‘MIA! YOO-HOO!’ WITHOUT KNOCKING, as always, Carly rushed into her sister-in-law’s house and found her in the kitchen, sudsy hands in the deep, battered sink, baby Harper in her high chair, her cherub face smudged with something that looked like yoghurt. Carly slicked a kiss on her niece’s head and then caught Mia’s gaze. ‘We need to talk.’
‘And good morning to you too.’ Mia wiped her hands on a tea towel. ‘Sure. What about?’
About the camp. About my crazy, mixed-up feelings for your boss. About a mind-warping kiss...
‘The estate agent just called me. The woman that viewed last weekend has more questions. I think...’ Carly’s tummy fluttered with nerves, excitement and a smattering of anxiety. ‘I think she’s going to put an offer in.’
‘Wow.’ Mia’s eyes grew large and sparkly. ‘I thought she wasn’t interested.’
‘Me too. When she was here, she played disinterested, but she’s keen. Apparently, she was asking about resource consent for multiple dwellings.’
‘Multiple?’
‘Apartments, probably.’ Carly imagined towering blocks and a busy resort-style feel to the haven she’d come to love. Her heart contracted.
Mia frowned. ‘Oh. I see. Well, we can’t do much about that. But I guess it’s good news if she’s asking questions like that.’
‘Is it good news, though?’ They’d come to the truth of the matter now. ‘Apartments. Holiday lets. I imagine there’ll be a swimming pool and a bar. It’s not exactly the legacy your parents wanted.’
‘We can’t dictate how someone’s going to use the land once we’ve sold it.’
‘I know. I wish we could. At least some of it is covenanted, so a decent acreage will remain bush.’
‘Oh, honey.’ Mia wrapped her arms round Carly’s shoulder and gave her a tight hug. ‘Do not beat yourself up about this. Things move on. Change is the only constant. I grew up at the camp, and I don’t feel bad about selling it, so you shouldn’t.’
‘Are you sure?’ Because, even though Mia was saying the words, there was something in her eyes that gave Carly pause. She just hoped her friend wasn’t saying all the right things just to make her feel better about leaving. ‘It’s your family home.’
Mia shrugged. ‘I know and, to be honest, it does feel strange to know it’s not going to be there any more. But I’m a single mum, and on a nurse’s salary I don’t get to save much. I need to be able to set Harper up with a college fund and selling the camp will do that.’
‘College? She’s not even two years old. If she’s got any sense she’ll be a builder...there’s so much development going on here, she’ll have a job for life.’ Carly jokily pumped her pecs but then saw the anxiety in Mia’s expression. Then she glanced round the kitchen, noticing that the unit doors were cracked and the walls needed a coat of paint...in fact, the cute cottage needed an overhaul, something that would cost time and money Mia didn’t have. She needed this sale to go through. ‘But I totally understand. It must be hard being Mum and Dad and the only breadwinner.’
Carly had grown up used to being on her own, but losing her whole family in one accident must have changed Mia’s outlook for ever. Change might be the only constant, but it was clear the woman needed to feel secure and to provide enough for her daughter, just in case anything should happen.
And now Carly felt torn apart. Should she stay here for Mia and Harper—be their constant?
But Mia squeezed her tightly again before letting her go and focusing back on the sudsy water. ‘I may be a child of the camp, but I’m also a parent, and I would never, ever expect Harper to do anything just because I wanted her to do it, or because of my legacy—whatever that means. Please don’t spend your life doing things just because they’d make my parents happy.’
‘And Raff.’ Carly’s chest hurt at the thought of her late husband. She wanted always to make him proud.
‘Of course. Yes. And Raff.’ Mia smiled sadly. ‘My brother would want, more than anything, for you to be happy. To have a future and a family. And to travel, just like you both planned to do. He wouldn’t want you to be sad for ever.’
‘I’m not.’ Carly dug deep for a smile and thought about the last few days of confusion, attraction and excitement. ‘At least, not all the time.’
‘Particularly not when you’re with the good doctor?’ Mia’s eyes twinkled and she pretended to swoon.
‘Who? Owen?’ Just thinking about him brought heat to Carly’s cheeks, and other places that had no business getting heated. ‘There’s nothing happening there.’
