Page 8 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)
‘After Sasha, the moment any woman mentioned babies, I felt not only like I was being led to the gallows, but like the hangman had already slipped the noose around my neck.’ He ignored Mitchell’s chuckle.
‘I have no idea why the outdated notion of marriage for the sake of the baby surfaced so quickly. I never expected to feel compelled to grab the noose myself.’
‘Exactly. Steer clear of marriage until you get that image of a noose out of your head,’ Mitchell advised. ‘We both have firsthand experience of the hell of growing up where there was no parental love.’
Mitch was right. Jack wouldn’t wish it on any child.
Running a hand through his hair, he said, ‘I do like Callie. When we were talking together in the nightclub I admired her attitude. I’m obviously attracted to her. But I was just thinking out loud. I’m not going to rush into something because of a baby.’
Mitch nodded. ‘Those feelings you have are strong foundations and I can vouch one hundred per cent that she’s someone who’s worthy of you—someone you can trust—but take the time to get to know each other, to build a relationship based on mutual trust. Don’t rush, but don’t hold back out of fear either.
I don’t doubt your child will do better with a mother and a father in its life, provided that relationship is happy and stable—I know Kade’s loving having Stella as his prospective mother.
But, leaving the child out of it, you both deserve a chance of happiness. ’
‘Yeah. I’m with you,’ he said. ‘A child’s better off with co-parenting than being raised in a toxic marital environment.’
‘I can attest to that,’ Mitch agreed.
‘We both can,’ Jack said. ‘In a way, I’m glad I was sent off to boarding school in Melbourne. I didn’t have to hear my parents argue and I didn’t have to run into whoever’s lover had stayed overnight.’
‘Yeah. Well, remember, Jack, as far as the fathering goes, it’s okay to have doubts.
Hell, I still have concerns that I’m going to screw up in some way and let Kade down.
I think it’s normal to have doubts, but what it’s important to remember is that our history doesn’t have to determine our destiny.
The fact that you’re even concerned and don’t want to traumatise your kid by recreating a poor childhood experience speaks volumes.
I reckon you’re already showing an awareness and care that your parents never had. ’
‘First things first,’ Jack told him. ‘Tomorrow, I’ve got a very early morning video conference scheduled with one of my construction teams, then Callie and I are driving into Lancaster to get the paternity test done.’
Mitch stared at the remaining amber liquid in his glass, swilled it around a little in contemplation then looked back at his friend. ‘I’ll be your child’s uncle,’ he said with a smile as realisation dawned. ‘Can’t be all bad.’
Your child.
Hours had gone by and the words still made Jack break out into a cold sweat.
‘Besides,’ Mitch continued, ‘you’ll not only be gaining a son or daughter, you’ll also be gaining the whole Richardson clan—the whole of the Hope Creek community if the truth be told.’
‘One for all and all for one?’ he mocked.
‘Yeah. It’s really like that here and I love it.’
‘Maybe.’ He downed the last of his Scotch and got up to pour himself another finger of the liquid.
He’d never been a heavy drinker but a second was definitely in order under the circumstances.
‘I could do without Morgan, though. She doesn’t even try to hide her hostility.
Is it me in particular, or men in general? ’
Mitch laughed. ‘Don’t worry about Morgan. She was the same with me when I came back here, but she’s really soft-hearted when you get to know her.’
‘Huh! That’s enough Scotch for you!’
‘I’m serious.’ Mitch held up a hand in entreaty.
‘Remember, I grew up with her and I can tell you that all three girls were kind but Morgan was over-the-top tender-hearted and deeply upset whenever she couldn’t save an injured animal.
’ He nodded to himself as he reflected. ‘Stella was the most driven of the three—chasing her tennis dream. Callie was a perfectionist. Everything she did had to be right and above all she wanted people to respect her. Morgan was the bleeding heart.’ He put his glass down and groaned as he put his elbows on the table and covered his face with his hands. ‘Oh God!’
Jack was worried what was coming until he heard Mitch chuckle.
‘Morgan came into the house one afternoon carrying a poor, pitiful joey that was barely clinging to life. It stunk to high heaven, was covered in fleas and its emaciated body trembled with each shallow breath. Most kids would’ve run the other way at the sight, but not Morgan.
I still remember her eyes brimming with tears as she begged Margaret to sew it a makeshift pouch and help her save it.
She wrapped it in warm blankets and when Margaret insisted it be removed from the house before the place was infested with fleas, Morgan said she’d sleep in the barn with it for the night.
Oh man. There was absolutely no way that joey was going to survive but Morgan wouldn’t hear of it being put out of its misery and insisted they call the vet. ’
‘Did she save it?’
‘The vet didn’t make it in time because the joey only lasted another hour but Morgan was inconsolable for days. Margaret was the crankiest I’ve ever seen her because she had to let off a flea bomb in the house!’
Something had sure changed because Jack couldn’t reconcile the girl Mitch spoke of with the bristling woman who’d launched her attack on him. His lips twisted wryly as he said, ‘Guess if I ever want her approval, I’d better do my best impersonation of a flea-bitten joey then!’
Mitch laughed. ‘The sisters are so tight that having Morgan’s approval sure makes life easier.’ Shaking his head, he added, ‘She’ll come around. Give her time to get to know you. She’s great. They all are.’
Jack wasn’t interested in how nice Morgan was, it was only Callie who was important to him.
‘And, once you’re part of the family,’ Mitch continued, ‘Morgan will defend you as much as she would her sisters.’
Part of the family.
It struck him how much the words appealed to him even while his own memories of family haunted him.
As much as he’d never wanted to be a father, he’d always envied those who were part of a close family. Was he destined to fulfil his deepest secret desire here in Hope Creek? Or would it be a disaster?