Postcards from Hawaii

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 82

Roman looked at his phone watching as the time slowly changed on the display. He’d heard from the kids, and Mike, when the other man was actually talking to him, that Ella was in the city attending some kind of party. And that she was staying overnight. And that George and Irene were babysitting them. Then Sophie had gone on to great lengths to tell him about the dress she’d spotted in her mother’s wardrobe. A designer label. Long. Velvet. From the description his awed daughter gave he could only imagine that it was a cross between a wedding dress and Cinderella’s finest outfit.

When had she ever got the chance to wear something like that with him around, he asked himself. If he’d still been in the army he could have taken her to summer balls and regimental dinners where she got the chance to dress up but in the sleepy backwater of a town like Summer Bay she never dressed in half of her clothes, giving them away to Nic or Belle. He hated himself in that moment. He certainly should have taken her out more. Taken her out to dinner and even out dancing. She loved dancing and he liked holding her in his arms.

He began to pace back and forth in his suddenly too small lounge. Ella was out there wearing an amazing dress, being happy and he was here cooped up in his four walls, going mad thinking about her. What did he need to do to get his wife back, he wondered? What could he say to her to convince her that she should choose him? Looking across the room he saw the picture of Ella. She was smiling into the camera, a rare shot of her in front of the lens. She was so much more comfortable taking the pictures than having her picture taken and yet she’d spent some time doing self-shots so he could have pictures of her.

Upstairs he knew he had other pictures of her tucked away in his diary. The one of the three of them, her, Michael her brother and himself, obviously it still remained a favourite of his and then the one where she was pregnant with Sammy but sat on the long sofa with Meggy by her side. Meggy of course looked adorable. There was also one he didn’t think she even knew he had. Speaking with George one night the other man had commented how alike Megs and Ella were over all of Ella and her daughters. Not just in their looks he’d said, but their personalities too. Then George had shown him a picture of Ella when she was Meggy’s age, which at the time was 10 years old. He’d asked if he could take a copy but George had given it to him.

It was strange to think of Ella as a young girl. Certainly her mother’s influence on her life had shaped her in indefinable ways. Had she used photography, gymnastics and running to escape that or did her passion stem from the way that George gave her parental approval.

He certainly wasn’t a catch when it came to parents, Roman acknowledged, thinking of his own mother. As a child growing up he had never really been that close to either parent thinking that his mother preferred one of his brothers to him, even without all that Natalie business and then there was his father. He’d so wanted to take Ella to the restaurant again and just spend some time with them. Sighing he raced up the stairs and into the bedroom. A sudden urge to look at the pictures again had him getting out his diary and peering through the pages. He found the entry he’d written about returning home and what he wanted to do first and groaned before finding the place where he’d placed the photographs. Looking on the images of Ella he smiled. She was beautiful. She had long caramel hair, a mixture of browns and blondes, her hair getting lighter in the summer as she spent more and more time being outside and then her beautiful blue eyes. Framed by dark lashes she spent very little time wearing make-up and managed to look as beautiful without it as she did when she wore it.

Cursing he called himself some very unsavoury names as he mentally kicked himself for jumping to conclusions. If Ella was seeing someone else she would be upfront about it. She would tell him, no matter how difficult she found the subject. Still, there was something going on and if he hadn’t had jumped to conclusions it was possible he would have figured it out before now. He gave a groan and rubbed a hand across his face. More than anything he wanted to send her a text message just saying he hoped that she had a good time tonight but he knew that she’d see through the message and probably call him an idiot. Before she killed him. A lot. Oh yeah, she was going to really going to kill him.

Better start grovelling, he told himself before putting the pictures away. Maybe if he sent her some flowers or chocolates, followed by teddy bears, toffee cheesecake, pizza, her favourite bath stuff. And a few other million presents.

Heading back down the stairs he made himself a coffee and moved over to the sofa before putting on the tv and distracting himself with a documentary before he slowly drifted to sleep.

He woke as the door opened behind him and hastily sat up on the sofa.

“Sophie?” He muttered the question.

“I …” Sophie began to speak before seeming to burst into tears.

“Hey,” Roman shot up off the sofa and moved quickly over to her side. He cautiously placed his arms around her and patted her back. “What’s the matter?”

“I… oh Daddy,” Sophie moaned and clung to him.

“Sophie, it’s going to be ok,” Roman said quickly. In that moment, holding his crying daughter he thought of all the things that could have happened. All the scenarios ran thought his mind. In that moment he despised himself for giving her a reason to hate him.

“I’m pregnant,” Sophie muttered sounding upset.

Roman had to resist the urge to shake his daughter and point out she was too young to deal with this knowing that anything he said or did now would scar her for life.

“It’s going to be ok,” he said calmly, “Are you sure? Have you done a test?”

“Daddy,” Sophie began, “It was positive,” she muttered looking down.

“I mean it Soph, it’s all going to be ok, we need to tell your Mum ok,” he said quietly keeping the panic out of his voice, not just at Sophie being in this situation but in that he had to talk to Ella after the past few days.

Slowly and carefully he eased away from his daughter and reached for his phone from his pocket. Stepping away from Sophie he moved out of earshot of his daughter as he made the phone call.

As expected Ella wasn’t impressed even when he’d explained that it was an emergency. A part of him was just relieved to hear her voice and he knew he was acting like a lovesick idiot.

“Let me get you a drink before we go over to the house,” Roman said after a few minutes.

“You aren’t mad at me?” Sophie sniffed.

“I’m plenty mad, but that won’t help any of us will it? We need to make sure you are ok first and then work out what’s going to happen,” Roman said evenly. Plenty mad? Plenty? Like ‘plenty’ was a quantifiable amount. If Sophie looked inside his head she’d see that he was ready to rip apart Steve, presuming it was Steve.

The sudden thought that maybe something else had happened and this was a result scared him stupid. Sophie being hurt in that way was something he knew he’d struggle to deal with knowing how hard it had been for Ella over the years.

“I …er… I…” Sophie gasped and gave a slow moan.

“Let’s get that drink,” Roman said slowly going into the kitchen and organising it. He fixed his attention on making Sophie a cup of hot chocolate because he didn’t have any de-caff coffee in his cupboard and gave a ridiculous smile at the way he was already accommodating a potential baby in his thoughts. Handing the cup to her he gave her a brief smile and hoped that she would relax with him. She still seemed on edge and over-emotional, not that he could blame her for the later in light of her announcement.

She remained silent just sipping from her cup as he watched the hands moving round on the clock. After a time he stood and walked up the stairs, heading into the bathroom he splashed water on his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He could do this, be there for Sophie and not say anything stupid. He had to ‘man up’ as Mike would tell him, and probably Georgie too. Giving his reflection a last look he moved back out and down the stairs to where Sophie was sitting perched on the edge of the sofa.

“Ok, let’s go see your Mum,” he murmured softly.

He guided her out of the door and over to the car. They made the trip in silence but he could tell that she was getting more and more nervous as the journey went on.

“I…” she chewed on her bottom lip, “that’s Mum’s car,” she whispered.

“It’s ok Soph,” He reassured her as he climbed out of the car and led his daughter into the house. Looking up he saw Ella walking down the stairs. The kids were right she looked like a fairytale princess. Her long hair was curled into ringlets and swept back from her face and the dress was long midnight blue velvet, off the shoulder and sweeping down to the floor. It screamed designer at him and if he didn’t have other things to worry about, like Sophie’s announcement, he would have felt inferior to Ella and her money once more.

“Ok, so does someone want to tell me what is going on?” Ella muttered looking from one to the other.

“Perhaps we should talk in the study?” Roman suggested.

Ella glared at him before she nodded and moved ahead of them into the other room. She closed the door soundly behind them and looked from Roman to Sophie.

“One of you better start talking,” she drawled.

“Sophie came to see me tonight,” Roman began.

“I noticed,” Ella said interrupting him, “perhaps you need to go apologise to Irene and your Granddad for running away?”

“I..”

“Ella,” Roman said quickly.

“Yes,” She turned and shot him a poisonous glare.

“Sophie is pregnant,” he announced.

Ella looked from one to the other before she burst out laughing. Once again her reaction surprised him, Roman thought, he didn’t expect her laughter.

“Don’t be so stupid,” Ella snapped out after a minute, “Sophie Nicole Harris, get to bed we’ll deal with this in the morning,” she muttered.

“Ella,” Roman stepped forward and looked at his former wife.

“Go away Roman, it’s been a long day and I’m too tired to put up with this,” Ella stated emphatically.

“I’ve just told you our teenage daughter is pregnant and you…” he stopped and looked at her.

“Our teenage daughter wouldn’t tell you first,” Ella muttered bluntly.

Roman sucked in a breath and looked over at Sophie. In that moment he read the truth on her face and knew he’d been suckered, Sophie wasn’t pregnant, this was some kind of ploy because what, they thought as he did that Ella was seeing someone and they didn’t like it. Ella was right their kids wouldn’t come to him. He wasn’t a fit father. Who was he kidding?

Sophie cried out. “I’m sorry,” she muttered quickly looking from one to the other.

“Out,” Ella told her again.

Sophie nodded once before heading over to the door and out of it. The door slammed behind her and Roman and Ella were left facing each other.

“I didn’t shout at her,” Roman told his ex-wife quietly.

“No, you used her as an excuse to drag me home,” Ella shot back, “Because your stupid jealousy has reared up again.”

“Yeah it did, for a time,” Roman admitted, “But…”

“I’m done, I’m just so done,” Ella interrupted him, “I don’t want to see you anymore, I don’t want you round here and I ..”

“El,” he gasped out.

“I mean it, I can’t deal with your pathetic need for my reassurance all the time, you need to leave now,” Ella’s voice was brittle sounding and Roman looked at her in horror as she continued, “and as for seeing the kids I don’t want you around them.”

“What? No, Ella please…” he begged huskily.

“Leave.”

He reached out a hand towards her and stopped when she gave him a look, her eyes like cold glass. That hopeful feeling he had earlier disappeared in an instant. It was over between them.

“Ok,” he muttered, “Ok.”

Turning around he walked out of the house and over to his car without looking back at her. He couldn’t remember the drive back to his house too swamped by his misery. It was over. Finished.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 83

Jacob moved through airport arrivals. He was tired and in need a cold shower and an equally cold beer. He missed cold beer. Not the can or bottle which he’d managed to have on occasion but actually watching the beer come out of the tap, the glass ever-so-slightly frosted. The imagining of how that first sip would taste made his mouth water and he headed over to the nearest bar, telling himself that he needed the dutch courage for the next part of his trip.

Stacking his suitcases beside him he sat at the bar and ordered a beer. The glass was placed in front of him and he smiled at it before he took a long first sip, followed by an equally long second sip. He knew that he could spend the next couple of hours in here drinking beer, also knowing that if he did so it would be because he was hiding out. He was back for one reason, because Roman had told him to come home.

With the other man knowing exactly what part he’d played in the whole William/Gardy stuff, especially involving Sophie and still he’d called him to tell him to come home. He’d debated about what it meant. Did Gabby still have feelings for him because she’d been quick enough to sign the divorce papers at the time?

Draining the glass he walked out of the bar and over to the taxi rank. He had a hotel room booked in the city. He was going to go grab a shower and dump his stuff before he headed to Summer Bay to see Gabby and his daughter.

The quick shower had turned into a shower followed by a two hour nap but he figured that he needed it and now that he was pulling into the driveway to the house he found himself assailed by fresh doubts.

“What if she doesn’t want me?” He asked aloud before slowly climbing out of the car and approaching the house. He knocked on the door, uncertain about his welcome and so many other things. The door eventually opened and Ella stood there with one of the twins balanced on her hip.

“Hello Jacob, welcome home,” she greeted him with a smile.

“Thanks, is..”

“Jacob?” Sammy cried out from behind them, “Are you back? Well yes, but well…”

“Sammy go back to your homework please,” Ella chided softly.

Sammy pouted and reluctantly moved into the lounge and out of earshot. Ella watched and waited for a moment before she looked at the other man.

“Gabby is in the poolhouse, do you want to surprise her or…”

“Nella?” August lisped looking up at Jacob shyly.

“This is Nella’s dad,” Ella murmured.

“I… what do you think?” Jacob stuttered, “Nella? They call her Nella?” He asked looking shocked.

“I think Lily shortened the name, not sure, anyway, I think you should just go and surprise her,” Ella told him. She leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before guiding him out of the back and watching as he strode down to the stables. Turning back to sit with the kids she smiled at the way they were trying so hard not to ask her questions.

“Mum,” Meggy began.

“Yes Meggy?” Ella murmured trying not to smile that it was her troublemaker daughter asking first.

“Do we like Jacob or not?” She asked slowly looking around the table at everyone.

“Me’s no like him,” Lily announced, “Gabby no smile,” she added looking at her Mum.

“I think we have to wait and see what Gabby says,” Ella told them, “And that if Gabby likes him then we should like him,” she added slowly checking the expressions on their faces.

“I think that sounds ok,” Meggy said quickly. She shot a quick look at her sister and sighed. Sophie was still grounded for the stunt they’d agreed to try to get the parents together and also she hadn’t been that happy. Maybe seeing Jacob would upset her more? Meggy gave another long sigh before shooting looks at Sammy and Georgie. She was met with impeccable expressions and decided that she would let the matter drop for now but would talk to them later.

Gabby was in the process of cooking dinner. She was making Daniella’s favourite of spaghetti in cheese sauce and had somehow managed to make lumpy cheese sauce. Not that her daughter would complain, she was used to her mother’s cooking now. Giving it a last stir she lifted the pan from the heat and switched the hob off. The spaghetti she’d drained a few minutes earlier and now she placed it into the pan with the sauce to get an even coating before serving it in two bowls. Turning at the sound of the door opening she expected to see Danni or Ella and gasped in shock. The pan slipped from her nervous hands and she dropped their dinner all over the floor.

“What are you doing here?” Gabby gasped out.

“Roman told me to come home,” Jacob said a deep emotion reflected in his eyes.

Gabby shook herself out of her stupor and moved to clean up the mess of their dinner. She gave a small moan before issuing a hiccupping sob.

“Mama?” Nella called out looking from one to the other.

“I’m sorry baby, I dropped it,” Gabby sobbed.

“S’ok Mama,” Nella said softly.

“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed,” Jacob said finally moving to kneel next to his wife.

“Really?” Gabby asked him realising that he was referring to more than their spilt dinner.

“Really,” Jacob promised.

“Mama no cry,” Nella called watching as tears slipped down her mother’s face.

“I’m ok Nella, come here baby,” Gabby called out.

Nella looked at them and hopped from one foot to the other before she slowly moved over to stand next to her mother. She looked curiously over at Jacob and gave him a miniscule scowl for making her mother cry.

“Nella, this is your Daddy,” Gabby told her, “He’s come home?” She added in the form of a question.

“I have come home and I’d really like to spend some time getting to know you both again,” Jacob said slowly, “I’d like to… kiss you,” he added looking at Gabby.

Gabby gave him a shy look before she nodded and moved into his arms. Their lips met slowly, gently pressing on one another’s lips before easing apart and looking at one another. Their eyes met before they kissed again.

“I think we need to order pizza,” Jacob said with a slow grin a when they broke apart the second time.

“Me’s wants ‘ghetti,” Nella told him.

“Sorry Nella, we will have ghetti’s tomorrow.”

Gabby finished cleaning up as Jacob ordered the food and made them all a drink. Then as they waited for it to be delivered they talked with Jacob gently asking Nella questions and getting to know his daughter. He smiled at her answers and kept looking at Gabby and grinning as she flushed.

