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“No, I’m an only child. My mother couldn’t bear being pregnant again.”
“What about other family? Auntie’s, uncles, cousins?”
“I have two aunties, an uncle, and six cousins. They live around Sydney here and in Melbourne. We all catch up once or twice a year. I’m also very close to my godfather.”
“What about your parents?”
“My parents are on holidays in Europe at the moment, I think.”
“Do you get lonely?” I asked softly.
Nathan laughed. “Lonely? No Rose. Besides, I have you. Do you have any family besides Liam?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve told you that my mother and father are in London and I have a sister, Violet. She’s working in a remote town in Africa as a school teacher.” I sighed, the thought of my sister making me sad. “I miss Violet, she’s only fourteen months older than me. We have always been so close and now that she’s working in Africa, she doesn’t have much access to a phone or the Internet. I only talk to her once a month when she goes into the nearby town.”
“How long has she been gone for?”
“Two years, same time my mum and dad left. I guess that’s when Liam’s gambling started to get out of control and I was the only one left to clean up his mess.” I paused. “Do you want to get married?” I asked, deliberately changing the subject. I was enjoying the way Nathan was opening up to me and didn’t want to ruin it by talking about my brother. Newspapers and magazines around Australia would kill for this kind of information.
“To you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I smiled, knowing he was teasing me. “You know what I mean.”
Nathan took a slow mouthful of his scotch. “No, marriage isn’t for me.” He smiled. “And what about you? Are you going to get married and live happily ever after?”
“Yes, if you ever let me go.”
Nathan smiled again. “You might have to marry me after all.”
I could tell he was teasing me again. “You wouldn’t spend the rest of your life with just one woman. You’re a playboy. I doubt you could be a monogamist.”
Nathan frowned. “I can, women can’t.”
I noted the bitterness in his voice. “What happened to you? What have you got against women?”
“I’m not against women, Rose.” He sighed. “Come on, it’s been a long day and I’m tired, let’s go to bed.” Nathan finished his drink, stood up, and walked into the bathroom to shower.
I remained sitting in my chair and looked out over the water. I could see small boats dotted along the coastline, all lit up brightly against the night sky. In just a few days it would be summer time and I could already feel the air becoming warm and balmy.
As I sat, I let the events of the day run through my mind. My thoughts flashed back to the shower I had with Nathan in the cabin. His hands, his touch, his smell. It all made me feel giddy and I hated the way such a horrible man had such a powerful effect over me. Why was I so physically attracted to him?
I quickly chased away thoughts of Nathan from my mind and filled it with thoughts of my beautiful little niece. She was so perfect and so delicate, like a doll. I prayed that this little bundle of joy was enough to make Liam wake up and change his ways.
After Nathan had showered, I walked back inside and we got into bed. I decided that I wanted to buy the baby a gift and take it to her tomorrow, but I realised that I had no idea where my wallet or handbag was. I hadn’t seen it the whole time I’d been here.
“Nathan, where is my purse?” I asked, rolling over to face him.
“I have it,” he replied casually. He rolled over and went to turn his bedside lamp off, but I reached out and grabbed his arm.
“I need it. Can you please get it for me?”
“No,” he said, his voice firm.
“Why? It’s my purse and I need it.”
“There is nothing in that purse you need, Rose. You have a limousine and driver so why do you need money? So you can give it to your brother? I don’t think so,” he remarked dryly.
“You can’t tell me what to do with my own money, Nathan. You can’t control everything.”
