Page 77 of Sinful Promises

His ever-present frown deepened. “Know her?” He sighed. “Well, based on the clinical and somewhat angry way you packed up her things, I’d say the woman we met was not the woman you know.”

I nodded at him, offering a smile that I hoped he recognized as sincere. “You’re a very wise man.”

His eyes brightened. “That’s what I keep telling my wife.”

We burst out laughing and it was so nice.

I pushed the keys to Mother’s van across the table to him. “You’re welcome to do whatever you want with it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Give it away. I’m sure some poor soul will love it. Or demolish it. It’s your choice.”

“Thanks, Daisy.” He wrapped his hands around the beer, and I could tell he was stewing over something. He must have had a squillion questions he’d like answered. But I kinda liked that he didn’t know the real Patricia Chayne.

I placed my beer on the table and stood with my hand out. “It’s been a pleasure.”

He shook my hand. “I hope you find peace.”

I nodded. “Don’t worry. I will.”

I strode out the door and up the street without looking back, heading toward my motel. It was the end of another long day, and the sun was disappearing into the horizon, shooting spears of golden light into the low-hanging clouds. It was like the world was agreeing that this very moment signified the end of an era in my life.

An era that had consumed me with hatred and anger.

An era that had given me the wrong impression of what family was like.

An era that had convinced me that there was no such thing as love.

A few feet ahead of me, a kookaburra sitting on a crooked fence post started laughing. I stopped to watch. It was loud and bold. And free.

I began laughing with it. The big, fat bird was another sign.

With Mother out of my life, I could look forward to a fabulous future.

I’d have joy and laughter, and dare I say it—I’d have love.

Because deep down in my heart, I knew that love was possible. I also knew that, despite decades of disbelief, I was in love. With Roman.

And maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way about me.

Chapter Seventeen

The next day I returned to the hospital, and as I stepped up to the oncology reception desk, the chirpy nurse who’d greeted me when I’d first introduced myself as Daisy was no longer chirpy. When she saw my approach and met my gaze, her expression sunk so much, I believed Mother must have died.

“I’m sorry, Daisy.” Her eyes shifted downward, and her dour expression had me preparing for news that Mother was gone.

Although how I was supposed to react was beyond me.

She cleared her throat. “You can’t see your mother at the moment.”

Huh? She was alive. “That’s okay. I’m not here to see her.”

“Oh.” Her face plunged, even more serious. “You’re here to see the police then?”

I wasn’t expecting that. “What? The police are here? Now?”

She nodded. “I thought you knew. They’ve been here all morning.”

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