Page 48 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

‘Hm.’ Gary tapped the side of his nose with his index finger. ‘All I’ll say is that investigations are underway into that. If any charges are laid, I’ll let you know.’

As people began chatting between themselves, Mitch drew Stella to his side and told Jack, ‘I’m relieved beyond words that your name has been cleared.’

‘So are the company investors,’ Jack said wryly. ‘Two hours after the press conference today, the stock prices started bouncing back.’

‘Thank goodness,’ Stella said.

‘Part of my relief you’re in the clear is purely selfish, of course,’ Mitch elaborated. Then when Jack frowned, he explained, ‘Stella and I were going to cancel our honeymoon—well, delay it anyway—if you were still in custody.’

Callie hugged them both. ‘Thank you! We really appreciate your support and I’m so glad you’re still going away as planned tomorrow.’

‘I know all this has already mucked up the plans you had with your wedding guests who were staying on for extra days of celebration,’ Jack said. ‘I’m glad you get to enjoy your honeymoon.’

‘Did we tell you that everyone who ended up leaving early has said that they are going to come back in twelve months and celebrate our first anniversary with us?’ Stella asked.

No. Callie hadn’t known that.

‘A few of my friends will also be back sooner,’ Stella told them all excitedly. ‘They’ve agreed to be here for the official opening of my tennis centre.’

‘Great stuff!’ Jack said. ‘Your name alone would guarantee a lot of publicity for the centre but if some of those other high-ranking players manage to make it, I’m sure the whole opening will be even more sensational.’

As Jack chatted to the other couple, Callie thought how wonderful it was that Stella and Mitch had found happiness together on their return to Hope Creek and that they had terrific friends around them who would support them through all the highs and lows in life.

‘We’ll be seeing a lot more of you now you’ll be moving here,’ Mitch told Jack.

‘You sure will be,’ Jack agreed. ‘It’s early days, but I’m hoping to shift the main company base to Melbourne if I can persuade my senior staff to transfer. If not, I’ll work mostly from home and the Melbourne office and travel whenever I need to visit a site.’

‘I would never have guessed we’d end up being brothers-in-law,’ Mitch remarked. ‘Take it from me, you’re one lucky guy, not only because you’ll be marrying Callie, but also because you’re marrying into a fantastic family.’

‘A fantastic community,’ Stella added. ‘Everyone has already claimed you as part of the community.’

Callie felt her smile fade.

Family.

‘Callie?’ Seemingly ever in tune with Callie’s moods, Jack regarded her with concern. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I …’ Tonight was about Jack and it was important he was here with everyone, yet all she wanted to do was get home and talk to him about family.

‘What is it, Callie?’ Stella asked.

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s nothing, really.’

Jack wasn’t convinced. ‘Mitch, can I take Callie into your office so she can sit down for a bit?’

‘Sure.’ Mitch pointed the way. ‘Just over there.’

‘Really—’ she started to protest but Jack wasn’t having a bar of it and once she was sitting down in the office with the door closed behind them, she felt really silly.

‘Tell me, sweetheart. What’s made you sad?’

She closed her eyes and tried to figure out exactly what it was that had upset her and how to express it. When she opened them again, she met Jack’s expression of warm concern. ‘It was the mention of family.’

‘You’re thinking about your parents or are you worrying about meeting my sister?’

Callie looked around Mitch’s neat, minimalist office and her eyes focused on a pen holder on the desk as she tried to marshal her thoughts. ‘I am worried about meeting your sister. You know that. But I’ve been thinking a lot about my meeting with Julie—with my mother.’

‘Tell me.’ He took her hands in his and she realised how cool her flesh was as he started to rub them gently between his.

Strange I’m cold, given it’s summer.

‘I’m wondering whether I’ve behaved badly as far as my parents are concerned.’

Jack’s brow creased deeply. ‘How have you behaved badly?’

She pulled her hands out of his and ran her palm over her hair. ‘I’ve denied their existence all this time.’

‘Callie, that’s perfectly understandable given their crimes.’

‘But I’ve focused on my shame and all these years I’ve only thought about all the bad things they did.’

His eyebrows rose.

