Briar Valley: The Complete Duet

7. Willow

CHAPTER 7

WILLOW

HOME - GAbrIELLE APLIN

Easing myself onto the butter-soft sofa, I pat the space next to me. Arianna curls up against my side and stares at all the other adults in the room. She’s a smart cookie, but she’s also well trained at knowing when not to speak.

These people might be our real, long-lost family, but in my experience, blood isn’t thicker than water. Not really. Family means nothing to me, not after the hellish mess my father left me in when he died.

Killian props himself up in the corner of the room after locating a new shirt to wear, maintaining his steely, pissed-off silence. Two other guys have joined us, and one is the caramel-haired man who was looking after Arianna.

He slowly approaches me, wearing another easy smile that reveals dimples in his cheeks. Sticking his hand out for me to shake, he laughs under his breath when I decline.

“I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Zach.”

I take in his tight t-shirt and jeans. “Willow. Thanks for looking after my little girl.”

“Don’t mention it, babe. You need anything else, I’m around.”

“Alright, kid,” Killian hisses. “Back off the poor woman.”

“Just being a good host,” he snarks back.

Killian full-body shoves him into an armchair. Zach must be the cousin that he mentioned. I can see a vague resemblance in the rounded shapes of their eyes and strong, straight noses, though Killian looks a lot older than him.

The other guy gives me a friendly wave. With a headful of dark ringlets, warm blue eyes and a smile that lights up his whole innocent face, his presence is immediately welcoming. I tentatively return his smile.

“I’m Ryder,” he explains. “Welcome to town.”

“Um, thanks.”

Arianna tugs on the sleeve of my flannel shirt, dropping her voice to a hushed, conspiratorial whisper.

“Zach has ice cream in his cabin, and he said that if I’m a good girl, I can have some later.”

“Is that so?”

I watch Zach grin at my little girl. “What can I say, I’m a people pleaser.”

We’re interrupted by an older, grey-haired man entering the room, draining a thermos of coffee. He’s maybe a few years younger than Lola, his long hair tied back in a ponytail that shows off his weathered face.

“I’m Albie.” His voice twangs with a thick British accent. “Ryder’s my nephew. We already met briefly last night, but it’s nice to meet ya properly.”

“Thanks for, you know… rescuing me.”

Albie shrugs it off. “It’s what we do.”

Two middle-aged women, Rachel and Miranda, appear to hand out drinks after introducing themselves. Their matching silvery eyes and thick, red curls make it hard to tell them apart from each other. Sisters, for sure.

They disappear back into the kitchen to give us some privacy, leaving Lola to stride inside with a plate of chocolate chip cookies in hand. They smell fresh and homemade.

My stomach growls so loud, Killian shoots me another scowl before stealing the plate and dumping it in front of us.

“Eat,” he thunders.

I clear my throat. “I’m fine.”

“I’m getting really sick of you saying that. It wasn’t an invitation. Eat .”

“That’s enough, Killian. Willow is our guest,” Lola scolds.

He returns to brooding silence, but still stares at me with determination. I can’t decide if he wants to murder me or pin me to the floor until I agree to eat. Both scenarios are equally worrying.

Arianna begins to stuff her mouth with chocolate chip goodness. Lola smiles at her enthusiasm, taking the seat closest to us. She can barely keep her eyes off me, and wonderment is softening her aged features.

“Willow,” she whispers my name in awe. “I don’t know where to start. I can’t believe you’re here. It’s been so long.”

“I’ve been abroad for the last decade.”

“I see. Well, that would make this little one my great-granddaughter, correct?”

Arianna sucks her thumb into her chocolate-stained mouth. I squeeze my arm around her, wincing as she rests her head on a particularly nasty bruise across my chest.

“Yeah, this is Arianna.”

“How old are you, poppet?” Lola enquires softly.

She automatically looks up at me for permission before answering. I nod, squirming under the collective attention of the entire room.

“I’m six, but I’ll be seven in forty-nine days,” Arianna replies.

“Forty-nine days! Such a big girl, aren’t you? And so brave, looking after your mum like that.”

