Chapter Twenty-Four
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Beth woke alone, hot, bothered and aching for Noah’s touch.
She’d gotten to know it as well as her own this past week—unsurprising, really, seeing as he’d been using the time they had together very judiciously.
When she wasn’t rostered on at the cafe and he wasn’t working on the farm, they were together.
And even when they were renovating, Noah’s top priority was to show her just how amazing he thought she was.
Every touch, every kiss, every cheeky grin made her feel like a goddess.
So it was no wonder she’d been living in a blissful bubble and, quite honestly, was happy to remain in it, but she needed a day to run a few errands, and calling on Flo was at the top of her to-do list—she hadn’t gone more than a few days without dropping in since their rudimentary adoption of one another, so she was well overdue for a visit.
Besides, she wanted to ask about her parents and see if she could piece together her mother’s motives for cutting the Campbells from their lives.
Which was why she’d insisted on coming back to the B&B last night. She didn’t trust that she’d be able to extricate herself from Noah’s arms if she woke up in his bed.
Yawning, she stretched, just as her phone beeped on the bedside table. She reached for it and grinned when she saw his message.
Miss you x
She tapped out a reply.
Same. Like you wouldn’t believe x
After a quick shower, she headed for Flo’s and a short time later, pulled up in the driveway.
With a cursory knock on the front door, Beth let herself in. ‘Hello?’
Since their post-Christmas chat, this had been her routine. Flo had insisted that Beth didn’t need to wait to be invited inside—they were family now. It had felt odd, at first, to just wander in, but now it was second nature, and Flo always greeted her with a huge smile.
But today, Beth found her in the lounge room, asleep in her armchair. A pile of crocheted sunflower squares sat on the coffee table beside her and an unfinished one lay in her lap. Her chest rose and fell softly with every breath, but she looked … well, terrible. Kind of gaunt. Had she lost weight?
Guilt immediately weighed down on Beth. She’d been so wrapped up in Noah lately that she hadn’t made time to visit. Hadn’t been around to notice that Flo was unwell. And now something clearly wasn’t right with her.
Beth backed out of the room. If Flo was sick, the last thing she wanted to do was wake her, so she set about cleaning the house instead.
She’d made Flo promise weeks ago not to lift a finger and had taken on all the housekeeping responsibilities herself.
Now she was glad she had, because what state would Flo be in if she’d had to keep house?
Worry fuelled Beth’s movements, driving her to make the place spotless.
‘Is that you, Beth?’ Flo called out when Beth was halfway through scrubbing the bathroom.
Abandoning the task, Beth hurried to the lounge room, hoping she’d imagined things earlier and would walk in to see a peppier version of her friend.
No such luck. Flo looked exhausted, despite just waking up.
‘Hey,’ Beth said gently. ‘I hope I didn’t wake you.’
Flo smiled weakly and tried readjusting herself in the chair. ‘Just resting my eyes for a bit. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you come in.’
Beth wasn’t buying that for a second. She knelt by Flo’s chair. Yep, her cheekbones were definitely more pronounced. ‘Are you feeling okay?’
Flo looked at her sideways. ‘What makes you think I’m not? Looking haggard, am I?’
‘Well, you don’t have much colour in your face. I’m a bit worried.’
Flo patted her hand, dismissing her concern. ‘Don’t fret. I’ve had a bit of a tummy bug, but I’m feeling much better today.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me you were sick, Flo? I would’ve come around sooner.’
It was a little too late for that, though, wasn’t it? Flo had clearly been suffering. Had she been eating? Staying hydrated? What had caused her sudden weight loss?
Beth vowed not to let so much time pass between visits again. Flo deserved better than that and Beth knew now that she couldn’t count on her to raise the alarm if her health took a turn for the worse.
Frowning, Flo raised an admonishing finger. ‘Listen to me, young lady. I’m not so old and decrepit that I can’t nurse myself through a bout of gastro, and I refuse to be a burden on anyone, least of all you. Understood?’
‘You’re anything but a burden, Flo. You’re a blessing.’ She covered Flo’s hand with her own. ‘And I want to be here for you because we’re family, right?’
Flo’s features softened and she turned her hand in Beth’s. ‘We are, sweet girl. And I’m so grateful to have you in my life, but I’ll let you know if I need you, okay?’
Beth nodded. She could accept Flo’s response, but something still didn’t sit right with her. She could play the game for now, though. She’d swing back around to the concerns she still had once they’d had a chat.
‘So, what brought you over today?’ Flo asked, sinking back into her seat.
Beth sat in the other armchair. ‘Actually, I’ve got a lot of good news to share.’
