Page 26 of Where the Heart Is

‘Sure.’

As she watched Jack pick up the breakfast tray and perch it on his hip as he opened the door, an overwhelming rush of regret swamped her.

Why couldn’t he have made her breakfast even once when they’d been together?

Why couldn’t he have tried harder in their marriage?

Why couldn’t she?

But this wasn’t the time for regrets and as Jack gave her a lopsided smile before closing the door behind him, Adelaide knew she had to make a call once her mobile charged.

To the town’s lawyer.

CHAPTER

16

Mila had barely slept a wink last night and had woken grumpy, with grit in her eyes and worry in her heart.

Now this.

Gramps had called half an hour ago, saying he’d be dropping her grandmother at the farm shortly. After Mila had picked her jaw up off the floor, she’d asked what had happened—namely, why Adelaide had popped in to see Jack rather than coming straight to the homestead. But her grandfather had been his usual brusque self and told her to ask her grandmother.

Which Mila fully intended on doing, once she got her head around seeing Adelaide smile at Jack and raise her hand in farewell when he drove away.

Since when were her grandparents on speaking terms?

Gramps never mentioned Gran. Ever. Mila had tried broaching the subject when she’d started catching up with Gran in Sydney for an annual girls’ weekend, but Gramps would always shut her down and she soon gave up.

Gran did the same whenever Mila mentioned Jack, so she never did after the first year or so. Gran didn’t even know Gramps had moved out of the homestead and sold the farm to her. It always pained her to think how far apart they’d drifted, that the mere mention of the other person caused a catatonic reaction.

From her childhood memories, she remembered Adelaide—or Addy as she’d always thought of her grandmother—and Jack having a cohesive marriage. Gramps worked hard on the farm, didn’t say much in the evenings, and went to bed early to read agriculture books, while Addy kept the rest of his life running like clockwork. They weren’t romantic and there were no PDAs but she’d assumed their lack of affection stemmed from their age. Then, the morning after her final exam, before she’d gone out celebrating with her friends, her grandmother had sat her down, held her hand, and said she was leaving. Mila had said, ‘Good for you, Gran, you deserve a holiday’—which was when her grandmother started crying and Mila had the first inkling that her life was about to change.

Addy said she needed a break and didn’t know when she’d be back, that she loved her, and would be a phone call away whenever Mila needed her. Mila assumed her grandparents must’ve had a massive fight and Addy was trying to teach Jack a lesson. Even when Addy hoisted two bulging suitcases and a duffel into the boot of her car and drove off, Mila thought it wouldn’t be for long. Jack would go after her, apologise, and Addy would be back in the kitchen baking up a storm.

But Gramps didn’t go after Addy, and her gran never returned.

Until now.

Mila jogged down the verandah steps and ran towards her grandmother. She’d never been so glad to see someone in her life.

Addy opened her arms and Mila flew into them. When her grandmother hugged her tight and murmured, ‘My precious girl,’Mila lost it and burst into tears, all the pent-up emotion of the last twenty-four hours taking its toll.

Addy’s arms tightened around her and Mila squeezed her back, knowing her grandmother’s presence here would be temporary but intent on making the most of it.

When her sobs petered out, she released Addy and stepped back. ‘I’m sorry you came all this way for a wedding that didn’t happen.’

‘I came all this way for you, dear girl.’ Addy cupped her cheek, blinking away the sheen in her eyes. ‘How are you? Really?’

‘What, the tears weren’t a dead giveaway?’

‘You’ve been through a lot.’ Addy slipped an arm through her elbow. ‘Come inside and tell me all about it.’

‘Not much to tell.’

Addy’s eyebrows rose. ‘When my granddaughter’s about to marry our neighbour, then he ditches you at the altar, there’s a story there.’

Mila smirked. ‘Maybe a little tale.’

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