Page 73 of My Turkish Fling
I’d only just gotten divorced, and it hadn’t even been my decision. I wasn’t ready for this. Shaun must have been planning his exit for a while, I knew that now. He’d been ready to move on and build a brand-new life the minute he returned to Auckland, while I’d been desperately clinging onto our old life. I’d sold him the dream of country living, but it had been a second-hand dream for him. Easy to let go, especially when the reality of it slapped us both in the face.
Gru jumped into my bed, burrowing under the blankets. I hugged him, grateful for his eternal clinginess.
As much as I wanted to reject the concept of time and measure our relationship in thousands of moments, I couldn’t. Timing sucked. This couldn’t be more than a fling. I had to talk to someoneand clear my head. Tomorrow would be Monday—the day known for its ability to whip you with reality. But it also meant returning to the office.
I texted Aria.
Janie:Are you coming to the office tomorrow? I need to talk to you. In person.
Did it sound too ominous?
Aria:I’ll be in around 9. Coffees at the Pier?
Janie:Perfect.
I’d deal with it all tomorrow. The runaway horse, work, emails, the feelings. It was all an unholy mess, yet I felt blessed. Someone loved me. I imagined the energy of it, like radioactive waves permeating every wall between us. His attention on me, mine on him. It was beautiful, scary and intense, and I wouldn’t let anyone tell me otherwise.
Chapter 30
Emir
Sunrise spread its buttery glow across the horizon as I trudged up the grassy hill, my most casual slacks getting damp from morning dew. Josh traipsed ahead of me, clearly keen to show off how fit he was. He’d mentioned playing cricket and running track as I’d asked him about sports, and shrugged several times when I asked about school.
The way he’d jumped on finding a missing horse told me the teenager needed a distraction. He seemed at peace here, probably happier in rubber boots and a hoodie than in the preppy school uniform I’d seen in one of Janie’s photos.
I could tell Janie was trying to deal with this alone, and it bothered me. I didn’t know how, but I wanted a future with her. Josh was her family, which meant he’d be my family, too. But itwas way too early. I had no right to butt myself into the situation.
When we made it to the back of the property, something caught my eye. Part of the fence had been flattened.
“Do you think Molly went through this?” Josh asked, pushing the loose fence post with his foot.
“If she did, she must have been very spooked.”
I remembered this part of the fence had been leaning a bit, with one fence post in an awkward angle. The weather had been fine, which meant that something or someone had pushed on the fencepost, hard. Horses were strong and could probably bust through any fence they chose. But why? She hadn’t taken the opportunity when the fencing had been in a much poorer condition.
“She must have gone through here. Do you know the area?” I asked. “We could split up here. You go closer to the road, I’ll go up the hill and around that bit of bush, and we meet at the next house.”
I knew the neighbor’s mansion was somewhere there, behind the greenery. I’d seen it enough times when driving past, even if I wasn’t sure of the distance on foot.
“Mr Pattison’s house?” Josh pulled a face. “If she’s gone there, he’s going to be mad! That guy came for a visit when we first moved in and had a go at Mom about keeping the animals in check. Apparently, whoever owned our house last used to let them wander over and they’d destroy his garden.”
“Did your mom buy the house with the animals?”
“Yeah. The horses… there used to be two but the other one was old and sick. They didn’t tell us that. And then the chickens, butthey had mites, and they didn’t tell us that either. Dad wanted to…” he motioned across his neck, “but Mom wouldn’t let him. She spent so much money trying to treat them.”
I nodded, imagining Janie despair. “What about the pigs?”
Josh glanced to his side, thinking. “Uh… I don’t know where she got those. It was later. Why?” His gaze snapped to mine, and I knew what he was asking.
Why was I gathering information on his mother?
“I’m in love with your mother. She told you we’re together, right?”
Josh nodded, regarding me with a wary look. I couldn’t blame him.
“I want to be straight with you. Because I can’t stay here. I have to fly back to Istanbul soon. And while I’m gone… your mom is here by herself. Two days ago, someone broke into the house. We walked in on them. I went after the guy, but it was dark, and I lost sight of him.”
Josh glanced at the broken fence, suddenly alert. “Do you think they went through here?”