‘When I went to visit my mother, Jack, I remembered things. Good things. Times when they were loving.’ Now her nose started to tingle and her eyes felt strained as the tears formed. ‘There were good times and I didn’t give them any credit for them. I totally suppressed all those memories.’

Jack stood, went to a filing cabinet and retrieved a box of tissues for her.

‘I have no qualifications in psychology.’ Each word was slow and measured.

‘We can get you a first-rate psychologist if you think it will help, but from my perspective, you did what anyone would do. You were ashamed of what they’d done and why wouldn’t you be?

Callie, I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but your parents did bad things.

In my book murder is about as bad as it gets.

And what your mother did enabled the criminals to continue illegal activities that impacted badly on goodness knows how many people. ’

‘I know,’ she agreed in a small voice.

‘That they gave you some what you refer to as “good times” doesn’t excuse their bad behaviour or earn them the right to be in your life.’ He pulled up short. ‘No! Is that what you’re thinking? Are you thinking about forging a relationship with them again?’

‘No.’ She shook her head then repeatedly more vehemently, ‘ No .’

‘That’s a relief because I don’t want our child having contact with them once they get out of prison.’

‘No. Don’t even think I’d entertain that thought for a second. I’m going to be like a fierce lioness when it comes to protecting our child from harm or from any negative influence.’

‘Good.’

‘Even if I wanted to have any ongoing contact with Julie—and that’s why I’m confused, because I don’t know how I feel about it—Julie told me never to return to see her unless I was in trouble.

’ She watched the relief play over Jack’s handsome features and wasn’t sure how she felt about that either.

His reactions made sense but surely, if he was to be her partner in life, he’d support her through her decisions if she really wanted to keep some contact with her mother?

No , her inner voice argued. As your partner, he wouldn’t stand by and let you make bad decisions, he’d try to talk you out of them.

Letting your parents back into your life would be a bad decision.

‘I did promise I’d send her word when … she’s a grandmother.’ When he didn’t respond, she said, ‘I’ve already promised, Jack. I can’t go back on that.’

‘I hope that’s all you promised because this affects us all.’

‘It is.’ There’d be no need to contact Julie again for help because Jack was by her side.

He rubbed his hand over his brow. ‘Sweetheart, I’m sorry if it’s not what you want to hear, but I’m relieved you’re not going to have any further contact with your mother.

I know you’re caring but you mustn’t feel an obligation to give her another chance.

’ Jack inhaled deeply. ‘I’m eternally grateful for the information she gave you that allowed me to walk free, but that doesn’t mean she deserves redemption. ’

Callie hung her head. ‘You’re completely right.

I still need to work through this—maybe with someone qualified.

Margaret has been a wonderful mother to me, but part of me always craved connection with my biological mother, then I started remembering that there were good times. I sound weak, don’t I?’

‘No.’ Jack rushed to assure her. ‘I think wanting that connection is normal.’

She raised her head and didn’t try to hide the anguish in her eyes. ‘I thought they’d been arrested because they hadn’t hidden their tracks well enough, but Julie told me they deliberately got themselves caught.’

‘That doesn’t make sense. Why would they do that—unless their crime bosses needed them to work from the inside?’

She shook her head and caught his hands in hers.

‘She told me they were both trapped into the criminal lifestyle.’ Jack’s features tightened and she could see he didn’t believe it for a second so she rushed to explain.

‘Both of them had parents who were working for the family. Mum’s accountancy degree fees were paid by the family and she was indebted to them. ’

‘Callie—’

‘My parents decided to get away from the family, but the head guy found out and he threatened to slit my throat in front of them if they ever tried anything. They agreed between them that the only thing they could do to save me was to go to prison so I’d go into care and have a chance at a crime-free life. ’

Jack’s lips twisted before he let out a long breath.

‘Darling, you have a good heart. The best heart. And maybe I’m a born cynic, but I’m not sold on that story, and I hate that your mother has got into your head and made you feel bad that you haven’t tried to see them before now and has you even contemplating that you should have some sort of relationship with her again. ’

‘Hold me, Jack.’

He shifted on the seat, lifted her up and placed her on his lap so he could hold her tightly to him.

Lord, but she felt safe here.

Safe and protected.

