Feels Like Home (35 page)

‘Well, it's not there now.'

Taylah's face bore a shocked expression at his raised voice as she left the reception desk and rushed past him into the examination room.

Seconds later she was back. ‘Is this what you're after?' She held up the stethoscope.

It had been there all along. Ryan's shoulders sagged and he tried to let go of the tension he'd been holding onto since yesterday. ‘Yes. Thanks Tay. Sorry for being so snappy. I'm just having a really crappy day.'

Her face took on its normal sunny appearance. ‘That's okay. It's not like you at all, though. Hope everything's alright?'

‘Yeah, nothing dramatic.'
Only that my heart is broken and it's my own damn fault.
‘Just having one of those days.'

Taylah nodded and went back to entering data into the clinic's computer. She was a good kid and had turned out to be an enormous help in the clinic. She didn't deserve to have her head bitten off for no reason. Clearly he wasn't fit to be around people right now. ‘Hey, I think I'm going to take a quick drive over to the Craigs' farm to have another look at that lame horse they've got. I'll go to the Ag store and pick up a bit of feed while I'm out. We haven't got anyone booked into the clinic for a couple of hours have we?'

‘No. Actually, no bookings until the Findlay kelpie at four.'

‘So you'll be right here for a bit? I'll be back after school pick-up to see Mrs Findlay's dog.'

‘No worries.'

He whistled for Neddy, one of Dan's cattle dogs, who flew from his sunny spot on the verandah and bounded into the back of the ute. ‘Wanna come for a ride, mate?'

Ryan couldn't help but smile at the wide grin on Neddy's face.

Once they'd crossed the cattle grid he allowed himself to wallow in the injustice of this morning's events. He couldn't stop thinking about that bloody photo. It was tangible evidence of the moment he'd relented and handed Jo his heart on a platter.

She'd vehemently denied having anything to do with its upload to the web, and maybe that was true, but he hated that there was a nagging doubt that he couldn't shake. Last night his imagination had run wild with ideas about what might have happened. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that she had
something
to do with it. Clearly she didn't snap the shot herself, he'd remember that, but maybe she'd had some involvement. He couldn't think of another explanation. No one else at the party had any motive to hurt him this way.

He couldn't quite work out how she'd gotten someone to take it. He hadn't noticed anyone unfamiliar at the party. But then again these Hollywood types knew how to get things done. Maybe she'd paid off some dodgy paparazzo to hide in the bushes all night. Yeah, that was probably it. Come to think of it, there'd been that noise in the bushes that he'd commented on and Jo had laughed it off, telling him it was a possum.

In the cold, hard light of day, he realised that this idea was a bit far-fetched and there was most likely a more simple explanation, but he hated that his imagination had gone there. Surely that wasn't a good sign? He wanted to be able to take Jo at her word, to trust her, but what if he did and then he turned out to be wrong? He had Ella to think about, and there was simply too much at stake.

As he pulled up outside the Craigs' place his phone began to ring. He went to silence it, expecting it to be Jo, but saw Steph's name flash onto the screen. As much as he wasn't in the mood to talk, he thought he'd better take it, just in case she needed something done urgently for the wedding.

‘Hey Steph.'

‘Hey yourself. What are you up to?'

‘I'm up at the Craigs' place, checking on one of their horses.'

‘Oh.'

‘Did you need something?'

‘Yeah I was hoping to grab you for a quick coffee and a talk.'

So she'd heard already. He really didn't need to listen to Steph pleading Jo's case. ‘Sorry, but I've got a pretty full day. After this I've got to head into town for some supplies and then I'm going to see Mum.'

‘How about if I come to the hospital? I'd love to say hi to your Mum and then we can grab a quick coffee afterwards.'

He hesitated. ‘Steph, I'm sorry, but if this is about Jo, I don't want to hear it. Just leave it alone, alright?'

‘It's not about Jo, well not all about her. It's about the photo.'

‘Steph, I really —'

‘Look, Nate and I are getting married tomorrow and I don't want my maid of honour and the best man looking daggers at each other all day.'

‘I promise that won't happen.'

