Chapter 29

29

N athan and Abby bustled about the foyer to hang ghosts and cobwebs. Abby scurried around and arranged the pumpkins and ghost lights. Her tongue poked out between her teeth in fierce concentration as she carefully placed each decoration just so. ‘Da, can we put the jack-o’-lanterns right here by the door? It’ll look so spooky!’

Nathan stepped back and examined the arrangement. ‘Aye, I reckon that’ll do, sweet pea. You’ve got a real knack for this, don’t you?’

Abby’s face lit up with a proud grin. ‘Can Gennie come and help us decorate? Pleeease?’

And there it was.

He should have known this was coming, should have prepared himself better. ‘You know Gennie’s a busy woman. She’s got her work, and—‘

Abby’s expression suddenly fell, her lips drawn down in a stubborn pout. ‘But she said she’d come to our party! You invited her, right?’

‘No, sweet pea, I—’

‘Why not?’ Her features creased in a scowl that was the spitting image of his own. ‘Gennie wanted to do the fairy pirate costume with me. She likes us, and we like her! Why can’t she come? It’s not fair!’ She stomped her foot, hands balled into fists at her sides.

Nathan sighed. The memory of Gennie’s smile, the way she’d put his daughter at ease, the kinship that had grown between them flooded his mind. His heart cramped at the sight of his daughter’s distress.

Why did this have to be so hard?

‘I know, Abby. I know.’ He crouched down and met her gaze. ‘But sometimes, even when we make a promise, things don’t always work out the way we hope. Even though we try.’

‘No! I want a real party! With my friends! And Gennie!’ Abby’s voice rose to a shrill crescendo and her cheeks flushed in an angry crimson.

The apple. The tree. She’s me.

He reached out, his hand hovered. ‘Abby, it’s complicated. I—‘

‘No! It’s not!’ She crossed her arms and turned away. ‘I hate that my friends are never here. Everyone else has sleepovers at their houses, but I can’t! That’s not fair!’

He quailed at the hurt in his daughter’s voice. The weight of his failures as a father pressed down on him like an anvil, the implications of his actions cut deeper than any physical wound.

‘Abby, it’s not that simple.’ He paused and struggled to find the right words. ‘There are…things I have to worry about.’

But Abby pulled away and fixed him with a look too old for her young face. ‘I want Gennie to come to my party! And my friends too!’ She spun around and stormed up the stairs, the sound of her bedroom door slamming echoed through the hall.

Nathan stared after her. How could he make Abby understand this mess? His paralysing need to protect himself and her from the pain of loss and betrayal. The ghosts of his past loomed over them like a black cloud and tainted every decision, every relationship, every attempt at normalcy.

Time for plan Z.

With a heavy sigh, he pulled out his phone and scrolled to his sister’s number. Jo would know what to say. She always did. She’d give him an earful, though.

As the line connected, Nathan braced himself, knowing the onslaught of sarcasm and tough love that was undoubtedly coming his way.

‘My favourite brother,’ Jo drawled with the habitual edge of exasperation lacing her words. ‘To what do I owe the honour?’

‘I’m your only brother, Joanne. And hello to you, too.’ He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache brewing behind his eyes.

‘Oh, don’t “hello” me. I know that tone.’ She paused, then her voice softened. ‘What’s wrong, Nate? Is it Abby?’

He leaned against the wall, and his shoulders sagged under the load of his troubles. ‘Sort of.’

‘What have you done this time, you big lummox?’

‘Not exactly sure.’ He let out a weary sigh.

‘Wait. I know that sigh. There’s more, isn’t there?’

‘Sort of.’

Jo clucked her tongue. ’It’s the lass from the photos, am I right?’

‘Yes. How do you—’

‘Oh, please. Whoever that girl is, she’s a proper dish. And you looked happy, brother. I haven’t seen a smile like that on your face for ages. So what went wrong?’

He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘I may have…overreacted. About the photos.’ He paused, the bitter taste of remorse coating his throat like tar. ‘I…I accused Gennie of selling us out to the pap scum, of using me for her own gain.’

‘And did she?’

‘Not sure. Doesn’t seem likely.’

Jo was silent for a beat, and he could virtually see the withering glare of disapproval on her face. ‘Nathan MacMillan, you absolute wanker! I thought we’d moved past this self-sabotaging nonsense.’

‘I know, I know. I couldn’t shake… The press, the scandal, it nearly destroyed me back then. The thought of Abby being exposed to it all…’ His voice cracked and the anguish of those dark days seeped through like blood from an old, festering wound. ‘You know what it was like.’

‘Oh, I remember. Couldn’t leave the house for weeks. But did I turn into a paranoid twat? Don’t think so.’

‘The sense of betrayal—’

‘Betrayal?’ The disdain in her tone was palpable. ‘Betrayal my arse. If mum is to be believed, that woman saved your daughter’s life, you pillock. She risked her own health and career to keep Abby safe. And you repay her by accusing her of selling you out?’ She let out a humourless laugh. ‘You’re so busy dwelling on the past that you can’t see what’s right in front of you. Plus, you’re a coward. So you pushed her away.’

