Always There Page 4

  “How’s the research going?”

  “Good.”

  Felicity and Mitch exchanged a glance. Nothing new there.

  Mum was primarily interested in Timothy’s social life, but that was an even shorter report.

  “Aww, Mum,” Timothy said, cutting into his chicken with a little more ferocity than warranted. “I’m fine. I’ve got my mates. We’re keeping busy. It’s all good.”

  Helen sighed. “All right. Felicity? Any more thoughts about the wedding?”

  Felicity rolled her eyes. “As soon as Rick and I decide, I promise—I PROMISE—I’ll let you know.”

  “It’s just that these things could take a long time to plan, especially if you want a good place for the reception.”

  “Those things don’t worry us, Mum,” Felicity said. “You know we’ll keep it really small. Besides, all I have to do is drop Mitch’s name, and things miraculously open up.”

  “Felicity!”

  “I’m joking! But I’ve been dying to ask if Mitch met Liana Murphy at the End of Winter Ball. I bet you did. What’s she like?”

  Mitch stared at his sister. “When did you become such a fan of Liana Murphy’s?”

  “Seriously? I have all of her books.”

  “Books?”

  Felicity dropped her fork and knife on her plate and leaned back in her chair, arms folded. “I know you’re smart. It still pisses...”

  “Language, Felicity.”

  “Sorry, Mum. It still annoys me that you got better marks in school than I did. And while you do not have the inflated ego that most people in your position could have—Mr. ‘King of Rugby’—sometimes... sometimes I don’t think you pay enough attention to other people.”

  “Oh boy, here we go,” Timothy muttered as he reached for another serving of potatoes.

  Felicity continued. “Liana Murphy just so happens to have written three amazing books on building self-confidence and believing in empowerment. They were best sellers in the U.K., Australia, and here. You might even enjoy them.”

  “I don’t think Mitch has any problems with confidence or self-empowerment,” Timothy said, drily.

  “Thanks, mate.” Mitch smiled at his brother. “But, to answer your original question, dear sister, yes, I did meet Liana Murphy last week.”

  Felicity beamed. “Lucky you. For the first time, I’m really jealous of a celebrity you’ve met. What’s she like?”

  Mitch frowned slightly. “Ah, she’s very nice, I guess. We didn’t talk very long at the ball, actually.”

  Felicity sighed. “I’d love to meet her. She’s breaking new ground for women. And I couldn’t have been prouder to be a Kiwi than when I heard FANZ hired her. A woman manager for our men’s football team. Imagine that!”

  “A team that’s rankedone-hundred-and-fiftieth in the world,” Timothy said. “She got the job because no one else would have it.”

  Felicity stared at Timothy. “You’re in fine form, tonight. What’s wrong with you?”

  Mitch laughed as Helen looked down at her plate, barely hiding a smile.

  “Regardless,” Felicity continued, picking up her utensils again. “She is changing the world by doing that. We’re witnessing history.”

  Mitch wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Would you like to meet her?”

  “Pardon?”

  “She’s staying at the Meriton right now.”

  His usually unflappable sister stared at him blankly. “At the Meriton? As in, your condo at the Meriton?”

  “Yes.”

  “How on Earth did that happen?”

  “We have a mutual friend. She needed a new place to stay. I have an empty room. I offered it to her.”

  “Just like that?” Felicity asked. Timothy chose that moment to nudge her. She glared at him briefly before passing the rolls he was pointing at. She looked at Mitch again. “You have Liana Murphy staying at your condo? Wow.”

  “She’ll be on the South Island next week. If you’d like to meet her, I can ask if she has some free time.”

  Felicity blinked again, her eyes vacant. “Liana Murphy’s staying in the condo I used to live in. In the room I had? Wow.”

  “What’s the big deal about Liana Murphy?” Timothy mumbled. “I mean she hasn’t really done anything.”

