The Return of Her Past Read online

  Bill was in his sixties, white-haired, stocky, tanned and with a distinctly roman nose. His bushy white eyebrows all but disappeared beneath his cap as he took in every detail of the scene before him.

  Mia in her pyjamas, Carlos just starting to pull his sweatshirt on.

  ‘Blimey,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry. I had no idea. I’ll go.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Carlos said. ‘I’ve just been given my marching orders. See you later, Mia. Think you can manage in the meantime?’

  ‘Yes,’ Mia said through her teeth, then was forced to back down somewhat. ‘Uh...my horse. He needs a feed. Bill, would you mind? Just be careful—’

  ‘Tell you what, Mia,’ Bill broke in, ‘it’s time you got rid of that horse—he’s a menace.’

  ‘I couldn’t agree with you more.’ Carlos put out his hand and introduced himself to Bill, and they left together as if they were lifelong friends, closing the door behind them.

  Mia stared after them, then picked up her pillow and hurled it at the door.

  * * *

  ‘I can’t believe you’ve done all this,’ Mia said later as the sports car nosed its way into Bellbird’s driveway and pulled up at the main house. It was pouring.

  ‘Taken you to the doctor?’ Carlos raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘Would you rather I’d left you to bleed to death?’

  Mia clicked her tongue. ‘I wasn’t going to!’

  ‘The slightest pressure and it was still bleeding,’ he commented.

  Mia looked down at her bandaged foot. She now had three stitches in her heel and she had a crutch.

  ‘No, not that. Thank you very much for that,’ she said stiffly. ‘I obviously couldn’t have driven myself. No, I mean ringing Gail last night so—’

  ‘Look, Mia,’ he said evenly, ‘when I came to lock up last night I noticed Gail’s number in a prominent position on the wall in your study and I decided the sooner she knew you were incapacitated the better. I was going to tell you when I got back to the cottage but you were fast asleep. What’s wrong with that?’

  ‘Gail,’ Mia said precisely, ‘will be absolutely agog to think that you spent the night with me and will be imagining all sorts of wild and improbable things. You don’t know her. She is also incapable of keeping things to herself so it will be all over the mountain. And Bill is just as bad,’ she added forcefully.

  ‘Who cares?’ Carlos replied this time. ‘You and I know the truth, that’s all that matters, and anyway, in this day and age, nobody thinks twice about that kind of stuff. OK. I presume you will want to see Gail?’

  Mia nodded.

  ‘Then we’ll do this the easy way.’

  She looked questioningly at him but he simply got out of the car and came to open her door. He then scooped her out of the seat and carried her into the house. ‘You know, if I owned this place,’ he remarked at the same time, ‘I’d add some undercover parking. Your office?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes. Oh, hi, Gail,’ she added. ‘And you remember Mr O’Connor?’

  ‘Mia!’ Gail said dramatically as she fluttered around them. ‘Are you all right? Mr O’Connor, good to see you again. Bring her this way, Mr O’Connor—I’ve put a cushion under her desk for her to put her foot on and I’ve made some coffee. I’m sure we could all do with some!’

  * * *

  It was over lunch that Mia asked, ‘Gail, are you sure you can handle all this? You’ll have to do everything I normally do for the next few days as well as the stuff you usually do.’

  Gail hesitated. ‘There is my sister, Kylie. She’s only fourteen but she’s pretty good around the house. I’m sure she could help and she’s on school holidays at the moment.’

  ‘Kylie!’ Mia sat up. ‘That’s brilliant. Will your mum mind?’

  ‘No way. Anything to take Kylie’s mind off boys at the moment will be very welcome.’ Gail cast her gaze skywards as if she was at least forty with a boy-mad daughter of her own.

  ‘All right.’ Mia selected a smoked salmon sandwich. ‘Thanks for making lunch, Gail.’

  ‘No problemo.’ Gail poured their tea. ‘Uh—is Mr O’Connor coming back?’

  ‘He didn’t say—rather, all he said was, “I’ll be back”. By the way, Gail—’ Mia took a sip of tea ‘—I misled you a bit yesterday. My parents used to work for the O’Connors, that’s how I knew about Juanita and her family.’

