Outback Reunion (Bunyip Bay #6)

Chapter Twenty-three

‘Is she always so terrifying?’ Mark whispered as Luna skipped ahead to his Cruiser. He’d come to pick them up for the barbecue and Dante’s grandmother had pounced on him at the entrance of the lot, refusing to let him in.

Thankfully, Gabriela and Luna had been waiting outside their caravan at the time. They’d seen him and intervened, but he didn’t quite understand what was going on. Had the old woman seen him visiting Gabi? He looked back and she was still standing by the gate, her hands on her hips. If looks could kill, Mark would be a dead man.

‘She’s just a bully. Ignore her.’

‘Where’s Rookie?’ Luna demanded as he and Gabriela climbed into the front seats. She’d already strapped herself in the back, the football he’d given her yesterday clutched tightly to her chest. She looked so adorable and he couldn’t help grinning.

‘I said where’s Rookie ? And are we going anywhere or are we just going to sit in your ute all day?’

Mark blinked and shoved the key in the ignition. ‘Sorry. Um... I left her at home. She’s not well behaved enough for polite company.’

‘I could have kept her under control,’ Luna said, her tone more than a little patronising.

He exchanged a smirk with Gabriela. ‘I’ve no doubt, but I thought you might be too busy playing with Heidi.’

‘Fair,’ Luna said, sounding so much older than her seven years. He guessed that’s what happened when a kid spent most of her time with adults.

As usual, she chattered non-stop all the way to Forrester’s Rock, and Mark did his best to listen and respond where necessary, while trying to keep his hand from drifting over to her mother’s knee.

Being close to Gabriela and not being able to touch her was pure torture.

‘Wow, this place is stunning,’ she said as they bumped along the dusty drive from the road to the house. ‘Are those mulberry trees?’

‘Yep.’ He followed her gaze to the row of trees lining the long gravel drive. ‘Ryan’s mum planted them not long after she and Frank were married. Sadly, she didn’t live long enough to see how well they’d grown.’

‘Oh, that’s so sad.’ Gabriela was quiet a moment, perhaps thinking of her own mother. ‘So how do you know Ryan?’

Mark chuckled. ‘Pretty much the same way I know everyone around here. Our parents were friends, and we grew up together, but after Ryan and Faith’s mum died, my mum kind of took them under her wing. We were round here a lot while she’d cook and clean. Me, Ryan, Faith, and some of our other friends loved eating the berries on these trees and collecting silkworms.’

‘Are we almost there?’ asked Luna, peering out the window as the house came into view—she wasn’t as interested in hearing about people she didn’t know.

‘Yep,’ Mark said, frowning.

Judging by the number of vehicles, it looked like Grant had invited half of Bunyip Bay. So much for a small, casual barbecue! And even though it was January when many farmers were away on holidays, and the middle of the workday for anyone who wasn’t, he’d managed to pull quite the crowd.

Mark felt a sinking feeling in his gut as he parked between a police car and the local electrician’s white van, and not because he was worried that there might be a crime or electrical emergency in town.

‘I didn’t know there’d be so many people,’ Gabriela said as Luna jumped out of the car and dashed off towards the house on her mission to find Heidi.

‘Neither did I,’ he admitted, his jaw clenched.

Gabriela bit her lip, then sighed. ‘I’m not great at socialising.’

Her words pushed aside the anxiety he felt that this barbecue was going to be bigger than Ben Hur. He’d bet that was another thing Dante had led her to believe to keep her close and reliant on him, and although he reckoned it was probably bullshit—she charmed the circus audience every night—he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

He squeezed her hand. ‘We can leave if you want to.’

‘Are you kidding?’ She let out a dry chuckle. ‘Luna would never forgive me.’ She took a quick breath and undid her seatbelt. ‘I’ll be fine, I’m sure.’

‘I promise I won’t leave your side,’ he said as they climbed out of the ute.

They’d barely taken two steps towards the enclosed yard before Grant, who’d clearly been on the lookout from the front verandah, hurried over to greet them, Ryan in tow.

‘Mark!’ Grant pulled him into a hug and slapped his back. ‘So glad you could make it. And you must be the delightful Gabriela,’ he added, as Mark and Ryan shook hands.

