DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 12 - Keeping Secrets

Jace could not help noticing how skittish Annie was whenever he questioned her about Dawn and the fact that she had decided to come back to Perth and look after their father instead of being with Dawn, so close to her wedding date.  He kept reassuring her that he was quite capable of doing all the necessary while she was away being a Matron of Honour. But she always seemed to have some reason she wanted to be here instead of on the ranch, all feeble excuses he felt.

Having taken time off work to take part in a sailing regatta at Hillary harbour, he had intended cancelling, but now that Annie said she would be home all week, decided he would go after all.

“Are you quite sure Annie that you won’t need to rush back to the ranch before the weekend?” He asked his sister for the hundredth time.

“I’m very very sure Jace, now pack and go before you are late.  I’ll be here with Dad and you needn’t worry about anything. Go compete and win.”

“Okay, if you’re absolutely sure, I’ll go. But if anything goes wrong with Dad or the bride to be needs you, just call and I’ll come straight back.”

“She won’t need me Jace. I’m absolutely one hundred percent positive. Her Aunt is there and all her brothers and I know the other two bridesmaids arrive on Friday, so she won’t need me till Saturday morning. Now for heaven’s sake, just go.”

Jace hugged his sister, “Thanks Sis, you’re a star.” But somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt something was wrong. While he was packing his bag he nipped into his sister’s room to pick up the book she said he should read and saw her phone lying on the bed. Glancing over his shoulder quickly he snapped it up and scrolled through looking for Dawn’s number. When he found it he hurriedly entered it into his phone.

“Bye Annie, bye Dad, if you need me just call.” Jace said giving them both a big bear hug.

Annie walked with Jace to the car, “Call when you get there Jace, so we know you arrived safely.”

“I will Annie, don’t be such a worrier, Perth to Hillary is not millions of miles away, I’ll be there in no time at all.” He said climbing into his car, “Annie is everything okay between you and Dawn?”

“Of course, everything is okay Jace. Don’t worry about us, go enjoy and win your race.”

“Annie, I am here if you need to talk to me about anything, that’s what big brothers are for you know.”

“Oh for goodness sake Jace, everything is just fine, will you just go already.” She stamped her foot and put her hands on her hips. “Go!” she shouted pointing down the driveway.

“Okay, okay, I’m going.” Jace reversed out, but he couldn’t help feeling something was definitely wrong between Annie and Dawn. His gut instinct told him she was hiding a secret. Once he was settled he would give Dawn a call, he’d have to think of a good excuse seeing as he’d promised not to contact her again.

After a long delay on the roads due to a cargo truck losing half its load on the open road, Jace arrived in Hillary late that evening. Frustrated and exhausted from the long trip he had a quick shower and went to bed, making a mental not to give Dawn a call before he returned home.

Jace woke bright and early the next morning and after a healthy breakfast headed down to the harbour to meet up with his friends he was sailing with. Arriving at the harbour he quickly checked his phone for messages and decided to send Dawn a quick text wishing her luck for her wedding day and every happiness for the future. He hoped this message would instigate a conversation which would hopefully help him discover the real reason Annie had left the ranch. He couldn’t help feeling she was keeping a secret and he hoped it didn’t spell trouble for Annie.