  Gail put the teapot down slowly. ‘So you used to know him?’ she said.

  ‘Yes.’ Mia flinched inwardly to see Gail staring at her with patent, revamped curiosity and regretted embarking on these tangled explanations. She’d only done so because she’d felt guilty about not precisely lying to Gail the day before but not being exactly honest and open either. Had she also thought it mightn’t look so bad, the fact that Carlos had spent the night in the cottage with her, if they knew each other?

  She bit her lip and could have kicked herself but decided she had to soldier on. ‘I was only the housekeeper’s daughter and I didn’t think they’d recognise me. That’s why—’ She broke off and shrugged.

  ‘So that’s why he came back after the wedding was over,’ Gail said slowly. ‘How lucky was that? I mean your foot.’

  I only cut my foot because he antagonised me enough to make me run away from him, Mia thought but did not say. ‘Yes. Yes, it was lucky,’ she murmured.

  ‘You know what?’ Gail rearranged her teacup and saucer, ‘I think he’ll keep coming back,’ she confided.

  Mia looked at her uneasily. ‘Oh, I don’t know about that.’

  ‘I do.’ Gail smiled mysteriously. ‘But I won’t say another word.’

  ‘Gail!’ Mia stared at her assistant with deep frustration written large into her expression. ‘You can’t just say things like that and leave them up in the air.’

  ‘OK, if you want it spelt out.’ Gail got up as if she thought she might have to take evasive action. ‘There’s chemistry,’ she announced.

  ‘What?’ Mia frowned.

  ‘There’s a little crackle of tension in you when he’s around and he enjoys picking you up and carrying you around. Not only that, he enjoys the fact that it annoys you. I can see a wicked little glint in his eye when he does it.’

  Mia stared at her assistant open-mouthed.

  ‘You did want to know, didn’t you?’ Gail enquired, looking the picture of injured innocence.

  ‘Yes. No. You’re quite wrong, Gail. I—’

  But with a perky, ‘We’ll see!’ over her shoulder, Gail left the office.

  Mia glared after her. Next she glared at the last salmon sandwich on the plate but decided to eat it anyway. Then she sat back with a deep sigh, feeling moody and without grace.

  Of course being confined to hopping around on one foot, even with a crutch—which was not that easy to manage—was enough to make her feel helpless but it was also an emotional helplessness. It was like a roller coaster ride.

  What had she believed would happen between her and Carlos all those years ago?

  At the time she’d had no expectations, it had all happened out of the blue and—yes, she had to concede, she’d wondered if it was all due to his concussion. But she’d also thought it wasn’t impossible for him to be attracted to her.

  Then had come the horrible confrontation with Arancha, and the weeks after she’d left West Windward when she’d cherished the little seed of hope in her heart that Carlos would find her and tell her his mother was wrong, he needed her, he wanted her, he loved her.

  But as the weeks had grown into a month, then two, and she’d felt that fragile little seed die and she’d...hated him?

  No, she thought, that was the funny part about it. If anything, she’d hated herself because she couldn’t hate him, although she’d certainly hated his mother.

  But the other funny thing was when she’d refused to allow herself to wallow in self-pity and started living again, socialising and dating and so on, it didn’t happen for her. There had been no real attractions and the half-baked ones she’d t
hought might turn into the real thing never had. And that was down to Carlos.

  * * *

  ‘OK.’ Gail came into the office, delving into her purse for her car keys.

  Carlos had not returned after dropping Mia off from the doctor, although he’d said he’d be back and he’d stay the night. Consequently, Mia had asked Gail to make up two of the never used bedrooms in the main house.

  Gail had cast her a narrowed look and said, ‘Much snugger in the cottage, but it’s up to you.’

  ‘Yes,’ Mia had replied with something of a snap.

  ‘Look, I’m sorry I’ve got to go before he gets back,’ Gail said now as she jangled her keys, ‘but everything is under control and Bill is here. It’s not such a big event tomorrow, only thirty for lunch, a garden club on their annual day out so they’ll be raving about this garden—and I’ll bring Kylie with me to lend a hand. Sure you’ll be OK? I would stay until he comes but it’s my Girl Guides night tonight so I can’t be late.’

