Chloe didn’t answer. She pulled a few tissues free and set about drying her eyes.
“Mum?” The word was out before I could stop it.
Chloe’s expression melted into one of pure delight as the word fell silently from her own lips:Mum. She shot me a quick smile, then turned to the teller. “There is one thing?—”
I almost laughed, pretty sure she was fluttering her lashes. “Any chance you can remind me of my banking password?”
The teller briefly glanced my way, apology in his eyes. “I’m sorry. Passwords are encrypted, even from us. I can help you change it, but I can’t tell you your old one.”
Chloe pouted sweetly. “Oh, bother. That’s such a kerfuffle. I’m not good with computers.”
I almost laughed at her obvious attempt to manipulate him. “I can help you do that later,” I told her. The last thing we needed was Austin finding his new password had been changed. “But maybe you can tell us what email addresses are associated with the account?”
The teller looked to Chloe for confirmation he could answer, and she nodded. He turned the screen so we could both see. “Just one.”
“That’s Austin’s,” Chloe said, looking troubled. “I’m not sure what happened to mine.”
“Would you like me to add it back in?” the teller offered.
“Yes, thank you,” Chloe said, then struggled to remember it, trying several before she gave up.
I pulled it from my own phone instead and handed it to the teller. When he was done, we thanked him once again and he disappeared back to his post.
“I’m done.” Chloe took my arm, looking as exhausted as I’d seen her. “Home, Nick, please.”
“After you.” I held the door open for her and she blushed like a schoolgirl.
Following her through, I finally looked around and saw Mads watching us, grinning like a fool. He’d clearly witnessed the hug. When he joined us, I jabbed a finger to his chest. “Don’t start with me.”
He smirked and fell into step alongside. “I never said a word.”
Back in the car, I looked around to where Chloe was busy fastening her seat belt. “Does Austin live far from here?”
She looked up, surprise brightening her weary eyes. “No. We can drive past on the way home, if you like. Just go left at the lights instead of right.”
I shot Mads a look. “I think we should do that.”
Mads didn’t say a word, just arched a single silver-tipped brow and began reversing out of the car park.
“You don’t like him much, do you?” Chloe ventured. “Austin, I mean.”
I schooled my expression and spun in my seat to face her again. “Like doesn’t really come into it. Trust is what’s important. And Mads will testify that I barely trust the people I know and love, let alone those I don’t.”
Mads snorted. “Understatement of the year.”
Chloe’s answering smile fell flat as she weighed the significance of my words. I didn’t trust because of what she’d done. She knew that.
I turned back and left her to think. I hadn’t said it to be hurtful; it was simply the truth. And it was something Chloe would need to acknowledge if this mother/son rekindling thing was going to work.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MADIGAN
WatchingNick and his mother embrace damn near broke my heart. In the middle of a bank, in front of a teller, it had been a very, very un-Nick thing to do. Shocking and powerful in its raw, unchecked emotion, the lingering hug offered far more hope than any words. Hope for them both, but especially for Nick.
Relief powered through me. It felt like things were on track. I had zero idea what had transpired in that room to warrant such a response, and I was going to have to wait to find out. But it symbolised a significant breakthrough, at least on Nick’s part, and for that I would be eternally grateful.
Chloe interrupted my thoughts with a tap on my shoulder. “Turn here. This is their street.”
