Page 29 of Where the Heart Is

‘Oh, my dear sweet girl.’ Addy stood and moved around the table to kneel and wrap her arms around Mila. ‘It was never about you. I know that sounds selfish, but after so many years of unhappiness I’d had enough, and I had to get out or lose myself completely.’

Mila sat rigid, not wanting to give in to the tears burning her eyes because she knew if she started crying again she’d never stop. Not just because of this conversation with her gran, but from the building pressure of her financial predicament.

‘But to stay away so long, to never come back …’ Mila shook her head and Addy tightened her hug until she could barely breathe.‘I’ve missed you so much.’

‘I’ve missed you too.’ Addy clung to her and rested her head against her arm.

Mila had no idea how long they sat like that. While Addy hadn’t divulged much, for now her grandmother’s hug would have to do.

CHAPTER

17

Sawyer opened the door to his room and snuck a glance left and right to see if Shazza might be strolling the motel car park, because he remembered the last time he’d been in a room here.

Back then, Shazza had flung open the door so hard it cracked the plaster of the wall behind it and Sawyer had almost crapped himself. Simone had been ballsy, standing up to her mother, but he’d been a wreck, knowing the ridicule he’d face. He didn’t mind the laughs when he deliberately solicited them but being teased … he hated it.

He wouldn’t have been surprised if Shazza had grabbed his ear and twisted it as she dragged him out of the motel room. Instead, she’d settled for yelling so loud he had tinnitus for a week and pinning him with the evil eye until his mum had come and picked him up.

It had been the most embarrassing moment of his life and he’d never expected to find himself back here.

Mila better appreciate the hardship he was going through for her.

With the coast clear, he pulled the door shut and headed for his car. He’d nearly made it when an ear-splitting whistle shattered the early morning silence.

‘Well, well, well. If it isn’t Sawyer Mann himself, still sneaking around my motel.’

Feeling like a recalcitrant seventeen-year-old all over again, he fixed his best smile and turned to see Shazza glaring at him, arms folded, her frizzy brown hair now streaked grey, and sporting a lot more wrinkles.

‘Hey, Mrs Knowles. Long time no see.’

She waggled her fingers at him. ‘Don’t you Mrs Knowles me, young man. I haven’t forgotten what you did, corrupting my poor Simone.’

Sawyer stifled a laugh. If anyone did the corrupting back then, it was Simone. She’d targeted him relentlessly—texting him, slipping notes into his backpack, staring at him in class—but he’d keep that to himself. The last thing he needed was Shazza booting him out of the motel before he’d solidified plans to help Mila.

Not that she’d be foolish enough to evict a paying customer, considering how empty the car park was, but he knew this woman was tough and had a memory like an elephant.

‘How is Simone?’

‘Better off without you,’ she muttered, fixing him with a baleful stare. ‘What are you doing back in town anyway? Thought we’d seen the back of you.’

‘Thought I’d revisit my youth and your wonderful establishment.’

His droll response earned a bark of laughter.

‘Still a cheeky one, huh?’

‘I try.’

Her expression softened and she jerked a thumb over her shoulder. ‘Fancy a cuppa? I’ve got a brilliant new espresso machine in the back office.’

The last thing he needed was to spend time with Shazza, being grilled about every aspect of his life since he left town, so he shook his head.

‘Thanks for the offer, but I’m lining up some meetings while I’m in town.’

When her eyes narrowed like she thought he was bullshitting, he added, ‘I’m a land broker.’

The grudging respect in her eyes made him want to stand a little taller. ‘Looks like you made something of yourself after all. Good lad.’

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