Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

22

Olive

There was no way anyone was going to intimidate Olive ever again. She’d had enough of being judged for her father’s actions. It was time she stopped hiding and started letting people know who she was as a person. The only problem she had was, she wasn’t exactly sure who she was anymore.

Olive inhaled quietly as Zach led her into Fran’s kitchen, where Cody and Willow sat at a large oak table.

There was nothing formal about the country cottage style room, and Olive relaxed a little.

‘Sit where you like,’ said Fran. ‘I’ve got some roast lamb for you. Thought a hearty meal would go down well.’

Zach pulled out a chair to his side for Olive as he greeted everyone.

‘It’s nice to meet you,’ said Willow, her chestnut eyes showing nothing but friendliness.

‘And I want to apologise,’ said Cody. ‘I just worry about my brother, that’s all.’

Olive nodded. ‘I understand.’

Just for a moment, the only noise in the kitchen was coming from Fran serving the dinner.

‘So,’ said Willow. ‘How do you like working at the garden centre so far?’

‘I’m finding it quite therapeutic, which I hadn’t expected.’

‘Aw, the joy of plants,’ said Fran, joining them at the table to eat.

‘Gran told me about your garden design idea.’ Willow stabbed a roast potato with her fork. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing it come together. I’ll be back to work tomorrow. I was going to start today, but I ended up sleeping the best part of the day. I don’t know what came over me.’

Fran lightly tapped her granddaughter’s arm. ‘All that travelling, lovely. Wears a person out.’

Willow smiled. ‘I’m used to travelling, Gran.’ She looked at Olive. ‘After we finished uni last year, Sully and I travelled for months.’

Olive glanced at Zach. ‘Sully?’

Cody chuckled. ‘That’s what Willow calls me. Always has.’

Willow leaned into him before turning to Zach. ‘What does Olive call you?’

Zach laughed. ‘Many things, I imagine.’

Olive nudged his elbow. ‘I call him by his name, except when we were at the hotel. He was Mr Sullivan then.’ She watched him smile as he ate.

Willow pushed her light-brown hair off her shoulder and leaned forward towards Olive. ‘I’m glad you met Zach.’ She glanced at her husband. ‘We did read about you online, and I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. I really hope you find some happiness here. Hey, why don’t you come to my aunt and uncle’s wedding this month? It’ll be a great opportunity for you to meet the locals.’

‘Your aunt and uncle?’

Willow nodded. ‘My mum’s sister is marrying my dad’s brother, and their baby is due this spring. Exciting times here.’

Olive knew it would be nice to make some friends, but she also knew Florence wouldn’t want her around.

‘The wedding is at Castle on the Mead,’ added Willow. ‘It’s so beautiful there. You’ll love the grounds.’

Olive shared a look with Zach. ‘Thank you for inviting me, but I’ll stay away. I don’t want to ruin things for Florence. She gets upset when she sees me, and I’m sure she’ll want to enjoy the day. I know the Silvers are like family to her.’

‘The offer’s there if you change your mind,’ said Fran. ‘There are no seating arrangements or anything formal to worry about. Just a service and some food and dancing.’

Olive wanted to change her mind. She wanted to be able to go out and about again. To mix with people. Have a normal life, but her father had hurt Florence enough. Staying home would be for the best.

She gazed at Zach, wondering what he was thinking. Going to a function with him would be nice, and castles were always charming. She could just see herself walking in the grounds with him, arm in arm.

‘Thank you,’ said Olive. ‘And thank you for dinner. It’s lovely.’

‘You’re welcome here anytime, lovely.’ Fran smiled, and Olive settled some more.

Halfway through dinner, a thump hit the front door, causing everyone to turn to the hallway.

‘I’ll go,’ said Willow, scraping her chair back. ‘Probably a parcel.’

Fran glanced at the clock above the brown-brick fireplace. ‘This late?’

‘They come all hours now,’ said Cody, reaching for the jug of gravy.

