Page 10 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

I give her a wink.

She scowls and shakes her head. “Rude.”

Unknown: Hi, this is Liv Rosehill. Just wondering if that offer of a lift still stands? I can be ready as early as you need :)

The news of seeing her again, and so soon, has my heart pounding a faster beat. I’m yet to hear back from Daryl, but I’m sure he’ll be good to sort Liv’s car out tomorrow.

“That her?” Nana says.

I swallow. “Maybe.”

“It’s a sign,” she says.

“Of what exactly? She asked me for a lift in the mornin’.”

“A sign of the universe bringing you together. Tell me about her.” When she gazes at me with those tired grey eyes, I can’t deny her. Today is a gift. She remembers me. I’ve got the old girl back. Unfortunately, that could change within a manner of seconds, and she’ll kick me out.

Her grin is as bright as the midday sun as I disclose how we danced at the bonfire and the longing gazes over the playground.

***

The moment Liv securesher seatbelt, it’s as if the collar on my shirt tightens around my throat. I blame Nana. After talking to her about Liv last night, she barely drew breath suggesting ideas to sweep her off her feet. After all, I’m approaching thirty. And as far as Nana is concerned, if I don’t find myself a ‘good girl’ soon, I’ll be a confirmed bachelor until my dying day.

Now the pressure is too much.

I push myself to talk, hoping my words don’t jumble and I make sense.

“How’s your night?” I ask to ease myself into the conversation.

She turns her head, the corner of her mouth tugging into a smile. “I spent far too much time watching YouTube videos on ways to make math time fun.” She goes into detail about the use of manipulatives, or something like that, and how physical objects can sometimes be a better tool for demonstrating concepts and aiding learning.

This woman is smart. I’m sure she could teach this wannabe farmer a thing or two...

A chuckle rumbles up my throat. “I could’ve used that twenty years ago.” Math was in no way fun.

“Same here.” She lets out a soft breath, her eyes on me as I scan the winding road ahead. “How wasyournight?”

“Not bad.”Come on, Jerry. Effort.I rub at the back of my neck. “I, ah visited my Nana. She lives at the nursing home in Willow Creek.”

She shivers. “Oh.” Liv clears her throat and focuses on her hands tangled in her lap. “That’s nice.”

The shift in her body language is enough for me to notice.

Silence hangs in the air, growing heavier with each passing second. “Yeah, I had afternoon tea with her, bit my tongue while she gave me some blunt-as-usual advice, and then drove home to stare at my accounts until the numbers blurred. Then I crashed.”

She stares at the road, her eyes glistening. Was it something I said?

“Hey,” I say in a soft voice, drawing her gaze. “You okay?”

She swipes the side of her eye. “Just brought back memories.”

“Someone close to you?”

“Yeah. My nan. She passed.”

Oh shit.

“I’m real sorry to hear that.” I want to ask more but don’t. If my brief mention of my nana brought tears to her eyes, asking about how and when she lost her relative is not a great idea. Boy, this car ride chat is not turning out to be as light as I’d hoped.

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