Free Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) by Iris Blobel Page B

newsagency.”
    Connor nodded. “Nice meeting you.”
    “Emily’s fault with her accusations.” Niall laughed as he placed his arm around his grandmother’s shoulder. “My nana, best friend, partner-in-crime, babysitter—”
    Connor nodded. “That’s a lot of responsibilities.”
    Sabrina let out a soft chuckle. “And a lot of work, believe me.”
    Everyone sat down. Ethan sat next to Connor. “The little one in the red T-shirt and the stupid Santa hat is my little one.”
    Connor looked towards the sea of children. Red was the dominant colour of clothing, but in the end he did find Nicolas. He was Ethan Junior, indeed. He could tell from all the photos he’d seen over the last few days.
    He leaned back into his chair, stretched his legs, and watched the concert unfold in front of him. It was definitely the first time that he’d been to a school concert and for some odd reason, he was enjoying himself. They’d had concerts at school and for the obvious reasons, nothing like a Christmas concert on the school oval, but he couldn’t remember his mother or Duncan making the effort to come. His grandparents came a couple of times, and he’d treasured their visits. He looked around. The atmosphere was uplifting. Parents chatting. Children playing.
    Trying to recall the conversations of the last ten minutes, his father’s reaction to his comment, but mainly the teasing friendship between everyone. The casual banter, the underlying love for each other.
    Unexpectedly, a wave of sadness hit him.
    He looked up, the sun glaring down at them, relentless with not a single cloud in the sky. Christmas in summer. A new experience. Something his mother had never mentioned, yet he assumed it’d be something that would remain in his memory forever.
    Fermosa Bay was growing on him.
    “There’s the star of the evening,” Ethan whispered as he bumped Connor with his elbow.
    And for the next five minutes they watched Nicolas dancing along an Australian version of “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Connor grinned, nearly cracking up in laughter. And it seemed so did the others.
    He’d loved it!
    “You wouldn’t believe how sick I am of this song,” Ethan said. “Had to listen to it non-stop the last four weeks.”
    Connor turned to reply, when he saw Ethan’s transfixed stare into the distance. It wasn’t his son he was looking at, but…a woman. A smile tugged at his lips.
    “Is she the one?” he asked quietly.
    “Is she the one what?”
    Connor grinned.
    “Some of your traits haven’t changed, it seems. Still a nosy bugger.”
    “That’s why I’ve become a lawyer.”
    Ethan shook his head in amusement. “I’ve got a kid. There’s no time for a woman.”
    That surprised Connor. From what everyone had told him, he calculated the boy to be about nine or ten years old.
    “No woman since Skye?”
    His friend lifted a shoulder in a shrug as he let out a long sigh. “Here and there, but nothing serious. Not many out there who are interested in becoming a mother to someone else’s child. There’s also the issue that I sit on a bit of money, thanks to Jack.” He turned to look at Connor. “What about you?”
    Indeed, what about him? Another thing that had struck him, but also impressed him, was the honesty in everyone’s word. People were frank with each other—as far as he was aware, of course.
    “Yeah, there was someone. Broke up recently. Apparently someone else’s bed was warmer than mine.”
    “Ouch,” Ethan whispered.
    “It’s okay. In hindsight, it might even be better.” He glanced at Emily and thought might wasn’t the right word. Straightening up, he added, “Like your money, having a father owning one of the best law firms in town can attract the wrong crowd.”
    Ethan nodded. “What’s his name?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “What’s the name of your…what is he? Stepfather?”
    “Duncan.”
    “Lawyer as well?”
    Connor nodded.
    “Not your favourite topic?”
    He dragged his hand through his