Page 10 of Wedding Bells By the Creek

He looked at the contents of the envelope again. Despite everything, he needed time. Not just to read and understand the legalese, but time to think about what he was doing and why.

He heard a very familiar and distinctive engine noise approaching. He slid the papers back into the envelope and got to his feet. He stepped out of the office door just as Tia parked her Harley next to the bowser. She swung her leg over the back of the bike and started to remove her gloves and helmet. By the time she’d done that, Ed was standing by the pump, the hose in his hand.

‘Fill it up, thanks, Ed.’

‘My pleasure.’

And it actually was. For many years, his isolation had been so complete he’d rarely spoken to his customers as he served them. He could only imagine what they’d thought of him. Sour and grumpy didn’t even begin to describe how he had been. That darkness started to lift when he and Scott were reconciled. In the past few months, he had come to enjoy passing the time of day with his customers. A few of them had been surprised at his chattiness, but most were more than willing to talk. Out here, conversation was sometimes hard to come by.

But he wasn’t sure how Tia was going to react to this conversation.

‘I met your mother, Tia. She seems very nice.’

Tia looked at him, her face blank and totally unreadable. ‘Max told me you were at the station when the train got in. Thanks for keeping her company until Max got there.’

‘That was no trouble, and anyway, it hardly counted as meeting her. I was referring to this morning.’

He felt the tension that froze Tia where she stood. The look she turned on him was halfway between a child caught doing something wrong, and an animal trapped in the headlights of an approaching car. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

‘After breakfast we went for a walk down by the creek.’

‘Why?’

‘Don’t sound so shocked. Your mother is a nice woman. I enjoy her company. And besides, she looked like she needed a bit of fresh air.’

Tia began to bristle.

‘Now don’t go getting all stroppy,’ he said quickly, before she could open her mouth. ‘I know the two of you have issues to sort out. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with Helen. God knows she probably needs one.’

Tia took a deep breath and Ed knew he was treading on thin ice.

‘Look,’ he said, ‘I know it’s not my place, but why don’t you give your mother a break.’

‘You’re right,’ Tia said sharply. ‘It’s not your place.’

‘Come on, Tia. You know the town well enough to know that everyone looks out for everyone else. You weren’t here at the time, but I’m pretty sure you heard about me and my son Scott.’

Tia hesitated, then nodded.

‘I know what it feels like as a parent to lose touch with a child. I know how crippling the guilt and the fear can be. No one should have to live their life like that.’

‘You don’t know the full story.’ Tia sounded like a petulant child.

‘No. I don’t. But I know one thing … finding Scott again was the best thing that ever happened to me. I bet you’ll think the same once you make peace with your mother.’

‘Look, Ed, I know you mean well. But this is between her and me.’

‘Her? She’s your mother, Tia. Can’t you at least acknowledge that?’

Without a word, Tia pulled her full-face helmet back over her head, effectively ending the conversation. Ed finished filling her tank and by the time he’d placed the hose back on the pump, Tia had vanished in a rush of anger and noise.

Ed sighed, and went back into the office to add the petrol to Tia’s account. She was right; he had been out of line. But he just wanted to help Helen. She had looked so alone and vulnerable that morning. She was clearly hurting and crippled by guilt. Whatever the reason, Ed didn’t think she deserved to suffer for the rest of her life. Tia would get over her anger with him. And then maybe she’d give some thought to what he’d said.

‘Bloody Ed Collins,’ Tia said as she stormed in through the front door of the police station. ‘I wish he’d mind his own business.’

She tossed her helmet and gloves onto a bench and dropped into a chair to glare across a crowded desk at Max. Annoyingly, he just smiled and shook his head.

‘What?’ she demanded.

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