After the food had been delivered and eaten it was time for Nella to get to bed. Jacob hung back wanting Nella to be more sure of him and so that he didn’t crowd her.

“She wants you to say goodnight,” Gabby told him easing out of her daughter’s room.

“Ok,” he said and walked through to his daughter’s room. He took in the very pink painted walls and the big princess bed with the lace canopy and smiled over at his very own princess before he tucked her in and kissed her goodnight. Returning to the living room he looked back at Gabby and opened his arms to her. She immediately ran into them and began to cry once more.

“Gabriel, what am I going to do with you?” He murmured the question as he placed a finger under her chin and guided her face up so he could look at her. He smirked when she blushed at his question. “Just so you know,” he whispered close to her ear, “I had a shave earlier,” he murmured.

Gabby laughed before leading him into the bedroom.

Ella rolled over in bed and looked at her phone again. She’d been mentally debating with herself for the last few hours using the bedtime routine of the kids to distract her from texting Roman. Picking up her phone she typed out a brief message and sent it.

There, done, she told herself, now you can get some sleep.

Her phone buzzed and she scowled at it before slowly reaching out and reading the message back.

‘Glad to hear Jacob is home,’ she read.

Looking at the message again made her scowl even more. Had she really expected anything else? She scoffed. She’d made her feelings plain. She’d cut him out. It was for the best. Now they could move on. He could find someone else.

Even as the thoughts tumbled through her head she felt a jolt of emotion going through her.

Someone who wasn’t ill, she added shifting her weight awkwardly as she felt the twinges of pain from the biopsy she had done two days ago. She was still waiting for the results and couldn’t seem to stop worrying about the next steps in diagnosis and treatment.

“Urgh!” She moaned, “Treatment?”

Yeah right, she thought. Like anyone was going to stick around her for that. A mastectomy at the least with the possibility of future operations and then chemotherapy or radiotherapy, either way she was going to be too ill to look after the younger kids much and she knew that the older kids still had hang ups from her previous bought with illness, Meggy especially.

On a more personal level she’d only just got into wearing bikinis again and feeling comfortable not only after Gardy’s attack but the scar from the gunshot. Her fingers moved to touch the small puckered area of skin the same as every other time she thought about how William had gunned them down.

As her thoughts drifted her phone buzzed for the second time and she timidly picked it up and read the second message from Roman, after all who else would be texting her at nearly 3am she thought with a small grin.

‘thanks for telling me xx’

Her expression changed to a frown at the double ‘x’ at the end of the message. Roman would be tired, he’d probably put them there out of habit. It didn’t mean anything. They were over. He got that message didn’t he? She wasn’t going to be swayed by that. She’d decided. Hadn’t she?

She glared at the screen, her brow furrowing before putting her phone away and rolling over in the bed. She was too tired to deal with him, soon her eyes closed and she drifted asleep.

Roman walked along the beach, his shoes were in his right hand and his left was pushed into his left pocket. He’d come from a meeting with the bank manager to discuss the re-mortgage of his house so that he could free up more money to put towards opening his own restaurant, hence the white shirt and long trousers which he’d rolled up so he could walk along the sea’s edge and gather his thoughts. The shirt he’d un-tucked from his waistband, letting the slight breeze ruffle the cotton fabric. Ella was right; he did need to do something different with his life. Just because he was happy to stagnate in the Bay it didn’t mean that he should hold everyone else back. And by everyone else he mostly referred to Ella.

She hadn’t texted him back after the other night, not that he was rationally expecting her too but he got the feeling that there was something going on. Something he wasn’t getting. He didn’t like being cut out of her life but at the same time he needed to demonstrate that he could deal with her boundaries and then maybe in a few months they could start talking again.

It wasn’t what he wanted, he accepted that. Pausing to look down at the sand where he was stepping he spotted a small shell. Picking it up, he rubbed the sand off it before turning it over, such a perfect little shell, delicate and pink. Lily had a collection of them in her room at his place. Placing it in his pocket he decided that he’d add it to hers when he got in.

Looking over at the horizon he smiled for the first time in a couple of days. Moving on wouldn’t be so bad. It didn’t mean he had to forget Ella, or what she meant to him, he just had to find something in his life that didn’t revolve around her or the kids. Although he knew that he hated the thought of what ‘moving on’ seemed to mean, he still had hope. He still had hope that he could make things ok and then maybe hope that they could talk and after that who knew what could happen. But first he had to do this, open his restaurant, and live his dream.

Turning back he made to move off the beach when he saw Ella. She was sitting with her knees tucked up and her arms wrapped tight around them. Her hair was down and from this distance he couldn’t see her face but he knew that something was wrong. Striding over to her side he realised that she was crying.

Collapsing next to her he gingerly reached out and put his arm around her biting back a sigh when she snuggled into his arm and he felt her warm body pressing against him.

“Whatever it is, it’s not worth your tears,” he murmured quietly.

“You don’t know..” she sniffed.

“I don’t need to know,” he said after a moment, “I’m here for you El, always. That’s a promise I won’t break no matter what,” He felt Ella struggle as she seemed to try and get some control back. As she sunk back against him he spoke again, “You, us, the kids, it’s going to be ok.”

“You can’t say that,” Ella sobbed.

“I can, I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t need to know,” he added the last bit hastily when he felt her tensing beside him, “I just know that whatever it is, I’ll be there and I’ll help you.”

Ella sobbed noisily letting him hold her for a few minutes before she drew back and looked at him as she wiped at her eyes. She stood up quickly and stepped away from him.

“Sorry, I can’t…” she whispered before turning and walking away from him.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 84

Ella rolled over in bed. All she could think off was the way she had a chance to tell Roman what was going on earlier on the beach and she hadn’t. Despite how mean she’d been to him he’d been there; ready to go slay the dragon for her. Well, maybe beat up someone rather than do any actual dragon slaying. Looking at her phone to check the time she gave a groan and vaulted out of the bed to tiptoe down the stairs and head into the kitchen. Spotting the light on in Danni’s place she switched off the kettle and ran along the grass to knock on the poolhouse door. Danni answered immediately, smirking as she saw Ella in her nightdress.

“Let me guess, you want a babysitter?” Danni asked slowly.

“Could you?”

“Of course I can, let me just grab Jennie,” Danni leaned forward and kissed Ella’s cheek before she turned and retrieved her daughter from the other room. She’d only just gone back down and wasn’t quite asleep. Cradling her gently in her arms she grabbed some things from the changing table and put them in her bag before heading out and up to the house with Ella.

Within minutes Ella had grabbed her keys and headed out.

“And what do I owe this visit too?” Roman muttered more than half asleep.

“I needed a hug,” Ella murmured quietly.

Roman rolled over in his bed and lifted the covers before sighing as Ella climbed in and snuggled up to him. He wrapped his arm tight around her and pulled the covers up before wrapping his other arm around her. He wasn’t going to do anything stupid, he told himself. He wasn’t going to beg her for another chance or tell her he was still in love with her. No, he was going to be grateful she had come to him.

“Ok?” He asked, referring to the way she clung to him.

“Yeah,” she whispered slowly her eyes darting around the room before she closed them and pressed herself closer.

“You can talk to me, about anything you know,” he commented after a while, “Of if you don’t want to talk we can have sex,” he added.

Ella groaned and eased back from him to look at his profile.

“Any excuse solider?”

“Pretty much,” he said.

“Do you like my breasts?”

“Ella Addison,” Roman groaned, “Is there any particular reason why you are trying to turn me on?”

“You get turned on by a question?” She shot back.

“You know you can turn me on just by looking at me so don’t try acting innocent with me,” he said slowly.

“I need an answer,” Ella said after a while.

“I love your body, you know that, and in loving you and your body I accept and appreciate the way that your body has changed over the years,” he murmured slowly.

Would he have scared her away by mentioning that he still loved her, he wondered? She continued to cling on to him, her head resting on his shoulder. He’d missed her the past few days, missed talking to her, texting her, and missed seeing her smile.

“So if my body were to change again you think you’d still love me?” She asked in a quiet voice.

“I’m pretty sure that I’m never going to stop loving you, and you should know already that it isn’t just your body I love, it’s…”

“I know,” she cut him off; “I needed to ask the question.”

“And hear the answer?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Not going to tell me what is going on?” Roman looked up at the ceiling as certain clues fell into place.

“I can’t,” she whispered again.

“Ok El.”

Roman reached up and stroked her hair back from her face before pressing a kiss to the top of her head and then another to her lips.

“Not going to pressure me?”

“For sex?” He asked deliberately misunderstanding her.

“Well…” she murmured.

He felt her face flaming as she pressed her head into his shoulder and knew she was blushing.

“Get some sleep my Ella,” he said after a few minutes, “I have you now and I’ll keep watch over you,” he promised.

She nodded beside him and closed her eyes. He didn’t know it but it was the first sleep she’d had for days. In the morning she’d gone.

Ella looked at her watch again and then at the clock on the wall above the door. She’d been scheduled a late afternoon appointment to collect her results and had spent most of the day completely freaking out.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered to herself before looking up at the clock again.

“I’m sorry,” the receptionist murmured, “Dr Holden has been delayed,” she added.

Ella nodded and glanced at her watch again before taking out her phone and sending a message to Nic and then one to Mike. She kept hold of her phone as she received the replies before standing and walking over to the receptionist.

“Could I have a pen and paper please?” She requested and gave the other woman a smile in thanks when they were presented to her. Taking them back to her seat she began to pen a quick note to Rachel, re-reading the words before nodding to herself again. Folding the page over, she stood and walked back to the receptionist’s desk. “Can you give this to Rachel please?” She asked.

She could see the other woman giving her a puzzled look before she accepted the note and agreeing to pass it along. Ella resumed her seat and waited. She clicked her heels together before crossing one leg over the other and began wagging her raised foot as though tapping it on the floor. Her arms she folded across herself more in an effort to stop looking at her watch than anything else.

After twenty minutes the receptionist disappeared, obviously in the office talking to Rachel because she returned a moment later and came to stand near her.

“Dr Holden asked me to give you this envelope,” she said still sounding puzzled.

“Thank you,” Ella stood and accepted the small white envelope, tucking it inside her back pocket before she moved over to the door and out of the room.

“Has she gone?” Rachel asked before walking fully into the room.

“I don’t understand why…” the receptionist began.

“She asked for her results to be given to her because she wanted to be with her husband when she read them,” Rachel said slowly.

Suddenly understanding the reason for the unusual request the receptionist nodded and resumed her place behind the counter.

“I guess that’s a good thing,” she commented.

“It is,” Rachel confirmed without going into detail. She returned back to her office and to the note Ella had penned still sitting on her desk. She’d definitely put husband, Rachel noted and decided to file the note to use in future ‘blackmail’ against Ella.

Ella climbed out of her car outside the diner where she’d asked for the kids to be gathered. She was nervous. And excited. And feeling slightly sick. Stepping smartly over to the door she moved quickly inside and spotted the kids immediately. No wonder the diner was getting record profits with all her kids having what looked like more than one milkshake each and food. She saw Lily noticing that she was there first, and smiled as her daughter wrestled between calling out something to the others and carrying on eating. A chip hovered halfway to her mouth.

“Mummy,” Meggy called out quickly.

Ella watched as Roman tensed before he straightened up and turned towards her.

“Hello Ella,” he said slowly and she knew that he didn’t know how to react to her after the past few weeks. That her wonderful man who could be so decisive about everything else was nervous and uncertain when it came to her and their relationship made her smile. He made her smile.

Walking up to him she smiled again.

“Roman,” she said coolly.

“Daddy offered us food we didn’t ask him,” Sammy said quickly as though to deflect an argument.

“I see,” she continued in that same tone of voice, “Do you remember my promise?” she directed her question to Roman.

He met her gaze and slowly nodded.

“Well you’ve made a few but there was one where you promised to rip out my kidneys,” he murmured.

“Yeah, well not that one,” she smirked as he made a move with his arms like he was going to fold them across himself and changed his mind because she knew that was his defensive pose. “This one was a while ago,” she said stepping closer to him.

“El,” he said quietly glancing around at the kids before looking back at her.

Taking a last step towards him she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips, her curving as she felt his automatic response, a slight tensing of his lips as though he were to pull away then softening because he responded and finally putting his arms around her and kissing her back passionately.

“What the hell… “ Mike muttered coming to a standstill as he was walking into the diner with Danni behind him.

“Oh like you didn’t know,” Danni shot back and gave him a push.

“Know what?” Sophie picked up on.

“The parents,” Danni grinned as Sophie flushed and glared at her brothers and sisters around the table before she looked at her parents still kissing.

“Like what? Seriously what,” Sammy muttered.

Danni walked past a still shocked Mike and over to where the kids were easing down beside them on the long bench as they shifted round. She juggled Jennie for a minute before settling her daughter down on her lap.

“Oh it’s been going on months, didn’t you guess?”

Sophie shook her head and groaned.

“Does this mean…” Roman asked breaking away from Ella to look into her eyes.

“It does,” she grinned back and took hold of his hand and walking into the kitchen with him away from the kids. She glanced back at them and saw disappointment that they wouldn’t be able to overhear what they were talking about and she grinned at that before focusing back on Roman.

“El,” he said softly.

“I found a lump. I had tests.”

“And?” He asked quickly.

“I don’t know,” Ella bit her lip before taking out the envelope and handing it to him. “I realised that pushing you away…”

“Ah so that was it,” he interrupted.

Reaching out he took hold of the envelope and opened it scanning the document quickly before smiling.

“Roman?” Ella muttered looking up at him.

“All clear, it’s a cyst.”

Ella felt herself sway on her feet and knew that she’d paled. “Oh my god,” she moaned. She’d convinced herself that she was ill.

“So you thought I wouldn’t cope?”

“No,” she told him bluntly.

“I’ve changed,” he whispered.

“I didn’t want to risk it.”

“Because I let you down?”

She could feel his hurt expressed in each word of the short question and hated that she’d done that to him.

“Because I didn’t want you to go through that pain again,” she answered slowly.

“Me?”

“Roman please, I watched you before, you shut down, you hated not being able to ..”

“protect you,” he finished her sentence and closed his eyes briefly.

“And because well, where it was, I er…”

“I’m a leg man,” Roman said quickly and she saw him smirk at her blush.

“You knew?”

“I didn’t but there was something wrong,” he muttered.

“Uh huh soldier,” she muttered back.

Roman tucked away the results and the envelope into his pocket and pressed another kiss to her lips.

“Does this mean I get to pack my stuff and come home?”

“You need to ask?”

“Well I didn’t want to just turn up and find a cup of coffee thrown over me..”

Ella glared at him before spinning around and striding into the restaurant area. She saw the kids looking at her warily and moved quickly to sit with Lily.

“Mama kiss Dada,” Lily announced, “agains,” she added with a shrug.

“Again?” Sammy groaned, “And you didn’t think about telling us?”

“I think we need to have a little talk,” Ella announced and watched as their faces fell before grinning as Roman walked out of the kitchen area and placed a drink in front of her before joining her. He lifted Liam on to his lap and grinned as Liam offered him a chip.

“You eat them,” Roman told him.

Ella grinned again before leaning over to Roman and receiving his kiss.

“So..” Sophie began.

“You’re grounded,” Roman told her, “all of you.”

“You really want them at home with us all the time?” Ella asked.

“Wait, what?” Georgie looked from one to the other before looking at his brothers and sisters. “Home? As in Dad moving back in?”

“Maybe,” Roman said quietly, “it depends.”

“It depends?” Ella asked.