‘Hmm.’ Mia’s gaze focused on Carly’s face. ‘I mean, what’s not to like? The man’s a great doctor. And very resourceful. He’s not complained once about having no receptionist while Anahera’s away, and he’s dealt with all the messages coming through to the surgery every day, even the mundane stuff. And I saw him doing DIY the other day when I went to drop Mason off at home. That man looks good in a sweat.’ She wafted her hand in front of her face, as if suddenly hot.
Carly wished she’d seen him in a sweat, but wasn’t going to admit that to her sister-in-law. ‘Still nothing happening. If he’s that perfect, why don’t you make a play for him?’ Then she winced, wishing she hadn’t said that. She didn’t like the idea of Owen being with another woman.
But Mia shook her head. ‘Not my type.’
‘Oh?’ Good. And also interesting... Mia had never spoken about the kind of guy she might be attracted to. ‘Which is?’
‘I don’t have one. And this isn’t about me.’ Mia eyed Carly with suspicion. ‘Do you know what parents are really, really good at?’
‘What?’
‘Knowing when someone is lying to them. There’s something with the doctor...right?’ She pierced Carly with a steely stare that almost had her spitting out the truth.
We kissed. It was good. I want more kisses...maybe more other things. But everything’s confusing. ‘He’s a nice guy.’
‘He is. So, tell me, is the wobble about the sale only because of my parents’ legacy or is there more to it? Because you don’t have to sell. You don’t have to go travelling. You could stay a while, see how things develop.’
‘I really, really do need to go. I need to get my head straightened out, and I can’t do it with the memories of the camp and now Owen blurring everything. I have to have some space.’
‘So he’s in the picture?’ Mia looked hopeful.
‘No. But he’s stopping me looking at things with a clear head.’
‘Okay. I get that. Men, huh?’
‘And what do you know about that? You haven’t dated for years.’ It was gentle ribbing, although Carly thought it was high time Mia started to date again. Did she feel alone sometimes too?
‘Because of men. Huh?’ Mia laughed and rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously, though, talk to me any time. I’m here for you.’ She grabbed a washcloth, ran it under the sink, squeezed it out and then handed it to Carly. ‘Now, would you please wipe Harper’s face while I finish the washing up? I’m taking Harper and Mason to the beach for a play date and I’m late already. There’s some apple and feijoa pie in the fridge, if you’re hungry. You’re getting too thin. Eat, woman.’
‘Sounds lovely, but I’m fine. Thanks.’
She wasn’t, though. She wasn’t fine at all. She was all muddled up and desperately wanted someone to talk things through with all over again.
It was no use. Keeping his distance from Carly was impossible on this small island when their lives and those of the people around them were so intertwined. He saw her when she called in to see Mia at the medical centre, while lunching at the yacht club and bumped into her in the tiny supermarket. They waved as their boats zipped past each other across the glittering bay. Everywhere he turned, she was there. And alongside that came the crushing craving to get to know her better, despite everything they’d said.
It had been almost a week since their ‘mutual appreciation society’ agreement and the ache hadn’t dimmed. In fact, if anything, it had grown stronger.
But right now the only thing he needed to do was put her out of his head and write up his notes from this morning’s surgery. Then review the messages on the answer-machine, chase up blood results and go on his afternoon visits... Who had said coming to a tiny island would be easier doctoring? Not to mention fixing up the cottage, which he tried to do in the little spare time he had when not looking after Mason.
But he couldn’t concentrate today. His last conversation with Carly kept coming back to him, resonating deep inside.
Alone.
He hadn’t realised he felt like that.
When Miranda had left, he’d felt lost and totally out of his depth, but in some ways it had been a relief to end the struggle between them and accept things weren’t working. He’d been thrown into sole care of their son, and he’d floundered, asking for advice from anyone and everyone about how to deal with a devastated child. His focus had been only on Mason.
Sure, he’d chatted about the failure of his marriage to his friends, but he hadn’t looked for anyone else to fill the gap Miranda had left. Certainly, he hadn’t had the headspace for someone else in his life. But, now things were settling, he noticed the space more.
It would be even larger when Carly left.
The door to his consultation room flew open and a woman’s voice made him jump. ‘Doc? Are you in here? Ah, yes. Kia Ora, Owen.’
‘Anahera? You’re back?’ He jumped up and gave her a quick hug. ‘Am I pleased to see you.’
‘I’m pleased to be here.’ She grinned. ‘But I’ve heard you’ve been coping just fine without me.’
