‘Dad, you’re the best father any girl could wish for. But I can stand on my own two feet now. You need to do some of those things on your dream list.’
She’d even accept the South African doctor if it meant Dad could have a life. The dream of Marshall buying into the medical centre would be over. But she’d still live in this house she’d known all her life, and bring Aimee up as a Kiwi kid at the same schools she’d attended. Insular? Too much so? Was she as afraid of making changes as Marshall? Perhaps she was. That needed some thought.
Unfortunately Dad hadn’t finished. ‘America is only twelve hours away by plane.’
‘Drop it, Dad.’
But later, lying in bed, she couldn’t let the crazy idea go. Why not move to another country? She’d enjoyed her time in Hawaii. That had been for a few months. Not a lifetime. It was hard to imagine living somewhere else and making plans for the future that didn’t involve her home town. How could she walk away from people she’d known all her life? But Marshall would be there for her, with her. Some of the time anyway. He’d be a part of those plans. He could share raising Aimee, really be a part of her life, instead of dropping in occasionally via the internet.
Charlie held up a finger in front of her face. She loved Marshall with all her heart. He was the only man she ever wanted to be with.
A second finger went up. Marshall was Aimee’s dad. They should be together.
The third finger. Marshall loved her.
Fourth point. She could be a doctor anywhere. There’d be some legalities, but nothing insurmountable.
Fifth point. There wasn’t one. Definitely not a positive one.
Could she move away from all she knew for the man she loved?
Her fingers folded into a fist and her hand dropped to her tummy. Marshall would never agree to this madcap idea anyway.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MARSHALL PULLED THE SUV over to the kerb on the left and hauled on the handbrake. At least he’d made it without any incidents involving other vehicles. Glancing further along the road, he grinned to see John’s newly panel-beaten and painted work vehicle parked in the same spot it had been the day he’d pranged it.
‘Bet if John knew I might breeze by he’d have parked it in his driveway.’
Using his shoulder to shove the door open, he climbed out to stand, hands on hips, staring around him. His heart hammered against his ribs. His mouth dried while his eyes moistened. There hadn’t been a night since he’d left he hadn’t thought of this place. If he’d been a romantic kind of guy he’d have said he’d left his heart in Taupo that day. Not anywhere in Taupo but right at this address, this house that begged to be filled with kids and laughter, with happy adults and fun times around the barbecue with friends.
Looking over at the house Charlie had grown up in, he noted the windows and front door weren’t wide open as they had been in January. April here was cooler. Driving down from Auckland he’d noted that the trees were beginning to change colour as autumn sent out its first chilly tentacles. Though not the trees in Charlie’s yard. They were evergreens. Solid native trees the likes of which he’d never seen before coming here.
The paddling pool had disappeared. No one sat on the veranda, though the lounger still remained in its place. Charlie must be inside because her car was parked on the other side of the closed gate. He didn’t know if he was pleased or disappointed she wasn’t in the same place she’d been that first day he’d turned up.
He’d come to talk to her, to tell her his plans for the future. So why was he suddenly shaking? He was doing the right thing. He was doing what he wanted, needed to do. Until now he’d believed Charlie might be pleased with his decision. Yet standing on the road outside her house, he felt an alien fear. What if she’d decided she was better off without him? Worse, could she have already met another man?
No. She’d told him she loved him. Charlie wouldn’t be replacing him that easily or quickly. From what he’d seen of her and Aimee and Brendon, love in the Lang family was for ever. He just had to expand his horizons and allow this family into his heart.
Too late, mate. They’re already there. Which is why you’re taking this enormous risk.
That, and because life wasn’t worth much without these people in it.
‘Daddy.’ The sweetest young voice on the planet shrieked from somewhere behind the fence. His stomach crunched, his heart played a weird tattoo against his ribs. And his mouth lifted from grim to happy. He stepped across the road.
Another shriek, louder still. ‘Daddy’s here. Lift me up.’
*
From the flowerbed where she was planting daffodil bulbs Charlie jerked back on her heels so fast her neck cricked. ‘Aimee?’ She couldn’t have seen Marshall. He was in Kansas. ‘Aimee, come here.’ Away from strangers. Away from the disappointment that was sure to follow when she realised that her daddy had not suddenly appeared.
Ever since the day she’d called Marshall Daddy as they’d talked on the computer Aimee had been talking about Daddy, looking for him in cupboards and under beds. It had broken Charlie’s heart to see the tears well up every time Aimee came to her and said, ‘Daddy’s gone away.’
She looked around the empty lawn. ‘Aimee, where are you?’
‘Hello, Charlie.’
Her heart stopped. ‘Marshall?’ she squeaked. That deep, velvety voice sounded like his. Her gaze lifted slowly, fearful of finding a stranger looking down at her. The thighs filling out those tight jeans seemed familiar, the narrow hips, the broad chest stretching a light woollen jersey. She swallowed hard. And lifted her chin enough to see the face belonging to this body. Green eyes glittered down at her, a hesitant smile caught at her, and a hand reached down for hers.
‘Marshall?’ she whispered, as she placed her soil-stained hand into that firm grasp.
With a gentle tug from Marshall she stood upright, balancing precariously on her toes, drinking in the sight before her. Words had deserted her. Her world was tipping all over the place. The only vision filling her hungry eyes was the man who’d owned her head space for weeks. Could this be a mirage? The hand holding hers felt real; solid, strong, warm, right. The eyes holding a steady gaze were real. The arm gripping Aimee like he’d never, ever let her go was real.
‘Marshall.’ Her voice came out low and quiet. ‘You came.’ But for how long?
‘Couldn’t stay away another moment.’ His smile slipped. ‘I’m sorry it took so long for the truth to hit me. I really believed I could walk away and let you get on with finding a better life. How dumb was that?’
‘About as dumb as me thinking I could let you go without putting up a fight.’
His free arm went around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. ‘I’ve missed you both. You have no idea how much.’
Oh, yes, she did, but who was she to argue? She’d been going crazy with the need to see him. ‘I have to kiss you to know I’m not dreaming.’