Read Online A Special Kind of Family by Marion Lennox - Free Book Online Page A

pleasure.’
     
    Charles was waiting.
    They didn’t have to go into the house to find him. He was out on the road, standing beside his Porsche, looking angry.
    ‘Uh-oh,’ Erin said.
    ‘You want a medical defence?’ Dom pulled up behind the Porsche. He climbed out of the car before Erin could do the same.
    ‘We saved a life,’ he said, before Charles could speak. ‘Erin was great.’
    But Charles’s expression didn’t relax. Given time to think, to assess the crisis for what it was, he’d have offered to help himself. But being left behind to play nursery maid would have made him…well, like he was now.
    ‘Did Dulcie come?’ Dom asked.
    ‘Yes,’ he said shortly. ‘She’s in the house with the boys.’
    ‘Thank you for helping out,’ Dom said, and held out his hand.
    It wasn’t taken. Charles stared down at it like he didn’t know what Dom was offering.
    ‘I had to go, Charles,’ Erin said, then thought, Damn, that had sounded like pleading and why should she plead?
    ‘Of course you did,’ Charles said, obviously making an effort to sound pleasant. ‘So do we. Grab your things from the house, get rid of that footwear and we’ll leave.’
    ‘With Marilyn.’
    Charles’s attempt at a smile faded. ‘You can’t take the dog to my mother’s house.’
    ‘We won’t stay on. I’ll ask my parents to take us home.’
    ‘You think your parents would let you keep the dog?’
    ‘I’m not a kid.’
    ‘Hey, why don’t I go inside and make sure the kids are okay?’ Dom interjected, looking mildly interested and nothing else—and Erin fought off a need to grab his arm and say stay.
    She didn’t. She was a big kid. She almost felt grown up.
    ‘You’re okay?’ Dom asked, and that tiny gesture of caring suddenly had her feeling tears welling up again. What was wrong with her? She was turning into a wuss.
    She sniffed. Loudly. ‘I’m fine,’ she managed, and he cast her a doubtful look and then nodded and headed for the house.
    But when he reached the veranda he turned back. ‘I can find someone to drive you back to Melbourne if you want,’ he called.
    Erin didn’t answer. She couldn’t trust herself to speak.
    But Melbourne sounded good.
    Marilyn aside, she didn’t want to go placidly with Charles. She didn’t want her parents—and Charles’s parents—looking reproachfully at her, making her feel sorry for Charles, making her feel sorry for them.
    She’d had over twenty years of sorry. Surely that was enough. Sorry was doing her head in.
    ‘I mean it,’ Dom said, and went inside and closed the door.
    Erin closed her eyes. Actually…the way Dom was making her feel was doing her head in.
    ‘Erin, what the hell’s going on?’ Charles said. ‘You’re behaving like a child.’
    ‘I’m not.’
    ‘Don’t tell me—’
    ‘No, don’t tell me,’ she snapped. ‘Enough. I’m sorry you’ve all got the wrong idea. You’re my friend, Charles, but you’re not my lover. And while I love my parents—and I love your parents—and I even love you in a way, but not in the way you figure I should—I need to get on with my life. My life.’
    He was staring at her like she’d suddenly turned green and sprouted horns. She must have been really wimpy up until now, she thought. Why had it taken so long to stand on her own two feet?
    ‘It’s this guy, isn’t it?’ he demanded. ‘This is crazy.’
    ‘It’s not Dom. I only met him last night, and what I’m saying to you now has been coming for a while. Maybe it’s about twentyyears overdue.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Okay. Thank you for coming to get me, but I’m not coming with you. I need to figure myself out first. I’ll ring Mum tonight. Meanwhile tell them I’m fine, but I was put up last night by a doctor who’s the sole medical professional for fifty miles. I’d like to repay him by helping out with his kids and with his practice over Easter. If he doesn’t want that, then I’ll go back to Melbourne.’
    ‘With him?’