“On Lily getting out of the pool when she’s asked, on Liam not complaining when Lily makes him dress up with her, on Sophie stopping being a brat, on Meggy not causing trouble, on Georgie not doing the arm thing, on Sammy not using a camera to spy on us…”

“Hey! Georgie was the first to protest.

“Buts I no like being a princess,” Liam muttered.

“Dada is teasing my man,” Ella murmured to him before finding herself peering into Roman’s incredible blue eyes. She couldn’t help the smile that slipped on to her face or meeting his kiss again.

“So are we having a bbq?” Mike asked after a moment.

“Better round up the others,” Roman said, “put them all out of their misery and stop the plotting.”

Ella sighed before snuggling up to Roman and feeling his arm going around her. Thinking of actually going home with him made her feel so happy and as she looked into his face she saw that he was grinning back at her. All the pieces were slotting into place and she knew that this was the right thing to do.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 85

“Last box?” Ella murmured.

“Yeah,” Roman grimaced as he hefted it out the back of his car, “Needs to go into the bedroom.”

Ella nodded and held out her hands to take it and chuckled when he gave her a look. He moved past her and into the house and began climbing the stairs. She heard him give a sigh as he shifted the weight of the box in his hands and grinned at that too. Heading up the stairs after him she walked into the bedroom and saw him unpacking.

“So what do we have here?”

“Don’t worry they aren’t clothes,” she heard him laugh as she flushed.

“Look I kept your side of the wardrobe empty for a long time,” she defended.

Roman grinned and leaned over to kiss her.

“How come I seem to have more boxes moving back in than I did moving out?”

“Maybe you bought a lot of stuff while we were … ouh is that your diary?” She asked as he pulled out a bound book from the box.

“Yes it is,” he confirmed.

“Can I.. have you written about us?”

“Us or you?” Roman murmured.

“Well…”

“You are adorable,” he commented moving the box from the bed and moving to sit on it. He patted the bed next to him and Ella eased up. “Right,” he began to flick through the pages of the diary. A small envelope fell out and landed on his lap.

“What’s this?” Ella picked it up and looked at it.

He could tell that she recognised it from the expression on her face.

“Our honeymoon tickets,” Roman confirmed.

“Woah,” she groaned as she opened the envelope and saw the tickets to Hawaii and the hotel booking. Not the honeymoon suite though, Roman thought, because Ella would have been embarrassed at the extra attention. No he’d booked one of the moderate priced doubles with an impressive view of the Pacific. He’d planned for them to take their surfboards too. “Are these still valid?”

He felt himself frowning at her question before nodding.

“Yeah, they are open tickets, but the hotel would have to confirm availability.”

“Oh,” her mouth dropped open.

Ella looked at the tickets again before she put them back inside the envelope and handed it back to him.

“What are you thinking?” He found himself asking.

“Nothing, just, well…”

“Ella…”

“I just feel sad,” she finally told him.

“Ah,” he looked at the envelope before tucking in the back of his diary, “is that because we never got to go?”

“A mixture of things,” Ella leaned over and kissed him.

“A mixture of what?”

“Just things,” Ella muttered and eased off the bed.

“Hey woman, thought you wanted to spy in my diary?” Roman grouched.

She shook her head and moved to the door.

“You and me on the bed. Not going to happen Harris,” she told him as she scooted out of the room.

“Just wait until you want some Addison,” he shot back.

Ella turned and winked at him.

“I’m a divorced woman I’ve got something that buzzes…” she murmured and sprinted off down the stairs.

“Damn,” Roman whistled through his teeth and shifted uncomfortably as part of his body tensed. It was certainly going to be interesting being back home. He focused on unpacking the rest of the box and putting his more personal possessions away. The wooden box that had his, well his jewellery in, not that he had a lot. He smiled as he thought about being able to wear his designer watch again now and then frowned as he looked at it and beside the silver watch he spotted his wedding ring. Dammit, why did he need that reminder today when he was moving home? He needed to talk to her about it, not that he hadn’t accepted her decision about them not getting married again but he still wanted to have some kind of commitment. Maybe she would agree to a blessing or something along those lines. He forced the negative feelings to one side and focused back on his unpacking.

‘Dada?” Lily muttered aloud as she pushed open the door and strode into the house.

“I’m here,” Roman called peering round the doorway of the study and looking at his daughter. He grinned as she sighed loudly before stomping into the living room.

“She wanted you to collect her from school,” Ella told him before going up to him and kissing him. She couldn’t help the smile on her face from seeing him there in their home. Looking over his shoulder she saw that he’d put all his books back on the shelves and was flattening the boxes.

“Ah,” he murmured, “Is that going to cause problems?”

“Only in that she’s going to sulk for an hour,” Ella shrugged, “Want a drink?”

“I’ll get them,” Roman said and took hold of her hand before leading them out of the study and into the kitchen.

Ella grinned at him before she moved to the table and sat down with the twins and Lily and Liam, the older kids not home yet.

“What has Mike decided to do?” Roman asked slowly.

“I don’t think he knows,” Ella sighed.

“I have to think about what to do with the house.”

“I know.”

“Dada no move again,” Lily pouted.

“I’m not Lils, I’m home now,” Roman said softly.

Ella shared a look with him before she patted Lily’s hand and guided her back to her books.

“Whys Dada talk about his house?” Lily asked her.

“Because Dada needs to either sell it or have people pay him to live there,” Ella explained softly.

“Toby live there?” Liam asked without looking up from his book.

“That’s an idea,” Roman said chuckling at the simple suggestion.

“Toby and Mike living together?”

“Well for a while anyway,” Roman said and nodded in the direction of the poolhouse.

“Ah,” Ella nodded herself and watched as Roman approached the table handing out drinks for the children. She found herself smiling up at him and grinning as he smiled back before making a second trip and returning with coffees for them. He placed the cups on the table before leaning down and kissing her, smirking as Lily giggled at them.

“And what is with the giggling Miss Lily?” Roman asked his daughter as he slotted into the seat next to them. He reached out his hand and Ella placed hers within it.

“Mama happy,” Lily announced.

“Kissing is silly,” Liam told them a scowl on his face.

“Liams,” Lily protested, “not silly,” she added and poked her tongue at him.

“Guys,” Ella muttered.

She reached for her cup and took a sip of the dark brew, appreciating that he’d made it just how she liked it and caught him watching her.

“What are we going to do for dinner?” He asked. “Do you want me to cook or …”

Ella raised an eyebrow as she looked at, well, him. Dammit, she was going to refer to him as her husband again. A sudden flashback entered her head and she groaned.

“Wait there,” she instructed and vaulted up and raced out of the room and into the study at the same time as grabbing her phone out of her jeans pocket and dialling.

“Hello Ella,” Rachel murmured from the other end of the Bay once the call had connected.

“I put husband didn’t I?”

“You certainly did,” Rachel laughed at her.

“Any way I could retrieve that note before you blackmail me with it?” Ella asked childishly crossing her fingers.

“None,” Rachel said gleefully, “Maybe you should just get married again, you know that’s what you want otherwise you wouldn’t have put, and I quote, ‘Rachel, if I see you I’ll know by the look on your face if it is bad news and I need to be with my husband when I find out….’.”

“You’ve memorised it!” Ella gasped. She looked up and saw Roman in the doorway giving her a puzzled look and groaned. “Never mind, I’ll deal with you later…” she promised her friend.

“Does that mean your husband is there?” Rachel said laughing at her.

“I’m so going to…”

“He is isn’t he?” Rachel surmised. “Perhaps I’ll tell him what you put in this note…”

“Gah!” Ella muttered in frustration and hung up the phone.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, you’re cooking and I want….. pasta in cheese sauce,” Ella told him.

“Sure? Only you look a little flushed,” he commented slowly.

“Come here…” Ella instructed.

Roman shot her a look and walked over to her before pulling her into his arms and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back before easing away and shooting him what she hoped was an innocent look.

“I was just clearing things up with Rachel,” she commented slowly and peered at him checking to see just how much of the conversation he’d overheard.

“Setting the date?”

“What?” she choked out.

“For removing the cyst?” Roman frowned as puzzlement crept over his face.

“Oh er… yeah, need to talk to her about that too..” Ella mumbled and eased out of his embrace. She stuffed the phone back into her pocket and tugged on his hand and led him out of the study and back into the lounge. “Maybe we should redecorate or something?” She asked him to change the subject.

“Maybe,” he answered.

Something in his voice made her look at him and she grinned.

“Some other colour than magnolia,” she said quickly referring to the colour that his whole house was painted.

“Don’t mock me woman, I can always go back to my house you know..” he threatened.

Ella giggled.

“Going to threaten me with that now are you?”

“Going to replace me with something that buzzes…” Roman leaned over and said in her ear.

She could feel her face flaming and glared at him before dropping hold of his hand and stomping over to the table and sitting back in her seat. She picked up her cup and took a long drink trying to stop herself blushing.

“See,” Mike muttered coming into the house just as Roman sat back down. He was followed by the rest of the kids having been told to bring them home whilst Roman was moving his stuff in.

“See what?” Roman asked watching as the older kids moved into the room and headed towards them.

“We didn’t know if you would be here,” Georgie said looking around the others.

“Yeah, well I’m home now,” Roman said slowly looking at Ella. She smiled at him before easing closer to him and meeting his kiss. “I’ll start dinner,” he announced and stood up, “you staying?” he murmured to Mike.

“I suppose,” Mike told him and collapsed on to the sofa.

“Why don’t you go see Danni?” Sophie asked her brother giving him a sly look.

“Because she’s off shopping with Gabby,” Mike answered and stuck his tongue out at her.

“Mikey funny,” Lily announced.

“No he’s not,” Ella contradicted and shot Mike a look.

“Fine mother, I’ll behave…” Mike drawled.

“Jacob is in if you want to go have a beer with him,” Ella suggested after a few minutes.

Mike shot her a look and slowly stood up. He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head.

“Ok,” he told her before heading out the back and to the stables.

“Mummy?” Meggy asked.

“Homework please,” Ella said softly and stood up.

She helped the twins down and over to the sofa putting the tv on for them and finding the cartoon channel they like to watch before collecting empty beakers and the coffee cups and going into the kitchen.

“But I don’t..” Meggy frowned.

“She’s letting Jacob know he’s welcome home,” Sammy pointed out.

“By having Mike..”

Sammy looked up from his books, “Yup,” he muttered.

Ella smiled as she heard the exchange from the other room before catching Roman looking at her.

“No,” she told him.

“No what?”

“Whatever it is,” she answered and chuckled as he reached over and pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.

“I love you,” he said against her lips.

“Welcome home soldier,” Ella murmured back, “love you too.”

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 86

“Mum,” Sophie murmured as she got into the car.

“Yes?”

“I need….” She began.

“Hey,” Sammy cried out getting in the car followed by Meggy and then Georgie, “Are we going to see Dad at the diner?”

“No, we’re heading home,” Ella murmured.

“Oh,” Sammy muttered.

“He’ll probably be cooking dinner …” Meggy muttered to her brother.

“That could be true,” Ella laughed, “Everyone in?” she added checking all the kids were inside and had done up their seatbelts.

“I is in,” Lily insisted.

“Great,” Ella smiled at her daughter before starting the car, “What about my twins?”

“We’re here,” Georgie said distractedly and flushed when he realised that his mum was talking about August and Fleur.

“And my other twins?” Ella laughed.

“Mama, we’s here,” August lisped as she reached out and took hold of her sister’s hand.

Ella set off heading for home. She’d spent the day looking at the space in the art gallery they were thinking of using for her exhibition. The building was a former warehouse so that it was industrial in nature with painted white walls and large lights attached to metal beams across the ceiling.

“So is Dad better?” Georgie asked putting a hand up to push back the hair flopping on to his face.

“He’s fine,” Ella murmured as she manoeuvred the car around a bend. Ten more minutes and they would be home. “Why?”

“I wanted to know if he …” Georgie began only to be interrupted by Sammy.

“He wants to know if Daddy will go running with him…”

“Hey,” Georgie muttered.

Ella smiled at the exchange.

“I don’t think so, perhaps Mike wants to? Or you could ask Brett or Jacob?”

“Mum,” she caught sight of him in the rear-view mirror rolling his eyes at her suggestions and chuckled at him.

“Your dad is working until seven tonight,” Ella told her son.

“Oh, so.. he.. er…”

“He will probably be up for a run at the weekend,” she murmured.

“Cool,” Georgie muttered earning some ribbing off Sammy.

Ella turned the car into the driveway and eased it to a stop next to Gabby and Jacob’s car and she frowned for a moment before rubbing a spot between her eyes. It hadn’t been smooth sailing having him home for Gabby. Her elder daughter was struggling to adapt to having someone living with her and not only that but someone who was trying to ease into a parenting role with Daniella. It was easy to slip into jealousy when you suddenly had to co-parent.

Ella grinned as she remembered the first weekend that Roman had been home and how he’d allowed Georgie to do something that she’d previously told him’ no’ about and the resulting argument and of course, the make-up sex.

“Mum,” Sophie murmured again leaning forward against the restraint of the seatbelt before unsnapping it.

“In the house please,” Ella called out to everyone watching as they scrambled out of the car and into the house. She climbed out herself feeling tension in the back of her neck. Even with her father home and no need for them to plot anymore things between her and Sophie had been strained. “You too Sophie please,” Ella murmured.

“But Mum..”

“House,” Ella climbed out of the car and grabbed her handbag and briefcase from the passenger seat and moved inside. She noticed that Sophie slowly climbed out too and grabbed her things before stepping up on the front veranda.

“But it’s important,” Sophie whined.

“Lots of things are important and I’ll find time to talk to you tonight but right now I’ve got to sort the others out,” Ella said softly.

Moving into the house she spotted Roman standing in the kitchen and frowned as she dumped her briefcase in her study before heading over to where he was.

“Hey you,” he murmured as he kissed her.

“Hey yourself, thought you were still working?”

“Leah said she’d lock up,” Roman shrugged, “thought I’d come home and rest for a bit,” he added looking into her eyes.

Ella nodded as she placed her arm around him and moved closer.

“Sophie wants to talk to me,” she murmured, “Can you get the others their drinks?”

“Ok,” Roman nodded and began sorting things out whilst Ella went over to Sophie and led her away into the study. She closed the door firmly behind them and gestured to Sophie to sit down on the sofa before sitting with her.

“Ok, talk,” she instructed.

“You are still mad at me,” Sophie pouted for a second before assuming a neutral expression.

“I’m not mad, I’m upset. There is a difference.”

“Well, I…”

“Sophie just say whatever it is, please,” Ella muttered after a minute.

“Well I got the idea from a girl at school!”

“What idea?”

“To tell you I was pregnant,” Sophie said mutinously.

Ella rolled her eyes as she sighed. “And why is this important?”

“it was Mia,” Sophie said urgently as though her mother would prevent her from talking at any minute.

“Why is this important Sophie?” Ella asked her daughter quietly.

“Because Mia is pregnant,” Sophie continued quickly, “She’s really in trouble Mum, her parents threw her out and she has no one, she’s sleeping rough because the hostel is full and…”

“Whoa, why are you telling me?”

Sophie sucked in a deep breath, “Because you can help her,” she muttered avoiding eye contact with her mother.

“I’m not that sure I can. Plus, considering she gave Meggy such a hard time at her birthday have you even spoken to her about this?”

“I knew you were going to say that, you help everyone else…” Sophie cried out.

“Sophie Nicole Harris,” Ella muttered springing to her feet and giving her daughter a look, “I’m getting very tired and fed up of your tantrums, now either apologise or go to your room.”

