‘And that’s how you help. Not every volunteer needs to be holding a hose or a shovel.’
‘I never thought of it that way.’
***
The restaurant was in a converted Federation home. The light streaming through the windows as they approached was soft and welcoming. Justin stood back to let Anna enter first, and so he missed the look that crossed the face of the hostess who was waiting to greet them. Anna didn’t. The girl was younger than Anna and very pretty. Her face was impeccably made up, but she was unable to hide her shock when she looked at Anna, then quickly down at the reservations list in front of her.
Justin stepped into the room. ‘We have a reservation in the name of Turner.’
‘Of course.’ The girl looked directly at Justin. ‘Please come with me.’
Anna followed as the girl led them through a front room filled with diners to a second room, just as large. There was a free table near the windows.
‘This is fine. Thank you,’ Justin said as they took their seats.
The waitress brought them menus and water.
Justin studied the menu. ‘This looks good. It’s a while since I had food like this. And someone other than my brother to share a meal with.’
Anna didn’t reply. She was very aware of the people around her. Of the conversations that had stopped when they entered the room. She’d heard the whispers as she walked past.
‘Poor woman …’
‘… happened to her?’
‘… should do something to fix it. Plastic surgery …’
She knew what everyone was thinking: What was a man who looked like Justin doing with a woman who looked like her? She had felt every pair of eyes that had stared then turned away as they had entered. She could almost feel the pity directed at her. She’d been a fool to accept Justin’s invitation. She didn’t belong here. She didn’t belong with him. Not looking as she did.
She moved her hand, raising it to touch or cover her ravaged face, but stopped as a warm hand closed over hers.
‘Anna? Are you all right?’
And now she had made a fool of herself in front of this man she liked so very much. He was looking at her with such concern, she couldn’t bear it. She fought down the raging sea of emotions inside her, pulled her hand away.
‘Yes, of course.’ She opened her menu. ‘What are you planning to have?’
‘I was thinking the prawns. Followed by the duck. How about you?’
‘Um. It all looks good.’ She pretended to read the menu to give herself a few more seconds to settle her nerves. As she did, out of habit, she pulled her hair forward in an attempt to hide the scar.
‘Anna. What’s wrong?’
She shook her head. ‘Nothing. It’s fine.’ Her voice broke.
‘No. I can see that it’s not. Do you want to leave?’
She wanted to stay. She wanted to brazen this out with a dismissive laugh. But more than that, she wanted to be in a place where no one looked at her with pity and whispered about her.
‘I don’t want to spoil—’
Before she could finish, Justin took hold of her hand again, his grip tighter than before. ‘Nothing you could do will spoil the evening, unless you stay somewhere you’re unhappy. Do you want to go?’
She nodded.
‘Then we shall.’ He pushed his seat back.
Leaving the restaurant was as excruciating as their arrival—now curiosity over their abrupt departure added to the attention the other diners were paying them.