‘I know it won't after what I've got to show you. Now quit being difficult and do what I say. I'm the bride you know, so you have to. It's in the rulebook.'

He couldn't help but chuckle despite his reluctance to see her. Obviously she wasn't giving up. ‘Okay, okay, you win. But let's not do the hospital thing. I'm sick of the sight of that place this week. And I'm sure you don't really want to make a special trip to Belly just to see me.'

‘I will if I have to.'

‘Steady on, I'm not trying to weasel out of it. I can drop by your place on the way if you like.'

‘Nah, not a great idea. It's freakin' wedding central here. Mum's out of her tree. I'll meet you at the bakery for a coffee instead. Text me when you're done at the Craigs'.'

‘Okay.'

An hour later they sat opposite each other with a couple of overly foamy lattes and a pile of cinnamon donuts between them.

‘Thanks for coming, Ryan. I wouldn't have insisted if it wasn't important.'

‘Shouldn't you be doing some sort of wedding stuff?'

She shrugged. ‘Not really. Mum's got it under control. Truth is I'm happy to be out of the place for a bit. I have to be back by four, though. Jo's arriving then so we can do the make-up trial.' She screwed up her face in distaste.

‘So I'm guessing what you have to say is pretty important, seeing as you used your “I'm the bride” card to get me here.'

‘Yeah, sorry about that. Look, I'll cut to the chase. I know who uploaded the photo and it wasn't Jo.'

‘What? Who the hell…?' How could this be true?

‘Now before you get all bent out of shape I need you to promise me you'll listen to the whole story and not start ranting and raving like a lunatic before I'm done.'

‘Yeah alright, but I —'

‘I mean it, Ryan. Just listen to the story and then you can have your say.'

He nodded and picked up his coffee to stop himself from interrupting her. Steph could be formidable when she wanted to be.

Steph stirred her coffee and used her teaspoon to lift some of the foam from the top of her coffee. ‘It was Maddy. It was an accident, or so she says, and I believe her. But even if it wasn't, you have to know that Jo had nothing to do with it. She had no idea the photo had been taken and the first she knew about it was when it started to go viral. Maddy's made a full admission.'

Ryan shook his head and plonked his coffee back on the table. Maddy was just a kid. ‘Why on earth would she do something like this?'

‘Apparently you and Jo “blew her off” at the party.' Steph used her fingers to indicate quotation marks.

‘I…we didn't, it was just —'

‘Hang on, let me finish. She said you palmed some job off on her so the two of you could be alone. She was pissed off. She's a teenage girl, Ryan. You might not have meant to upset her but in case you haven't noticed she's had the hots for you for about six months now. You ditching her for Jo would have been a big slap in the face for her.'

‘Oh god. I had no idea.'

‘Apparently she decided to follow the two of you to see what was going on.'

‘But why take a photo? I don't get it.'

Steph shrugged. ‘It's what they do isn't it? Kids, I mean. It's how they communicate with each other. Maddy can't seem to do anything without recording it on her phone. Anyway she said she never meant for it to go viral. She sent it in a Snapchat to a friend. It was never meant to go any further than that.'

‘Snapchat? What the hell is a Snapchat?'

‘It's kind of like instant messaging, but whatever you send isn't permanent. It disappears after the other person has read it. That's why Maddy thought it'd be safe to send.'

‘If it disappears how did it end up all over the internet?'

‘Apparently the friend took a screenshot and saved it. She sent it to another friend and someone, somewhere along the line, uploaded it to Instagram. Maddy doesn't know who, or if she does she's not saying. I guess that's not so important anyway.'

Ryan covered his eyes with his palms and began to rub them. Bloody hell, this was a total mess.

‘Maddy's so remorseful, Ryan, not to mention embarrassed. She knows she owes you and Jo an apology, but I said I'd break the news to both of you first, so it wasn't such a shock. Honestly, she didn't mean to cause you such grief.'

‘So Jo knows?'

Steph nodded. ‘Yeah, I told her as soon as I figured it out. But she didn't think you'd take her calls, so I volunteered to let you know.'

‘How did you figure it out?'

