Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Beth paced her room at the B&B and seriously considered coming up with an excuse for why she couldn’t meet with Mick and Celia Brennan.
Sure, she’d asked for this, but she hadn’t thought it all the way through.
Yes, she might learn about her father, which she so desperately wanted to do, but what if the Brennans had met Rosie and didn’t have anything nice to say about her?
Or revealed details about her relationship with Bryce that turned Beth against her?
What she’d told Noah was true—she didn’t want to hate her mother.
Too soon, there was a knock on her door, and when it opened, Ellie poked her head through the gap and offered an encouraging smile.
‘They’re here.’
Nervous but attempting a smile of her own, Beth followed Ellie downstairs, reminding herself with every step that there was always a chance Mick and Celia hadn’t met Rosie and didn’t know anything about her relationship with Bryce.
The thought didn’t do much to calm her, but when she reached the of the stairs, Noah’s voice drifted out into the hall and settled her nerves slightly.
The Brennans stood the moment she entered the sitting room with Ellie, though seconds ticked by where no one spoke.
In the end, Noah stepped forward. ‘Mum, Dad, this is Beth. Beth, this is my mum, Celia, and Mick, my dad.’
Celia put a hand to her mouth, her eyes growing misty as she opened her arms wide. ‘Oh, sweetheart, it’s so lovely to meet you.’ She enveloped Beth in a hug, her warmth and softness, her nurturing presence, completely unexpected.
Beth savoured the moment, though it was fleeting.
Mick, too, seemed overcome—he’d shoved his hands on his hips and hung his head almost as soon as she’d stepped into the room. Now, he extended a hand towards her, his blue eyes, so like Noah’s, roaming over her face. ‘I can’t believe it. I never imagined this day would come.’
Celia pulled Beth in for yet another hug and this time, Beth closed her eyes and just let herself feel. The moment could only be likened to coming home. Here were two people treating her as if they’d been waiting years for her to show up and were accepting her as one of their own.
Pulling away to hold her at arm’s length, Celia studied her. ‘My gosh, you look just like your mum. So beautiful. But look, Mick,’ she said over her shoulder, ‘she has Bryce’s eyes.’
The room tilted on its axis and Beth threw out an arm to steady herself. It was all she could do to stay upright.
Noah was beside her in an instant and guided her to one of the sofas. ‘You okay?’
‘Yeah.’ Though she was embarrassed to find everyone looking at her. ‘Can I get some water, please?’
‘Sure.’ Noah went to usher Ellie from the room. ‘C’mon, Elle.’
‘Huh? No, I’m good.’
‘C’mon, Ellie,’ Noah repeated and this time managed to shepherd his cousin out into the hall.
Grateful for the privacy but still nervous, Beth reluctantly looked up at Celia. ‘You knew my mum, then?’
Sympathy softened Celia’s features and she took the seat beside Beth. ‘Only briefly, unfortunately. Noah told us you lost her to cancer a few years ago. We’re so sorry.’
Then, perhaps sensing Beth’s discomfort, she turned to Mick. ‘Why don’t you start at the beginning, love?’
Mick rubbed the back of his neck, as if he didn’t quite know where the beginning was, but he moved to sit on the couch opposite and began sharing his story.
‘We grew up together, me and your dad, from the time we were old enough to venture outdoors on our own till the day he left town. We were …’ He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. ‘We were as close as two young tackers could be.’
When Beth spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. ‘What was he like?’
Mick smiled, clearly finding comfort in his memories. ‘He was loyal. Loved this town and the land he grew up on. He was a dutiful son and a bloody good mate.’
Overcome, Beth pressed a hand to her heart. After all this time, all these years, it physically hurt to hear someone speak so highly of her dad.
Celia reached out and took her hand. Gave it a squeeze. ‘Noah told us your mum didn’t like talking about Bryce but, sweetheart, we know she loved him. Beyond measure.’
Beth nodded, grateful for Celia’s tact, then swallowed the lump in her throat, her gaze finding Mick’s. ‘Do you know how he met my mother?’
Mick leaned back, rested his hands on his thighs. ‘She blew into town for the annual music festival one year. A free spirit, she was, that much was clear, and as soon as Bryce laid eyes on her, he was a goner.’
The image Mick painted was everything all at once.
Beth smiled, even as tears tracked down her cheeks, because learning that her mum had always been a free spirit, that her restlessness wasn’t a trauma response to losing the man she loved, was a huge relief.
