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If Josh didn’t want to stay, she would respect his decision, and they would both return to the US. But after the last week of endless activities with Dan and today’s argument, she had the sneaking suspicion father and son had both had more than enough quality time to last them for quite a while.
Even so, she braced herself for Dan’s response.
But the fight she had been expecting didn’t come. Dan gave a weary sigh and dug his fingers through his hair. He brushed the carefully styled waves, which had once captivated her, when she had been young and foolish and infatuated with him, off his brow.
That flop of hair didn’t captivate her any more, but it still made him look boyish and oddly vulnerable when he said, ‘Are you actually in love with that dick?’
‘This isn’t about him,’ she said, because it absolutely wasn’t, not any more. ‘I want to stay here for me and Josh.’
Dan studied her for the longest time. ‘Fine, talk to Joshie tomorrow and let me know what he says,’ he said, the wry smile making him hiss when it split his lip. ‘I think he’s kind of pissed with me at the moment.’
Ellie nodded, grateful that Dan wasn’t going to fight her on this. But also saddened that Dan was prepared to leave this important discussion about their son’s future to her alone.
Dee stepped in and took Dan’s arm. ‘How about I get you washed up then you can join the wedding party?’ she said.
‘No thanks on the wedding, they give me the jitters.’ Dan shuddered theatrically and Ellie let go of the last of her anger with him. She’d always expected too much of him, at least now his limitations as a father might work in her favour. And Josh’s favour.
‘I won’t say no to some TLC, though,’ Dan added, milking it just a little bit. ‘But be gentle, that guy’s got a harder right hook than Wladimir Klitschko’
Dee leant in and whispered in Ellie’s ear. ‘I’ll hold the fort, go and find Art. He’ll want to know about your decision.’
Art.
Ellie swung round to find Rob and Mike standing empty-handed.
‘You’re going to stay?’ Mike said. ‘Tess will be overjoyed.’
‘Your ex isn’t as much of a twat as I thought,’ said Rob at the same time.
‘Hopefully, yes,’ she said to Mike. ‘He’s not my ex yet, but he soon will be.’ She spotted Art through the crowd making his way towards the orchard, away from the wedding congregation that was milling around being offered canapés and champagne.
She headed after him only to get waylaid en route by Tess and Annie.
‘What happened with Mr Skank?’ Annie said.
Ellie turned to watch Dee leading Dan towards the farmhouse. ‘He’s not a skank, he’s just woefully immature.’ But maybe that was finally starting to change.
‘Jacob said to tell you Maddy’s not ready yet anyway, you’ve got at least another–’ Tess checked her watch ‘–twenty minutes before the bride is going to make her grand entrance.’
‘I need to speak to Art.’ And, unlike last time, she wasn’t going to let him stop her. One of them had to break cover, and it looked like that someone was going to be her.
Because the first thing she planned to ask him was, what the hell had he been thinking socking Dan in the jaw?
‘Go easy on him,’ Annie shouted after her.
Sod that, she was through being easy on him. And on herself.
No more sulking, no more heartache and no more drama. Tomorrow would be a new dawn in her life, she wasn’t running away any more from difficult decisions. Or tough conversations. Or her own emotions. And, as of now, neither was he.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ellie checked the farmhouse first, in case he’d doubled back on her, then his workshop, but there was no sign of him there either. The sun had begun to dip to the horizon, darkening the orchard and the woods with a ruddy glow.
Where on earth had he gone? And why had he hit Dan? The questions tumbled around her brain as she made her way through the woods towards the millpond. If he wasn’t there, she’d just have to leave it for now, and handle him later.
But she didn’t want to leave it, the urgency making her heart race as she slipped off her heels to walk through the carpet of leaves and moss on the forest floor, the chill oddly comforting.
Then she saw him, standing under the weeping willow by the water’s edge, where they’d made love for the last time.
