Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,112

anger on his part, guilt and self-recrimination on hers.

That’s when an even more startling realisation nudged its way into her conscience.

Had she never fallen out of love with him?

She’d devoted the last thirteen years to raising Isla and hadn’t been interested in relationships with other guys, when many single mums had a healthy dating life and made it work despite the demands of motherhood. Kody had been it for her and she never could’ve anticipated that he’d still be rocking her world all these years later.

The door opened and Isla slid into the car, shoving her bag under the console. ‘Hey, Mum.’

Pasting a smile on her face, Tash turned. ‘Hey, sweetie, how was school?’

‘The usual. PE and drama rocked, the rest sucked.’

This response was nothing out of the ordinary and Tash would usually give a gentle lecture about the importance of all subjects for a good VCE score in order to further her education. But she didn’t have the heart for it today.

‘Everything okay, Mum?’

‘Sure.’

Isla studied her face, her astute gaze way too mature for an almost-thirteen-year-old. ‘Are you sad because Dad’s leaving?’

‘No, I understand he’s got work to do in Melbourne,’ Tash said, sounding brusque. She softened it with, ‘But we’ve worked out the custody agreement and you’ll be spending heaps of time with him.’

Isla’s eyes lit up. ‘Really? When?’

‘All the school holidays and he’ll try to squeeze in weekends here and there when he can.’

‘Awesome.’ She grinned, before surprising Tash by reaching over and hugging her. ‘Thanks for sorting all that out, Mum. I know it must be hard on you seeing an old boyfriend, but I’m glad you and Dad can be friends now.’

‘Yeah, we’re friends,’ Tash parroted, sounding idiotic but struggling to keep her composure. Because ‘friends’ conjured up visions of just that: Tash having to hear about his latest girlfriend, more than likely from Isla, who would think nothing of enthusing over her father’s newest glamorous, model-thin babe. She’d hear all about his decadent life and how he lavished Isla with treats, while she’d be stuck in Brockenridge lamenting decisions of the past.

She needed something to focus on, something to take her mind off the fact she’d lost Kody and for too many months of the year she’d be losing Isla too. The obvious choice would be to finish her nursing degree. She’d have the time and throwing herself into study while maintaining her job would guarantee she’d have minimal downtime to dwell and stress.

Oblivious to her whirling thoughts, Isla released her and snapped on her seat belt. When Tash made no move to start the car, Isla waved a hand in front of her face.

‘Mum, you’re really spaced out.’

‘That’s because I’m thinking of finishing my nursing degree,’ she said in a rush, knowing that confessing to Isla made it real. ‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I think it’s fantastic.’ Her daughter’s nose crinkled in the same cute way it used to when she was three. ‘But all that study. Yuck.’

‘I’ll let you in on a little secret.’ Tash crooked a finger at her. ‘I’m actually a nerd at heart who loves studying.’

Isla rolled her eyes. ‘I always knew you were an alien from another planet,’ she said, and laughed.

Tash joined in, feeling lighter than she had a few moments ago. ‘On that note, let’s head home and I’ll whip you up a batch of my famous outer space oatmeal cookies.’

‘Deal.’

Tash managed to make small talk with Isla all the way home, inserting the proper ‘uh-huhs’ and ‘no ways’ at appropriate points in the conversation. But her mind was elsewhere, dwelling on a sexy rock star who’d stolen her heart yet again without trying.

CHAPTER

42

Nostalgia swamped Kody as he strolled along Beach Road in the direction of the Princeton. He’d traversed this route countless times as a teen and later in his early twenties, when he played nightly gigs. The Princeton had been the band’s first gig and their last in Australia. He’d been a fool for avoiding his home city because of a failed relationship. Then again, considering Tash had been avoiding his calls and texts, maybe he’d done the right thing.

What had she expected him to do, sit around and wait for her to come to her senses? He’d laid his heart on the line, and she’d sliced and diced it and handed it back on a platter. He knew there’d be obstacles to them getting together. Hell, the last thing he wanted was a long-distance relationship but he’d been willing to take a