And to discover that her parents had fallen in love so quickly and completely was … well, it was everything.
And yet, this meant Rosie had known where Bryce was from, where his family—Beth’s relatives—had lived.
She didn’t have time to process that, however, because Celia picked up where Mick had left off.
‘Bryce and Rosie danced the night away, both as smitten as each other. I’ll be honest, though, I expected your mum to disappear at the end of the weekend with the rest of the festivalgoers.
There was just something about her. A look in her eyes, a stiffness in the way she held herself.
Like a cat watching for the slightest sign of danger. ’
Yep, that sounded like Rosie.
‘But she stayed,’ Celia added. ‘And it was obvious to everyone that she and Bryce were very much in love.’
Mick took over the storytelling again. ‘After they’d been together a few months, Rosie got a bit restless, I think.
Bryce told me she’d been trying to convince him to leave town with her.
He didn’t want to, of course, what with the farm and all.
And his folks weren’t young. He didn’t want to burden them by taking off, but he also didn’t want to lose Rosie, so he asked her to marry him. ’
‘We think he hoped she’d agree to stay if he proved he was committed to her,’ Celia explained, ‘but your mum turned him down, and the next thing we knew, they’d both left town.’
Beth turned away, trying to hide her pain as the tears fell faster. Because the Brennans’ account of what had passed between her parents was all too believable. Rosie’s selfishness had forced Bryce’s hand. He’d left his family, his friends, his home. For her.
And after he died, Rosie had robbed Beth of the same.
She never got to meet her family. Never had the chance to make and build friendships.
Never knew the safety of a stable home environment.
But all the things she’d hated about her life growing up would never have been her reality if Rosie had agreed to stay in Karlup like Bryce had wanted.
And, Beth realised, she’d still have her dad. Because he never would’ve been working in the job that took his life.
She pressed a hand to her mouth, choking on a sob, but Celia was there, hugging her and stroking her hair.
Beth summoned all her strength to compose herself. ‘Did he … did my dad ever mention why Mum refused to stay here?’
Mick shook his head. ‘I’m not sure he knew, love. At least, not at first. Maybe she opened up to him and that’s what convinced him to leave with her. He never told us anything, at any rate.’
Trying to come to terms with the fact that she may never learn the reason for Rosie’s restlessness, Beth nodded. ‘Does that mean you saw him again? After he left town, I mean.’
‘Only once,’ Mick answered. ‘He came back for his mother’s funeral.’
Celia patted her hand and offered a smile. ‘He brought you with him that day.’
That got her attention. ‘He brought me to Karlup?’
Celia nodded. ‘Just the once, when you were three. You were the sweetest little thing.’
Beth had no words. She couldn’t believe it. She’d been here before, in the town her father had grown up in, and she’d gone to her grandmother’s funeral. Had she met Pru that day? Her grandfather?
And then it sank in a bit further—she’d been here, in this town, with her father.
The knowledge left her shaking. Suddenly, she felt a whole lot more connected to this place. As if she were no longer a visitor. Because she had roots here.
‘Noah and Ellie mentioned you’ll be in town until the new year,’ Celia continued, ‘so we’d really love it if you’d join us for lunch on Christmas Day.’
Mick leaned forward and, putting a hand to his face to shield his words from Celia, said, ‘You should know that she won’t take no for an answer.
’ He winked then sat back in his seat. ‘Besides, as far as we’re concerned, you’re family, so there’ll be a seat for you at the table.
And there’s plenty more I can tell you about your dad, too. ’
Despite her whirlwind of emotions, Beth managed a smile.
It seemed as if persistence was a Brennan family trait, but regardless, she’d never dream of saying no to such an offer.
Even though Rosie had tried to make their Christmases special, all Beth had ever wished for as a kid was to experience a huge family Christmas where everyone gathered together, like the McCallisters in the opening scene of Home Alone.
And now her wish was going to come true.
‘Thank you,’ she told them. ‘I’d love to join you.’
Ellie and Noah came in then, bringing drinks and snacks for everyone, and the five of them spent the next few hours sharing stories and recalling the past. By the time Ellie and Noah started bickering over who should get the last Tim Tam, Beth was emotionally exhausted but also completely relaxed.
She could sit with the Brennans all day, doing nothing but basking in their togetherness.