My Estranged Lover (Middlemarch Shifters Book 5) (5 page)

“Leo was in my class at school, but I’ve lost touch since our marriage.” Whenever he shifted, he ran with his parents or the immediate neighbors. His father attended the district feline meetings and passed on the relevant information to him. He hadn’t realized how isolated he’d become after working long hours on the farm. His father attended the sales, purchased and sold stock and took care of picking up supplies, which meant Marsh went days without seeing other people—human or feline. Part of the reason he wanted to play rugby again. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again. You’ll like Leo.”

“His wife Isabella seems nice,” Caroline said. “Sometimes she drops off Sylvie for Tomasine.”

“I can pick up James from school this afternoon.”

“Won’t you be busy on the farm?”

“No. I told Dad I was taking the rest of the day off. Ricky can come with me if you want.”

“I’m hoping Ricky will have a sleep this afternoon since we’re going out tonight,” Caroline said. “But if he’s awake, he’d enjoy going out with you.”

Another salvo of guilt struck Marsh mid-chest, and it reverberated through his body, poking and prodding at his insecurities. Crap. He’d been an absent husband and father. Another item for his list.

“Can I help with the bread?”

Caroline sent him a startled look. “You want to help?”

“If I can.”

“How about if you and Ricky pick herbs for me and cut some silver beet? I’ll make focaccia bread.”

Marsh pulled into their driveway to find his father on the doorstep. “We can do that. Let me see what Dad wants then I’m all yours.” Marsh caught the faint tightening of her facial muscles, the flash of doubt and it steeled his determination. “Five minutes,” he promised.

Caroline unbuckled Ricky from his car seat and led him inside, leaving Marsh alone with his father.

“Dawn said Caroline is leaving you.”

Marsh didn’t reply.

His father muttered an oath. “You can’t let her take the boys. They won’t survive in the city. They’ll need you once they reach their teen years.”

Marsh reined in his temper, reached for calm. “My marriage is none of your business, Dad. I need you and Mum to butt out.”

“I knew this would turn into a bloody mess. No good comes of a human-feline pairing.”

“Why were you ringing me?”

“Jason has handed in his notice. I need you to drive to the top ridge and round up the cattle. Don’t like the look of the weather. I’d prefer it if they were in the winter pastures. If you leave now, you should be finished by the day after tomorrow.”

Marsh stared at his father in disbelief. “I thought you expected me to keep my sons.”

Charles flapped his right hand in impatience. “I’ll take care of that for you. Dawn and I will come and collect your boys and keep them with us.”

Marsh felt his mouth drop open. He snapped it shut hard enough for his teeth to clack. “What about Caroline?”

“What’s she gonna do?” Charles snorted. “Call the cops?”

“Caroline, the boys and I are going out for dinner tonight.”

“You need to get moving on the stock roundup.”

“No.”

Charles’s brows shot upward. “I’m not too old to take you down, boy. Angus would never—”

“I’m not my brother. Angus is dead, Dad. I’m taking the rest of the day off. If you want the cattle rounded up, I suggest you start. I’ll drive up tomorrow.” Before his father could speak, Marsh walked away, hands bunched to fists at his sides.

His father’s curse and fury rumbled after him. “I can sack you.”

Marsh ignored the threat and strode to the front door of the farmhouse. He ripped open the door and marched inside, shutting his father out with a firm click.

A hollow victory, but one long coming. About time his parents accepted Angus’s death was a tragic accident. He’d survived the crash, but that didn’t make him the villain.

Chapter Three

“We haven’t been to a party before,” James said.

Marsh exchanged a glance with Caroline, and she looked away first. No, they didn’t go out often, and normally, she’d look upon this as a treat. Not this time. Not with apprehension and uncertainty filling her belly. Not with her mind full of things to do once she and the boys reached Dunedin.

“Ricky and I had fun helping to make the bread for the party,” Marsh said as they turned onto the road where the Mitchells lived. “I can’t wait to eat my share.”

