Page 81 of Outback Reunion

‘You didn’t have to come,’ she said. ‘We could have called Eve or Lorenzo to get us.’

He shook his head. The idea of not coming after the shock they’d had, of not being here to support her, was incomprehensible. ‘Of course I was going to come. How are you feeling, Luna?’

‘Starving!’ She made a face. ‘They gave me a sandwich but both the breadandthe ham tasted like cardboard.’

‘She’s fine,’ Gabriela said. ‘I just need to keep a close eye on her for the next twenty-four hours, but she’s a very lucky girl. Thanks to you.’

‘What a relief.’ He smiled at her, once again wishing he could hug her. Hug them both. ‘Let’s get you both home.’

The three of them walked out of the hospital and piled into the Cruiser, Gabriela in the back beside Luna because she still couldn’t bring herself to let her go.

‘Can we get something to eat? I told you I’m starving,’ Luna said as she put her seatbelt on.

Mark looked over his shoulder. ‘Do you like Macca’s?’

Her eyes widened. ‘McDonald’s?’ When he nodded, she added, ‘Can I get a Happy Meal?’

He chuckled; some things never changed. He used to beg his parents for one every time they went to Geraldton or Perth and had collected the plastic toys in a shoebox.

Gabriela snapped on her seatbelt. ‘We don’t have time. We have to get back and get ready for the show.’

‘You’re not seriously going to make her perform after today?’ Mark asked.

She glared at him. ‘No, of course not, butIstill need to.’

He blinked. ‘Don’t you think you deserve a break too, after what you’ve just been through?’

Gabriela rolled her eyes. ‘Haven’t you heard, “the show must go on”? It’s not just a saying to us.’

‘Aw,please, Mum,’ Luna whined. ‘I’m so hungry. I might die of starvation and I thought you didn’t want me to die!’

At this, Mark struggled not to smirk.

‘Fine,’ Gabriela said. ‘But we’re getting drive through.’

Feeling as victorious as Luna looked, Mark drove the short distance to McDonald’s and put in Luna’s order for a Cheeseburger Happy Meal and a large Quarter Pounder meal for himself.

‘What do you want?’ he asked Gabriela.

‘Nothing. I can’t eat too much before performing.’

She insisted on paying, and Mark unwrapped his burger before they left the carpark, then drove one-handed as he ate.

Luna was quiet while she scoffed her burger and the fries she’d chosen instead of apple slices or cherry tomatoes—what kid would willingly choose either?—but when she’d finished, she immediately turned her attention to him. ‘Do you have a girlfriend or a wife or something?’

‘That’s none of your business,’ Gabriela warned, retrieving the bottle of water from her bag.

‘It’s fine.’ He smiled into the rear-view mirror at Luna. ‘I was married, but we’re getting a divorce.’

The smile that had been on her face since Gabriela had agreed to Macca’s fell. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. That must be hard.’

‘Last year was a bit of a tough one,’ he admitted, ‘but things are starting to look up.’

Luna smiled again. ‘I’m glad. You seem like a nice man.’ She took a sip of her apple juice.

‘Thank you.’ Mark felt a lump form in his throat. He couldn’t help wishing Lunawashis. Not just because it would mean a connection to Gabi, but because she was exactly the kind of kid he’d always envisioned having. Sporty, funny, brave and full of life.

Luna had more questions as they drove. She wanted to know what it was like being a famous footballer, but as that subject still hurt, he quickly changed the topic, asking her instead about the circus, which she was more than happy to chat about. There were so many things he hadn’t considered about living on the road, like not having permanent running water or electricity. She told him they had a generator that switched off every night at midnight and didn’t go back on until eight o’clock the next morning.

---