‘But … so what?’
‘So there are people around here who would rather I left town.’
‘But …’ Poppy hesitated.‘I don’t want you to leave.’Tears pooled in her wide eyes and she looked just like the toddler Nel remembered.She felt the urge to wrap her up and tell her everything was going to be okay.
After Poppy left, Nel sat at her desk, trying to decide what to do.She wanted to meet Jimmy to tell him about the emails, but what if Ryan saw them again?He must have been following her, watching her.What was stopping him from following her again today?
A sudden surge of hot fury rose up inside her.Fear was exactly the response Ryan wanted.So what if he saw her with Jimmy?In fact, she hoped he would!It would show him how futile his emails were.This just made her more certain he had something to hide.
‘Fuck him,’ she whispered, sounding braver than she felt.
She reached for her phone.She was done with hiding.
Chapter 30
The Grand Hotel was an imposing two-storey building with wrought-iron verandas at the top of Manning Street.The gritty sound of Cold Chisel greeted Nel as she pushed open the heavy door and did a quick check for Ryan.There was no sign of him.She chose a high table by the window and sat down with her back to the wall.
The crowd was mainly tradies with weathered faces, still in work boots, their energy revived by the cold beer.A group of men in hi-vis shirts leaned on the bar, schooners in hand, congratulating themselves on making it through Monday.Three young women with smoky eyes and glossy lips sat at a table by the fireplace.Nel looked out the window, cupping her hands to see past the reflection of the room into the darkness of the street.Was Ryan out there, watching her?
The heavy door swung open and Jimmy entered wearing a navy duffel coat over a white t-shirt.Off duty.He caught her eye and gestured to ask if she wanted a drink.
Beer, she mouthed.
Nel watched the barmaid as she laughed at something Jimmy said and reached for two glasses.Where did Nel know her from?Then she realised it was the woman who had greeted her at The Larder a few days before.
‘Do I know the barmaid?’Nel asked when Jimmy reached the table and placed a schooner in front of her.
‘Yeah, that’s Harry,’ he said, taking off his coat.He kissed Nel’s cheek and sat down on the stool next to her, facing the room.
Nel tried to remember a Harry.‘Who?’
‘Maddie’s friend.Harriet.’
It took a moment for Nel to make the connection.She widened her eyes, dumbfounded.‘That’s Harriet?The emo from the ice creamery?’
Jimmy laughed.‘Her emo days are long gone.She’s the licensee of this place, runs it with her wife.’
Nel looked back at Harriet, trying to reconcile this tall confident woman with the pale listless girl she remembered.
*
A bass beat pumped like a pulse beneath giddy voices as Nel stumbled over the uneven sand.Where was Maddie?She scanned the skull-like faces, the glow of the bonfire making black holes where eyes should be, and spotted Harriet.
‘Harriet!’she called, walking over.Maddie was bound to be close by.Harriet’s parents owned the ice-cream parlour and Maddie and Harriet had become fast friends in the month or so since Maddie started working there.
‘Nel, hey,’ Harriet said in her usual bored tone, pushing her long dark fringe out of her eyes.The orange glow of the fire reflected off her piercings.
‘Have you seen Maddie?’Nel asked.
‘She’s here somewhere.’
Harriet looked around as Maddie emerged from the crowd.She put an arm around them both, stumbling.
‘Shit, Maddie,’ Nel said, pulling her back onto her feet.‘How much have you had to drink?’
‘Sorry, Mum.’Maddie rolled her eyes and looked at Harriet.They both laughed.
Nel managed a forced smile, trying to ignore the sting of jealousy she felt whenever Harriet was around.She’d never been the odd one out before and she didn’t like it.
