Page 70 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘Thanks, but I’m sure I can catch the last half hour of breakfast at the hotel so I won’t trouble you.’ He began towards the doorway. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen my shoes…?’
‘I’m sorry,’ Eden said lamely. ‘I…You must understand? It’s easier for both of us if we don’t get any more involved than…’
‘I understand. I think it’s an oversimple way of looking at things, but if that’s what you want…’
It wasn’t what she wanted. She liked him. She more than liked him, and she wanted nothing more than what he wanted. But how could she? It would be madness to make this situationmore difficult than she already had. As she watched him leave the room, she wanted to call him back. She wanted to say to hell with it, let’s go for that drink.
But she didn’t. His intentions seemed genuine, and perhaps they were – and if they were, then the mistake was on her. But how could she trust him? She couldn’t separate the fight for her community café from her personal feelings for him, even if he could. And if he said that, it still wouldn’t mean anything. If she lost herself – as she feared she might – if she strayed too far, she might find herself faced with an impossible choice: Cam or her community. If that were to happen, there really was no contest, and all she’d get for making the right choice was heartbreak. Better to end this before it went too far.
When he came back to the kitchen, he was dressed. Collecting his jacket from the chair where he’d left it the previous night, he nodded coolly.
‘So I’ll see you in a couple of days at the hut.’
‘You still want to come? I?—’
‘That was the agreement, wasn’t it? Don’t worry – I gave my word, and I won’t go back on it. I said I’d help for two weeks, and I will.’
‘Thank you,’ Eden said, wondering why she had the sudden urge to burst into tears.
Without another word, he turned to leave. Eden let out a sigh as she heard the front door close. She looked at the eggs in the pan and decided she wasn’t hungry after all.
Perhaps Eden had been feeling particularly vulnerable after Cam’s hasty exit, but an hour later, she dialled her dad’s phone number. She didn’t think a simple phone call had ever made her so anxious, but as soon as she heard his voice, the worry drained from her. Though she’d lost her nerve since the last call whenhe hadn’t picked up, afraid he wouldn’t want to speak to her, she realised now she’d needed to hear it, more than she ever imagined she would. His deep tones were like a blanket to wrap around her soul.
‘Hello, Eden,’ he said, as if there had never been any gulf between them, as if nothing had happened and she’d simply called after a busy week to ask how he was. ‘I’m glad you’ve decided to phone.’
‘Me too!’ she said, fighting back tears. ‘I’m so sorry, Dad.’
‘I’ve told you before, you have nothing to be sorry for.’
‘But I do!’
‘Is this why you disappeared?’
‘No…yes. I suppose so. Caitlin said you were upset.’
‘Not upset but worried. You didn’t have to go; we could have worked it out. Where are you?’
‘I’m…’
‘I won’t come over if you don’t want me to. I only want to know you’re all right.’
‘I know. I’m in Sea Glass Bay.’
‘Really? You mean the Sea Glass Bay where you used to complain about it being the most boring holiday place we could ever take you to?’
Eden gave a watery smile. ‘Weird, huh? I thought about where I wanted to be and…I don’t know. I know when I was a kid, I used to complain. But I used to complain about everything, didn’t I?’
‘You weren’t that bad?—’
‘Dad, I was. We both know it, and I don’t mind if you say so. But after Mum died, I thought about everything, and I just had the most brilliant memories of this place. I was always happy here, even when I said I wasn’t. I thought I could do with some of that.’
‘Has it changed much?’
‘Not as much as you’d imagine,’ she replied, deciding quickly not to tell him about the land-acquisition drama and how it had more or less taken over her life.
‘We had some good holidays there.’
‘We did. Dad, I…are you all right?’
