Page 83 of Where the Heart Is

‘Tired after a sleepless night because I kicked out Sawyer’s lying arse.’

Gran’s face fell. ‘Oh dear. Time for a cuppa?’

Tea wouldn’t solve the permanent ache in Mila’s chest, but she nodded. Not that she felt like talking, but the caffeine might help pep her up enough to tackle one of the cottages today. That was the annoying thing. The money from the sale had just landed in her account, meaning she could forge ahead with completing renovations and get her farm-stay project opening sooner rather than later.

But thanks to Sawyer’s deception, that money would always be tainted, and he’d robbed her of the pleasure of accomplishing something on her own.

‘If the wind changes, your sourpuss expression will stick.’ Gran pulled a face. ‘It can’t be that bad.’

‘Just because you’re all loved-up with Gramps, don’t expect everyone to be so lucky.’ She stomped ahead of Gran into the kitchen and filled the kettle before flicking the switch on.

At her gran’s stricken expression, she softened her tone. ‘Don’t mind me. I’m happy for you, Gran, truly. I’m just in a foul mood.’

‘That makes two of us.’

Guilt swamped her. She’d been so self-absorbed, wallowing in her own misery, she hadn’t noticed the redness bracketing Addy’s nose and her bloodshot eyes that meant she’d likely been crying.

‘What happened? Did you and Gramps have a fight?’

‘Something like that.’ Gran slumped into a chair, a good indication of how bad she felt, because she’d usually be bustling around the kitchen alongside Mila prepping the tea. ‘He’s gone and I have no idea where or when he’ll be back.’

‘Gone?’

Gran nodded. ‘Vanished. We had an amazing night, then were discussing our future this morning and the possibility of me moving back to Ashe Ridge and giving our marriage another go, when he got a call from the lawyer’s office.’ She shook her head. ‘Damn small-town mentality. They couldn’t get through to me, because my phone died, and they knew I was staying with your grandfather, so they called him to pass on a message to me about rescheduling my appointment.’

‘Why would you need to see a lawyer … Oh …’ Mila trailed off as realisation hit. ‘You made it when you first got to town to start divorce proceedings.’

‘Yes. And I forgot to cancel it these last few days. Jack got in a big huff and stormed out, so I went back to the bungalow. When I’d cooled off enough to try and talk sense into him, he’d vanished. Luckily the mechanic dropped my car off, so I gave him a lift back to town then came straight here.’ She tapped her temple. ‘Jack is crazy if he thinks I’m going to walk away without a fight this time.’

‘Good for you, Gran. Men.’ Mila rolled her eyes and placed two cups of tea in front of them before taking a seat. ‘For what it’s worth, give Gramps a bit of time to calm down, then he’ll be rational and ready to listen.’ She hesitated, before continuing. ‘He’s a different man to the one you left fourteen years ago. And by the look of you both, I think he’ll be willing to fight for your marriage as much as you.’

Tears glistened in Addy’s eyes. ‘I hope so, sweetheart. Anyway, what did Sawyer lie about?’

Mila almost snapped,‘I don’t want to talk about it’, but having her gran here as a shoulder to lean on was a luxury she hadn’t had for years, and she’d be a fool to not take advantage of a sounding board.

‘When the wedding with Phil didn’t go ahead, Sawyer offered to help me financially. I said no. But turns out, he went ahead regardless and bought the land, hiding behind some company, and didn’t tell me.’ Anger flooded her again, at the gall of him for going against her wishes. ‘I found out because Freddie was looking into the financials, making sure everything was okay, and he told me last night.’

Gran snorted. ‘Is that the same Freddie you told me about last time we met up in Sydney, the one who’s persistent no matter how many times you tell him you’re not interested?’

Mila nodded and Gran scowled. ‘How magnanimous of him to tell you, knowing full well he might be interfering in your relationship with Sawyer. What a prick.’

‘Gran!’

How was Freddie to know that Sawyer hadn’t told her the truth about acquiring her land?

‘You told Sawyer to leave?’

‘Yes. Who knows, he might’ve been hanging around me with a view to gobble up more of the farm.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Gran snapped. ‘That boy is crazy about you. By the way he hung around here all the time when you were teens, I thought you’d end up together.’

Surprised by Addy’s vehemence, Mila said, ‘He hung around here because of Will, not me.’

‘Bull. I’d see the two of you talking even when Will was off doing something else. And the way he looked at you … He admired you, Mila. He hung on your every word. You can’t fake that kind of closeness, especially when you’re a teen boy. So, for you to even contemplate he’d use you in this way to get more land …’ Addy shook her head. ‘It’s ludicrous.’

‘I know,’ Mila murmured, well aware her fury last night had overridden her common sense and she’d flung the accusation at Sawyer in the heat of the moment.

Then again, how well did she know him? They hadn’t spoken in fifteen years and maybe his goal had been to acquire as much land as possible in the region to further his career. And she’d been a bonus, throwing herself at him like some desperado.

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