‘What have Margaret and Jim said about this?’ he asked before he placed a kiss on her temple.

‘I haven’t told them.’ She tilted her head so she could look up at him. ‘I’m still trying to sort out exactly how I feel, but I wanted to talk about it with you. You’re right when you say I feel guilt.’

‘Mitch told me how much you’ve always wanted to do the right thing, but, Callie, I don’t think you’ve been in the wrong here.

You shouldn’t be carrying their shame because you had nothing to do with their decisions.

And you definitely shouldn’t be feeling any guilt about cutting them from your life.

’ His arms tightened around her as he gave her an extra squeeze of reassurance.

‘Besides, if what your mother said can be believed, they wanted you to forge your own path.’

‘I love you, Jack,’ she said with a sniffle against his shirt. ‘I needed to talk to you about this. It’s so good to know I can. Thank you for listening.’

‘I’m glad you told me and I’ll always listen to how you feel, but these feelings you have run deep and have been there since your childhood. I think you should speak with a psychologist.’

‘Maybe.’ She’d see how well she could untangle her feelings over the next few days and see whether she needed professional support. ‘I’ll speak about it with Margaret tomorrow before we head back to Melbourne.’

‘About Melbourne …’

‘Yes?’

‘Are we going to live together?’

Callie laughed. ‘Absolutely!’

‘Good. I’m glad that’s settled.’ He sent her one of his drop-dead gorgeous smiles that always made her heart perform a series of less-than-coordinated gymnastics routines. ‘I have one other request for you.’

‘Go on.’

‘Jacinta would’ve loved to have come to Hope Creek and meet you, but she was missing Eden and James.

Also she’d had to request an adjournment for one of her cases and she didn’t want to push the judge’s tolerance level any further than she had to, so she needed to get back today so she could present at court tomorrow. ’

‘That’s understandable.’ His sister sounded committed to both her family and her profession. ‘It gives me a bit of a chance to steel myself before I meet her as well and have to face her questions about my family.’

‘You know, Jacinta’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but she’s also a very warm woman.

’ He hesitated. ‘I won’t lie to you. She did have questions about your background and she was highly suspicious of how you came by the information about Marcus.

I think she’ll be in Sydney worrying about me before she meets you and sees how right we are together.

She and James have invited us to visit them as soon as we can. ’

Callie wasn’t certain. She stood up and walked over to one of the walls that displayed some photos from Mitch’s NFL career, but she looked at the images without really seeing them. She turned quickly to Jack as she made a decision.

‘Call me all sorts of coward, but how about you tell her about my parents and why they’re in prison?’

Jack nodded. ‘If that’s the way you want to do this.’ Then he spread his hands out in front of him. ‘Darling, you really don’t have to tell her at all about your parents if you don’t want to.’

‘No.’ Her decision was made. ‘If we’re going to be family, then I believe she has a right to know. I didn’t ever keep this a secret from my family and I’m finally starting to believe that what you and everyone else has told me is true. I shouldn’t carry the burden of guilt for my parents’ crimes.’

Jack nodded. ‘I’m proud of you.’

‘But I don’t want to have to rehash all that to your sister and her husband.’ She bit down on her lip before she admitted, ‘I know I’m most likely wrong but I can’t feel like I’d be subjected to two senior counsels cross-examining me about them.’

Jack laughed. ‘You’ve really got to meet Jacinta and James so you can lay all these fears to rest.’

‘Jack,’ she ventured tentatively. ‘When you tell them about my parents … If they don’t want to meet me … I’ll cope with that.’ She held up a hand to stop him from speaking when she could see he was about to protest. ‘I think it’s only fair that they know who it is they’re inviting to their home.’

His expression was all determination when he said, ‘They know who they’ve invited. They’ve invited the woman I love.’

Be that as it may, Callie found herself torn. Part of her wanted to put off the visit to Sydney and another part of her wanted to get it over with.

She smoothed down the fabric of her dress. ‘I think we should get back outside now and join in your party.’

‘You’re okay for now?’

‘Yes.’

‘In that case, let’s get back to it.’ He gave her a wink. ‘Because the sooner this party ends, the sooner we can get back to the cottage and I can show you how much I love you.’