Instead he began to plan.
For the first time since being caught in the tsunami, Ethan was glad he had another month’s leave.
He was going to need it.
Chapter 6
Chelsea found it difficult to breathe, her chest tight as she drove back to Lilydale.The nerve of the man!Both of them.Thinking her mother would sell because the garden had been left to die.
She gripped the steering wheel tighter to stop her hands from shaking.Aunt Maggie’s garden had been destroyed because of some greedy bastard who didn’t understand the history of the place.
Tears burned her eyes and her throat ached, but she would not give into them.Not with Ethan here.It would make her too vulnerable to him.
She shouldn’t have allowed him to come with her.This was her business, and he’d opted out of having anything to do with her years ago.
She swallowed hard, focusing on the road ahead of her through her blurry vision.Thank goodness the road wasn’t busy.
Her one take-away from this morning was they were not selling to Johann, or any subsidiary he might be associated with.
But she had no clue what to do with Lilydale.
The enormity of the task came into view as she turned the corner and saw the overgrown mess of the garden.She bit back a sob as she pulled into the driveway and the tick of the engine was loud in the silence.
Chelsea shoved open the door and strode towards the house, taking big gulps of air to keep the angry tears at bay.Hopefully Ethan would take the hint and head back to the barn while she pulled herself together.At the front door, she struggled with the key and with a groan of frustration, she stepped back to stop shaking.
Ethan gently took the keys from her and unlocked the door.“How are you feeling?”Without looking at her, he hip-bumped it open.
Damn it.She didn’t want him to see this.Taking another deep breath to control the quaver in her voice, she said, “Furious.”She swallowed hard.“Devastated.”And glad he wasn’t watching her, which gave her the ability to pretend he wasn’t witnessing her melt-down.She headed for the kitchen to put the kettle on.
“I told him he has to repay the money.”
Surprise made her glance at him.“We both know this is about more than the money.”The sympathy on his face made her turn away again.
“Yeah, but it will help if you do want to restore the garden.”
She heard his unasked question.Did she want to restore it?It would take her time to find a new job and somewhere to live.“I have to think about it.”
“What are you doing today?”
Why wouldn’t he leave her alone?She wanted to throw herself on her bed and cry for a couple of hours for all she had lost—Aunt Maggie, the garden, and Ethan—but that’s not the way she worked.“I’ll start sorting through the house.”No matter the final decision, she would have to remove all Aunt Maggie’s personal effects.
The kettle boiled and with surprise she noticed she’d prepared two mugs for tea.She exhaled slowly as she turned to him, finally getting her emotions under control.“Do you want one?”
“No, I’m good.”Ethan favoured his left side as he moved to the door.“Do you mind if I keep working in the garden?”He shrugged a little self-consciously.“I’m enjoying it.”
She debated asking him about his injury.It was none of her business.But perhaps she had a responsibility if he was gardening for her.“What happened?”She nodded to his side.
“Broke my pelvis,” he said.“I’m on medical leave.”
She frowned.“How?”
He grimaced.“Got caught in the tsunami last year in Asia.”
Her eyes widened.From the footage she’d seen, it had been horrific.“Were you on holiday?”
He shook his head.
Why could he ask all the questions and not elaborate on hers?“The army?”