“I’ll go to my room,” Sophie muttered and stormed out.

Ella heard her daughter stomp up every step on the stairs before doing the same on the next set and going into the attic bedrooms. She also heard the door slam and grimaced. Maybe she could move into Roman’s house for a while for some peace and quiet she thought with a grimace and headed out of the study and into the lounge. She saw Roman sitting at the table with the other kids and felt a grin spread on to her face as she walked over to him.

“She ok?” He asked immediately.

“She’s…. tetchy…”

“Ah,” Roman passed a cup of coffee over to her and she sat down next to him, “I was going to ask her to babysit tomorrow night,” he added.

“Babysit? Why?”

“I thought we could go out for dinner,” Roman reached out and stroked down her back. She could see him frowning when he felt how tense she was.

“And why would I want to do that when I’ve had my own personal chef move in?”

Ella chuckled briefly when she heard Meggy snigger at her comment before looking at Roman.

“Well we promised that we would spend time with each other and …”

Ella sighed before leaning over and kissing him.

“Thank you, dinner out sounds lovely but instead of tomorrow night how about at the weekend?”

“Ok, but don’t back out on me will you?”

Ella shook her head.

“No it’s a date,” she promised and sealed the bargain with a kiss. “Megs, what do you know about Mia?”

“Oh,” Meggy’s mouth dropped open and she looked to her brothers before looking at her mother, “Sophie told you?”

“She mentioned something,” Ella prevaricated.

“Oh good,” Meggy sighed loudly, “so she can move in?”

“Uh huh,” Ella murmured catching sight of Roman looking at her.

“We talked it through, she can have the spare room and we can help her with the baby and everything,” Meggy murmured excitedly.

“Did you?” Roman said slowly giving Ella another look.

“Meggy hunny, go and get Sophie,” Ella said quietly, “Georgie take the twins and Lily and Liam down to the stables and ask Gabby to look after them for an hour,” she instructed.

Sammy gulped and shot up from his seat before easing back down as Georgie placed his hand on Sammy’s arm.

“Alright bruv,” he said slowly before he stood up and guided the younger children out the back and down the garden.

“Mummy,” Meggy wailed looking distressed.

“Go,” Ella muttered.

Her daughter got up out of her chair equally slowly and headed out of the room to get Sophie as she was instructed.

“Your genes,” Roman said softly reaching out and taking hold of her hand.

“Roman,” Ella muttered and gave him a look.

“I think we need to go to the study and discuss this,” he murmured back.

Ella looked at Sammy and grinned briefly at his ‘innocent and trying not to listen in honest’ expression on his face before she eased up from her seat. She was joined by Roman and found herself holding his hand as they moved into the study to talk.

“So this Mia,” Roman began.

“Apparently she’s pregnant,” Ella murmured.

“I gathered that from the sentence ‘help with the baby’,” he drawled.

“And from what Meggy just said I think they want us to take her on,” she added.

“I gathered that too,” Roman said and eased slowly down on to the sofa.

“So…”

“Ella, do you think we are in a place where we can deal with a pregnant teenager?”

“Well ..” she looked at him and bit her lip.

“That isn’t fair,” Roman groaned pulling her down to sit next to him. He would have dragged her on to his lap but three days earlier he’d had a vasectomy.

Ella found her eyes glancing down at his lower half before grinning as he reached over and kissed her.

“We’re supposed to be talking,” Ella groaned against his lips.

“Uh huh,” Roman rolled his eyes before he looked at her with a serious expression on his face.

“The kids want us to do this,” she murmured eventually.

“I’m not sure,” Roman eased back so he could look at her and she supposed read her expression. She remembered Mia from Meggy’s party and how the other girl seemed to be jealous about everything. She’d made some very cutting remarks to Meggy at the time because of it.

“It’s your call,” Ella said after a moment.

“Make me the bad guy!”

“Hey, no grouching,” Ella said leaning forward and kissing him, “you know that another kid round here won’t make much difference to me but we, er, just well, did stuff to make sure that there weren’t going to be another baby.”

“And now we might be taking on responsibility for Mia and her baby,” Roman sighed.

“If she keeps it,” Ella bit her lip worriedly.

“We’re just getting…”

“I know,” Ella cut him off.

Roman reached out and took hold of her hand.

“Let’s do this,” he murmured.

“You sure?”

“I am,” he leaned in and kissed her, Ella nodded as she accepted his hand and stood up next to him. “And just so you know I think that things might be returning to normal,” he added.

“What?” Ella asked puzzled before she caught the direction of his gaze and her face flamed, “you mean er, that,” she stuttered, “That you are…”

“Let’s go see the kids,” Roman murmured and walked back with her into the lounge. All the kids were seated around the table including a sullen Sophie

“Now then,” Roman began, “For starters there are going to be no more plots. And none of this ‘pitting us against each other’ business either.”

Ella looked at Roman in shock before she gave a small smile. He was stepping up and dealing with the kids the way she always wanted. So why did she feel a little put out she asked herself.

“What…” Sammy muttered before he noticed that Georgie flushed guiltily, “Oh..” he added.

“Exactly,” Roman murmured looking directly at Georgie, “We’ve talked about it and if Mia needs a place to stay she can come here. But there will be conditions. Mia will have to sort things out the same way Danni did when she first moved in,” he murmured slowly, “It will need to be explained to her that she has to do her share around the house, such as laundry and ironing.”

“We don’t do…” Meggy lapsed into silence at her Dad’s look.

“I …” Georgie murmured.

“Son, you need to take care of your own kit. I’ve seen you leave it all for your mum to do and you are old enough now to learn to use the washing machine.”

“Roman,” Ella interrupted.

“I know El, but we agreed didn’t we that we are going to take more time for us, well these older kids can certainly do more,” he murmured.

“I work,” Sophie said slowly, “I don’t have time to do more.”

“They are starting to have a lot more homework,” Ella pointed out.

“I don’t mean they need to spring clean the house every week but certainly learn things like doing the washing and the ironing, hovering their room etc,” he murmured, “And we also agreed that I was going to take more of an active role with them, well this is it, if they think they are adult enough to do half the stuff they’ve plotted then they can do more around the house.”

“Oh, so it’s like that, you’ve decided?” Ella asked giving him a look.

“Mum,” Sammy said quickly as though to defuse the situation.

“I have,” Roman gave her a look back.

“Ok then, we should contact Mia,” she murmured.

“What? Like that’s it? He says something and you just agree with him?” Georgie bit out.

“What do you suggest Georgie?” Ella asked her son.

“Why are you letting him take over?” Again Georgie muttered the question.

“I’m not letting him, I’m deferring to him,” Ella pointed out.

“He’s been here like five minutes,” Georgie snapped.

“Do you want me to ask him to leave?”

“Well no… but.. he can’t take over!”

“Why?” Roman asked the question.

“Because you’ll leave again and we don’t need you!” Georgie snapped springing up from his chair, “You always leave, you can’t just come in here and expect us to deal with your crap all the time, you can’t just spring stuff on us and expect us to follow your orders,” he yelled, his voice rising with each word, “we are your kids not your soldiers.”

“I know,” Roman murmured quietly.

“Then act like our dad,” Georgie shouted.

“Then act like a kid,” Roman said back in a quiet voice. He stood and approached Georgie and pulled his elder son into his arms, feeling him resist being hugged before he gave in and clung to his dad. “Listen to me, I’m proud of you, I could never have done what you did Georgie, keeping the family together, looking after everyone.”

“I…”

“But I am home now and it’s time you were a kid again,” Roman said softly, “Time you spent with your mates and trying to get out of doing your homework, and surfing and all the other stuff.”

“I… Dad… I…” Georgie groaned obviously trying not to cry in front of everyone.

“It’s ok son,” Roman said softly.

He continued to hold his son as Georgie gave in to tears.

“Dad,” Sophie cried out.

“It’s ok,” Roman told them all, “It is,” he added for Georgie.

“We should do more, if we have Mia here,” Sammy said softly.

“And when will we have time for that Superbrain,” Sophie muttered, “some of us have a job.”

“We’ll have to make time,” Sammy told her.

“Guys,” Meggy muttered looking at them a distraught look on her face. She felt guilty at the way she’d been worrying so much about Sophie that she hadn’t realised that Georgie was struggling. None of them had. Biting on her bottom lip she gave them all another look before speaking again. “We need to get organised, especially with Mia coming here, we can do it.”

Georgie eased away from his dad and looked at the others before he rubbed at his face and sat down.

“We need a rota,” he murmured slowly.

“That would be good,” Ella said, “Now tell us about Mia,” she added softly smiling at Roman as he moved to sit back next to her.

“There are a lot of rumours around school Mum, no-one is sure what is going on,” Sophie said quickly.

“Yeah, we know she slept on the beach last night,” Meggy added.

“Do you think that is where she is likely to be tonight?” Roman asked the question. Meggy nodded and shared a look with Sophie.

“We know she wasn’t that nice but well, what if Danni hadn’t found us Mum,” Sophie pointed out.

“Go for a drive?” Roman suggested.

Ella grinned at him because she was about to say the same thing. “Ok girls, come on let’s go and see if we can find her,” She said standing up and moving off to get her shoes on and grab her keys. She led the girls out to the car and headed off to the beach to search for Mia.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 87

Roman slowed down and looked at Georgie and Meggy. Both of them had decided to come for a run with him. He’d started off slow, running around the outside of the outer fence before heading along the country road. He’d been running this route for a while and knew that it was exactly 5k’s from beginning to end and took him around thirty minutes but today he’d pushed the pace a little to see how fit the other two were.

Ella would have come out with them but at the last minute August and Fleur had demanded her attention. He couldn’t mind because he was taking her away in the morning and heading out for the weekend for some ‘couple’ time. Mike had offered to babysit, and by the look on the other man’s face he was plotting on dragging Danni over too. He gave a smirk as he thought about the pile of wedding magazines that was stacking up at his old house and the way Ella had given him a distrustful look when she’d noticed them. Leading to a discussion about the unused tickets to Hawaii before they’d decided the best thing was to give the honeymoon tickets to Mike to use. He frowned as he thought of it before relaxing his facial muscles and focusing on what he was doing. The kids picked up on any little thing these days and he knew that Georgie especially, was worrying that things would go wrong again.

“So we… er… “ Georgie panted.

“Heading back now,” Roman told his son taking pity on him.

“Thanks,” Meggy muttered stopping and bending over. She was breathing heavily and looked flushed.

“How is mum?” Georgie asked suddenly.

Roman frowned again.

“Why?” He stopped and looked as his son.

“Just with Mia being here and the twins acting up..” Georgie shrugged.

“Your mother is fine,” Roman told them both before he stretched and began a gentle jog leading them back home.

“Are you sure?”

“Georgie for Gawd’s sake,” Meggy muttered.

“Guys, focus on running please,” Roman said quickly a smile playing on his lips at Meggy using one of Irene’s favourite sayings.

“Dad, it’s important,” Georgie whined.

Roman stopped running and turned to focus on his son. Not for the first time he was struck by the fact his son was nearly as tall as him or that he knew Georgie wasn’t finished with his growth spurt.

“What is?”

“You and Mum, well, like…”

“I think what my brother is saying is that you aren’t going to mess this up again are you Dad?” Meggy muttered the question when Georgie got tongue-tied.

“I know,” Roman said slowly, idly he wondered if they’d given Ella as much grief when he’d moved out. “Your Mum and me, we’re strong. We’ve been to counselling. We’ve dated and talked about all our issues Georgie,” Roman addressed his son knowing that he was still having issues with his moving back home.

“I know,” Georgie murmured sounding subdued.

“And we are going away this weekend.”

“You are?” The question came from Meggy.

“Yes we are, I’ve made promises to your Mother and I’m going to keep them,” Roman said slowly, “One of those promises is that I’m going to spend more time being your Dad,” he added in a calm voice.

“Oh great, now we won’t get away with anything,” Meggy groaned before she sprinted off.

“Er thanks,” Georgie stuttered.

“I’ve contacted your Cadet leader and he’s agreed for me to come on extra camping trips with you,” Roman added slowly testing his son’s reaction.

“What? Like for real?”

“Yeah for real,” Roman said quietly.

Georgie shook his head before he sprinted off the way that Meggy had gone.

“I need a clue here, is that good or bad?” Roman called after his son.

“It’s ok,” Georgie called back.

“Ok then,” Roman limbered up and began running after all of them. He noted that they were going quite fast and struggled to catch up with them for a few minutes before his longer stride helped him. He ran next to Georgie and smirked at the expression on his son’s face before they really began running.

He could feel the hard surface of the road pounding through the balls of his feet as he ran. One foot in front of the other, he told himself in a quiet mantra, thanking that he was back to peak fitness because racing against a teenager was the perfect way to remind him that he was an idiot. He felt his lungs bursting as he dragged in hot breath after hot breath and just when he was about to slow down so he didn’t have a heart attack he saw the house appear like magic. Sucking up the last of his stamina he raced towards it getting to the front porch seconds before Georgie and just behind Meggy who’d had the head start.

“What took you so long?” She murmured grinning at them.

“We stopped for coffee…” Roman drawled and walked around the house and through the back. He saw the twins sitting at the table as he moved into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Hey, I need to go check out the studio, got some issues,” Ella called walking through to stand near him and he noticed of course that she had changed out of her running gear and was wearing a knee length black skirt and a white pristine blouse. A tan belt that seemed to be made up of different strips of criss-crossed material was cinched around her waist reminding him how slim she was and just how curvy her hips were. He felt the stirrings of desire and grinned inanely at her.

“The studio or..”

“The place in Yabbie Creek. I’ll pick up a takeaway for dinner,” she added as she kissed him on his cheek and turned on her heel and began walking to the door. He watched her go and smiled because she seemed to wriggle her behind just a little more when she knew he was watching.

“Kids, I’m heading for the shower,” Roman told the twins. He peered round looking for Lily and Liam and frowned because not only was it quiet but also there was no sign of them. Surprisingly, Lily hadn’t adjusted to his being back home like the other kids and had started a campaign against him. Although labelling it a ‘campaign’ gave it the allusion that Lily was a terrorist and he didn’t want to have them mental connection between the word terrorist and his daughter. However apt it was beginning to seem.

He remembered Meggy being a pain once; hiding his keys and wallet but Lily seemed passed that stage already. She’d taken all his clothes out of the dresser he moved over from his house when he moved in before she threw them out of the window along with removing the shoelaces from his trainers. He wasn’t sure Lily was the responsible for two tyres on his car being let down but he knew he needed to find out where she was just in case she was trying something else. Or had found some matches. Or Mike’s gun.

Ella pulled slowly into the driveway and eased out of the car, spotting another car parked up that she didn’t recognise she gave a frown as she collected her handbag, briefcase and one of the bags of food from the back seat. Moving into the house she heard voices coming from the study before heading into the kitchen and dumping the food on the top.

“Mum,” Sophie called urgently from the back veranda.

Ella stepped through the door and over to her daughter spotting all the other kids in various activities in the garden. She gave a frown before turning and standing in front of Sophie.

“What is it?” She asked her daughter.

“Mia’s parents have turned up!” Sophie hissed, “Whilst Dad was taking a shower,” she added.

“And?” Ella prompted after a moment.

“Well Lily had messed up the lounge, don’t worry we sorted it,” Sophie said as she saw her mother looking over in the direction of the mentioned room, “Anyway they began muttering about this not being a fit place for their daughter and I had to drag Dad out of the shower and he’s just in his bathrobe, I think…”

Ella smiled when Sophie had to stop and suck in a deep breath.

