Page 6 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

‘What do you do for work, Jack?’

Jim’s question was totally unvarnished and Callie squirmed.

Ever since they’d joined the family in the dining room and taken their places at the long Tasmanian oak table, there’d been an awkward mix of silence and overly animated chatter.

Margaret and Stella had talked incessantly about all sorts of inconsequential matters while Morgan had been quiet—sizing Jack up from where she sat opposite him. Blue and Mitch attacked their meals with even greater gusto than usual.

Now, at the very first pause, Jim started the interrogation and, despite Margaret’s intentions to make things comfortable, her fork stopped midway to her mouth as she hung on Jack’s response.

Jack wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and sat back in his seat looking cool and calm as he met Jim’s gaze. ‘I’m in development.’

Oh gosh. Being in development wasn’t going to endear him to Jim or any of the locals.

Jim speared a potato with his fork. ‘Mitch said you arrived early because you had business in Hope Creek?’

Heaven forbid anybody would want to further develop the local area.

The community had embraced the introduction of farm stays understanding it was a steady source of income for the smaller farms—particularly when inclement weather or international market trends went against them earning a decent living from the land.

There’d been a ripple of unease when a vineyard and numerous bed and breakfast lodgings had opened up years ago, but those businesses hadn’t changed the tone of the community to any significant extent and had provided employment possibilities.

More recently, everyone had firmly supported Stella’s development of a tennis training centre for underprivileged kids.

But Stella had grown up here and she was doing something to help others in the face of the shattering end to her professional tennis career, so the locals were behind her all the way.

As far as the majority of the residents were concerned, development was fine closer to Lancaster, but large-scale development would be opposed here.

Everyone agreed that it was comforting to know each other well, and to maintain the tradition of virtually the whole community gathering at the local pub—now owned by Mitch—every Saturday night.

‘I’ve been involved in a project near Lancaster and I heard Hope Creek Vineyard is for sale.

I’ve always been keen to purchase a vineyard so I met with the owner—Andrew Thompson—today.

’ He moved his hands expansively. ‘I still have to do some research, but from what I saw, I think it will be a great investment so I’m fairly intent on buying it. ’

Callie stared at Jack as his words sank in and unease trickled down her spine.

Was he planning to move to the area?

‘Hope Creek Vineyard?’ Jim’s eyebrows raised as he reconsidered their dinner guest. ‘That’s a serious investment.’

‘It—’

‘Jack Marshall!’ Margaret exclaimed over the top of Jack. ‘I thought your name sounded familiar but I’ve just twigged. You’re the CEO of Specific Development, right?’

‘That’s right,’ Jack confirmed. ‘It was my father’s company. I took over after Dad passed away.’

‘Mitch said you were a businessman, but he didn’t elaborate,’ Margaret said as she shot her soon-to-be son-in-law a look of admonishment.

Oh Lord. Callie should’ve realised Jack was some high-powered executive.

His hotel suite had screamed expensive, but Callie hadn’t registered the opulence of it until she’d gathered her clothes and snuck out furtively in the early hours of the morning.

They’d been too busy ripping each other’s clothes off the second the door to the suite had closed behind them for her to have absorbed her surroundings initially.

Heat scorched her cheeks at the memory and she looked down at her plate so her hair would partially obscure her blush.

‘The company that’s building the new golf course and resort on the other side of Lancaster?’ Blue asked.

‘That’s the one,’ Mitch confirmed.

Callie’s stomach hollowed out realising Jack must be seriously wealthy and wondering if he moved in circles she’d never be comfortable in.

Jim picked up his wine glass and fixed an assessing gaze on Jack. ‘I know the company. In fact, I have a bundle of your company shares in my portfolio.’

‘Then I hope you’re pleased with the company’s performance.’

Jim nodded but Callie could see he was still sizing up Jack despite his next words being complimentary. ‘It’s blue chip stock now. You’ve done well.’

Jack merely inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of the praise before he took a sip of his wine.

