Page 3 of More Than I Can Bear

“You’re working on the new housing development?” I asked, aware that customers were starting to gather at the counter, but unable to extricate myself without at least a little word of thanks.

“Yeah. My father’s company has the contract,” he said, “so, expect some repeat customers.” His gaze strayed to where Felicia was struggling to get Tarquin back into his stroller. “I can bring a shop vac to help clean up next time.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.”

I needed to get away from this man and back behind the counter. As if hearing my thoughts, the massive guy who was still seated at the table, put his notebook away and rose to his feet, striding over to stand beside Kaine.

“Snagged us some free breakfast,” Kaine told him, holding up the bag with the banana bread.

Those grey eyes slid down and he grabbed the bag before nodding and heading for the door.

“Umm. Well, thanks again,” I said, giving Kaine a little wave which he returned before walking out the door.

I didn’t know why, but the cafe felt a little smaller, a little less bright when they left. I didn’t have the chance to interrogate that thought any further, because I needed to get moving, clearing tables. During all the hoopla, more people had come in and there were few clear spots to sit.

Felicia’s table was spotless, for a change, which made me smile. I didn’t mind helping anyone if they accidentally made a mess, particularly a child, but she was… well, entitled wasn’t a word I liked to use, but it was the only one that seemed to fit. The thing she’d said, about the village? We heard that line all the time. I had no idea what it was like to raise a child, didn’t know if I wanted to, but I imagined that you would need a bunch of people to support you through it. But surely that had to be a consensual arrangement? As I collected cups and wiped down tables, I realised she’d just assumed we were on board with this arrangement with her son. As I was pondering that, I reached Kaine’s table.

I should’ve made them coffees to go. Kaine had barely drunk any of his and the other guy had only got a few mouthfuls, he’d been so absorbed in his notebook. As I tidied the table, I saw what he had been working on. Big Guy had been scribbling away on the same kind of pad tradies used to write up details for quotes, but there was no list of services required there. Across the neat lines on the sheet of yellowish paper he’d left behind was a drawing. I picked it up, frowning as I stared at it.

Art and work didn’t mix. People either rolled their eyes when I said I went to art school or they changed the subject. It was weird and financially irresponsible and anyone I talked to about it always made that point, as if I hadn’t already heard it a hundred times. So to say I was unprepared for what I saw was an understatement. Not just that the pen and paper had been used to make something so beautiful. But Mr Big, Tall and Silent had used a series of loose strokes to bring something into being on the paper.

Me.

It was unmistakable, the way he’d caught the side of my face, broom in hand, staring up at Kaine’s back with a mixture of irritation and concern, waiting for the standoff to be done so I could sweep in.

“Freya!”

Katie’s yelp snapped me back to reality. I folded the drawing up and pushed it carefully into my pocket for later, then rushed over to help.

Chapter2

River

“We need eyes on that cafe at all times,” Kaine barked, the moment we got back into the work ute. “Keep our mate safe.” He eyed our mate’s workplace like it was his personal enemy as it disappeared in the rear vision mirror.

Our mate.

When Kaine had told me that we’d found her, it’d hit me like a bomb blast. The woman who was destined to be the perfect one for us.

For me.

I hadn’t said a word as he’d detailed Adam’s fuck-up in very specific language, just watched him pace back and forth, back and forth, across our lounge room floor.

Adam had claimed our mate, made her his, without us even meeting her. Without giving her a chance to accept us or not. I blinked now, like I had then, the muscle in my jaw ticcing as I clamped my jaw shut. Kaine stopped his ranting and looked at me.

“Agreed?”

What?I’d tuned him out the moment he’d said ‘mate’, the word sucker-punching me in the jaw and sending my mind into a tailspin I couldn’t seem to pull out of. Kaine was staring at me expectantly.

“Agreed,” I replied, to get him off my back, thinking that would give me some space. To sink down, down, down into the quiet of my mind. To pretend it wasn’t my pen that had traced the shape of her face as she worked, nor my eyes. That it had been me that stood up, walked over, dealt with the entitled cow and put her in her place for daring to presume upon Freya’s kindness.

“Good. I’ll get one of the apprentices to watch the cafe during work hours today, and then I can take over after— Shit!” I watched him thump the steering wheel of the ute. “I’ve got that fucking meeting this evening with the Master Builders Association.” His eyes slid to me. “You didn’t say much in the cafe.”

I didn’t say much, period. Though, admittedly, I talked a lot more in front of those I trusted, which was a very small circle of people. My immediate family was one half, the other was Adam and Kaine.

“Never do,” I replied, then forced myself to smile. “But I’ll go.”

No, a voice said inside my head.No, no, no, no, no.

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