Page 22 of A Secret Escape

She forced her mind back to the current problem. “I’m glad you’re excited, but keep it to yourself.”

“Got it. It’s a secret. But you’re going to have to tell Gramma and Nanna Peg, otherwise they will keep asking about your date. Also they’re always popping into the boathouse on their way past, so unless Nicole is going to be hiding under the bed the whole time they’re going to find her.”

She wasn’t wrong about that.

“I am going to tell them, but I wanted to discuss it with Nicole first.”

Zoe grabbed her schoolbag from the floor of the car. “And how exactly are you going to hide her? Is she going to wear a disguise or something?”

“I haven’t figured that part out yet. For the moment she is staying indoors, and hopefully that will be enough.” Milly pulled up outside the school. Her head was throbbing. “Have a good day. I’ll be back here at four to pick you up.”

“Five. I have an extra drama session because the play is coming up.”

“Five it is.” Was it her imagination, or did Zoe seem less enthusiastic about that than she should have been? “How’s that going?”

“Great.” Zoe smiled brightly. “I’ll see you later, unless you want to send Nicole, and if she could come dressed as Amara, that would be even better. At least it would make me popular.”

“She’s keeping a low profile, so she won’t be coming dressed as Amara. Oh, there’s Cally—” Milly spotted Zoe’s best friend heading toward school. She gave a little beep of her horn, and Cally glanced briefly at the car but then carried on walking. “She didn’t see us. If you sprint, you can catch her.”

“Sure. See you later.” Zoe opened the car door and headed toward school, but she didn’t sprint or yell for Cally to wait.

Milly watched her go and only then did Zoe’s words penetrate her busy brain.

At least it would make me popular.

What did she mean by that? To the best of her knowledge Zoe had never had any trouble making friends, but her best friend had always been Cally. They had the same special bond that Milly and Nicole had once had.As close as blades of grass, as her mother used to say.

So why the comment about being popular? Was she being flippant, or did it mean something?

Exhausted at the thought that she now had something else to worry about, she drove home, thinking instead of what her daughter had said about Nicole.

She didn’t cheat, lie or break promises did she?He’sthe one who is married.

The same could be said of Richard, but Milly had directed most of her anger toward Avery. She’d been angry and upset that Avery had chosen to have an affair with a married man when she could have picked anyone. But Richard could have chosen not to, couldn’t he?

He could have chosen Milly. But he’d chosen Avery.

Milly’s eyes stung. She hated feeling this way. Richard was getting on with his life, and she was still stuck in the same place, her confidence stripped away.

That was why she preferred to blame Avery. It was easier to handle emotionally than acknowledging that Richard had made a choice not to be with her.

But he had made that choice, and it was time he took responsibility for it. And it was time he took responsibility for his daughter.

She pulled over and dialed his number. It went straight to voice mail, which was a relief, and she almost left her usual civilized polite response acknowledging that she’d received his message and would pass it on, but then she stopped herself.Be more Amara.

“You know what, Richard?” Her voice was strong and clear. “If you can’t keep your promises to your daughter, then don’t make them in the first place. Every time you don’t show up, you’re telling her she’s not important, that she doesn’t matter, and I’m damned if you’re going to make her feel as if she doesn’t matter. So don’t do it. Just don’t.”

She was shaking as she ended the call, but she also felt vaguely satisfied. Okay, so she hadn’t actually said the words to his face, but at least she’d made it clear that his behavior was unacceptable. It was a start.

Maybe she wouldn’t ask for a refund on her assertiveness course after all.

Feeling a little more in control than usual, she headed back to Forest Nest and parked outside the building that housed the reception area for the resort and their offices.

“Hi, Milly!” Anna was working behind the reception desk. “Everyone is already in the meeting. There’s a coffee waiting for you.”

“Thanks, Anna. Any problems?”

“Not so far. There was a leak in the bathroom in Aspen Lodge, but the new guests aren’t due to arrive until five, and Joel thinks he will have it sorted by then. He sent his regrets. He’s prioritizing plumbing over the meeting. He says he needs to talk to you later about doing some maintenance on the deck.”

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