‘From memory, your company’s based in Brisbane,’ Jim said. ‘Is that where you live?’

‘Yes.’ He set down his wine glass. ‘I was born in Brisbane and that’s where my family’s from, but I went to boarding school in Melbourne then stayed there for university.

My mother has remarried and is living in Argentina, and I have one sister who lives in Sydney with her husband and their daughter who’s almost two. ’

It was all news to Callie.

‘You were at uni when you and Mitch played football, right?’ Stella asked.

‘Yes. We only played together briefly before Mitch got his scholarship to Stanford and left Melbourne, but we had clicked straight away and remained friends.’

‘He was good enough to have gone pro,’ Mitchell told them.

Ignoring the praise, Jack continued, ‘I moved back to Brisbane after uni.’

Jim cleared his throat and his lips tightened for a second before he said, ‘Marg told me what I walked in on earlier. I gather you were as blindsided as we were by Callie’s news?’

Jack met his gaze steadily. ‘I’d say that’s an understatement.’

‘Callie only told us the news on Friday night when she arrived from Melbourne, and she wouldn’t name you or tell us anything about you.’ There was censure in Jim’s tone.

Pressure built up at Callie’s temples. Although Stella and Morgan were both aware she was pregnant as a result of a one-night stand, she hadn’t confessed the same details to their parents.

Now Jack was here, the truth was going to come out sooner or later. She summoned her courage and confessed, ‘I didn’t mention Jack because—’

‘Callie and I are in the early stages of our relationship.’ Jack shut down her confession.

‘So, you do have a relationship ?’ Jim insisted. ‘I thought you only just found out she’s pregnant?’

‘Jim!’ Margaret admonished. ‘That’s enough.’

‘Stop!’ Callie insisted before turning to Jack. ‘Thank you for trying to be a gentleman here and cover up the truth about our meeting, but I’d rather be honest with my family. Stella and Morgan already know the truth.’

‘Which is?’ Jim prompted.

‘I met Jack at a nightclub.’ She paused and squared her shoulders, steeling herself to continue. ‘We spent the night together but we didn’t introduce ourselves properly and I had no way of contacting him once I knew about the baby.’

Unfairly, Jim shot Jack a look of bleak disapproval so Callie defended him. ‘It wasn’t Jack’s fault, Jim. I left before he woke up.’

Blue cleared his throat uncomfortably and reached out to start stacking some of the empty plates.

‘Callie, you don’t have to explain yourself,’ Morgan said.

‘This is a serious situation,’ Jim underlined, ‘and it’s not like you to be … so reckless, Callie.’

He shot Jack another look of judgement and Callie knew Jim must think she’d been coerced.

‘You think I don’t know that?’ Callie asked desperately. ‘I know it’s not like me but I realised after Stella’s accident that life’s short and—’

‘Don’t apologise for what happened, Callie,’ Jack told her firmly. ‘We’re both adults.’

Her stomach plummeted as she realised if she brushed over their night together it would seem tawdry. In fact, it had been a mind-blowingly blissful night—a heady mix of passion and tenderness and Jack had never made her feel cheap or uncomfortable. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean … I know …’

‘I think you two need a whole lot more time alone,’ Margaret said.

‘You’re absolutely right, Margaret,’ Jack agreed.

‘But I understand you all love Callie and you’re wondering how I’m handling this news.

’ Looking directly at Jim, he continued, ‘The truth is that had Callie stayed, I would’ve pursued a relationship with her.

’ His attention shifted to Callie and the conviction of his words and the sincerity she saw in his eyes turned her insides to mush.

‘That’s wonder—’

Jack cut through Margaret’s joy, saying, ‘But as we don’t know each other well, Callie has agreed to a paternity test.’

Morgan jumped up from her chair and pointed a finger at Jack. ‘Don’t you dare insult my sister by making out she’s promiscuous when you of all people must realise nothing could be further from the truth!’

‘Morgan!’ Stella and Callie pleaded simultaneously.

Ignoring them, Morgan wasn’t about to be silenced. ‘Don’t you dare try to wriggle out of your responsibility!’

