AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Son, if we leave now, we won’t be back and that child will never be accepted by God,’ his father said to his back. Caleb did not reply.
Light penetrated the tent as Sybella entered with Bridie. He glanced up to catch her expression. Astonishment. Caleb raked his hand through his hair. He didn’t doubt his mother’s sentiments, he must look like shit. But after the water had soaked up the alcohol and the drugs had kicked in, he’d got moving. There wasn’t time for making himself respectable. He had a festival to save.
Seeing Bridie made him remember the gut-wrenching disappointment he’d caused. The look on her face when she’d seen him this morning would be forever etched in his mind; his guts churned as he recalled her reaction. That was all it took.
Bridie leaned down close to Sybella and whispered in her ear before the girl raced away. ‘What can I get you?’ she asked as she stood close to him.
‘Are you making me a drink?’
Bridie spluttered, ‘No! I’m offering my help or water or Panadol or anything else you might need.’
He cracked a grin. ‘Well, I was thinking that one wee dram might warm me up enough to get through dinner.’
She twirled on the spot real fast, her face a mural of emotion. Her eyes searched his, darting left and right. ‘I’m kidding!’ he surrendered.
‘Oh boy, I actually thought you were serious,’ and she blew out a breath. It was sweet like the champagne she still carried.
‘Do you feel all right?’ she asked, hesitating, like she was scared of the answer.
‘No. I’m smashed, but my head is now only a dull ache, so for that I’m grateful.’
‘Can you do it?’ she asked quieter again.
‘It was you, Bridie Finch who told me I can. Are you having doubts?’
‘Me, no.’ She shook her head too forcefully. ‘I think you’re a brilliant cook.’
The words dried up in his mouth and he couldn’t speak. He cleared his throat. ‘I hope you have good public liability insurance,’ he said deadpan.
‘That’s not funny.’
He turned to her then, stared into those crystal-clear eyes he loved. The eyes that always looked at him with such concern and care. They were clouded now, filled with uncertainty. He’d caused that. ‘Bridie, I’m scared. Scared I’m going to get it wrong. Scared people will get ill. That they’ll hate it. No,’ he paused, ‘they won’t hate it. If I get it right, it’ll be the best French dinner this festival has ever had.’
She reached out and placed her hands on his hips. His breath hitched. ‘Can you please harness that confidence and believe in yourself. The beef is fresh, direct from a farm that I sourced myself. The chicken the same. This isn’t seafood. This is good quality Australian farm-grown produce. You cannot go wrong.’ Her breath brushed his cheek, and his knees went a little weak. ‘I’m sorry for what I said earlier, I believe in you.’
‘Please don’t apologise. I stuffed-up. But I’m going to make it up to you with this dinner. Okay?’
‘Don’t do it for me, Caleb prove it to yourself.’
Their bodies touched. Her chest heaved and his mouth went drier, if that was possible. Her stare contained longing and he matched her desire.
‘I’m back!’ Sybella came to stand between them.
His heart jolted. ‘Hey, jitterbug.’
‘Thank you, sweetie. Okay, Caleb. Take these.’ Bridie punched out two strong painkillers and handed them over with more bottles of water. Then she mixed a Berocca and forced him to drink while the bubbles still fizzed.
‘Now I’ll be needing the toilet,’ he groaned and Sybella laughed. ‘Can always rely on you to laugh, hey,’ he brushed his fingers over her cheek, and she asked him to lift her onto the bench.
‘Uncle Caleb, do you think mummy would have liked the festival?’
The world around him stopped. ‘She would have loved this festival, right? She wouldn’t have had to do any cooking and there’s music and dancing and games and rides. She would have taken you on the rides and…’
‘Do you want to go on the rides with me?’ Bridie interrupted.
Sybella declined. ‘I want to stay here and help. I want to be a good cook.’
‘Okay, Sybella, sweetie, I’d love your help. We have a lot of work to do, though, are you sure? You could be out having fun.’
