Stanton Bliss(10)

We needed some alone time and I have been f*cked every which way and eaten every beautiful kind of food on the planet.

This is happiness. Deep sated happiness.

Joshua is still on edge. He watches me wherever I go, scared to take his eyes off of me in case I disappear again.

We have issues to deal with, both of us. I’m pushing them to the back of my mind for the moment. I can’t deal with them yet. I’m not sure I even want to. How do you deal with the shit that we have been through? The police interviews were extensive and thankfully I have been cleared of any wrong doing. My main mission at the moment is to make Joshua at ease and get some weight back on him. I think he’s lost about ten kilos since I disappeared.

I stand at the kitchen bench and dial Jeston’s number; I need to talk to him. Joshua is running on the treadmill and I have some time to myself. The last time we spoke, he was telling me that he thought he loved me and I was being rude. So much has happened since then and I know he put aside his hate for Joshua to try and help find me. I am so grateful and I owe him a huge thank you.

“Tash” He answers on the first ring, he sounds relieved.

Oh, it’s good to hear his voice. “Jes.” I smile.

“Are you ok?” he breathes.

“I am.”

“Fuck, I thought you were dead.”

“Thankfully not.” I half laugh.

“Tash, it’s so good to hear from you.”

“Thank you so much for helping everyone try to find me.”

“I’m just so glad you are ok.”

The line falls silent and I know I have to tell him.

“I got married Jes. Three days ago in Thailand,” I whisper as I close my eyes.

He doesn’t answer.

“Jes?” I ask. Is he still on the line?

“What do you want me to say?” he breathes.

My heart drops, I do really care for this man. “Congratulations?” I ask hopefully.

“Congratulations,” he replies dryly.

“I love him, Jes. He makes me so happy.”

He hesitates. “He’s a lucky man.”

I smile as my eyes tear up. “Can we be friends? Please?”

“Of course.”

I feel uncomfortable, I know I shouldn’t, but I feel guilty for talking to him when I know he has feelings for me. I should get off the line.

“I will see you next time I come to Australia?” I ask.

“Yeah, sure,” he replies sadly, and I know I have hurt his feelings with my dismissal.

I close my eyes and stay silent.

“Bye, Tash. It’s good to hear from you.”

“Bye, Jes,” I whisper through unshed tears.

We both stay on the line, neither one of us wanting to hang up.

I want to tell him I miss him, but I stop myself, this isn’t helping either of us. I reluctantly end the call.

That was a lot harder than it should have been and I know in my heart that the girl who finally tames Jesten Miller is going to be a very lucky girl.



It’s late in the afternoon and Joshua is swimming in the pool with Didge while I am sitting between Nicholas and Margaret. Everyone else is gathered around the barbeque at the back of the pool area, watching the chef cook an amazing seafood meal, they are laughing and joking. This is a happy time and we are all so grateful that things turned out the way that they did. Just a week ago I was presumed dead and Joshua was in prison for my murder.

“Do you want another drink?” Margaret asks both Nick and I.

“Yes, please,” we both reply, and she stands, disappearing to the bar.

My eyes glance to Nicholas as he watches Adrian. I need to hold my tongue. I desperately want to ask him what’s going on between them but I will have to wait to get Adrian on his own. I don’t have that type of relationship with Nicholas and it would be rude of me to ask him. I know Nicholas still cares deeply, I can tell by the way he watches Adrian. It’s sad if they don’t work it out. I guess sometimes love really isn’t enough. My eyes wander to Bridget and Joshua in the pool. They’re laughing as they talk about something, and Bridget is dancing around mimicking something. The bond between them is strong, I can tell they relied heavily on each other when I was gone. I am grateful that they had each other. We’re going out tomorrow night and I am looking forward to catching up and relaxing. It’s been a too long since I spent time with my friends. Margaret’s phone beeps to signal a text and I pick it up off the table in an attempt to give it to her, accidentally reading the message as it flashes up.

It’s from Deidre.

I’ve told her everything.

I frown. I’ve told her everything – what the hell is that supposed to mean? Who is Deidre? That’s random, and my eyes rise up to Nicholas as he watches me intently. Shit. Busted spying, I change the subject. “Have you spent any time with Margaret over the last month?” I ask nervously.

He smirks as if he has been expecting this question. “Yes.”

I raise my eyebrows in question. “And?”

He bites his bottom lip as his eyes flick back over to his beloved Adrian. “She seems to be doing well.”

I fake a smile. “Great,” I lie.

Hmm, that’s code for… I don’t know what? Is something going on with her that I don’t know about?