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’srelatives—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. Forher.
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 beenhere, in this town, with herfather.
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 ofHome Alone.
