‘How many?’ Nathan wanted her to meet these people? Seemed they were way past being civil with each other and on to greater things.
‘Eight.’
‘You’re pulling my leg,’ she spluttered.
‘Nope.’ He laughed. ‘Three married sisters make for eight brats to buy birthday and Christmas presents for.’
It didn’t sound like he resented that. Quite the opposite. He seemed very happy he belonged to this family. ‘You must have lists everywhere to keep up with what you’ve bought who, and what you’ll get them next.’
‘You have no idea. So, are you up for them? I have to be fair and warn you it won’t be a quiet afternoon and you’ll never have seen a meal like it. Also, dinner will be at some ridiculously early hour that’s closer to lunch so that everyone can be back on the road early. Getting the ankle-biters home late causes bedlam the next morning apparently.’
‘It doesn’t sound as though any of this is a hardship.’ Did he really want to introduce her to his family? Had he thought it through? Grab the opportunity. Even if they didn’t go much further with whatever was happening between them, she should get out and enjoy herself while she could. ‘I could come for a few minutes,’ she teased. This teasing was another first. She’d forgotten how to long ago—safer that way—but apparently the ability had been hovering under the surface.
‘Minutes? Oh, no, you don’t. All or nothing, girl.’
She laughed. This was so different from anything she’d have expected from Nathan before Vicki’s breakfast. Before V day and after V day were now her measures. ‘I’m on my way. Well, I will be when I’ve spruced myself up a bit.’
‘Don’t get carried away. By the time the little horrors have finished with you you’ll wish you’d saved yourself the effort.’
‘This sounds like fun.’
‘You have no idea.’ Nathan was laughing fit to bust as he hung up.
Eight kids in one hit? Crikey. Molly stared around her cramped bedroom. What was happening to her? She’d been out more often to more places since V day than at any time throughout the last two months put together. Even better, she was happy. The only time she hadn’t been was when Nathan had accused her of being drunk, and his apology more than made up for that.
Leaping off the bed, she threw the wardrobe door open. What to wear? Something to impress Nathan, even if he had warned her to downplay the outfit?
Molly settled for tight black jeans, a cream jersey, and her favourite red boots. No, cream was a magnet for grubby hands. Tossing that jersey aside, she flicked hangers from one side to the other, found the bright orange jersey and tugged it over her head, instantly feeling at ease. Orange top and red curls. Perfect. Lipstick. Red or orange? Red was the first one to land in her hand, so red it was. She had to stop singing to apply the gloss.
So much for exhaustion and muscle aches. She was going to a party of sorts. Bring it on.
Nathan’s house on Saturday morning had had an air of quiet elegance about it, with the sweeping lawns and ocean view attention grabbing.
Today Molly felt as though she’d dropped into the middle of a circus. Who knew kids could make so much noise? Then there was the exuberant adult joining in all the games and flying kites and chasing balls, seemingly all at once. Gone was any vestige of Dr Lupton.
‘Hey, you came.’
‘You didn’t think I’d turn up after saying I would?’
‘I figured you’d pull into the drive, hear the racket going on and take off faster than a rocket.’ Nathan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. ‘I’ve said it before—you’re one brave lady. Come and meet the tribe. I promise not to quiz you on names later.’
She felt a bit bedazzled as she was introduced to sisters, brothers-in-law and all those children, and had to pinch herself to make sure this was real. It was nothing like her family, where she was the only child, with her mother and all the expectations of grandeur and a father in New Zealand replaced by a stepdad. They loved her, but this? She looked around and swallowed. The Luptons left her speechless. It was probably just as well or she might say something so odd they’d be putting her back in her car and waving goodbye before she’d had time to relax.
‘Here, get this into you.’ One of the women handed her a glass of wine. Annemarie? Or Jessie? It wasn’t Allie, or was it? ‘I hope you like wine, because a few hours with us will turn anyone to drink. We’re enough to scare off the bravest.’
Molly accepted the glass. ‘I think you might be right.’
‘Try and leave, and I’ll wheel-clamp your car,’ Nathan called over his shoulder as two young boys tried to tackle him to the ground. ‘And that’s Annemarie.’