She filled Flo in on all that had happened over the last few weeks, from how she’d made the decision to stay in Karlup permanently to how things had progressed between her and Noah.
‘Oh, sweetheart!’ Flo pressed a hand to her chest. ‘You’ve got no idea how happy it makes me to hear all that. And, my goodness, Pru must be smiling down on you right now!’
It warmed Beth’s heart to hear it. ‘You think so?’
‘I know so.’ Flo’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Gosh, it’s everything she’d ever hoped for. I only wish she were here to congratulate you herself.’
‘But if she were,’ Beth pointed out, ‘I probably wouldn’t be here.’
‘No,’ Flo conceded, smiling sadly. ‘If only she’d found you before she passed.’
Registering the meaning of Flo’s words, Beth blinked. ‘Wait, are you saying she was looking for me before she died?’
‘She was. In fact, she never stopped looking for you.’
‘Never stopped?’ Beth moved to the edge of her seat. ‘What do you mean?’
‘After your father died, Pru set off for the city, wanting to offer comfort and support to your mother, but by the time she arrived, Rosie had vanished—and you with her.’
Beth sat back in her chair and let that sink in. Pru had looked for her for more than two decades? All that time wasted. She fought to control her emotions—there’d be time to fall apart later. Right now, she wanted answers.
‘Do you … do you know why my parents left town? Or if Mum had issues with Dad’s family? I just can’t understand why she cut ties with them.’
Flo tilted her head as if dredging up long-forgotten memories. ‘Well, Bryce wrote to Pru right after he left town to follow your mum—’
‘Follow her? So they didn’t leave town together?’ Beth assumed they had, but it was possible she’d either misunderstood the Brennans or they’d jumped to the conclusion that Rosie had convinced Bryce to leave town.
‘No,’ Flo said, adamant. ‘I distinctly recall Pru telling me Bryce had gone after Rosie. That’s what he’d told her in his letters.’
‘Letters?’ Beth’s eyes boggled. ‘As in, more than one?’
‘Oh, yes. He and Pru kept in touch, and he explained a bit about the situation, about why Rosie had left, but I don’t recall the specifics, only that Bryce wanted to come home and bring you both with him.
’ Flo smiled sadly. ‘That was why Pru never once gave up looking for you. She wanted you to know where you’d come from because that’s what your dad wanted. ’
Beth had heard enough. She pressed a hand to her chest, certain her heart was breaking. Her dad had wanted to bring her home. Pru had searched for her for more than twenty years. And all the while, Rosie had done her best to remain hidden.
A rage like she’d never known burned inside her. Because she was now certain that her own mother had denied her everything she’d ever wanted. Family. Stability. A sense of belonging. And for that, Beth would never forgive her.
‘Oh my …’ Flo stared into the distance, her eyes wide.
‘What is it?’ Suddenly Beth was desperate—desperate to hear that Flo had it all wrong, that she now recalled a detail that would redeem Rosie.
Exonerate her from all wrongdoing. Flo lowered her hand from her mouth, her eyes seeking Beth’s.
‘It just occurred to me … I think I might still have those letters.’
Forgetting about her mother, Beth stood, trying not to let on that she was ready to tear the house apart to find them and failing miserably. ‘Where do you think they are?’
Flo pointed to the shelving on the opposite side of the room. ‘The jewellery box.’
With her heart pounding, Beth rushed across the room and carefully lifted the silver box from the shelf. The initials etched into the lid reminded her of what Flo had said on the day they’d met. ‘Your family heirloom?’
Flo shook her head. ‘No, sweetheart. It was Pru’s, but before that, it was her mother’s. And originally, it belonged to Lucy Anderson, your great-great-grandmother. Pru left it in my care, but now it’s yours. I should’ve given it to you a long time ago.’
Looking down at the box she held, Beth couldn’t quite comprehend it. This was her family heirloom? She’d spent a lifetime wishing for one.
Her heart couldn’t take many more surprises today. And yet …
‘You think the letters are in here?’ She ran her fingertips over the floral design.
‘I remember seeing Pru place one of your father’s letters inside it. Perhaps they’re all still in there.’
With her heart in her mouth, Beth tried opening the lid, but it wouldn’t budge, and the tiny keyhole sat empty.
‘I’m guessing you don’t have the key?’
Flo shook her head. ‘Take it. See if you can jimmy it open.’
Grateful for the reprieve, Beth didn’t need to be told twice. She squeezed Flo’s hand and kissed her cheek.
‘Thank you, Flo. I’ll let you know what I find.’ She stopped short at the door. ‘Oh, and I’ll be back later to finish cleaning the bathroom.’