She accepts the extra cookie that Lola offers her and demolishes it without complaint. Lola smiles again, loving every moment, before she glances back at me.

“You seem young to have her.”

“I’m twenty-six,” I answer evenly.

“And your husband? Is he coming?”

Anxiously twisting the strangling weight of my wedding band, I ignore Zach’s and Killian’s cold facial expressions. Somehow, they both seem to sense my change in emotion, their hackles rising in response.

Arianna shivers beside me and tugs on my shirt sleeve. Even her smile has vanished, and she abandons the rest of the cookie that she was about to inhale.

“Yeah, baby?”

“You said Daddy wasn’t coming,” she whispers.

Gulping hard, I feel the weight of several interested stares watching our exchange. I really don’t want them to know too much about us at this stage. It isn’t safe for them or us.

“He isn’t coming, munchkin. I told you, it’s just us now.”

“So, I don’t need to be scared?”

Unshed tears sparkle in her big, blue eyes, unhinging the box containing my weary nerves. Lola’s gaze is burning a hole in the side of my head, silently demanding answers. When Killian cracks his knuckles, I fight the urge to flinch.

“Let’s talk about this later, Ari.”

“No,” she demands, her bottom lip jutting out. “You promised! I like it here. They have ice cream, and a lake for swimming in. I want to stay.”

“Ari, shush.”

“I don’t want to go home.” Her pout increases as a tiny, sparkling tear rolls down her cheek. “It’s bad there and Daddy makes you really sad. We need to stay here!”

“Nobody said anything about going home,” I murmur back, my own tears spilling over. “Please, Ari. Be quiet.”

“No! This is supposed to be our adventure!”

Burying my face in my hands, I scrub away the traitorous moisture leaking down my face. It’s been days of non-stop travel and running for our damn lives. Arianna’s entitled to a meltdown. I think I might join her at this rate.

“Come on, Ari.” Zach approaches us and sticks out a hand. “Let’s go and get some hot chocolate, okay?”

She looks up at me again, still mad but seeking permission like she’s been trained to do. I gently push her towards him, mustering a thankful smile. Zach winks in response, leading her out of the room.

We all remain silent until the door closes behind them. Despite my audience, more tears fall, escaping the constraints of my fading control.

“I’m sorry, she’s been through a lot.”

“She’s a good kid,” Killian speaks up from his brooding.

I take a moment to wipe my face again. “We’ve travelled thousands of miles to get here. She’s exhausted, that’s all.”

“Where did you come from?” Lola asks.

“Mexico.”

“Willow, I’m sorry but I need you to answer me something right now. Is someone looking for you? We couldn’t help but notice your fingerprints.”

“Ah… it was an accident, that’s all.”

“An accident?” Killian repeats in disbelief. “Bullshit.”

Panic wraps around my throat. I had no intention of letting anyone see the mess I made of our prints. None of this was supposed to happen.

“A car accident, uh, last week. There was a fire.”

His eyes bore into me. I know he can sense my lying, even from across the room. I drop his intense gaze, playing with my wedding ring again. I wanted so badly to leave it behind or toss it to the bottom of the ocean, but this is our safety net if it all goes wrong.

“We had to leave our home in Mexico,” I add with a sigh.

“Why?” Killian questions.

“I’m getting divorced. We wanted a fresh start.”

“Does this divorce have something to do with the state you arrived in?”

“Of course not. How is this any of your business?”

“When you trespass on our land, it becomes our business,” Killian retorts. “Tell us the truth, Willow.”

“There’s nothing else to tell!”

Before he can launch another attack, Lola silences him with a raised palm.

“Willow isn’t here to be interrogated by you. She’s our guest.”

“I’m concerned for the town’s safety,” Killian argues. “That’s my job.”

“And I’m telling you, that’s enough! Out.”

“Grams—”

“Get out! Everyone.”

Killian’s mouth snaps shut. Eyes burning with anger, he stalks out of the room, leaving Ryder to trail after him with an apologetic smile. Lola motions for Albie to go too.

“I need to speak to Willow alone.”

