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?’
‘Iknowso.’ 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 thantwo 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.
