That was another thing that had changed in the last month.‘She’s almost sixteen,’ Lauren had said through gritted teeth when she filled Nel in.‘It’s going to happen sooner or later, and he seems like quite a nice kid actually.’
Obviously it was nearly killing her, but Nel sensed something had shifted between mother and daughter.There was a warmth there she hadn’t seen before.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shriek from Archie, who was trapped under his brother on the lawn.
‘Get off him, Leo!’Lauren ordered.She glared at him until he released his younger brother, then she turned back to Nel.‘Bye, hon.’Lauren gave her a quick kiss.‘Drive safe.’
Cath pulled Nel into a warm embrace.‘Goodbye, Nellie!Thank you for staying so long, darling girl.’
‘Bye, Mum,’ Nel murmured, savouring the floral scent of her shampoo.
Cath wiped away an uncharacteristic tear.‘Goodness, I feel all emotional.’
‘You’re turning into a big softie in your old age.’
Cath smiled.‘Me?Never!’
Poppy stepped up next.‘Bye, Auntie Nel!I’m going to miss you so much!’
Nel hugged her and kissed her freckled cheek.
‘For god’s sake, the way you’re all carrying on you’d think I was leaving for good!’Nel said.‘You know I’m coming back, don’t you?’
They all laughed as Nel opened the car door.‘Bye, boys!’she called out, and Leo and Archie paused mid-wrestle to shout unintelligibly in her direction.
She beeped the horn as she pulled away from the kerb.In the rear-view mirror she could see them standing on the road.Cath, Lauren, Poppy.Three generations of women.Her people.
Five minutes later, Nel skipped up the steps of the police station and pushed the buzzer by the door.While she waited, she looked across the main street sparkling in the brilliant sunshine.The sky was already a spectacular blue.She breathed in deeply, savouring the sweet warm air, the promise of summer.
The doors slid open and she stepped inside the foyer as Jimmy appeared through the door on the other side.He reached out andtook her hands, drawing them to his chest, studying them.When he looked up, his eyes were shining.
She swallowed.‘I came to say goodbye.’
He shook his head.‘No you didn’t.’
‘No?’
‘No goodbyes.’
‘Well … how about “see you soon” then?’
‘Much better.’
He smiled and kissed her hands then wrapped his arms around her.She rested her head on his chest.
‘A month, that’s all.’She paused.‘Just long enough to sort out my flat.’
‘I’ll be waiting for you.’He kissed her gently and they stood like that for a couple of minutes.
She sighed.‘All right, I’ve got to go.’
As he followed her down the steps to the car, she stopped and turned to him, breathing in deeply.‘That smell.What is it?’
‘Wattle.’
‘That’s it,’ she said, remembering lying on Maddie’s trampoline on a warm night watching the sky for shooting stars.The memory lingered as she got in the car and wound down the window.
‘I nearly forgot.’He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Caramello Koala.
