Sweet as Honey (The Seven Sisters) - By Caitlyn Robertson Page 0,10
didn’t realise this would be so hard.”
“It’ll get easier,” he said hoarsely. “At least that’s what they say. I can’t see it myself.”
“I don’t want you to be unhappy, Dad.”
His arm tightened around her. “Aroha and I, we haven’t… I wouldn’t do that to you all. I couldn’t, understand? I miss your mother too much. Sometimes I think I’m going to die from missing her.” He stood, rigid with held-back emotion.
“Me too.” She wanted to wail, to throw herself in his arms as if she were six years old again, but the grief coming from him in waves made her hold back, and she bit her lip hard so she wouldn’t cry.
She’d lost a mother, which was bad enough, but while they were alive Cam and Marama Summers had been inseparable. Their relationship had been tempestuous at times, and once Marama had even walked out on him and driven from their home in their only car to a friend’s house on the coast, prompting him to walk ten long miles in freezing November rain to apologise to her and fetch her back. Honey could still remember the day when they came home—the fierceness in Cam’s eyes as he promised he’d always treat her like a queen so she’d never do that to him again.
It hadn’t worked of course—they’d argued frequently, usually, Honey thought, so they could have the fun of making up. They’d loved passionately, had seven children, and when Marama had died, part of Cam had died too. He was a shell, a hollow man, an echo of the vibrant spirit he used to be. And suddenly Honey wished with all her heart that he’d find someone else to fill his life again.
Chapter Five
She moved back and cupped his face with her hands, stroking his bristles with her thumbs. “I wouldn’t mind,” she said, surprising herself by meaning it. “If you and Aroha… you know. I wouldn’t mind.”
A shadow of a smile crossed his face. “Dear Honey.” He turned his head and kissed her fingers. “Such a big heart. But let’s not talk about it. Not today.”
She nodded, swallowing.
He heaved a sigh and forced a smile. “So. Off to court tomorrow?”
She let out a long breath, deflated. “Crap. I’d forgotten about that.”
He laughed and moved away to put the lid on the rubbish bin he’d obviously gone out to fill. “I’m sure they’d let you off jury service if you told them you’re getting married at the end of the week.”
She shrugged. “It’s good to do your civic duty. And besides—I’ve been called before. It’s only a one in ten chance you’ll get chosen, and even then the lawyers can challenge you if they don’t think you’ll decide in their favour.”
“I guess.” He walked back to her. “So what movie are you seeing tonight then?”
“The latest Bond. It’s supposed to be really good.”
“Yeah, I saw the trailer. Looks great.”
“You could always come if you wanted.”
He grinned then. “I’m sure Dex would appreciate me playing gooseberry.”
“He wouldn’t mind.”
“He’s hoping to get you in the back seats and make out,” he advised.
She whacked his arm. “Dad. We’re not sixteen. If Dex is paying fifteen bucks to watch a movie, he wants to watch the movie, not make out. Besides, there’ll be plenty of time for that at the weekend.” She giggled. Suddenly it didn’t seem so far away.
Cam smiled fondly. “I’m amazed the two of you stuck with it. I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d be able to wait when you first announced it.”
“Me too,” she admitted. “It’s been difficult in one way, but easy in another. I…respect him, I suppose, for being willing to wait for me. I just hope…”
“What?”
She gave a tremulous smile. “I hope he turns up.”
Cam laughed. “He’ll be there.”
She didn’t laugh back. “He’s done it before, Dad. What if he changes his mind at the last minute?”
“Then Koru, Jude and Chase will drag him there by his hair.”
“That’s not comforting. I mean what if he decides on the day he doesn’t want to go through with it? I don’t want a shotgun wedding. I want him to be there because he wants to be there.”
Cam held her by the arms and looked firmly into her eyes. “What happened with him and Cathryn is nothing like what you two have. From what I understand, that was a bitter, destructive relationship that Dex had already decided was over, and that’s why she pulled her little stunt. Telling a guy you’re pregnant to get him to marry