“We played soccer with the other boys,” James said. “Can we do that again, Daddy?”

Surprise had her looking at Marsh again. He turned into a driveway and pulled up outside a sprawling stone house, surrounded by gardens full of colorful flowers. Warm and welcoming, some of the tension in her gut released.

“We’ll play again,” Marsh promised, his gaze on her.

God, she wanted to believe Marsh would change, that their life could change. Deep down, though, doubts whooped and hollered, warning explosions going off like fireworks at a Guy Fawkes extravaganza.

They weren’t living.

They were existing from day to day, and none of them were doing well with the humdrum subsistence.

The front door of the house sprang open, and Emily and Saber stood there with welcoming smiles on their faces.

“You made it,” Emily said, as if she thought they might have changed their minds.

Marsh unbuckled the kids from their car seats while she retrieved the bread.

Saber shook Marsh’s hand. “I’m glad you came. Leo said he hasn’t seen you for months.”

“No, the farm work keeps me busy.”

“The bread smells good,” Emily said. “Come inside. I left Felix and Leo in charge of the grill. They’re still in training, so I daren’t leave them alone for long.”

Saber chuckled, and Caroline found herself smiling too. It was obvious this couple, this family, was close. It made her wish things were different.

Emily ushered them through the house—a mixture of old and new. A home. Emily carted the bread into the kitchen and rejoined them, guiding them to the dining room. Caroline caught a whiff of lemon furniture polish, the mouth-watering combo of garlic and butter, and when they walked through the double doors of the dining room and outside again, the aroma of grilling meat teased her.

“Smells good,” Marsh said and greeted the Mitchell brothers.

“Caroline,” Leo said, offering his hand. “I’m glad Emily talked you into coming tonight.”

Leo Mitchell had the face of a beautiful angel. Although he resembled his older brothers, his face was symmetrical and his broad welcoming smile took his visage to gorgeous. Bemused, she shook his hand before greeting Felix who she knew better. His features were rougher, more aggressively masculine.

“Saber, I’m putting you in charge while I organize the rest of our dinner. Don’t let your brothers burn the steaks,” Emily ordered.

“Can I help?” Caroline asked.

The children were playing together in a frantic game of chase, their childish shrieks bringing a smile to her lips.

“Not much to do, except arrange the food on the table,” Emily said. “You’re welcome to help carry bowls. Where did you buy your dress? I haven’t seen anything like it in the stores. The color is gorgeous on you.”

Caroline followed Emily back into the house. “Thanks. I made it last year.”

“Wow. I’ve always wanted to learn to sew. Knitting is my limit, when time permits.”

“I enjoy knitting too,” Caroline said. “I make the boys clothes.”

“Tomasine. Isabella. Do you both know Caroline?” Emily asked when they reached the kitchen.

“We run into each other while doing the school run,” Isabella said and smiled. “Nice dress. I need new clothes. Where did you buy it? In Dunedin?”

“She made it herself,” Emily answered before Caroline could utter a word.

Tomasine walked around Caroline and said, “I want one. Would you make me a dress? I’ll pay you. Could we do a girl’s trip to Dunedin to buy fabric and patterns?”

“I don’t need a pattern,” Caroline said. “If you tell me what you want, I can draft a pattern.”

“I can’t sew to save myself.” Tomasine’s eyes rounded. “Let’s talk later.”

Emily pointed to the food sitting on the counter. “These bowls need to go outside plus the cutlery and the plates.”

Caroline picked up a bowl of lettuce salad and one of potato salad and followed Emily.

“Meat is ready,” Saber called.

Emily set a macaroni salad and sliced tomatoes and cucumber on a sturdy wooden picnic table. “The platter is in the kitchen.”

“I’ll get it,” Felix said.

Isabella came out with the focaccia bread and a stack of knives and forks. Tomasine followed with plates. Felix trotted out with the platter, transferred the meat from the grill and placed it with the rest of the food.