‘Barely.’ He pointed to the piles of paperwork he’d been wading through and the filing he’d put off because he didn’t know the system well enough yet. ‘I’m drowning under bits of paper. How’s Wiremu?’
She shrugged but smiled. ‘He’s okay. A bit wobbly, but getting there. Try telling that man to slow down. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.’
The ringing of the reception phone interrupted her and her eyebrows rose. ‘Not even in the office for five minutes and it starts.’
Owen laughed. ‘The island gossip machine knows you’re here already.’
‘Honey, I am the island gossip machine!’ she bellowed as she disappeared down the corridor.
Laughing and relieved that he now had an extra pair of hands to run the surgery, he went back to reviewing his notes. But the door swung open again. Anahera. ‘We’ve got a boat versus jet-ski accident in the harbour. There’s a head injury and some minor scrapes, by all accounts.’
‘Just as I thought things would start to quieten down. There’s no rest for the wicked.’ He just wished he’d a chance to be wicked...with Carly. He slid his chair back and grabbed his bag. ‘Tell them I’m on my way.’
She nodded. ‘I’ll try to find Carly and get her to join you at the harbour.’
‘Great. Thanks.’ I think. But working with her would be no different from passing her in the street, with a quick nod of the head and focus elsewhere, right?
Wrong.
The head injury victim was lying prone on the harbour causeway, apparently having collapsed after jumping off his boat. He had a nasty cut on his forehead and a lumpy bruise blooming around his eye socket. The jet-ski rider was nursing what looked like a dislocated shoulder and a grudge against the boat owner, given the stream of curse words coming out of his mouth, but Owen had assessed priority and was attending to the semi-conscious head injury patient first. If jet-ski man was shouting and cursing, he was at least conscious.
He was stabilising the collapsed man’s neck and head when Carly came bounding along the jetty. The moment she swung into view, his heart stumbled over itself. He tried to convince himself that he was just relieved to have someone else’s help to deal with the incident, but he knew it was more than that. ‘Hey, Carly.’
‘Hey. What have we got here?’ She knelt next to their injured man, across from Owen, and her scent swirled around him, sending his memory spiralling to their kiss. The fire. The moment of true connection.
It was good she was leaving. It was. Then he’d be able to focus wholly on the things he needed to focus on. Like on the job in hand, and not on how great she smelt. ‘Head injury. He’s slipping in and out of consciousness. Glasgow coma score of twelve but fluctuating.’
‘Okay.’ She pulled out her satellite phone from her backpack. ‘Have you radioed in for an evacuation?’
‘Not yet. I’ve only just got here.’
‘What about the other guy?’ She crooked her neck towards the jet-ski rider who was propped up against the wooden fencing that edged the top of the causeway. He’d stopped cursing and now looked shocked and hunched in pain as he held his left arm tight against his side.
‘Could you assess him? Looks like a dislocated shoulder. If it is, he’ll need a sling to immobilise it. If he’s in too much pain for you to touch it, we can swap jobs and I’ll give him some inhaled anaesthetic while you keep this neck stable.’
‘Sure thing. I’ll just radio for an evac. One or two passengers?’ She frowned and he saw then that her eyes were puffy and her cheeks blotchy, as if she’d been crying.
He glanced over to the jet-ski rider then back to Carly. ‘Two. Are you okay?’
Her reddened eyes widened in surprise. ‘Sure. Why?’
‘You look upset.’
She blinked and shook her head quickly, as if to tell him, not here. ‘I’m radioing in. Then I can stabilise this man’s neck if you want to administer pain relief to the other guy.’
‘Later, then.’
She looked as if she was going to say no, but her shoulders sagged and she nodded. ‘Actually, I could do with a chat.’
It gave him a sharp punch of pride to his chest that she trusted him enough not to pretend she was okay and considered him someone she could talk to. He had to be that person—her person. The friend she needed.
He nodded and caught her gaze—and there it was again...the invisible but tangible connection that seemed to pull them closer and closer. For the tiniest moment, she smiled.
He smiled back.
Then he focused on their patients.
The next hour was a blur of activity, stabilising the injuries, handing over to the paramedics, clearing up the debris from the flurry of open sterile packs and oxygen tubing. Then a quick debrief in the yacht club that he’d tried to turn down but had been unable to, because Wiremu’s son, Nikau, had come out and wrapped them both in a bear hug, thanking them for saving his father’s life and insisting on buying them a drink.
