Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall

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       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       Four months later …

      NICOLA slipped the orange chiffon dress over her head and smoothed it down across her hips as her mother tied the halter neck into a bow at Nicola’s nape, and then adjusted the plunging neckline for a flattering and dramatic effect.

      ‘Nicola Ann, you look lovely. You’ll outshine the bride herself.’ Angela McGillroy’s lips pressed together. ‘Not that she doesn’t deserve it.’

      Nicola suppressed a smile. Her mother’s attitude had undergone an amazing transformation ever since a particularly frank and terse discussion they’d had when Nicola had returned from Waminda Downs. She had unequivocally told her mother that if she wanted to maintain a relationship with her, the constant stream of criticism and nit-picking had to stop. She’d told her that the way she chose to live her life was her affair—if it made her happy, why did her mother have such a problem with it?

      Her mother hadn’t been able to speak for a full thirty seconds. ‘But Nicola Ann,’ she’d finally said, ‘all I want is for you to be happy. I just never thought you were.’

      ‘Maybe because I never am when I’m around you. You always make me feel I’m a disappointment, that I never measure up.’

      ‘Oh, Nicola, why have you never told me this before? I’ve been pushing the things that make me happy in the hope that they’d help. They weren’t supposed to make you unhappier! It’s just … that’s the way I was raised.’

      And for the first time Nicola had recognised her own mistakes in the relationship. She’d bottled up all her resentment and pain and had never told her mother how she’d really felt. But now …

      Now they were taking it one day at a time. Relationships like theirs didn’t heal overnight, but she had to give her mother credit for trying. Yes, she still occasionally nagged Nicola, but she’d also become incredibly supportive.

      Cade had been right—we did teach others how to treat us.

      ‘Are you sure you’re happy going to this wretched wedding? Nobody would blame you if you changed your mind, you know?’

      ‘I’m fine, Mum, honestly. The truth is, Diane did me a favour.’

      A fact confirmed the first time she’d clapped eyes on the couple when she’d returned to Melbourne. In fact, with Cade so fresh in her mind, Brad had seemed pale and lacking in dynamism … a touch inadequate even. She couldn’t believe she’d almost married him.

      At the thought of Cade, a cloud drifted across the brightness of the day. Unlike Brad, his influence had not waned with time.

      ‘You know, Nicola Ann, I’m not sure I ever really did like Brad.’

      She had to smile at that.

      ‘But I still don’t like what Diane did. She was supposed to be your friend.’

      ‘I guess these things happen, Mum.’

      She’d accepted that her friendship with Diane had irrevocably changed. There were days she missed their old closeness, but she also enjoyed a new sense of freedom and independence. She’d joined a riding club and she’d started taking singing lessons. She enjoyed her work at the primary school.

      But none of it had been able to drive Cade from her mind. None of it had lessened her yearning for him. Without fail, every week she and Ella had a Skype session. But not once had Cade popped his head into view to say hello and ask her how she was doing. And yet, every week she kept her fingers crossed that he would.

      She’d tried her best to get over him. She’d had three dates since she’d returned home. Two had ended in a goodnight kiss at the front door. There hadn’t been a single spark or flutter or firework. After her last date she’d had to accept what had been staring her in the face for four long months—she’d fallen in love with Cade. She’d fallen in love with him properly, truly and without agenda.

      ‘So why do you look as if the sky is about to fall in?’

      She shook herself. She was about to lie and say nothing was the matter, but she knew her mother would see through the lie and be hurt by it. Their newfound understanding was too new to risk damaging with casual deceit. ‘That has nothing to do with Diane or Brad.’

      ‘I know,’ Angela said softly. ‘You only started looking like that once you returned from that cattle station of yours.’

      Her mother had noticed? Tears pricked the back of her eyes. ‘I’m fine, Mum.’

      ‘I know, but I can’t help worrying about you.’

      The doorbell rang.

      ‘That’ll be your cab. Put on your shoes and powder your nose one last time while I answer the door.’

      Nicola did as her mother bid. She stared in the mirror, pressed the powder puff to her nose … then she put it away and hitched up her chin. Falling in love with Cade was unfortunate, yes, but not insurmountable. At least, she hoped not. Eventually his memory would fade. When it did she would date again. One thing was for sure, though—she didn’t regret turning down his offer of marriage. Not for a moment. Not even in a weak moment.

      She collected her clutch and wrap and with a deep breath headed for the living room.

      ‘Nicola, this gentleman says he knows you. He claims he’s your date for the evening.’

      Nicola glanced up as she walked into the living room, to find Cade’s bulk framed in the doorway. Wind rushed past her ears, drowning out the rest of her mother’s words. She reached out a hand to steady herself on the back of a chair. Cade stood there—in her living room in Melbourne—dressed in a tuxedo, and all she could do was stare … and stare … and stare some more. She blinked but he didn’t disappear. She gripped the back of СКАЧАТЬ