Her Hometown Redemption. Rachel Brimble

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      “Parties. I’m a party planner.” Tanya laid the tray on the desk. “Milk?”

      “Yes. A party planner? Well, there’s always an excuse for a party in my book. There’s been enough unpleasantness in this town over the years. I’m all for you promoting a bit of fun and games instead. Much better.”

      Tanya bit back a response. It might be beneficial to let Marian do the talking and only respond when she actually asked a question. She passed her a mug and inched the sugar closer. Fighting her annoyance over how Marian sat so comfortably in Tanya’s chair, she strolled across the office to grab one of two visitors’ chairs that would eventually sit in front of her desk.

      She sat and met the older woman’s expectant gaze. “So, what is it you want to know?”

      Marian lifted her mug to her lips, eyeing Tanya over the rim. She took a delicate sip before returning it to the desk. “How’s Sasha? Why didn’t she come back with you? And what are you intending to do as far as making up for the way you treated certain people in this town?”

      Bam, bam, bam.

      Okay, so Marian clearly intended to go straight for the jugular.

      Tanya cleared her throat. She needed to show Marian she wouldn’t be pushed around, no matter the mistakes she’d made. “Sasha’s happy and wants to stay where she is. As for the third question, you’ve obviously heard all about the career-mad, money-hungry woman I was before I left. I expected nothing less than people in this town to take immense pleasure in telling others about the person I was back then.” She took a sip of her tea. “Fresh starts are practically forbidden in Templeton. A person either stays the same or they rock the boat. No one in the Cove likes someone who stirs up the waters...unfortunately, my return will undoubtedly do just that.”

      “You’ve got that wrong, for a start.”

      “Have I?”

      “I can safely say no one rocks the boat in this town more than me. If you can manage to shake off that big ole chip on your shoulder, there’s a good chance you’ll do just fine and dandy here. If you don’t...” She shrugged. “You’re likely to drown with the first incoming tide.”

      Tanya held Marian’s gaze, irritation burning hot in her stomach. “I’m back because this is where I need to be. Why, is nobody’s business but mine.”

      “Need or want?”

      Tanya frowned. How could a stranger, a woman who knew nothing about her, pick up on such a slip? “Fine, I’m back because the Cove is where I want to be. Sasha didn’t come with me because she enjoys her life in Bridgewater. She’s finally found somewhere she is happy, and with the man she needs to keep her that way.”

      “I’m glad.” Marian smiled. “I just about love the bones of that girl.”

      A stab of what felt far too much like envy to have someone say something so affectionate about her sister kicked Tanya’s heart. She quickly looked away from Marian’s unwavering gaze and stared toward the window. “So do I, so at least we have something in common.”

      “Oh, I think we have plenty more than that in common.”

      Tanya faced Marian. “Such as?”

      “Such as you might have lived here before but, for all intents and purposes, you’re a stranger in town.”

      Tanya stared. Did this woman know how much her words were hurting her? Or was she oblivious to Tanya’s loneliness and complete regret for what her impulsive and judgmental words and unsympathetic actions had done to people when she’d lived in Templeton before? “And?”

      “When I came into town with George, everyone looked at me as though I was a tiger in a cage. As though, at any moment, I would gnaw my way clean through the bars and damn well eat them. They’d wait with bated breath to see what I would do next. Who I was and why I was with good ole George Cohen just about riled every damn person who looked, spoke or insulted me. No one wanted to offer me friendship until they got to know me and my so-called agenda.”

      Tanya huffed out a laugh. “Sounds about right.”

      “So what do you think I did to become the respected and loved person I am in the Cove today?”

      Tanya arched an eyebrow. “That’s quite a high opinion of yourself.”

      Marian narrowed her eyes. “Another thing we have in common.”

      Seconds passed...before she and Marian both grinned.

      Tanya laughed and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Marian Cohen.”

      Marian put down her mug and closed her hand around Tanya’s. “Likewise.”

      Tanya shook Marian’s hand and relaxed into her seat. She regarded the formidable woman across the desk with curiosity—and a hefty dose of determination. They’d reached a clear understanding, but that didn’t mean Marian could be trusted. Tanya cleared her throat and crossed her arms. “So...what else do you want to know?”

      Marian picked up her mug. “Nothing...for now. But I do hope you’ll come to me to talk when you’re ready.”

      “Why?”

      Marian took a sip of her tea. “Because I know why you’re back.”

      Unease lifted the hairs at Tanya’s nape, but she stayed perfectly still, her poise practiced and perfected. “Oh?”

      “You’re back because you’re running home. Sasha told me how much you dislike Templeton and you’ve made your derision pretty clear to me today. Why come back to the Cove unless you needed someone, or something, you knew would still be here?”

      Heat seared Tanya’s cheeks as Marian’s suspicions hit the bull’s-eye. Hadn’t she returned in the hope Liam would accept her apology and still be there for her? Hoped he wouldn’t just help her slip back into Templeton’s community, but help her find the man who hurt Sasha when she was a child?

      She swallowed and forced her gaze to Marian’s. “This was my home for twenty-two years, I have every right to be here. I want to start over and make up for some of the hurt my decisions caused. But more than anything, I’m back to get some answers.” Goddamn it, why the hell did I say that?

      Marian narrowed her eyes, all friendliness vanishing from her gaze. “Answers to what?”

      “I don’t want to talk about it.”

      Tanya’s heart picked up speed. She needed answers to everything. Answers to who she was. Answers to where the man who hurt Sasha now hid. Answers about the depth of Liam’s pain and what she could do to atone for the careless way she’d treated him and their love.

      Marian cleared her throat and stood, sliding her purse from the desk and hitching the strap onto her shoulder. “The Cove is a good and safe place for anyone needing protection and kindness, but both need to be earned. You’d be wise to let others in. Prove you can be trusted with their offers of help. Because, believe me, the offers will come.

      “When СКАЧАТЬ