The Patterson Girls (59 page)

Not mentioning that she'd already been in to the post office four times that day, she pushed back her chair. The wooden legs scraped against the floor as the door from the motel opened again. Madeleine marched through, Joe, Lucinda and Nigel following closely behind. Charlie noted the anxious expressions on their faces and guessed that the yellow envelope in Madeleine's hand was the news they'd all been waiting for.

‘It's here,' Madeleine announced, crossing the kitchen to Charlie. She handled the envelope delicately, as if its contents were explosive. ‘Do you want me to open it? Or do you want to do it alone?'

Charlie reached out to take it, her hands shaking and stomach churning. ‘I'll do it, but you may as well all stay.' Whatever the result, she'd have to tell them eventually.

She sucked in a breath as she turned the envelope over and stared at the sender's address.
SA Pathology.
This was it. She heard the distant tingle of someone entering reception but they could wait.
This
was more important than anything.

‘Should we call Mitch?' Abigail asked as Charlie slid her finger beneath the seal. ‘Maybe he should be here when you open it?'

Before Charlie had a chance to reply or even think this suggestion through, someone cleared his throat. They all turned to find Mitch standing in the open doorway. Ripped, faded denim clung to his legs and her heart turned over in her chest at the sight of him.

‘Open it,' he said, his dark eyes serious. ‘Dad just called. He got the letter a few minutes ago.'

‘So … you know?' she whispered.

He nodded, his eyes watery with tears she couldn't decipher. ‘Go on.'

All eyes glued on her, Charlie tried to steady her hand enough to open the envelope. She tore out the piece of paper, dropped her gaze to the middle of the page, bypassing the letterhead, date and preamble and zooming in on the information that would make or break her life.

Oh. My. God
.

She lost her grip on the letter and it fluttered to the floor. Shivers racked her body, tears swelled in her eyes. She glanced up and looked straight at Mitch.

‘I'm a Patterson,' she said, biting her lower lip as the tears barrelled down her cheeks. Tears of relief and sorrow and pure joy.

‘I know.' He stepped towards her and pulled her into his arms. It felt so unbelievably good, so right, that she barely heard the voices of her family around her.

‘Thank God.'

‘Thank fuck.'

‘I knew you were.'

‘This calls for champagne,' Joe said.

Charlie laughed. ‘Yes.' She pulled back slightly from Mitch's embrace. ‘But I'll have to have soda water. No booze for me for the next eight months.'

‘No.' Mitch kissed her forehead as he pressed his hand against her stomach. The smile on his face said it all.

‘I'll go get a bottle from the motel. We've got lots to celebrate,' Madeleine said, turning and heading through the adjoining door.

‘Yes.' Charlie could barely manage to speak as she made a mental catalogue of
all
the things. Her and Mitch's baby, Joe and Lucinda back together, Abigail's engagement, even Dad and Mrs Sampson. The fact they'd found out about Mum's mistake—even all these years later—somehow made accepting Dad's new relationship easier. He deserved happiness as much as the rest of them.

And as for the curse? Well, perhaps it was time to leave that in the past.

By the time Madeleine returned with a bottle of Moët and a can of soda water, Lucinda had lined up Annette's best champagne flutes on the kitchen table. Madeleine handed Joe the bottle and he popped the cork in the flamboyant way that only an Italian could. He might have been third generation Aussie, but Italy was in his blood. He filled the glasses with the skill of someone who'd spent the last eight nights behind the bar of the Meadow Brook Motel.

Everyone grabbed a glass and, as they lifted their drinks, Madeleine made a toast. ‘To Charlie Patterson and Mitch McDonald. And to their baby, for finally laying the Patterson curse to rest.'

There was still a lot to discuss, but all that could wait. Right now, all Charlie wanted to do was enjoy.

Epilogue—Six months later

‘I can't believe this will be our last Christmas in Meadow Brook,' Lucinda exclaimed as she lifted one of their ghastly decorations onto the tree. None of them had been able to bring themselves to throw them out.

‘I know.' Abigail sniffed, sounding as near to waterworks as Lucinda felt. Knowing this day had been coming for a while didn't make it any easier. Lucinda shot her an understanding smile.

