Initiate Me(70)

“Sorry,” she said to him. “What were you going to say?”

“I thought you might want to give your poor fingers a break for a bit.”

“I’m fine. It takes my mind off things.”

“I’m sure it does but there's no grandchild coming just yet."

I should’ve excused myself, but that sweet, solicitous side of my father was beautiful and it staggered me. My father was affectionate most of the time, but I rarely saw that side of him with my mother.

In truth, he may’ve been all touchy-feely and I probably never saw it.

“My fingers are just fine, Pep. I need something to do with my hands. I’m going crazy—”

“I know, me, too.” He closed his eyes as my mother touched his face. The harshest, tightest lines around his mouth relaxed and he sighed as she rubbed his neck.

“You’re strung just as tight as me. How about I take you into town and you can have one of those Swedish massages at that new herbal place that's opened up?"

“Maybe.”

My father’s dark-brown eyes, so like mine, opened and held a hint of challenge. “If you do something for me first.”

When she arched her eyebrow, he grinned. A flat-out bad-boy grin, just like the one he’d passed on to my brothers. “Not that.”

“That would be a first,” my mother murmured. “What do you want me to do?”

“Eat something.”

“I’m not hungry.”

He kissed her knuckles. “I thought you might say that. But we can go out for lunch at Zane's pub. He's asked us many times to go there for a meal. It’d be rude not to try out the new menu at The Barossa Barrels after his renovations. Ask Mia; she's there quite often, aren't you, baby girl?" My father had a suspicious glint to his eye when he looked at me. Oh, shit, he knows. He knows I've been lying and sneaking off most nights to spend them with Zane. Crap!

I bit back a smile. At least I wouldn't have to lie anymore. We could finally tell everyone we were together. My father was a sneaky man; using me as an example had the desired effect because my mother caved.

“Maybe we can go for a little while,” she said.

“That’s my girl.” He helped her to her feet. "You going to ride with us, Mia, or is Zane coming back to pick you up?"

"Okay, okay, stop fishing for information. Yes, Zane and I are dating," I announced. Damn, it felt great to get it all out in the open.

“Brava, I was wondering when you were going to tell us."

"But, you've only been back a week. How could you know?"

"It's a father’s intuition," he laughed. “And you’re lucky it’s Zane; any other man and I’d be getting my rifle out.”

He would, too; he’d done it before with one of my dates way back in high school.

"Why don't we all go?” My mother sniffled, totally oblivious to our conversation. "Let's round everyone up, Pep. Max, Jada, the Sinclairs; God knows Jada needs to get out and about, the poor love. Maybe Marco will even make it back in time from Melbourne. Mia, you send him a text and hopefully he will see it. I want all of us to be together tonight."

Oh, great, now Zane and I will be on display in front of everyone. "I'll meet you there then. Zane's coming back to pick me up, so we—"

"Mia!” My mother scolded me. "I do not want to hear it. I was paying attention when your father said you were dating Zane, but enough with the details."

"Ma, I was not insinuating anything like that." Oh, good Lord, now they think I’m some hussy! I just hope my father doesn't say anything to Zane and exert his Italian stubbornness and traditions on him.

That's all I need, to have Zane running in the other direction.

***

ZANE

“Dare I ask if there’s any more news on Miccah?” I asked her in the car.

“None. The whole time I was with my parents and we would hear a car we would all panic, afraid it would be an official army rep to tell us...” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I can’t say it. And some really superstitious part of me thinks if I don’t say it, it won’t happen. Stupid, huh?”

“No, not stupid. Hopeful.”

“Thanks.” She wiped her nose. “I’m sorry. I must look a mess."

“Yep, a real mess, angel." She smiled at that, at least.

"Oh, and...um...everyone is coming to the pub for lunch and possibly even the Sinclairs. My mum wants us to all get together because of Miccah...and...ah—"

Mia started crying again, swiping at the tears trickling down her face. Shit, I had no idea what to say to her. I hated those situations when it was someone you cared about. And I cared about Mia. A lot. I loved her. My heart was breaking seeing her like that.