Lime Tree Hill (A Reluctant Kiss #1)

24. Other People’s Secrets

24

OTHER PEOPLE’S SECRETS

As her father’s post-surgery recovery stretched into two weeks and then three, Tayla settled into Ruby’s guest room, while her parents stayed in the granny flat at Lisa’s.

Mitch texted most days and called every morning, leaving voicemail messages of concern as if he were her real husband and she a devoted wife. But Mitch and her father were close neighbors—friends—so his concern was genuine, of that she had no doubt. However, she still didn’t understand why he’d paid a hefty deposit on a property when he knew the sale going ahead depended on him fulfilling a condition of marriage. It made no sense.

Then again, men and their black and white rationale had never made much sense to Tayla, Hayden being a prime example. Why had he insisted they marry a few weeks before his baby was due?

It was rare for Tayla and her father to be alone together at Lisa’s. But when she called in that afternoon, she found him sitting in a chair, flicking through a magazine, the rest of the family nowhere in sight.

“Hi.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Where’s Mum?”

“Getting her hair done.”

“Wow, that’s a big step in the right direction. ”

“It’s about time she had a little pampering. She’s been with me every day for weeks.” Barry rearranged the blanket in his lap while Tayla made tea.

“Actually, I’m glad we’re alone,” he said as she placed the cup of tea on an occasional table next to him. “I wanted to talk to you about the orchard.” A trembling hand pointed to a chair in the corner of the room. “Pull up that chair.”

Tayla had always had a strong relationship with her father, but they’d seldom talked about the business. She still wasn’t sure why he’d given her power of attorney. After all, she was the youngest and didn’t even live in the same country.

She pulled the chair over and sat in front of him. “I’ve sorted everything out with the accountant. All the bills are paid and the rest of the money’s in the bank.”

“Yes. I spoke to him the other day. Your mother still doesn’t realize how bad things were. I’d like to keep it that way. You know how she worries.”

“Okay.”

“I always thought we’d trade out of it. When Mitch made his offer, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I headed home with a spring in my step, knowing we’d have enough money to clear our debt, buy the retirement place and still have a small nest egg.”

She nodded but remained silent.

“But there’s something I don’t understand,” he continued.

Tayla’s already tight gut tightened a little more.

Her father held her gaze. She remembered he’d done this when she was about to get into trouble as a child. It still had the same effect. “Last I heard, Mitch was engaged to that Prue what’s-her-name. Next thing, you’ve left Sydney, Hayden’s out of the picture, and Mitch is at my bedside asking for your hand.”

Tayla frowned. “He asked for my hand? When?”

“He called in on his way to the UK. I wasn’t thinking straight at that stage, so I didn’t pay him much heed. Not long after, you guys have eloped, and your mother’s all excited over the wedding photos.”

Her father leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a second. He’d always been physically strong, and it broke her heart to see him so frail.

“So why the hurry?” he continued. “You’re hardly the spontaneous type.”

She struggled to keep her gaze steady. “That’s true, but sometimes life takes you on an unexpected twirl. You either embrace it or miss the opportunity.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve always said, fate can’t be contained or explained.” He hesitated. “You know, I never liked that Hayden guy much when we met him in Sydney that time.”

Tayla suppressed a smile and sipped her tea. “Now you tell me.”

“He’s just a bit…superior. Mind you, I always thought you’d end up with Tim.”

She chuckled. “Dad, you know Tim’s gay, don’t you?”

“What does that even mean these days? Lots of people swing both ways, as you young ones say. I thought when you went to the school ball together, well…”

“Tim was never my boyfriend. He’s like a brother to me.”

His eyes bright, he reached for her hand. “I just want you to be happy, sweetheart. To wake up in the morning wearing a smile and go to bed at night knowing he gets you. Do you know what I mean?”

“Course I do.”

“I remember what young love is like. Your mother and I, we never played the hard to get game. Never pretended. I bet you can’t wait to go home. It’s been what—three weeks?”

“Yeah. It will be good to get back.” She reached forward and pulled him into a soft hug, his once muscular frame now wasted on his bones. “And please don’t worry. Mitch is a good man—he’s kind and considerate. ”

“Yes, he is. So, tell me this, what happened with the surgeon?”

Sometimes Tayla wondered the same thing. What indeed? “Let’s leave that conversation for another day, shall we?”

“Only if you sneak me one of those cupcakes from the pantry. I need fattening up.”

Ruby’s house was unusually quiet when Tayla returned from Lisa’s. Even the toys, which covered the family room floor on a good day and totally overtook it at other times, had vanished. But the best part of walking into Ruby and Noah’s home that evening was the delicious smell wafting from the kitchen.

“It’s so peaceful. What’s the story?” Tayla dumped her bag on the floor beside the kitchen table.

“The girls are in bed, Noah’s at the gym, and we are going to relax with a glass of wine and a bowl of linguine followed by a silky panna cotta. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.” She kicked off her shoes and took a sip of the shiraz Ruby had poured for her. “Dad looked good today. Better than I’ve seen him in ages. He even wanted a cupcake with his cup of tea.”

“I thought the same when I saw him yesterday.” Ruby raised her glass. “To Dad.” They clinked. “And to many more years of sharing him with Mum. Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Yes, I think so. I thought Mum and Dad might come with me, but when I mentioned it, he got a bit emotional.”

