Page 16 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

“You’re doing great, girl. I see it, Gareth sees it.” Nat grips my hands in hers. “I’ll pick you up at six. I promise you’ll have a great time.”

My mouth quirks up at her puppy-dog eyes. “Okay. Thank you.”

***

As the afternoon sunshifts from the playground, I take a moment to centre myself. The giant Jacaranda tree at the far edge of the grounds calls to me. I walk over and sit on a nearby bench, an abandoned pink lunchbox beneath the worn timber.

My skirt cuts into my waist as I lean over to pick up the container.I blame those sinful staff donuts. Sugar is no way to deal with stress. My waistline is slowly disappearing.

“Admiring the new fence, huh?” a deep voice croons.

Hands stuffed in the pockets of his dusty work shorts, which sit atop tanned strong legs, Jerry smiles. It’s a beautiful sight after the week I’ve had.

I lean against the back of the chair and fold my arms beneath my chest. “Of course. It’s vertical. Keeps the children in and the wildlife out. What’s not to like.”

He chuckles, the sound music to my ears.When was the last time I had a good laugh?

My shoulders slump as I release a long breath.

He tilts his head, his chocolate pools regarding me. “Rough day in the classroom, huh?”

“You could say that.”

He tilts back his black Akubra hat and juts his chin towards the chair. “Mind if I join ya?”

I shuffle over. “Sure.”

“How’s the car?”

“Great, thank you. Runs much better on four wheels.”

He rubs at the back of his neck and leans his elbows on his knees, focusing on the patch of dirt amongst the grass in front of him. “Good. Good.”

“You’ve finished the job here?”

He turns to face me, revealing a dark ring beneath his eye.Ah, the incident at the pub.“Yeah. All done.”

“What happened to your eye?”

He licks at his lip, which is swollen on the side farthest from me, then scratches at his temple and looks off in the distance before focusing his dark eyes on me. “Arm wrestle got out of hand.”

“I heard there was a brawl.”

He shakes his head. “You can’t scratch your arse ’round here without someone havin’ to repeat it to someone.”

“I heard there was broken furniture.”

He laughs. “Is that what they’re sayin’, huh? Hardly. People love to exaggerate. I sat on a chair out in the beer garden, and it collapsed. They’re so old you barely have to breathe on the timber and it’d fall to bits. Just boys bein’ boys. I promise ya.”

“So that’s what boys do, huh? I wouldn’t know. I’m an only child.”

His shoulders bunch up closer to his ears. “It’s pretty standard.”

Silence stretches between us. My thoughts drift back to the classroom and Ms Masters.

I shift to face him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

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