Page 31 of The Me I Left Behind (Tuckaway Bay #4)

She padded off up the stairs and into her bathroom, where she showered and had a good cry. The warm water did wonders to settle her brain and her heart. But deep inside, she had questions she didn’t know if she could answer.

Questions she didn’t know if she wanted answered.

By the time she’d dressed, Poppy had Leo in his baby seat in the kitchen, happily chewing on a biscuit. She’d brought her breast pump from Leo’s room, where she kept it in the closet when Max was home, and headed to a chair at the table to pump.

Poppy was at the stove. “I’m making eggs and sausages and grilled tomatoes.”

“Oh, I’m not too hungry.”

The older woman tossed her the side-eye. “I didn’t ask you if you were hungry.”

A not-so-subtle message. Poppy wanted her to eat.

“Fine. I’ll have some. Right after I pump.”

“Good. There are no breast milk bottles in the refrigerator. Only that stinky formula. I swear, I think that gives him gas.”

Lilly nodded. “I know. Max is home, so I switched, but I shouldn’t have.”

Again, Poppy glanced at her from the stove. “Man needs to stay out of woman’s business.”

“I know.”

She’d made the mistake of telling Poppy a while back Max didn’t want her to breastfeed Leo. Poppy hadn’t taken too well to Max after that. And if she knew how he’d treated her today, she wouldn’t have liked that, either.

They’d both seen enough abuse of women—physically and emotionally—living on the station in the outback.

Poppy had left her partner because of it years ago, and moved to the city.

She wouldn’t stand for it now, either. Lilly had also seen her fair share of violence between her parents, and others, too.

So, she wouldn’t say a word about any of it to Poppy.

“The man and you argue this morning?”

Well, shit. “No, Poppy. Leo was just fussy, and I was aggravated.”

“Hmpht.”

She didn’t believe her. Whatever.

“You working today?”

“I canceled my showings. I’ll reschedule. Wanted to check with you first to see if you can come tomorrow or Friday.”

Poppy turned. “You know I can come whenever you need me, Lilly. Just say.”

She knew that. “Tomorrow then. Can you come early? I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have plans.”

“Plans?” The woman’s face lit up as she turned toward her. “You and that baby are my plans, you know. You are my life.”

Lilly’s heart just about jumped out of her chest. If she wasn’t attached to the breast pump, she’d have bounced up to hug Poppy. “You’ve been my friend for a very long time. Thank you, dear Poppy.”

“I’ll be here at eight.”

“Good.”

Poppy dished up the eggs and sausages, then looked at Lilly. “More than friends. Family.”

Lilly smiled. “Yes. That’s right.”

“Now, you finish up there and eat this. I’ll fix you a cuppa, too. Then we talk.”

Lilly looked up into her friend’s soft gray eyes. She’d been looking into those wise eyes for most of her life. “Thank you, Poppy,” she whispered. “You’re a gem.”

Poppy lifted Leo out of his seat and started singing to him as she ambled toward the sliding glass doors leading to the deck.

They spent the rest of the morning chit-chatting about this and that.

Lilly didn’t let the conversation turn to Max, no matter how much Poppy wanted to talk about him and kept nudging her in that direction.

It was too fresh for Lilly. There were too many things she needed to ponder, consider, sort out.

Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.

At around one o’clock that afternoon, Lilly suggested Poppy head home. There would be fewer people on the passenger ferry that time of day. “Besides…” she’d told her, “you’re coming earlier than normal tomorrow and you deserve a restful evening.”

They’d put Leo in his pram and strolled along, chatting softly while the baby napped. Lilly was glad to get out of the house. The weather was mild for May, getting cooler every day. All she’d needed was a light sweater, and Leo was fine wrapped in his blanket.

She turned to Poppy. “I’m glad you brought your jacket with you. The ferry might be chilly.”

Poppy waved her off. “I’ll be fine. I like the breeze and enjoy the sun when I can.”

Smiling, Lilly hooked her arm in Poppy’s. “You be careful.”

“I am always.”