‘I’m not trying to wriggle out of anything,’ Jack asserted.

‘Sit down, Morgan,’ Jim commanded.

‘Before this escalates,’ Mitch said firmly, ‘Everyone should stop and think about this from Jack’s point of view.’

‘Oh, God!’ Morgan threw her hands up in the air dramatically. ‘ Of course you men stick together.’

‘Morgan!’ Jim and Margaret’s combined warning had Morgan sitting down somewhat huffily and crossing her arms over her chest as she glared balefully at Jack.

‘You all know Deanna deceived me,’ Mitch said.

‘ Yes,’ Stella agreed before adding, ‘But Callie is not Deanna. We all know she would never lie about this.’

‘Yes, darling,’ Mitch said calmly as he took one of Stella’s hands in his own. ‘We all know it because we know Callie, but it’s important that Jack knows it too. This is huge news and you can’t expect him not to want a paternity test.’

Callie only barely managed to prevent herself from covering her face with her hands, totally mortified to be discussed in this way. She surprised herself by looking to Jack for support and was even more surprised when she received his nod of understanding.

‘While this pregnancy wasn’t planned, and Callie and I have a lot to learn about each other, I would never walk away from my responsibilities.

If the baby is …’ His throat worked up and down and Callie’s heart was like a ball of lead in her chest as she saw the effort it cost him to even entertain the possibility that her baby might be his.

‘If I am the … father … I would support Callie through it both emotionally and financially.’

‘I’ve already said you could be counted on,’ Mitch said.

‘But it’s wonderful to hear the pledge from you, Jack.’ Margaret’s relief was in every syllable, but Jack wasn’t finished yet.

‘If we find our feelings aren’t strong enough to build a future together as a couple, I’d still always be there for the child, and for you, Callie, as the child’s mother.’

Callie gulped and tried to steady her emotions as she absorbed his declaration and felt tears threaten.

It made her heart swell, but what really had her pulse skittering was his reference to their future as a couple because even though common sense told her it was a massive leap from where they were right now, it was a shockingly exciting prospect.

‘Well said, young man,’ Blue told him with a nod of approval.

Jim weighed the words before he finally nodded. ‘Good.’

‘It’s fine to hear your intentions, Jack.

’ Antagonism laced every one of Morgan’s syllables and Callie cringed, knowing her sister loved her and was trying to be protective of her, but anxious about what she’d say next.

‘But you’re assuming Callie will want you to be involved with the baby and want to have a relationship with you. ’

‘Oh Lord!’ Blue muttered, slapping his palm against his forehead.

‘That’s quite enough, Morgan,’ Jim declared.

Margaret stood up. ‘I think it’s time for dessert.’

‘I second that.’ Mitchell’s chair scraped against the floorboards as he pushed it away from the table. ‘If that’s your famous apple pie I can smell, I’ll come and help you serve.’

‘You just want an extra-large slice,’ Stella teased as she tried to defuse the situation.

‘Sure do.’ Mitchell patted his stomach. ‘Kade’s going to be awfully sore he missed out on dessert!’

Callie’s slight cough caught Morgan’s attention and Callie hoped her sister would heed the plea in her expression.

Morgan was right. It was a mighty big assumption Jack was making that she’d want to try to form an ongoing relationship with him on any terms other than that he was this baby’s father.

There were so many things they had to discuss and come to terms with—major things.

But Callie hated Morgan’s antagonism towards him. He’d done nothing to deserve it.

Besides, the possibility that Callie and Jack would forge a lasting relationship … The thought released butterflies in her stomach.

From the minute she’d arrived back at her place in Melbourne after their night together, she’d regretted that her attack of uncertainty had made her run out of his hotel suite. Then, when she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d expected to raise her baby as a single mother.

Now fate had intervened. The thought of a future with Jack by her side … of Jack as her partner in life … despite all the questions and uncertainties …

The possibility left Callie breathless.

Did she dare dream for a future with him?