AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘It was no bother.’ There was a day’s worth of dark stubble over his jaw and she ached to reach out and touch it. ‘It gave me something to do.’
He met her, and bringing his hand to her cheek, he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, then trailed his fingertips to her dangly earring. ‘You’ve had these little beauties forever.’
‘Oh yes, I have.’ Her hand came to the opposite earring. ‘I can’t believe you remember them.’
‘Of course I do.’ He chuckled, shrugged. ‘I remember a lot of weird things.’
They chatted as they set the table and served up dinner, enjoying each other’s company as they caught up on the day’s events. Jess couldn’t help but feel comfortable and safe around Morgan, despite the underlying tension of her secret. Transported back in time as they ate, she recalled the cool-headed, strong-willed, kindest, most loving man she’d ever met. Even though his laugh lines had deepened, and his eyes now wore the strains of adult life, he was still all the man she remembered, and more. Just being near him tugged at the feelings she’d tucked away. What had she gone and done, leaving him high and dry? After spending the past week with him, she could easily picture their lives, together, happy and content. Her heart ached more than ever. Losing him, wrecking them, it was all her fault. And even after a lovely night, spent rehashing old times and chatting about the new, she carried this heaviness in her heart, to bed, and into her dreams. Tumbling into slumber, she was helpless to stop the workings of her unconscious mind. It was as if the ground had opened up, and she’d jumped in feet first.
Eyelids flickering, she felt herself climbing the steps of the homestead, and then she strode to the front door as a woman way more confident than she was in reality. ‘Hey, Morgan, are you home?’ Her voice carried through the flyscreen and down the hallway.
Silence met her but the scent of burnt toast and freshly made coffee lingered. Refusing to move until he answered the door, she nudged her sunglasses up to the top of her head as fat raindrops began to fall, pounding the tin roof with deafening intensity.
‘Morgan, please, at least let me explain.’ She yelled this time, and her echoing voice felt as if it were bouncing around her mind.
Suddenly, as if in a magical click of her fingers, he was there, inches from her. He shot her a look full of storm clouds. Shocked at his forlorn expression, she felt his silence stretch, linger and then settle heavily. Her mind raced, but she couldn’t find anything worthwhile to say. She managed a tight smile as she stood frozen to the spot, her heart pounding in her chest. Desperate to clear the air, to have him at least offer her a smile, she fought to find her voice. It pained her, seeing him with so much hatred and hurt in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. He could see she was struggling, but unlike every other time, he wasn’t coming to her rescue, and the silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, Morgan spoke. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I—I came to apologise,’ she stammered, feeling small and vulnerable in front of him.
Morgan’s face wavered then came back into angry focus. ‘For what? Breaking my heart? Leaving without a word? Keeping my daughter from me? Which one is it, Jessica?’
Sobbing now, Jess winced at the truth in his words. ‘Yes, for all of that.’ She wiped her cheeks, but the tears kept on coming. ‘I was young and stupid, and I should have turned to you when Mum and Dad died, instead of running away.’ She slowly shook her head. ‘I’m so deeply sorry.’ She tried to reach for him. ‘I should have told you about Chiara, long before this.’
Stepping away from her, Morgan crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw clenching. ‘You think an apology is going to fix everything? That you can just waltz back into my life after all these years and make everything right?’
‘Yes, I think we can make everything right.’ The ground beneath her was unsteady now.
‘Well think again, Jessica Sabatini, because I never want to see you again.’
Then the ground opened up and swallowed her whole.
CHAPTER
12
Morgan gave a weary sigh. Daylight was beginning to fade, as was his energy. But he just needed another ten minutes to finish what he’d started. Steadying himself on the top rung of the ladder, he dipped his brush into the light blue paint then glided it along the tattered weatherboard. It was going to look like new once he was done. He’d been working on the old shed for the better part of the day, and his muscles groaned in protest as he stretched them out. But it was a good kind of ache, the kind that came from a hard day’s work. And it was satisfying to see the progress he had made.
Turning to survey his handiwork, his gaze was drawn to the homestead, and the figure of Jess silhouetted in the kitchen window. He felt a familiar tug in his chest, and he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. She’d been a constant presence in his thoughts ever since she arrived back in Silverton Shores. It was as if the last nine years had melted away, leaving only the memories of the woman he had once loved so deeply. And now that she was here, it was hard to ignore the feelings that still stirred within him. He’d tried to keep a safe distance, to be respectful of her boundaries, and his own need to safeguard his heart, but it wasn’t easy when all he wanted was to pull her into his arms and never let her go. But he knew that wasn’t an option.
Not anymore.
Not ever again.
Their past was too complicated, too painful, to be easily forgotten or forgiven. And yet, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was still a sliver of a chance for them. If he could convince her that they could make it work, that they could build a future together, with her beautiful Chiara by their side. But surely Salvatore would never allow his daughter to move over to the other side of the world? He wouldn’t, if Chiara was his own. That was for certain. He shook his head, knowing that it was a foolish thought. Jess had made it clear that their relationship was strictly platonic, and he had to respect that. He had to be content with the fact that she was here, as his friend, and that was all that mattered.
Turning back to his work, he dipped his brush into the paint once more, and continued where he’d left off. He had a lot of projects to finish before he went back to flying, and he didn’t want to waste any more time thinking about what could have been. He’d loved Jess with his whole being, and yet she’d left him without a look back. Many long years had passed them by, and yet he was still healing from the hurt she’d caused him. They could never rekindle what they’d had. And yet the very thought of her finding someone else, someone who deserved her love, made his heart clench in pain. He couldn’t imagine anyone else making her happy, not when they had so much history between them. But one day, even though it hadn’t worked between her and Salvatore, it was inevitable she would meet someone else who would love her for who she was. He just hoped he could say the same for himself. He longed for the one, the woman to start a family with, and time was ticking.
Way too fast.
He descended the ladder, popped the lid of the paint back on, and carried it over to the shed. With everything packed away in its rightful place, he switched the overhead light off and called it a day. As he walked towards the house, he saw the door open and Jess stepped out. She was wearing a simple sundress, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looked stunning in the golden light of the setting sun, and he felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t help but notice the way her dress clung to her curves, accentuating her every move, or the way her lips curved up into a sweet smile as she saw him, and he certainly couldn’t ignore the way her eyes sparkled with a hint of something he couldn’t quite place. And as he climbed the steps and kicked off his boots, now up nice and close, her natural beauty pinned him to the spot. It usually took quite a lot to impress him, he’d made it that way so he didn’t fall easily, but when it came to Jess, she didn’t need to do anything but be her raw, authentic, real self.
‘Been hard at work, by the looks.’ Her gaze swept towards the shed and then over him.
Taking off his hat, he nodded, trying to keep his voice casual. ‘Yeah, just trying to get some things done before I head back to work in a couple of weeks.’ He couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes lingered on him, and he felt a rush of heat spread through his body as they both stepped through the back door and into the kitchen. ‘What about you? How’s the wedding planning going?’ he asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from the intense emotions he was feeling.
‘It’s all coming together nicely.’ She stretched her arms high and leant side to side. ‘We still have a bit to do before the big day, but we’ll get there.’ She paused, and he could see the sadness in her eyes. ‘I just wish Chiara could be here with me.’ Elbows on the centre bench, and hands clasped, she rested her chin on them. ‘She so wanted to come with me.’
