“I had a few years on the mainland, studying zoology.”
“I’m hoping to make this my home. I like the way it feels, and everyone is so kind to each other. The other day, I was carrying my groceries down the street, and a man I’ve never met before offered to help me with them. I couldn’t believe it.”
Penny nodded. “It’s that kind of place. I love it here too. We all look after each other, although there are plenty of secrets. Still, that’s part of its charm, I suppose.”
“We should go through all of your wedding selections,” Charmaine said, changing tack suddenly as she drew a loose-leaf folder out of her shoulder bag. “We’re getting close to the big day, and I want to make sure I’ve got everything just right for you.”
Footsteps thudded down the corridor, and Beatrice hurried in with a quick knock on her way through the door. “I was hoping I’d find you. Oh, hello, Chaz. It’s good to see you.”
“Bea, what’s going on?” Penny caught her friend with both hands as she barrelled around the desk.
Bea puffed lightly. She drew a deep breath. “I came from the courthouse. The magistrate has released Buck on bail. He’s out.”
Eleven
THE NUMBERon the phone screen was as familiar to her as Vegemite on toast. It was her mother’s mobile phone number, and she’d paid the bill every month for the past three years ever since Mum died. She couldn’t bring herself to let it go until she moved to Coral Island.
It’d been one of the decisions she made when she settled on the island — to finally stop paying the fee for the phone and give up the chance to call it to listen to her mother’s voicemail message one last time. If she didn’t give it up, she’d be paying that bill for the rest of her life. The more time that passed, the more difficult it became. She had to move on. There was no therapist in her life, no counsellor to tell her the best way to move forward, but she knew that much. Letting go was the first step.
Still, it’d been harder than she’d thought it would be. She held her phone up, dialled the number and let it ring. The line rang out with the ear-piercing chime that announced the number had been disconnected. She hung it up as tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, then slid silently down her cheeks.
What now?
She’d let go. She’d moved on and found a place to settle, to start over. What should she do next? She had a job she enjoyed, had made a few acquaintances, had a cat (kind of) and a life (sort of). There ought to be some element of satisfaction — as though she’d achieved something great. Instead, she only felt empty inside. She was still alone in the world and didn’t know what to do with her life or how to move on with no family or close friends.
The world was a lonely place.
If only she’d asked more questions about the extended family, but her mother had been so reluctant to open up that Charmaine had left it alone. She didn’t know much about aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents. Only that her grandparents were gone — she assumed that meant dead, but now, looking back, she realised it could’ve meant anything really. Her mother didn’t talk about her family often, so Charmaine had believed her to be an only child for many years.
If only she’d said more about her sister, given Charmaine further hints about the woman or how to get in contact with her, that would’ve been something. But she’d done a search on her mother’s maiden name and hadn’t found anything useful. It was a common name and there’d been hundreds of results — how could she find an aunt who’d very likely changed her name after getting married and she had no recollection of ever meeting?
Watson wandered across the floor, then collapsed onto his side in the middle of the living room with strange, stilted movements. Charmaine cocked her head to one side. He’d been more lethargic than usual for the past few days and had barely eaten the food she’d set out for him. Perhaps he was ill. She placed her phone on the couch and went to sit by his side.
“What’s wrong, buddy?”
He didn’t seem to be able to walk properly when he stood again. The animal opened his mouth, and a pitiful meow came out. She picked him up gingerly and stroked his head. His breathing was laboured. Something was wrong with him. She should take him to the vet. A quick search on her phone found that there was a vet’s office on the other side of Kellyville. It looked to be open, but it was several kilometres from her flat and she couldn’t ride her bike and take care of the cat, so she’d have to walk.
She scooped Watson into her arms and carried him down the steps and out through the front of the florist shop, stopping to lock it behind her awkwardly. Then she set off along the Main Street. When she reached the corner, she almost ran into Beatrice Rushton, who wasn’t looking where she was going, her gaze fixed across the street on the primary school when she stepped out of her café.
“Excuse me. Sorry!” Charmaine cried as she stumbled and caught herself by grabbing hold of Bea’s arm.
“Are you okay?” Bea asked, grabbing Charmaine with both hands and setting her right. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s fine,” Charmaine replied. “I’m in a hurry, so it was my fault.”
“What’s wrong?” Bea asked, studying the cat with concern.
“I think Watson’s sick. I’m not sure what’s going on with him, but he’s a little confused and walking strangely.”
“The vet’s a long way from here. Why don’t I drive you?” Bea suggested.
Charmaine gratefully accepted the offer, and they hurried to Bea’s old station wagon. On the way, Charmaine noticed Evie waving to them from inside the bookshop. She stepped outside, a frown on her face.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re headed to the vet. Something’s wrong with Watson,” Bea explained.
“I’ll drive you,” Evie said. “My car is faster.”
