Page 12 of When I Fall In Love

I laugh through a broken sob. If only I knew at that time that we were Old Collingwood’s illegitimate children, things might have made more sense. Even today some things don’t add up, and with Mom and her secrets gone, there’s no way of finding out what really happened.

Hunter seemed shocked to find me instead of a Collingwood brother earlier today, but with him there this afternoon, all those people who loved me, supported me and cared for me through my youth are whispering from afar, through a short film on a website for organic ice cream.

I’d love to know how May and Bill are doing, and Raiden with his stutter, and the twins, Liam and Ethan. And then there’s Hunter’s cousins, more like his own brothers and sisters. Derek, and his two little sisters who always looked at me with wide eyes. They are all grown up now and I wonder what they look like. Rachel and Lucy… I close my eyes at the memory of how I pretended they were my little sisters, too.

With a sigh I run my fingers along the edges of Hunter’s business card. I should do lunch with him, just to ask him once how everybody is doing. With the initial shock of seeing him now behind me, I’ll be in better control of my emotions. After speaking to him, properly, I’ll surely be able to let go of the farm with no regrets.

5

HUNTER

I walk out of the San Francisco high-rise and pause for a moment on the sidewalk. Phone in hand, laptop over my shoulder, a business casual look going with chinos, a white shirt and blazer, I could be anybody. But no, I’m that guy that got duped.

I smile and then laugh outright.

Duped into a trip to San Francisco by May Brodie herself. That look she’d shared with Bill over a plate of shepherd’s pie had warning bells sounding all around it and now I know why. She knew I wouldn’t be meeting a Collingwood in San Francisco.

May knew I’d be meeting Beth Anderson… nope. Beth O’Neill. Does May know about the change of surname and all that that entailed? Beth is married. Surely she wouldn’t do that to anybody willingly, least of all to one of her adopted children. Her sister’s oldest son to boot.

If this is May’s idea of a blind date, I’ll have to let her know that it just went very, very wrong. And it was utterly unromantic.

The games we play for other’s amusement. I press the speed dial for May and Bill’s landline, not caring a wink that it’s almost nine at night on that side of the world and that they’ll be heading to bed soon. Those two deserve a sleepless night too, especially if I’m heading for one, thanks to their unwelcome meddling.

“Brodie Farm,” May answers after two rings, and I can just see her sitting up in bed, book on her lap, frowning at Bill with each screeching ring that tears through their quiet nighttime routine. Since us kids left the house, a long-awaited calm has descended over Brodie land.

“Aunt May,” I start, trying my best to sound happy and not secretly pissed.

“Oh, Hunter. How did things go?”

“How did you want it to go, Aunt May?” I’m poking at her, but she can spill the beans now that her ploy has worked. She did, after all, get me to San Francisco.

“Uh—” A hand goes over the receiver and muffled voices follow. “Well…”

“Well? You knew Beth and Kyle Anderson inherited Collingwood Farm, didn’t you?”

“Colleen Anderson did confide in me years ago, you know, when Collingwood left her the farm.”

“She passed away.”

“I know. She phoned me to tell me she was sick.”

How many other things does May know that she keeps quietly to herself? For the first time, I realize that Ashleigh Lake, gossip central, might have managed over the years to clutch a few secrets close to its chest.

“Why did you never say anything? I didn’t know you still had contact with the Andersons after… you know, they skipped town like a bunch of outlaws.”

“She was a good friend, Hunter, and… well, we had our kids’ best interest at heart. Always.”

“Always?”

“Yes. I mean, at some point we were buckling up to become grandparents together and I blame those eighteen months for most of the grey hairs on my head.”

Ha! As if. “Raiden gave you all those grey hairs, Aunt May, no need to be coy about it.”

She laughs, but it sounds a bit forced. “Did you see Kyle or Beth Anderson?”

“I saw Beth O’Neill. She’s married, Aunt May. I’m not sure if you were aware? She’s been married for almost eight years now if I count right.”

“Oh. Colleen told me she got divorced.”

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