Page 76 of Wings Above the Mallee

‘Oh, it wasn’t really me talking, love,’ Tracey said. ‘I was channelling Marian. I was thinking about her during the meeting, and I remembered something she said.’ She gave a sad smile. ‘Well, obviously, I remember a lot that she said—she was so very clever. But this one thing, I recall perfectly.’ Heath took the plate from her trembling hand as Tracey shut her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘“You have to work out whether you are an instigator or a spectator in your life. Are you content to just watch and see what will happen or are you constantly prodding and poking and manipulating?” Marian knew she was dying, and she wanted to make sure that I … carried on. And this—’ she threw a hand wide to encompass the RAG members filtering through the doorway, chatting and laughing, nibbling on the cakes and biscuits provided by others ‘—this is perfect. It’s exactly what she would have wanted me to do.’

‘You mention her quite a bit,’ Amelia said, combining leftovers onto one plate. ‘You must miss her?’

‘You can’t imagine,’ Tracey replied. ‘Oh!’ She put a hand on Heath’s wrist. ‘But I’m sure you can. Grief is such a hollow ache, isn’t it?’

Heath waited a beat, allowing Amelia the chance to share her loss if she chose. But she remained silent, her gaze on his in unspoken communion, acknowledging their shared sorrow. Humbled and privileged that Amelia trusted him with her secret, chose him to share her most precious memories, his heart constricted.

‘It is,’ he forced himself to answer. ‘But someone very wise pointed out to me that grief is where our memories lie. Obviously, you use your grief to connect with the memories of your friend.’

‘I guess that’s why it’s important to make those memories,’ Amelia said softly, taking a step closer to him as someone drew Tracey away.

He nodded. ‘You’re right. And, along those lines, and although I feel kind of guilty that I’m always taking you to the same place—’ he knew the words made it sound like he was referring to dates, rather than meetings, yet he didn’t care ‘—Dad’s making good on that raincheck for the Overland tomorrow night. Apparently, on Fridays the seafood is amazing, and I was wondering if you’d like to come … with me?’ He stressed the last two words, and this time, the invitation definitely sounded like a date. As it should.

28

Sean

‘You’re bringing Amelia tonight?’ Charlee gloated, peeling the lid off the Tupperware full of biscuits Tracey had pressed on Sean after the meeting yesterday. She offered them to her dad, but then pulled them back, as though they were payment if he answered her question correctly.

Sean winced. He didn’t want his granddaughter making Heath second-guess the invitation to Amelia, particularly as having the woman at the dinner might make his revelation easier. At least he’d know that Heath had someone there to lean on.

‘Is Ethan coming, too?’ he interrupted Charlee’s glee.

She pouted. ‘No. He’s got other stuff on.’

Alarm bells rang louder than the spoon Charlee tapped on her mug. Charlee was doing so well, but they had to keep things smooth for her, make the right path the easy one to take. ‘Do you think maybe you should spend more time in the city? I’m sure Amelia’s fine without you now.’

Charlee shot him a withering look. ‘Amelia likes topretend she’s fine, but she needs me. Ethan’s just narked because I got hats for you and Dad, but didn’t find him one.’

Sean hoped his son recognised the significance of Charlee’s words. Heath had already had a grumble about wearing an Akubra to the dance, but after treating him like a pariah for two years, Charlee had prioritised her father over her boyfriend.

‘And I’m going to rock that hat,’ Heath said firmly. ‘Like you said, Charlee, if I can’t dance, I can at least look the part.’

‘Just stick with the Nutbush, you’ll be fine.’ Sean chuckled, knowing it wasn’t true. The line dancing had proved both surprisingly strenuous and unexpectedly enjoyable, considering he’d only gone into it to help out Lynn.

‘The Nutbush might carry you through the dance next week, but how are you going to rescue tonight, Dad?’ Charlee asked, assuming a sweetly innocent look.

‘What do you mean?’

Charlee rolled her eyes at Heath’s deliberate misunderstanding of her teasing. ‘If you wanted to take Ameliaout, you could at least have sprung for Gabby’s place.’

‘Gabby’s?’

Sean knew his son would trot out the line about Amelia being nothing but a friend, or perhaps try to pass her off as a RAG colleague. And maybe he should; despite the advice he’d given Heath about no one replacing Sophie, Charlee was only just coming good. They didn’t need to spark her grieving process again.

Charlee’s sigh held all the long-suffering resignation only a teen could muster. ‘Gabrielle’s. The Wattle Seed Inn. Apparently she’s got this hot Italian chef out there doing event dinners. Jeez, Dad, you’ve been living here more than a year, how can you not know what’s going on? I do and I’ve only just moved in.’

‘If you’ve moved here, do I terminate your lease in the city? Either way—’ Heath shrugged dismissively ‘—just let me know what you want to do.’

He hid his excitement well, Sean thought. But then, Heath had always known how to play his daughter.

Charlee screwed up her nose like she didn’t care. ‘I reckon Amelia will need me here full-time for the travelling farm nursery. And I’ve promised to help Tracey out with her stuff, so I’ll be pretty full-on.’

‘Okay. No worries,’ Heath said, still sounding disinterested. ‘I’ll cancel the lease, get your gear brought back here.’

‘I was thinking, though—’ there was a note of uncertainty in Charlee’s voice ‘—that it’s dumb to just quit on my degree. Well, actually, Ethan said that. I still don’t know why I’m doing it, but maybe I’ll drop to part-time. Just about everything can be done online, and I’ll chip away at it over the next three years or so. Kind of like Ethan’s done with his Master’s. Make sure I keep my head busy.’

Sean recognised that for what it was: distraction, keeping her mind away from the addiction. ‘Not a bad plan,macushla.’

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