Page 44 of Wings Above the Mallee

‘Early in the day for pastry, isn’t it?’ Christine said, apparently indifferent to the fact that she was the one selling them.

He shifted uncomfortably as she bagged the food. ‘Sam not around?’ He didn’t care one way or the other, but Christine’s manner of clipping out questions and then waiting silently for the answer forced him to make conversation.

‘I’m sure she’s wherever she needs to be,’ Christine said, making him feel like he’d trespassed on her privacy.

‘Mmm.’ He swivelled, looking around the cafe as Christine turned her attention to the coffee machine. The milk screamed behind him and he could guarantee the coffee would be thin and bitter. He’d have to come back another time to try Sam’s, see if it was as good as Dad said.

Only a handful of people took up seats in the cafe; the locals were probably all terrified of being ticked off by Christine for being in too early. Recognising a couple of small groups from the RAG meeting—though he hadn’t caught their names—Heath nodded at them. One of the men flicked his finger up from the side of his mug in acknowledgement and two women smiled at him. Tracey waved from the back corner, where a toddler on her lap pulled at the ends of the brightly coloured scarf she often wore in her hair.

‘Sean not with you?’ Tracey called, and Heath wondered whether he could pretend not to hear. But the torture of the milk seemed to be taking forever, and he knew she would repeat the question.

He crossed the room to where she sat beneath a handsome painting of gold and green willows edging the river. ‘Morning, Tracey.’

Her dog poked its nose from under the table, but he pretended not to see. He knew a blind eye was often turned to food standards legislation in the country towns, and Settlers Bridge would be no different.

‘Your dad not coming in, lovey?’ Tracey nodded at the hand in which he clutched the three brown paper bags.

He swallowed his sigh. Sean had charmed the knickers off the female population of the town. Funny thing was, if they’d known him ten years back, they’d have run a mile. ‘He’s just dropped in at the doc’s.’ It wouldn’t hurt to leave Tracey with her assumption that the food was for Dad, though.

Tracey shook her head. ‘Not right now, he isn’t.’ She pressed a kiss onto the baby’s head. ‘I’m looking after Anna because Taylor had to make an urgent house call this morning, before the clinic opened, and Luke’s gone to Lameroo to pick up some sheep.’ It was clear that Tracey was proud as punch to get the babysitting gig. ‘He’ll come and get Anna as soon as he’s back, but for now, she’s all mine. Aren’t you, poppet?’

‘I see,’ Heath said disinterestedly. He glanced down at his paper bags. Maybe he should grab Sean a pie, too, if the doc was running late.

‘Coffee is on the counter.’ Christine’s words rang out like a command.

‘I’d better get those while they’re hot. You reckon the doc won’t be at the clinic yet? I’ll get Dad a coffee, then.’ He nodded a farewell at Tracey.

‘Goodness knows how long she’ll be. I suppose it depends on what’s wrong with Amelia,’ Tracey said, her blue eyes large with concern.

‘Amelia?’

Tracey nodded eagerly. ‘Her father rang Taylor early this morning. They’re friends from way back, you know. Oh, Amelia and Taylor, I mean, not Taylor and Amelia’s father.’ Her bangles jangled as she waved her confusion away and tutted. ‘Honestly, after all the times Marian warned me to think before I speak, you’d expect I wouldn’t get things muddled. Oh!’ Her eyes widened even more. ‘Think before I speak … I probably shouldn’t have told you about Amelia,should I? Oh dear, just forget I said anything, love.’ She jiggled the baby in a flustered manner.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Tracey,’ Christine snapped, appearing next to them. ‘Once you’ve let the cat out of the bag, there’ll be kittens to account for.’ She pointed imperiously around the room. ‘Six people heard what you said. They’ll each tell another six and before lunchtime, the whole of Settlers Bridge will know the doctor was called. So exactly what did you hear? Why didn’t Amelia call you, when you’re only next door?’

Any other time, Heath would marvel at Christine’s ability to both rebuke Tracey and simultaneously demand more gossip. But he had to go. He didn’t bother collecting the coffee, but left the shop and strode down the street as fast as his bad leg would allow, his breath creating clouds of frost diamonds in the air. Of course, the scar tissue had to choose today to remind him he’d not bothered massaging in the cream that was supposed to prevent it tightening. Not that he’d ever bothered: the pain was a physical reminder of his failure, for those moments when Charlee wasn’t around.

It would take only a few minutes to reach Amelia’s. Yet with every lurching step, his guilt mounted: had something happened to her when she drove off last night? Had she been too upset to concentrate on the road? Was he responsible for another accident?

Evidently, Tracey wasn’t the only person in town who’d shared the news, as Sean’s car was already pulled up at Amelia’s gate, his father at the door as the doctor emerged. Heath clenched his teeth against the shooting pain as he forced himself to move faster.

‘—trying to find someone who can stay with her,’ Taylor said as he approached.

‘What happened? What’s wrong with her?’ Heath demanded.

‘Like I was telling Sean, Amelia has sepsis,’ Taylor said far too calmly. ‘A blood infection. She’s semiconscious and running a fever. I’ve given her antibiotics, and she’ll be fine, but I’ll have to get Tracey or perhaps Christine to come sit with her.’ The doctor frowned at her wristwatch. ‘I’m already an hour behind with clinic.’

‘Well, I suppose—’ Sean started, glancing at him for support. Although neither of them was good with ill people, Heath’s tension eased. This wasn’t his fault. Of course, it was only natural to be relieved that someone he’d come to know—barely—wasn’t seriously ill. His emotion went no deeper than that.

‘I can stay with her.’

He startled as Charlee spoke behind him; he hadn’t heard her approach. Nor would he have anticipated her offer.

The doctor’s shoulders slumped and she placed a hand on her chest. ‘You can?’

Charlee stepped around him. ‘I don’t need to head back to the city yet. Ethan can go, but I’ll crash here for a while.’

‘Perfect,’ Taylor said. ‘I’ve only got a half-day booked in at the clinic, though I’m afraid it’ll run late now. But I’ll be back this afternoon to take over.’

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