Page 35 of Wings Above the Mallee

‘You must be Snow White or something, with all these animals flocking to you.’ Was Snow White the right character? He should have paid more attention when Sophie read to Charlee. The thought of his dead wife and his destroyed daughter, both evidence of his myriad failures, immediately soured Heath’s humour.

‘I’m beginning to wonder if there’s a way to make a living out of it.’ Amelia looked beyond him. ‘Sean not with you?’

The flash of jealousy speared through him again. ‘Dropped me off, but he’s an apology.’ Dad had been coming until minutes before the meeting, then had begged off. And the minute his father was odd, Heath mentally checked what alcohol they had in the house. He should get a safe, lock away everything that could hurt Sean or Charlee. Of course, he’d need one big enough to shove himself into, then. ‘I’ll get a lift back with Charlee.’

‘I forgot you can’t drive.’

‘Not can’t. Don’t.’ If he was behind the wheel, the temptation to run into a tree or a bridge or a rock, to inflict on himself the pain Sophie had experienced, might become too great.

Amelia glanced at her watch and he spoke quickly, not quite ready to let her go.

‘So how do you make a living out of being Snow White?’

‘I was thinking that a travelling farm might do all right, even out here.’

‘Like kids’ birthdays and events?’ He’d seen similar in shopping centres.

‘Maybe. It was a passing thought, totally inspired by Facebook.’

He raised one eyebrow in question and Amelia twisted her mouth guiltily. Her eyes danced with shades of molten honey.

‘Home of appallingly time-wasting cute animal videos. Don’t tell Faelie.’

‘I’ve checked out of socials. Keyboard warriors have an inability to keep their opinions to themselves.’ He winced as he realised that it sounded like he was judging Amelia for being on the platforms, rather than explaining why he wouldn’t be friend-requesting her.

‘I don’t think the opinionated exist only on there.’ She nodded toward the conference room. ‘And without Taylor and Sean, we’re a few people down.’

‘Lot of new faces, though.’

‘I mean we’re a few people down onourside.’

It was disconcerting how much he suddenly liked the inclusivity. ‘I left Dave in there cultivating new acolytes. Probably wasn’t smart.’

‘I suspect you’re right,’ Amelia said.

‘But the company out here is better.’

Amelia looked uncertain how to take his words. Which was fine, because he wasn’t entirely sure how he’d meant them. Compliment? Yeah, sure. Flirtation? He hadn’t flirted in more than twenty years and had no reason to start now.

‘Hey, Taylor.’ Amelia sounded relieved. ‘I thought you were an apology?’

The doctor unslung a fat leather briefcase from her shoulder and set it down on one of the office chairs. She looked exhausted. ‘Semi-apology. I’ve got house calls, but I thought I’d pop in to make sure you’ve got a quorum.’ She lifted her chin toward the crowd that had overflowed the conferenceroom and were chatting in groups in the passageway. ‘Are you running a free chook raffle or something? I reckon you’ve more people in here than Ant’s got down the pub.’

‘There’s an idea. If we held the meeting in the pub, we’d have the whole town involved,’ Amelia said as they moved toward the conference room.

‘Tay, I was beginning to think you’d forgotten,’ Roni Krueger called.

‘Just slammed,’ Taylor replied. ‘Hey, Matt. Luke said to tell you he was going to catch up, but he’s home with the baby.’

‘Tracey’s got our two so that Matt and I could both come,’ Roni said. ‘I don’t know how we’d manage without her.’

‘Well, I probably would have starved back in the day,’ Matt said. ‘Man cannot live on bread alone.’

‘You said you loved my bread!’ Roni protested.

‘I was kind of keen on you.’

‘And now?’ Roni put her hands on her hips.

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