Trust in Love

By Cherrill Clough

Amelia Jane and her two friends left Brisbane for the Gold Coast and a fun time managing to get a three-bedroom apartment opposite Broadbeach on the Esplanade.
They all excel in their chosen careers, and Amelia is a secretary to a young, handsome, up-and-coming solicitor, Patrick, whom she likes, but for all his efforts, he just cant get her to go out with him. However, he introduces her to his best friend, John, a trauma doctor from the Coast Hospital, and it is love at first sight for them both.
Because of the trauma he sees constantly coming from accidents, he has bad times and sometimes is unable to sleep and get through it without the love and care of Amelia, who is always there for him.
The biggest cause of the highway accidents is due to inattention to the road and, of course, road rage and booze, he tells her, and many trucks can be the cause where the drivers use uppers and downers to get through their hectic days.
After a wonderful family Christmas day with both families, John and Amelia come across an accident where two cars are badly damaged and one upside down, and they get all the family out with the help of another motorist just before the car bursts into flames. The other car has a deceased lady, and her husband is in a bad condition. They then discover a traumatized boy under the front seat. John took control of everything until the paramedics arrived, and the whole highway came to a standstill for hours.
Sometime later, John and Amelia marry, buy a mansion overlooking the sea, and have two delightful children, and while Amelia is waiting to go back to work after the birth of her daughter, she starts drawing illustrations for the childrens books she has started writing, which become a worldwide phenomenon and changes their lives forever. She decides to help childrens charities from some of the enormous profits from her good fortune.
This is a story of how trusting each other to be there when needed makes such a difference and relays a message for the drivers to slow down. You are driving a lethal weapon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Nov 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499024586

Cherrill Clough

Hello, I am originally from New Zealand but have spent the last thirty-three years in Australia. I was an airbrush artist for thirty-eight years, doing photo restoration and portrait colouring; in Real Estate for twenty-three years; and in between, I opened a small restaurant in the Regional City of Maryborough, where I still reside, and loved it. I can say it was the most enjoyable time in my life. I opened my own real estate agency in 2003 and closed in 2013 to retire at seventy and continue writing wholesome family stories for easy reading. I am an avid reader myself and enjoy Sundays to sit with a good book. Enjoy. —Cherrill Clough

Book preview

Chapter one

T he sun is hot reflecting off the sand as Amelia, Sharon and Trish sunbathed on the surf beach in their bikinis. The heat rippling the air as you looked out to sea where the surfers are all flat out trying new moves for the competitions in a couple of weeks. The sun glistening on the water made it glary, hard to see who is who as they are all like silhouettes on the wave, crisscrossing, riding the main wave in to the beach.

The girls are all in their twenties can’t understand what is so great about surfing as it seemed so strenuous and all they felt like doing is lying in the sun to build up their tans. Yes, they’d heard it all before, watch out you’ll get sun stroke or cancer or wrinkles and so it went on, but after all they are only in their twenties and who cares at this age. They are only young once and they are lapping up their lifestyle well and truly.

They had all been through college together and stayed the best of friends since, so when Amelia decided it is time to leave home at twenty three and move to the Coast where she could enjoy the beach, without having an hours drive to get there each time, her best friends decided to join her and they all rented an apartment across the road from the beach.

They all managed to get jobs fairly readily and shouted drinks to congratulate each one as they managed to start their new life together. The Apartment is three bedrooms and a study, so a perfect size with great views and with the three of them sharing the outgoings, it worked out pretty reasonable.

Amelia - Jane Truman is a tall leggy girl with not much shape but has a great personality, very happy smile, sandy hair she wears in a bob, is reasonably attractive, a lot of fun and known as Miss Popularity among her friends. She is now a secretary for a law firm at the Coast.

Sharon Smith is the opposite, she’s brunette, short and cute with a chic short hairstyle, is a laugh a minute and always the life and soul of the party. She works as a hairdresser for a large salon on the Coast where all the celebrities go.

