An Opportunity Seized (19 page)
But nothing replaced a mother’s love. He had prayed for the return of a more loving mother in nearly all of his nightly bedtime prayers. Losing their father to cancer a few years ago had been a huge blow, but it had brought his brother and him even closer. Luke, a few years younger than Ben, had only recently married—a fact Ben still found hard to believe, since for years he had watched his sibling jump from woman to woman. Ben had believed Luke to be gun shy when it came to relationships, because of their mother. However, Lucy—Ben was pleased to acknowledge—had had a settling effect on Luke’s life.
“Okay, enough of the begging, I’ll do it but only cause I want to corrupt my nephews some more. I warn you it’s going to be pizza, sugary drinks and ice-cream all weekend.” Luke was laughing so loudly the sound was almost deafening.
Ben was forced to move the phone away from his hear to save his eardrums.
“Thanks, mate, but for fuck’s sake, don’t tell Beth that or she’ll never leave them with you. And just so you can’t say I didn’t warn you, sugary induced spew is not pretty and you will be the one cleaning it up.”
“Naw, no need to worry, Ben. I can get Lucy to do it. She’s used to drunks spewing up on her, so a couple kids can’t be any worse.”
Ben thought Luke was being overly optimistic—there was no way Lucy would cop that if it was Luke’s fault the kids got sick. She’d be handing him a bucket and a mop quick smart, and busting his balls for being so irresponsible. “Well, I won’t tell Lucy you said that if you don’t breathe a word of this conversation to Beth until the time is right. We gotta deal, little brother?”
“Deal. Don’t worry about Beth. She’s not like mum. She loves the boys and you, for some unknown reason. This is probably just some kind of bump in an old married couple’s life. Glad I can help give you both some time, though, geez, mate we should’ve done this for you before. Let me know the details of when and what you need us to do. Catch ya later, big bro.”
“Thanks, Luke, I reckon you’re probably right. Beth’s just tired and needs a few days. I’ll talk to you later.” Ending the call, Ben couldn’t help but smile at the thought of how his seven-year-old and twin five-year-old sons would run his brother ragged.
Be good practice for when he becomes a father himself.
Ben replaced the phone into its cradle. Turning back to his computer monitor, Ben returned his concentration to making the final arrangements for the surprise he’d been planning for Beth.
Going through the list one more time, Ben double-checked everything was as it should be. The flights were booked, helicopter connection from the airport to the remote island off the Queensland coast confirmed. He smiled as he read the receipt for the private beachfront accommodation. It was going to be an expensive break—probably more than they could afford—but worth every dollar he spent if it made Beth happy. The most important feature in the house, especially for Ben’s plan, was the inclusion of the large bath—the very lavish, two-person sized tub.
The whole idea had come to him a few weeks ago when he’d been moving photo albums. One of the boys, while horsing around, had managed to knock out two shelves in the lounge room bookcase. Ben had been forced to empty the whole damn thing to repair the damage done. As he’d replaced the books and family knickknacks, he’d noticed the honeymoon album. Memories of that time had flooded Ben’s mind. In fact, for the next few nights he’d thought and dreamt of little else. The island they had spent their honeymoon on, the intimacies they had shared there, had been one of the most perfect times in Ben’s life—back when he and Beth had only had each other to care for, live for—love. Now responsibilities had eaten away all that time.
“Well not on this weekend. No responsibility allowed. Just me, my Beth and a whole lot of loving,” Ben told his empty office. “Mangos… I need to order a basket of tropical fruit to be delivered to the room,” he continued with his one-sided conversation, trying to get everything just right.
“Champagne!” he yelled triumphantly as he added the latest idea to the to-do list open on his desktop, at the same time noticing the time display on the screen read seven o’clock. “Shit, late again!” He groaned, glancing out of the window from his office to the darkened world outside. “Damn! I promised Beth I’d be home an hour ago.”
About the Author
Sydney-born Donna Gallagher decided at an early age that life needed be tackled head on. Leaving home at fifteen, she supported herself through her teen years. In her twenties she married a professional sportsman, her love of sport—especially rugby league—probably overriding her good sense.
The seven-year marriage was an adventure. There were the emotional ups and downs of having a husband with a public profile in a sometimes glamorous but always high-pressure field. There were always interesting characters to meet and observe, and even the opportunity to live for a time in the UK. Eventually Donna returned home a single woman, but she never lost her passion for watching sport, as well as the people in and around it.
Now happily re-married and with three sons, Donna loves coffee mornings with her female friends, sorting through problems from the personal to the international. But she’s on even footing with the keenest man when it comes to watching and talking rugby league.
Donna considers herself something of a black sheep in a family of high achievers. Her brother has a doctorate in mathematics and her sister is a well-known Australian sports journalist. An avid reader, especially of romance, Donna finally found she couldn’t stop the characters residing in her imagination from spilling onto paper. Naturally, rugby league is the backdrop to her spicy tales of hunky heroes and spunky heroines overcoming adversity to eventually find true love.
Email:
[email protected]
Donna
loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.totallybound.com
.
Also by Donna Gallagher
League of Love: Caitlin’s Hero
League of Love: Mandy’s He-Man
League of Love: Pippa’s Fantasy
League of Love: Emily’s Cowboy
League of Love: Sarah’s Soldier
League of Love: Cassie’s Choice
Totally Bound Publishing
