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Gabrielle pulled a face. “Ugh, that woman. I can’t believe she’s back in town. What a bitch.”
June clapped a hand to her mouth, and Faith thought she was affronted by the cuss word until she realized the older woman was trying not to snort with laughter. She grinned. Perhaps she’d fit in with the Walkers after all.
“All right, boys. Hop in.”
Dylan and three of his friends loaded into Shane’s car while the other boys got into the van driven by Dylan’s friend Caleb’s father, who’d volunteered to help out. The kids were sandy and damp, with towels wrapped around their waists to prevent the water from their swimming trunks soaking into the car seats. Shane waited for the doors of the other vehicle to close, then led the way back to his place. When he spotted Faith’s car parked alongside his parent’s, his chest tightened. He’d hoped to be there for their first meeting. Had it gone well? His family’s opinion of her meant a lot, considering his disastrous previous marriage.
He parked across the road and gave the boys time to climb out, then locked up and headed inside. His stomach was a tangle of nerves as he sought out his family. He found his dad in the living room with Izzy and Hunter.
“Your girlfriend is in the kitchen with June and Gabby,” he said.
Shane winced. It had taken Mum and Gabby no time at all to corner Faith. A few more steps took him to the kitchen, where all three women were a whirlwind of activity. Faith didn’t seem to notice him until he settled his hands on her hips from behind. She leaned back and tilted her face up, smiling. Desire fisted in his gut, along with something else. Something far more complicated.
He kissed her. “Hi, beautiful.” Softly, he asked, “How’s it going?”
“Everything is great,” she replied too loudly, because that’s how Faith was. “Gabrielle was just telling me about the time you jumped off the top of a playground with a plastic bag, thinking it would work like a parachute.”
Really? They’d already gotten to the embarrassing stories?
“Thanks, guys.” To Faith, he explained, “I was eight. You’d think they wouldn’t hold it against me after all this time.”
Her bright pink lips curved up. “It’s adorable.”
“Adorable. Great, just what I was going for.”
Shouting outside interrupted their conversation, and Faith cocked her head. “My guess is, the cricket players just arrived.”
“I’d say you’re right,” he agreed. “Shall we go say hello?”
He was nearly as excited to meet them as the boys were. While he didn’t approve of the way Diana wielded her money and connections, he loved the Black Caps. Hopefully, he could keep his cool more than it sounded like the twelve-year-old boys outside were doing.
“I’m coming too,” Gabby said, rinsing and drying her hands. “One of those cricketers might look at me and fall madly in love.”
Having been as good as married to her job as a rural veterinarian for most of her twenties, his sister had recently decided she should try to find a life partner before she ended up alone with her four cats, two dogs, one horse, and half dozen goats. Unfortunately, “subtle” was not a word in her vocabulary, which sent most men running for the hills before they’d finished a single conversation. She claimed this was a tactic to weed out the weak links, but he wasn’t convinced.
They left his parents in the house and watched the boys line up for the chance to say hi to a Black Cap. Shane waited until they’d finished, and then introduced himself and thanked them for coming. One of the men assured him it was their pleasure, seeing as Diana had offered to attend his daughter’s birthday party in return. Shane had to smile. She may be self-centered, but at least she was trying.
Gabby deflated upon hearing the man had a family but turned to the other with a broad smile and stuck out her hand. “Gabrielle Walker. I’m a massive fan.”
“Dylan’s aunt?” he asked, and she nodded to confirm. Shane noticed him check out her left hand, and the man’s grin widened. Perhaps Gabby would reel one in after all.
Together, he and Faith set up the barbecue, then left another parent in charge of cooking. The boys set up their cricket equipment, and Faith returned inside to help his parents. Twenty or thirty locals had wandered in off the street to celebrate, as was the Haven Bay style. Diana had assumed a prime position on a sun chair she must have brought with her, lying back with her sunglasses on. Gabby and Shane stood side by side and watched the coaching session.
“What do you think of Faith?” he asked, dying to hear her opinion. His sister wasn’t the smoothest when it came to her own love life, but she was shrewd and a good judge of people. She’d told him all along that Diana wasn’t right for him, and he’d ignored her. He wouldn’t go as far as to say he regretted that, seeing as Diana gave him their sons, but he certainly didn’t want to repeat the mistake.
“I wondered how long you’d take to ask.” She checked her watch. “Twenty minutes. Solid effort.”
He sighed. “Gabs….”
“She seems nice,” Gabby allowed, although her tone was cautious. “I can’t say I was surprised to hear you got together. You’ve always talked about her more than most people would about their babysitter.”
Relief swamped him. “So, you like her?”
“I reserve judgment. I need more time to get to know her.”
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
He watched as Dylan prepared to bat with guidance from one of the Black Caps who stood behind him and off to the side. Another boy bowled, and Dylan smacked it and leapt into action. His relaxed expression told Shane he was having a good time. Seeing him like that after he had spent so much of the past few weeks tense and uncommunicative was a balm to Shane’s soul. Hopefully, things would only get better from here.