‘Actually—' Dad leaned over to switch on the fairy lights that adorned the tree, then straightened and grinned ‘—I have some news about that.'

It was Christmas Eve and all the family, including partners, were gathered in the motel bar where they'd decided to place the tree for their very last Christmas as owners. Charlie's redecoration had done its job and Lucinda liked to think her spring-cleaning had helped as well. The motel had been sold and the girls had been summoned home for one final Christmas. Dad hadn't told them anything about the new owners, but they hadn't asked many questions either.

The important thing was that he'd finally be able to retire.

Lucinda couldn't be happier for him and she knew her sisters felt the same, but while they were stoked for Dad and Mrs Sampson—who had their big trip around Australia planned down to days, hours and even places they would stop for lunch—saying goodbye to the motel was like closing the final pages of a much-loved book.

It had been in Mum's family for four generations, and although the place would live on in their hearts, although they'd always remember the crazy times they'd had there together, it was time to move on. The year and a bit since Mum's death had been an emotional rollercoaster—shock, grief, anger that she'd left them so young—and then dismay and hurt when they'd discovered she wasn't the perfect person they'd always believed. This had hit them hard and they'd all come to terms with it in different ways. Lucinda had taken comfort in the knowledge that Mum was human, just like she was. And just as Joe had forgiven her craziness, Lucinda had forgiven her mother's.

‘Hurry up, Dad,' Abigail pleaded, snapping Lucinda back to the present.

She looked back to her father, who had a massive grin on his face as if he were enjoying the curiosity and impatience of his daughters.

Could he and Mrs Sampson be getting married? Nothing could shock Lucinda anymore and she stifled a giggle as she imagined herself and her sisters dressed in ghastly pink flower girls' dresses.

‘Without further ado,' he said, with a game-show host wave of his arm, ‘I'd like to introduce you to the new owners of the Meadow Brook Motel.'

Confused, Lucinda followed the gazes of her sisters to the door, expecting to see strangers standing there waiting to be introduced. But no one new had entered.

She frowned as Madeleine echoed her thoughts. ‘What's going on?'

Before anyone could say anything else, Charlie and Mitch stepped into the middle of the group. Their faces said it all.

‘You two?' Abigail clapped a hand over her mouth before doing a little jig on the spot.

Lucinda was speechless. Could it be true? Now that the possibility was out there, she couldn't think of anything more perfect.

Charlie, her hand linked with Mitch's, nodded, a slow smile stretching across her face. ‘After all the work we put in, we couldn't bear to say goodbye. And this way, Mitch won't need to work away from home and will be here for the baby.' She paused while everyone took this in, then asked, ‘Are we insane?'

‘No.' They shook their heads in mutual agreement.

‘I think it's wonderful,' Madeleine said.

Lucinda agreed. ‘It seems right to keep the motel in the family.'

Aunt Mags, who'd been unusually quiet the last few minutes, suddenly spoke up from where she was reclining on one of the new leather couches in the bar, nursing a tumbler of Baileys on ice. ‘Well, maybe a little bit.' Beaming, she gestured to Charlie's burgeoning bump. ‘But as I was the one to put the idea into your head, I'll take some of the blame.'

Charlie laughed, let go of Mitch's hand and went over to hug Aunt Mags, which was quite a feat considering she was seven months pregnant and showing heavily. ‘I love you, Aunty Mags.'

The tears Lucinda had been fighting broke free and she felt Joe's arm close around her as he pulled her into his side.

‘Oh stop,' Mags said, clearly loving the attention. When Charlie pulled back, she put her hand on Charlie's bump. ‘Are you sure you're not having twins?'

Lucinda laughed along with everyone else, her tears happy not sad.

‘Not that we know of.' Mitch shrugged. ‘But Lord knows, where Charlie's concerned there's one surprise after another.'

‘Speaking of surprises.' Madeleine, perched on a bar stool at the edge of the gathering, cleared her throat and took the hand of the tall, dark man beside her. Dylan was his name, although Lucinda thought he looked more like a Patrick, and apparently Madeleine had been dating him for almost six months. Where she'd found the time while working for an aid organisation that ran mobile antenatal clinics in remote areas, Lucinda had no clue. It would be easier to understand if she'd taken up with the pilot that flew her round the country.

