“I know, I know.” His dad threw his hands up in the air. “But there’s good news to hopefully smooth over the fact that I didn’t tell you first. He wants to talk to your friend.”
“The editor?” Trent blinked.
“Yep. He told me he read it in one day and he loved it. Said there’s some work to do, of course, like with all new authors, but he wants to help her.”
“Holy shit.” Trent shook his head. “That’s amazing.”
“Yes, so I’ll email you his details and you can pass them along. Please tell her how much I enjoyed the story. It’s so invigorating to see young people going after their dreams. I hope she’s not too angry with me.”
“I’m sure she’ll forgive you,” Trent said with a smile.
And hopefully me, too.
Trent’s dad slapped him on the back in a hearty Walters family fashion and then led him out to the backyard. Nick looked up and waved with his free hand, the other turning the snags on the barbecue. There was some salmon there, too, and long skewers holding prawns and chunky slices of capsicum and red onion.
“Hi, Trent.” Liv waved and came over to give him a hug. Her long hair was tied into a bouncing ponytail and she wore a printed blouse with denim shorts and wedge heels. “I have to say thank you again for fixing the shower at my place. It works like a dream now. In fact, it was so good, I managed to drain my entire hot water tank with one shower.”
“I’m forgiven for squatting in your house, then?” He shot her a cheeky smile.
“Totally.” She leaned in and gave him a big hug, but there was something sluggish about her movements. Dark shadows circled her under-eye area.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Uh-huh, just tired.” Liv smiled, but it didn’t seem completely genuine. “Cora was messaging me yesterday saying she’s working super-long hours, too. The post-holiday backlog is a killer.”
He swallowed against the lump in his throat. He’d been doing the same—drowning himself in work, so the memories would stop playing on repeat.
“Thanks for taking good care of her,” Liv added. “She told me that you really made her feel welcome. I can’t believe you threw her a birthday party.”
“It was nothing.” And by nothing, of course, he meant everything. Now he was going to have to contact her, like that wouldn’t be awkward as shit.
Ugh, how do you get yourself into these messes?
“It wasn’t nothing. It was a really sweet gesture. You’re good people.” She squeezed his shoulder. “And I still can’t get over all the things you fixed in my house. I’ll pay you back for everything.”
“No, you won’t. It was a gift.”
“But that’s so much money, Trent. You’re supposed to be putting it all toward your own place.” She looked at him with a crinkled brow and worried eyes. “I mean, I know you tradies seem to earn more money than us white-collar folks these days, but still. I didn’t expect you to go all Grand Designs on me.”
“Probably more like one of those dodgy cable renovation shows, if we’re being honest,” he joked.
Liv swatted him. “Stop it. Those lights in the bathroom were magnificent; you have great taste. I can only imagine how beautiful your house is going to be when you build it. Emphasis on the when.”
“Don’t you start, too. You’ve been back in the country a few weeks and already you sound like Nick.”
“Sorry.” She held up her hands in peace. “It’s easier to think about everyone else’s future sometimes instead of worrying about your own, you know.”
Did he ever. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Liv. You’ve got four walls and a roof to call your own…and a cockatoo who won’t leave you be.”
She grinned. “Don’t you dare say anything bad about my baby Joe.”
“Ha, baby nothing. That guy is a stone-cold food-motivated master manipulator.”
At that moment, the final guests arrived. Big brother Adam and his wife, Soraya, walked through the back door into the yard, waving and calling out their hellos. Usually, at family gatherings, Trent felt a sense of restorative peace. His family was the most important thing in his world, and he loved spending time with them.
But today, for some reason, he felt disconnected.
“Hi, Trent, good to see you.” Soraya came over and gave him a hug, scenting the air with her signature rose perfume. She wore a long skirt that swept the ground and a white top that tied at her waist. “Liv, welcome back.”
The two women hugged, and Liv immediately started chattering about the amazing shopping in New York—his little sister and sister-in-law were as close as if they were born related, rather than being linked through marriage.
See? And nobody views Soraya as less than family. DNA isn’t the most important thing.
He couldn’t seem to shake the past. For years, he’d worked desperately to conceal his secret from his siblings, convincing his mother and father to help him hide the information of his birth. They’d agreed, telling him the information was his to share, whenever he felt ready. Yet years had passed, and no such urge had surfaced. It wasn’t until Cora had accused him of always putting others before himself, of needing to earn his place and earn their love, that he’d started to wonder whether his secret was holding him back.
She’d shown him that dreaming was good. And what greater dream did he have than building a house and creating a life inside it?
He watched his family bustle around him—Dad and Nick on the barbecue, always the first to offer a helping hand to others. Soraya, Angie, and Liv were laughing and joking, bringing light and happiness to every gathering. His mother was fussing over the table settings, working hard to get everything “just right” for the family she loved so much. Jace and Adam were constructing a new banana lounge, showing how they cared with their actions.
