Page 108 of Somewhere Only We Know

I pressed my palm to my thudding chest in an attempt to calm myself. In theory, he was a stranger to me now. And yet at the same time, how could he be, when the connection between us was so strong that I could almost feel it? ‘Is it really you?’

‘It’s definitely me.’ His eyes were full of concern, but a smile was tugging at his lips.

‘And I’m here because Utt called me as soon as you left the turtle sanctuary.’

I shook my head, bemused. ‘That explains why he ushered me out of the building so quickly.’

Jackson laughed. ‘He couldn’t wait to tell me. I came as quickly as I could.’

More than two decades had passed since we’d said goodbye, yet he’d dropped everything to see me again. This was surreal, and wonderful, and possibly the biggest compliment he could pay me.

‘You came from where?’ I asked.

‘From home,’ he said, his lips twisting into a half-smile. ‘Or to be more accurate, from work.’

My eyes widened. ‘You live in Bali?’

‘Sure do,’ he grinned. ‘For the last twenty years.’

‘Wow.’ If only I’d come back sooner and brought Brontë with me, maybe … I had to tell him about her, I realised. And soon.

I let out a long breath and Jackson touched my arm. ‘Are you okay?’

I nodded, unable to drag my eyes from his face.

‘Magnolia,’ he murmured. ‘No wonder I couldn’t find you. I should have known you wouldn’t have been an ordinary Margaret, there was never anything ordinary about you.’

I swallowed. ‘You looked for me?’

‘For two years. But then, life moved on.’ He broke off, rubbing his jaw. ‘I had a hunch you’d come back one day, but you sure took your time. So what brings you back to Bali now?’

I needed to stand up, look him in the eye. I didn’t want to say this sitting on the floor in the hotel lobby. Jackson steadied my arm as I rose to my feet, and handed me my bag and my phone.

‘I … I …’ I stared at him, my heart thudding erratically.

He tilted his head, his gaze never wavering from mine. ‘Hey, take your time.’

‘Okay.’ I blew out a breath and pressed my hands together to stop them from shaking. ‘Your daughter, Jackson, that’s what brought me here.’

His brow furrowed. ‘But I don’t have a daughter.’

I caught my lip between my teeth and stared at him, waiting for him to understand.

‘Wait. No.’ He waved a finger between him and me, and gave a half-laugh, visibly shocked. ‘You have a daughter. Did we … you and me …?’

‘We did.’ I bowed my head as a torrent of sorrow threatened to drown me. ‘We did. I had your baby. And, oh Jackson, I’m so, so sorry, but I’ve got some terrible news.’

Chapter 39

Maggie, Bali, 2000

‘Oh shit. Disaster.’ Jackson shifted his weight to the edge of the narrow bed.

‘Exactly what every girl wants to hear after sex. Thanks,’ I teased. ‘And there was I thinking I was incredible. Like you.’

We were in his dorm, squashed into his single bed. He’d got the room to himself until tomorrow, when a batch of new volunteers were due to arrive, and we were making the most of being able to spend a whole night together.

It hadn’t happened often, but the times when I got to wake up beside him and watch him sleep were the best. This boy had awakened something new in me, a softer side. He made me feel safe and so I had let down my guard. Moments like this when we were completely alone, in our little bubble, gave me the perfect opportunity to reveal my vulnerable heart.