Page 42 of The Beach Cottage
Grace came out to join them and caught Bea’s eye with a half smile before embracing her mother. Grace was polite if somewhat taciturn, but it was obvious to Bea that Kelly loved her daughter and missed her terribly.
They sat down together to eat. Bea and Aidan both served the meal, then sat opposite one another at his long timber dining table.
“This looks delicious,” Kelly said.
“Thank you. I hope it is.” Bea adjusted the napkin on her lap.
They all began to eat. Bea was glad to note that the pasta was still warm and the salad was crisp and fresh. Within minutes, Grace excused herself to go to the bathroom. Kelly watched her leave.
“I wanted to thank you, Aidan,” Kelly said. “You took in Grace without questions or concerns and treated her with love. I appreciate that. I didn’t know where she’d gone, and I was beside myself with worry.”
“I was happy to do it,” Aidan said. “But as we discussed on the phone, I’ve been upset about the timing. I wish you’d told me about her right away. I could’ve been there for her first step, her first word. I could’ve walked her to school on the first day.” His voice broke. “I don’t understand why you kept her from me all this time.”
She sighed and dabbed her lips with her napkin. “We were together while you and your wife were separated. When you came to tell me you were reconciling, I didn’t know I was pregnant. But I found out soon after. By that time, you’d changed your phone number and moved. You were back with your wife. You both seemed happy, and I didn’t want to rock the boat.”
“But I told my wife about the relationship. It wasn’t a secret.” Aidan steepled his hands above his plate.
“I didn’t know that. We weren’t talking.”
“You could’ve told me,” he repeated.
“I should’ve. I know that now. I’m sorry.”
A sound behind Aidan made him turn. Grace stood there, her face sullen. She moved forward and took her seat silently.
Grace picked up her fork.
Aidan faced her. “None of this is your fault, Grace. I don’t want you to think I’m upset with you—I’m not. I’m grateful that you came to see me and that I get to know you from now on. I just wish I’d been able to spend more time with you.”
“Me too,” Grace whispered. “I always wanted a dad, but Mum told me I didn’t have one.”
Aidan’s nostrils flared. Bea could tell he was doing his best to keep from getting angry at Kelly, but she didn’t blame him for feeling the way he did. If someone had kept her from seeing her children, she would’ve been furious as well.
Kelly’s face tightened, and she stood to her feet. “I’m not going to sit here and be accused by both of you. I did the best I could. I raised Grace on my own, with no help from anyone. I don’t deserve this.” She threw her napkin down on the table and marched out the front door, slamming it shut behind her. The sound echoed throughout the spacious house.
Grace stared at her plate. At first Bea resisted the urge to intervene, but one look at Aidan’s face told her he was uncertain of what to say.
“Your mum came a long way to see you. We can’t change the past—we can only build the future that we want,” Bea said gently.
Grace nodded, stood to her feet and hurried to the front door. She stepped outside, and they heard her call after her mother.
“Thank you,” Aidan said, running fingers through his hair. “I knew it would be hard, but this is impossible. I can’t move past the grief I feel every time I think about the lonely years I’ve spent wishing I had a family after my wife died, and all that time, Grace was alive, hundreds of kilometres away, wishing she had a father.” He shook his head, his eyes flashing. “It makes no sense. It’s so unfair.”
“You’re right—it is unfair. But you can’t do anything about it now.”
“I know that.” He groaned. “It’s so frustrating.”
“Give it time. You’ll find a way through this together. This is what having a family is like — it’s wonderful, infuriating, impossible, beautiful, overwhelming and a thousand other things. But always worth it.”
He laughed hollowly. “My wife and I always had conflict, especially in the early years, but it wasn’t like this. This passionate, soul-crushing roller coaster ride.”
“Being a parent is different.”
“That’s true. Should I go after them?”
“I think they can manage this part. Let’s eat before it gets cold. Hopefully they’ll join us again soon.”
They sat and ate, talked about fishing, the weather, snorkelling, her kids on their way back to Sydney and how she felt about it. Ten minutes later, Grace and her mother came back inside and sat at the table. Kelly had red blotches on her neck. Grace’s eyes were tear-soaked. But both of them smiled.