Mark gave him a look telling him to tone it down as Grant air-kissed both her cheeks. He didn’t want to make this look obvious.

‘Thanks for coming to my party. This is my husband, Ryan.’

They exchanged niceties, then Grant asked, ‘Where’s your little girl? I hope you didn’t leave her behind at the circus.’

Gabriela shook her head. ‘She’s already gone off to find her friend, Heidi.’

Grant pressed a hand against his chest. ‘Ah, Heidi. The light of all our lives.’

‘I thought I was the light of your life,’ said Ryan with a smirk.

‘You’re a close second.’ Grant patted Ryan’s shoulder, before linking his arm through Gabriela’s. ‘Now come on, let’s get you a drink and I’ll introduce you to everyone. What’s your poison? I make a toxic punch.’

‘Only the one for me. I’ve got to perform tonight,’ she said as Grant led them round into the backyard and towards a table that was set up like a makeshift bar under the trees. Country music blared from bluetooth speakers. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot today, and the famous Geraldton wind was providing an almost cool breeze between the many trees in the Forresters’ garden. The misting system on the back verandah also helped.

Grant poured Gabriela a punch and handed Mark a bottle of beer, before leading Gabriela around the garden, interrupting every conversation to present her as if she were a single maiden at a Regency ball.

All the most important people were here. Adam and Stella, and Henri with Liam from the pub, Frankie and Logan, and Henri’s siblings, who’d brought their kids for Luna to hopefully click with. But there was also Ruby and Drew, which accounted for the cop car, and plenty of folks he could have done without.

So much for a low-key barbecue with close friends.

For all Gabriela said about not being great at socialising, she more than held her own, but as promised, Mark stayed close.

‘A little birdie told me your arm’s been twisted and you’re gunna coach the girls,’ said Adam, coming up to them when Grant had finished the introductions and dashed off to make sure the quiches were heating properly. ‘Heidi’s ridiculously excited.’

‘Yeah.’ He scratched his neck at the collar of his shirt. ‘Don’t know what I’m getting myself in for.’

‘They’re good girls. Mostly .’ Adam cackled, a teasing glint in his eye. ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll help whenever I can.’

‘You agreed to coach the girls?’ Gabriela asked when Adam went to grab another beer, leaving them alone for the first time since they’d walked through the gate.

‘I did.’ He’d sent Stella a message yesterday. ‘Thanks to some wise advice from a good friend, I decided to give it a shot. And I think I’m looking forward to it. You know I’ve felt sort of an outsider since coming home—’

‘I don’t know why.’ She gestured around them. ‘Everyone seems to adore you.’

That was true; as he and Grant had introduced Gabriela to their friends and acquaintances, everyone had been even friendlier than usual. It was almost as if they knew the real reason Grant had thrown this party and were trying to talk Mark up in front of her. Nah, he shoved that thought aside—Grant had promised total discretion. Probably they’d just heard about the coaching and were hoping he might eventually be convinced to coach the reserves team as well.

And the way he was feeling right now... maybe he would.

‘Yeah, well,’ he said with a shrug, ‘I guess it was more my fault than theirs. I didn’t come home in the best spirits, and everyone here seemed so content. I couldn’t help feeling resentful, but you’ve helped me see how lucky I am.’

She nodded. ‘You really are.’

He smiled. ‘I reckon helping the girls will make me feel properly part of Bunyip Bay again and like I’m doing my bit. I still might volunteer for the ambos too, especially after seeing how great they were with Luna, but I wanna get a few things sorted with Mum and Dad on the farm first.’

‘That’s so great, I’m so proud of you.’ Gabriela beamed up at him. ‘And I really want to kiss you right now.’

Mark’s heart hitched as he leaned a little closer. ‘What’s stopping you?’

Maybe this was his moment to tell her he’d fallen in love with her. That if not for her, he wouldn’t be feeling ready to face the world again like he was. That he didn’t want her to leave, and that he wanted her and Luna to join his world and become part of this sometimes-annoying-but-mostly-awesome community.

She opened her mouth to reply, but it wasn’t her voice he heard.

