‘Thanks,’ Nel said.
‘You’re working at your dad’s clinic?’
Nel nodded.‘Just keeping things going until Mum can find a buyer.’There was a long pause as she tried to think of something else to say.‘Lauren said you paint?’
Faye’s face lit up.‘Would you like to see my studio?’
Abandoning the tea, she led Nel out the back door to a weatherboard cabin at the bottom of the garden.A single room with a vaulted ceiling.Nel inhaled deeply, trying to place the smell.Turpentine.It reminded her of the art rooms at school.Large canvases lined the walls, leaning against each other, four or five deep.
‘You can have a look if you like,’ Faye said.
The paintings were expressionist landscapes, an assault of red cliffs, garish blue skies and blue-green water.The brash colours of the Australian coast in broad brush strokes, raw and fierce and beautiful.
‘These are incredible,’ Nel said.Looking through the paintings felt like glimpsing into Faye’s soul.Nel had always thought of heras fragile and broken, but now she suspected there was a defiant survivor behind those sad eyes.
‘Thanks,’ Faye said.‘Do you mind tea bags?’
‘I actually prefer them.’
‘Me too.’Faye smiled.‘But Geoff likes the proper stuff.’She passed Nel a big mug of Earl Grey tea and insisted she take the old green velvet armchair.She pulled up a wooden kitchen chair for herself.
‘Do you see much of Ryan Warner around town?’Nel asked.As soon as she said it, she wished she’d come to it more gradually, but she was sick of small talk.
Faye shook her head.‘I don’t go into town very often these days, but he sold an investment property for us a couple of months back.’
‘Do you know his wife?Sophie?’
Faye nodded.‘Not well, but I’ve seen her here and there over the years.Beautiful girl.Gorgeous kids too.Ryan has a lovely portrait on his desk.’
‘She came in to see me at the clinic.Their son was sick.’Nel cleared her throat.‘I always had a funny feeling about Ryan.’
‘Funny?’
Nel swallowed.‘He could be quite cruel to Maddie.’There was a flicker of something in Faye’s eyes.Nel took a breath and spoke carefully.‘Faye, I’ve always thought that Ryan was involved in Maddie’s death.Somehow.’
Faye nodded.Nel waited for her to say something, but she didn’t.
‘What doyouthink?’Nel asked gently.
‘I think …’ Faye sighed.‘Maddie’s accident was a long time ago.’
Nel had to work hard to control a surge of frustration, to keep her voice steady.‘But the ring was missing, Faye.The ring that Ryan gave her.She was wearing it when I saw her and then it was gone.’
‘Yes.’
Nel waited for her to say more, but she didn’t.
‘Don’t you want to know?’
Faye reached out and took her hands.‘Nothing will bring Maddie back, Nel.I’ve had to accept that.It’s time you moved on too.’
Nel shook her head.‘But if he hurt Maddie—’
They were interrupted by footsteps on the path outside.There was a knock, then the door opened and Geoff appeared.
‘There you are,’ he said.He looked from Faye to Nel and smiled warmly.‘Hello, Nel.’
‘Hi, Geoff.Faye’s been showing me her incredible paintings.’
