Page 23 of Wedding Bells By the Creek

He didn’t want her back. Did he? She was his first and only love. His wife and the mother of his child. After she left, every footstep outside his door had caused his heart to leap in the hope she was back. He had long ago forgiven her infidelity. Could he forgive her desertion as well? And if he did, was there a relationship there to rekindle? He had watched her twisting her hands and noticed that she wasn’t wearing the rings he’d given her. But her finger still showed the mark of those rings. Perhaps she too had held on to the hope that one day that marriage would be rekindled.

‘Dad?’

‘No. I don’t …’ His voice trailed off as memories burst to life in his head. Steph and he had been teenagers together. They had learned about love and life together. He remembered how his heart has almost burst with love on their wedding day and in the hospital the day Scott has been born. It had been easy to say that was all in the past when Steph was nothing more than memories. But now she was here. A flesh and blood woman who had once been everything to him. That was harder to push aside.

‘Did she … did she ask about me?’

Scott’s question brought Ed firmly back to the present. He wasn’t the only one affected by Steph’s return. Scott must be as confused as he was.

‘She did. I told her you were in England. I think she would like to talk to you. If you want to talk to her.’

Ed saw his son hesitate. Those years of searching for his mother had left their mark.

When Scott finally spoke, he sounded sure. ‘Yes. I do. But not tonight. I need some time to process this.’

‘You and me both, son,’ Ed said. ‘I could try to set something up for this time tomorrow. If that’s not too soon? I just don’t want to wait too long … let this drag on.’

‘I understand. Tomorrow is fine. But only if you’re all right with this, Dad.’

‘I have to be. She’s here now. I … we just have to deal with it.’

Helen wished she had a car. Then she could get in it and just drive away. But she didn’t have a car, and driving away would mean leaving Tia behind. She wouldn’t do that. But she wouldn’t go back to the hotel either. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Ed and his wife together. Having dinner … the dinner she was supposed to be having with him.

The tears were pricking at the back of her eyes again.

‘Damn it!’ She brushed them away angrily. In her life, she had shed far too many tears over men. The day she lost Tia, she had sworn she would never cry over a man again … because nothing was as bad as having your child run away from you. Nothing.

But this was close.

For the first time in forever she had allowed herself to hope. Her daughter had welcomed her back into her life. And then Ed had appeared, with that easy understanding and inner kindness and strength, the likes of which she had never seen before. He made her feel young again. He made her feel valued. He made her feel like a woman.

And now his wife was back. Helen had no illusions. Despite her new hairstyle, she knew that compared to Stephanie, she was a sparrow competing with a swan. Although they must be around the same age, Stephanie was far prettier than her. She wasn’t worn down with years of loss and searching. She didn’t bear the scars of too many bad men and bad choices.

She had seen Stephanie’s face when she looked at Ed. Seen the emotion there. Stephanie still had feelings for him. It had been written clearly for the whole world to see. She hadn’t dared look too closely at Ed’s face, in case she saw the same feelings reflected in his eyes. She had run. Out of the pub and to the only place in Coorah Creek she could go – Max’s home behind the police station.

She had been sitting on the steps for what seemed like hours, waiting for him to return. She was alone. In the darkness. Trying not to cry.

From here, she couldn’t see the pub. Or the garage. She didn’t know if Ed and Stephanie were still in the bar. Perhaps Ed had taken her back to the house where they had once lived as man and wife. Maybe in their old home, they would rediscover …

‘Helen? What are you doing sitting here in the dark? Is everything all right?’ Max seemed to appear from nowhere.

‘No. It’s not all right.’ She began sobbing as if her heart was breaking, which she suspected it was. Max stepped towards her and lifted her gently to her feet.

‘Whatever it is, Helen, we can deal with it. Tia and I are here for you.’

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. As she sobbed against his chest, she couldn’t help but wish that it was another man holding her in his arms.

Chapter Eleven

Would the pub door never open?

He had been waiting in his workshop for what seemed like hours, his eyes fixed on the door, trying to formulate the words he would say to Helen. It had taken all his resolve not to go and bang on the door the moment he got out of bed after a sleepless night. It wasn’t just good manners that held him back. He had no idea what he would say to Helen. Or to Steph, for that matter, should he meet her. How hard must it be for both of them … staying at the same place where they were bound to bump into each other.

At last he saw movement across the road. Jack North opened the front doors of the pub. Ed was on his feet in a moment and heading across the road.

‘Morning, Ed.’

Jack didn’t offer him a drink. He knew that wasn’t what Ed was there for. Ed said a silent thank you that Trish and Syd were out of town. If Trish had been there, by now the whole town would have heard about his wife’s return. Although, Coorah Creek being what it was, Ed guessed a lot of people knew even without Trish’s help.

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