  “Hasn’t really done anything?” Felicity turned to face Timothy, incredulity in her voice. “She has done a lot for someone in her thirties. Besides what she’s achieved in sports, she founded two charities, has an OBE—"

  “—won a dance show, and dated a minor royal and a movie star,” Timothy said with a snicker.

  “That is irrelevant to who she is,” Felicity snapped.

  “That’s what keeps her in the news, isn’t it?” Timothy argued. “She’s famous because of who she knows.”

  “That’s pretty shallow,” Felicity said.

  “Well, would you like to meet her?” Mitch asked again. He passed the chicken to his father.

  Felicity chewed on her bottom lip. “I guess. But what would I say?”

  “Try ‘hello.’”

  Felicity punched her younger brother again. Timothy responded by drawing his butter knife at his sister.

  Mitch shook his head at the sight of an eminent scholar of women’s studies engaging their younger brother—one of the university’s top students—in a cutlery duel.

  “That’s very nice of you to offer your place, Mitch,” his mum said. “Will she be staying at the Meriton long?”

  “Not sure. I said she’s welcome to stay as long as she needs to. I have the spare room.”

  “Jay won’t mind?”

  Mitch shrugged. “If she still needs it when we have to be in Auckland, I’ll check with him then. But I don’t think he’ll be bothered. We’ve always had a third person in the condo with us.”

  “You know, she’s probably one of the few people in the world who understands what you go through as captain,” Felicity said as she grabbed a roll off Timothy’s plate.

  Mitch’s knife hovered over his plate. He hadn’t considered that. It’d been a long time since he wondered if anyone—other than the previous captains—could sympathize with what came with his position. He grew up obsessed with rugby, but even he was unprepared for the scrutiny, the pressure, or the expectations that came with the captaincy.

  * * *

  Immediately after reaching home, Mitch walked out onto the deck in his backyard. It was a habit he’d started soon after buying the house. It was another clear night. The stars seemed especially large and bright. It was worth the extra twenty-minute commute to the Club so he could enjoy nights like these.

  When he was first starting out, all the new players shared flats and houses close to the city center where there were a lot more things going on. But when he was finally able—and ready—to buy a place of his own, Mitch wanted something farther out.

  The neighborhood he had chosen was one in transition. Most folks had been there for decades, but young families were beginning to move in, no doubt seeing the advantages of the location and the good schools. It was perfect for him, midway between the Club and his parents’ farm. Then, whenever he needed to take a break from real life, he could get to the Waimakariri River in about twenty minutes. Mother Nature was the perfect solution for working out the stress of his job.

  A dog barked in the distance, the lone sound echoing softly through the quiet neighborhood.

  It was getting late. He had an interview with the local station before joining the team at the airport. He liked to prepare by reviewing the questions the station had sent in advance. Mitch had glanced through them. They were typical questions about the players’ preparations for the weekend game. New, were also a few about the World Championship. He knew from experience that the number of questions in the last set was going to increase as the countdown to the Championship began.

  He sat on the stairs and pulled out his phone from his pocket. He found the number he had stared at all week.

  She hadn�
�t called once.

  She did send him a short message when she moved in, but that was the extent of her contact.

  He was both disappointed and relieved.

  At different times this week—when his mind wandered—, he kept remembering how soft her cheek had felt against his lips, and how her eyes lighted up when she laughed. He had been tempted to call, but there was no real reason to do so. He wouldn’t have if it were anyone else staying at the condo.

  But a moment of impulse at dinner had given him an excuse to call her. He was merely asking a favor for his sister.

  “Liana? It’s Mitch Molloy.”

  “Hello. I promise. I haven’t touched a single sock.”

  Mitch laughed. “I’m glad to hear it. Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, thank you. You have an amazing condo, Mitch. The location is perfect.” Her soft voice prompted the hairs on the back of his neck to stand. He cleared his throat. “Any word on your rental?”

  “Not good news, I’m afraid. I’m back on the hunt for a place.”

