Chapter 17

Christmas at Gundamurra…

RIC was looking forward to it.

'Got to show you off to Patrick,' he told the baby who was cradled in his arms, eyes closed, not so much as a flutter from the thick black lashes.

The rocking motion of the swing-lounge always did the trick—stopped the crying, put the baby to sleep. Ric automatically used his feet to keep the swing going as his gaze roved over the view from where he sat. To his mind, this deck outside the main living room was one of the best features of the house he'd bought for Lara. It faced north, catching the sun all winter, and the view over the bay at Balmoral with the Norfolk pines edging the beach and the marina full of yachts, coming and going, made sitting out here a constant pleasure.

Lara loved everything about the house and was still getting the furnishings just right for it, taking enormous delight in choosing exactly what she thought made it a home for them. It made Ric happy, simply to see her so happy. And Balmoral was just across the harbour from Circular Quay, not far at all for him to buzz into the office when he had to. Though he was taking time out for a while, enjoying being a father, giving himself paternity leave.

Right now it was his job to mind the baby while Lara and Mrs. Keith packed for the trip to Gundamurra. 'I'm a top-notch rocker, kid,' he told his charge whose perfect contentment confirmed the claim.

The self-indulgent boast brought Johnny to mind—king of rock when it came to country music. Ric grinned as he remembered Johnny rolling up to the hospital to view the new Donato, bringing his guitar with him, and singing the ballad he'd written about the boy from Gundamurra… 'His spirit would not rest…till he'd brought his woman home.'

There were many verses but that was the chorus, repeated so often, the whole hospital ward had ended up gathered outside Lara's room, listening to Johnny sing and joining in with him on those two lines. Totally embarrassing. But Lara had loved it. And Mitch had egged Johnny on to get the song recorded, give them all a copy of it for Christmas. No doubt Evelyn would love it too, play it endlessly, especially with having Gundamurra mentioned in the lyrics.

Patrick would smile.

Patrick…the only real father the three of them had ever known. Always there for them if they needed him for anything. Always coming through for them when asked.

'I'm going to be like him,' Ric promised his own child. 'You can count on me to plant your feet on the ground so you know how to choose your own path, get it right. And I'll always be there to back you up, lend a helping hand…'

He was glad he'd taken Lara to Gundamurra, that she'd spent those months with Patrick. Although she had established a better relationship with her mother, and even Ric was now acceptable to Andrea Seymour, there'd been no argument over where they'd go for Christmas. The Outback sheep station was now a special place for both of them.

It was going to be great this year. Mitch was coming, too, bringing Kathryn Ledger with him, which was certainly a sign that the relationship between them was getting serious. Though Mitch was a deep one. He didn't give much away. He might simply be taking Kathryn to Gundamurra to see how she reacted to it. A test. Mitch had a habit of cross-examining everything—a barrister by nature as well as by profession.

If it was a test, Ric hoped Kathryn would pass it. He liked her. Lara liked her, too. Though love was something else, as he well knew. If Johnny and Mitch ever got married, he wished for them the same kind of love he'd found with Lara. It made such a huge difference to his life.

'Mrs. Donato is ready for the baby now,' Mrs. Keith called out to him. 'Okay. We're coming,' Ric answered, pausing the swing-lounge and

moving off it without a jolt.

The housekeeper was holding the door open for him to pass inside. She smiled at the two of them and he grinned back at her. 'Fast asleep,' he crowed, nodding down at the babe. 'See what a father's touch can do?'

She arched an amused eyebrow. 'Nothing to do with the swing, of course, Mr. Donato.'

'It's knowing the right rhythm, Mrs. Keith.'

'An instinctive knowledge,' she agreed, her eyes twinkling.

Definitely a good woman to have with the family, Ric thought. Lara had been right about that. A very helpful and pleasant presence in the house.

Gave Lara support with the baby, as well, having had plenty of experience with her own children.

He walked through to the nursery where he knew Lara would be getting ready to feed the baby. She was laying out fresh clothes on the change table when he entered. She turned to him, smiling as she quickly unbuttoned her blouse and unhooked the maternity bra.

'We're all packed and ready to go. As soon as I've fed the baby, we can leave.'

'No big hurry,' he assured her. 'Johnny will wait for us.'

Her beautiful blue eyes sparkled with excitement. 'Just as well we're travelling in his private plane. I've got so many Christmas gifts to take.'

'This is the best one,' Ric said, smiling down at their son…Patrick Alexander Donato.

'And it's so right that he'll be spending his first Christmas at Gundamurra,' Lara happily declared.

'He won't remember it.'

'But we will. You've got your camera ready, haven't you?' 'Of course.'

'Then I know you'll capture it all brilliantly, Ric.'

She took their son who came instantly awake at the change of contact, snuffling around at the smell of milk. Barely one month old and latching onto Lara's breast the moment it was bared. That's my boy, Ric thought with fatuous pride, watching Lara settle into the rocking chair where she liked to feed him.

My son…my wife…our home…and Gundamurra for Christmas. Life couldn't be better than this.

Except…he hoped they'd have a daughter next time, make up for the one Lara had lost. And he'd give her the pleasure of naming their little girl.

She'd insisted that he name their son—Patrick for the man who'd saved both of them, Alexander because the world was out there to be conquered— in a strictly personal sense. He was going to teach his son that barriers were only in his mind.

He and Lara could have been together a long time ago if he hadn't put that unattainable barrier in his own mind. Would have saved a lot of grief, too. But he couldn't redo the past, only make the most of the present and the future…the rest of their lives.

Lara looked up at him, her eyes softly glowing. 'I love our life together, Ric. Thank you for making it happen.'

'It could only happen with you. I love you, Lara. Always will.' 'It's the same for me. You do know that, don't you, Ric?'

No mistaking the love in her eyes. 'Yes, I know.'

His Lara…

Always had been… Always would be.