Where the Heart Is

Chapter 21

CHAPTER

21

Mila’s emergency meeting with the farm manager meant she couldn’t drop Adelaide back at Jack’s as she’d hoped, so Adelaide had to ask Jack for a lift.

He’d offered to pick her up again after her visit to Hills Homestead, but she had the feeling he’d offered out of politeness rather than any real desire to spend a minute longer than needed in her company.

So she texted him and he arrived ten minutes later, giving her time to evaluate the wisdom of staying longer in Ashe Ridge.

She owed it to Mila after discovering the extent of the pain she’d inflicted on her granddaughter after leaving here fourteen years ago, and in a way, she owed it to herself.

Securing a divorce would be easier if she smoothed things over with Jack and their relationship was cordial rather than fraught. And instigating proceedings in person meant he couldn’t be difficult—ignoring calls, not signing documentation—which she had a feeling might happen if she did this remotely.

Staying longer than anticipated made sense. But what didn’t make sense was the way her heart leaped as Jack pulled up beside her, slid the window down, and smiled.

‘Ready to go?’

She nodded, willing her racing pulse to subside. ‘Thanks for picking me up.’

‘Not a problem.’

He waited until she’d clicked the seatbelt into place before making a U-turn and heading along the driveway to the highway.

When she’d first moved here, she’d imagined them making this trip many times: heading into town regularly, going out for dinner at the pub, seeing movies screened at the hall, the occasional weekend away. But it never happened, because running the farm took over Jack’s life, leaving Adelaide as a mere adjunct, someone he took for granted.

‘How was your visit?’

‘Good,’ she said, sounding terser than intended courtesy of her maudlin memories. ‘Mila’s surprisingly chipper.’

‘She had a lucky escape not marrying Phil,’ Jack muttered, glancing left and right before turning out onto the highway. ‘Does she need anything?’

Adelaide bit her tongue, wishing she could tell Jack the truth but not willing to betray Mila’s trust just yet. ‘She seems okay for now. But I’m planning on staying a little longer than first thought, just to make sure she’s fine.’

An awkward silence descended, before Jack cleared his throat. ‘How long are you sticking around?’

‘Not sure yet. Maybe a week, maybe longer.’

‘Your car should be ready in a few days,’ he said, and she wasn’t sure if he was letting her know so she’d be mobile again, or because he hoped once the car was ready she’d get in it and drive away, never to return.

‘Great.’ She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, summoning her nerve. ‘I don’t want to put you out, Jack, but I was hoping I could stay on at the bungalow? I thought I’d stay with Mila, but her spare rooms are filled with furniture for the farm-stay project, and the first cottage isn’t inhabitable yet.’

‘I guess that would be okay,’ he muttered, sounding like he’d rather have a family of possums inhabiting the bungalow than her.

‘Stay as long as you like.’

‘Thanks, Jack.’

He didn’t respond and they remained silent for the twenty-minute drive to his cottage. However, when he pulled up in his driveway and parked, he killed the engine and turned towards her.

‘Why are you really staying longer, Ads?’

Heat crept into her cheeks as the intensity of his gaze bore into her, seeing too much, not seeing enough. ‘I already told you. I want to be here in case Mila needs me.’

‘You haven’t been here for the last fourteen years. What makes you think she needs you now?’

The truth hurt, but Adelaide didn’t want to get into an argument, not when he was being more than hospitable.

‘Now that I’m here, I don’t feel compelled to rush away.’

He grunted, and a frown appeared between his brows. ‘I don’t think you’re being completely honest with me.’

She sighed, not wanting to bring up the D-word yet, but knowing she’d have to broach it soon enough. She’d hoped to make an appointment with the lawyer in town first and get the lowdown on what needed to be done before mentioning it to Jack.

But her husband had always been astute—except when it came to her feelings—and she owed him some semblance of the truth.

‘How we left things hasn’t done us any favours, Jack, and I think it’ll be easier if we sort out our issues in person. Don’t you?’

Pain flared in his eyes before he blinked and turned away to stare out the windshield. ‘Whatever you say, Addy.’

Her stomach churned as she watched the man who’d once been her world stomp into his cottage and slam the door.