He vanishes after the others without complaint. Once we’re alone, Lola takes the empty spot on the sofa next to me. She pulls my hands in hers, squeezing them so tightly, my bones creak together.

“I know you have no reason to trust me. I sent you that letter for a reason when I heard of your father’s death.”

“Why?” I can’t help but ask.

“Because we’re family,” she explains simply. “Please let me help you. It’s the least I can do. I didn’t even know that you were still alive.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it living.”

Her fingers ghost over my gold wedding band. “Who is he? Should I be worried?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s in the past now.”

“Can I ask why you had to leave?”

I take a breath for courage. “We couldn’t stay in Mexico. The divorce got… uh, complicated. We decided to fly home to England instead. I knew that I had to find you.”

Eyes sparkling with tears, Lola draws me in close. My face is buried in the crook of her wrinkled neck. She smells like freshly baked cookies with a floral burst of wildflowers. I’ve never even met her before, but she still smells like home.

Sobs tear at my chest, clawing up my throat in clinging tendrils, until I’m falling apart in her arms. I’ve always been strong for Arianna’s sake, but with her strength propping me up, I can finally let go.

The cries pour from my mouth with such frenzied desperation, I don’t know how I’ll ever stop. I’ve never done this before, but it feels oddly cathartic to let myself be weak.

I cry for all that we’ve lost. The suffering and pain inflicted on my precious daughter. The terror that drove us thousands of miles from the only home we’ve ever known, even an evil one, searching for a better life.

We have nothing left.

Nothing but our lives.

“Whatever you’re running from won’t find you here,” Lola comforts as she strokes my long, black hair. “You have my word.”

“I’m so sorry,” I hiccup through sobs. “I shouldn’t have brought this to your door. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Nonsense. I’m your grandmother, and this is your home now.”

Her easy acceptance only adds to my uncontrollable tears. I’ve never been embraced with such motiveless, unconditional love before. Not even from my father. I have no idea how to handle it.

“I want you to tell me the truth,” she implores, holding me at arm’s length. “Were you really in a car accident? Is something else going on here?”

Feeling like the worst person in the world, I manage a stiff nod. “Nothing else is going on.”

Lola grasps my cheeks and makes me look her right in the eye. She stares at me with such determination, I get myself under control and straighten, needing to prove to her that I’m stronger than I look.

“I don’t know what’s happened to make you so afraid, but you can tell me when you’re ready.” Her thumbs wipe my tears aside. “Until then, let me take care of you.”

“I don’t know…”

“Please, Willow. All I want is to look after my family.”

“Maybe we should go.”

“You’re not going anywhere but the hospital.”

“No!” I shout, startling her with the fire in my voice. “Please, no hospitals. I can’t risk it. He could be searching for us. It isn’t safe.”

“Searching for you?” she repeats.

I bite my lip. “He’s… very powerful.”

Lola contemplates my words. When she sighs in defeat, I know I’ve won the battle. For now. Something tells me this isn’t the last time we’ll have this fight. I hate lying to her, but I have no choice.

“No hospitals,” she reluctantly agrees. “You’re going to stay here and rest. Let yourself get better. That’s the deal.”

I submit with a nod. “We’ll stay.”

“Good. Come on, I’ll show you to the guest room. I’ve asked Rachel and Miranda to sort some more clothes out. Their children are around Arianna’s age.”

Letting her help me stand back up, I hold her hand as we leave the living room. The others have all made themselves scarce.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, Lola helps me climb the staircase, dodging discarded shoes, woollen hats and the odd Wellington boot. Despite the pristine design of the cabin, it’s littered with enough clutter for a whole family.

“How many people live here?” I ask, breathing hard.

“Just me in this cabin, but we have dozens of families spread throughout Briar Valley. Most of them treat this place as their home too. That’s how I like it.”

“Do you have any other children?”

Helping me hobble down a hallway painted a calming shade of light blue that contrasts the dark, wooden floorboards, Lola casts me an uncertain look.

“No. Didn’t your father talk about me?”

“Not so much. We didn’t have a great relationship,” I admit. “When he died, I thought I had no family left.”

