Instinctively, Joy rested her hand on his as sympathy crashed through her. Her mind saw the sad little boy starved of affection and love, her heart reaching out to him. “But that doesn’t mean that you would be a bad father”, her comforting words only eliciting a small ‘hmph’ sound from him, his look falling to her hand, his fingers capturing hers as he lifted it to gently kiss the dainty digits. “Look at my history Joy... Which of my parents do you think I most take after?”, sadness evident in his words as she held back the tears she wanted to cry for him. “No... I am my mother’s son... And that is just the way I am”
“Tell me about your father” His soft question sent pain shooting through her as she pulled her hand back, a frown marring her lovely forehead, before a whimsical smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “My father was a wonderful man. He raised me all by himself after my mother died of cancer” His apologetic words of sympathy were smiled away by Joy as she shook her head. “I really don’t remember much about her... I know he loved her very much... and he never remarried” Carig watched as her eyes shone with love for the man. “He would help anybody... Give the shirt off his back if you needed it... And he always had time to spend with me, I was the happiest girl in the world”, the pride in her voice becoming sad as she dropped her gaze to the table. “Seven months ago, he had a brain aneurism... They told me that it was quick... That he most likely felt nothing... But I was so lonely without him... So lost”
This time it was Carig who took her hand, a sigh leaving him. “Seven months ago... A month before I started trying to buy your land?” Nodding, her eyes held a desolation that ripped at him, “Yeah... I couldn’t bring myself to sell... All my neighbours said I should but selling felt like... Well, like losing him all over again... Like I was failing him by not holding onto the farm”, her shoulders shrugging as she gave a small sad sigh. “I know it is silly... But that was just how I felt” Beside her Carig shifted, his look sharpening. “If you felt that way... what happened that changed your mind?”
Startled, her look shot to his, discomfort clear on her features as her mouth flattened, head shaking. “I... I can’t say” Both regarded the other for several seconds before he nodded slowly, “OK... Then let me ask the same question back, “Why is a seemingly socially adept, intelligent, very attractive 24-year-old woman, with no childhood hang-ups, not married or being actively pursued by some husband material wannabee?”
Joy chuckled, her brow rising in an attempt at appearing mysterious, “Oh... And how do you know that I am not?... Just because we are playing a role doesn’t mean that I might not have some man hidden in the background” Her cheeks dimpled impishly as she added, “And you just said I’m very attractive?”
With a mock grimace, he nodded, “Damn... Hoped you would miss that bit”, his lips quirking before fixing her with a more serious look. “I know. You used Google to find out about me... I used a detective to do the same with you. I levelled the playing field”
“Oh”, Joy’s surprised word filled the air as she pulled her hand from his, not sure why this seemed so intrusive to her, she knew that he would have checked her out. Tucking a wayward hair from her face, she savaged her lips, before lifting her glass and taking another sip of the delicious wine. “And what else did you find out?” Missing her hand, he was surprised at the change in her. “Not much. You just graduated as a physiotherapist. You have only one other relative, the woman now looking after your farm, and yes, I said very attractive”#p#分页标题#e#
Replacing her glass on the surface, she twiddled nervously with the stem, his final statement taking her by surprise as she pinkened slightly, before a small yawn escaped her lips, an apologetic half-laugh leaving her. “I am so sorry... Has been a long day... Full of many twists and turns”, Carig grunting a return laugh before standing. “Why don’t you take the bed? We don’t land for another six hours... I could wake you in say five, give you time for a shower”
With a thankful smile, she moved in the direction of the room he pointed to, slipping into it, her eyes widening with wonder. It was opulent, with an en suite to equal any five star hotel, her head shaking. Dragging the bag given to her by Valerie, she pulled from it toiletries and a change of clothing, silently sending up a prayer of thanks to the woman for her foresight. She had not even given any thought to the next day, never mind that night, as she fished out the filmy night dress.