Trish Freeman is very attractive, has long blonde hair which she’s constantly preening, has a great body shape and is the one all the boys look at. She works in a trendy bakery where they make and decorate cakes for special occasions, and there are always special occasions at the Coast. All the girls are talented in their own way all respect each other and have never had a falling out, as they love each other equally not one more than another. None of them have ever really had a serious relationship and at twenty three know that at some stage they will probably meet someone and the threesome will then disband, but until then they’re all happy with this arrangement. They always make the most of the beach on the weekends and after work during the summer they will spill over to the beach for a swim in the surf.

Today seems extremely hot and Amelia thinks it must be in the forties as she is finding it hard to lay there, she feels she is being cooked.

I think I’ll have a shower and cool off girls, this sun is cooking me up I reckon?

Okay Amelia, are you going in also Trish? asked Sharon who is enjoying just laying in the beating sun.

No I think I will stay a bit longer.

Okay you two will see you at home.

Okay they answered in unison. She left and had trouble walking across the burning hot sand without her sandals on so stopped and quickly put them on as she felt if the sand is this hot what would the road feel like on her bare feet. When she arrived home she peeled off her bikini hopped in the tepid shower and enjoyed the water flowing over her hot and steamy body.

‘That’s better’ she said to herself as she dried off and slipped into a flowing caftan to sit around the apartment in. She went out onto the balcony overlooking the beach and could see the girls laying there and thought ‘another hour and they will be crisp.’

The phone rang and it is her mother Peggy saying her and her dad Alistair (Al) would pop down from Brisbane to see her tomorrow if she is going to be home. Why that would be great mum, what time will you be here?

We thought we would come at around ten thirty in case you are heading out tonight, stay for lunch at the mall and come back around four.

That sounds great to me. I don’t think I will be going out tonight though as I just feel like I want to chill out and thought I would watch a DVD on the couch for a change.

How are Trish and Sharon, all good?

They’re fine and we are really enjoying being together. It’s hard to believe we have been here for three months mum, time just flies by.

Well that’s why dad and I thought we would pop down as we haven’t seen you and thought it would be nice to catch up.

God mum, I really am sorry I haven’t been up home to see you both, but I always seem to be doing something or going somewhere, but it’s time to settle down I thought and that’s why I decided to stay in tonight.

Well good for you Darling. We will see you in the morning. Give our love to the girls.

Will do Mum. Bye.

It is really hard to believe three months had passed since she moved out of home. ‘Naturally Mum and Dad would miss me as I was with them for the last twenty three years and then just disappear.’ Steven, her brother who is twenty, is more or less still with them but he is at uni and didn’t get home much as he is up north in Townsville studying Marine biology and hoped to get a job at SeaWorld one day, so they are now possibly like Darby and Joan before their time. Amelia is so pleased to know they are coming down for the day for their first visit.

She made herself a salad sandwich and sat out on the balcony with a cool lemonade, the heat is overbearing. She couldn’t understand how the girls could bare it as it would be virtually cooking their skin, she is sunburnt enough and they had spent already another hour out there. She is almost willing them to come home.

She noticed a couple of the surf boys are chatting to them and then they got up and ran into the surf with them.

‘At least they are in the water and not cooking up’ she thought, really worried for them.

It was three before she heard them open the door, she had started to watch one of the DVD’s she had rented from Video Go and is really starting to enjoy it in the coolness of the air conditioning.

Have a good time you two?

Yes we met a couple of the surfies and they took us out for a surf, it was hilarious but fun.

Yes Trish, I saw them talking to you while I was having lunch and saw you run into the surf with them. Actually I was pleased they prised you off the beach and out of the sun as you were burning up.

I know it is ridiculous of us, really Amelia, we should have come back with you. I am almost burnt to a crisp. Guess I’ll pay for it tomorrow.

You probably will Sharon. Go and have a tepid shower and I will put some cream on your back as its bright red.

Thanks Amelia, I will, see you in ten.