They ambled along, enjoying the twenty-minute walk.

Lilly knew that when the weather turned even cooler, she’d want to drive to the terminal to pick Poppy up and take her back.

While the temperatures in Brisbane and the islands were subtropical, they would have their share of chilly days in the upcoming winter months.

But they’d talk about that in a few weeks.

Perhaps, even, she’d ask Poppy to move in with her for the winter. She had plenty of space. And Max had no interest in doing so.

They lingered at the ferry slip until the boat came, then Lilly gave Poppy a hug and she watched her toddle off down the ramp to get on board. She waved and turned for home, grateful Leo was still sleeping, and for the pleasant walk.

The exercise did wonders for her mood.

As she approached her home, she noticed a utility vehicle parked across the street in a place where no one usually parked. She pointed the pram toward the house and headed up her driveway.

A stocky young man wearing jeans, some sort of novelty T-shirt, and boots left the ute. “G’day, there. Miss Colling, isn’t it?”

She turned. This man knows my name? He stood behind her, a few feet back, waving a large envelope in his hand—she presumed to catch her attention.

“Yes?”

“Just a minute of your time, please. I’m looking for a Mr. Max Oliver? He lives here, right?”

Actually, he doesn’t. Just ask him. “And you are…?”

He shrugged, smiling, his longish bangs hanging over his forehead, where she could barely see his eyes. A bit unnerving, actually. “Doesn’t matter my name. Is he at home?”

“Max Oliver does not live here,” she told him.

He grinned wider. “That’s odd. I thought I saw him leaving earlier this morning. He’s the bub’s dad, right-o?”

Lilly sucked in a breath and turned, pushing Leo closer to the front door. “I need to get the baby inside. Good day.”

He rushed up beside her. “Wait.”

Lilly stopped and glowered. “You do not want to push me, Mr… What did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then we have no business here.” She moved forward, her heart skipping beats as she pushed the pram. She wanted him gone before she had to pull out her keys and unlock the door.

“I’ll wait then.”

Lilly whipped around. “Long wait, I’d say. I do not expect him. But if you must, please do so in your ute.”

One corner of his mouth turned up in a mocking grin. He bowed and gestured, like he was tipping his hat to her. “G’day, ma’am.”

He left to go to his vehicle. She quickly unlocked the front door and pushed Leo inside, rapidly closing and locking it again behind her.

Her back against the door, she inhaled a deep, cleansing breath and then let it out slowly. Then again. After a moment, she lifted Leo out of the pram and headed up the stairs.

The man had an exceptionally long wait—Max didn’t come home. Lilly could only assume he had stayed at the condo.

So be it.

He didn’t call or text her.

She didn’t call or text him.

This had happened once before. She’d angered him for some reason she’d now forgotten, and he’d stayed at the condo for two nights. Her punishment for not being a good girl?

Well, bullcrap. She’d have none of that. She might only be in her twenties, but she’d lived enough life to know that she didn’t want to be bossed around, or manipulated, by a man. Especially one who professed to love her.

She’d seen enough of that at Min Min Station growing up—but she didn’t have to live that kind of life—and she wouldn’t.

When she’d gone to bed, the ute was still parked across the street. When she got up, it was gone. Admittedly, she was relieved, because if he were still there come morning, she’d have to call the police before Poppy arrived.

No way would she leave Poppy and Leo alone with that man outside.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry.

Now, as she stood leaning against the railing on the ferry, crossing over to Brisbane, she let her mind wander over the past twenty-four hours. The man in the ute had unnerved her, to be certain, but even more, Max’s actions earlier in the day had caused the tide to turn inside her.

She no longer wished to be the woman hanging on a string, waiting for him to come home and dangle pretties before her, enticing her…luring her…into his arms and his bed.

His anger had soured that. Her fear of him had soured that, as well.

And if that was the way it would be with him? If that was his expectation of what their life would look like together? Then she wanted none of it.

She’d rather raise Leo on her own—and she had the means to do so—than accept a part-time, half-committed relationship with his father.

