Page 81 of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
They drive through a huge puddle and for a second Trudy considers praying that the engine doesn’t stall, but she long ago stopped talking to God so she doesn’t think He’s going to listen this time.
‘Why? Because I don’t want you moping around Josie. The girl has enough problems.’
‘I’m not moping.’
‘What are you doing, then? Because the Evie I know hasn’t shown up to work for a few days.’
‘Sorry.’ She sounds sulky.
‘I didn’t ask for an apology, silly girl. You know you can talk to me. I see you more than my own son. That has to count for something.’
‘You wouldn’t understand,’ she mumbles.
‘Don’t presume things about people. It’s rude.’ Trudy is tetchy, but more at the weather than Evie.
Maybe that makes Evie sulk more, because she makes a huffing noise.
Trudy leaves it – she needs to focus on the road anyway. They can always sort it out later.
For a while the only noise in the car is the sound of rain on the roof and the wipers trying their hardest.
‘It’s Sam,’ Evie says as they drive past Brisbane Water.
‘What’s he done?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Not helpful, Evie. If we’re going to solve this thing, I need details.’
‘I don’t need anything solved,’ Evie says tersely. ‘Don’t you?’
‘I just need it to go away.’
‘What isit?’
Another huffing sound. Trudy can’t turn to look at her because of, well, the weather and having to be a responsible driver. Plus she’s rusty so she needs to pay extra attention.
They’re almost at the hospital, so time’s running out to get Evie to talk to her, but she really doesn’t want to walk into Josie’s ward with the huffing and puffing going on. Like she said, Josie has enough to deal with.
‘I’m in love with Sam,’ Evie says with such force that it’s almost as if a bomb has gone off in the car.
Trudy nearly rushes to answer but she understands this is a big confession from a shy girl, so she lets it marinate for a second.
‘I see. Well, I can’t say I’m shocked to hear this, pet.’
‘What?’
She sounds quite upset but Trudy doesn’t want to pussyfoot around this. In fact, she realises she should have nipped it in the bud when she saw it starting, not that you can stop a person having feelings.
‘Pet, you don’t have a poker face.’
‘But …’
It sounds like Evie’s crying so Trudy risks a glance and sees that she is. Oh dear.
The car park for the hospital is coming up, so Trudy puts on her blinker and finds them a spot. With the engine off, she undoes her seatbelt and turns toward the younger woman.
‘I’ll let you cry for another minute or so, but then you need to stop,’ Trudy says firmly. ‘There’s nothing to cry about.’
