Page 40 of Lime Tree Hill

Tayla’s heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. She’d asked him to come, giving little thought to his feelings or connecting the three similar-looking plaques. When she’d attended Norman’s funeral, no one had ever mentioned he’d been buried between his wife and son. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“It’s okay.” Mitch shifted his attention from her to his father’s last resting place. “My grandmother was driving my father into town when she had some kind of blackout at the wheel. The car crossed the center line and collided with a milk tanker. They both died at the scene. He was twenty-two, she was forty-eight. Norman never got over it.”

Tayla crouched down again and read part of the inscription on his father’s grave.Nicholas Harrington. A life cut short…She looked up. “He told me he was a widower and that he’d also lost a son, but he never talked of the circumstances. How old were you?”

“Just turned two. Too young to remember him, but Mum kept his memory alive. My stepfather couldn’t have been a better dad though. He loves me like one of his own. In fact, he was often a lot tougher on the girls than he was on me.”

Tayla pulled two roses from the bouquet and handed them to Mitch, who placed one each on the grave of his father and grandmother.

“Norman taught Tim and I to dance, did you know that?”

“Seriously?”

“We’d decided to go to the school ball together,” Tayla recalled. “Norman offered to teach us the waltz. The night of the ball, we called in to Lime Tree on the way. When he saw me in my gown and without the goth makeup, he got so emotional that he cried. It was the first time he’d ever let me hug him.” Tayla’s eyes pricked with tears. She turned away, embarrassed by the sudden rush of emotion.

“Hey.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back. “It’s okay.”

“Sorry, it’s been such a difficult time lately.” She blinked hard, wiping her fingertips along the rim of her lower lashes. “Norman was a good friend to me.”

“You were one of the few people who ever got through to him in his later years.”

“Maybe because he saved my life.”

“Maybe.”

They rode home in silence, but the journey back to the orchard was anything but quiet for Tayla. What would Norman have said about her marriage to Mitch? About their deception? The thought of going to Ned and Maggie’s played on her mind. It seemed too early in their marriage to act out the lie. She needed more time to get used to the idea.

Upstairs, she rummaged through her closet for something to wear, choosing an olive-green crossover style dress with a tie around the waist, and espadrilles with ankle straps. When she entered the living room, Mitch had changed also, into a white linen shirt and black jeans.Tight black jeans.

He looked her up and down without a word, then turned and grabbed a bottle of wine off the counter. And as she followed him down the stairs, she couldn’t still the butterflies in her stomach.

“I should have made something to take.”

“Don’t worry, Maggie will have nibbles. She loves to cook.”He checked his watch. “We’d better take the Can-Am or we’ll be late.”

“You mean the four-wheeler?”

He grabbed a set of keys off a hook in the garage. “Yeah. Looks like that pretty dress has plenty of room for movement.” He lifted the lid of the hold and placed the wine inside. “Hop on.”

Tayla climbed on, surprised at how comfortable it was, and as he sat in front of her, she grabbed the hand grips and held on tight.

He took off toward Ned’s, increasing speed as they rode along the river track. With the wind in her hair and Mitch at the wheel, she wanted to lean into his back, feel the warmth of him and forget about the part she’d agreed to play.

“Shit.” Mitch slowed as he reached the gate. “Looks like we have a staff party in progress.”

Tayla looked at the cars parked all over the driveway. “Should we come back another time?”

Mitch hopped off. “No, I think we’re the guests of honor.” He offered his hand and helped her down. “Come on Mrs. Harrington. It’s show time.”

“But you said it was a quiet drink.” She stood on the drive and ran her fingers through her hair.

“Yep. Looks like our hosts had other ideas.” He looked at her and smiled, then reached out and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Take a deep breath. You’ll be fine.”

Tayla’s heart fluttered. He offered his hand, and she took it. And as they walked through the door, she felt her apprehension vanish as Ned and Maggie welcomed her warmly.

“What’s all this?” Mitch asked Ned as he accepted two glasses of champagne and handed one to Tayla.

“We couldn’t let the staff find out through the grapevine.” Ned tapped the side of his glass with a teaspoon. All eyes looked his way. “Everyone, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Harrington. Congratulations, you two. May your days be filled with love and laughter.”

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