And now it was just the two of them, standing outside the yacht club on the deck overlooking the moorings, finally alone, the chaos subsiding...apart from the chaos in his chest whenever he was close to Carly. ‘So, how are you doing now?’
She turned to look at him, clearly understanding what he was alluding to. ‘Okay, thanks. I was just having a wobble.’
‘About?’
‘Life in general.’ She laughed ruefully.
‘You want to chat now?’
She looked at a group of locals walking towards them and shook her head. ‘Not here. Can we go somewhere else?’
‘Absolutely.’ He put his hand on her arm then took it away. Where did the boundaries between friends who were attracted to each other, but who’d also sworn off anything physical, start and end? Could he touch her?
He forced himself to shove his hands into his pockets and looked up the road to the start of a trail that disappeared into the bush. ‘I haven’t explored that track. You want to go for a walk?’
She looked towards the trail head and then back to him again. ‘Yes. Actually, I do.’
She set off walking hard and fast, as if she was trying to get away from something. He hoped it wasn’t him, but she stopped every now and then to make sure he was there. She didn’t say anything, and he took her lead. When she was ready, she’d talk.
Whatever was eating her fuelled her pace as they wound deeper and higher through the bush. When he reached the top of the hill, he found her bent double, red-cheeked and breathing raggedly.
‘You’re hard on yourself. That’s one heck of a climb,’ he managed as he hauled a lungful of fresh air into his lungs.
‘I like the way I feel after... I’ve got to...the top.’ She panted and plopped onto a wooden bench—this one had no engraved plaque on it. ‘Not during it.’
‘Have you exorcised your demons yet?’
‘Is that what it looked like? I was just seeing if you could keep up with me.’ She giggled, the bubbly sound a salve to his ears. He hated seeing her anything but happy.
‘And clearly I can. Any time.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Her eyes sparked. The puffiness was starting to subside but there were traces left. ‘You want me to show you how fast I can move through the bush?’
The roots...the branches...he wasn’t as familiar as her with this terrain. He was bound to lose. He put his hands up and winced. ‘Maybe another time.’
‘Coward.’
‘Yes.’ He grinned and sat next to her, then raised his head and looked through a gap in the huge kauri trees. ‘Wow.’
Below them was a beautiful bay of glittering turquoise water and white sand beaches. At one end of the bay was a huge white colonial villa that dominated the promontory. ‘The Mansion House?’
‘Yes. Isn’t it lovely? They don’t build houses like that any more.’
‘Probably no double glazing. It’d be freezing in the winter.’
‘Ah, come on. Where’s the romance, Owen? It’s beautiful, with its sweeping verandas and all that dainty filigree carving.’
‘How is keeping warm unromantic? If it’s too cold, you’re not going to want to take your clothes off.’
‘Oh, trust me. You would with the right person.’ She started to laugh, and he was mesmerised by the sound that made his body heat and his chest warm.
He also didn’t miss the way she’d looked at him as she’d said those words, as if he just might have been the right person once upon a time, in a different life. It was a joke and a dare and, not for the first time, he wondered how she would look naked. Under him. Straddling him.
A crackle of dry leaves and snapping branches had him on alert and turning his head, although the adrenalin of desire still rippled through him. There, a few feet away from them, was... He blinked. Really? ‘What the hell is that? A kangaroo? Tell me I’m dreaming, or did we just go through some weird travel portal and end up in Australia?’
She laughed softly and bent towards the animal, her hand outstretched, whispering, ‘It’s a wallaby. There are a few wild ones in the bush.’
‘How come? They’re not indigenous to New Zealand.’
They both watched as it hopped away into the dense bushes. ‘By all accounts, years ago an old governor general imported all sorts of exotic animals and plants to see which would thrive and what flora and fauna the land would be useful for. Most things didn’t survive, but the wallabies thrived. Unfortunately, they destroy the wildlife and vegetation, so we’ve got trappers to catch them and re-home them in a more suitable environment. But I have to admit, they’re cute and add a quirkiness to the place. The kids love them if they get a glimpse. We only have a few left now.’
‘Is there anywhere more wonderful than Rāwhiti Island?’ As soon as he said it, he wished he could take the words back, because her face had grown sad again.
‘I hope there are lots more wonderful places all over the world, and I intend to visit them all.’