“Ok babes, can you got to my car and get out the rest of the food and put it in the kitchen,” she said softly.

“Mum,” Sophie gasped.

“What babes?”

“I sorta, well, I kinda missed you,” she gasped out and launched herself at her mother throwing her arms around Ella’s waist.

“Me too kiddo,” Ella leaned down slightly and kissed the top of Sophie’s head before easing away and heading into the study. She knocked once on the door to indicate she was coming in before she opened it and stepped through.

“El,” Roman began.

Ella smiled at him because he was sitting there discussing things like it was normal thing for him to just sit around in his bathrobe all day before moving over to him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. She carried on over to the long white desk and placed her designer handbag and equally designer briefcase on to it. She heard a slight sound behind her and knew that the designer aspect of the two items had been acknowledged and her lips twisted into a small smile at this before she turned once more and looked at people assembled in the room.

“Mia, perhaps you’d like to fetch your parents a drink? Sophie will help you with cups and saucers,” Ella suggested.

The girl shot up and quickly headed out of the room indicating that she’d been uncomfortable with the discussion that had been taking place about her. Her own chats with Mia had highlighted the other girl’s insecurity about what was happening and the general lack of control she felt she had about things.

“I’ll be back in a moment,” Roman said softly nodding at Ella, and she almost grinned at the way he’d picked up on her signals.

“Now then, perhaps you’d like to fill me in on what exactly you have an issue with?” Ella asked slowly as she walked around the desk and took the last available seat in the chair behind the desk.

“You think this is a healthy environment for my daughter?” Vincent Simmons burst out with the question.

“Considering that before this she was sleeping on the beach after you threw her out,” Ella spread her hands and allowed the couple to take that comment in before she spoke again, “besides I assumed that you were her stepfather considering that Mia has a different last name,” she added looking at the other man. She was going to say something else but at the last minute she held back.

“She is,” Vincent blustered casting a look at his wife.

Ella half-nodded noticing of course that the other woman shrank back against the cushions of the sofa at his look. Despite more suspicions she waited for Roman before speaking again, knowing that she wanted his take on it. He would often balance out her more instinctual take on things.

“Mia is my daughter, Vince, well he…” Lydia spoke haltingly before lapsing into silence, again there was look between the two of them.

“Ok,” Another few minutes passed before Roman stepped back into the room and closed the door behind him before resuming his seat, “I told Mia not to bother with drinks because Vincent and Lydia advised me earlier that they didn’t want one,” he said slowly giving Ella a bright smile. He was dressed in long black cargo trousers and a black T-shirt, and she knew that he’d selected his clothes deliberately in conflict with Vincent’s choice of dark suit, shirt and tie. Lydia was wearing a pale blue shirtwaist dress that had a number of creases down it that she kept trying to smooth out with a nervous hand.

“Shall we discuss what exactly seems to be the issue? Mia has been in contact with the Department of Children’s services and I assure you that we have been cleared to be foster parents,” Ella said slowly.

“We received notice,” Vincent muttered giving them both a petulant look.

“I’m aware of that,” Ella added patiently.

She noticed that Lydia paled at her sentence and cast a look downwards seeing that Vincent had clutched hold of Lydia’s hand and seemed to be squeezing it. She gave Roman a look and he inclined his head indicating that he’d noticed it too.

“We want our daughter home, surely you can understand that things got out of hand, tempers were frayed…” Vincent said smoothly.

“We understand that Mia is happy staying here until she’s ready to decide what she wants to do next. The Department are happy that she is here.”

Roman’s voice was calm but Ella knew her husband too well and knew that he didn’t like the way that Vincent was trying too hard. Dammit, had she just referred to him as her husband again? Good job it was inside her head otherwise he’d hold it against her and she’d be waking up in Vegas with a ring on her finger. Idly she touched her empty finger and frowned at that too. It wasn’t empty she told herself she just wasn’t wearing jewellery.

“You aren’t even married,” Vincent declared glaring at them both.

“At the moment no,” Roman replied calmly, “but when has marriage indicated stable relationships?”

Ella smothered a grin at his question knowing that her man; that’s right not husband she congratulated herself, had murmured knowing that he wasn’t referring to their relationship but aiming it at the other man.

“What Vince is trying to say…” Lydia began before uttering a moan and pulling back on her hand.

“Sorry darling,” Vincent said quickly, “It’s just that I’m anxious about our daughter,” he added in a too sweet tone that had Ella standing up and looking at the other man with narrowed eyes.

“Well unfortunately I’m going to have to cut this meeting short, I’m sure you’ll understand that we have a routine for our children and this is cutting into their quality time with us, not to mention that we have dinner waiting,” she began in a tone of voice she knew had Roman smirking at her, “Perhaps we can meet at Doc’s and discuss this with them present?” She suggested.

Vincent sprang to his feet and glared at her before he turned on to Lydia and snarled.

“I told you this wasn’t worth it,” he muttered, “Them with their money and…”

“Excuse me,” Roman interrupted, “I don’t actually have any money and Ella is the rich one. But then she has consistently worked for her money all her life. A good proportion of that was as a single parent.”

“Roman,” Ella said softly.

“Vince.. let’s go ok, we can…” Lydia tried pacifying the other man.

“No,” Vincent snarled at her.

“You do not come into our house and display this attitude,” Ella murmured quietly in the face of the other man’s hostility, “If you wish to discuss the situation further then we will do so with Doc’s involved.”

Roman eased up slowly from his seat and looked the other man in the eye. “Allow me to help you out,” he said and walked over to the door and opened it up. He didn’t look back to see if the other couple had moved before striding to the front door and opening that.

“I…” Vincent tried again before realising that it was pointless and all but dragged Lydia out of the house and over to his car.

Roman looked at Ella and she nodded to him before watching him stride over to the other couple. He opened the car door for Lydia and let her get seated inside before closing it and then turned to Vincent.

“Be sure that there aren’t any bruises on her,” he said in a quiet voice, “because with people like me with as SAS background tends to get upset when they see that kind of thing,” he added in a quiet voice before he eased back. He offered Vincent his hand to shake and the two men faced off for a long moment before Vincent took hold of his hand and presumably attempted to squeeze it before having to let go and back off.

“We’ll be in touch soon,” Ella called out.

Roman stepped back and over to her side as they watched the car pull out before he looked at her.

“Lily destroyed the lounge while you were out,” he murmured.

“So I understand,” Ella answered back, “is it too soon to suggest boarding school?”

“Too soon? I was planning on skipping that and going for enlisting her straight into the army but then I thought that maybe advanced weapons training and Lily being in the same sentence was scary enough.”

Ella sighed and caught him looked at her.

“El,” he said quickly.

She knew he was wondering if his mention of the army had upset her and she grinned as she leaned up and kissed him. “I’m ok, and we could try talking to Lily again?”

“Only if I get my Kevlar out of the attic,” he shot back giving her a grin back, “You know why the kids wanted Mia here don’t you?” he asked softly.

“I think so,” Ella responded, “and I hope I’m wrong.”

“Me too, but so far those spidey-senses of yours are pretty accurate,” he guided her inside closing the door behind them and over to the table where he saw that Sophie had assembled all the kids and had put out the plates.

“We’s hungry,” Gust called out.

“So are we,” Ella called back and moved to the kitchen.

“I put the food in the oven to keep it warm,” Sophie called out quickly.

“Thanks Sophie, Mia we told your parents that we aren’t going to do anything until we’ve spoken to Docs,” Ella said as she began sorting out the food with Roman. She kept her tone matter-of-fact and hoped that the message with get through to Mia that as far as they were concerned the issue of where she lived and who with was hers to control.

“See,” Meggy told her, “Mum is pretty good at that sort of thing,” she added slowly.

“That’s right I am.” Ella said as she moved bowls to the table, “Just can’t seem to stop a certain child of mine sprinkling glitter everywhere,” she added giving Lily a look.

“Wasn’t me,” Lily insisted stubbornly folding her arms across herself.

“Did I say it was?” Ella asked.

Lily’s mouth dropped open and she looked at Ella before glaring as everyone laughed at her.

“Nots funny!” Lily muttered.

“Come on squeals,” Roman said softly moving her chair closer to the table and serving up her dinner first before moving to help the twins with theirs.

“Sing rolls Squeals,” Liam called out picking his off the plate and waving it at her.

Lily kept her arms folded and glared at him.

“Squeals not happy,” Fleur told them.

“We know,” Roman said quietly and kissed the top of his daughter’s head, “Come on babes eat your dinner,” he added in the same voice.

Ella shared another look with him before she instructed the elder kids to help themselves and they sat down and got their own food. She glanced at Lily as she picked up her fork and played with her food, uttering a sigh of her own.

“We’re going away this weekend,” Roman announced.

“Meggy told us,” Sammy said.

Roman nodded.

“Mike is going to babysit,” Roman continued.

“I can..” Sophie began.

“We know,” Ella put in and smiled at her daughter, “But as it’s an overnight trip we wanted Mike to come here.”

“Where are you going?” Sammy asked them.

“I don’t know your Dad is arranging a surprise for me,” Ella answered smiling again as she felt his hand stroking her thigh under the table.

“Ouh romantic,” Sophie sighed.

“You would say that,” Georgie muttered as he shovelled up a forkful of food into his mouth.

“But it is,” Meggy butted in, “And well we wanted them together so…” she shrugged.

“I didn’ts,” Lily muttered.

“What was that squeals?”

“Me’s no wants you here,” Lily muttered stubbornly glaring at her dad.

“Why is that?” Ella murmured carrying on eating even though she wanted to grab her daughter and hug her.

“You no’s have cats anymores,” Lily muttered determinedly.

Ella looked at Roman and smiled before she glanced back at Lily.

“No, your Daddy decided that Mike should have the kittens to keep him company when he’s staying at the house,” she explained slowly.

“I’m not taking Fudge back he’s your cat,” Roman added.

“You says that but me’s no trust you,” Lily said and pushed her fork away.

“What would make you trust Daddy?” Meggy asked her.

Lily shook her head and looked down.

“Have you finished Squeals?” Ella asked her daughter sensing that tears would be coming if they carried on talking to her. She saw her daughter nod, “Go sit on the sofa,” she murmured to her.

Ella watched as Lily nodded sadly and headed over to the other side of the room before looking at Roman and seeing him trying to cope with this latest development.

“I guess we need to wait and see,” he said slowly.

Ella nodded at him as she focused on her food.

“Are you going to be doing any shopping whilst you are away?” Meggy said changing the subject.

“We might be,” Roman confirmed.

“When are we putting up,” Sammy asked a note of excitement in his voice, “the thing,” he finished slowly as he looked at the younger kids.

“Probably a bit closer to the thing,” Ella said maintaining the code. Three weeks until Christmas. Turning to Roman she caught him smirking at her and she flushed. Fine, so he read her mind and knew she wanted to put the tree and decorations up already. Grr.

“I think I should…” Mia finally spoke.

“Wash up?” Roman asked teasingly, “If you want but I think it is Sammy’s turn.”

“What?” Sammy gasped.

“Come on Samson,” Meggy murmured easing up from the table and heading into the kitchen with her plate.

“We’ll help,” Georgie said and they moved together and cleared the table.

Roman stood and walked over to the twins and Liam, helping the younger children down and over to the sofa where a sullen Lily was sitting. He put on a film for them before going into the study where he’d spotted Ella heading.

“Here,” She turned and collected something from the printer and handed to him.

Roman scanned the printed lines and accepted a pen to sign on the bottom before passing it back to her. She stood and moved to collect a photo frame from one of the drawers that were part of the wall unit that lined one wall before placing the document inside it.

“I don’t think it will work,” he said quietly.

“No, I don’t suppose much will work until she gets her own kittens, Fudge and the rabbits she’s been hinting that she wants for Christmas.”

“Really more rabbits?” Roman muttered, “I have to say that we did something quite different with rabbits in SAS training.”

“Yeah I know, but well don’t do any of that here otherwise you’ll get lynched,” Ella said quietly.

“Whilst we are here,” Roman perched on the corner of the desk and looked at her.

“Yes?”

“I noticed on our run today that the stretch of land the other side of us is for sale by auction,” he murmured.

“And what do you want us to do about it?”

“Well if someone else buys it we could end up with houses there,” he murmured, “They’d potentially overlook the swimming pool,” he said slowly, “Not to mention added traffic along the road.”

Ella stood and moved around the desk to stand in front of him.

“Roman Harris, are you proposing that I use my money and buy it,” she murmured meeting his gaze.

“Well you are going to have to use your money, I’m starting my own restaurant remember, going to be broke for a while,” he said folding his arms and looking at her, “But yes, I think we should buy it and well use the land.”

“I may need some persuasion,” she said leaning closer to him before kissing him. Roman pulled her closer to him and kissed her back and she could feel the passion rising in them both. Easing back she gave him a look from under her lashes.

“I may need a cold shower,” he said quickly.

“You are definitely getting a fetish for this scenario. Naughty schoolboy.”

“Ha, no more like superior officer and ..” he stopped and she smirked as he flushed red.

Still grinning at him and moved around the desk to turn the laptop off. She pressed the off switch on the printer.

“Let’s go see Lily,” Roman said quietly picking up the frame and looking at it.

She nodded and grinned as he took hold of her hand and led her into the other room. They shared a smile as they caught Lily grinning at something on the TV before she spotted them and a comically quick change of expression crossed over her face.

“Alright Squeals,” Roman said moving to sit next to her. She glared at him and turned her head away, “Here you go,” he added and presented the signed document to her.

Lily continued to glare before slowly accepting the frame from him.

“What it say?” Liam asked curiously peering over his sister’s shoulder.

“It say Fudge is mine,” Lily murmured her fingers running across the page as she read the words on the ‘adoption’ certificate Ella had made for Roman to sign that stated Fudge was now Lily’s cat.

“I no get a cat,” Liam pouted.

“You can have Monster,” Lily told him quickly as she began to look happier again.

“That so squeals?”

“Dada..” Lily began.

Roman reached out and lifted Lily on to his lap and cuddled his daughter.

“Love you squeals,” he told her softly.

Ella took it all in. Roman with their kids, planning for the future with her and she sighed before easing beside him on the sofa. She sighed herself as he put his arm around her and they watched the movie. He was a good man and despite his own self-doubt he was a good father. She might just have to give in on the husband bit after all if this carried on; he was beginning to earn it.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 88

Roman tided the last of the pots away in the kitchen and gave the tops a last wipe down before he took a step back and looked around the small space. Since being home he’d seemed to notice that the house was pretty small, even compared to his place and put it down to the fact that they had growing kids. Maybe if they refreshed the cabinets and gave the walls a lick of paint he mused before wiping his hands and heading along the hall towards the study where Ella was working. She’d taken to using the time after the kids had gone to bed to focus on her photography projects. Currently she was writing the booklet that would go with her exhibition.

He knocked once on the door and went to open it when he heard her call to him to come in. Grinning he reached once more for the door handle and stepped inside.

“Shut the door behind you,” Ella called out from her seat behind the desk.

Roman raised an eyebrow before shutting the door and approaching the desk slowly.

“The kitchen is sorted,” he murmured.

“One moment,” Ella said as she continued to type into the laptop.

He continued to stand in front of the desk feeling a strange un-comfortableness about the situation.

“Ella,” he prompted after a moment.

She paused and gave him a look before standing and walking around the desk to perch on the corner next to him. She fixed him with a look.

“Did I give you permission to talk?”

Roman felt his heart flutter in his chest at her words.

“Ma’am, no Ma’am,” he murmured with a hint of amusement fluttering on his face.