He was part of this family.
Would it change if he told them the truth? Would they treat him differently, view him as less?
“Lunch is on,” his dad called as he and Nick carried platters of cooked meat, veggies, and seafood to the table.
The rest of the table was set, wine and beers chilling in the Esky beside the table, a place for everyone set with plates and cutlery. His mother and father sat at opposite ends of the table and everyone else was scattered between them. Jace dropped down next to Trent.
“How’s…everything?” Trent asked as he leaned forward and piled some salmon onto his plate.
“No news yet,” Jace said quietly, a disappointed look on his face. “But apparently it can take a while for some people. The puppies are keeping us plenty occupied anyway. And work is busy.”
“That’s good. You’re living the dream, bro.”
Jace laughed. “My dream, maybe. Probably sounds like a nightmare to you.”
He and Jace were the most opposite within the family—Trent had never taken himself too seriously, and Jace was Mr. Serious. But the fact was, his brother inspired him. Jace had smashed down every barrier that people tried to place in front of him, never letting his autism define what he could achieve. All Trent’s siblings inspired him in different ways, and for too long he’d felt like he could never inspire them back.
“So, Mum and Dad. Forty years of marriage.” Adam raised his glass and everyone followed, shouting congratulations and hear, hears. “Any words of wisdom for us whippersnappers?”
“Your mother is always right, even when she’s making no bloody sense at all,” his dad said with a chuckle.
“Communication,” his mother replied, rolling her eyes but still smiling. “There’s nothing that can’t be overcome by a strong relationship, and communication is a key part of that. Never go to bed on a fight, and don’t keep secrets.”
Don’t keep secrets.
The words stuck on repeat in Trent’s head, swirling and swirling. He’d never felt so stuck as he had
in the past week.
“Good advice,” Nick said with a nod. “Here’s to forty more.”
“Please God, no.” Their father clutched as his chest dramatically, and the table cracked up laughing. “Seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a better wife or family.”
“Awww.” Angie pressed into Jace and looked up at him lovingly. “That’ll be us in forty years.”
“Well, since it’s such a special occasion…” Liv reached down to grab something from under the table. “I made a present for you to commemorate the milestone.”
She glanced across the table at Trent and winked as she handed over the scrapbook to Mum. Dad came around the other side of the table to see what was going on. Trent’s mother immediately teared up as she began to look through the pages, oohing and aahing over the photos capturing all her favorite memories.
“Oh my gosh, look at little Adam.” Soraya leaned closer to her mother-in-law and clapped her hands together. “You were so cute.”
“Then came Nick.” Melanie flipped the page.
“I was the biggest baby,” Nick said to Angie, who was sitting next to him. Trust Nick to find a way to make it a competition.
Trent’s chest tightened as the pages were turned. After Nick came Jace. Then Trent. The picture on this page showed Trent and his mother at home, rather than in the hospital—his mother was smiling, but she looked tired. Only Trent and his parents knew the dark circles weren’t from being up all night because of a crying baby.
Don’t keep secrets. Don’t keep secrets. You’re living your life for other people.
The words spun around and around and around, choking Trent. Smothering the air in his lungs and making his blood feel thick and sluggish in his veins. The story being told by the scrapbook was a lie.
“That’s not what happened.” The words left his mouth before he could think any further about the consequences. “It’s not…”
His parents exchanged worried looks but said nothing. As always, they had never prevented him from doing anything he wanted to do or from making his own decisions.
“I was going to tell them, Trent,” Liv said with a laugh, waving her hand. “But I wanted them to look through the book before I told them about the mishap.”
She thought he was upset about not getting any credit for the scrapbook. Sweet Liv had no clue what was coming. “There’s something else I need to tell you all.”
Now everyone at the table was looking at him. The backyard had gone quiet, as though he’d commanded the attention of every living creature, every blade of grass. Even the flies had the decency to stop their incessant buzzing for a moment.
“I…” Oh God, why did it feel like he was standing naked in front of everyone?
His mother reached out and grabbed his hand, love shining from her eyes. His father stood quiet and strong as a stone pillar, hand resting on his wife’s shoulder. They both knew what was coming.
They’d been waiting for years.
“I’ve been keeping a secret from you.” The words were strange and heavy on his tongue, years of lies making the truth feel foreign and uncomfortable. “Mum and Dad aren’t actually my mum and dad.”
For a second, there was a silence so deafening that Trent wondered if he’d spontaneously lost his hearing.
Liv shook her head. “Is this a joke?”
His siblings looked at one another, confused and uncertain. They knew he was a joker, but even he wouldn’t try to derail an anniversary for the sake of an inappropriate laugh.
“My birth mother is Aunt Linda,” he said. “I’m her baby. That’s why there are no photos of me in the hospital with Mum…because she didn’t give birth to me.”
