Where the Heart Is

Chapter 27

CHAPTER

27

Sawyer had woken at dawn after another crap night’s sleep. It didn’t sit well with him that he’d lied to Mila but what choice did he have? If he told her the truth about who was buying her land, she’d send him packing.

So to ease his conscience, he started proceedings to acquire the land not long after he woke. Work always kept him focused. He thrived on routine, the exact opposite of the scatterbrain he’d been growing up. Back then, he couldn’t concentrate for longer than a few minutes and he’d acted out accordingly. To this day, he couldn’t believe not a single one of his teachers had picked up on why he couldn’t focus in class. Instead, they’d labelled him as the class clown and dismissed him, shifting their attention to the smart kids.

That was the kicker in his education. He was smart, they just hadn’t cared enough to notice.

These days, he didn’t dwell on the past. No good came of it, other than to undermine his self-esteem, which had taken a long time to build. With every land deal he brokered, he gave an imaginary finger to everyone who ever doubted him.

His biggest nemesis at school had been Mr Zavi, who taught science and maths, Sawyer’s worst subjects. Numbers blurred before his eyes most days and he couldn’t think straight when faced with convoluted problems. Rather than offering him help, Mr Zavi would torture him, picking on him to answer questions every chance he got. When Sawyer couldn’t respond that sadist would get a smug look on his face and move on to a classmate guaranteed to answer correctly, leaving Sawyer feeling lower than a grass snake.

He’d hated that prick. Who was now walking towards him, leaning heavily on a cane.

Too late to cross the road, Sawyer squared his shoulders, noting the exact moment the teacher caught sight of him. His eyes screwed up for a moment, as if trying to place him, before the guy actually beamed.

What the …

‘Sawyer Mann. Good to see you.’ He held out his hand and Sawyer struggled not to gape at the teacher’s overt friendliness when he’d been nothing but a condescending prick to him at school. ‘I heard you were back in town after all this time.’

‘Hey, Mr Zavi.’ Sawyer shook his hand out of politeness, thoroughly bamboozled by the older man greeting him like a long-lost son.

‘Call me Dave. I heard you’re a land broker now. Good for you.’ He chuckled. ‘No thanks to me. I was hard on you in high school.’

Sawyer struggled not to gape for the second time in as many minutes as ‘Dave’ continued. ‘Some of us older teachers were clueless back then. The young ones coming through now are much more up to date with learning difficulties and the like.’

All Sawyer could do was mumble ‘Yeah’ in agreement, considering an unexpected lump of emotion stuck in his throat.

He’d harboured resentment towards so many in this town after he left—a major reason why he never returned—so to have Mr Zavi

articulate how badly he let him down, and to acknowledge he’d missed the fact Sawyer had learning difficulties … it inexplicably made him want to bawl.

‘Are you busy right now? A bunch of us old-timers, plus quite a few young guys, get together at the Men’s Shed every week. We have a cuppa, stuff our faces with baked goods, and have a yarn.’

Dave jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ‘We’re about to meet in about ten minutes if you want to pop in and say hello?’

The last thing Sawyer felt like doing was seeing any of his old teachers, but hearing Dave apologise had been cathartic and it couldn’t hurt to drop by for a few minutes. Besides, it might take his mind off Mila for all of two seconds, especially as he’d just seen her looking awfully cosy with Fred McInnerney.

That’s the Freddie she’d been referring to when they talked a few days ago. If he’d known it was the same Fred who’d trailed after her at school almost panting, he would’ve questioned her further. And by the proprietary way Fred had his hand in the small of her back, it looked like Fred wasn’t averse to stepping in and comforting Mila after her aborted wedding.

What was it with slimy pricks in this town?

‘Sure. I can pop in.’

‘Great. I’ll see you there in a minute.’ Dave grimaced and used his cane to point to his knee. ‘Just popping into the chemist to grab some painkillers. Had an arthroscopy on this bung knee last month and it’s still giving me hell.’

Sawyer made a sympathetic noise and said, ‘See you there.’

Mila had seen him staring at her and Fred a few minutes ago and he’d gawked like an idiot before coming to his senses and rushing off. But now he’d be retracing his steps to the Men’s Shed and if it gave him a chance to run into Mila and suss out the real deal with her Fred … it’d be worth it.