“In fact I don’t think you rendered me the proper salute Lieutenant,” she murmured and hopped off the desk and stepped forward until she was standing in a hair’s breadth away from him. She reached down and before he could formulate any words she’d unzipped his trousers and slid her hand inside to caress him. Dammit, if that was what she meant by saluting her he’d be ready to salute her every day.

“Ma’am,” he murmured surprised that he’d managed to find any voice at all.

“Lieutenant, I believe the proper procedure is to hold the salute until it is returned,” Ella said in a strident voice removing her hand from inside his trousers, “Drop and give me twenty sit ups for your insubordination.”

Roman sucked in a breath before glancing around the room and laying down on the floor. Tucking his hands behind his head as she once more perched on the edge of the desk he began commencing sit ups. Ella, damn her, began undoing the buttons on her blouse. Underneath it she was wearing a white lace bra that cupped her wonderful breasts like he wanted to with his hands.

“That’s three,” Ella murmured counting his sit ups.

He was surprised he was still managing to lay there and do the exercise whilst he watched her as she took off the brown belt from around her waist and dropped it to the floor before un-tucking her blouse and slipping that off her arms, tossing that to land beside it. Ella stood and began to unbutton the skirt.

Roman grunted in shock as it landed in a pool around her feet. She was sensuous and beautiful and right now he couldn’t remember if he’d done twenty sit ups or a hundred he was so focused on her and how damn sexy she was.

“You seem to have lost rhythm Lieutenant,” Ella murmured, “perhaps you need some help?”

He shook his head and saw her give him a sexy grin.

“Ma’am…” he began and then she snapped the front catch on the bra and revealed her breasts to him.

Before he could formulate words, like tell her how turned on he was, although she could probably see that for herself, she’d slipped out of both her bra and her lace panties and moved to kneel beside him on the floor.

Completing a sit up, he was shocked when she leaned forward and kissed him, her tongue slipping inside his mouth. It was all he could do not to grab her and wrestle them over on the floor so he could take them both over the edge. He slid back to the floor after the kiss ended. Ella in the dominant role surprised him and dammit, aroused the hell out of him. Especially in this scenario and knew that part of him would never have mentioned that occasionally he had thoughts like these. Although now he was going to damn well tell her about them all, he thought with a grin.

“Like that Lieutenant?”

“Permission to speak Ma’am?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Permission granted,” Ella said smirking at him.

“If Ma’am wanted to find out the location of the ‘mission’ this weekend Ma’am could ask now and this Lieutenant would tell her anything,” Roman ground out.

“I’ll bear that in mind, LT,” Ella said with a laugh, reaching down and opening his trousers before pushing them down, “Now that is a salute, soldier.”

Roman let out a half smile, his eyes glancing downwards at his ‘salute’

“Is Ma’am going to return the salute now?”

Ella chuckled at his question before moving over him. He let out a groan as she joined their two bodies and began moving in a slow rhythm.

“Permission to touch?” Roman asked quickly, his hands still tucked behind his head.

Ella leaned down and kissed him passionately again. “Permission granted,” she whispered breathily against his lips.

He moaned in response before he greedily reached out and skimmed his touch down her body. She writhed in response to his seeking hands and then he lost control altogether, rolling them over on the floor and taking her passionately.

Later.

Roman had lifted Ella to lay with him on to the long sofa and grabbed the throw to cover them. She was drowsy, half asleep and he looked at her as she closed her eyes noticing once again the way her eyelashes fluttered down as her eyes shut.

“I love you so much,” he said softly pushing the hair back from her face.

“I noticed,” she whispered back.

He held her close for a long time before easing up and reclaiming his trousers and shirt. Dressed he grabbed her things and laid them gently on top of her before picking both her and her clothes up. Managing after a fashion to carry her out of the room and switch off all the lights he took her up to bed. She sleepily climbed under the covers still naked as he dealt with their clothes and dragged on his pyjamas before joining her.

“Love you,” she whispered as she snuggled up to him.

“Love you too,” he paused, “wife,” he added in a softer voice as he wrapped his strong arms around her and they drifted to sleep.

Roman packed the car up with their overnight bags. He was driving them off for their weekend away, although it would be late afternoon by the time they reached their destination, then it would be dinner and overnight in a hotel before heading to a Christmas Market that he’d heard off and knew that Ella would love, before possibly lunch out and then heading home mid afternoon. Next weekend he was going to be out with Georgie and his cadets and had also arranged for Sammy to head up to see Marcus for the weekend so it would give Ella a chance to bond with the girls a bit more, her relationship with Sophie needing, well not repairing exactly, but just some time to focus on it. He also thought with some of the kids removed from the house that maybe Mia would open up a bit more about what she’d been through.

Already he knew that Ella loved the girl, and would do anything to help and protect her. Another ‘stray’ they’d ended up with he thought with a smile.

“Hey,” Ella called, her voice interrupting his thoughts.

“Hey yourself, are you ready to go?”

“Just about,” Ella sighed loudly.

“We can stay if you want?” He murmured the question quietly next to her ear easing back as he saw her bite her lip and look up at him.

“No, we are going,” she decided and shook her head before looking back at the house.

He gave her a brief hug before finishing up putting their things in the car and closing the boot. Ella stepped back towards the house and he moved to follow her, catching up with her at the blue and white painted front veranda before then went inside together. He saw Mike sitting on the sofa with his kittens, Button and Bows, sitting in a cat carrier next to him. He knew that Mike would let them out after they’d gone when he could shut the doors and settle them down. Lily and Liam were seated on the floor looking into the carrier. The twins were over with Gabby, Jacob and Nella in order to make leaving slightly easier for Ella. He knew that she’d given August and Fleur a load of hugs goodbye earlier.

“Hey guys,” Ella called softly.

“Bye’s Mama,” Lily called not even looking up from the cat carrier.

Liam shot his sister a look before getting up and running over to them.

“You’s buys me stuff,” he murmured as he hugged them, “Mama,” he snuffled against her legs before looking up and grinning at her, “loves you,” he added in a soft voice.

“I love my little prince too,” Ella replied leaning down and murmuring close to his ear.

Liam beamed at her before slowly releasing her and hugging his dad.

“See you tomorrow evening, before bed,” Roman told his son.

They made the rounds saying goodbye to the children before finally he managed to get her into the car and set off.

“Where are we going?” She asked after some time obviously realising that he wasn’t heading towards the studio. Although he did have plans to take them there in a few weeks for a break, them and the children that was. Maybe even take Nella with them so that Jacob and Gabby could have some time alone.

Roman glanced at her and grinned.

“Just some place I heard about,” he murmured.

“I think you need to tell me now …” Ella pouted at him as she reached over and began stroking his leg.

“Woman, be careful, you don’t want to cause an accident do you?”

He smiled when he heard her let out a husky laugh.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to…” Ella paused, “relax you?”

“That wouldn’t relax me,” Roman growled back at her.

“But last time…”

“Last time,” he interrupted, “I ran the car off the road,” he laughed thinking of the time he’d asked her to do a certain something as they were driving. The embarrassment of explaining to Charlie that he’d become distracted and hit a stretch of uneven road before ending up parked on the verge with a broken axle and all the time he’d stood there with his trousers undone.

“At least it was just a broken axle.”

Roman let out a shout of laughter before shooting her another glance and then returning his attention back to the road.

“Yes, it could have been more serious,” he murmured, “I could have broken my axle,” he added and heard her surprised laughter.

Conversation lapsed after a while and he shot her a look, seeing that she’d fallen asleep. He smiled then, thinking of the way she’d snatch ‘cat naps’ when she could. He’d often come home after the lunch shift at the diner and see her curled up with the children on the long sofa enjoying a half hour sleep with them.

Using the excuse that she was asleep he put his foot down and speeded up.

Ella woke aware suddenly that they had stopped moving. She stretched and looked to the driver’s side of the car, frowning when she saw that it was empty. The sky was filled with ominous clouds and she could see that it had been raining. Unbuckling her seatbelt she opened the door and climbed out to stretch her legs, her eyes scanning for where they were. Frowning she looked at a wrought iron railings that were in front of them. Beyond that she saw a line of gravestones.

“Hey,” Roman called out coming towards her.

“This isn’t very romantic,” Ella grouched feeling a shiver as the cooler air travelled over her skin.

Opening the rear door, Roman reached into the back seat and pulled out something that she saw was one of his hooded sweatshirts. She hid a half smile as he eased it around her and helped her into to. His strong hands sliding up the zip as he closed it.

Ella reached down herself and folded up the sleeves before putting her hands deep in the pockets. She watched with further puzzlement as he also took out a small gift bag before closing the doors of the car and reaching for her hand.

“Where are we going?” She muttered the question.

“Somewhere I should have brought you before now,” he said softly.

Pausing he lifted the hood up and balanced it on her head so that it would protect her from the drizzle before he leaned down and kissed her, then he began guiding her into the cemetery and amongst the grey and black headstones.

“Roman,” Ella muttered tugging on her hand. She wondered what he was doing taking her here and muttered something under her breath as he continued to urge her forward.

Suddenly she felt something like a charge go through her and now she was no longer reluctant to be there, now she knew that she had to move forward. To head somewhere.

She felt Roman letting go of her hand this time in almost a kind of shock but she had no time to dwell on his reaction as she began to run through the graves, her eyes scanning the words left on the headstones until she paused, sucked in a breath and knelt down by the smallest grave tucked away almost by itself in the corner. A large tree was nearby, it's canopy sheltering the small grave from the worst of the weather as if it were there to protect this one tiny grave. It was just as small as their baby girls, Francesca’s grave back in Yabbie Creek cemetery. Her hand reached out instinctively to touch it, as she read the words that would forever be imprinted on her heart..

“Daisy Abigail Isabelle Addison” she whispered looking at the date of birth that matched her own. She felt a strange déjà vu as she looked down, as if remembering being here before but she'd never known of Daisy's existence until recently. Michael, her brother got the birthdays and she didn’t. Not because her mother didn’t love her but maybe because it reminded her that she was missing someone who should have been with them, should have been celebrating a birthday too.

Ella felt a sense of grief so strong not just for the sister she never had the chance to know but for her mother. She knew what it was like to lose a child, knew the grief that never left, just seemed to be lessoned over the years.

“She should have told me,” Ella murmured, “We could have had a relationship and not…”

Roman knelt down beside her.

“I think your mother felt that she had made too many mistakes and didn’t deserve you to forgive her,” he told her quietly.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Because we said we’d find her and we never did,” he answered.

“Thank you,” Ella touched the headstone once more.

“Here,” Roman handed her the giftbag then and she frowned before looking up at him and accepting it.

Opening the pink bag she saw a small jewellery box and opened that first. Inside was a pendant, two halves of a love heart. Each one had the word sister engraved on it and she gasped at the way he’d thought this out. Taking one she placed it around her neck, her fingers too nervous to close the clasp and feeling him take over so he could help her. Then she dug in the small earth as far down as she was able and placed the other necklace there before covering it up as they had once done with their wedding rings at Francesca’s grave.

“She got the nice names,” Ella said with a small smile.

“Actually, according to your dad, you were named after your grandmother and great aunts,” Roman told her, “And Daisy was named after some friends of your mothers.”

“I wish..”

Roman reached across and held her as she gave into the tears that had been clogging the back of her throat and she clung to him.

“You wish you had memories of her?” He asked after a moment and she could only nod as she pressed herself against him.

Some time passed before she was able to look back at the gravestone and she gave a small tremulous smile.

“There’s more,” Roman said indicating the bag.

Ella nodded and once more reached into it. She took out the small teddy bear statuette and set that against the headstone, before easing back once more. It would do for now she thought with a smile. She would come back soon and make a proper visit. Maybe …

As if Roman could read her thoughts she felt him press a kiss to the top of her head and ease away giving her privacy as she sat there and began to tell her sister about her life, about their brother Michael and his son, her marriage and relationship with Roman and the kids and the grandkids. Her eyes filled with tears as she talked and she let them drift down her face. Her sister should have shared in her life, should have been there and she cried for the loss.

When at last there were no more tears, no more words to say Ella looked up and saw Roman standing a little way off. His hair was plastered to his head from the rain and he looked soaked, but he had stood there and waited for her, silent and mindful of her need to cry for her sister and fresh tears slipped down her face as she reached out to him.

“It’s ok,” he whispered as he held her and helped her up.

She shivered as she clung to him for the second time needing his support before she was able to walk again, the feeling slowly returning to her legs after kneeling there for so long

“Thank you so much for this Roman,” she gasped out, “If I didn’t love you already this would have me falling head over heels for you all over again.”

“Dammit woman,” he mock-growled next to her ear “Why didn’t you say so months ago I would have kidnapped you and stopped the divorce.”

Ella laughed softly as she was supposed to before wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him to her. He was wonderful in so many ways and now, after all these years they had a new balance to their relationship, a new respect for each other and their boundaries. She knew that the heartache of the divorce was worth this now and also knew that is why she’d gone ahead with it when she’d felt her heart breaking each time they saw each other over those awful few months they’d been apart.

“Let’s go,” she whispered after a time and eased away. Turning back to the grave she told her sister goodbye, lifting her hand to her lips and kissing her fingers before pressing on the headstone. “We’ll be back,” she promised.

“No we won’t,” Roman said softly making Ella gasp as she jolted at the words.

Roman bent down and retrieved the giftbag lifting it up and placing it back in her hands.

She looked at it in puzzlement for a long moment before opening it and peering inside.

“That’s the paperwork to have her moved. Your Dad and I felt that she should be closer to us so we’re going to have her interred in Yabbie Creek next to Francesca,” he intoned softly.

She heard the slight tremor to his words as he mentioned their lost daughter but before she could react to that, his other words sank in. They were bringing Daisy home, Roman and her father had spoken about this, arranged it, looked into the legal side of things and she gasped as what it meant. She would be able to see Daisy’s grave more often and Francesca wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

Just when she thought she had no more tears left she sobbed loudly and reaching out she clung to him once more, pressing herself as close to him as possible so that she could feel his heartbeat against her. This man, this strong proud man who would do anything for her, loved her enough to know that inside a little piece of her heart had broken at leaving Daisy here. How could she ever repay his love she thought with a groan? Ever give back enough for this one gesture that somehow seemed to be as big as the universe and as small as a molecule at the same time.

“I love you,” she finally gasped out unable to say anything else for a long time.

Roman looked over at Ella as they finally drove away from the cemetery, relieved that his gesture hadn’t backfired. George had been reluctant to talk about Daisy at first and he couldn’t blame the other man, thinking once more of Francesca. He’d finally, probably at Irene’s urging, revealed where they’d been living at the time, and where Daisy had been interred. A number of phone calls to Jacko and James had confirmed that he could have a special order made to transfer her. George had insisted on paying for it when the subject of money came into it and for that Roman was grateful although he would gladly have turfed Mike out of the house and sold it to pay for this, he knew that with the restaurant idea going ahead he would need every penny.

“Where are we going?” Ella asked eventually.

“Heading to a hotel for the night,” he murmured.

“Not this way,” she whispered leaning forward and pressing her hand against the passenger window as she peered out through the grey rain to look at the houses they were passing.

He smiled and looked around himself, slowing down at an intersection before turning the car into a side street and slowly easing it to a stop in front of a house.

“Oh my god,” Ella gasped out looking though the windscreen this time. She pointed to white painted house that was strangely similar in style to theirs and gasped again.

“This was your home El,” he told her although he knew she’d already realised that.

“Can we look inside?”

“I’m afraid not, the new owners are on holiday and…” he trialled off when he saw her give him a sneaky smile, very much similar to one of Meggy’s or Lily’s. “No,” he muttered.

