Where the Heart Is

Chapter 44

CHAPTER

44

It didn’t surprise Mila that when she woke the next morning, Sawyer had already left. His note said he had to scope out some land in Kaniva and would probably need to stay overnight, but she knew better.

He was running scared.

Revealing his ADHD diagnosis to her had been a big deal and she thought it had been incredibly sweet. She’d been lamenting how stupid she’d been in trying to fool people into believing her marriage to Phil would be real, and he’d revealed how he’d felt stupid every day growing up. His admission hadn’t surprised her, as she’d already guessed in their teens, but citing it as one of the main reasons he’d left town did.

Many people, some in their thirties and beyond, were getting diagnosed these days. The perceived stigma had dwindled with increased knowledge. Yet she had a feeling Sawyer still hid it, as she was one of few people he’d told. Over a snatched dinner of cheese toasties—she hadn’t felt like whipping up a stir-fry—Sawyer had revealed that even Will didn’t know, and it made her cherish the trust between them even more.

They’d had a solid friendship growing up and she never would’ve imagined they’d share this bond so many years later. She could depend on Sawyer and vice versa. Considering she rarely let anyone get close, this was a big deal. And after another sensational night in her bed, it made her wonder.

Where did they go from here?

Because at some point during her self-talk that they were indulging in a friends-with-benefits kind of fling, she’d developed feelings. Strong feelings, the kind that made her wish they didn’t have to end when he inevitably left town.

Thankfully, Gran’s arrival put an end to her mulling, but when Mila opened the door and saw Addy beaming at Jack as he tooted the horn and waved, she realised she may have something else to ponder: her grandparents’ relationship.

‘Good morning, sweetheart.’ Gran pecked her on the cheek. ‘How are you?’

‘Not as good as you, apparently.’ Mila raised an eyebrow. ‘You and Gramps look awfully chipper.’

‘We’re morning people, you know that.’ Gran’s cheeks flushed crimson as she bustled down the hallway towards the kitchen. ‘Now, how can I help with planning this ball?’

As Gran flitted around the kitchen, moving between the kettle and the sink, appearing lost, Mila laid a hand on her arm. ‘Gran, it’s okay for you and Gramps to be happy.’

Addy visibly deflated as all the tension drained out of her. ‘It’s been a long while. I’m still getting used to it.’

‘So you are? Happy, that is?’

Gran nodded, her eyes shining with joy. ‘We had a good talk last night.’

By the second blush in as many minutes stealing into her grandmother’s cheeks, Mila hazarded a guess they’d done more than talking. Ew. She didn’t want to go there.

‘I’m glad you’re getting along so well.’

Mila hesitated, not wanting to burst her gran’s bubble of happiness, but needing to ask the obvious question for Gramps’s sake. ‘What happens when you leave?’

Gran’s eyes clouded. ‘I’m enjoying living in the moment, so I’ll face that when it happens.’

‘And when’s that going to be?’

Mila persisted because she’d hate to see her two favourite people hurt when the initial euphoria of their reunion wore off.

‘After the ball, I suppose …’ Gran stared out the window, a small smile playing about her mouth. ‘I’m looking forward to it. Your grandfather and I met at a B & S ball, you know.’

‘I know.’ Mila slid an arm around her gran’s waist and rested her head against hers. ‘Love at first sight, if I recall the story correctly.’

‘He swept me off my feet.’ She sighed. ‘Still does, if I’m being honest.’

Mila straightened and turned her grandmother to face her. ‘What are you saying? Is there a chance you two will reconcile?’

‘Uh … no … I don’t think so …’ Gran shrugged, her expression guarded. ‘Who knows?’

‘Wow, I’ll take that as a maybe.’

Gran pressed her palm to Mila’s cheek. ‘I don’t want you getting your hopes up about something that may not eventuate. But we’re on good terms now and I’m happy about it.’

‘That’s great,’ Mila said, wishing she could cross all her fingers and toes that her grandparents reconciled. That’s what helping with the ball had been about, but maybe they didn’t need a nudge. ‘And we don’t need to have all the answers, Gran, just go with the flow.’

Addy homed in on one word. ‘We?’

Mila winked. ‘Sawyer and I are getting pretty close too. He’s staying here for the remainder of time he’s in town.’

‘And how long will that be?’

Not long enough, Mila thought. ‘He’s doing a bit of work in the region, so whenever that ends, I guess.’

‘He hasn’t said?’

Mila shook her head, knowing she should ask him but unwilling to change the status quo. Logically, she knew Sawyer would be leaving sooner rather than later, but emotionally, he’d only just moved in and she liked having him around. Especially in her bed.

‘Like I said, Gran, we’re going with the flow.’

Gran snorted. ‘You young people and your casual relationships.

It’s all swiping left or right, or sexting, or playing hard to get.’

Mila arched a brow. ‘And what would you know about swiping and sexting, huh?’

As her grandmother reddened, Mila held up a hand. ‘On second thoughts, don’t answer that.’

Mila paused, knowing it wasn’t her business to probe into her grandparents’ relationship, but concerned about Gramps. He’d already appeared happy to have Addy back and now if they’d ramped up their relationship, it stood to reason he’d be more invested.

Which meant he could be devastated all over again when Addy left if they hadn’t clarified what they were doing.

‘Gran, I know this isn’t my place, but I was left to pick up the pieces with Gramps last time you left. If you two are starting up again and you eventually leave, I’m worried he’ll get hurt.’

Anger sparked in Addy’s eyes. ‘And what about me? Are you concerned I’ll get hurt, or am I the bad guy in all this because I was the one brave enough to call it quits when our marriage was a shambles?’

Yikes. Mila loved her grandmother, and she’d offended her when she hadn’t meant to. ‘Gran, I’m not prying into your relationship or what happened in the past, but I lived with you, and I tiptoed around you both because the tension in the house was so thick. Do I blame you for leaving? No. You made a decision for your own self-preservation at the time, but I’m just being honest when I say Gramps was gutted and I don’t want that to happen to him again.’

Addy’s shoulders slumped and she nodded. ‘I don’t want to hurt him again either. But I can’t give either of you any guarantees.’

‘Nobody’s after a guarantee, but growing closer with Gramps means he’ll have expectations. So I guess I’m hoping you two will talk things through this time.’

Mila half expected her grandmother to tell her to mind her own business, but to Gran’s credit, she merely nodded.

‘Didn’t you invite me over to help plan this ball?’

As a deflection, it worked. While Addy scrolled through the list Mila had made on her computer and added a few suggestions, Mila wondered if she should follow her own advice and talk things through with Sawyer.