Stolen Kiss (The Turners of Copper Island #2)

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jason

T here was an open invitation for him to Sunday lunch at the Shaw household. Permanently. But Jason didn’t feel comfortable attending until he sorted things out with Keith.

He felt for his best friend because Jason knew what it was like to be manipulated by Aunt Cynthia. Jason also felt the tug of family loyalty. Because Keith had acted to protect his sister.

And there was nothing wrong with that. If the situation were reversed, Jason would move Heaven and Hell to protect Daisy.

Still, there was a twang of regret that so many years were wasted.

Jason strapped his surfboard to the top of the Turner buggy. It turned out there were several Turner buggies. He’d called Nate, the town mechanic, to come up to the estate to service all the golf buggies. Now everyone had a mode of transport. Ralph attached several more nails on the frame by his shed door and people could come and collect them. Maggie was the most excited. She tore around the paths practising like she was a rally driver. Now she had the freedom to go to Boyle’s Butchers and Lucy’s Green Grocers and get her produce whenever she wanted.

Bailey refused to drive one, or get in one. He stayed on estate grounds.

When Jason pulled up outside the Shaw residence, Heidi came out with her thick wool cardigan wrapped around her smiling at him. He would never tire of the look in her eyes as she gazed at him.

“You’ve redone the seats,” she said nodding to the buggy.

“Different buggy. This baby is all mine,” Jason said patting the roof as he passed.

Snagging my arm around her back, Jason pulled her to him and kissed her mouth. She swiped her tongue along his lip and groaned against her mouth.

“We’re at your parents,” Jason mumbled.

“I know,” she said and giggled. “My dad is probably watching.”

Jason took a full step back and held her hand. “Not funny.”

“It is a little. He’s a big teddy bear, anyway.”

“I’m sure he knows by now about us all those years ago.”

She squeezed his hand and her smiled faded confirming his worst fears. Her dad was going to chase him off.

“Are you sure I’m still welcome?” Jason asked.

“I want you here, and so does he.” Heidi spoke so assuredly he believed her.

“Only because of what I can bring.”

Jason remembered the box sitting in the well of the middle seat and turned full circle. He swung around so fast not letting go of Heidi’s hand she had to hold on to the front door frame to stop toppling over.

“Where are we going?”

“I forgot your father’s fix.”

Giggling once more, Jason relaxed and hefted the box out of the buggy and tucked it under his arm. It was a good job that potatoes were grown on the island or Jason would have to have his own shipment to keep in Harold Shaw’s good books.

When they entered the house, Mrs Shaw came towards him and cupped his cheeks. “Hello Jason, good to see you at our table again.”

One family member down, two to go.

“Is that Jason?” Mr Shaw bellowed from the TV room.

“Yes, Harold, stop yelling. The whole island can hear you.”

“Did he bring my stash?”

“Yes, Harold,” Mrs Shaw said with added exasperation.

“Get in here, Jason Turner,” he bellowed, not dropping his voice at all.

Jason was expecting this. If he hadn’t wanted a chat with him, he would have thought less of Heidi’s dad. He handed the roasties to Mrs Shaw, then kissed Heidi’s temple before bringing himself to his full height. “Do I look okay?” Jason asked. He’d worn a shirt ironed by Maggie and shoes shined by Bailey.

Heidi laughed outright and Mrs Shaw grinned before turning away to the kitchen.

“Be nice, dad,” Heidi called out and went to join her mother.

Ducking his head, he moved into the TV room and waited to be asked to sit. Mr Shaw turned to him, then turned back to the TV. Picking up the remote control he hit the mute button. A quiz show was on and the question was on the screen.

“Anne Boleyn,” Jason said once he’d read the question and before the three possible answers came up.

“It’s Anne of Cleves, son. Take a seat.”

Jason was pretty sure Henry VIII’s second wife was Anne Boleyn, but he wasn’t going to argue the point. He chose the armchair across from Mr Shaw and waited for the opener. Mr Shaw was in corduroys, an open-neck shirt and a cardigan. All matching shades of blue. He was a man who was well dressed even in retirement. His greying hair was thick and wavy. Past his ears and touching his collar. Harold Shaw didn’t strike Jason like a man who liked going to the barbers, but went because his wife nagged him. Jason hoped he would have the chance for Heidi to nag him to get a haircut.

“You punched my son and broke my daughter’s heart. Your aunt lied to Keith to suit her own needs,” Mr Shaw said.

For an opening, it cut to the bone, but Mr Shaw hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true. He’d also lowered his voice.

“I’m sorry, Mr Shaw.”

“By the sounds of it Keith was out of line. I’m not sure punching him was the right way to go but the way he spoke about Heidi, it certainly got my blood pressure far too high for my wife’s liking.”

Jason kept his mouth shut. There was nothing to say to that. Then Mr Shaw knocked the wind out of him.

“He disrespected his family by talking about his sister in such a crude way. I never knew you two were together that summer but I remember she was the happiest I’d ever seen her. Come the Autumn I had a daughter’s whose shine had grown dull and a bad tempered son. I see the shine back in her eyes. I have a feeling it’s you that has done that.”

Jason still kept quiet, his heart beat wildly at the thought he was going to get Heidi’s dad’s approval.

“What do you have to say?” He clipped out.

“I want to marry your daughter.”

Mr Shaw was getting straight to it and so would Jason.

“If you keep that smile on her face and the expression she has when she sees you, then I have no problem with that.”

“Thank you Mr Shaw.”

“But if you hit any of my family again, I’ll come after you with my shotgun. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Don’t break my daughter’s heart. I never want to hear her cry like she did eleven years ago.”

That twisted his gut, but at the time he wasn’t faring any better.

“I will spend every day of my life making her smile.”

“She hasn’t said yes, yet. I don’t think she likes your aunt. You may have your work cut out there.”

“I’m not sure anyone does, Mr Shaw,” Jason replied.

“You and Keith going to make up?”

“I’m going to talk to him after we’ve eaten. He said he’d come to Sunday lunch.”

“Good work, that’ll make Colleen very happy.”

Mr Shaw rose out of his chair and clapped Jason on the back pushing him forward out of the TV room. They entered the kitchen to see Freya and Heidi cackling holding cups of tea. He glanced to the dining room where the grandparents and Freya’s parents had already sat down and outside, he could see through the open doorway was Mrs Shaw looking down the garden and in the distance Keith was walking up. All heads turned that way as he neared his mother. Jason watched as he spoke quietly to his mother and then stepped into her embrace.

“Let’s eat, I’m starving,” Mr Shaw said and walked into the dining room.

Jason, Freya, Heidi and Mrs Shaw gathered plates, pots and dishes and ferried them through. Keith was still standing outside on the patio area looking up at the house, seemingly at the roof.

Approaching him, Jason waited for Keith to drop his gaze. When he did he said, “are you coming in?”

Keith gave him a sheepish grin and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. Jason scored off the last family member. He was glad her saw the flicker of his old friend.

“Did you bring your board?” he asked.

“Yep,” Jason replied, nodding his head to indicate they should go inside.

“Let’s eat,” Keith said.