23
Heath
Florence came running into Heath’s workshop, flustered and out of breath. Her arms flailed around her head as she bent over to catch her breath. ‘You’ll never guess…’
Her panting and wheezing sent Heath straight to his fridge to hand over a cold bottle of water. He guided her to the small sofa and gently placed her down whilst she took a large gulp from the bottle. ‘Take a moment.’
‘I need to take an exercise class, that’s for sure.’ She glanced over at the opened door. ‘You know, that field doesn’t look big until you cross it.’
He smiled and sat by her side. ‘I know. Now, tell me what’s up. You look like the cat that got the cream but is too ecstatic to enjoy it.’
‘That’s because I am.’ She took another sip of water, then placed the plastic bottle by her foot. ‘I’ve got news, and I couldn’t find Rhett.’ She glanced at the door again.
‘She’s around here somewhere. Maybe she’s in the garden centre.’
‘Never mind. I’ll tell you first, because if I don’t say something soon, I’m sure I’ll explode.’
Heath laughed and nudged her arm. ‘Spit it out then.’
‘Look.’ Florence held her phone between them and tapped on the screen, scrolling through her emails. ‘It’s from my old work colleague. Her husband only went and found the con artists.’ She gazed up through her lashes. ‘Obviously, he worked with the police on this, but still. With our picture and stories, it really helped narrow down a few avenues they were exploring.’ She squealed and tapped his leg. ‘How exciting. I feel like a proper detective.’
‘We didn’t do any of the work.’
‘Hey, don’t rain on my parade. We helped. Remember that.’
Heath looked at the phone as Florence showed him a news article about the police raid. ‘Anything on the medal?’
‘No, sorry. We won’t know about the stolen goods for a while. The police have got a full investigation on their hands in that department.’ Her smile was filled with hope as she raised her head. ‘But I reckon we stand a jolly good chance at finding out where it is.’
Heath couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. ‘Thanks, Florence. It was lucky you came here.’
‘It was a sign when I saw Rhett’s advert. Not only was it a job with horses, but the place had the word lucky in it. Couldn’t go wrong, could I?’
He remembered when Rhett changed the name. Questions hung in the air that day, but no one ever did ask her why.
Florence changed her whole life, and here’s me and Rhett worrying about starting anew.
‘Hey, Florence, how hard was it for you to walk away from your old life?’
The sparkle in her cornflower-blue eyes dulled a touch as she placed her phone behind her. ‘I thought I did it on a whim, but after analysing myself on my first night here, I realised I’d been prepping for change for quite some time.’ She shuffled on the sofa, turning to face him full on. ‘When I thought about it, my life had always had change involved. My mother never stayed in one place for too long, or rather, the men in her life wouldn’t put up with her and kicked her out.’
‘I’m sorry. It sounds as though your childhood wasn’t very stable.’
She started to twiddle with the tip of her plaited hair. ‘No, it wasn’t. But my mum’s not very stable. One thing I’ll say for her, she always kept us in money. Never her own hard-earned cash, but still. We didn’t go hungry and we wore expensive clothes.’
‘Do you feel as though you missed out on anything?’
Does Willow?
‘Only love. I’m sure my mother loved us in her own way, but she was never there on sports day or if we needed a shoulder to cry on, and we never had things like bedtime stories or homecooked meals.’ She breathed out a small laugh. ‘We always had a chef. Mum only linked herself to mega-rich men.’
‘What happened to your dad?’
Florence picked her water up and took a sip before answering. ‘He died just after my sister was born. I was five, so I hardly remember him. In fact, I have just three memories.’
Heath thought about how many memories he had with his dad. Gratitude overwhelmed him for a moment as he counted his blessings.
Florence cleared her throat. ‘We had a couple of nice step-dads, but mostly, we were in their way. That’s how it felt. I think my mum felt that too at times. She was always happy to send us off on a school trip or on holiday with friends.’
‘Do you see your sister?’
‘I visit and write. Plus, she’s allowed phone calls, so that’s something at least. I’ve not been to see her since I moved here though.’ Her head hung low. ‘I’ll rectify that later.’
‘Are you close?’
‘We were. Not sure how she feels about me doing a moonlight flit. You seem close with your family.’
It was true. If there was one thing his dad had taught him, it was just how important family was. He only wished he had the same family unit with Rhett and Willow.
‘My family are wonderful. I’ve been blessed here.’
‘I feel blessed here too, Heath. Your mother is so mumsy, and I simply adore her cosy kitchen. I wish…’ Words caught in her throat as tears fell. ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
‘Hey, it’s okay. These things creep up on you, don’t they?’
