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It took a few minutes of cooing and soothing before Amaya’s cries had diminished to more of a sniffle. It was then that Samantha notice how she was lying in her lap, staring at her. ‘What is it, sweetheart?’ She wiped snotty locks of hair from Amaya’s cheeks and tucked them behind her ears.
‘You’re berry pretty, Aunty Sammie.’
‘Oh sweetheart, that’s lovely of you to say.’ She kissed her forehead. ‘But I think you’re the most beautifullest of all.’
‘Nuh-uh, I think we’re both princesses.’ Pressing a kiss into Samantha’s cheek, Amaya wrapped her arms around her neck. ‘I love you, berry muchly.’
A rush of unfamiliar emotion filled Samantha, and tears prickled her eyes. ‘I love you, too, sweetheart, berry, berry, muchly.’ There was something so pure, so raw, so profound about a child’s unconditional love – it was no wonder Amaya was Shea’s world. One day, she hoped to be blessed with this kind of love from her own children. ‘How about we get you cleaned up, and then for lunch we make ourselves a big banana split sundae with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really?’ She dared not think about the whopping number of calories, and besides, seeing Amaya’s beaming smile was worth every drop of sweat she’d need to generate to work it off later.
Popping Amaya to her feet, she assessed her cuts and was relieved to see they only needed some antiseptic cream and a bandaid. Standing, she took Amaya’s little hand in hers, and they wandered back inside, where they enjoyed an afternoon of ice-cream eating, a tea party, face painting, dress-ups and finally a little doze on the couch while watching Happy Feet.
It was just going on dusk when she watched Connor pull into his usual parking spot. With tongs in hand, Jack went to greet his mate, while she and Shea busied themselves laying the dishes and salads out on the verandah table. She could feel Connor wandering up behind her, before she heard his voice saying her name in greeting.
Planting a wide smile on her face, she tucked her fidgeting hands into her linen shorts pockets and turned to acknowledge him. ‘Hey, Connor.’
‘Wow, this looks bloody yummy.’ Bringing his eyes from the decadent spread of food, he flashed her a daredevil glance, skittering tingles from her head to her toes.
She could only imagine what it would feel like if he really did touch her in that way she’d dreamt about last night, much to her frustration. ‘It’s not as flash as your dinner was last night, but it’ll be yummy all the same.’
‘I’m that hungry I reckon I’m going to inhale it.’ He plucked a piece of potato out of the bowl, and as soon as it was in his mouth, groaned. ‘Oh my gosh, Sammie, this is yum.’
‘It’s only potato salad.’ She couldn’t help but grin at his pleasure-filled expression.
‘What is this nonsense you speak of? Only potato salad?’ He sucked mayonnaise from his fingertip. ‘That bowl of beauty right there is an Aussie classic at its absolute finest.’
‘Like I said before, always the charmer.’ She jerked her head away from his mesmerising stare – she didn’t want to get caught up in his dazzling eyes and charismatic smile.
Not tonight.
‘Oh hey, Connor.’ Shea plonked down a plate of fresh-from-the-oven garlic bread, then brushed a g’day kiss on his cheek. ‘Glad you made it.’
He held up a six-pack of ciders and a bottle of sparkling wine. ‘Thought I’d bring something a little different tonight.’
Taking both from him, she nodded. ‘Very nice, thanks.’
‘No worries.’ He stepped away and joined Jack at the billowing smoker barbecue.
Samantha was glad to go back into the kitchen with Shea for the last of the utensils and napkins. Connor had a way of stealing her breath, and she needed to steal it back.
‘I know it’s a taboo subject, Sammie, but you and Connor have this … ’ She looked to the ceiling as if searching for answers.
‘… certain thing.’
‘A certain thing, hey.’ Samantha chuckled. ‘Now that’s saying a heck of a lot.’
‘Okay, smartarse.’ Shea poked her tongue. ‘I don’t need to explain because you know it too.’
‘Do not.’
‘As my mum would have said in this given moment, I wasn’t born yesterday, my dear.’ She bustled past, cutlery in hand and a smug look on her pretty face. ‘Now come on, Evans, I’m officially on strike now so let’s go put our feet up and leave the men to serve up and then clean up tonight.’
‘I really like the sounds of that,’ Samantha said, following her, but she didn’t think Shea was being serious.
A couple of hours later, feeling like a beached whale as they sat around the fire pit, Samantha felt like she’d been waited on hand and foot since pulling up her camp chair. Even though there was a little tension between her and Connor, she believed they’d covered it up well, and all in all, it had been a lovely night with easygoing conversation and lots of laughter. She startled a little when a loud yawn came from where Connor sat across from her, on the other side of the fire pit.
