The Way Back (Emerald Bay #1) by Lilly Mirren

Author:Lilly Mirren [Mirren, Lilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 32792874
Publisher: Black Lab Press
Published: 2017-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ELEANOR

My first week at SeaWorld was over. It had been tiring and wonderful all at the same time. I’d learnt so much already – where to find things, who each of the dolphins were, how to get them to respond, and so on. I felt overwhelmed, but in a good way. It was exciting to be starting my new life. It was as though everything was falling into place. I hadn’t thought about Mack in days, and even when his face flitted across my mind or something reminded me of him, it was with a fondness rather than a stabbing pain to the gut.

My heart was healing. Slowly but surely, pain was being replaced by acceptance, fear with peace, and grief with anticipation for what was to come.

I smiled and mixed the pikelet batter in a bowl with a long wooden spoon. Pattie was watching Playschool in the den, and the kids would be home any minute now. I’d heard the school bus pull up outside the house moments earlier.

The front door blew open, then closed again with a bang. Jack and Stella stormed into the house, chattering and laughing loudly together. They threw their school bags on the floor by the kitchen bench. Jack ran over to peer into the bowl in my hands and Stella followed quietly, looping one arm around my waist with a smile. “Hi Mum,” said Jack, “Whatcha cooking’?”

“Pikelets,” I said with a chuckle.

“Yum!” Stella pushed a finger toward the bowl, trying to scoop up some of the batter.

“Not yet – I’ll give you the bowl when I’m finished.” I laughed and gave each of them a sideways squeeze. “So how was school?”

“Fine.” Jack pulled out a kitchen stool from beneath the bench and slumped onto it with a sigh.

“It was great!” Stella leaned her elbows on the counter, her chin in her hands, and grinned. “I made another friend.”

“You did? Who is it?” I asked.

“Sylvia Matthews,” she said. “Remember, we met up on Flat Rock? She’s in my class.”

My heart leapt into my throat. One of Finn’s daughters was Stella’s age, wasn’t she? My cheeks grew hot and I spooned batter into the sizzling frying pan. “Oh, that’s good. So you’re friends now, are you?” I asked, attempting nonchalance.

“Yeah, I like her a lot. She’s really nice. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just thought her family was out of town.” The pikelets began to bubble on the surface and I slipped a spatula beneath one to flip it over.

“Yeah, but they got back yesterday.”

Finn was back. What did that mean? Probably nothing. I’d heard he’d gone down south to visit relatives. Why was I trying to read something into that? There was nothing between us, at least nothing I could count on. He didn’t seem to trust me, wasn’t ready to move on with his life.

I had to see him. If I could see his face, I’d know how he felt. I’d always been able to read him, what he was thinking or feeling.

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