Can I use your en suite please Amelia as I would like a shower now too?

Go for it Trish, there is shampoo there so use it to get the salt out of your hair.

Thanks Amelia. And she sped off for a leisurely shower that she always enjoyed in Amelia’s en suite. Amelia knew she wouldn’t see her for at least twenty minutes to half and hour.

While she is putting cream on Sharon’s deep red back she told her, her parents are coming down for the day tomorrow to see her and she is thrilled about it.

It’s hard to realise we have been here three months already Sharon.

Is it? I had no idea we had been here that long.

Like you, I hadn’t realised the time had flown by so fast.

I guess they miss you Amelia as you have always lived at home, whereas Trish and I have flatted before.

Well I’m really looking forward to them coming. They will be here around ten. Are you two going out tonight?

We thought we would pop down to the nightclub down the road for a few drinks and a dance. Are you not coming?

No not tonight Sharon, I had already got myself some DVD’s to watch, so I think a night home will be good.

The phone rang and Amelia answered it Oh hi Patrick thanks for asking but I thought I’d have a night in tonight. No, I’m sorry, my family are coming down to visit tomorrow so I will be with them all day, they haven’t been down before and I didn’t realise it’s three months since I’ve seen them. No, I would rather be on my own tonight thanks. See you Monday at work. Okay, bye.

Helloooo!! Patrick!! And just who is he and give me all the juicy details please?

He is a really nice guy who is one of the solicitors at work, about twenty eight I’d say, good looking, stylish and has asked me out before but I didn’t think I should go out with him.

Why ever not Amelia, he sounds divine?

Well really I have no idea why I don’t want to go out with him as he is very nice, but for some reason there is no attraction for me I guess.

You wouldn’t know surely unless you went out with him.

Possibly Sharon, but I would have thought there would be some attraction to make me interested, but so far none.

Well I guess if it isn’t there it isn’t.

Trish came out from Amelia’s room grooming her now long tresses, they are all blow dried and beautiful once again.

Hi you two it seems like some serious chat going on here by your expressions.

Hi Trish, we are talking about a guy who has asked Amelia out but she doesn’t want to go out with him, named Patrick

Mmmm really, turned shy all of a sudden have we Amelia?

No Trish, he’s from work, very attractive, but I have no vibes with him.

Well if there are no vibes, as you say, leave it for a while and maybe later on something may happen. There is no hurry, if he likes you enough he will wait.

Are you coming with us tonight?

No, I thought I would stay home and veg out.

Fair enough, what time are we leaving Sharon. I thought eight thirty.

It sounds good to me Trish.

They all sat around and had a coffee some biscuits and at six thought they should have some dinner so Amelia made a chow mien for them all as she didn’t like them drinking on an empty stomach.

That was yummy Amelia thanks.

That’s fine Sharon glad you enjoyed it.

At eight the girls are off after they put the dishes in the dishwasher. Amelia is already relaxed on the couch and had turned her movie on where she had left it when the girls arrived home. She has a glass of white wine, a small box of chocolates, is feeling very good watching the tear jerker movie with her box of tissues handy.

At the nightclub the girls are having a ball. It is great fun and the girls felt like something is missing all night because Amelia wasn’t with them. There are a lot of guys on their own so they didn’t have to dance together and enjoyed the company of the men. One good looking guy is chatting to Sharon when Trish came off the dance floor. He had not introduced himself but when he did he said,

Sorry, but I forgot to introduce myself I’m Patrick Symons. The girls both looked at each other and Sharon asked

Do you work with a girl called Amelia?

Yes I do actually, how do you know her?

Well she is our flat mate. We all live together on the Esplanade. I was talking with her when you rang her this afternoon.

Really, well what a small world this is, isn’t it?

Yes quite amazing really Patrick.

I am Sharon and this is Trish.

It’s nice to meet you both. I’m here with a friend as Amelia didn’t want to go out with me. I will find him and he can come over too.

