Page 3 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

I smile. “Awesome. I definitely can’t miss that.”

“He’ll be out there warming up with them from the afternoon, so how about I pick you up around six and you can have some drinks?”

I let out a sigh then draw in a deep breath. It’ll be the first night out here since I moved to the Sugarloaf Ridge Shire. If I’m honest I’m still scarred from the amount I drank at my impromptu farewell in Canberra last weekend.What happens in Canberra...

“Are you sure it’s not too far picking me up from Logan Falls?” My two-bedroom terrace was the nearest place I found to rent. It’s old; the lighting does some crazy things from time to time, but it’s clean. It’s also around twenty minutes from work. I can’t complain about the drive, as it’s so pretty the way the road weaves amongst the giant gumtrees.

“Our property is halfway between here and The Falls, so no trouble at all.”

The locals call it The Falls instead of Logan Falls, something I’m still getting used to.

“What about you? Are you going to have a couple of drinks?”

She shrugs one shoulder and laughs to herself. Her dangling glittery earrings sway as she slowly shakes her head. “We’ll see. Last time I got on the booze it took me days to recover.”

My stomach churns at the memory of last weekend. “Ha, don’t worry, I know the feeling.”

***

Alarge bonfire lightsup the surrounding evening sky, the drone of people talking and laughing filling the air. The whispering hisses and pops from the fire, and the musty smoke in the breeze take me back to nights spent on Nan and Pop’s farm.Those were the days.

With schoolwork prep done for the week ahead and my aunt’s taxes largely in order, it’s a relief to relax. The glass of mulled wine offered to me on arrival wasted no time settling into my bones. The next glass seemed to melt the stress of the week away. The sparks and swirl of smoke from the fire hold my attention as Nat goes in search of Carter and to get me another drink.

A woman who looks to be about my age approaches in a white dress that flares out at the knee, a denim jacket, and white embroidered cowgirl boots. Her glossy brown hair shines with the firelight, her coffee-coloured eyes softening as she smiles.I have serious styling envy.I should’ve put more effort in than jeans and a thick woollen jumper.

“Oh, you’re the new schoolteacher,” she says and extends her hand. “Miss Rosehill, right? Hi.”

We shake. “News travels fast. Please, call me Liv.”

“It certainly does. I’m Daynah. Our Gracey is in your class.”

With her trademark pigtails, captivating freckles, and curious spirit, Gracey is one of my favourites.

It’s always interesting meeting a parent for the first time. “Your daughter?” I ask.

She scoffs and flippantly waves a hand in the air. “Oh, she’s not mine, although I adore her. My boyfriend, Finn. I mean, fiancé. Gracey is his cousin’s child.” Her groomed brows bunch. “God, does that even make sense?”

I laugh. “Kind of.”

“Anyway, she’s family. That’s all you need to know.”

“Gracey’s really sweet. I’m thrilled to have her in my class.”

Daynah tells the story of how she came from Sydney for a short assignment and how she now runsThe Sugarloaf Songand calls this small-town home.

I keep it professional, sticking to discussing my studies before taking the job here. As lovely as she seems, I barely know her. There are some things I struggle to talk about.Family.The last thing I need is pity.

A tall guy with sandy hair wearing black jeans and a wrinkled button-up shirt sneaks up behind Daynah. “Time to dance, sunshine,” he croons, then bites at the fleshy part of her earlobe.

Daynah’s knees give out, but he hauls his strong arms around her, preventing her from sinking any lower. He swings her around, so she links her fingers behind his neck as his hands grip her rounded hips.

She turns her head to me and laughs. “Still, he persists even though I have no rhythm. This is Finn, by the way.”

“The fiancé?” I smile. “Hi, I’m Liv.”

He nods and beams as he extends his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” We shake.

“Do you like to dance?” Daynah asks.

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