Always(Time for Love Book 4)(32)

“Ash, you can’t be serious,” Brenna said, the tears in her eyes pooling.

He blinked back his own tears. “Bren, I know you wouldn’t want to stop helping Patty get through this difficult time. Even though I can’t stand the thought of you seeing Darren so often, I won’t ask you to stop spending time with him either. It would make me feel guilty as hell, knowing how that would be detrimental to his mother’s emotional well-being. But... I just can’t sit and watch it happen right before my eyes," he said, unable to say out loud that he wouldn't be able to endure watching her and Darren fall in love again. "You’ll be wracked with guilt seeing me go through that. It could really tear us apart. So let’s at least keep our friendship intact. We’ll still see each other, but not as boyfriend-girlfriend.”

“Is this a temporary breakup?” Brenna asked, tears streaming down her face.

His heart squeezed painfully. “It would be better if we don’t think of it as temporary.”

Brenna sobbed softly, but she didn’t say anything else. He knew then that she also saw the wisdom of this decision, even though it was hard for them both.

He lifted her hand to his lips then replaced it on her lap.

“Goodbye, Bren,” he whispered, pieces of his heart crashing to the floor. I’ll always love you. Then he stood up and walked away.

*****

“Hey, Ash!”

“Hi, Bec,” Ash said, hugging Rebecca tightly before walking into her house. “You look great! Zach really suits you.”

Rebecca chuckled. “Yes, he does. How are you?”

He saw the concern in Rebecca’s eyes. Yes, she must already know about what had happened to him and Brenna. “I’m good,” he said, giving her a convincing smile. “How was your honeymoon?”

“Fantastic. I didn’t want it to end. If it were possible to extend it, I would have. But Zach was needed back in the office.”

“I bet Magda was glad you guys are back, though,” he said as he followed Rebecca to the rear of the house. “She must have missed you guys so much to organise this welcome-back party. She even rang me personally to make sure I was turning up.”

“Actually,” Rebecca said, lowering her voice to a whisper, “my lovely grandmother-in-law wouldn’t have minded if we’d extended our honeymoon if it meant more chances of a great-grandchild for her.”

Ash laughed. “And do you have good news for her?”

“No, not yet,” Rebecca said with a chuckle. “Gran will have to wait for a few more months. Zach and I want to enjoy married life with just the two of us for a little while more.”

“Is everyone here already?” he asked.

“Yes, except for Greg. He should be here soon.”

His heart galloped. That meant Brenna had arrived. Since their breakup last week, he hadn’t heard from her. Not that he’d expected her to call or anything, but he’d been wondering if she was okay.

Amanda and Connnor had turned up at his doorstep four days ago, wanting to make sure he was fine. He’d assured them he was, and gave them hints that it would be better for both him and Brenna to be given the breathing space to deal with their split. None of the other guys had checked up on him, so he assumed Amanda had passed on the request.

He and Rebecca walked out the back door and into the sunshine. He spotted people lounging by the property’s magnificent poolside. A woman wearing an apron was setting up an outdoor buffet table, and he guessed she was either part of a catering team or a permanent Carmichael staff.

Then he saw Brenna, and his heart did flip-flops. She was sitting under the shade of a big umbrella, seemingly in deep discussion with Magda Carmichael.

“Ash!” Amanda cried, diverting his attention. “How are you, darling?”

“I’m good, sis,” he said, returning her hug.

Ash went to greet the other guys, until he only had Magda and Brenna to say hello to. He walked over to them,

“Ashton. Hello!” Magda said with a wide smile, getting up from her comfortable seat. “I’m glad to see you.”

“Same here, Magda,” he said, giving the sprightly eighty-year-old a kiss on the cheek.

Magda stepped aside, and the time had come for him to greet Brenna.

“Hi, Bren,” he said, his heart thudding hard in his chest. God, he missed her so.

“Hi, Ash,” she said with a smile, putting her arms around him for a hug.

His heart banged harder, and he was sure she felt it. His own arms went around her, tightening of their own volition.

“How’s everything going?” she asked, disentangling herself from him.

“Good, thanks,” he said, a little breathless. “How are things with you?”

Her smile was sad. “Okay,” she said simply.

He frowned. “How’s Patty?”

“She was okay the last time I saw her. But her health is deteriorating.”

He shook his head in sympathy.

“Magda said she’d call some of her contacts to make sure Patty is being seen by the best specialists.”

“That’s good,” he said, smiling gratefully at Magda. The elderly woman had a heart of gold.

“Speaking of specialists,” Magda said. “My optometrist gave me a referral to see you, Ash. Your calendar should show that I have an appointment with you this Wednesday, from memory. Apparently my blurred vision is due to cataract.”