The hushed silence was like a boulder crushing his chest. He wanted them to do something—yell, scream, cry, get up and walk away. The staring was physically painful. The fear of not knowing what would happen next was a fist around his throat.
“I don’t know who my birth father is,” he continued, sounding a hell of a lot more together than he felt. “But as far as I’m concerned, these two people here are the only parents I need in my life.”
Jace frowned as though the information wasn’t computing. “So you’re…my cousin?”
“Actually, he’s your adoptive brother,” Trent’s mother said, her lip trembling. “We officially adopted him when he was a baby. It was my sister’s dying wish that we make him part of our family and treat him no differently than the rest of you.”
“I can’t believe you never told us,” Liv said, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “How could you all keep this a secret?”
“It’s a pretty big fucking secret,” Nick replied. He raked a hand through his hair.
“I don’t see what difference it makes,” Jace said, shaking his head and looking a little befuddled by all the fuss. “It doesn’t change anything.”
Angie reached for her husband’s hand and squeezed, without saying a word.
“Who decided not to tell us?” Nick asked.
Trent sucked in a breath. “I did.”
“But we had kept it from him when he was young, and truthfully…we let it go on too long. I never knew when he would be old enough to understand what it meant, and I was so worried about losing him.” His mother bit down on her lip. “It took me a long time to accept losing Linda, because she was my best friend. The other half of me. And then I was scared I’d left it too long to tell the truth.”
It dawned on Trent now that had he been born in Patterson’s Bluff, the secret may not have been kept as long. But, since they had lived in a much bigger place closer to Melbourne back then, not moving to Patterson’s Bluff until he was in school, the secret had been much easier to keep.
“So you found out by accident?” Adam asked, eyes wide.
Trent nodded. “Yeah, I came across an old photo and put the pieces together.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Nick asked. “Did you think we’d kick you out of the house or something? Vote you off the island?”
Trent laughed in spite of the somber turn of the afternoon. “Something like that.”
“Well, that’s insulting.” Nick crossed his arms over his chest. “A Walters family member is a Walters family member, doesn’t matter whose blood you’ve got in your veins.”
“Technically he has his own blood in his veins,” Jace said with a serious expression. “Unless you’ve had a transfusion recently.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“It got to the point that I wasn’t sure what to say and I didn’t want it to…” Wow, being vulnerable was the worst. “Affect things.”
I didn’t want to lose you all.
“And lots of people say things like blood is thicker than water, but I—”
“You’re not water, Trent.” Liv was almost vibrating with anger. Out of everyone, he’d expected her to take it hardest—being the two youngest, they’d been thick as thieves since they were kids. He’d kept her safe at school and threatened any bullies who might try to pick on her, and she’d always looked up at him with wonder and respect. “If you ever say that again, I will literally lose my shit.”
“Well, if you say literally—” Jace began, but Angie shushed him.
“You are one of us and you have been the second you set foot into this house,” Liv said, eyes blazing. “I’m really hurt that you didn’t think we’d accept you, and while I understand why you were scared, I wish you could have trusted us. I will say this, however. If anyone thinks even for a second about treating Trent any differently, they’ll have to go through me first. I will fight you. All of you.”
That was his little sister, warrior and voice of their family.
“No one is going to fight you, Liv,” Adam said softly. “And no one is going to treat Trent differently. We’re not that kind of family.”
“Why tell
us now?” Nick asked.
“I had a bit of an epiphany recently thanks to the help of a very wise lady.” This time when he smiled it wasn’t in spite of anything—it was because of everything. Though losing Cora hurt him more than he’d ever anticipated, he now knew that one decision wouldn’t have to dictate his whole life.
If there’d been any doubt left in his mind that Cora was like his ex, this would obliterate it. Cora’s whole idea of metamorphosis was catching. She’d changed him. Before her, he couldn’t even think about confessing his true parentage to his siblings, let alone have the guts to actually stand up and say it. But now that it was out in the world…he felt free.
And it was all thanks to her.
“Cora?” Liv asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah.” Trent nodded. “She’s special.”
Too special to let go. He would reach out to her and maybe they could talk. Maybe they could try the long-distance thing. Maybe he could even visit her in Manhattan.
Who knows, the future was suddenly a blank slate for him to paint anything he wanted.
They all looked at him for a moment, and then Nick reached down to the Esky that was sitting beside the table. “Who wants a beer? I feel like we all need a drink now.”
And just like that, the family lunch returned to normal.
Chapter Twenty-Three
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: News
Cora,
I know I’m probably the last person you’re expecting to hear from. I also know you’re possibly going to hate me for what I have to tell you next…
I gave your manuscript to my dad and he loved it so much, he passed it on to a friend who works in publishing. The editor wants to speak with you about the book. His email and details are below. I hope you get in touch with him. And I hope you don’t blame my dad, because if it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t have read your manuscript in the first place. Let me know how it goes. I’d love to speak with you some time.
Her Aussie Holiday Page 25