“Christ,” she curses, opening the last door on the left. “Things are a little complicated where your father is concerned, Willow. We have a lot to talk about.”

I limp into the guest bedroom, breathing in the scent of fresh, crisp linens and waxed wood from the floorboards. It’s painted a comfortable shade of light cream, and the furniture matches the rest of the cabin—basic but comfortable.

Lola walks past me and fusses over the bed, smoothing non-existent creases. I spot the duffel bag that’s been placed next to the wardrobe. It survived my tumble in the woods. Panicked, I grit my teeth and bend down to search inside.

Our fake passports and meagre supply of cash are where I left them. We have a few personal items, but no clothes or toiletries. I couldn’t afford to spook Mr Sanchez by packing anything that might’ve given our plan away.

Arianna’s baby box rests at the bottom of the bag, safe and sound. It’s light enough to lift out, and I inspect the carved box for any signs of damage. It looks a little dented from the fall, but nothing irreparable.

“What’s that?” Lola eyes the box.

I pass it over to her to look inside. “Arianna’s baby box.”

Both sitting down on the edge of the bed, we look over the collection of random items. A blonde curl, tied with a silky, blue ribbon. Her first pair of shoes—tiny baby sandals, perfect for the Mexican heat. I even have a single cotton sock.

Mr Sanchez fired his housekeeper after he spotted her helping me put the box together. He didn’t like his staff getting close to us. I wasn’t to be seen or acknowledged by any of them, and they all knew the rules.

Pedro was the only one who treated me like a normal human being, but he was careful with his affection. I’ll never forget the first time he spoke to me, daring to ask if I was okay while I nursed a badly sprained wrist.

He should be here.

This is his victory.

“How much did she weigh?” Lola breaks my thoughts.

“Uh, a little over seven pounds. She was a home birth. I delivered her myself.”

“You did?” She gapes at me.

Shit!

“I mean, things happened so quickly,” I rush to alleviate her concern. “We didn’t have time to find a hospital before she arrived.”

Lola returns to inspecting the items. My breath hisses from between my teeth. I need to think before I speak. The cruelness of my life is normal to me after so long, but not to the rest of the world. I can’t let the truth slip out like that.

“We’ve had many home births here.” Lola closes the box. “Miranda and Doc’s third baby was actually born downstairs. He delivered it himself. It was such a beautiful day.”

I stash the box back in my bag. “It’s nice that you’re all so close. I’ve always wanted a big family.”

Lola chuckles with mirth. “Careful what you wish for, Willow. Things get very rowdy around here, but that’s how we like it. You’ll see.”

“I guess so.”

“Do you need anything else?” she fusses, looking around the room. “I’ll find some clothes for you to wear. The bathroom is next door, and towels are in the wardrobe.”

“I’m okay, thank you. Just tired.”

Lola pulls me into another hug before I can protest. She holds me for several loaded seconds before releasing me and standing up, taking a moment to swipe a finger underneath her reddened eyes.

“Get some rest. We can talk more when you’re feeling better. I’ll find you some pain relievers too. Doc should have some stashed away.”

“Thank you, Lola.”

Dragging down the bedsheets to unveil the marshmallow softness of the mattress, I feel the adrenaline drain out of my body in an instant. I’ve only been awake for an hour or so, but I feel completely depleted already.

“Can you send Arianna up?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her.” Lola winks at me. “I need a hand in the greenhouse this afternoon.”

“Oh, I guess that’ll be okay.”

Blowing me a kiss, she halts in the doorway. “I’m so happy that you’re here, Willow. I never thought I’d have a chance to be your grandmother. I won’t waste it.”

Closing the door before I can answer her, I’m left alone in the room, wrapped in silence. Despite knowing that we made it here alive, terror still slinks down my spine.

At any moment, I expect the door to smash open and for Mr Sanchez to stride in with his favourite whip in hand to punish me for daring to leave him. I can’t begin to imagine how angry he must be right now.

I’ll never be safe, not even here.

Maybe coming to Briar Valley was a mistake.