Page 30 of Doc Rock
“No,” Mai whispered.
That wasn’t right. She left them. The money wasn’t hers.
“I’m surprised Donnie didn’t tell you, but clearly, for some reason, he wanted to set up this fun reunion. You should phone him, you’re worth millions.”
Mai shook her head again.“I don’t want it.”
“Too bad. It’s yours.”
“No. It’s not mine,”she tried again.
“Give the money away for all I care.”Ford flicked his hand flippantly.“It’s nothing to do with me. I’ve got plenty of my own money.”
Mai’s heart clenched. It hurt so much, despite knowing she deserved his anger, tohearFord speak to her so dismissively.
“You saved me a lot of money.”Ford grinned bitterly at her.
“What?”Mai asked, struggling to keep up with yet another sudden turn in the conversation.
“Yeah. You disappearing saved me a lot of money.”Ford stopped pacing and stood directly in front of her, crossing his arms.
Mai didn’t answer. She couldn’t imagine how her leaving saved him money.
Ford continued.“Yeah. I would have ended up paying a lot in divorce fees otherwise. It’s hard togetmarried when you already have a wife.”
Shit.
Thereit was. The one thing she avoided thinking about at all costs.
Graham Ford wasn’t just the love of her life. He was her husband.
“I—I—” she stammered.
“Youknowwhat. I can’t do this. I’m leaving. Have a great party.”Sarcasm threaded through every word.
“Ford, I?—”
He cut her off.“I don’t want tohearit. I like Taylor and Clara, and I don’t want to make a scene. So I’ll leave quietly.”
With those final words, he stopped his agitated pacing, turned his back on her and walked away.
Maiwatchedhim go and finally let the tears fall. Tears that she hadn’t allowed herself to shed before.
As she cried in the bush clearing, she didn’thearthe sound of footsteps until Gloria, Taylor’s mum, spoke.
“Mai. Are you okay? Do you need some company?”
She started in surprise and was about to decline when the older woman offered her a tissue, and instead she sniffed and nodded.“Yes. Thanks.”
“Do you want to talk?”Gloria asked gently.
Mai sniffed again and nodded. After so long keeping it inside, she needed to tell someone.
“So,”Gloria said softly,“tell me why a wonderful woman like you is standing in the Australian bush, and a rockstar has just stomped past me looking like a thundercloud.”
Chapter 12
Mai (16)
