Page 21 of Outback Reunion

‘I don’t see why not. Maybe if you go to sleep now, we can even get up early and watch the sunrise.’

Luna frowned. ‘But the sun doesn’t rise over the ocean in the west. Itsetshere.’

‘Oh, you’re right. Sometimes you’re far too clever for me, young lady, but dawn’s still magic by the ocean, I promise.’

‘Do you think we’ll see a bunyip? Maybe like many animals they come out at dawn and dusk.’ Luna took another bite of toast and Gabi willed her to eat faster. ‘Whatisa bunyip?’

‘Um... I think it’s some kind of mythical creature from a story told by First Nations people, but I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be found in a river or lake, so I don’t know why this town is called Bunyip Bay. Maybe we can try to find out tomorrow.’

Maybe if Luna ever went to bed, Gabi would get the chance to ask Mark.

‘Are you not going to eat anything?’ Luna said, staring at the empty space in front of Gabi where her supper would usually be.

She shook her head. ‘I’m not hungry.’ If she ate anything right now, she was liable to throw up. Whether this was due to nerves, excitement, or something else, she wasn’t sure.

Luna shrugged and kept on chattering. When she’d finally finished her toast, Gabi snatched up the plate and mug and dumped them in the sink. ‘Go brush your teeth and climb into bed, munchkin.’

Reluctantly, Luna did as she was told.

Gabi kissed her goodnight, switched off the main light and then hurried into the bathroom. Due to the amount of stage make-up she wore, taking it off always took quite a while and by the time she was finished, Luna was usually fast asleep. Tonight, after Gabi stripped her face of its circus decoration, instead of putting on her night cream, she slathered on moisturiser and a layer of foundation. She topped this off with a swipe of mascara on each eyelash, a dab of blusher on each cheek and some pink lip-gloss. Then she pulled her hair out of captivity and shook it loose around her face.

The person looking back at her from the mirror was like a stranger. Usually she either had layers and layers of performance make-up or none at all, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d let her locks hang free.

Should she put it back up again? Maybe put on a little eyeliner?

Argh.She hated feeling so on edge. So unsure of herself. It reminded her too much of when Dante was alive, and she’d second guess everything she said.

After a firm talking-to, during which she reminded herself that not only was she a grown-arse woman who’d given birth with no drugs and could ride a bike on a highwire and therefore shouldn’t be so nervous about meeting a mere male for a drink, she left the bathroom.

‘What took you so long?’ came Luna’s voice from the bed.

Gabi’s heart sank. ‘Why aren’t you asleep yet?’

‘Not tired. Can I ask you something else?’

Just fabulous.The one night Gabi had somewhere to be, Miss Usually-Zonks-Out-the-Moment-Her-Head-Hits-the-Pillow was wide awake and wanting to chat.

She somehow managed not to sigh or scream her frustration as she climbed into bed beside her daughter. ‘Well, Iamtired, so one question and that’s it.’

‘Do you think Daddy still loves me?’

‘Oh, darling,’ Gabi said as Luna snuggled her lithe body in at her side. Although she was small for seven, she had strong limbs that many adults would envy. ‘Of course he does. Daddy will always love you and so will I.’

Luna sniffed and tightened her grip on Gabi. ‘I miss him so much it makes my lungs hurt sometimes.’

‘Aw, sweetheart.’ Gabi pressed a kiss to her head; that guilt once again swirling inside her. Seven-year-olds shouldn’t have to deal with such big emotions.

‘Do you miss him too?’

‘Of course I do,’ Gabi said quickly. ‘Now, get some rest.’

Chapter Five

As it was just after nine o’clock on a Friday night in the middle of summer, The Palace Hotel was, unsurprisingly, full when Mark arrived. There were several people who’d also been to the circus, a bunch of young guys and girls—some he recognised, some he didn’t—laughing and jostling around the pool table and even a band playing on a makeshift stage in the corner. Not a bad band either. He wasn’t big on country music but the duo was undeniably good, and much better than the music the last publican used to play on repeat when Mark had occasionally come here as a kid for dinner with his family.

The décor had improved too. These days The Palace had walls painted a pale yellow with black and white prints of other rural pubs on display. Mark recognised a few from some road trips he and Tahlia had done, and he knew that hardly any of those pubs looked as good on the inside as this one. Liam, the new publican, had proved to be a man of many talents. In addition to renovation and redecoration, he’d handcrafted most of the furniture in the pub, giving it a modern but rustic feel.

It even rivalled some of the team’s regular haunts in Melbourne.

---