Page 67 of Lime Tree Hill

Her hands shaking, Tayla stood at the sink sipping a glass of water. Ever since leaving Sydney, she’d dreaded meeting Hayden again, but now she had, his demeanor seemed so out of character that she’d hardly recognized him. And as he’d stood in front of her, in need of a shave but still dressed as impeccably as ever, the knowledge their life had been based on a lie was all she’d needed to cut him adrift.

He’d always been a proud man, brimming with confidence in every aspect of his life. From his knowledge of the arts to his bedside manner and the way he presented himself, Hayden was well-respected. Not only by his friends and colleagues, but by his patients too. If summing him up in one word, ‘wonderful’ would fit perfectly.

So what caused a ‘wonderful’ man to lead a double life? Was it greed? Excitement at the prospect of being caught? She’d never know. That part of her life was over, and while Tayla hadn’t realized it at the time, it had ended the day he’d left her at the chapel.

The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs filled her with dread. Apart from the once, Mitch had never asked her about her life in Sydney. Now he’d heard snippets of their conversation. Had he heard Hayden say he still loved her?

Tayla turned as he opened the door, the glass of water still in her hand. She tried to read his expression. His height and the broadness of his chest and shoulders made her feel small—insignificant. And as Tayla stared at Mitch across the kitchen, she wished he’d scoop her up in his arms and hold on tight until her racing heart slowed.

He strode across the living room and into his office without saying a word. He was angry, and rightly so, but she’d never expected the silent treatment. Although, when she thought about it, that had been his reaction when he was angry with Prue as well. Closed off.

Tayla sat at the table for several minutes, wondering if she should approach him. She recalled his words from the night theytraveled home from Tulloch Point:discretion doesn’t apply between us.She stood, walked to the office door, knocked and entered.

He sat on the leather couch, his head in his hands, filtered sunlight hitting the wall above him in horizontal bands. She sat side-on next to him. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I had no idea he’d pull a stunt like that.”

He looked up. “You knew he was coming?”

“No, not at all.”

“But you knew he was here. I told you two days ago.”

“Yes, but I decided it was best to ignore him.”

“Come on! The guy flew over from Sydney to see you, and you thought if you buried your head in the sand, he’d just disappear? Does his wife know about your little affair?”

“Please don’t pretend you know the details, because you don’t.”

He held her gaze for a moment, then rose from the couch and sat at his desk. “When I phoned you that day from London, were you with him?”

“No. I went to sort out my apartment. He didn’t know I was there until after I’d come home.”

“But you’ve kept in touch?”

“Not lately.”

He leaned forward in his chair. “You told me you were single. When did you two break up?”

“When I left Sydney.”

Mitch nodded, his attention focused as he waited for her to elaborate. She didn’t.

“You’d better start from the beginning. And before you tell me it’s none of my business, when a guy barges into my home and causes a scene that can be heard from downstairs, it’s my business.”

“I agree. But you seem to think I’m an adulteress, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“I never said that. But why don’t you enlighten me? Just so we’re clear.”

Tayla went to stand, then thought better of it, her hands gripped together as she took a deep breath. By the time she’d finished, she’d told Mitch almost everything. Almost.

“So you didn’t realize he was still with his wife, is that what you’re saying?”

“I had no clue. Their divorce was finalized in January of last year.” She twisted the wedding band on her finger, the same finger that once held Hayden’s engagement ring. “He said they were long over.”

“What kind of relationship did you have? Were you happy?”

“Cognitive…intellectual might be a better word. We were friends. And yes, I was happy. Content.”

“Friends with intellectual benefits.” She noted the sarcasm in his tone. “That’s a new one.”

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