The teenager was back, about to ask his crush for a third date, despite the fact that the first two had both crashed and burned. ‘I heard the Wagtail Ridge fundraising dance is coming up soon.’
‘It’s about this time every year. I don’t go.’
His heart sank. ‘Why not?’
‘I’ve only been in town three years. And the first year, well, I’d just arrived and didn’t know anyone. The year after that, I thought about going, but had patients to look after.’
‘And this year?’
‘Well …’
‘Anna …’ Running into a bushfire was easier than this. ‘Would you like to go to the dance? With me?’
Silence at the other end of the phone.
‘I know taking you to that place for dinner was thoughtless of me. And you know I’m sorry about that. But this is the town dance. Your town dance and—’
‘Yes.’
‘Yes?’
‘Yes.’
Justin’s spirits lifted. ‘That’s great. I’ll pick you up at your place.’
‘It’s a long way to come. You probably won’t want to drive back afterwards.’ The tone of her voice was hesitant. Not an invitation. But also not ruling out the possibility of one.
‘Probably not. But I can always camp at the station.’
‘Hopefully we can do better than that.’
Again. Not an invitation. She might mean the pub. And he would be happy with that. This was a start and he was quickly coming to realise it meant more to him than just a casual date to the town dance. His heart was pounding as if he’d run a kilometre in full kit. And he could feel the stupid grin that was all over his face.
They talked for another couple of minutes before Anna ended the call, saying she had a patient to tend to. Justin slipped his phone back in his pocket. As he did, his brother appeared in the doorway.
‘Fancy a beer?’
‘As a matter of fact, I do.’
Ben stepped through the doors onto the patio, a can of beer in each hand. The brothers settled into chairs, sipping the cold liquid as they looked out at the view from the small rise where their house sat.
‘I’m going back to Wagtail Ridge for the town dance,’ Justin said. ‘What about you?’
‘Nope.’ Ben’s voice was most definite.
‘Why not? There’s good people there. They made us welcome. The dance is a fundraiser. We could pay back a little.’
‘I know. But I don’t want to play third wheel between you and Anna.’
‘You wouldn’t be—’
‘Nor do I want to run into that woman.’
Justin understood. That was the real reason. ‘She might not be there. And even if she is, you don’t have to talk to her.’
‘Nope.’
Justin shook his head. ‘Don’t you think it’s time you got over that?’
