CHAPTER ONE
The noise rose from a gentle hum to a roar as the couple appeared in the doorway. The scene inside the ballroom overwhelmed Hana. Shades of cream and lightest blue decorated it. Swags of cloth hung from the ceiling, creating a scene reminiscent of a Jane Austen style banquet. She and Logan stood paralysed in the doorway, Hana clutching her husband so hard her nails dug into the back of his hand. A ‘Happy Birthday Hana’ sign hung over the double doors, making her conscience pang with sickening guilt.
First to greet her was her daughter Izzie, who flew to her side and hurled herself at Hana. She gripped her mother in a suffocating bear hug and wouldn’t let go, her sobs strange and alarming. Marcus balanced a sleeping baby Elizabeth over his shoulder. He leaned in and kissed Hana, squeezing his face past his wife’s shoulder to get to her. “Hey there, he said, with a smirk which told Hana he knew everything. She glanced across at her daughter and Marcus shook his head. Turning to Logan, he pumped his hand with enthusiasm and Hana narrowed her eyes. Marcus needed no more co-conspirators.
Meeting and greeting their guests took Hana and Logan a while. Hana’s school principal, moved forward to hug her. “Hello my dear, congratulations on reaching your mid-forties.” Angus smiled at her obvious discomfort. “Now, now. You grow more beautiful with age, so we’ll have none of that. Don’t you agree Mr Du Rose?”
Logan smirked at Angus and nodded, flicking an appreciative glance at his elfin wife. Hana pursed her lips, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks at the memory of their passionate wedding night and Logan turned his attention back to the other guests. Hana saw the twinkle in his grey eyes and knew he read her mind too easily for a new husband. “Thank you, Angus.” She smiled. “You’re very kind.”
The school principal gave a magnificent bow and moved away, his brightly patterned Scots kilt swishing around his hairy knees. He wandered towards another knot of familiar people.
“Happy birthday, Hana.” She winced as Peter North’s garlic breath assailed her in a sloppy wet kiss on the cheek. Hana fought not to swipe her hand across her skin. He pressed a badly wrapped gift into her hands and she almost dropped it. “Henri bought it,” he admitted without shame. “I dunno what you chicks want.”
Hana heard Logan snort next to her as Pete delivered his greeting. Then she saw her husband’s face disappear into the folds of Henrietta’s voluptuous neck in a bear hug. Hana shuddered, anticipating her turn. “Hana, darling! How wonderful to be invited. Peteepoos got so excited. When was the last time you were here my sweet?”
“Couple of months ago.” Pete scratched at a spot in his head. “Boris and me brought Loge’s other vehicles back. I wanted to drive the Triumph, but I got the truck instead.” His face dropped into an ugly pout and his girlfriend bellowed out an unholy laugh.
“Oh you sulky baby!” She ruffled Pete’s remaining hairs with a meaty hand and led him away, enfolding him into her giant armpit.
“Gosh that was close,” Hana hissed out of the side of her mouth to Logan. “Did you like your hug from Henrietta?”
“Loved it,” Logan commented and shot Hana a sideways look of mischief. “I didn’t realise the word enfold was onomatopoeic.”
“Ugh! English teachers!” Hana scoffed as she greeted another wave of colleagues and friends. She felt a twinge of guilt as she welcomed guests who travelled miles to wish her well, in what until moments before had been a surprise birthday party.
“You look like ze bride and groom greeting ze wedding guests,” Boris joked, in his thick German brogue and Hana cringed. Logan reached sideways and touched her fingers and the single tantalising stroke across her flesh was enough to galvanise her.
Henrietta bustled her large frame around, admiring everything in reach. “It’s magnificent,” she breathed to Pete. “Logan’s family owns all this? But he never said.”
Pete looked shifty and shot a nervous look at his friend. Henrietta nudged him and spoke behind her hand. “Peteepoos, this would be a wonderful place for our wedding reception. We must get a brochure on the way out.”
Pete buried his face in his wine glass and looked frightened.
Logan greeted a man and woman with a tight smile and Hana’s brow narrowed at the similarities between them. “Hey, bro’, how’s life in the fast lane?” Logan asked and the other man laughed.
“Tiring. Sticking the great and good of Auckland back together isn’t all fun.” He shook Logan’s hand but Hana noticed a rigidity in the action. Their grey eyes and regal bearing acted as a familial uniform. The woman didn’t smile as she air-kissed Hana, expensive perfume wafting round her like a haze. Her embrace of Logan bore more sincerity. The three dominated the room with their tall figures and striking good looks.
Logan’s parents proved attentive hosts. They ran around amongst other uniformed staff, fetching drinks and opening a buffet which occupied much of the far end of the room. Izzie stayed glued to Hana as the party got under way, making it difficult for anyone else to get near her. “I’m so pleased to see you, Mum,” she gushed for the fifth time. She seemed emotional and overwhelmed and Hana grew worried by her unusual clinginess. She worried that she may have guessed her secret. Marcus drifted up still carrying Elizabeth and took his wife away, persuading her to go with him and get food. He winked back at Hana over his shoulder and her worry intensified.
Searching for Logan, Hana spied her son. She smiled at him, noting his reluctance to approach her. Anxiety rested on his shoulders, an uncharacteristic companion. Henrietta’s large frame blocked Bodie’s companions as Hana moved towards him, cutting her way around the crowd. The floor cleared as spotting the buffet, Pete grabbed Henrietta’s hand and yanked her towards it. “Quick, food,” he whooped and set off. The couple’s absence opened the route between mother and son.
Then Hana saw him and inhaled a breath she couldn’t release. A small boy around four held Bodie’s hand, clinging to his fingers like a lifebuoy. His tousled black hair curled at the ends and dark skin covered a slight, delicate body. With thin little wrists sticking out of his shirtsleeves and enormous brown eyes, he sucked his thumb and stared around him, uncomfortable in the adult surroundings. Occasionally he glanced up at the slender, pale-skinned woman next to him, seeking reassurance from her presence. He popped his thumb from his mouth and took hold of her dress between his fingers. Touching the fabric, he found comfort and the thumb went back into his mouth with a flicker of satisfaction.
Hana walked with deliberate slowness, absorbing the moment and struggling to comprehend what she saw. Her late husband’s huge brown eyes fixed on her from the face of the child and he watched her progress through the people milling around her. Hana’s hands shook by the time she reached her son, suppressing emotions she couldn’t name. His expression held fear and defiance as he greeted her with uncharacteristic awkwardness. “Mum.”
You can purchase the next in the series
HANA DU ROSE
Other books by this author:
Logan Du Rose
About Hana - FREE HERE
Hana Du Rose
Du Rose Legacy
The New Du Rose Matriarch
One Heartbeat
The Du Rose Prophecy
Du Rose Sons
Du Rose Family Ties
The boxed set is available containing the first 4 novels HERE
Novels for teens/young adults:
Free from the Tracks -FREE HERE
Sophia’s Dilemma
A Trail of Lies – FREE to subscribers
Gone Phishing
UK based mystery/romances:
Artifact
Demons on Her Shoulder
The Calculated Risk series, based in UK
The Actuary - FREE HERE
The Actuary’s Wife
The Actuary in Trouble
New Zealand Soccer Referee Series
All Saints
Small Town New Zealand Romance Series
Deleilah
Take a look at all K T Bowes’ novels HER
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