Him walking in the door with Madeleine only a few hours ago had been the first time Lucinda had any inkling of his existence and her family had seemed equally surprised. She guessed after the debacle with Hugo, Madeleine wanted to be sure before she introduced him to the clan.

‘Dylan and I are …' She glanced at him and her voice cracked. ‘We're pregnant!'

Lucinda's heart shot into her throat as happy gasps and utterings of joy and congratulations erupted around her. Charlie, Abigail and Dad rushed forward for hugs, but she seemed to be frozen to the spot.

Joe, still clutching her to his side, leaned in and kissed her cheek. ‘You okay, babe?'

The announcement had been a shock, but now that she'd had a few seconds to digest the information, she nodded. ‘Our time will be soon. I just know it.'

After months of marriage counselling, she and Joe were closer and more connected than ever. He'd quit working away and found a job that paid almost as much in the company's Perth office. It didn't involve blowing things up on a daily basis but he told her constantly that the improvement in their marriage was worth the sacrifice. Lucinda had been relief teaching the last six months, which she enjoyed because she still got to do what she loved, the pay was fabulous and yet she didn't have so much stress.

And the best part? They'd finally decided they were strong enough as a couple to begin assisted insemination.

‘Geez,' Abigail declared, glancing at Nigel as she moved away from Madeleine to give someone else a chance to congratulate them. ‘Maybe we should bring forward the wedding or our maid-of-honour won't fit into her dress.'

He chuckled and Lucinda only just made out his whispered words, clearly meant only for Abigail. ‘I'll marry you tonight if you want.'

Abigail pretended to pout. ‘Um, it's Christmas? I think the church is booked.'

Lucinda grinned as she watched her youngest sister interact with her doting fiancé. The local gossips would be so busy drooling when she brought him to midnight mass that they wouldn't be able to speak.

Abigail and Nigel were spending Christmas at the motel and then heading to Adelaide to celebrate New Year with his family, before finally flying back to London where Nigel had recently scored another promotion and the two of them had put down a deposit on their own apartment. The way Abigail told it, it was tiny and a long way from Nigel's work and her music students, but it was theirs—and that made it perfect.

‘I guess we'd better break out the champagne,' Dad announced. Tearing her gaze from Abigail and Nigel, Lucinda looked back to her father in time to see him wiping his eyes as he headed to the fridge.

‘Great minds think alike.' Mrs Sampson, already there, grinned as she held up two bottles and gestured to the flutes she'd lined up along the bar.

‘And that's why I love you,' Dad proclaimed, a grin stretching from ear to ear. Lucinda blushed a little as he closed the distance between himself and the old housekeeper, pulled her towards him and pressed a big kiss against her lips.

‘Go Brian,' Mitch yelled as Joe wolf-whistled. Lucinda dug him in the ribs, but was secretly ecstatic.

She and her sisters exchanged happy glances and then everyone started to clap.

‘About time you two came out of hiding,' Madeleine said. ‘And I can't even have a proper drink to celebrate.'

Lucinda grinned at her. ‘Don't worry, sis. I'll have your share.'

She stepped forward and plucked a crystal flute off the bar. Because although her life might not be unfolding exactly as she'd planned it, she felt blessed. She had Joe, she had her sisters, and soon there'd be a new generation of Pattersons.

If these weren't reasons to celebrate, she didn't know what was.

Acknowledgements

Thanks as usual to the wonderful crew at Harlequin Australia—Sue, Michelle, Cristina, Annabel, Adam, Lauren, Sam, Lilia, Adrian, Camille and Romina to name but a few. You people are awesome.

To my gifted editor, Lachlan Jobbins—thank you for all your hard work with this book. Your insight was spot-on and without you this wouldn't have become half the book it is. Thanks also for listening to me and often understanding what I meant better than I did myself. And to my agent, Helen Breitwieser—thanks for all you do. I'm glad you're in my corner.

Thank you to my writing friends—some of you have been with me on this journey from the start, others are more recent, but I wouldn't be without any of you. Beck Nicholas, Cathryn Hein, Janette Radevski, Amanda Knight, Lisa Ireland, Alissa Callen, Scarlet Wilson, Fiona Palmer and Fiona Lowe—your support, early reading, brainstorming, counselling and friendship mean the world to me.