Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,20

her eyes faded as she glanced at her mobile again. ‘Having a rock star at Swap Day is going to seriously shut up every one of those cows at school,’ Isla eventually said.

Considering the mood Kody had been in when Tash had dropped her bombshell on him, she had no idea whether he’d be up for parenting Isla, let alone spending a day with a bunch of high school kids. But they’d deal with that problem when it eventuated. For now she wanted to ensure Isla was okay.

‘Do you have any questions, honey?’

‘Stacks, but is it okay if I go chill in my room for a while?’ She waved her phone around. ‘I want to look him up on my laptop. This screen is too small to read all the stuff on.’

‘Okay, I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re finished.’

Isla shuffled her feet, shifting her weight from side to side, before finally eyeballing Tash. ‘I guess I should thank you for finally telling me the truth.’

Tash’s throat tightened and she managed a brief nod.

‘But if Kody hadn’t moved in next door, would you have told me?’

Tash had lied enough so she shook her head, hating herself when Isla’s face fell. ‘Probably not, sweetie. Like I said, I wanted to protect you—’

‘I think you wanted to protect yourself, Mum.’

With that, her wise, mature tween stalked back into the house and slammed the door.

Half an hour later, Isla stomped into the kitchen. Tash had prepared nachos, one of Isla’s favourites. The tantalising aromas of roasted tomatoes, capsicum and melted cheese hung in the air, and Tash hoped the meal would tempt her daughter to sit down and talk this out.

‘You’re bribing me with food,’ Isla muttered, snatching up a corn chip and dunking it in sour cream before popping the laden triangle into her mouth.

‘Guilty as charged.’ Tash placed the piping hot tray between them before laying out plates and serviettes. ‘A little comfort food never goes astray.’

‘I guess.’ Isla plonked onto the seat opposite and used the metal tongs to help herself to a giant, gooey wedge of nachos. She avoided eye contact and her jaw jutted slightly, like she was clenching her teeth. ‘I’m going to eat this before asking you stuff, okay?’

‘Okay.’

They sat in silence, a first when it came to her garrulous daughter. Tash hated the tension between them but it was to be expected. At least Isla’s bitterness hadn’t diminished her appetite. Tash forced a few chips past her lips while Isla had no problem demolishing half the dish. Tash even had to replenish the guacamole after her daughter scooped up as much as she could fit onto each chip before stuffing the lot into her mouth. It heartened Tash to see Isla eat like that. Maybe she hadn’t scarred her for life.

‘Nachos are so good.’ Isla wiped her mouth with a serviette before patting her stomach. ‘Thanks.’

‘You’re welcome.’

They lapsed into awkward silence again. Tash could practically see a million questions bouncing around her daughter’s head so she waited, hoping she could answer them. She loved being a mum but nothing had prepared her for parenthood. Her folks had been crappy role models—controlling, reserved, emotionless—and she’d vowed to be the opposite in every way. Yet while there were countless books and online articles on how to breastfeed/wean/potty train, there weren’t many manuals on dealing with the fallout after revealing a life-changing secret.

‘Kody’s really famous. Can you tell me about him? How you met? How you ended up dating? That kind of stuff?’ Isla flung the questions out casually, but Tash saw the way she plucked and twisted the serviette in her hands, almost shredding it.

‘We met in Melbourne. I was studying there, doing a nursing degree, and we met at a pub one night.’ An understatement for the instantaneous connection they’d shared when Kody swaggered up to her, leaned down and murmured in her ear, ‘That last song of our final set was for you.’ It was a line, one he’d probably used on countless girls before, but Tash had been naïve and lonely and living in a big city far removed from her sheltered upbringing, so she’d responded with, ‘In that case, you better sit and let me buy you a drink.’

They’d talked well into the night, and every time his knee brushed hers or his fingers touched her arm, she lit up, as though an electrical current surged through her and made her come alive for the first time ever. And when he invited her