Page 50 of Lime Tree Hill

She frowned at the ‘lucky dog’ quip. “Yes, I think so.”

“So, you’re not out on the town tonight?” His voice softened.

“No, not tonight.”

“Okay…well, I’ll probably be home Tuesday.”She could hear people calling him in the background, but he hesitated before continuing, “Text me if you have any problems. See you then.”

Tayla opened her mouth to carry on the conversation, but he’d already hung up.

The following day, with Valentina in tow, Tayla returned to Cherry Grove to finish the cleaning. By late afternoon, apart from the carpet, the house was spotless.

It wasn’t until Monday evening, as she stood on the balcony off the living room and gazed over the orchard to her family home, that the enormity of the move hit her. The evening had stilled, and the realization that she would never again sleep in her old bedroom, make pancakes in the kitchen, or soak in the clawfoot bathtub filled her with a lonely sadness. That loneliness didn’t come from being alone; it came from her own inability to ask for help when she needed it. Her inability to let go.

Noticing vehicle lights on the side road, Tayla wondered if it was Mitch. But as the car drew closer, she realized it was only Ned. The wave of disappointment that crashed over her was puzzling. After all, she meant nothing to him, and he meant nothing to her. But when Mitch texted the following morning tosay he was staying on for a few days, that disappointment intensified.

The week passed without incident until Thursday. On her way home from the hospital, Tayla sat at City Beach, picking at the teriyaki chicken and rice from the Japanese restaurant on Seaview Road. As usual during these reflective times, Hayden entered her thoughts. His betrayal had played out in front of her very eyes. How could she have been so out of tune with their relationship that she’d failed to notice?

Tayla removed her shoes and walked to the water’s edge, hitching up her skirt as the swash rushed at her toes. Taking a series of deep breaths to calm her nerves, she contemplated her fears and regrets and life at Lime Tree Hill until she felt numb inside.

When she pulled up outside the packing shed and saw Mitch’s white Hilux parkedin the garage, Tayla stayed in the car for a moment, gathering the strength to face him.

The door to the loft stood open, and as she climbed the stairs, she heard Mitch on the phone, his tone jovial and light. Looking up from the couch, he smiled briefly when she placed her keys on the sideboard. As she opened the fridge to grab a bottle of juice, he stood, moved to his office and shut the door.

Standing at the sink, Tayla poured the juice into a glass and took several gulps, her throat dry from the salty teriyaki. Mitch returned to the room a few seconds later. He offered a curt ‘hello’ before inquiring about her day, Edward, and her father.

With the pleasantries out of the way, he asked her to sit for a minute. He wanted to get something off his chest, he told her. Something important. They sat at the table, the remnants of his dinner pushed aside, and as Tayla studied him across an open newspaper, he leaned forward, entwining his fingers in front of hislips. She noticed a tightness to his jaw and how his eyes narrowed. He looked as exhausted as she felt.

“I did a lot of thinking on the way home this afternoon.” He held her gaze, waiting for an acknowledgment perhaps. But over the years, she’d learned not to preempt conversations that started with ‘I did a lot of thinking.’

“This whole thing,” he continued. “You and me…well, anyway, I’m finding it frustrating, to be honest, and I don’t know how to make it right.”

She didn’t want to react but felt herself frown as he spoke.

“You’ve had so much on your plate lately, and I’m sorry I haven’t had time to help with the packing, but we’ll get stuck in tomorrow.” He studied her as if waiting for a reaction. “It’s just, with the move from Australia, your father’s illness, and the crap I’ve put you through, do you think you need to talk to someone? A counselor maybe?”

Tayla pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d had counseling before, so wasn’t opposed to the idea, but she had Ruby and Tim to talk to.And besides, they’d only been married a few weeks. How had he reached this conclusion when they’d scarcely spent any time together?

“I don’t want you to be unhappy here.”

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

“Were you in a relationship in Sydney?”

Tayla hesitated. She didn’t understand this sudden interest in her past. “For a while. Why?”

“You seem to be missing someone…something.”

Silence stretched between them.

“Is it still too raw?” he asked.

“A bit.” She forced a tight smile. “It’s harder when you didn’t see it coming.”

Mitch nodded. “How long were you together?”

“Too long as it turned out. But it’s all good.” She rose from the table and returned the juice to the fridge, swallowing lumps ofemotion as tears trickled over her lashes. “I might go to bed. I’m sorry me living here hasn’t worked out the way you planned. Goodnight.”

“Tayla?”

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