  ‘I’m fine, promise, don’t worry. And I’ve plenty of bookwork to occupy me.’ Mia leant over her desk and touched Gail’s hand. ‘Thanks, pal. I don’t know what I’d do without you!’

  Gail beamed with pleasure.

  Mia sat back and listened to her drive off, then smote her forehead with the heel of her hand because she’d been going to ask Gail to feed Long John Silver and put him away for the night but she’d forgotten. Gail was good with Long John.

  Only a moment or so later, however, she heard a car drive up and assumed it would be Carlos, but frowned suddenly because his car had a distinctive engine note. She discovered she was right; it wasn’t Carlos, it was her neighbour, Ginny Castle, and her twelve-year-old son Harry.

  ‘Come in, Ginny,’ Mia called in response to Ginny’s knock. ‘In the study.’

  Ginny, a bustling redhead, came through, talking nineteen-to-the-dozen, as was her habit.

  ‘Just heard you’ve got stitches in your foot, Mia, love—you really should be more careful!—but anyway, with Bill and Lucy away, how about if we took Long John home until you’re up to scratch again? Harry can ride him over and I can bring all his clobber in the ute.’

  ‘Ginny, you’re a darling!’ Mia said with very real gratitude. ‘I was going to ask Gail to feed and rug him before she left but she was obviously in a hurry and anyway, I forgot. And actually Bill is home, but he and Long John don’t get along.’

  ‘Not a problem. Got anyone to feed and water you?’ Ginny asked and laughed richly.

  ‘Someone is coming, thanks all the same.’

  ‘Then we’ll get going before it gets dark.’ And she shepherded Harry out in front of her.

  ‘Just be careful, Harry,’ Mia called. ‘He can bite.’

  Harry evaded his mama and stuck his head back round the office door. ‘Not me, he doesn’t!’

  ‘How come?’ Mia enquired.

  ‘Because the last time he tried it I bit him back. See you, Mia.’

  * * *

  Mia was still laughing and experiencing a warm glow a few minutes later when the phone rang.

  She answered it but when she put it down many minutes later she was pale and shaken-looking and she dropped her head into her hands.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  She jumped and realised Carlos must have driven in without her hearing him. It was raining again. He stood in the doorway in jeans and a tweed jacket and he was frowning down at her.

  ‘Are you in pain?’

  ‘No. Not much. Well, maybe a little heart-sore,’ she said with an attempt to smile. ‘I’m about to lose Bellbird. But I did know it might be on the cards so...’ She shrugged.

  He said nothing, then he reached for a cardigan lying over the back of a chair and handed it to her.

  Her eyes widened. ‘What’s this? I’m not cold, not yet, anyway.’

  ‘You could be. We’re going out.’

  ‘Where? No, I mean I don’t feel like going out.’ She regarded him with a frown and said something silly but she was feeling bruised and battered. ‘Don’t think you can call all the shots, Carlos.’

  ‘Will you stop being tedious, Mia?’ he shot back. ‘We’re going out to dinner whether you like it or not. Why you shouldn’t like it is beyond me. You’re not up to cooking and I’m still a P-plater when it comes to—’

  ‘A what?’ she interrupted.

  ‘A pupil when it comes to cooking, like a learner driver.’

  ‘Last night—’

  ‘Oh, I can drive a microwave,’ he said with a wave of his hand, ‘but I don’t happen to feel like anything microwaved tonight. I feel like something hearty, like an inch-thick steak with English mustard hot enough to make my eyes water. Like hot chips, crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy inside, like grilled mushrooms.’

  He paused, then continued. ‘Maybe a side salad, but not one with all those weird leaves—I’m very conventional when it comes to my salads. I like iceberg lettuce. And when I’ve finished that I’d like a nice piece of cheese, some cheddar, perhaps, and then something light and sweet but not too sweet, like lemon meringue and not a lot, just a slice followed by real coffee, Kona perhaps, from Hawaii.’

  They stared at each other. He was resting his fists on the other side of her desk.

  ‘Oh,’ was all Mia could think of to say. But a moment later, ‘My mother makes the best lemon meringue.’

