“I should get that,” she whispered, pulling away.
Andrew kissed her neck lightly. “I’m sure they can wait.”
“It could be important.”
“You’re the boss,” he said.
“Not yet. Dad’s still in charge, and he doesn’t like it when I don’t answer my phone.” With a laugh, she extricated herself from his arms and reached for the phone. “Hello?”
“Honey, it’s Mum.” Her mother’s shaking voice made her breath stick in her throat. “Your dad’s had a heart attack. Come home.”
She couldn’t recall what happened next. The things she said to her mother before hanging up, the frantic search for where she’d stowed her purse. The stumbling over Andrew’s feet as she hurried past him and out the door.
“Where are you going?” he called after her. “What’s happened?”
“Home. Dad’s unwell,” she said. She couldn’t say more. Andrew might be her boyfriend, but this business was her father’s. The last thing he’d want was for her to send the employees into a panic.
She was so lightheaded that she couldn’t find her parking space even though it was the closest one to her office. When her eyes lit on the red sports car, she ran to it and jumped in, then sped away on the small, winding road that led to her parents’ mansion.
Her heart thudded against her ribcage. This couldn’t be happening. Her father was fit, healthy, and not very old. Almost seventy, but not yet. Her parents had her young. After she was born, they’d tried but had never been able to get pregnant again, something they’d likely grieved. Still, they’d never let her see their grief, always treating her as though she was the one child they’d wanted and was everything they could’ve hoped for.
She’d been an ungrateful teen, rebellious and smart-mouthed. It wasn’t until her own husband died when they were still young, leaving her alone, a single mother, that she’d begun to appreciate her parents and how much they’d done for her, how well they’d loved her.
Dad had worked too hard for too long. He was semi-retired and looking forward to spending time with his wife. He deserved to rest after all he’d built and the hours he’d logged. He couldn’t die. It wouldn’t be fair for him—for any of them. They were going on a cruise…
The drive to her parents’ house was quick. They lived close by in the large stone house where she’d spent her childhood. She pulled the car into the circular driveway, but she was stopped by the presence of an ambulance parked outside the front door. The large oak door was swung wide, but there was no sign of anyone about. With a yank at the steering wheel, she turned the vehicle to park it outside the large garage. Then she climbed out and dashed across the lawn to the side door, which her mother always left unlocked.
Inside, she heard voices. She climbed the staircase to the master suite and found her mother pacing the bedroom.
“Taya. There you are,” Mum said, hurrying to meet her and taking both hands to squeeze them, then released them again. “He’s gone, honey. He’s gone. I can’t believe it.” Mum buried her face in her hands and sobbed loudly.
Taya stood gaping, her throat closing over. “No, no, no… Where is he? Mum! Where is he?”
Mum pointed at the bathroom, and Taya ran. She found two paramedics raising a gurney with her father strapped to it. He was ashen and didn’t look like himself. It sent a shiver through her body. Goose bumps prickled down her arms, and she fought the urge to scream.
“Dad,” she whispered, taking his hand. It was still warm, but there was no life in it, no response. Usually he’d embrace her so hard, it sent the breath wheezing from her lungs. Then he’d laugh and pat her back, telling her to toughen up. But instead, he lay still, all his colour drained away.
“Can’t you do something?”
The paramedics shook their heads and offered their condolences, but they stepped aside to give her a moment alone with her father. She stood there, helpless, holding his hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“It’s too soon, Dad. You were meant to enjoy your retirement years with Mum. It’s not fair for you or for her. You were going to travel, to have fun — finally, after all these years of work. I’m not ready to take over the company.” Panic flooded her mind as the realisation dawned. “No, you can’t leave me yet. I’ve still got so much to learn. I don’t want to destroy your legacy, and I’m not prepared.”
She stood with her mother’s hand on her shoulder. They watched as Dad was rolled away on the gurney. Taya’s tears had stopped, but the pain in her throat grew by the moment. Her life would never be the same again.
Four
Plansfor the reunion were coming together better than Beatrice had thought they would. She was very grateful for Chaz, Taya and Evie. Penny had offered to help, but Bea had pointed out that she wasn’t sure how much help she could be from Paris. Penny had agreed, but had assured Bea she and Rowan would be back on Coral Island in time for the reunion. She didn’t want to miss it, since she felt like she’d already missed out on so much. But Bea had reassured her that nothing had changed on the island, and she’d been away for half a year anyway, so Penny hadn’t missed anything.
Bea was parked at the ferry terminal waiting for her children to walk over the gangplank and onto Coral Island for the weekend. Plus, of course, Dani’s boyfriend. A fact Bea was happy to forget, but forgetting wouldn’t change anything. She and Aidan had talked about it and decided that the best thing for them to do would be not to offend Dani or her professor, that the relationship would likely take its own course towards a natural end when Dani, who was a very clever girl, would rightly conclude that the two of them had nothing in common.
It was a risky plan, but Bea didn’t know what else to do. If she confronted her daughter and told her what she thought, Dani’s stubborn streak might surface, and she could end up staying with the cushion-buying, tunic-wearing, shisha-smoking architect to spite them.
When Harry stepped off the ferry and onto dry land, Bea climbed from the car and waved above her head. Danita and Damien followed Harry hand in hand. Damien looked even smaller and older than she’d remembered.
Behave.
She said the word softly beneath her breath, reminding herself that there was a lot at stake. Her daughter no longer had a legal obligation to live beneath her roof or listen to what she had to say. She should be cautious. But still, all she wanted to do was shout that he was not the man for Dani and if he didn’t leave immediately, she’d shove that pipe he loved directly…
