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think what she meant. And then she realised: it must be Matt’s father. Dared she hope his wife hadn’t come with him?
Although the Novaks had arrived a couple of days ago, Joanna hadn’t seen them. She’d heard from Callie that Mr Matt’s father spent most of his days in a wheelchair, but she’d also said he was cheerful enough, and obviously pleased to be here.
With a hasty examination of her appearance, Joanna followed the girl into the parlour. But both Oliver Novak and Henry Powell were waiting for her on the veranda; Oliver in his electric wheelchair and Henry standing proudly beside him.
‘Here she is,’ said Oliver at once, only the faint slur in his speech revealing the lingering effects of his stroke. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you again, Jo. Come and give an old man a kiss.’
Joanna smiled and went to hug Matt’s father warmly. ‘It’s great to see you, too,’ she said, regarding him with real affection. ‘It must be nearly two years since we last met.’
‘At least,’ agreed Oliver, glancing up at the man at his side. Then he said, ‘You go and visit with your granddaughter, Henry. I’ll let you know when I want to leave.’
‘Yes, sir, Mr Novak.’
Callie had already gone back to her duties, and as Henry was about to follow her Joanna said, ‘Perhaps you’d ask Rowena to bring us some iced tea? I’m sure Mr Novak is ready for a drink.’
‘A beer would be better,’ muttered Oliver, but both Joanna and Henry pretended not to hear him. It was too early in the day to start drinking alcohol.
After Henry had gone, Joanna seated herself on one of the chairs beside the bamboo table where she often did her work.
Then, with another smile for her visitor, she said, ‘How are you? I know Matt’s been worried about you.’
‘Has he?’ Oliver didn’t sound as if he believed that, but he leant across to pat Joanna’s arm with his right hand. ‘More to the point, how are you? I couldn’t believe my ears when Matt told me you were having a baby.’
Joanna felt a deepening of colour in her cheeks. ‘I couldn’t believe it either. Not at first,’ she admitted honestly. ‘After all those false alarms.’
‘But you’re pleased about it?’
‘Oh, yes. I’m delighted.’
‘Even though Matt’s the father?’
Especially because Matt’s the father, thought Joanna ruefully, but she kept that to herself.
‘We’re working things out,’ she said instead, and Oliver regarded her with thoughtful eyes.
‘I was sorry to hear about your father,’ he said suddenly. ‘Even though he was no friend of mine, I wouldn’t have wished him ill.’
‘Thank you.’
‘But I have to say, he caused a lot of unhappiness for you and Matt, and I’m hoping that this baby will go some way to healing the wounds between you.’
Joanna sighed. ‘Oh, Oliver—’
She would have said more, but Rowena arrived at that moment with a jug of iced tea.
In all honesty, Joanna was glad of the diversion. She had the feeling that Matt’s father hadn’t just come here to say hello. Pouring the iced tea gave her time to absorb what he was saying, but she was still not prepared for what was to come.
Setting his tea aside, Oliver regarded her intently. ‘I know you and Matt are not back together,’ he said quietly, ‘but I’m here to tell you that your father was not the innocent he claimed to be.’ He sighed. ‘There were things Matt didn’t tell you. Things he was fool enough to keep to himself. And then, when he did try to explain the situation, you wouldn’t listen to him.’
Joanna shifted a little uncomfortably. ‘Oliver—’
‘No, listen to me.’ It was obvious he felt strongly about what he was saying, but she was a little alarmed to see the colour that had entered his cheeks as he spoke. ‘Your father resented me from the moment I married Matt’s mother. He and Adrienne were sweethearts, you know? While she was at college in England.’
Joanna’s jaw dropped. ‘You know about that?’
‘Ah.’ Oliver nodded. ‘I’m surprised he told you. In any case, it doesn’t matter,’ he went on firmly. ‘He should have known that my father was every bit as astute as I believe I am, and there was nothing Adrienne did before our marriage that John Novak didn’t know about.’
‘I don’t see what that has to do—’
‘It has everything to do with his attitude towards Matt. Joanna, Angus knew his firm was in difficulties before you married my son, and to begin with it was enough for him to have Matt bail him out.’
‘He was very grateful.’
‘Was he?’ Oliver’s tone was ironic now. ‘Well, I have to tell you, Jo, that gratitude didn’t last very long.’
‘If you’re talking about the accident—’
‘Of course, I’m talking about the accident.’ Oliver reached for his glass and managed to take a mouthful of tea.
‘It was unfortunate that Angus had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the time, but that was no reason for him to tell lies about my son.’
Joanna shifted awkwardly. ‘If they were lies,’ she murmured unhappily, not wanting to start an argument. The baby was restless and talking about her father again was setting her nerves on edge.
But Oliver had evidently decided to speak his mind.
‘Matt did everything he could to save Carlyle’s reputation,’ he said tersely. ‘But the markings on the steel they’d used to build the platform spoke for themselves.’
Joanna bent her head. ‘I suppose you would say that. Matt’s your son.’
‘Matt is an honest man, which is more than I can say for Angus Carlyle.’ Joanna noticed Oliver was breathing quickly now, and she tried to change the subject by offering him more tea.
But Oliver wasn’t finished. ‘You didn’t know about his gambling, did you, Jo?’ He was evidently finding it difficult to speak now. ‘My God, that man had a lot to answer for.’
Matt wasn’t in the best of moods.
His mother and father had arrived a couple of days ago. And, although he’d been delighted to see that his father had made considerable progress with his mobility, his mother’s attitude was beginning to get on his nerves.
She lost no opportunity to deplore Matt’s decision to bring his ex-wife to the island, which was another reason for his sour disposition. Thankfully, his father didn’t share her opinion, and this morning he’d had Henry take him to the cottage to see Joanna herself.
Matt had to wonder what his father would say to her.
When Oliver had heard that Joanna’s father was blaming NovCo for the accident in the Alaskan oil field, he’d been furious. They all knew—including Angus—that the equipment they’d been using had been built in the Carlyle yard. But by the time Matt had got back from New York, Joanna had heard her father’s version of the story. His claim, that NovCo was using his name to protect their own interests, had apparently seemed believable to her.
It had all been lies, of course. Matt had been stunned by Angus’s betrayal. He’d spent those last weeks in New York trying to protect the old man’s reputation. Angus had been dying, and the last thing Matt had wanted on his obituary was the revelation that he’d been cheating his own company.
Of course, Joanna hadn’t believed him.