‘Jo and I were talking about it yesterday and I made a list of all the people at the party. Maddy's just a kid. Neither of us thought to put her on the list. When I got home she was there with Aunty Sue. She was playing with her phone, snapping selfies and posting them on Instagram. It suddenly occurred to me that she might be the one.'

‘So you confronted her?'

‘Yep. Got her on her own under the guise of secret bridesmaid's business and just flat out asked her. She broke down immediately and confessed. Apparently she's been worried sick about the whole thing but was too scared to say anything.'

‘Poor kid.'

‘So you're not mad at her?'

Ryan shrugged. ‘It was a dumb thing to do, there's no doubt about that. But she's just a kid and it was a mistake. I know we all did some pretty stupid things when we were kids.'

Steph grinned. The relief on her face was obvious. ‘I'll let her know she doesn't need to worry about you throttling her then.'

‘Can't say the same for Jo.' Maddy wasn't the only one who needed Jo's forgiveness.

‘I'll handle Jo. You know, I happen to know she's at home right now if you wanted to see her for any reason.'

Seeing Jo wasn't high on his list of priorities right now. He needed breathing space to figure out what he wanted. ‘Good to know.'

‘So are you? Going to go see her?'

Ryan leaned over and gave her a gentle sock to the arm. ‘Mind your own business.'

Steph put on a mock serious face. ‘It is my business. I'm the bride, remember?'

‘I could hardly forget, what with you mentioning it every five minutes.'

‘Well?'

He stood to go, gathering the last of the donuts up in a napkin. Steph raised an eyebrow. ‘They're not for me, they're for Neddy. He's waiting in the ute,' he said.

‘That's not what I meant.'

Ryan sighed. ‘I've got to go see Mum, Steph. I'll see you tomorrow when you're in your bride get-up.'

Steph screwed up her face. ‘Gawd, don't remind me. I don't know where it's written that the bride has to wear a dress. I would have been happy in jeans, but…'

‘You'll be a gorgeous bride, I'm sure.' He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

As he went to pull away Steph grabbed him by the hand. ‘You know the best wedding present I could ever have would be to see my two best friends happy. You and Jo are meant for each other. She loves you, Ryan, and I know you love her back. Stop complicating things and let yourself be happy.'

CHAPTER

36

Ryan stood at the kitchen window waiting. He heard Jo's old Jeep approaching before he saw it. She'd be walking in the door in a minute or two.

‘Ella,' he called.

His daughter appeared in the doorway, her eyes shining with excitement. ‘Yes?'

‘Do you have everything you need to go to Steph's?'

‘Yep. I've double checked just like you told me.'

‘Jo will be here to collect you soon. I think you should go out and see Tinker to say goodbye. She'll miss you.'

‘Good idea, Dad.'

‘There's a carrot in the fridge if you want to give her a treat. Take your time. I'll make Jo a cup of coffee while she waits.'

‘Okay, thanks.' She swung open the fridge door, grabbed the carrot and was skipping down the back steps just as the Jeep turned into the property.

Would she be angry? He wouldn't blame her. He hadn't given her a fair hearing. So now it was time for an apology from him and to settle things between them before Nate and Steph's big day.

The Jeep pulled up and he watched her getting out of the car. She stopped to fiddle with her hair before approaching the house. She was nervous. He knew how she felt.

He opened the kitchen door before she'd had a chance to knock. ‘Hey Jo. Come on in.'

She gave him a tentative smile. ‘I'm just here to pick up Ella. Steph asked me to.'

‘Yeah, I know. She called me.'

Jo gave him an apologetic look. ‘Sorry. She's just trying to help.'

‘Yeah I know. And in a way she is helping. I wanted to talk to you before the wedding anyway. Clear the air.'

Jo looked around. ‘Where's Ella?'

‘I sent her out to say goodbye to Tinkerbelle. I wanted a moment alone with you so we could talk.' He nodded towards the kitchen table. ‘Sit down. Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee?'

She shook her head, but took a seat at the table anyway.

He sat opposite and cleared his throat. ‘I'm sorry to launch into this without prelude, but I'm not sure how long Ella will be and I don't think either of us want her to overhear.'