That would be fine Patrick said Sharon.

Patrick went off and in a few minute later came back with his gorgeous looking mate and introduced him.

John, this is Sharon and Trish. They are flat mates of Amelia who I have been asking out but to no avail.

Hi girls, it’s nice to meet you both. Amelia’s not with you?

No she’s at the apartment watching DVD’s. She said she wanted a night in and we are fine with that. We have been friends since school and are all individual and the best of friends, but we do our own thing also.

Sounds like a good arrangement Trish.

Yes Patrick, it is, and works for us all.

We know you are a solicitor Patrick as Amelia told us, what do you do John?

I’m a doctor, we met at Uni, were flatmates and have been mates ever since.

Where do you practice John?

I’m in emergency at the Coast Hospital Trauma Centre. It is rare I take a Saturday night off but tonight I decided to have a night on the town with Patrick as he is on his own. I’m actually having a couple of week’s holiday, otherwise I would be working.

I would say that would be a full on job in the emergency unit of the hospital.

Yes Trish, Friday and Saturday nights are absolutely dreadful to be honest, mostly alcohol driven and non stop. I never look forward to these nights.

Well tonight I hope you have a really good time John and put it out of your mind.

I am already enjoying the company, what about you Patrick?

Absolutely, it is nice to meet nice girls.

They stayed together, danced and chatted the rest of the night and at two in the morning all went and had toast and coffee at one of the café’s on the mall. None of them had too much to drink as they are always dancing and enjoying themselves so are all happy to enjoy a coffee and raisin toast to finish the night."

The men walked the girls back to their apartment building and said goodnight and would like to do it again another night and they said that would be great. They hadn’t paired off just as a group which is good at this point in time.

In the morning when they finally crawled out of bed with no hang overs as they were quite sober when they were at the club, they said hi to Amelia who is out on the balcony having her breakfast and told her what happened and she was totally amazed.

What a small world isn’t it?

What did you think of Patrick now that you both have met him?

We thought he is just lovely, yes very good looking but totally unaffected by his looks as was John his doctor mate who is very handsome. I bet the nurses think he’s something else.

Well Trish I am so pleased you thought they are nice because nice guys are just so hard to find these days, and just to have them as dance partners and not gropers says something, then to go for coffee as well sounds like a great night for all involved.

Yes it was Amelia, but Sharon and I both said how we missed your company with us before we met the guys.

Thanks girls, it is nice to be missed. Now you had better have your breakfast.

At ten thirty Peggy and Alistair arrived and all the girls said hello and there were kisses all round. Peggy had baked delicious cakes and biscuits and said she would leave the tins with the girls and pick them up next time they are down.

They all enjoyed their company and are all ears about how the girls are going with their jobs and everything they had missed out on as they were always at Amelia’s when she lived at home. Sharon and Trish often stayed the weekend with them so this is like a normal weekend for Betty and Alistair. The phone rang and Amelia answered it. Hi Patrick, yes I heard all about it, they had a great night. I will put Sharon on, just a minute.

Sharon, Patrick wants to talk to you.

Hi Patrick, yes that would be fine, when? Unit fifteen, good we will see you then.

Patrick and John are coming over for a swim in half an hour Trish, are you okay for it?

That would be great.

You don’t mind them coming here Amelia?

No, not at all, they are your friends they are most welcome, the more the merrier. Mum, Dad and I are going along the Mall later for lunch if you want to join us

We’ll see what the guys want to do, but more than likely we will come as well. They might too.

Good Sharon that’ll be fine.

Betty and Alistair are grinning. The guys had obviously met the girls the night before and want to see them again so they are pleased about that.

Amelia explained to her parents the way it is and how Patrick had asked her out a few times but she hasn’t gone and when the girls went to the nightclub last night they met him and his doctor mate and spent a great night dancing and having a very late supper.

Well this all sounds very nice girls we will be interested to meet these nice young men.

