Jump Start

18. Eighteen

Eighteen

Thomas

A s we walked through the hospital doors, I gripped Harper’s hand tightly. We waited to the side while her mum spoke to the nurse who caught us as we arrived.

“You need to get a grip,” she whisper-yelled as my eyes darted around the hospital foyer.

“I’m fucking nervous! This is a big deal.”

She tilted her head up and sniffed the air around me. “All I smell is scaredy cat.” Her childish giggle and flushed red face turned me on, despite the sterile, gloomy environment.

As we approached Harper’s dad’s hospital suite, we were greeted by a happy nurse who was laughing her way out of the room. Harper broke from my hand and rushed inside.

“Geez Dad, the nurses are leaving in fits of laughter. Who’s going to tell them you’re not actually funny?” she joked as she approached his bed. He kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. Harriet stood back and watched the two. I put my arm around her and pulled her in close. I didn’t know what made me do it, I think I just wanted to offer her comfort since she’d been so kind to me.

“G’day, Thomas,” Ian spoke after releasing his daughter. This was it. Don’t fuck it up , I thought to myself, a reminder to behave. I moved towards him, smiling as sincerely as possible, and extended my hand to greet him. He was definitely tall and incredibly fit for someone his age. The thought crossed my mind that it seemed weird that someone of his stature would have a heart attack.

“Nice to finally meet you, mate,” I spoke a little faster than usual.

Meeting Harper’s father was more nerve-wracking than the final straight at Bathurst.

“Yes, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you and talking about the big mountain race. It’s always treacherous up there.” He was referring to Mount Panorama, and he wasn’t wrong.

“I heard my sons took you fishing yesterday,” he said conversationally. “Any bites?”

I perched myself on the cabinet behind me to give him some space before answering.

“Well, Brendo caught something, and Andy had a few nibbles. We had a great time. They are cool blokes.”

Harper and her mum were talking in the corner of the room, and I felt the atmosphere change slightly. I felt the small talk portion of this meeting coming to an end.

“Ian, can I get you anything, a coffee or something?”

“He can’t have coffee; he’s just had a heart attack.” Harper’s sarcastic voice echoed across the room. I raised my eyebrow at Ian, and he did the same back but lifted his hands in the air in surrender.

Both of us were under the spell of Harper Allenwright.

I knew how he felt.

** *

In my opinion, the meet and greet went well, and not too long after, we were helping Ian into the car. He had been discharged with strict instructions to rest and make changes to his diet, along with a weekly house call from a local nurse.

All of which he was incredibly unamused by.

“I know how to eat salad. I don’t need a nurse to show me.”

Harriet laughed. “Yes, because your love of salad is why we’re currently driving home from the hospital.” Sassy was clearly a running trait in the Allenwright family.

Harper laughed and leant her head on my shoulder in the backseat. I hoped her hangover was slowly subsiding.

Once home, most of the afternoon consisted of everyone fawning over Ian and him getting sick of it. I tried a different approach and let him have some space. We’d all settled in and watched a movie together. Harper and Harriet promptly fell asleep, much to the amusement of Brendo and Andy. After a few nodding heads and some intermittent snoring, everyone said goodnight and suddenly, it was just Ian and me.

“Care for a chat out on the verandah, mate?” Ian asked as he stood up off the couch.

I gulped loudly. Whatever was coming, I knew I deserved it.

“Sure, Ian.” I trailed along behind him as he led us outside, where we took a seat on the couch that the boys and I drank beer on the previous day.

“You and I are well overdue for a chat,” Ian said, commanding the conversation, even in his state.

I nodded in response. “Agreed,” I answered, knowing I would need to choose my words carefully.

There was an awkward silence before he spoke again, “I’m assuming you know what I’m going to say here, mate.” His eyes were firmly directed at me. I uncrossed my legs and leant closer to him. I was not afraid to meet him head-on.

“Ian, I never meant to hurt her. I know she would have told you a lot about what our first week together was like. I am doing my best to make sure she feels loved now.” I swallowed after speaking, my throat had gone dry.

“I know that. I can see that you make her happy now. I just want you to know three other men love her too, and two of them have security clearances.”

I smiled faintly; she was lucky to have a family that cared so deeply for her. I envied that sometimes.

“I am well aware, sir. It won’t happen again.”

Ian extended his hand out to me, and I shook it. “Good, now tell me about that last race in Eastern Creek. That can’t have been an easy one to win.” His tone was more casual now that the interrogation was over. For now, at least.

I relaxed back on my chair and filled him in on my last race. I was relieved to have had the tough conversation and made sure that Ian knew I would do everything in my power to make Harper happy.