Page 15 of Back in the Saddle

“Hi, Mum.” I walked over to her to give her a hug. She embraced me warmly.

Taylor cocked her head. Could I still call her Mum? I may be split from Taylor, but Lorraine had nurtured me through my adult life. She deserved that title.

“Hi, Mum,” Taylor said, making her way to us. “What are you doing here?”

“Isabelle’s birthday.”

Taylor stared at her.

Lorraine’s eyebrows drew together. “You haven’t forgotten her birthday, have you? It’s bad enough you forget to return my messages.”

Taylor scowled. “No.” She crossed her arms. “Of course I haven’t forgotten.”

From the indignation in her voice, I couldn’t tell if she’d forgotten or not.

“Isabelle and Callum called me a month ago and begged me to come home for it.”

Had they just? Why were they so desperate to have her here? Maybe a month ago, they thought she could have influence overour disintegrated marriage. A lot had happened in a month, though.

I sighed. “We haven’t got anything special planned.”

Lorraine glanced between Taylor and me. Then she took a step back. And another. Her scrutiny had me shuffling my feet.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I’m going to help Fran,” I said.

Lorraine grabbed my arm. “I don’t think so.”

I stood still like a child who had disappointed their mother, even though the mother didn’t even know it yet.

Taylor’s arms were still crossed. “Maybe Isabelle wanted one last get together before Ciaron went back to Ireland.”

Lorraine’s mouth dropped open. I gritted my teeth. Taylor wouldn’t let the idea of me moving go.

“Why would Ciaron be going back to Ireland?”

“Because we’re no longer married,” Taylor said the words with such derision, I recoiled.

Lorraine’s eyes narrowed as she considered us both. “I beg your pardon.”

“Ciaron left me.”

I grunted. “Yeah. Because it was all my fault. Need I remind you that you checked out a long time ago?”

Lorraine held up her hand. I shut my mouth.

“You’re separated? How long?”

“Nearly three months.” I gave Taylor a pointed look. Three months and she hadn’t told her mother. She had so much disregard for us all. I grimaced. I hadn’t told her either, and yet I still thought I could call her Mum.

“Why am I only hearing about this now?” Lorraine asked, anger tinging her words.

Taylor shrugged. She’d been too busy, I suppose. Funny that.

“And you’re going back to Ireland?” Lorraine asked me.

Taylor nodded.

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