Willow was unravelling a cardboard tube as she entered the kitchen. ‘It’s addressed to the Silvers.’

‘Might be something for the wedding,’ said Fran. She looked at Olive. ‘It’s a bit non-stop with all that at the moment, as I’m sure you can imagine.’

There was a time when Olive imagined having a wedding. It was going to be the talk of the town for years.

I wonder what Emilio would have done if we were already married when the scandal hit. Would he have divorced me?

‘It’s a newspaper,’ said Willow, tugging the paper free.

Cody waggled his fork in the air. ‘Oh, I bet it’s one of those things you can have made to see what the news was on a certain day, like when you were born. Someone’s ordered one about Finn and Vivien’s wedding date, I bet.’

Willow frowned. ‘It’s not about them.’ She glanced up. ‘It’s about Olive’s dad. The scandal.’

Zach jumped up. ‘Show me that.’ He took the paper, perusing the headlines. ‘This is a real newspaper. An old one but real.’

‘Ooh, hang on, there’s a note,’ said Willow.

Olive already had an idea what it would say. Nothing she hadn’t heard many times before, no doubt. Someone was being nasty, wanting her away from the Silvers. Florence sprung to mind.

Willow was staring at her gran. ‘It’s just a warning, telling us to keep an eye on Olive.’ She lowered the note and rested one hand on Cody’s shoulder, which he immediately held.

‘This is ridiculous,’ snapped Zach. ‘Who sent this?’

Willow checked over the parcel. ‘Doesn’t say. It was definitely posted through the system though.’

Olive had lost her appetite. Every part of her deflated. This would always be her life no matter where she went. ‘Excuse me,’ she mumbled, standing. ‘I’m a little tired.’ It was something she used to say whenever she wanted anyone to leave her alone.

Fran rushed to her side. ‘You don’t let them beat you down, Olive.’ She took her hand, cradling it in her own frail fingers. ‘My husband’s father was a devil of a man, and Benton’s brother a murderer, but that didn’t make him that way. We’re not our family. We’re just who we are. You didn’t do anything wrong, lovely. Hold on to that, lift that chin of yours, and just keep focusing on what matters. That’s what my husband did.’

Olive appreciated the woman’s advice, but she still wanted to go home and curl up in bed.

‘Thanks for dinner,’ said Zach. ‘We’ll head off now. I’m a bit tired too.’

Willow gave Olive a big hug, then walked them to Zach’s car, where they said another goodbye.

‘You okay?’ asked Zach quietly as they pulled away.

Olive dipped her head. ‘I don’t know if I can have a life here.’

‘Things will get better, I’m sure.’

‘Florence hates me. She said she’d leave me alone, but clearly that meant as long as I didn’t get too close to her new family.’

‘I’m going to speak to her.’

‘No, leave her alone. She’s been through enough.’

‘And so have you.’ Zach huffed. ‘Jeez, Olive, all you’re trying to do is move forward with your life. She had no right to be so nasty.’

Back when money wasn’t an issue, Olive would have taken off somewhere to escape any drama, but now she was stuck on a small island with someone who hated her guts, and she had nowhere to run. Zach was all she had, and she didn’t want to leave him, but she didn’t want to stay either.

‘I feel so trapped,’ she mumbled, then burst into tears.

Zach pulled over onto a large grassy patch, removed his seatbelt, then leaned over to pull her into his arms. ‘It’s going to be okay.’ He moved back, sweeping her curls from her damp cheeks. ‘Give it a little more time, and if you still feel the same, I’ll find a way to set you up with a job and home somewhere else.’

Olive sniffed. ‘Is there somewhere else for me?’

‘I don’t know, Olive.’ His words so soft and soothing. ‘But I’ll try.’

‘You wouldn’t be able to come with me, would you?’

He slowly shook his head. ‘No.’

The decision was made. She’d try once more to have a life in Pepper Bay, because the thought of leaving Zach cracked her heart just that little bit more.