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“I’m sorry, the line went funny. I thought you said you were dating her.”

“I did say that. I’m dating Aster.”

“But…she’s a woman.” Angela grew confused, that much was clear in her voice and how it wavered. “You don’t like women.”

“I’ve recently discovered that I do. Well, not women, just this one woman.”

“Oh, love. Don’t be so ridiculous.” Angela barked a laugh. “You’re 42. Try acting like it. You’ve never dated a woman before, so I find it hard to believe that you want to now.” Angela sighed. Every word she had just spoken broke Eden’s heart a little bit more. “Is this because you feel left out? Jealous, perhaps?”

“Jealous?” What did she have to be jealous about?

“Blair. She’s happy. You see it and you want some of it, too? Because life and love doesn’t work like that.”

Eden stared down at the coffee table, tears in her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled, devastated that her mum could say that. “No, it’s not like that.”

“I beg to differ. Get these daft thoughts out of your head. When you visit, we’ll discuss this silly idea of you turning gay.”

“I’m not turning gay, I—” Eden looked at her screen. Her mum had ended their call. “Wow.”

Every thought she’d had about her future had just been obliterated in a matter of seconds. She knew her mum would be surprised and shocked, but Eden never for one second thought that she would have reacted the way she did. It didn’t make sense; Angela had always wanted Eden to be happy. She didn’t force her into dating, expecting her to conform by a particular age. And while she didn’t imagine her mum would jump for joy, she didn’t expect her to find the idea of Eden dating a woman so ridiculous. This was a blow. One that felt like a punch directly in her gut.

Blair could do no wrong in her mother’s eyes, but Eden? She was absurd.

22

Aster stared out the window of her dad’s hospital room, the air humid and sticky. She hated hospitals, they’d always made her feel a little uneasy, but her dad was here so Aster was, too. And Lily was due back in the next ten minutes, so Aster didn’t need to hang around much longer.

“You seem to be in your own head, my love.”

Aster turned, smiling at her dad. “You know I told you about the woman I’m dating?”

Ted nodded, no longer wearing his oxygen mask. Seeing the lack of mask instantly calmed Aster when she arrived. Her dad looked brighter today, and he definitely had more life in him.

“Well, she turned up last night at my door. She decided not to get on the plane and came back to be with me instead.”

Ted smiled, his eyes bright. “I’m glad you told me about her. I’d love to meet her someday.”

“I’m sure I can arrange that.” Aster eased into the seat beside her dad’s bed. “But I need you to promise me you’ll keep taking your medication. Because what you’ve been doing isn’t good, Dad. What if we’d lost you?”

“I’m sorry, Aster. I was having a bad time. I promise to take whatever I’m prescribed.”

“But I mean, really promise me? Pinky and all?” Aster held up her little finger.

Ted lifted his hand, holding out his own. “Only if you promise me that you’ll fall in love with this woman who seems to be very fond of you.”

Aster blew out a shaky breath. Ted may already have his wish. But…something felt off. “I think it’s already happened.”

“Well, only you’ll know when it has. And if you feel this strongly about her, I want to meet her sooner rather than later. Because I have to be sure she’s good enough for you. What would your mother say if I didn’t do my research?”

Tears welled in Aster’s eyes. “Mum would have loved her. I know she would. They’d probably go to lunch together and stuff. And have their hair done afterwards.”

“I don’t doubt that, sweetheart.”

“It’s just…she left suddenly this morning. She stayed over last night, and we watched films together. But when I woke up this morning, she’d gone.”

“Maybe she had something to take care of…”

Aster wrung her hands. “I thought so, but it feels like more than that. Like…she’s backing away maybe. I’ve tried to think of anything I did wrong last night, but I can’t recall a single thing.”