Page 88 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘The baby’s doing well,’ Anna said. ‘The thing is, Emily’s father-in-law died this morning.’

‘He’s been ill for a while, hasn’t he?’

‘Yes, but it was still sudden and unexpected, though.’

‘Okay...’

‘Mum, I think I need to be here for the funeral—’

‘Anna,’ Jean cut in. ‘I know Emily’s going through a difficult time, but Willow’s so looking forward—’

‘This isn’t about Emily.’

There was a very long silence. Her mother was waiting, and Anna was unsure how to formulate what she wanted to say, but it was more than that. It was also what she wanted—no,neededto happen next.

‘Can I ask you to bring Willow out here to Marbella?’

‘Marbella?’ Her mother gave an incredulous laugh.

‘I want to go the funeral and—’

‘I’m sorry for their loss, but your daughter has to come first, surely?’

‘She does,’ Anna said, and took a breath. ‘Mum, I’ve met someone... Alejandro’s brother.’ She knew that by voicing it she was opening herself up to hurt, and to her mother’s scorn, but she was determined to do it anyway. ‘He wants me here for the funeral and—’

‘Someone you’ve known for aweek?’

‘We met at the wedding.’

‘And was that why you flew off to Spain the first chance you got?’

‘No!’ She gave the Spanishno—the terse no...the absolute no. ‘I’m not sure what’s happening between us. I just know that I care about him very much, and now his father has died suddenly.’ She did care very much, and there was a part of her that knew he cared too. ‘We can’t ever be a couple, but I can be a support to him. But I also need Willow—and she needs me.’

‘I’m not just jumping on a plane with her to meet Mummy’s latest—’

‘That’s uncalled for!’ Anna snapped. ‘Nothing will ever come before Willow, but she’s old enough to know that her mother has a friend who’s lost someone—’

‘I’m sorry. No.’

‘I understand,’ Anna said—and perhaps she finally did. Her mother was entitled to her own opinions, but so too was Anna. She was entitled to make her own decisions and her own mistakes, and now she would make her own choices. ‘I’ll be home this afternoon as arranged, then, and I’ll bring Willow back here myself.’

‘You can’t afford to do that.’

Anna couldn’t afford not to. She had to listen to her heart...

It was all a little chaotic.

She booked the flights, and called Emily, and did all she could to put plans in place on her way back to England, so that by the time she walked into the vicarage she knew exactly what was happening.

‘Mummy!’

Willow was the most incredible child—funny, and a bit of a show-off, wearing a tartan beret and full of smiles.

There were presents to be exchanged—Scottish rock for Anna, and the flamenco doll with sweets for Willow...

And a frosty catch-up with her parents.

When they were back in their own home, she told Willow about Josefa. And because she was only four—almost five—Willow didn’t need exact details. She was simply excited to see the pictures.

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