As Dave limped away, Sawyer turned back and headed towards the annexe to the Town Hall which must be the Men’s Shed. He thought it was a great initiative, giving men a safe space to hang out, men who would otherwise avoid a trip to the doctor or psychologist. Similar programs ran in many towns and cities around the country, with men’s book clubs and the like. There’d been nothing like that when he’d been at school, suffering in silence.

The sole counsellor who served teens in the entire Wimmera area only made it to Ashe Ridge High once a month for a morning and was booked solid with kids who had ‘serious’ issues like eating disorders or self-harming.

Little did they know that what he went through at school was deemed serious enough in the grand scheme of things. If he hadn’t been diagnosed after he left town, he’d still be drifting through life, unable to stay at one job for long, clueless as to why he couldn’t stick at anything like other people. Jobs, relationships, friendships, they’d been transient for him—which is why he valued Will and Mila so much. They were the only ones who stood by him regardless and he’d never forget it. He owed them, big time, so he’d rescue Mila if she wanted him to or not. It’s the least he could do.

As he neared the shed, he saw Mila perched on the bonnet of her car, like she’d been waiting for him.

‘Where did you run off to?’ She tipped an imaginary cowboy hat. ‘The least you could’ve done is say hello to Freddie.’

He gritted his teeth at her flippancy. ‘You didn’t tell me your accountant Freddie is Fred McInnerney, who followed you like a lapdog.’

‘Didn’t I?’ She tapped her bottom lip, pretending to think, before bursting into laughter. ‘You should see your face. Jealousy isn’t a good look on you.’

‘I’m not jealous,’ he muttered, hating that he was. ‘I just don’t like guys pawing you when you’re vulnerable.’

Anger sparked her eyes. ‘I can take care of myself. Especially with the likes of Freddie.’

Just like that, his indignation faded. He had no right to tell her how to handle any man. It wasn’t his place. And his reaction to seeing Fred’s hand on her back should be enough of a warning that he hoped for far more than friendship with Mila for however long he was in town.

‘I saw you talking to Mr Zavi. Was he welcoming the prodigal son?’

‘He invited me to pop into the Men’s Shed, which is what I’m about to do.’

She waved her hand at the annexe. ‘Knock yourself out. It’s popular with the local blokes.’

‘Can we catch up later?’

She quirked an eyebrow. Damn, he loved her sass. ‘Only if you’ve got good news for me.’

‘I might.’

‘Then come over for dinner. I’ll make my famous chicken curry.’

Sawyer would love nothing better than to have dinner with her again. But the memory of that kiss had kept him up all night and the thought of spending time alone with her again at Hills Homestead, the one place in this town he’d considered a sanctuary more than his own home, meant he could be headed for trouble.

When he took too long to answer, she said, ‘You don’t have to.’

She sounded hurt and he silently cursed.

‘I’d love to.’ But he had to be honest so they were under no illusions. ‘Though after that kiss yesterday, and despite our protestations it didn’t mean anything, aren’t you concerned we may not be able to keep our hands off each other?’

She winked. ‘I’m counting on it.’

He laughed, loving her sense of humour as much as her sass. ‘I’m serious.’

‘So am I.’ Her expression turned sombre. ‘I’m not usually impulsive. I can’t afford to be, living in this town. But we’re friends, Sawyer. And I’m closer to you than most. Then there’s the attraction between us, which, if that kiss is any indication, is pretty damn sensational, so how about we don’t second-guess anything and just go with the flow?’

He admired her honesty. Wish he could say the same about himself. Because whatever happened between them, she’d ultimately hate him for withholding the truth from her.

But he swallowed his reservations because this was Mila and he cared about her, more than was good for him.

‘Going with the flow sounds good to me,’ he said, and he saw relief in her eyes. ‘We’re really going to do this? Because you know there’s an unspoken rule about mates and their sisters.’

‘But Will’s a million miles away.’ She widened her eyes in faux innocence. ‘And what my overbearing, bossy brother doesn’t know won’t hurt him.’

They laughed in unison, but Sawyer knew he was toying with trouble, and Will finding out about them would be the least of his worries.