  “Well, don’t feel you have to move out in a hurry. No one is expected at the Meriton for another month.”

  “Very kind, Mitch. If I do stay on—and I don’t want to impose—let me pay some sort of rent.”

  “Not at all. You’re my guest. But I do have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Anything.”

  “I just found out that my sister is a big fan of yours. Would you have a few minutes to meet her when you come down to the South Island?”

  “Of course. I arrive late Friday morning and don’t have anything planned until Connor and Cat’s dinner.”

  “I have practice until noon. But after that, maybe Felicity and I can meet you for a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon. If you like, we can drive together to Connor’s place. It can be a bit confusing to get there.” He put his head in his hand. That sounded awkward even to his ears.

  “Hang on—I thought I was doing you a favor? I’ll take that offer for a lift but let me take you and your sister out for tea.”

  “That’ll work,” Mitch said.

  “Lovely.”

  “My sister is going to be thrilled. Thanks. We’ll see you next Friday.”

  Mitch held on to his phone for a few moments after the conversation ended. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair. What was he doing? He’d just ended a relationship so he could concentrate on captaining the National Team. He didn’t want to experience the feeling of failure again. He especially didn’t want to see the sadness in the eyes of strangers. His country deserved something positive after an earthquake that had taken so much from Christchurch.

  But there was no denying he was intrigued by Liana. He could have kissed her at the condo. He knew it; she knew it. But they didn’t. She stopped it, and he didn’t push. There were invisible lines neither chose to cross.

  There was just something about her that captivated him.

  His raised his eyes to the sky. It was cloudless tonight, and a sea of scattered stars teased him with secret patterns he knew he would never fully identify.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A few days later, Mitch had the surreal experience of seeing his sister cry at meeting someone she idolized. “Gobsmacked” came to mind when he watched his self-proclaimed diehard feminist sister babble her way through introductions, wiping away tears that had appeared suddenly.

  They had agreed to meet at a café around the corner from where Liana was staying. Felicity being Felicity quickly overcame her brief moment of being starstruck and spent the next hour plying Liana with question after question. He could have participated, but he was content to sit back and observe Liana.

  She really does smile with her eyes. Occasionally those eyes would meet his, quick glances that drew him back into the conversation despite his sister’s desire to keep Liana all to herself.

  “I think one of my favorite essays of yours was ‘Dear Mary,’” Felicity said.

  “That was almost twenty years ago!”

  “It’s a classic, both in style and content.”

  “Do you know who Guy Tisdale is?”

  “No.”

  Mitch groaned and shook his head.

  Liana laughed. “He’s not important, but it’s his mum who is the ‘Mary’ of the essay. I babysat for the Tisdales once a week, so she could make it to her lectures. One day, she came home exhausted and wondered out loud if it was all worth it, going back to university in her thirties. I always remembered that moment, and years later, when the opportunity came up to write something about a person who had inadvertently inspired me, I chose her.”

  Felicity sighed. “It’s such a powerful essay about perseverance. I’ve included it in my syllabus as an optional exercise. Are you still in touch with her?”

  “Oh, yes. The Tisdales are like family. Mary now runs three tutoring centers in the Southwest of England.”

  “Amazing!”

  “If you like, I could give her a ring and see if she would talk to you about that time in her life. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

  “Really? I’d love the opportunity.” Felicity’s phone sounded. She read the message before making a face. “Rick’s right around the corner. He can’t find parking. I’m afraid I have to go. We’re seeing his parents this evening, and it’s a couple of hours to get to their place.”

  They rose from the table and moved towards the door. Outside, Liana reached for Felicity’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s been a pleasure, Felicity. I hope we’ll be able to meet again. I really enjoyed our conversation. Call me anytime. Mitch has all my contact information.” Mitch rolled his eyes when nothing came out of his sister’s hanging mouth; instead, with wide eyes, Felicity nodded her agreement.

