Page 97 of The Holiday Cottage

“Because you’re a pushover?”

“That could be it.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “It was a good day, wasn’t it?”

“The best.”

“You and Imogen had a lot to say to each other.”

“Yes.” Sara took a sip of wine. “Yes, we did.”

“It wasn’t awkward? I thought it might be.”

“So did I, but it wasn’t. She made it easy. She’s not afraid to talk about things, the good and the bad. I think it helped that she was so honest. We weren’t tiptoeing around the past, pretending it hadn’t happened.” Imogen didn’t hide from things that were difficult in the way she did. It made her want to do better.

“Did she talk about Tina? You usually prefer to avoid the subject.”

“Tina called while we were talking, so it was a little hard to ignore her existence.”

“Shecalled?” Patrick shifted so that he could look at her properly. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not kidding. I get the sense she calls Imogen whenever she wants something.”

“That sounds like the Tina we once knew. And what did she want? Money?”

She sometimes forgot that he’d been part of it all. That he’d witnessed firsthand the destruction her sister had caused.

“Imogen didn’t answer it. She chose not to.”

“Surprising,” Patrick said, “but good for her.”

“Yes. I think she does it often. Chooses the moment to respond so that Tina doesn’t have all the control.” Sara stared at the tree. “I’ve been thinking.”

“When you use that tone, I start worrying.”

Normally, his comment would have made her smile, but not tonight. “I’m thinking I might offer to go and see Tina with her.”

“What?” Just as she’d anticipated, he looked horrified. “She wants to see her?”

“She hasn’t said so yet, but think about it, Patrick. Tina lied to her. She doesn’t understand why. This has all come as a shock to her. She’s going to want to talk it through with her mother at some point. She probably wants to try and understand.”

“I get all that, but why do you have to go with her? You’ve always done everything you can to avoid thinking about Tina. You have more self-discipline than anyone I know. Why would you want to see her?”

“I don’t want to see her, but I want to support Imogen. If she wants to talk to Tina, then I’d like to be there—if she wants me.”

“But that’s between Imogen and Tina, surely.”

“Yes. But why should she handle that alone?”

“You’re not doing this because you’re afraid Tina might lie again?”

“No. I’m doing it because Imogen has no one.” Her voice softened. “All these years, she was on her own with it. I don’t know the details, but I do know it wasn’t easy. Imogen is fiercely independent. I suppose she has had to be because she has never had anyone she could share this with. But now she has.”

He looked troubled. “But it’s so hard for you—”

“Harder for Imogen. I want her to know she has someone in her corner.”

“But I’m sure she knows she has your support.”

“I’ve told her that, obviously, but words don’t mean much on their own, do they? Words are easy. I don’t want to just tell her I’ll be there for her, I want to actually be there for her.”

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