He shook his head.‘What for?’
She hesitated, debating whether to share her suspicions.What did she actuallyknow?Nothing, really.Maybe Sophiedidfall off a bar stool.
‘Just curious.’She took a sip of her beer.‘So has Carrinya started to feel like home again?’
He rubbed his stubbled cheek.‘It’s home for now.I’m trying not to plan too far ahead.If Dad manages to sell his business, they’ll move north and there’ll be no reason for me to stay.’He smiled playfully.‘Although now that my old friend is back in town, who knows.’
Nel smiled and shook her head.‘Enjoy it while it lasts, buddy.I’m getting out of here as soon as we have a locum.’
Chapter 15
Sophie sipped her lemonade and shifted from one foot to the other, trying to ease the spot where her right shoe was rubbing.She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn heels.She checked the time on her phone.Five to three.The school bell would ring in five minutes.Ryan was talking with Brett Draper, one of the dads from Charlie’s class, who had mentioned his wife was pregnant with twins.They were outgrowing their little cottage, he said.
Ryan’s eyes had that spark they got when he was chasing a listing, although they were a little glazed now too because he’d been drinking.These days he only drank when it was necessary for ‘rapport-building purposes’.Some people don’t trust a non-drinker, according to Ryan.Sophie rubbed the sore spot on her wrist.He’d been at Drifters with a client the night he’d kicked the bar stool.
He was almost finished his beer.His third.Hopefully they could go soon.So far she’d managed to avoid an encounter with Nel Foley, but the longer they stayed, the harder that would be.
Sophie took a sip of her drink, trying to settle the nausea in her stomach.She hadn’t mentioned the doctor’s appointment to Ryan.There just hadn’t been the right moment.She’d told herself it was fine, that she hadn’t actually lied, but the more time that passed, the more it felt like she’d done something deceptive.
It would have been fine if Ryan hadn’t announced, that morning, that they were going to the funeral.She wasn’t sure why he wanted her to go, but she suspected it was meant to communicate something to Nel Foley.A show of power, perhaps.Asserting his position here in Carrinya, even at her own father’s funeral.
She’d spent the whole day feeling slightly sick about the possibility of bumping into Nel, who would have no reasonnotto mention Harvey’s appointment.Sophie checked her whereabouts again, pleased to see that she was still sitting with Jimmy Galatas in the little area off the side of the main room.
She went to Ryan’s side, hoping to plant the idea that they should go.He glanced at her, eyebrows raised.
‘The kids will be home soon,’ she said as Brett returned with two schooners.Ryan drained his glass and took the new beer.
‘One for the road,’ he said, knocking his glass against Brett’s a little too forcefully.
As Brett changed the subject to Donald Trump, Sophie looked back at Nel.She’d expected to dislike her, before the appointment yesterday.She’d assumed Nel would be pretentious and uptight like her sister, but she wasn’t at all.She was sweet with Harvey, who’d inherited his father’s distrust of doctors, and there was nothing perky or cheerful about her.Sophie couldn’t stand people like that.‘We need to go,’ Ryan said twenty minutes later, as though she was the one who was reluctant to leave.
He took her hand and led her through the crowded room towards the exit.
‘I need a leak,’ he said, when they reached the entrance foyer, dropping her hand and disappearing down the corridor towards the bathrooms.
Sophie reached for her phone.It was almost three thirty.The kids would be home by now.She didn’t like leaving them homealone.Charlie was so moody these days, so quick to lose his temper with the younger ones.
‘Sophie!’
She looked up, inhaling sharply.
‘Nel, hi!’Her heart raced as she glanced up the corridor to see Ryan walking towards them.She looked back at Nel.‘It was a beautiful service.’
‘Thank you,’ Nel said with a sad smile.‘How’s Harvey?’
‘Much better today, thanks.He’s back at school.’
‘Oh good, I’m glad to hear that,’ Nel said, as Ryan reached Sophie’s side.His dark eyes moved between Nel and Sophie, his lips pressed into a thin line.Sophie willed Nel to stop talking about Harvey.
‘The little ones tend to bounce back quickly,’ Nel added.
‘This is my husband, Ryan,’ Sophie said, trying to steer the conversation away from Harvey.She met Ryan’s stare and swallowed.‘This is Nel Foley,’ she added, although they needed no introduction.
He raised his eyebrows, demanding an explanation.
‘Nel and I met yesterday at the library’—her mouth felt dry—‘when I took Harvey to get some new books.’
A fleeting frown crossed Nel’s face, then she nodded.‘It’s great to see a kid who loves reading.’