‘Henri told me you beat Mark in an arm wrestle,’ boomed Callum Forward, one of Henri’s brothers as he appeared beside them, his little rosy-faced boy riding high on his shoulders. ‘Is that right?’

Gabriela laughed, then bit her lip as she glanced apologetically at Mark. ‘I think he might have been distracted though.’

Could that be any more of an understatement? He’d been distracted since the moment he’d crashed into her in the IGA.

‘Well, we can’t have you thinking all the blokes in Bunyip Bay are weaklings. Are you up for giving me a shot?’

She raised an eyebrow and made a show of looking him up and down. Callum was a big guy and looked a little rough around the edges, even though he was nothing but a big, loveable teddy bear once you got to know him. ‘The question is, are you up for the humiliation?’

He laughed loudly, then looked to Mark. ‘I like her. She’s funny.’

‘Let’s see if you think that after I annihilate you. Where shall we do this?’ Gabriela nodded towards the verandah. ‘Up there at the table?’

Callum grinned and gestured for her to go ahead of him. ‘Ladies first.’

‘Good luck,’ Mark said.

‘I don’t need any luck,’ she said, practically skipping ahead.

‘I was talking to Callum.’

A crowd gathered around Gabriela and Callum as they sat on either side of the long wooden table. Callum’s wife, Hannah, stepped forward to take their son, hissing at him as she did so, ‘You better go easy on her. Remember why we’re here.’

Mark grimaced. Dammit . Grant had clearly spilled the beans to some people, but hopefully Gabriela didn’t suspect. He stood behind her as she cleared the space in front of her of glasses, then leaned forward and dropped her elbow on the table, positioning herself ready for battle.

Callum, whose mum often said that he was not much more than an overgrown child, did the same. ‘On your marks, get set...’

‘Go,’ shouted Gabriela and half the crowd.

It was mere seconds before her opponent’s cocky smile slipped and the veins in his neck bulged as he struggled not to lose face. At least Mark had only had Henri, Liam, some tourists and a couple of late-night pub patrons to witness his demise; poor Callum’s whole family was watching.

And lose he did. Even faster than Mark had.

Everyone, except the man himself, thought it hilarious. ‘What do they feed you at the bloody circus?’

Gabriela smiled—‘That would be giving away my secrets’—then looked up at their audience. ‘Would anyone else like to have a go?’

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were no takers but many questions about the rigorous training she must do to maintain that kind of strength. Mark had heard most of what she said, either from Gabriela or Luna, but he enjoyed sitting next to her at the table, listening and watching as she captivated everyone else. The conversation continued while they ate a delicious lunch of salads, homemade quiche for the adults and a sausage sizzle for the kids. Callum muttered that he’d prefer a banger slapped between a piece of white bread than ‘this rabbit food’, but Grant wouldn’t hear of it, telling him to go to Bunnings in Gero on Saturday morning if he wanted to eat such atrocities.

‘Mark, will you come in the pool with us?’ begged Heidi and Luna, ambushing him from both sides the second his plate was empty.

‘You’re supposed to wait at least half an hour after eating before you swim,’ he told them.

Luna shook her head. ‘Granny says that’s an old wives’ tale.’

‘What’s an old wives’ tale?’ asked Heidi, a slight frown creasing her large forehead.

‘Dunno.’ Luna shrugged. ‘I think it means rubbish. Come on, Mark .’

He looked to Gabriela beside him and remembered what Grant had said about showing off his sixpack. ‘You wanna go get wet?’

‘I’ve already washed my hair once today, but don’t let me stop you. I don’t think these two are going to take no for an answer.’

‘You sure?’ He’d promised not to leave her.

She smiled. ‘I’ll be fine.’ Then she lowered her voice. ‘Everyone is lovely.’

‘Okay, then.’ He pushed back his chair and turned to the girls. ‘Lead the way.’

As Luna and Heidi took his hands and dragged him over to the pool where some of the older kids were already doing bombies, Mark looked back one final time to check that Gabriela was alright. Despite her initial reservations, she looked to be more than alright. Her shoulders were relaxed and the laugh that drifted in his direction warmed his soul.

She was already fitting in so well. As he ripped off his shirt and dived into the pool with the girls, he couldn’t stop grinning.