Page 80 of A Kiss for Carter (The Laws of Love 3)

Chapter 19

Carts heard the flute and piano duet even before he opened the gate.Mozart, he could tell that much; a sonata he guessed, but that was about the extent of his knowledge.What mattered was he’d heard Mum and Avery playing it often enough.

Together.

As the notes drifted through the open window, a sense of wellbeing enveloped him.

Okay, given the choice he’d probably still be wandering around Perth with Judith, if she hadn’t had a job to do.“I have to tell them they need to sort out their differences.That I can’t be the go-between anymore,” she’d said emphatically.“And then I’m going to draw up an IOU agreement and send it to Mark.”

“Do you need any accountant speak thrown in?”He’d happily write the little fuckwit a jargon-filled IOU, on Pearson’s letterhead.

“I’ll call you if I get stuck.”

And when she’d smiled at him, it had felt like they were a team.Like he had found an ally who would shield his back while he shielded hers.Together they were stronger.Wasn’t that how it was supposed to be when you were in a great relationship?Better together than apart?

Skirting around the house now, he quietly let himself in through the doors of Mum’s music room.A surprising sight greeted him; not only were Mum and Avery playing, but Dad was sitting in the wing chair in a corner, listening intently.

Dad was usually off doing his own thing in his office, stooped over his oak desk with its green-shaded desk lamp, a worried hand stroking his bald head as he marked student papers or prepped for his next lecture.

“Hi there, Carter.”Dad looked up with a bright smile.No criss-cross of creases on his forehead.

Mum and Avery stopped for a brief second, but Carts shook his head.“That’s beautiful, keep going.”He pulled up a chair next to Dad, and seamlessly, they started up where they’d left off.

Avery’s face was pale, but her eyes no longer had that haunted look about them as she wrinkled them over the top of her flute in acknowledgement.

Mum looked happy and relaxed.Like suddenly everything in the world was back in its rightful place.

As for his dad—Carts cast a perplexed glance at his father.With one leg crossed over the other, his foot tapped to the rhythm.And his lips were tilted upwards in a smile, which was as rare as hen’s teeth when it came to Dad.

Carts drew up a chair and listened until the piece was over.Dad applauded with gusto.Carts joined in.

Avery grinned and gave a little bow, then placed her flute reverently back in its case.

He went and gave her a hug.“How are you feeling?”he asked as she nestled into his embrace.

“Okay,” she said, a little guarded, then pulled back and glanced at Mum.“But I’m not going to school tomorrow.”

“Yes you are,” Mum said with a touch of steel in her voice.

“Not if you insist on taking me.”Avery pouted.“I know you’ll say something to Zammy.”

“Dead right I will,” Mum answered.“I want that boy’s address.If his mother knew…”

“Seewhatimean!”Avery squealed indignantly.“I wish I’d never told you.You’ll do something embarrassing.I can sort this myself, Mum.”

“How about if I take you to school?”Dad said quietly.Avery’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened.“Really, seriously, you would?”

“Absolutely.I’d love to.”Dad stood up and rubbed his hands together in a gesture Carts remembered from times when he’d take them all off on an expedition to find fossils, or out on the boat to point out the different kinds of algae.“Let’s lighten up a bit.Shall I put the kettle on for a cup of tea, Mrs Wells?”

Mum put the piano lid down and the atmosphere relaxed a tad.The subject of Zammy was closed, at least for now.“Yes, the cake’s in the cupboard, second shelf down.Be careful of the icing.”

Carts and Avery both cast identical puzzled looks at their parents, and Carts racked his brain.No, it wasn’t anyone’s birthday.Dad’s was still two months away, and Mum’s was on Boxing Day.Avery, he’d never forget, came kicking and screaming into the world on the third day of January.

While Dad was off clattering cups in the kitchen, Mum said to Avery, “That was seamless, love.Nice and even, no wavering on the longer notes.”

Avery gave a grudging smile.“What’s the cake for?”

Mum returned a secretive smile.“You’ll see.”

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