Harry frowned.
‘I wanted to hear what you thought, see your reaction first before I told her. If you didn’t want to know, I wasn’t goingto say anything. It may have become apparent if you were ever together, but I would have denied it.’
‘And now?’
‘Well, you haven’t thrown me out yet.’
‘It takes a bit of getting used to.’ Harry blew out a breath. ‘Can you give me some time?’
‘Of course.’ Eliza nodded. They had a few days before she’d have to tell him of Willow’s imminent arrival, and she was sure she’d be talking to him again before then. He just needed time to digest what she’d said.
She left him with his thoughts and with a few photos of Willow that she had sent to his phone. Closing the gate, she turned back to the cottage. Harry was watching her through the front window. She waved and then went on her way.
Who knew what might have happened if he hadn’t left and she’d been able to tell him? Who knew what would happen from now? But her conscience was clear. At sixteen, she’d made the best out of the worst possible scenario. She’d had to grow up fast, learn to take care of a child and become a mum. But she had done it, and look how well Willow had turned out.
Eliza wiped a tear away as she gave a hefty sigh. Life was complicated at times, there was just no getting over that.
CHAPTER FIFTY
If Harry had been surprised to see Eliza knocking on his door, it was nothing compared to when he did the same to Jack a few hours later.
‘Is everything okay?’ Jack asked with a frown, unsure why he would be calling to see him.
‘I…’ Harry ran a hand through his hair. ‘Could I have a quick word, if you have time? I’m not interrupting anything?’
‘No, you’ve only just caught me in. Ava and I have been to London.’
‘Things going well?’
‘They are, thanks. Come on through.’
Jack ushered him in, noticing Harry’s gaze settling on the view through the picture window.
‘This is some place,’ Harry said, a tone of envy evident. ‘I remember us talking about this when we were kids. A house by the side of the lake, with our own mooring. It must feel amazing to live here.’
‘It does. The place was a wreck when I bought it with Katrina, which is why we managed to buy it at the time. But we’ve renovated a lot of it, and I’ve done more work on it since I’ve been on my own. Coffee?’
‘Please.’
‘What can I do for you?’ Jack queried. He took out mugs and placed them on the kitchen island that stood between them.
‘I found out this morning that Willow is my daughter, and you were the first person my feet took me to.’
‘Ah. I haven’t had time to get used to it myself yet.’
‘It was a bit of a shock.’ Harry grimaced. ‘The understatement of my life.’
Jack poured water into the mugs and urged Harry to take a seat.
He slid onto a high stool. ‘To be honest, I’ve screwed up my life big style. A huge part of me is glad that I wasn’t around for Willow as I would have made a mess of that as well as the two marriages that have ended in divorce.’
‘But then, you might have joined the Broadhurst mob as my brother-in-law.’
Harry pulled a face. ‘I’m not sure I would ever be that good a person.’
Jack chuckled. ‘You sure do have a low opinion of yourself.’
‘It’s true.’