‘Oh, there are many, Carly, and you’ll have an amazing time.’ His chest hurt to say this and to be positive about her leaving, but he really hoped she did have the best adventure. ‘Someone once gave me a One Hundred Places to Visit Before You Die book. I think I’ve still got it somewhere in one of the boxes that finally arrived last week. You can borrow it, if you like.’
‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ Smiling, she raised her knees up, anchoring her feet on the bench and wrapping her arms round her shins.
‘Just helping you fulfil your dream. And yet...you don’t look too excited about it all.’
‘Well, it’s rushing at me now.’ She inhaled deeply and let out slowly. ‘We’ve had an offer on the camp.’
‘Oh?’
‘She wants to turn it into apartments. I’m not sure how I feel about it not being a camp any more.’ She gave a shrug. ‘Mia says I need to get over myself.’
‘What will the schools do if they can’t come here?’
‘We’re not unique. There are plenty of camp options across the country for them to choose from.’
‘So that’s not what’s got you rethinking? What aren’t you happy about the sale?’
‘Well, I am happy, of course. It was the plan. And there again, no. I’m wobbling.’ She chuckled but it was tinged with something else. Anxiety? Regret? ‘Sorry, I’m not making any sense.’
‘Far from it. When Miranda and I split up, I didn’t know if it was the right thing for any of us. It was a relief to end the arguing and struggles, but I had no idea how I was going to manage or how Mason would react to his mum leaving. And, when I sold up to come here, I didn’t know if it was the most ridiculous idea in the world. Giving up everything for the unknown is not just exciting but unsettling too.’
‘I’m so glad you understand. Everyone else is all about the “live your best life while you have the chance” and they don’t understand why I’m apprehensive. Of course I’m excited. But the excitement’s all tangled up with other emotions too. I’m not sad about leaving, so much as drawing a line under everything. I guess I feel a bit overwhelmed that it’s finally happening.’
‘You don’t have to go anywhere, right? You could stay.’ Was that the wrong thing to say?
It was a selfish thing to say. Life on the island would be just a little bit less bright without her here, but he couldn’t ask her stay for him. What was he even thinking? No one ever stayed around for him.
‘Mia said that too. And I know it sounds stupid, and I’m not making any sense, but I feel like I owe it to myself to go.’ She jumped up from the bench and waited for him to follow, then they started to wind their way back down the path. ‘Plus, Mia won’t say anything, but she needs the money. The sale will set her and Harper up for life.’
Owen frowned. ‘I didn’t know she was in financial trouble.’
‘It’s not that exactly. She’s getting by. But after everything she’s been through—losing all her family—she deserves a bit more than just getting by, right?’
‘I’ll see if I can do more to help her. She’s babysitting Mason right now. Maybe I should pay her?’
‘God, no. Don’t do that.’ Carly put her palm up. ‘She’d be mortified. She’s happy for Harper to have a friend. Just return the favour every now and then and have Harper over to play—give Mia some space to have some me time.’
He wondered what exactly that was, because he hadn’t had any for a very long time. ‘We’ve barely had time to breathe since Anahera was called away, but I’ll make sure I help her more.’
She slowed and looked up at him, a smile on her lips. ‘I knew you would. Look after her for me.’
It sounded so final. ‘You haven’t gone yet.’
‘But soon. Selling the camp is good for her, but that’s the end of that part of my life. I keep telling myself that everything that happened to me before Raff was preparing me for his death.’
‘Living in foster care must have given you a lot of resilience, but even so, no one should go through what you did, moving from place to place.’ And yet here she was, planning to do it again.
Her walking pace picked up. ‘I don’t know about resilience. Being uplifted time after time hurts. I mean, really hurts. You try to settle in, watch to see how everyone in the family acts, what roles they have...what kind of dynamic is in the house. You mould yourself to fit into it, you take on a role...the clever one, the funny one, the quiet one. Mainly, I was the quiet one, observing, trying not to trip up and do something stupid and be moved on. But I was always moved on eventually, for one reason or another.’
His heart squeezed at the thought of a little Carly, someone Mason’s age, trying to fit herself into a new space, then another, then another. ‘That must have been so hard for you.’
