Page 21 of Between Two Shores

Melissa scratched at her messy blonde hair and yawned. “I am now. Hannah wet the bed. She hasn’t done that in a year. I hope it’s a one-off.”

“Do you need a hand with the sheets?”

“No, I’ve sorted everything. They’re in the washing machine soaking.” Melissa walked to the adjacent sofa and plonked herself down. “Why are you still up? Midnight’s late, even for you.”

Beth rubbed the back of her neck. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“Thinking about that Navy guy?” Melissa smirked.

She hesitated and glanced at the coffee table between them. “A little.” More like twenty-four-seven.

“I’m surprised you fell for a sailor.” Melissa tucked a leg under her knee. “You always seemed the sensible type. No-nonsense. And sailors have a bad reputation here. I remember my nightclubbing days and when they were in port. So sleazy.”

Melissa didn’t hold back. She always said what she thought, no filter.

“I’m surprised myself, Melissa.” She wrapped her dressing gown tighter. “I didn’t want to fall for an American sailor. But I’ll get over it soon and return to my serious self.”

“I’m glad I have a little girl to look after that keeps me out of trouble.” Melissa pushed some loose strands away from her eyes. “Not many men want to take on someone else’s kid. I’ll be single for the next decade.” She smiled wistfully. “I’m okay with that. Hannah is the best thing that’s happened to me.”

“You might meet a decent guy one day.”

“You have a better chance at that, Beth. Forget about the sailor. Look for someone available and ready to commit.”

Beth sat straighter. “Melissa, that’s the best advice I’ve heard about this situation. You’re absolutely right.” She placed her hands on the armrest and pushed herself up with determination. “I’ll forget about Lachlan, starting now. I’m going to bed and will not give him another thought. Good night.”

Melissa’s blue eyes widened, then creases formed at the corners.

Beth strode to her room with her mind made up. Too bad that she’d sent the email already.

LACHLAN

Lachlan’s phone beeped at five-thirty a.m. Time to get moving. He stretched to his bedside table and collected his cell. The bright light blinded him for a beat. Two more years of these early mornings. His regained focus on an email notification—Beth Michaels. He bolted upright and clicked on the screen. Two weeks and she’d finally emailed him.

As he devoured each sentence, his posture deflated. Where was the “I miss you” line? Just a business email. Did nothing else matter to her? Only making it big by getting this news story?

He tapped the screen with rapid punches.

Hi Beth,

No, I haven’t heard from them. I’ll let you know if I do.

Yes, I’m doing good, thanks. I hope you are too.

Lachlan.

Take that, Bethany Michaels. He fell back on his bed and let his phone slip from his hand. It thudded the floor. That would teach him to avoid overseas attachments. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He needed coffee.

Lachlan rolled off his bed, changed into shorts and a t-shirt, and sprayed some deodorant under his arms. Room locked, he headed down the corridor.

Ten other guys were scattered throughout the gym. Lachlan gritted his teeth as he pushed hard against the chest press machine. Three years of vigorous workouts had packed on muscle. What would he look like in another two years? His folks wouldn’t recognize him.

Mike hopped on the exercise bike next to him. “Hey, Counselor. You’ve been here at least twice a day since we left Australia. Becomin’ a gym junkie like me?”

Lachlan grunted as he pushed the extra weights he stacked on the machine. “Gotta keep busy. I have more time on my hands than the rest of you. And I’m not going to sit in my room, stuck on Facebook, like some.” What had put him in such a foul mood?

“Wally told me about the pretty Aussie girl you met.” The ginger-headed twenty-one-year-old pressed the start button on his machine. “Said every time he turned around, she was in your arms. You finally succumbed to our ways, Counselor Peters?”

---