Page 73 of Wings Above the Mallee

Amelia huffed her exasperation and returned her gaze to Charlee. ‘So, sure, your dad’s a really nice guy.’

Charlee screwed up her nose. ‘He has his moments, I guess.’

‘And he’s a good friend,’ Amelia added, determined to sound adult and platonic.

‘Tell me more,’ Charlee teased. Then she squealed, ‘Ethan!’

‘Saved by the boyfriend.’ Tracey chuckled as Charlee bolted across the room.

Ethan raised a hand toward them, then spun Charlee in a circle as she leaped onto him.

‘Except I’m still here,’ Tracey continued, just as Amelia blew out an unsteady breath. ‘So tellmemore.’

‘There’s nothing to tell,’ Amelia said, almost despondently. ‘It’s just nice to meet an intelligent, articulate guy.’

‘I’d say Heath was more silent than articulate. Sean’s the talker.’ Tracey sighed wistfully. ‘Marian and I were like that, too. She was the thinker, the organiser, the director. I was the … well, she called me a social moth.’

‘Not a butterfly?’ Amelia seized the opportunity to redirect the conversation.

Tracey chuckled. ‘Look at me, love. I’m short and a little wide-bodied, like a moth. And Marian said I was soft and sweet, where butterflies are all show, no sustenance. No, that’s not right, is it? Substance … no substance.’

Tracey most definitely had substance, Amelia thought. She was funny, honest and down to earth. Who was Marian, though?

‘But there’s no point trying to distract me,’ Tracey added. Then she giggled. ‘Well, yes, obviously there is. Anyway, Heath?’

‘Is … interesting,’ Amelia conceded.

‘Morose, I’d say. Hardly surprising though, is it?’ Tracey gave a sympathetic huff. ‘It must be so difficult for him, trying to cope with Charlee and her … issue.’

‘More introspective than morose, I think,’ Amelia said, almost as though she needed to defend Heath. ‘I like that he doesn’t pretend to have a handle on his problems.’ Her chest tightened as she watched Charlee across the room. With so much potential, there was so much risk for it all to go horribly wrong. Losing Noah, where the sweet moments of hope—the seconds where she had persuaded herself that her baby was safe—were crushed by the realisation that he wasn’t, had been almost unsurvivable. What must it be like for Heath, spending years balanced on that knife blade of hope and tragedy? ‘Actually, he doesn’t give himself enough credit for how he’s managing.’

‘I imagine not. He doesn’t seem the type to cut himself any slack,’ Tracey said. ‘Such a tragedy, losing his wife like that. And then to give up everything he knows to move here, along with Sean and Charlee … Well, I guess he was running away.’

Amelia frowned. She had always thought that she was running away, too. But there was a chance she was wrong. ‘Maybe not. Perhaps we’re actually running toward something.’

27

Heath

Heath had never looked forward to a meeting so much in his life.

This time, he didn’t even bother pretending that he was heading to the community room, but made straight for Amelia’s desk in the office to one side. ‘All set for your big announcement?’

The smile she gave him, one of shared mischief, friendship—and maybe a little more—was enough to warm him, despite the grip of winter howling beyond the door.

She stood, passing him a piece of paper. ‘I’m not big on making announcements. In any case, I thought it’d be better to keep this a secret. Just between you and me.’

Did she linger a little on that final sentence, as though it had import? Dad was right, he needed to play his hand, not hide behind it like he was afraid his expression would give him away. He liked Amelia. Didn’t only like her: he admired her. She had ability, depth, understanding and compassion. And the relief that had coursed through himwhen she’d signalled her intent to stay on in Settlers Bridge was unprecedented.

Yet was he even entitled to harbour hopes—never mind desires—for the future?

‘This is an indication of what Lloyd’s Auctions reckon the Cherokee will bring,’ Amelia said, her voice low enough that he had to lean closer. Had an excuse to lean closer. ‘If the bidding doesn’t reach that, I’ll make good on any shortfall. I figure you can present it to the committee as an anonymous donation. Since I’m new in town, I don’t want to make it look like I’m trying to buy my way in.’

‘That’s fair.’

‘Also, I really don’t want Dave to have it in for me,’ Amelia added with a grin.

‘How about—’ Heath paused as he formulated the idea. ‘How about if we say the donation was from Gavin, then? And once the park is up and running, we’ll set aside a couple of hundred for a commemorative plaque. I noticed the Apex club have a historical marker on the river front to commemorate the old paddle-wheeler dock.’ He straightened as he sensed someone enter the room behind him. ‘Something like that, maybe carved out of local granite, could look good.’

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