, dangling the toast and taking a swig from the juice. ‘Nice car.’
Narrowing his eyes, Morgan studied the man’s face. ‘I bought it in Brisbane when I arrived back from Rwanda.’
‘That’s in Africa. I remember.’ The words came out slow and a bit slurred. Was he drunk, or was this the result of the accident?
‘I’ve been working there.’
Dan shifted awkwardly. ‘I work at the Recycling Depot. In Bialga. With Gordon.’
Something cold iced its way down Morgan’s spine. ‘You like it there?’