She laughed. She was doing a lot of that lately. Again Nathan had seen right through her confusion. ‘Thanks, Annemarie.’ Colour filled her cheeks. ‘I’m in the mood for a wine, which is rare.’ So much had been happening, so something, someone to relax with was perfect. Her gaze found Nathan. Having a drink made standing around talking to strangers easier, and kept her hands busy. Unless—‘You look like you need some help,’ she called over to Nathan.
‘Stay back, and look after those sore muscles. We have a few hours to get through yet.’ When she lifted one eyebrow, he laughed. ‘You’re walking round like a toddler on a high.’ Boys and girls fell onto Nathan, pushing him onto the lawn, tickling him as he carefully tossed one after another into the air and caught them again.
‘Let’s sit on the sidelines,’ Annemarie said, heading for the expansive deck and some chairs, sheltered from the light, cool breeze coming off the sea. ‘The men can play while the women relax with wine and nibbles. It’s tiring just watching.’
Settling into a wicker chair, Molly watched Nathan and his brothers-in-law chasing kids and balls around the lawn and waited for the questions from the sisters, sipping her wine in an attempt to look the part of a friend with nothing else to do on a Saturday afternoon. That part was kind of true. When the grilling didn’t come she began to enjoy herself.
‘Mum, when can we eat? I’m hungry.’ A little girl stood in front of them a while later, hands on hips, just like her uncle Nathan had been doing earlier.
‘Ask Uncle Nathan. He’s in charge of the barbecue.’
‘Now,’ came the call.
The women hit the kitchen, and Molly found herself taking an endless supply of salads, breads, dressings and sauces out to the huge table in the conservatory. Delicious smells wafted from the barbecue where Nathan and the guys had begun cooking steak and sausages.
‘How’re you doing?’ Nathan came over to her. ‘I’ve neglected you a bit.’
‘It’s fine. I don’t need to be babysat. Anyway, I liked talking with your sisters.’
‘That’s a worry.’ He grinned.
‘You were having fun with the kids. You’re just like them, getting muddy rolling around on the lawn. I half expected you to ask for a turn on the trolley.’ There was a box on wheels that the men had taken turns pulling children around in.
‘No one would take me on.’ Another grin.
‘I can see why your family descends on you.’ No sign of being in control or wanting things done his way today. ‘You love those kids and they love you b
ack just as much.’ She could see him with a large family of his own. Not with her—she couldn’t. Her stomach squeezed a little, her mouth lost the sweet taste of the wine. ‘You ever plan on having your own brood?’
Nathan turned from watching the kids arguing over a game of hopscotch to studying her a little too intently. ‘Is that a loaded question?’
An important one. ‘It stands to reason you might want your own family when you’re so comfortable with this crowd.’
‘You’re right, I adore them. I fully intend on raising some kids of my own one day. What about you? You want a family some time?’
‘Absolutely.’ It was true. She did. People didn’t always get everything they wanted, though. ‘It’s not something I’ve thought too much about lately.’ Again true, because there’d never been a reason to. There hadn’t been a man waiting in the wings to be a part of that life. Now there was a possibility of love happening she had to think how to go about this.
‘Rosie and I had planned on starting a family as soon as I qualified.’ His gaze had left her, appeared to have gone out across the lawn somewhere.
Molly touched his arm. ‘Nathan? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
He looked at her, placing his hand over hers on his arm. ‘You said sorry again.’
‘Because I spoiled the moment.’ He wanted a family. A bucket of cold water couldn’t have chilled her any more than that information. It was the wake-up call she hated. Of course he’d want children when he fell in love again. It’s what most men and women wanted. She did. Only it wasn’t going to happen for her, and she wouldn’t take anyone else on that ride. It would be grossly unfair to expect Nathan to drop his dream of children for her. A weight settled over her heart—the one that wasn’t supposed to be involved with this amazing man.
‘Get it into your head that talking about Rosie comes as naturally to me as eating. Sure, there’re moments I feel sad, but it’s a whole lot worse if she’s never acknowledged.’ He squeezed her hand, then let it go to step aside, putting space between them. ‘If it’s a problem for you then there’s not a lot I can do. I will never deny she was the love of my life and how hard it’s been to lose her.’