Page 51 of Wings Above the Mallee

Amelia pouted. ‘But I want to go.’

Sean could have applauded. The woman was playing Charlee’s need to be needed perfectly.

‘Well, we’ll see if Tracey has anything,’ Charlee said, like a mother making a deal with her child. ‘But we’re not going to know how to do the dances anyway.’

‘Like I said, I haven’t been to a “training” session either,’ Sean repeated. ‘There are some practices before the fundraiser—maybe we could all go? Or I wonder whether there’s something online? We could learn a few moves before we make idiots of ourselves.’

He hadn’t even finished the sentence before Charlee had her phone out, operating the device with her thumb as she held up her other hand to stop him speaking. God, he remembered that autocratic move so well. With her intense fascination in just about everything, Charlee had always demanded silence while she sourced and imparted information she was certain everyoneneededto hear from her.

‘Got it!’ she announced dramatically. ‘YouTube for the win. Right. Who’s up for a lesson?’

It was typical Charlee—typicaloldCharlee—to immediately take on the role of instructor, despite knowing no more than they did. Typical, infuriating, obnoxious—and his chest tightened with a desire to cry with joy. His girl was back.

‘I think that’s an outside-on-the-verandah deal,’ Amelia said. She pushed Kismet, who had her hooves on Amelia’s knee and looked to be working out the best way to find space on the lounge, down to the floor. ‘And it’s time the kids went out for a run.’

With the sheep racing ahead of them, the magpie comically darting between their legs as though she’d forgotten how to fly, they made their way to the back verandah.

‘Bit chilly,’ Sean observed, folding up the collar on his jacket.

Charlee whipped the nappies off the lambs. ‘You’ll warm up soon enough,’ she said to him, as though she already knew all about line dancing.

As the animals made for the bare branches of a tree in the garden—which showed concerning signs of beingringbarked by sharp little teeth—Charlee propped her phone on a windowsill and directed them into position.

With music blasting from the phone, Charlee picked up the steps quickly. Within two rounds of ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ she was admonishing them with ‘left, step, step, grapevine, reverse’ like she was a pro.

For five minutes, Sean and Amelia laughingly tried to follow her directions, colliding with each other and missing as many steps as they managed. Then Amelia shook her head, leaning one hand against the verandah post.

‘I think I’m about done for the day. You carry on, though. I’ll watch.’

Charlee immediately turned the music off. ‘Sorry, Amelia, I wasn’t thinking. Here. Have a seat.’ She pushed a garden chair forward. ‘That’ll do for today, anyway. Give me chance to find some other dances and better music before— When is the class, Daideó?’

‘Tuesday afternoon,’ he said, pulling up a chair and shoving his hair off his damp forehead. The dance made for a surprising workout. ‘But you’ll be back at uni then, won’t you?’

Charlee shrugged. ‘I don’t get graded on attendance and the information’s all online, so I don’t need to be there.’

‘Isn’t it a better look if you’re present, though?’

Charlee gave him an almost shy grin. ‘Let’s be straight, Daideó. The chances of me actually turning up for a class I don’t have to attend are pretty marginal. I’d more likely be holed up in my flat binge-watching something mindless while I wait for Ethan to get home.’

She painted a sad picture of her life. ‘Speaking of, isn’t he wondering where you’ve got to?’

‘He’s chill. Knows I have to do what makes me happy. Besides, as long as I keep away from the drugs, he’s cool.’

‘What is it that makes you happy, then, Charlee?’ Amelia asked softly, and Sean admired the genuine interest in her voice.

Charlee flopped into a chair and fondled Karmaa’s ears as, like a well-trained dog, the lamb instantly came over for a stroke. ‘This. Hanging with the animals, feeding them, looking after them. Knowing that they actually need me, depend on me. Get something good out of me being around, instead of me just being a reminder of … you know, crap. And I like being with you, too, of course,’ she added a little guiltily, as though Amelia would be offended by the omission.

As Charlee’s cheeks coloured and she ducked her chin to focus on the lamb, Amelia made eye contact with Sean. She lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head a little, evidently trying to convey something to him.

He got it. As he’d learned at the RAG meeting—thanks to Ethan—the opposite of addiction was connection. And it looked like perhaps Charlee was on her way to finding both a focus and a connection. Now they just needed to find a way to harness and encourage the interest.

‘So what gear do we need for this line dancing gig, Daideó?’ As she used to do, Charlee had already seized the bit between her teeth and would steamroll ahead with their plan.

‘I’m not too sure,macushla. What were they wearing on your video?’ He gestured at the phone she’d retrieved from the window ledge.

Charlee put the phone onto the glass-topped outdoor table. ‘Feral stuff,’ she said disdainfully, apparently oblivious to her own appearance over the past couple of years. ‘Ugg boots, thongs, wifebeaters. Whatever they’ve dragged out from under their bed. We can do so much better thanthat. We need Akubras, cowboy boots. Maybe vests with tassels … Don’t worry, Daideó, that’s not for you. I see you in …’ She tapped a finger against her lip. ‘You’ve got tight black jeans, right? You need a black button-through with heaps of gold embroidery on the shoulders. A lariat. Perhaps a bandana in your jeans pocket.’ She sat forward eagerly. ‘You’ll be the hottest commodity in the room.’

Amelia chuckled. ‘There’s definitely something sexy about a guy who can dance.’

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