“I bet it would..”

“Still no,” he interrupted her.

“You can pick locks…” she pointed out.

“Again, no,” he said before starting the car again.

“Roman Harris!” She gasped out.

“No,” he said again, “and no, you can’t persuade me with some sex thing,” he added when he felt her hand stroking his leg.

Pulling away from the kerb he guided the car back into traffic. He didn’t have to turn his head and look at her to know she was pouting at him.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 89

Roman parked the car in the hotel carpark and turned off the engine. He looked across at Ella’s profile and couldn’t help the smile on his face. She was still sulking because he’d refused to break into her childhood home.

“This is nice,” she murmured at last, looking at the small country house in front of them, “Am I supposed to know it?”

“No, although it’s possible that you may have been here before now,” Roman grinned looking up at the Victorian villa residence in front of them. He’d chosen it because it looked like it belonged on a chocolate box or in a calendar it was that picturesque and as Irene said when she caught him booking it, quaint.

“Ok then,” Ella reached for her seatbelt and unsnapped it before climbing out of the car and walking around to the boot.

“Ok then,” Roman mimicked and with a shake of his head he did likewise before joining her at the back of the car.

Taking out their bags he saw that she’d grabbed the small giftbag from earlier along with her handbag from the back seat and refraining from comment he moved through the front doors and into the hotel before heading over to reception and booking them in. After collecting the key to their room, it was a trek up the stairs to the suite he’d booked, because the hotel didn’t have an elevator. Next time he would check that aspect out, he thought with a grin as he felt a twinge in his legs as he tried to keep up with her although his eyes kept straying downwards to the way she filled out the skirt she was wearing and the nice view was almost worth it. From the sigh he heard from her he figured that she knew that he was checking her out.

Ella looked around the room before walking into the en suite and checking that. When she came out she was scowling.

“Is there a problem?”

“No,” she said without adding anything further.

“Ok then,” he said for the second time.

“You do realise I have to do something romantic for you don’t you? I thought acting out your fantasy in the study would do but no, you have to be all nice and thoughtful and now I’m stuck with nothing to give you,” Ella muttered at last.

“Well…” he drawled and cast a look at the large four poster bed in front of them.

“No, I’m still upset you wouldn’t break into the house for me, there is going to be none of that tonight,” she muttered sounding fierce, "Or for some time," she added glaring at him.

Roman gave her a look and was about to say something when they both burst out laughing. Moving to sit on the end of the bed he patted the space beside him smiling as Ella shot him a look before sitting next to him.

“Hey you,” he whispered as their lips met in a soft kiss.

“Hey yourself,” she murmured back.

“I don’t want anything El, I mean it, I took you to find your sister because I owed you that,” he said feeling himself frowning, “I should have made time for us to go there before now.”

“Hey, are you getting grouchy?”

He half-nodded at her question.

“Only with myself though,” he finally said.

Ella lifted her hand up and touched the side of his face before sighing causing him to look at her.

“You are going grey,” she whispered touching his hair above his ears.

Roman nodded once more.

“It’s you, you’re wearing me out,” he told her and saw her smile.

“We’ve wasted so much time,” she murmured slowly.

“Not wasted, I don’t ever want to think we wasted time El, because well that would really depress me,” he murmured back putting his arms back around her and pulling her closer to him.

“Well then, we took a long time to get here,” she whispered.

“But we made it,” he said shaking off negative thoughts. He’d needed to sort his head out without involving Ella he rationalised, remembering the time before when he'd been scared he'd physically hurt her over the Mark stuff. Still that period where he wasn’t with her for six months, hadn't even seen her except when it involved the kids, had actually made him realise that he was head over heels in love with her and always would be. Even with his flirtation with dating.

He should acknowledge how unfair he'd been to Frankie. Not that Ella would appreciate him thinking about another woman whilst he was holding her but he'd deliberately chosen someone who had no resemblance to Ella, either physically or in their personality and that should have told him something. Not to mention that for some reason, even though Frankie had indicated she was willing he'd never become intimate with the other woman aside from a few kisses.

Whereas with Ella he went up in flames as soon as she looked at him. He was still in shock over the whole scenario she'd enacted in the study the other night. Even thinking about it had the power to turn him on. He knew that being the dominant one didn't come easily to her, Usually that side of her sexuality came out after a few drinks and her inhibitions were lowered. Not, he hastily thought, that he'd had anything to complain about with their sex life. Even a fumbling five minutes was enough to drive him insane with lust for her, let alone those magical nights when they couldn't stop touching and kissing.

“I’m glad,” she said at last, breaking into his thoughts, before she kissed him again.

He found himself guiding her down on to the bed as he put his arms around her and returned her kiss. It became more and more passionate until he pulled away, breathing heavily.

“I think, we need, food,” he gasped out.

“Oh really?”

“Because if you keep kissing me like that I’ll forget the place we booked dinner and …” he moaned before succumbing to temptation and kissing her again.

Ella eased into the bathtub and sighed as she watched the water osculate around the tub at the displacement. Roman was standing in front of the mirror a towel slung around his hips; he’d just got out of the shower and was busy shaving. For the second time in that day and considering that he’d just gotten lucky again she wondered for whose benefit he was shaving.

“Got room in there for me?”

His question brought her attention back into the room after it had just drifted a little and she grinned before trying to give him a neutral look. The fact that she could feel her lips twitching meant that she knew that she was failing. It was so good to be with him like this, to spend time being, well a couple and not worry about Lily crashing in through the door to check that they didn’t have Fudge in their room with them.

“There might be if you soap my back,” she said quietly lowering her lashes as she held out the sponge to him.

Roman grinned and took the sponge from her outstretched hand before he dropped his towel and climbed in behind her. He stretched his legs out either side of her and sighed as he fit his large frame into the bath with her, before accepting the bottle of shower gel she handing him.

“Pretty sure we need a bigger bath at home,” he murmured as he moved in the water and began to wash her back.

“Not sure it would fit,” Ella said without thinking and blushed as she heard the words spoken aloud.

“Really?” Roman asked his voice sounding normal to her ears but then she heard his soft laughter before she felt him kiss the back of her neck.

“The bath I’m talking about,” she muttered quickly.

“I’ve been thinking…”

“Oh no,” Ella leaned forward easing away from him.

“Come back,” Roman reached for her.

“No.”

“El,” Roman muttered.

“I mean it. Whatever it is,” she said grabbing the sponge from his hand and rinsing it in the water before soaping it up again. She began to wash her arms and frowned as she heard him begin speaking again.

“If we knock the garage down we could extend the house and build a bigger bedroom for us,” he persisted.

“And why would we need a bigger bedroom?” She bit her lip at the question.

“So I can use some of the wardrobe,” he murmured.

Ella let out a surprised laugh before she turned her head and glared at him. “Is that all you want a bigger room for?”

“No,” Roman sighed, “I was thinking maybe we could get a veranda and French windows, perhaps a sofa, so that we could have a retreat away from the kids if we wanted to spend time together.”

She could tell that he’d thought this over carefully and frowned again before finishing soaping herself. This was not the relaxing soak she’d expected when she’d run the bath earlier and from the way he'd gotten in behind her it wasn't what he expected either.

“I can tell you aren’t happy with what I've said,” Roman told her quietly, “but do you think you could talk to me?”

“Not right now,” Ella muttered and climbed out of the bath. She stepped over to the towel rail and collected one of the large bath sheets, wrapping it around her before moving into the bedroom.

Settling in front of the long vanity unit she took the bottle of moisturiser from her wash bag and opened it up to tip some into her hands before smoothing it on to her legs. She felt his presence in the room before she heard him as he moved to stand behind her.

“El,” Roman murmured and she could hear the questioning note in his voice. Their eyes met in the refection in the long mirror for a long moment.

“Are you unhappy at the house?”

“No, I’m home and it feels good, but well you’ve put an offer in for that parcel of land and we could look at modifying the house,” he said quickly moving to sit on the bed.

Ella looked at him and could see that he was earnest about this, his hair flopped on to his forehead just the way that Sammy’s did when their wonderful son was outlining some scheme he was into.

“I think in that case you should draw up some plans so I can see what you mean and if you are moving our bedroom to the other side of the house what do you plan to put underneath it?”

“A dining room,” Roman murmured, “Maybe extending the kitchen,” he added.

“Oh, of course,” Ella muttered before standing up and dropping the towel to the floor. She stalked over to the wardrobe where she’d hung up her dress for tonight and then remembered she hadn’t put on underwear and now she would have him give her that mocking look because he knew that she’d gotten angry at him and got herself distracted.

“It’s just an idea, we did talk about re-decorating,” he shrugged as he moved over to where he’d left his bag and took out underwear. He dropped his towel too before pulling on the soft jersey boxers she’d bought him. She was forced to watch as he snapped the elasticated waistband around himself and gently adjusted his… well she couldn’t tear her eyes away as he adjusted himself. Why was she gazing at him like a lovesick idiot?

Forcing herself to do something she took her dress down and removed the hanger before heading over to the bed and laying it on the cover. Then she gathered her own underwear and slipped it on before adding the dress over the top. She noticed that neither one of them spoke as they got dress, Roman was now wearing black trousers and a black shirt and she tried to hide the smile that crawled on to her lips as she saw him tucking the shirt in and adding a black belt to the top of the trousers, guiding the leather through the loops. He was a handsome devil, she thought, holding back a laugh and didn’t he know it.

As she spun around to gather her shoes and finish getting ready she noticed that he’d picked up the towels and took them through to the bathroom.

She finished her make-up with cherry red lipstick to match the red dress she was wearing. Maybe they were both wearing a uniform of sorts she mused as she tucked the lipstick inside her clutch handbag.

“Ready?”

She looked over at Roman seeing him standing near the door and smiled before walking over to him.

“I am and don’t even think about removing my lipstick,” she threatened.

Roman shot her a little boy look before he gathered the keys to the room and walked out with her.

“I hope you know that you are carrying me up these stairs later,” Ella told him as they moved down the staircase.

“Over my shoulder or …”

She gasped at his question as she felt a quiver of reaction go through her. Maybe she better not drink anything, she thought, just in case her inhibitions lowered even more than they had.

“I think I’ll ..” she tried to answer him but he was smirking at her like he’d already read her mind.

“So, that would be over my shoulder, thrown on to the bed and ravished,” he whispered leaning close to her ear as they reached the lobby.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to manage that, at your age,” she murmured back and nodded at the desk clerk before stepping outside and looking up at the sky. The moon was full and lit up the sky casting a silver hue over the soft clouds that lingered from the rain that had fallen earlier. Mixed in amongst them were silver stars that looked as though they were painted in on the sky they were so brilliant.

“The Southern Cross,” he murmured pointing out the constellation that was on the Australian flag.

“It’s beautiful.”

“You are beautiful,” he commented his fingers tracing the smattering of freckles on the back of her shoulder that were a copy of the stars above them.

Ella grinned at him before he guided her over to a taxi and she raised her eyebrows as she looked at him.

“Planning on having a drink?”

“Oh yes,” he murmured, “besides this is a date,” he added.

Ella looked away from him and blinked back the tears that came into her eyes at his words. He was making so many efforts, stepping up as a dad, keeping his promises, and now giving her a romantic weekend away. How the hell was she going to top this, she wondered.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 90

Ella could tell Roman wasn’t impressed with her spending so much on the kids. It was the way he kept giving her looks and sighing. Big sighs too, not just the little release of breath but really blowing the breath out between his lips which seemed to be in a snarl of disapproval. Giving him a smile she walked over to the next stall and looked at the candles.

“I think we should bring your dining table over,” she commented.

“Ella,” Roman muttered.

“Instead of ours,” she added quickly, “The benches are a pretty good idea.”

“Are you trying to distract me so I won’t notice what you are buying now?”

Ella looked over at him and grinned before holding her thumb and finger a little way apart and nodded.

“A little bit,” she confirmed before turning back and selecting a load of candles and buying them. Cranberry scented ones for the Christmas table and Vanilla for the mantelpiece. They had a big garland they put on it every year and she knew that these ones would go in amongst the leafy green of the garland and look magical. Then she’d found little tealights with gold and silver glitter in them. She had no idea where she was going to use them but they were cute.

“I knew that bringing you here was a mistake the moment I saw your face,” he murmured.

“Er… ok…” Ella grinned at him again and handed him another large bag to carry. She had to keep her hands free of course and didn’t feel the least guilty about running around the Christmas Fair he’d bought her too, despite the three trips he’d made already to the car and back with loads of bags containing all the things she’d bought.

“Ok, El, this is enough,” he muttered flexing his arm as he felt the weight of the bag.

“But there are still so many stalls and…” she gave him what she hoped was a flirtatious look before grinning as she spotted a stall that was selling antique looking Christmas decorations. Shooting him a look again she walked past him and over to the stall, looking though the various items.

She didn’t notice Roman looking up at the ceiling of the barn they were in before shaking his head and disappearing out of the arena setup. When she looked up again, after buying numerous items and collecting the bag she saw that he was empty handed.

“Yes Ella, I made another trip to the car.”

“Oh,” she chuckled and handed him the new bag.

“No, this time you hold the bags and I do some shopping,” he said assertively putting the bag back in her hands

“But..”

She frowned as she could see that she wasn’t going to get round him and was forced to stomp after him as he headed away. By the time she’d caught up with him he’d already brought something and handed her the bag.

“What?” She gasped out the question.

Roman leaned over and whispered in her ear, “It’s either this or you repeat what happened in the study.”

Ella gasped and frowned feeling herself blushing before she stalked off in the opposite direction. She didn’t see Roman’s grin before he moved purposely towards a stall and make a purchase, tucking the small package inside the bag he was holding so that she wouldn’t see it.

Walking around, she made more than another dozen buys before she saw him again. He grinned at her before finishing up buying something and heading over towards her.

“Ready to go?” He asked lifting his hand and teasing a section of hair back behind her ear.

She nodded feeling the brush of his fingers against her cheek.

“I might er…”

“Fall asleep within five minutes of my driving?”

“Yeah,” she shot him a look and smiled as she saw him grinning at her.

“Come on then Princess,” he murmured and took hold of her free hand to guide her out of the arena.

“We’re so coming back next year,” she muttered giving the place a last look around.

“For a minute I thought you were going to say next week,” he grumbled as they reached the car.

He unlocked it and put his bags on the back seat with the others before taking the ones from her and doing likewise and then closing the rear door. She smiled at him as she moved around the car and climbed into the passenger seat doing up her seatbelt and snuggling down.

Roman got in behind the wheel and smirked at her snuggling down before he started up the car and eased out of the parking lot and on to the country road.

“So tell me about the house?” Ella asked, hearing her own voice sounding sleepy and half smiling as she closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat.

Roman glanced at her and began to speak softly.

“We knock down the garage and move the shed behind it. Then we extend the living room and the dining area. Once we move the table we use the existing dining area to extend the kitchen. I’m thinking we put a table in there so we can use it as an informal dining area. Then we subdivide the living room so that we have a smaller room for the kids to use as a playroom. Upstairs we’d have the full width of the house, we could have a walk in dressing area and an en suite, but well I want to make an upstairs veranda. Somewhere we can sit together,” she heard his voice trailing off and she glanced at him before sighing and slipping deeper into sleep. She could tell he’d been giving this a lot of thought and needed to do the same.

They walked into the house holding hands and grinning at each other.

“You know if I didn’t know better I would say that we made some really good time on the trip back,” Ella murmured to him.