You will like them Mum, they are just the sort of guys you like, although they evidently are both very good looking.

Well what’s wrong with being good looking Amelia, it’s the personality and what goes on inside that makes the person.

I guess that’s true Mum.

Your Dad was very handsome when I met him and I was just your average girl but he chose me out of all the others.

Aha!! Peggy, you were nicer looking than you thought you were though, you had a very low self image when I met you and when we went out you started to come out of your shell, but I never ever thought of you as average.

Thank you Darling, you have never said that about me before.

Well there was no reason to, but what you just said about you being average, you were far from average my dear.

Alistair walked over and kissed her and she blushed beautifully.

There is a knock on the door and Amelia answered it and Patrick walked in with John. Patrick introduced John to her and then Amelia introduced them both to her parents.

Patrick I am just about to make a coffee, would you both like to join in?

Thanks Amelia that would be lovely.

Peggy went out to the kitchen with Amelia and they got everything together as they were talking.

They seem like lovely young men Amelia. Which is the one who asks you out?

Patrick Mum the dark haired one.

Is he a solicitor at work did you say?

Yes, he has been in the firm for about five years I believe.

They had everything on a tray and Amelia went out to the balcony Amelia asking the guys to bring out another couple of chairs from the dining room. Peggy put the cake plates down and as they were home made everyone wanted some.

These are beautiful, who’s the baker?

That’s me John.

Well Peggy I’d take you home with me any day if you cook like this and they all laughed.

It is a happy morning and after the coffee the others went over for a swim.

You go too if you want Amelia, Dad and I will be quite happy sitting here overlooking the beach and the goings on.

No Mum I am happy to be here with you both. I swim every day.

Well they are very nice men Amelia, very nice,

Yes they are Mum, I agree.

An hour later the others all came back and the men asked if they could use the shower, of course that was fine.

They all decided to go to lunch together and strolled along to the mall where there is an open café and they all ordered what they wanted.

When they had finished they still sat at the tables as by now the lunch crowd had moved on. Patrick asked if anyone wanted coffee and they all agreed so he went in and ordered them and the waiter bought them out. They stayed talking until nearly three o’clock enjoying the atmosphere around them, tourists were everywhere and it is pleasant. Alistair got up to pay the bill but Patrick and John insisted on doing so and they are all surprised as they had just met them, but they said they had enjoyed everyone’s company and this is their treat. They all walked back to the apartment together and about an hour later Peggy and Alistair said goodbye and how they have had a wonderful day. They all waved as they pulled out from the kerb for their hour long journey back to Brisbane.

Well that was a nice day wasn’t it?

Yes Amelia it surely was and your parents are just so friendly.

Thanks Patrick, they really are good people and I love them to bits, no doubt they are missing Steven and I for sure.

What does Steven do Amelia?

He is studying marine biology John and is hoping in the end to work at SeaWorld, if not, I would bet on him going overseas, so both of us now have moved from the family home.

How much longer has he got to go on his studies?

About two years I think.

How old is Steven?

He’s nearly twenty one now John.

The guys thought they may overstay their welcome and thanked the girls for their company and the pleasant day they had with them all, then said they would be off. Patrick said he would see Amelia at work tomorrow, and they kissed all the girls and waved to them as the walked along the Esplanade to their car.

Well that was a full on day and what a great day we all had.

It was Sharon, a lot of fun.

What did you think of John, Amelia?

I thought he is gorgeous, if you really want to know. I found him so pleasant and interesting.

I think he thought the same of you too Amelia.

What makes you say that Sharon?

Both Trish and I think he had a light in his eye for you.

What on earth makes you think that?

I don’t know, he just seemed to light up when he was with you or when you were talking to him.

I honestly didn’t notice.

I think Patrick is in for a challenge.

At work the next day Patrick came up to Amelia and said what a great day he and John had with her the family and the girls.

Yes it was totally unexpected Patrick. It was amazing you met my flatmates at the nightclub.

I was also surprised when one of them asked me if I worked with you.

