Page 95 of Holding Her Heart

Aster pushed the front door open, the warmth of the house relaxing Eden further. She followed her girlfriend down the hallway, glancing to her left at the framed photographs running up the wall to the side of the staircase. When her eyes landed on a particular one, Eden smiled. Aster, as a child, was being held by a woman who looked a lot like her. She assumed it to be her mother, the resemblance striking. Eden made a mental note to bring Aster’s mother up in conversation when they were alone. Aster had never really given much information regarding her death.

“Dad?”

“Yes, love?” Eden’s stomach lurched as Aster’s dad called out from the living room.

“Eden’s here.” Aster squeezed Eden’s hip, releasing her as they stepped into the living room. “Dad, this is Eden, my girlfriend. Eden, my dad, Ted.”

“Oh, lovely.” Ted braced his hands against his chair, attempting to stand.

“Please, don’t stand for me,” Eden said, stepping closer as she held out her hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

“Our Aster has been pacing for the last hour. I think she thought you’d done a runner.” Ted laughed, winking in Aster’s direction as he shook Eden’s hand. “I told her you were probably stuck in traffic coming out of the city, but I don’t think she settled until she heard your car pull up.”

“It was a nightmare getting onto the motorway…”

“Have a seat, love.” Ted motioned to the couch, his eyes bright considering he’d been under the weather. “I told Aster she should have picked you up. It would have saved the long drive after working all day.”

“I didn’t mind.” Eden settled on the couch, placing her handbag to the side of the couch. “It’s just nice to be invited here.”

“Oh, any time.” Ted waved a hand. “Fancy a cuppa?”

Eden breathed a sigh of relief. Ted was wonderful and very calming. “I’d love one.”

“Go on,” he said, glancing at Aster. “Make your old dad a cuppa. Eden’s parched sitting here.”

Aster chanced a look in Eden’s direction, silently asking if she was okay. When Eden smiled, her attention turning back to Ted, Aster left the room. “Lovely house.”

“Oh, I can’t take the credit. The girls have always looked after it. One of them is forever bringing colour scheme ideas for me to look at, but I let them get on with it. I won’t be here one day so they should do what they like with it.”

Eden’s heart constricted when Ted said that. She couldn’t imagine losing one parent, let alone both.

“And Heather was the one who picked this house when we met. I didn’t get a say so. But I’m happy about that; she picked well.”

“She certainly did.” Eden’s eyes took in the layout of the room. The patio doors at the back of the house let in a tonne of light, the evening sun bouncing off the glass as it started to descend behind the trees. Then Eden noticed the oxygen canister to the side of Ted’s chair. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better now that I’m home. I like my own things around me, you know.”

Eden nodded. “Familiarity.”

“I’m sure Aster called me fit to burn when I ruined her holiday. But I told Lily not to call her.”

“Aster was glad Lily called her. And holidays aren’t important. Family is.”

“You’re close with your family too?”

Eden would like to believe she was, and most of the time everything was okay, but her mother still played on her mind. Her dad hadn’t been in touch either, which meant that Angela probably hadn’t updated him on Eden’s love life, but everything had to come good in the end. Eden needed it to. “Sure. I’m an only child, so I was very close to my parents growing up.”

“And now?” Ted asked, fixing the oxygen tube under his nose.

“I don’t see them as often as I once did because I moved into the city, but I go home to visit whenever I have the chance. We talk often, too.”

“Good. That’s good.”

“Brews are up.” Aster carried three cups into the living room, setting a coffee down in front of Eden and a tea for Ted. “Did you want a biscuit with yours, Dad?”

“Who doesn’t have a biscuit with their brew?” Ted looked between Aster and Eden, that sparkle in his eye making Eden smile. “Eden?”

“Sure. I’d take a plate of them.” She shrugged, praying her stomach didn’t yell just how hungry she was.

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