Roman chuckled as he opened the door. He heard nothing out of the ordinary and sighed. Even hearing nothing was as worrying as if he’d heard hand grenades and gunfire when you had Lily, and well, the other kids too, he added silently in his head, although it was mostly Lily.

“Mama,” August called out on seeing them.

Roman wasn’t surprised when Ella let go of his hand and walked over to where the children were. She scooped up the twins, hugging and kissing both girls. He grinned at the expression on her beautiful face, joy and love combined into a smile, he thought poetically. One day he would draw her, he promised himself, just to capture all her expressions. As if reading his thoughts she looked up at him.

“Do you want a drink?” He asked.

Ella grinned and nodded and he moved into the kitchen not even asking what she wanted. Brewing a pot of coffee he poured one out for himself and then Ella’s, taking hers through to her. He found himself smiling as he saw her now with Lily and Liam along with the twins.

“Hi Dada,” Liam greeted him with a big smile.

“Hello son,” Roman murmured and leaned down to give Liam a kiss, before kissing the top of Lily’s head. He was greeted as usual by her giving him a glare and he pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing at the stubbornness she displayed.

“Mama did you..” Liam began to ask giving her a sly look.

“I brought you back some sweets,” Ella told her son, “You can have them after tea,” she added when Liam shot up from his seat and began looking around.

“Oh you’re back,” Sammy peered round the door before disappearing again. He returned a moment later carrying his laptop and moving over to the dining table and setting it down, “Marcus wanted to say hello,” he added gesturing to the conversation he was having on Skype.

Ella eased away from the twins and moved over to the laptop to sit next to her son.

“Hey Marcus, how are you?”

“I’m good,” Marcus said quickly leaning forward so that he was closer to the camera. He tilted his head to one side before nodding indicating he was listening to someone off screen. “Dad wants me to ask if I can come back and stay for a week?”

“That isn’t quite what I said,” they heard Jack saying in the background.

“It’s fine,” Ella laughed and glanced over to Roman. He nodded back at her and she grinned back in response. This unspoken communication between them made him happy. He liked that he was back home and things were so good between them. If Marcus wanted to stay then he was all for it, especially as he knew that Ella had missed the little boy.

“Marcus?” Lily picked up on the other side of the room.

“When do you want to come?”

“Can I come back with Sammy?”

Ella smiled at the instant response from Marcus before picking up Lily and sitting her on to her lap. Lily looked down shyly before she waved to Marcus and gave him a small smile with Marcus waving back.

“What about your dad?” Ella asked.

“Dad?” Marcus called out.

Jack’s face entered the screen and he gave Ella a slow smile.

“We’re coming to the Bay to spend Christmas with my dad and Rachel so I’ll pick him up then,” Jack said slowly, “If you are sure that a week with him will be ok?”

“Yes,” Lily answered for them, “Marcus home Mama?”

“Squeals,” Ella rolled her eyes, “Sure,” she addressed Jack, “We can do a week, be good for Marcus and Sammy to catch up. I’ll see you soon Marcus,” she murmured and blew a kiss to the little boy, laughing when he pretended to catch it. Leaving Lily in her seat she eased up and moved back to her seat and claimed her coffee back. She’d just taken a sip when her phone rang and she frowned at the display before looking over at Roman. He caught her startled look and moved over to her and looked down at the display himself.

“Ok, study?” he found himself asking her.

Guiding her into the other room he closed the door behind them as Ella answered the phone.

“You are on speaker with me and Roman,” she murmured into the phone.

“Hi, I couldn’t ask over the computer, the thing is, Marcus isn’t settling here, he’s not happy,” Jack told them quickly.

Roman moved to sit in the chair near the desk and patted his knee watching as she moved to perch on his lap. He put his arm around her and held her.

“What do you want us to do?” He asked when he saw Ella giving him a look.

“Marcus wants to live with you, I said I would ask if he could visit for a couple of days and you heard him extend that to a week.”

“Jack,” Ella began.

“I’m still his Dad and we will have a relationship but he says he was happiest when he was with you guys, so I have to ask, for his benefit if you could take him in, I can pay his…”

“Jack,” Ella interrupted, “It isn’t about money, we can look after him and not even notice the extra cost, it’s well you wanted to be his dad, maybe if..”

They heard silence for a moment before Jack spoke again.

“I’ve been a dad. I’ve done the school runs and activities. I have JJ living with us full time now so we’ve developed a family unit. It’s functional; for the most part with the exception that we all know Marcus isn’t happy here. He misses you guys,” Jack sighed, his pain in admitting this evident in his voice, “So I’m asking if Marcus can come live with you.”

“Yes, ok,” Roman answered for them giving Ella a look when he saw her nod at him, too emotional to speak.

“This doesn’t mean I’m abandoning him though, as soon as this house is sold we’re moving in with my Dad and Rachel so we’ll be able to see him and ..” Jack trailed off.

“We’ll take care of him,” Ella spoke softly.

“I know, I have to go, I’ll call you again to sort out arrangements.”

They heard Jack disconnect the call and he looked at her.

“And I take it we aren’t giving Mia up?” He asked her and she nodded before giving him a look, “Good job I love you,” he said after a moment.

Ella looked at him again and he gasped as she pressed kisses all over his face.

“I love you too,” she murmured, “Thank you.”

“You’ve missed him then?”

She nodded and blinked back tears before leaning closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder.

“I know Sammy has too and Lily…”

“Lily?”

“Well didn’t you see, Lily is in love,” Ella pointed out.

“Lily is six,” Roman muttered.

Ella laughed, “Doesn’t matter, Marcus is doomed now that she’s decided.”

“She does take after her mother,” Roman grinned and felt a sharp poke in his ribs, “Woman, stop doing that!”

Ella shot him an innocent look and eased off his lap and headed out of the study, collecting her phone on the way.

“Mum,” Meggy said, she and Sophie having just come down the stairs.

“Hello girls, Mia about?”

“She’s taking a nap,” Sophie pointed out, “That’s why we came down.”

“She ok?”

“She hasn’t spoken much actually,” this from Meggy.

“I think she’s getting worried because it’s close to Christmas and she didn’t know if she was welcome,” Sophie murmured quickly.

“Well your Dad is with Georgie next weekend so it will be us girls, how about we have sleeping bags down here and a sleepover? Ask Angel?”

“That would be cool, I’ll text her right now,” Sophie took her phone out and began typing out the message not noticing Meggy and her mother sharing a look.

Roman headed out of the study and into the lounge, moving to sit with the twins. August crawled into his lap and he cuddled his daughter. He noticed Sammy closing down his laptop, his conversation with Marcus over. He caught Lily sighing and easing off the chair next to her brother to come over to him. There was a strange expression on her face and he found himself seeking out Ella and looking at her for a long moment. She knew what he was thinking of course and gave him one of her smiles. It was good to be home.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 91

“Mama,” Liam called coming down the stairs and crashing into the lounge.

Meggy screamed and jumped up spilling the popcorn she had in a bowl in her lap.

“We said a horror film wasn’t the best choice,” Ella told her daughter easing her back down before stepping past her daughter and over to the door where Liam was. She picked her son up and switched on the light at the same time.

“Thanks Megs,” Mia murmured picking up popcorn and putting it back in the bowl.

“Soph,” Ella said quietly. Sophie nodded and moved from her seat opposite Meggy and began to clean up the spilled popcorn. “Now then my little Prince, come and tell me what the matter is,” she added.

“Lily is crying,” Liam snuffled into her shoulder and clung to her.

“Come on let’s go see our Squeals,” Ella moved up the stairs and over to their room. She eased down and popped Liam back on his bed before moving over to Lily’s side of the room and perched on her daughter’s bed. Peeling back the quilt she saw Lily sobbing under the cover. “Hey Squeals, come tell Mama what the matter is,” she begged softly.

Lily shook her head stubbornly and groaned when Ella lifted her up and held her, rubbing her back with small circles. Eventually the sobs stopped apart from a few snuffles.

“Dada go,” Lily muttered burying her face in her shoulder just the way that Liam had a few moments earlier.

“Yes, Dada is gone,” Ella said before biting her lip, “Hey, Squeals, no, Dada is camping with Georgie, he’ll be home tomorrow,” she added quickly after realising what Lily meant with her words.

“No, no, me makes him go because I no let him have Fudgie,” Lily snuffled.

“Babe, that’s not true,” Ella sighed before lifting Lily away from her and standing her up on the bed. She looked at Lily’s face and sighed. “Promise, Dada will be home tomorrow,” she murmured as she reached for her phone.

Scrolling thought the numbers until she found the one she was looking for and dialled it. The phone rang out and she frowned slightly before dialling again.

Roman mumbled something before reaching for his backpack. He pulled out the Sat phone he’d brought with him and looked at the display before answering it.

“Call you back,” he said quietly and disconnected the call.

“What?” Georgie muttered coming awake and glaring at his dad, watching as he climbed out of his sleeping bag and pulled his boots on. “You brought a phone with you?”

“I did, and four people have the number, one of them is …”

“Mum.”

“Correct,” Roman grinned and stood up, “Won’t be long, go back to sleep.”

“No, I’ll wait just in case we need to go home,” Georgie muttered.

Roman found himself smiling at that as he eased out of the tent and moved a little way away before dialling. Ella answered on the first ring.

“Hey,” she said softly, “Lily is a bit upset, she thinks that you’ve left again,” she explained quickly and bit her lip knowing what the words would do to him. If she were there, well for one thing they would be in a hotel room and not a tent but for another she would be able to reach out and hold his hand or hug him to stop him feeling bad.

Roman closed his eyes as he heard the words. Although Lily was pushing him away she was also the most sensitive of their children. It was Lily who’d felt the loss of August when their baby daughter and Fleur’s twin was still missing after being kidnapped. Lily who’d waited up every night just in case they’d heard anything about August and because of course, she was mad at the ‘bad man’ for taking her sister. Now she was convinced he was leaving again because all he’d done for most of her life was leave. The raw knot of pain inside him grew and it was all he could do not to go back to the tent and grab his stuff so he could go home to his daughter and reassure her. But he had other children and had promised Georgie. Feeling torn he looked at the phone as he blinked back tears. Finally he found his voice.

“Of course I’m coming home, let me talk to her,” he said.

“Dada wants to talk, Squeals,” Ella said handing over the phone to her daughter.

She bit her lip once more as Lily took the phone from her and held it to her ear.

“Hey Squeals, you woke us up,” Roman began, “Thought we told you that I was camping with Georgie,” he added quickly.

His heart leapt when he head Lily sob through the phone.

“I thought you left us,” Lily cried out.

“I promise Squeals, I’m never leaving you or your Mum again, I love you all,” he said his voice catching.

“You can have Fudgie if you promise not to leave,” Lily said quickly as though not believing him.

“I can’t have Fudgie, because he loves you more than me and he would miss you a whole load, just like I would. Lily, I’m not leaving again.”

“Then whys aren’t you home?”

Ella smiled at the way her stubborn daughter was interrogating her husband. Dammit, there was that word again. Suddenly she frowned, what if Lily got it into her head that her parents should get married again. Her eyes narrowed what if Roman dropped a few hints to his daughter about it. He was that sneaky. Dammit.

“Because I promised Georgie that I would take him camping,” Roman explained patiently. Although all he wanted now was to climb into the car and speed home.

“You no leave,” Lily muttered her angry voice coming through the phone.

“I’m not leaving,” Roman said again.

“I means it,” Lily glared, “and you tells Mikey he comes home toos,” she added fiercely.

“I…” Roman found his lips twitching as he held the phone up and tried to talk to her, “Mike has to speak to Danni first, but I’m definitely coming home tomorrow.”

“I no nos believe you,” Lily muttered, “You come homes now.”

Roman chuckled at his fierce sounding daughter.

“Lily, Dada and Georgie are camping, they can’t come home until tomorrow,” Ella told her daughter.

“Where’s Samson?”

Ella looked over at Liam as he asked the question and wondered how to answer. Explaining that Sammy had gone to see Marcus without Lily was not something she wanted to mention.

“He’s gone to see his friend,” she prevaricated.

“So he no camp with Dada?”

“No Sweetie, do you want to camp with Dada?” Ella asked hoping to change the subject. Her attention on her son she only half heard Lily berating her father for not making Mikey come home with him, although she suspected it had more to do with the kittens not making an appearance.

“Ay Mama, me big boys?” Liam nodded exuberantly

“I’ll tell Dada then,” Ella began unprepared for Liam vaulting over the room and grabbing the phone from Lily.

“Dada, me’s go camping toos,” Liam shouted out.

“Shush Liam, you don’t want to wake the twins,” Ella cautioned trying not to laugh.

“No Dada,” Liam said pouting in response to something his dad had said, “Mama he say talk to yous,” Liam held the phone out to her.

“Ok, you two, get back in bed,” Ella murmured watching a reluctant Lily climbing back under the covers as she took the phone and eased out of the room heading into their bedroom so she could have privacy.

“El?”

“Yeah it’s me,” she murmured, feeling her lips curving as she smiled at hearing his voice.

“I..”

“Roman we have to expect some fallout. Relax, we dealt with it and Lily will be fine when you turn up with the kittens tomorrow,” she laughed softly as she heard his little gasp of surprise.

“So it’s not just that I’m not there,” Roman finally said.

“When is it not some devious plot with her? Really, she takes after you.”

“Thanks for that dear,” Roman drawled feeling relieved, “But Liam..”

“Wants to do boy stuff,” Ella told him, “See we should have tried for another boy when I said.”

“No,” Roman muttered, “We’ll just get Amy-Belle to bring Kai over more.”

“Ah right, we will?”

“Before you even think about plotting anything.”

“But Roman, you’ve been fixed, how would I…”

“You’d manage it El,” Roman interrupted her, “But Lily…”

“She probably had a scary dream and neither of us was in the bedroom so …” Ella shrugged, “I could have sorted it but we’re a partnership now aren’t we, so…”

She heard Roman sighing before the timbre of his voice lowered and he spoke again, “We certainly are, unless you want to marry me again…”

“Nice try soldier, go get some sleep,” Ella responded, relieved that he hadn’t been able to read her mind earlier, “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said softly before hanging up and putting her phone away.

Heading back into the bedroom she saw that Liam and Lily were both in bed although neither of them looked ready for sleep.

“Dada says night!”

She moved over to their beds and tucked them both in before giving them kisses and cuddles. She wondered if they knew just how loved they were, and how special, Lily’s birth was a miracle and Liam, well both she and the doctors thought Liam had died before his birth and she’d sent Roman away when she’d been so scared. Brushing his curls back from his face she looked down now watching as he struggled to keep his eyes open before losing the battle and drifting to sleep. Protectiveness must be a genetic quality they inherited from Roman because Liam would do anything to make sure that Lily and his twin sisters were safe. That didn’t rule out Lily’s fierceness because she knew if Roman hadn’t dealt with Alexi then Lily would have kicked his… behind. Smiling, she lent down and pressed another soft kiss to Lily’s head before easing out of the room and heading down the stairs.

“Whatisit?” Georgie mumbled as Roman moved back inside the tent and climbed into his sleeping bag.

“Lily thought I’d left again,” Roman told him preparing himself for a sarcastic comment in response.

“ha ha,” Georgie opened one eye and peered at him, “she just wants the kittens,” he added before rolling over and going back to sleep.

Roman looked up at the tent and bit back a swearword. Lily. Hatching a plan. Devious as her mother.

Suddenly he shot up, his head nearly colliding with the pole at the centre of the tent. Maybe he should discuss weddings with Lily and see what she suggested or well hatched…. Laying back down he slowly drifted to sleep again, a smile on his face.