Nathan opened his mouth to protest, but Jo barrelled on, her voice sharp with frustration. ‘Look, you daft sod. You’re making excuses, hiding behind your fears instead of facing them. And in the process, you’re hurting the people you love the most. Classic MacMillan.’

The truth of her words cut him to the core. ‘Hey, I’m trying, Jo. I really am. Abby…she wants her friends and Gennie to come to the Halloween party, and I just—‘

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Nate.’ She let out a groan. ‘When are you going to realise that your daughter is far more resilient than you give her credit for? This is about you. You’re scared shiteless that if you let Gennie in, you’ll end up getting hurt again.’ Jo huffed. ‘When are you going to get it through your dense skull that love is worth the risk? And don’t start with Imogen. So, your first girlfriend made a sex tape with you almost two decades ago. Your wife divorced you. That’s awful, but that’s life. Grow a pair and get over it.’

Nathan’s fingers locked around the phone and the plastic creaked under the pressure. ‘It’s not that simple, Jo. She’s twelve years younger than me.’

‘No, it’s exactly that simple. Because who gives a fuck about age? Do you know how rare it is to meet another person who makes you smile like that?’ Her voice was sharp and allowed no argument. ‘And your daughter is right there, urging you to open up. To let her have a normal childhood. Honestly, what more do you need?’

Acid welled up the back of his tongue. In his attempt to protect himself, he’d destroyed the very thing that had begun to heal the wounds of his past.

‘I’m terrified, Jo.’

‘Course you are.’ His sister’s voice mellowed. ‘But you can’t let that fear rule your life. Or Abby’s. That little girl needs more than a father who’s terrified of the world. She needs someone willing to take a chance, to open their heart and embrace the possibility of something more. To lead by example. What example are you setting for your daughter here, Nate? Abby needs you to be brave.’

He swallowed hard, the sharp knot in his throat making it difficult to speak. ‘And what if I can’t, Jo? What if I’m too fucking broken to give Abby – to give Gennie – what they deserve?’

‘Then you learn, you stubborn arse. You work at it, you get help when you need it. But you don’t get to hide behind your fears and rob Abby – and yourself – of the chance of something special. Of a happy life.’

Nathan squeezed his eyes shut. ‘What do I do, Jo? How do I fix this?’

‘Start by calling her, ya numpty.’ Her voice held a warm note of triumph and a hint of smugness that only a sibling’s could have. ‘Invite her to your party, tell her you were a daft, paranoid bugger, and you want her there. With you and Abby. With any luck, she’ll know what a fab lad you are under that stinking crust and forgive you.’

Nathan nodded. ‘Aye, I will. And Jo?’ He paused. ‘Thanks.’

‘Yeah, yeah, whatever.’ There was a warm note of affection in her reply. ‘Now get off your arse, call her, and invite the whole town to this Halloween party of yours. Abby deserves it, and so do you. Don’t screw it up, you hear?’

‘Why don’t you come up here, too?’

‘Good idea. It’s been too long, brother dear. I’ll see to it.’

He took a deep breath. ‘I should talk to Abby. She’s, erm, she’s pretty upset with me right now.’

‘And she’s right. Go fix it. See you soon. Love you.’

With a mumbled goodbye, Nathan ended the call and made his way to Abby’s room, his heart heavy with remorse. Her door was firmly shut. He paused outside. The sound of her sobs tore at his soul. With a deep breath, he knocked gently. ‘Abby? Can I come in?’

There was a blip of silence, and then her small voice, wavering with emotion, spoke up. ‘Will we…have…a real…party?’

Nathan felt a pang of guilt. ‘We will.’

The door opened and his daughter’s red-rimmed eyes peered out at him. ‘Really?’

Nathan nodded. ‘Aye. Really. I’m sorry I was such a grump before.’

‘It’s okay. I’m grumpy sometimes, too. Can I invite Becca and Paul? And Gennie?’

As he stared into Abby’s red little face, the fierce determination etched into her delicate features, he knew he could no longer hide behind his excuses, his fears. This was his daughter, his light, his reason for living. And she deserved so much more than his fear-fuelled hesitation.

He tapped the tip of her nose. ’Sure.’

Abby let out a giddy little trill, clapping her hands together as she bounced on the balls of her feet. ‘You mean it?’

He pulled her into a tight hug. ‘Aye, I mean it. Aunt Jo’s coming up, too. And I thought we could ask the Camerons. What do you think?’

She threw her arms around him ‘Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the best Halloween ever!’

As he watched his daughter’s contagious enthusiasm, a weight lifted from his shoulders. Smoothing a hand over Abby’s hair, he made a silent vow. He would make this right, whatever the cost. For Abby, himself, and for the woman who had dared to breach the fortress around his heart. Anything less would be unforgivable.

’Now, let’s get these pumpkins unloaded, hm? We’ve got a lot of work to do if we want this place to look its spookiest.’

She tugged at his sleeve. ‘But first we have to invite Gennie.’

Yeah, well. There was that.