  Liana suppressed a smile as she turned to Mitch. “May I head back to the B&B to pick up something? Shall I just meet you at your car?”

  As soon as Liana left the siblings alone, Felicity squealed and grabbed her brother’s arm, jumping up and down. “That was one of the best afternoons of my life! Isn’t she as smart as I said she was?”

  “Yes, Felicity.”

  “We could have talked for hours! I think she likes me.”

  “Yes, Felicity.”

  Mitch wasn’t ready for his sister’s hug. She followed that with loud, exaggerated kisses on both his cheeks. “I’m glad you’re famous! I still don’t believe it. I had a conversation with Liana Murphy! My life is complete!”

  Mitch made a show of wiping his cheeks. “You, Blake Stanton, and Cat Dane should form the South Island Liana Murphy Fan Club.”

  Felicity stopped. “That... is... a... bloody... good... idea, brother dear.”

  Half a block later, Mitch opened the door of a red hatchback for his sister. He bent to nod at his future brother-in-law in greeting. Rick returned the nod, smiled but didn’t say a word—as usual.

  “See you at Mum and Dad’s next month?” Felicity asked.

  “Of course. Enjoy your evening.”

  When Mitch returned to his car, Liana was waiting with a carefully wrapped box. He took a deep breath and pushed his hands into his pockets, hoping to hide his sudden nervousness at being alone with her again. I’ve played in front of thousands of people. She’s just one woman. Except his hands were sweaty.

  “That’s a fancy looking gift.” Mitch cringed inwardly, glad Connor wasn’t around to see him make a fool of himself.

  “Far from it,” Liana said. “I’m being a little presumptuous, but it’s a collection of my essays that’s just been published in England. It hasn’t been released in New Zealand yet.”

  He unlocked the car and opened the passenger door. “Cat might faint when she sees it. You seem to have that effect on people.”

  She laughed. “I do not. Until today, I don’t think I’ve had anyone cry when they met me. That’s certainly a first. I bet you do.”

  “Make people cry when they meet me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmm... maybe a little kid or two a fe
w years back. But I’m going to say it’s because their parents forced them to shake my hand rather than anything else.”

  “I’m sure you’ve managed to make a few fans shed some tears when you smile at them.”

  “No, that’s more the Connor Dane effect. There were definitely a lot of tears when he and Cat got engaged.” His lips lifted as her giggle echoed in the car. He could get used to that sound. “What else are you planning to do on the South Island besides meet your players? Did any of my suggestions help?”

  “They did, and I think I’m going to try to drive up to Queenstown. From what I’ve seen on the internet, that view from Bob’s Peak is stunning.”

  “It’s been a few years since I’ve been there. The National Team will be touring through a few small towns as a run-up to the World Championship. You know, to drum up support and thank the fans. I think we might make it to a couple of towns in the Southern Alps region.”

  “What a wonderful idea. The whole team? That’d be quite the experience for the fans.”

  Mitch nodded. “Most of the team. We’ll be divided up. Management does a good job of making sure we remain accessible. It’s important. And we like doing it. It reminds us exactly what the black jersey is all about. I grew up in a small village, and something like this would have made such a big impression on me when I was younger.”

  After leaving the city center, they drove into more-rigorous terrain and found themselves slowed by a farmer’s truck. Liana was taking in the passing scenery as if memorizing what she saw. At the top of a hill, she gasped. “Mitch, what are those things?”

  “What things?”

  “They look like giant cutouts of people?”

  “Ah... that...”

  “And ‘that’ is?”

  “The locals call it ‘Captains’ Field.’ Otherwise, it’s just part of the McAllistair’s sheep farm.”

  “What are the cutouts? I can’t quite see what they are from up here, but they’re pretty big. At least four or five meters?”

  “Five meters each.” He paused. “They’re the captains of the National Team.”

  “All the captains?”

  “The last fifteen, I reckon. And only after captaining at least five Tests.”