Return to Stringybark Creek by Karly Lane

Author:Karly Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2019-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

Hadley had organised the dinner. Dodging her mother’s questions had proven challenging, but it was easier to distract her with Mia in the house, and the suggestion of a night off from cooking so she could enjoy her grandbaby prevented the grilling Hadley would normally have gotten.

The atmosphere was festive, not unusual this close to Christmas and the two families always enjoyed any excuse for a gathering.

Her gaze settled upon Sue and Bill and she found herself briefly considering how this new relationship might affect them. With a wry smile she realised Olivia and Griff had already eased the path for her and Ollie in that regard. The families used to joke about marrying all the kids off to each other and joining forces like some medieval clan, although she was fairly sure none of them ever actually thought it might come true. Not that she and Ollie were anywhere near that serious yet, she reminded herself quickly. She pushed the thought of marriage and going through all that again—ever—from her mind, choosing instead to focus on her unexpected happiness right now.

She loved being home. She had missed it when she spent so long away. Over the last few years she’d found herself making excuses for not coming home because Mitch was uncomfortable around her family. He wasn’t used to their open affection and good-natured ribbing. She should have pushed him more, but she hadn’t. Maybe on some level she’d known that if she’d tried to force Mitch to be part of her family he’d eventually decide not to get married after all. It made her equal parts angry and ashamed of herself. Why had her ego—her need to prove herself to everyone—let her ignore the red flags that had waved for so long over her relationship with Mitch?

Her thoughts drifted back to her sister, and her mother’s announcement earlier that Harmony was out of town and wouldn’t be coming along tonight. Hadley felt a twinge of guilt over her relief when she heard the disappointment in her mother’s voice. The reality of how things were going to change—had already begun to change—was not lost on her. Hadley assumed that from now on one of them would always try to find an excuse not to attend family functions to avoid the awkward situation. She felt sad that her parents, who always looked forward to having all their children home together whenever possible, would be the biggest losers in this whole, horrible mess.

She glanced up when Ollie walked into the room and felt a warm sensation spreading from her stomach to her toes. The man seemed to get better looking every time she saw him. She’d never taken any notice of how his jeans fitted oh so perfectly, not skinny jeans designed for city chic, but real jeans made to fit a real man. He didn’t wear what was on trend, he wore what was comfortable, and yet somehow he managed to make what the models wore look like kids’ wear.

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