‘You learn to become self-reliant, in the end. To block off the feelings. To not get emotionally involved in case you lose it all again. Because it’s exhausting, trying to rebuild and to survive. But then I met Raff and came here and I settled in straight away. There was no role to take, other than to be myself, even though I didn’t know who that was. Who that is. I belonged here, I was part of something...and I didn’t get moved on, but the family did. And I was left all alone again. I mean, sure I have Mia and Harper. But I wake up alone every morning and go to bed alone every night. I make the decisions here. I’m the boss of a place I never asked for, in a job I never applied for. And now... I don’t know what I want.’
‘You’ll work it out.’
‘I hope so.’ She smiled, raising her eyebrows.
‘You’re pretty special. You don’t need to go anywhere to see that.’
‘Thank you. Wow, that’s kind.’
He stopped walking and turned to face her. ‘It’s not kind, Carly. It’s honest. You’re stunning. Beautiful. Strong.’
‘Not strong, just bloody minded. Trust me, it’s taken a long time for me to be able to talk about Raff and his parents in the past tense.’
‘You must have felt as if your whole world was ripped apart.’
She nodded. ‘But I have to move on, and I think that means I have to leave. To be honest, I’m so confused, but I think I can only find out who I am if I’m not here. I’m excited and a bit daunted to find out.’
‘I can’t wait to see who Carly Edwards is when she comes back, because I’m not sure she can get any better than who she is right now.’
If she came back at all. Which should have been a shrill warning alarm, yet made part of him want to deep-dive into getting to know her while he had the chance.
He took in her bright eyes that always reflected her emotions. She was honest, deep to her core. The beautiful mouth tasted so fine. But it wasn’t her physicality that appealed as much as the person she was. Deep-down good. A fighter. Endearing. Funny. Beautiful. And mixed-up, too. And that made her even more perfect. She wasn’t trying to be someone else, or to put on a brave face, she was living through uncertainty and admitting she felt lost sometimes.
Didn’t everyone? But not everyone was open enough to say it out loud.
Her gaze snagged his and for a few beats they just looked at each other. So much passed between them. Understanding. Compassion. Need. Heat.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to get to know her better. Wanted to make love to her, to share parts of his life with her. Explore something new together.
This was crazy mixed-up. He was crazy mixed-up.
But she still held his gaze.
He took a step closer to her and she closed the gap, reaching for him and wrapping her arms around his waist, leaning her head against his chest and holding on.
He stroked her hair, closed his eyes and fought every instinct to kiss her. This was what she needed, just the hug, nothing more.
But when she pulled away she was breathing heavily, her eyes misted. He put his palm to her cheek and she curled into his touch.
‘Thanks, Owen. You’re a good listener. And a fine hugger.’
He dropped his hand from her face, wondering how wise it was to be honest. Probably not wise at all, but he did it anyway. ‘I want to kiss you. I want to make you feel better about everything.’
‘We can’t. It’ll make everything too complicated.’ She curled her fingers into his. ‘But I already feel better. Thank you. Just having someone to listen really helps.’
‘Sure. Any time.’ He squeezed her hand then let go.
It always seemed to be like this with her—an opening of their hearts, an acceptance of each other’s desires and all the reasons not to act on them. It helped that it was so honest and yet it didn’t help at all. Because what was the point in telling someone your deepest desires if you couldn’t act on them? Might as well keep them locked inside.
And then there was Mason, who was as soft on her as Owen was. Who didn’t need any more confusion.
This was crazy. This wasn’t about Mason. This was about himself. His concern for Mason getting too close to Carly was a deflection or, indeed, a reflection of getting too close to her himself. He knew all about women leaving; his mother had done it and his wife too.
Carly had good reasons. Hell, they’d all had good reasons to pursue the life they wanted and deserved. He was just tired of being the fall guy. He needed to focus on the kind of life he wanted. Like Carly, he wasn’t sure what that was yet, except creating security for Mason.
He quickly stepped back. ‘I have to go.’
Carly blinked, shocked. ‘Did I say something wrong?’
‘No. It’s me. I have a habit of wanting things I can’t have and all that leads to is a headache and a lot of stress.’
‘So you’re running away.’ She laughed, but it was gentle and sad. The words stung but he couldn’t deny the truth.
‘Yes. Actually, I am. I’m going to pop by Mia’s and pick up my boy, then take him on an adventure, the way we planned when we decided to come here.’
Then he pivoted away from her and started to jog down the hill, in exactly the opposite direction from Carly.