Page 51 of Wild Hearts

I share a look with Ivy, but neither of us says anything. I know she’s still hoping Brady will change his mind, but based on his visit yesterday and his text last night, I’m not so sure. He still hates himself for not having the courage to tell his mum what was going on when he found out about the affair.

Our lunch conversation revolves around the Baptism. It will be at the Catholic church, with a small reception to be held at their house afterward.

“We’d love for you to come, Wren,” Jeremy says with the smile that reminds me of Brady. “The more the merrier.”

I choke on my water, my eyes watering. “Oh, thanks, Mr. Willis,” I say through my coughing fit. “That’s really kind of you, but I don’t know if–”

Ivy reaches under the table and squeezes my hand hard.

I groan inwardly. Brady is going to hate me, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. “Sure,” I smile. “I’d love to come.”

“Great,” Jeremy replies. “And call me Jeremy. You know,” he adds with a laugh. “I always thought you and Brady might end up together.”

My breath hitches in my throat, and my cheeks flush.

Ivy rolls her eyes. “Gross dad. Wren’s like a sister to us.”

I force out a chuckle. “Yeah, that would just be weird, Mist–Jeremy. Nope. Not in the cards I’m afraid.”

Tarshia studies my face, but I pick up my knife and fork and dig into my chicken and sun-dried tomato focaccia that now tastes like cardboard.

After lunch, Jeremy takes Theo home for his nap while Ivy and I go shopping with Tarshia. In the third boutique, Ivy is trying on a couple of dresses for the Baptism and I’m mindlessly browsing the racks when Tarshia sidles up beside me, running her hand over the beading on a pale purple dress.

“Thank you for coming with Ivy today,” she says quietly, glancing over her shoulder to check that Ivy is still in the changeroom. “It means a lot to us that she agreed to be Theo’s godmother.”

“Of course.”

“We know it’s not easy. We know our relationship didn’t have the most conventional of beginnings, and I really am sorry about what we put everyone through.”

I don’t know what to say, so I stay silent.

Tarshia lets out a small sigh as she rubs her stomach. “We just really hope that for Theo’s sake and the new baby, that maybe Brady will come around. We don’t want him to think Jeremy is replacing anyone with a new family. That’s not the case at all.” She looks up at me and I nod. “Forgive me if I’m overstepping.” She casts another glance over at the changerooms, keeping her voice low. “But I saw your face when Jeremy brought up you and Brady.”

I try to keep my face neutral. “Brady and I are just friends.”

Tarshia gives me a small knowing smile. “It’s okay, I’m not going to say anything to Ivy. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Brady, but it would mean a lot to Jeremy if he was at the Baptism. He doesn’t even have to be a part of it. My brother will still be godfather, we’d just love it if Brady were there. But I also know he’s not going to listen to us. Do you think you could talk to him? I know Ivy would feel better if he was there as well.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. It appears that no matter how hard I try to distance myself from Brady, fate seems to push us back together. There are so many reasons why I’m not the person to do this, but as I take in Tarshia’s wet eyes, I find myself saying, “Sure. I’ll talk to him.”

Tarshia pulls me to her, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank you so much,” she breathes. “This means more to us than you know.”

I nod and we pull apart just as the curtain behind us opens and Ivy walks out in a pale baby blue strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline that falls to her knees. She looks ethereal with her long blonde hair and green eyes shining.

A grin spreads over my face. “Wow! Ivy, you look stunning!”

“That’s the one,” Tarshia agrees, the tears finally slipping from her brown eyes. “Stupid pregnancy hormones!” She laughs as she reaches up to brush her cheeks. “Ivy, you look beautiful.”

Ivy stiffens as Tarshia wraps her up in an awkward hug before returning the embrace. “Thanks, Tarshia.”

As we drive back home to Blue Haven, my gaze keeps darting to the suit bag hanging over the back seat. I don’t know what I’m going to say to Brady, or how I’m going to even begin to try and convince him to go to the Baptism. I dread seeing his face when I broach the subject, but it’s not something I can do over the phone. I don’t even know if he’ll agree to see me.

Ivy is staring quietly out the window, watching the crashing waves along the coastline.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods. “It’s just a bit weird.”

“Yeah, but he’s your dad.”

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