“Dinner is ready,” Emily called.

Caroline organized meals for the boys and turned to grab something for herself. Marsh handed her a plate, and it was the food she would’ve chosen if she’d done it herself. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He patted the seat beside him. “I’ve saved you a spot.”

Caroline hesitated and found herself the center of attention. A swift kick of heat surged to her cheeks as she slid onto the long bench seat beside Marsh.

“Caroline offered to design and sew dresses for us,” Tomasine told her husband. “She made her dress. It’s an original.”

Isabella laughed. “We bullied her into offering.”

“Have you told Caroline about the new weekend market?” Saber asked.

“No! My first thoughts were purely selfish,” Emily said with a chuckle.

“Same with me and Tom,” Isabella agreed. “It’s hard to buy nice clothes when we’re stuck in Middlemarch.” She winged a wink toward her husband, offered him a cheeky grin.

Caroline’s cheeks heated as the entire Mitchell family turned to her. She’d resemble a story-book clown since a blush clashed with her hair and glowed against her fair skin.

“Caroline makes the boys’ clothes, and she made my shirt,” Marsh said.

Caroline stilled, her chest squeezing so tight she had to gasp for her next breath of air. He sounded proud of her, almost as pleased as if they’d complimented him. She hadn’t even realized he’d known she made the boys’ clothes. His mother always turned up her nose…she’d given the trousers Marsh wore to him for his birthday.

Emily picked up a piece of focaccia and took a bite. She swallowed. “The bread is delicious, so you can cook as well. Good to know for when I need help in the café. I’m teaching Tomasine and Isabella how to cook everything on our menu, but neither of them enjoy baking as much as I do.”

“I don’t get much spare time,” Caroline said with real regret. She’d love to earn extra money but between her obligations to the after-school group and her duties on the farm—feeding the chickens and cooking for the shearers and doing the other odd-jobs Dawn foisted on her, fitting in another job might be difficult.

Marsh shot her a surprised look, and Caroline squirmed. “Your mother wants me to help her with the cooking when the shearing gang arrives.”

“But she—” He broke off, the line between his brows becoming more prominent. “I see.”

After an uncomfortable silence, Emily nudged the conversation into a discussion of the upcoming zombie run.

“We’re leaving it late in the season,” Felix said. “I hope it doesn’t snow.”

“If it does, we might need to change the obstacles,” Leo said.

“I think it will be okay since there will be spotters on the course. It’s only five kilometers and the competitors can use the new shower block and changing rooms at the sports ground,” Saber said. “Emily is organizing a hot punch for competitors.”

“Sam and Lisa said they were coming. They asked me to be on their team,” Emily said.

“You?” Felix asked.

Caroline caught the humorous glint in Saber’s eyes as he studied his wife.

“Yes me.” Emily lifted her nose. “I thought it might be fun, and Sam and Lisa have confidence in me. They’re bringing Henry and Gerard. It sounds as if they’ve decided to start their security business in Middlemarch. I liked them both.”

“Sam, your cousin?” Marsh asked.

“Yeah. He mat—married Lisa Jordan. They live not far from Christchurch. Sam breeds and trains horses and he has cattle. A few sheep from memory,” Saber said.

“I heard they had another earthquake yesterday,” Caroline said. “I think they said it was a 5.7. Are they okay?”

Emily nodded. “I spoke with Lisa. She said they escaped damage although they felt the quake. Anyway, the race will be a challenge. Maybe Isabella or Tomasine can man the hot drinks.”

“Sorry,” Isabella said. “Tom and I are running. We’re looking for two more women to round out our team.”

“Could Caroline and I do the drinks?” Marsh glanced at her. “We could do that, couldn’t we?”

“No,” she said. “Remember, I’ll be in Dunedin.” Her cheeks heated again when everyone stared at her. No, it was her imagination. Not all the Mitchells were looking at her. Just Saber and Emily.