She wanted it all, or she wanted nothing.

And perhaps today was the day to find out exactly which way it would be.

Max’s condo was close to the real estate office, so she headed that way. Her plan was simple—wake him, tell him her expectations, and gauge his reactions.

At his building, she took the elevator up to the third floor, strolled down the hall and around the corner to his unit, and knocked on the door.

The time was almost nine. Most days, he didn’t schedule meetings until lunch, using his mornings to make calls.

He didn’t come to the door.

She knocked again.

Suddenly, she wondered if there was a reason he’d never given her a key.

That thought niggled at her as the door jerked open.

A woman stood framed in the doorway. She wore a man’s white collared shirt and nothing else, or so it seemed. Her long, dark blond hair fell over one shoulder, and she blinked several times at Lilly with big brown eyes smudged with eyeliner.

And all Lilly could think of in that instant was that she looked like someone she’d seen once in a movie.

But this wasn’t a movie.

“Yes?” the woman said.

“I have an appointment with Max Oliver.” Lilly lied. “Nine o’clock.”

“Oh. Come on in.” She waved her into the condo. The condo that she had picked out for Max, all those months ago. Shit. Over a year ago.

“Please excuse me.” The blonde sauntered off, her long legs crossing the living area toward the bedroom.

Lilly heard her speak as she moved inside the bedroom, “Sugar, your appointment is here.”

Unbelievable.

She stood in the center of the large living area, facing the bedroom, waiting, and watching the door the woman had disappeared into. She felt no emotion…was surprisingly calm. And vowed to stay that way until she walked out that door again.

“I don’t have a nine o’clock appointment, darling,” she heard Max say.

They chattered on, their voices lowered, and then finally, Max, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, pushed open the bedroom door and stepped into the living room.

He halted. “Lilly?” His expression morphed from shock to annoyance.

“Good day, Max.”

“What are you doing here?” He glanced back at the bedroom, then to her again.

“Unfinished business.”

He cocked his head and stepped closer. “Excuse me?”

Lilly held her calm demeanor as he approached.

“Two things.” She lifted her chin. “One, you will never, ever touch me—or shall I say manhandle me?—again, like you did yesterday. Nor will you ever raise your voice to me—or my child—again.” She hadn’t intended to bring Leo into this, but suddenly, standing there looking at him, she realized if he could treat her with such disrespect, what kind of father would he be to her little boy?

You are doing the right thing, Lilly.

Max just stood there, waiting for her to finish. Frowning.

“And, two. Someone is looking for you. A man. He came to my house yesterday evening. He need not show up there again or I am calling the police—so fix whatever it is you need to fix, so he does not come back.”

He touched her forearm. “Lilly….”

She took two steps in the reverse, his hand falling. “Who is she?” Lilly nodded toward the bedroom.

He shrugged. “I don’t even remember her name.”

Lilly huffed and stepped away. “Goddamn bloody hell, Max!” She headed toward the exit. When her fingers found the doorknob and twisted, Max leaned against the door with force.

“Listen to me, Lilly.”

She glowered, her gaze meeting his. “No.”

“You have my son. We are connected, whether or not you want to be.”

Like hell, you bastard. “There are courts for that.”

“We’re not married, so we can work this out.

C’mon, Lilly. I’ll move in with you. We can do all the things you want.

I’ll take care of you and Leo. You’ll want for nothing.

The only thing I ask is that I occasionally partake of a few liaisons of the sexual variety outside of our relationship. Harmless fun, really. Stress relief.”

Down time. Right-o.

To be honest, she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “You mean that really works on women?”

He laughed, pushing away from the door. “Some women. It worked on my ex.”

“For a time, apparently.” Lilly didn’t mince words.

“Well, it won’t work on me. I don’t need to be taken care of, Max.

I have a job, money, a home, everything I need.

And if I want sex? I can find it. I don’t need you for that, either.

So, if you are proposing a deal here, my response is this—bloody fucking hell no. ”

She twisted and pulled the doorknob and stepped out into the hallway.

Fucking wanker.