That’s because we were talking after your phone call to me, Patrick is not a name everyone would think of.

That’s true I suppose. Anyway John and I enjoyed their company and even more so yesterday with you all.

Thanks Patrick.

Amelia, I would really like to see you and take you out for dinner.

I am sorry Patrick but I honestly have no feeling to want to go out with you as a couple, as I don’t see you in that light.

Okay then, what if John asked you out? He told me he would like to as he didn’t know I was trying to go out with you.

Well that’s for John to ask me and find out isn’t it?

That’s true, but what should I tell him.

Well all you can do is say he will have to invite me himself.

It’s always the same every time I meet someone I like they always like the other bloke.

I’m sorry Patrick, I don’t know how you haven’t been snavelled up by now actually, but I’m not the girl for you.

Do you mind if I ask out one of your friends?

By all means, you know where we live and no doubt there is one of them you like.

Well actually they’re both lovely in different ways.

We all are Patrick, that’s what makes us all unique.

I will tell John to call you himself.

Okay then.

She picked up the receiver as the phone in the office started to ring and Patrick left to go back to his own office. He knew from her answer she would go out with John if he asked her and he had already told her he was interested, so thought he had better do the right thing and phone him.

The phone rang in John’s unit. He thought it was the hospital at this time of the day.

He is on holidays so if they wanted him in it would have to be something pretty drastic he thought.

Hello John Morrison speaking.

Hello mate, it’s Patrick.

Oh hello Patrick I thought it might be the hospital ringing for me to go in at this time of the day. What can I do for you?

Well it’s more what I can do for you really.

I asked Amelia to go out to dinner with me and she said no, as she didn’t want to go out as a couple with me. So I asked her what if you asked her, and she said well he hasn’t asked me has he. I think she would go out with you actually.

Well do you want me to go out with her or do you just want to prove a point?

I really like her John, but not much use if she doesn’t feel the same way is it?

I guess not Patrick.

Do you think you will ask her out?

Well, how do you feel about it?

I would like you to be happy as I would like to be John, so I would say go for it.

What’s her name and number?

He wrote it down as Patrick read it out to him.

Thanks Patrick, I will ring her and let you know the outcome.

That evening just after six the phone rang and Trish answered.

Hello Trish speaking.

Hello Trish it’s John Morrison here, is Amelia home please?

Why hello John, I will just go and check I’ve just walked through the door.

Amelia are you here? Oh there you are. John Morrison is on the phone for you.

Thanks Trish.

Hello John, Amelia here.

Hello Amelia, I was wondering if you would accept an invitation out to dinner tomorrow night with me.

Yes John that would be lovely. Where would we go as to know what to wear?

I thought somewhere nice, so you can dress in long or short whatever suits.

What time will you be picking me up?

I would say six thirty, would that give you time to get home from work, change and do all the lady things?

Would seven be alright?

Seven will be fine Amelia, I’ll be there at seven. Did you have a busy day?

It’s always busy John, there are so many in the firm and I’m constantly busy with the phones and the overload of typing for the other secretaries, but I really enjoy it. Time seems to go faster if you’re not looking for things to do. How is the holiday going?

Well I haven’t done much at all really. Went out with Patrick Saturday night, at your place Sunday and since then just a couple of days on the beach but it isn’t much fun on your own.

Well we will enjoy ourselves tomorrow night I will look forward to it.

Me too Amelia, see you then. Bye.

She turned around and both the girls were watching her.

Well you have a date? That must be the first in what eight months?

Yes Trish it would be about that.

Well at least this guy seems nice, Alan was a drip.

I have to agree with you there.

Where is John taking you?

He just said somewhere nice, so long or short.

I would say this has something to do with Patrick Amelia.

Yes, that had gone through my head also. He came to me this morning and asked me out again but I have no interest in him even though he’s gorgeous looking, it just isn’t there for me. I have no idea why not.

Well see what John is like and go from there.

"I feel