  He grinned fleetingly. ‘The Northern Rivers might be a bit far to go. But we could try Blackheath.’ He straightened. ‘It’s raining again. Would you like me to carry you to the car?’

  ‘No,’ she said hastily. ‘I mean—’ she got up and reached for her crutch, cast a quick upward glance at his expression—and there was a wicked little glint of pure amusement in his eyes, damn him! ‘—I mean I can manage.’

  ‘Good.’ He watched her for a moment more, then turned to lead the way and open the doors.

  * * *

  It was a small, dim little restaurant in Blackheath he took her to but when he asked what she’d like to order she could only stare blindly down at the menu in front of her.

  ‘All right, I’ll order for you,’ he murmured.

  A couple of minutes later she had a glass of golden wine and in due course his steak and a herb omelette for her arrived.

  Good choice, she thought with the only part of her brain that seemed to be functioning, I couldn’t have coped with anything heavier.

  In the end she finished the omelette and ate her roll before she finally sat back and said with a tinge of surprise, ‘I didn’t know I was hungry.’

  He finished his steak.

  ‘How was it?’ she queried. ‘As mouth-watering as you described it earlier?’

  He grimaced. ‘I got a bit carried away, but almost. So, they’re not going to renew the lease?’

  ‘No. My two lovely old ladies have handed over their affairs, including their enduring power of attorney, and they’ve signed Bellbird over as well, to their nephew.’ She fiddled with her napkin. ‘And he’s decided to put it on the market.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Mia lifted her glass and cupped the bowl of it in the palm of her hand, the stem between her fingers, as she watched the liquid swirling around. ‘But that’s not the only problem,’ she said finally. ‘I did have written into the lease should this happen that I needed at least six months’ notice because I had to be able to take forward bookings.’ She paused. ‘Even six months is not very long; some people have wanted to book from year to year. Some weddings are planned nine—’ she gestured ‘—twelve months in advance.’

  ‘So you’ll have to cancel some forward bookings you took over the six months mark?’

  She shook her head. ‘I didn’t take any over the six months mark, although I have a lot under it. But the nephew wants to contest the six months’ notice.’

  Carlos narrowed his eyes. ‘Does he have a leg to stand on?’

  Mia sighed. ‘I don’t know. He’s threatened me with the fact that his aunts m
ay not have been in their right minds when they signed the lease, that I may even have exerted undue influence on them. I think—’ Mia twirled her glass and sighed ‘—I get the feeling he’s in financial straits and he really needs to sell Bellbird.’

  ‘He may have been the one who exerted undue influence,’ Carlos said meditatively.

  ‘I wondered about that, but the thought of going to court...’ She shook her head. ‘I may not have much choice, though. I could get sued for leaving some of the closer functions in the lurch.’

  He sat back and placed his napkin on the table. ‘Apart from that, are you confident you’ll find somewhere else and be able to get a business up and going again?’ he asked.

  Mia shook her head. ‘Not confident. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach—terrible fears would be more accurate—that I won’t be able to, but I’ll push on. Somehow.’

  He said, as he pushed his plate away, ‘Not a great couple of days.’

  ‘No,’ she agreed. She rubbed her forehead, then collected her loose hair in one hand and drew it in a thick rope over her shoulder.

  ‘I like your hair loose.’

  Mia looked up and their gazes caught and held across the table. And something in the way he was looking at her ignited a rush of awareness in her as well as sending her pulse racing.

  Heavens above, she thought, it would be so easy to seek solace and comfort, from a cruel blow on top of everything else, in his arms. It would be not only that but something she craved, she acknowledged, still staring into his eyes and feeling herself drowning in their grey depths.

  But she had to break this spell. She made herself look away and blink a couple of times.

  ‘Mia.’ He said her name very quietly.

  ‘Tell me more about Nina.’

  She bit her lip, then thought, why shouldn’t she ask about her?

  ‘I don’t know why you’re looking like that,’ she said evenly.

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Like what?’

  ‘As if—’ she paused ‘—as if I’m being ridiculous.’

  His lips twisted. ‘If I did, it was because I don’t see the connection—thank you,’ he said to the waitress delivering their coffee.

  She blushed and tripped as she walked away.