straightened and rubbed a hand over his face. It had been a busy day and he needed to concentrate. He didn’t want to frighten Lainey off by getting too intense but it was no coincidence they had met up today. Something about her compelled him, made him want to make sure he didn’t lose touch with her again. He hoped she wouldn’t mind him ringing so late.
* * *
Lainey leapt out of her rumpled bed as the shrill sound of the phone shattered the hot and humid summer’s night.
‘Lainey?’
‘Hi, Nick.’ Lainey sat down, grateful for the chair close by.
‘Sorry to ring so late.’
‘That’s okay, I was awake. Are you still at the wedding?’
‘Yep. I couldn’t wait any longer. I can’t stop thinking about you.’
Her heart hammered and her stomach flipped. How many girls would love to hear those words from Nick Cusack?
‘You don’t mind Lainey, do you? I know it’s late.’
He must have taken her silence for disapproval. ‘No, Nick, it’s fine. It’s just been a bit of a shock.’ Even though she’d had months to get used to the idea.
‘You’re telling me.’ Nick’s voice was warm. ‘Lainey, I really want to find out what you’ve been up to for the past ten years. You look the same, just all grown up I guess.’ He laughed. ‘That was lame. I’m either tired or losing my touch.’
‘I don’t think you need to worry about losing your touch. I’ve seen plenty of photos in magazines.’ She stretched out her long legs, more comfortable now.
‘Photos can be messed with and please don’t believe everything written about me.’
‘I don’t.’ Oops. She’d as good as admitted she’d been keeping track. She took a breath – and a risk. ‘Nick? I’d love to catch up … if you want to.’
‘Yes, I want to, Lanky Lainey.’ She heard the amusement in his voice. ‘Does anyone call you that these days?’
‘No one here knows that old nickname. It’s funny hearing it again.’
‘Things have changed a lot since then.’
True ... She sat up straighter. ‘Honestly, Nick, if you’re too busy it’s okay.’
‘I’ll phone you tomorrow when I get home, I promise.’ There was a pause. ‘I don’t think it was a coincidence meeting like this, do you?’
He had a point. She certainly believed in a higher plan. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘Good. Hey, I’m sorry but I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m really glad we bumped into each other.’
‘Me too. G’night, Nick.’
Lainey replaced the receiver, her thoughts in turmoil. This was something she had been half-dreading, half-hoping for. Now it had happened, she had no idea what to do. Except pray, even if it was short.
Dear Lord, I always hoped this day would come, but I’m scared. Please show me what to do.
She went back to bed and lay there, chewing her lip. Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest, taking her back to the day she first laid eyes on Nick Cusack.
Their lack of having a father around was a common ground. All Lainey had of her dad was one photo. Alex Sullivan had cheated on his wife within the first year of their marriage and left when Rose discovered she was pregnant. Lainey didn’t miss him once she found out.
Nick had a much sadder story. When he was six and a half, his father, William, was killed while cycling to work. Lainey hadn’t forgotten Nick’s mum getting choked up when talking about it. Nick didn’t. He preferred not to talk about it at all.
Even though he was the most popular boy around, Nick was her best buddy. Lainey felt closer to him than she did to her girlfriend, Sharon. Nobody ever questioned it, either. They were simply always together, ‘joined at the hip’ as Sharon’s mother, Nina, used to say.
Hannah and Nick and Rose and Lainey got on famously. That is, until the arrival of Roger Morrison, the widowed pastor and his little daughter Sarah.
Lainey had watched with increasing horror as her mother fell in love and then married a man who was serious,
* * *
Lainey leapt out of her rumpled bed as the shrill sound of the phone shattered the hot and humid summer’s night.
‘Lainey?’
‘Hi, Nick.’ Lainey sat down, grateful for the chair close by.
‘Sorry to ring so late.’
‘That’s okay, I was awake. Are you still at the wedding?’
‘Yep. I couldn’t wait any longer. I can’t stop thinking about you.’
Her heart hammered and her stomach flipped. How many girls would love to hear those words from Nick Cusack?
‘You don’t mind Lainey, do you? I know it’s late.’
He must have taken her silence for disapproval. ‘No, Nick, it’s fine. It’s just been a bit of a shock.’ Even though she’d had months to get used to the idea.
‘You’re telling me.’ Nick’s voice was warm. ‘Lainey, I really want to find out what you’ve been up to for the past ten years. You look the same, just all grown up I guess.’ He laughed. ‘That was lame. I’m either tired or losing my touch.’
‘I don’t think you need to worry about losing your touch. I’ve seen plenty of photos in magazines.’ She stretched out her long legs, more comfortable now.
‘Photos can be messed with and please don’t believe everything written about me.’
‘I don’t.’ Oops. She’d as good as admitted she’d been keeping track. She took a breath – and a risk. ‘Nick? I’d love to catch up … if you want to.’
‘Yes, I want to, Lanky Lainey.’ She heard the amusement in his voice. ‘Does anyone call you that these days?’
‘No one here knows that old nickname. It’s funny hearing it again.’
‘Things have changed a lot since then.’
True ... She sat up straighter. ‘Honestly, Nick, if you’re too busy it’s okay.’
‘I’ll phone you tomorrow when I get home, I promise.’ There was a pause. ‘I don’t think it was a coincidence meeting like this, do you?’
He had a point. She certainly believed in a higher plan. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘Good. Hey, I’m sorry but I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m really glad we bumped into each other.’
‘Me too. G’night, Nick.’
Lainey replaced the receiver, her thoughts in turmoil. This was something she had been half-dreading, half-hoping for. Now it had happened, she had no idea what to do. Except pray, even if it was short.
Dear Lord, I always hoped this day would come, but I’m scared. Please show me what to do.
She went back to bed and lay there, chewing her lip. Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest, taking her back to the day she first laid eyes on Nick Cusack.
Their lack of having a father around was a common ground. All Lainey had of her dad was one photo. Alex Sullivan had cheated on his wife within the first year of their marriage and left when Rose discovered she was pregnant. Lainey didn’t miss him once she found out.
Nick had a much sadder story. When he was six and a half, his father, William, was killed while cycling to work. Lainey hadn’t forgotten Nick’s mum getting choked up when talking about it. Nick didn’t. He preferred not to talk about it at all.
Even though he was the most popular boy around, Nick was her best buddy. Lainey felt closer to him than she did to her girlfriend, Sharon. Nobody ever questioned it, either. They were simply always together, ‘joined at the hip’ as Sharon’s mother, Nina, used to say.
Hannah and Nick and Rose and Lainey got on famously. That is, until the arrival of Roger Morrison, the widowed pastor and his little daughter Sarah.
Lainey had watched with increasing horror as her mother fell in love and then married a man who was serious,
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