It was difficult to swallow past the lump in her throat.This was too much, too fast.
She shifted away from him.“Tell me about you.Where are you living now?”
Chapter 15
Oliver swore inwardly at Dot’s withdrawal.No, he had to be patient.He’d had months to think about seeing her again and what he would say.She’d had days.
He smiled, keeping things light.“I’m renting a two-bedroom apartment in East Freo, not far from the museum.It suits me for now.”Did she understand that meant he was flexible, that he hadn’t put down roots yet?
What else could he tell her?
“When I’m not working, I’ve been volunteering for an environmental ocean cleanup group.It’s part beach cleanup, part education about the effects of plastics in the ocean.”
“Did you see much pollution?”
“Yeah.Some expeditions we had to spend a day picking plastic out of the water before we could begin studying the wreck.”
“That’s sad.”She squeezed his hand briefly.“I’ll have to introduce you to Penelope and Georgie before you go.They have similar interests.”
He smiled.“I’d like that.”He slipped his hand into hers, hoping he wasn’t moving too fast for her.
She left it there.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what else I can do.People are doing amazing things in the plastic recycling space and switching to more renewable items.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something.”Her faith soothed him.She’d been his confidant and his biggest cheerleader.He’d missed that.
Though he didn’t want to spook her, he wanted to talk about more important things.“Do you want to tell me about Mark?”
She stiffened, almost pulled away, but he stroked her arm and she settled again.“What do you know?”
“Sam mentioned he was killed a couple of months ago.”
“Yeah.”She sighed.“He got involved with the wrong people.I guess he was always looking for a quick buck, a way to get as far away from here as he could, but he only ever got as far as Carnarvon.”She placed a hand on his knee.“He started animal smuggling.We discovered a few traps and intercepted a car transporting the animals.Then two civilians stumbled across them making the transfer.They called the police, but before we arrived, the buyer had shot those involved and escaped.”Her hand trembled.“I found Mark lying in the dirt with a bullet through his forehead.”
Oliver lost his breath.“I’m so sorry, Dot.That must have been horrific for you.”
“It wasn’t my best day.Brandon and Nhiari were there.They helped.”
Always understating.“I’m glad you had someone.”He wished it had been him.“How did your parents react?”
She snorted.“Mum shed a tear.Dad told me to arrange the funeral.Both were horrified when the news spread that Mark had been animal smuggling.It made them look bad to their friends.”
He growled.The one time he’d met them, they’d spent the whole two hours at dinner talking about themselves and their friends.They hadn’t asked Dot how she was doing in Perth, or anything about the academy.Oliver hadn’t suggested they return to say goodbye before they left.
“Do you see them much?”
“They come to dinner once a month.”
But probably never invited Dot to their house.“Why do you keep inviting them?”
She shrugged.“Isn’t that what families do?Yours gets together every week.”
His eyes widened.“Yeah, but we like each other.”
She choked out a laugh.“Good point.”She sighed.“It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“I can’t imagine it’s any fun.”
