Page 84 of Wandering Souls

How many nights had she woken in a cold sweat, re-living the nightmare?

Out of the corner of his eye, she saw her wipe her cheeks.

“I’m really glad you made it home, Abigail.”

“Please.” She reached for his hand. Upon contact, her strong grip communicated more than words ever could. He glanced down at the white knuckles. Damien swallowed the tightness that narrowed his throat and understood his daughter desperately needed her family. Did she? “Call me Abi.”

He smiled and held her hand. “We’re here for you, honey. Whatever you need.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Ilove Christmas,”Abi noted, as she and Ray strolled arm in arm along Main Street. “But this weather is ridiculous.”

The arrival of December brought with it Christmas decorations of mistletoe, fake snowy fir trees, and in true Australian fashion, a mini summer heatwave. While Abi was glad to see the chilly mornings of spring disappear, the intense and sudden heat meant another round of shopping for summer attire. Stevie had been more than happy to oblige, helping her choose lightweight skirts and knee length shorts to cover up the scars while keeping her cool.

Bruce padded along on her right and Ray matched her pace on the left. The last few weeks were a blur. Between time with her family, her weekly chopper flights with Damien and nights spent with Ray, she’d become acutely aware of how fast time her time in the Crossing was coming to an end.

Beside her, Ray glanced up at the clear blue sky. “The spring rains never came,” he mused, looking worried.

“Are you worried about bushfire?”

He turned back to look at her with a nod. “The fire service will have its work cut out for them. They haven’t been able to carry out their usual fuel reduction burns.”

Abi took his arm and laid it across her shoulders as she wrapped hers around his waist to tug him closer. “You sound like a real local.”

He’d become one too, so much so he’d joined the volunteer fire service under Hollywood’s command. He’d also pitched Abi’s youth community service idea to the mayor who wanted Ray to run the entire program. Between his volunteering, his work with the council and his job, she hardly ever saw him during the day.

He smiled. “I am, now.”

Opening her mouth, Abi was stopped by her phone. It buzzed in her pocket and when she took it out, she found an email from HQ. Standing still, she opened the communication and read through the four lines, her heart dropping in her chest. Disappointment flooded her soul.

“What is it?”

Abi shook her head. “Bad news.”

“It’s the Army.” He sounded unhappy.

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