Chelsea nodded, smiling at the words Aunt Maggie used to repeat.“I recommended overalls to a colleague of mine who’s a documentary film maker.She was complaining about not having enough pockets, and now she wears nothing but them.”
“Aunt Maggie would be thrilled to hear it.”Sabine laughed and then sighed.“I wish I could be there for you, baby.”
“It’s fine, Mum.The kids need you.”
“You’re my kid, too,” she said.“No matter how old you get, I’ll always want to look after you.”
A lump formed in Chelsea’s throat and she swallowed it down.It had been hard adjusting, having her younger siblings take up so much of her mother’s attention after it just being the two of them for most of her life.“I’ll be fine, Mum.It’s nice being back.I might weed some of the garden beds around the house, and it will give me space to figure out what to do next.”
“I still can’t believe they fired you.I’ve told Ezra his company isn’t to use them for anything.”
Chelsea chuckled at the outrage in Sabine’s voice.“Thanks, Mum.Listen, I still need to get to the shop.I’ll call you in a couple of days after I’ve got my head around everything.”
“I doubt it will take you long to have a plan,” Sabine said.“But call me if you need anything.”
“Love you, Mum.”
“Love you more.”
Chelsea smiled as she hung up, comforted by her mother’s assertion she would have a say in what happened to Lilydale.
She couldn’t wait to tell Johann.
Smiling at the thought of his reaction, she grabbed her keys and headed for the shops.
Chapter 5
After failing to get in touch with Darren again, Chelsea headed back to Lilydale with her groceries.She spent an hour cleaning the kitchen and dining area so it was free of dust before making an omelette for dinner and then settled at Aunt Maggie’s roll-top desk.This was where Aunt Maggie had paid her bills and kept her affairs in order.There shouldn’t be many sentimental things here.Chelsea couldn’t bear to start anywhere else.Not with the emotions swarming around her in every room she entered.She needed an easy win to begin with.
She lined the bin with a bag and opened envelopes, reviewing the contents and sorting them either into the needs-further-investigation pile or tossing them in the bin.
Then she opened the top drawer and tears welled in her eyes blurring the vision before her.Her throat tight, she picked up the pale purple writing pad with its border of irises and ran a finger over the cover.
This was where her aunt had sat to write all the letters she’d sent to Chelsea.Receiving a purple envelope in the mail had always made her drop everything and sit down to read her aunt’s letter.Perhaps she’d send Miles and Amelia a letter while she was here.They might think it was cool—or old-fashioned.
She placed the paper in the keep pile and closed the drawer, jiggling it to get it to go in.No fancy rollers on this desk, just wood on wood.
The second drawer contained two small boxes side by side.Chelsea opened the first and gasped.It was full of envelopes.She recognised the matching stationery from writing pads she’d bought to write to Aunt Maggie.Her heart ached as she slowly flicked through the familiar envelopes, seeing her penmanship go from that of a child to the script she now used.
Aunt Maggie had kept all of her letters.
She blinked to keep the tears at bay.
Her hand trembled as she replaced the lid and put the box on the keep pile.One day she might reread them and discover what younger Chelsea had deemed important to tell her aunt.
The second box was also full of letters of a similar age to Chelsea’s.She opened the first one and scanned the contents.
Her mouth dropped open as she read the words and then noticed the signature.
Ethan Ward.
She flicked through the envelopes and saw the same handwriting on each one.
Why had Ethan corresponded with Aunt Maggie?
Why hadn’t Aunt Maggie ever mentioned it to her?
She closed her eyes as an image of the boy she’d loved flashed into her mind.Shy and angry at the world until you earned his trust.Then his warmth and kindness came out.
