“Poor cherub,” Georgie said, then she groaned. “I guess someone should tell Sofia.”
“Why would she care?” Ed asked, coming in with his hair dishevelled, dark rings under his eyes.
“It’s the polite thing to do.”
“She wasn’t polite when she abandoned Darcy and Lara.” Ed sloshed coffee into his mug and sat at the table.
“What’s up with you?” Brandon asked.
He yawned so widely Brandon almost saw his tonsils. “Didn’t get much sleep. I was searching for information on Stonefish.”
Brandon stiffened. “Find anything?”
“Not a lot. I traced the business name to Singapore, but that’s as far as I got.”
“So it’s a Singaporean company?” Brandon asked.
“Singapore registered company but could be comprised of people in any country. A lot of companies register in Singapore but do business elsewhere. I don’t know enough about it.”
It was a start. “Thanks Ed.”
“So what are we doing today?” he asked.
“Darcy and Brandon are going through Mum and Dad’s papers,” Georgie said.
Ed grimaced. “How about we take La La to the beach?”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll phone some of Mum’s friends before Lara gets back.”
Amy dished up bacon and eggs for Georgie and an omelette for Ed. She was efficient and knew what they liked. Knew them better than he did. And that was perhaps another reason he’d made her a suspect—jealousy.
Amy poured herself a bowl of cereal, and Brandon topped up his coffee. “Can I get you a coffee?”
Her smile was warmer now, and washed over him like a sea breeze, invigorating him. “Yes, please.”
Down boy. He poured her a cup and then refilled the filter machine.
“What are you doing today, Ames?” Georgie asked.
“The washing machine has been playing up. I told Beth I’d try and fix it.”
“You can do that?” Brandon raised his eyebrows.
“Probably,” she said. “Most of the time I can’t afford new, so fixing what others are willing to throw out has saved me a bundle.” She sipped her coffee. “The internet has taught me a lot.”
Impressive. Brandon had been scared when he’d gone to the army, a whole world he knew nothing about. But at least he’d had guaranteed food and shelter, and someone to guide his way. Amy had none of that.
Georgie reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re the best.”
What else needed to be done? Brandon hadn’t given the work around the station much thought. Too many years away. At one time it would have been second nature, he would have known exactly what was required. Now he was out of practice. “Have the sheep been moved closer to the house?”
Georgie answered. “Yeah, I think Dad mentioned that the last time I was out here.”
A deep longing settled into his gut. Work on the station was hot and dusty, but also honest and fulfilling. The type of work he could see himself doing for the rest of his days. He wanted to help Darcy and Matt. But would they want him around? He was an army man, he didn’t know what—if anything—had changed.
The red dirt outside the window called to him. He’d have a few days leave still after the funeral and he could ask for more. It would make sense for him to help on the station.
He just hoped the reminder of what his life could have been like wouldn’t be too painful.