“I’m not sure he can face going back to Clifton Falls just yet. I think their money troubles worried him more than we realized.” Ruby handed her a bowl of steaming hot pasta, and as they sat at the table, she asked, “Does Mitch know you’re coming home?”

Home? “Not yet.” Tayla sighed as she twirled the linguine around her fork. “I might stay at Mum and Dad’s new place for a few days. Clear my head a bit. ”

“So, things aren’t going too well?”

“I have no idea. He’s…complex.”

“Well, whatever happens, you did the right thing. You know that, don’t you? I doubt Dad would’ve survived if they’d lost the orchard.”

“He asked me today…about our marriage.”

Ruby’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“As little as possible.”

“You can’t tell him. You know how proud he is. He’d be devastated.” Ruby sipped her wine. “That settlement was all he looked forward to for a while there.”

“I know. But it’s a heavy burden, knowing my marriage to Mitch may be the only thing that kept Dad alive. Still, tides turn, don’t they? He saved me once, twice if you count my bike accident. Returning the favor was the least I could do.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to dump that on you. You did the right thing, and I can’t thank you enough.”

They ate in silence for a while, the wine and Rumer’s sultry voice helping Tayla relax until Ruby said, “Has Mitch ever talked to you about that inheritance fiasco?”

“Never. And I don’t want him to. He made his position clear at the time.” Tayla narrowed her gaze at her sister. “Why’s that?”

“I was just wondering. You’ve never been one to hold a grudge, but is that the other reason you dislike him? Because of Norman’s will?”

“Pretty much. I thought I’d grown out of the teenage petty-grievance stage. But when I returned from Sydney, my life tipped upside down, and sat in Simon Harrow’s office, listening to my now-husband?—”

“Mr. Billboard?—”

“Yes, Mr. Billboard, calmly say he couldn’t settle. Well, it all came flooding back.”

Tayla stood and cleared the plates. After stacking them into the dishwasher, she removed the panna cotta from the fridge and handed one to Ruby, along with a jug of berry coulis.

“What actually happened?” Ruby asked as she poured the coulis onto her dessert. “With Norman’s money, I mean.”

“Do you remember when Mum and Dad used my university fund to pay the mortgage that year the big hailstorm destroyed the cherries?”

“Yes. I didn’t really get it. I always thought we were well off.”

“Me too. Anyway, a few months before Norman’s death, he said he had a gift for me, one I was to accept graciously when the time came. According to Mum, he’d told them he wanted to help with my education costs. He was about to pay for my first semester when he died. Anyway, he left a note attached to his will, witnessed by one of his carers. But because the bequest wasn’t legally documented, the executor of his estate refused to honor it.”

Tayla paused to lick panna cotta off her spoon. “It’s rumored his estate was worth millions of dollars, and Mitch was his only heir. So why would he go against Norman’s wishes? Not that I expected anything, and I’d be the first to acknowledge Norman was as eccentric as they come, but he wanted me to have that money. Apparently, Mitch had other ideas. When I was working at the supermarket during summer break, he’d strut in without a care in the world, asking how I was. It made no sense.”

Ruby drained her wine. “You’re right about that.”

“Anyway, Mum and Dad must have kicked up a stink because not long after I started at AUT, the money came through and kept coming every year until I graduated.” Tayla noticed Ruby’s expression. “What?”

“Oh, sweetie.”

“What?” Tayla repeated.

“And Mitch has never mentioned it?”

“No. Why?” Tayla waited, fiddling with the stem of her wine glass, but Ruby hung back. “Okay. Am I missing something here?”

Ruby frowned. “I’m not supposed to tell you, but this wine’s loosening my already chatty tongue.” She sighed. “Mitch gave you that money. It was the great-uncle, Ken or whatever his name is, who tried to stop it.”

Tayla covered her mouth with her hand as the significance of Ruby’s disclosure held her in a tight grip. “No, that can’t be right.”

“I was there the night Mitch came to see Dad. They went into the office, and a while later came out and had a beer together. Mum was at her book club, so I quizzed Dad after Mitch left. He didn’t want to tell me at first but was so relieved he couldn’t contain himself.”

“And you’ve waited until now to tell me?”

“Dad swore me to secrecy. When you and Mitch married, I assumed he’d told you. But he certainly didn’t want you to know back then.”

A wave of panic washed over Tayla as her long-held grudge resurfaced. Her feelings for Mitch had always been complicated—the crush and the grievance—and now what was Ruby saying? That this particular grievance was ill-founded? “But why would he do that? Give me the money?”

“Because, according to Dad, Mitch knew how much Norman loved you. He wanted to respect his grandfather’s wishes, even if the bequest was scribbled on a scrap of notepaper.”

Tayla poured herself another half glass of shiraz and took a gulp. All this time, she’d resented the wrong man. Her perception had drifted way off course, and she’d failed to listen to her gut when it tried to tell her that maybe she’d got it wrong.

“But why would Dad keep it from me all this time?” Her voice rose an octave. “To protect me?”

Ruby shrugged. “You’re his baby girl.”

Tayla stilled as she looked at her sister. “Shit, Ruby. This changes everything.”

“I thought it might.”