Florence sniffed and blinked away tears, but Heath felt she needed a hug. He placed his arms around her, allowing her the time and space to sob on his shoulder. She didn’t stay glued to him for long.
‘Thanks, Heath, but honestly, I’m not used to crying on anyone. I’ve always had to hold my own hand.’
He passed her the tissue box on the old wooden table to his side. ‘That’s what friends are for, right?’
She scoffed. ‘Not my friends. They only liked me when I had zero problems. I didn’t see how fake they were until they all walked away at the same time my allowance did.’
‘Hello,’ said Rhett, standing in the doorway.
Heath broke out into a big smile which faded as soon as he saw her eyes drop to his hand still holding on to Florence’s shoulder. He slowly lowered his arm as Florence called Rhett over to share the good news about the con artists.
Is she angry at me?
He couldn’t read her expression too well as he stood to give her his place on the sofa. Florence was showing her phone whilst rattling off details, and Rhett remained quiet throughout. As soon as Florence stopped talking, and it was clear Rhett wasn’t going to speak at all, Heath suggested Florence go to the main house to tell Fran the news.
‘You okay, Rhett?’ he asked warily, as soon as Florence left.
‘It’s good news,’ she replied, heading for the fridge.
He watched her enjoy the cool air from the old contraption for a while, taking the edge off the heatwave that had just started.
‘Thought you might like to join me for lunch.’ She glanced his way, no part of her face smiling. ‘I didn’t know you were busy.’
‘I’m not busy. Well, I am, but I always stop for lunch.’ A shudder shot up his spine, and it didn’t come from the cold fridge. The glare in her eyes did a better job than any cool air unit. He approached to wrap his arms around her.
‘Don’t. Someone might walk in.’
He went to close and lock the door, but she stopped him in his tracks. ‘Okay, Rhett, out with it. What’s bugging you?’
‘Nothing.’
He widened his eyes as far as they could go. ‘Seriously?’
She shrugged and turned to leave.
‘What about lunch?’ he called out.
‘Have it with Florence,’ came her muffled reply.
Heath quickly sprinted after her, turning her to face him. ‘Hey, you stop that, you hear.’ The watery eyes staring his way didn’t look so defiant anymore. ‘Florence had just been crying. I gave her a hug, as any friend would, and she is our friend, right?’
Rhett gave a half-shrug as she nodded.
Heath pulled her closer, not caring if anyone passed by and saw them in each other’s arms. ‘You don’t have those worries with me. I’ve never been interested in anyone but you. Bloody hell, woman, I only went with Mary-Ann because you pissed me off going with Dennis.’
‘I know that now,’ she said sheepishly.
‘Then know that there’s nothing in my heart for Florence except friendship. I think she’s great, and she’s been brilliant for you. Don’t you think she needs all the friends she can get right now? Hey, Rhett, you and me, we’re a team, okay. I have never done anything to destroy us.’
Rhett stood back, narrowing her eyes and tightening her fists. ‘Oh, but I have, right? That’s what you’re saying?’
‘No. Not at all.’
Rhett slapped herself in the chest. ‘But it was me. I was the one who didn’t turn up for our wedding. I was the one who didn’t fight for you to be by my side during labour. I was the one who pushed you away.’
‘And you’re still doing it now.’
Her lips pursed as her shoulders rolled back. Tough-Rhett was on display, but Heath was having none of it. He knew her inside out, and there was no way she was going to pretend to be strong any longer during times when he could see she was struggling. She went to storm off, but he caught her arm, spinning her back into his.
‘Not so fast.’
‘I’m going home,’ she snapped, tugging herself free of his hold.
‘Oh yeah? You want to go home? Allow me.’ With that, Heath tossed her over his shoulder and marched her off to his barn conversion.
Rhett wasn’t even trying to wriggle free, so he guessed she was just as shocked by his action as he was, because he sure as hell didn’t see it coming. He was so livid by their past, present, and now possible lack of future, he could take no more. The last straw had been well and truly placed.
He kicked the unlocked door open and plopped her down in front of him. ‘This,’ he said loudly. ‘This is your home. I built this for you. For us.’ He slapped his chest, then splayed his arms out to his sides. ‘So if you’re going to storm off anywhere, you can bloody well march up those stairs and sulk in our bedroom. Ours!’
Say something.
His chest was rising and falling at a great speed, so much so, his head felt a little light, even more so when Rhett flung herself at him, slamming her mouth down onto his.
‘Take me to our room,’ she demanded, and Heath didn’t need to be told twice.