She took another mouthful of coffee to allow time for her whirling thoughts to subside.
“I met Ally and Elly,” she said. “They’re adorable. The grey one let me pet her.”
“That’s Elly. She’s nicer natured than Ally, and better with strangers.”
“I’m trying not to draw a comparison with my sister Allie,” Allie smiled to show she was joking. “Elly was gorgeous. So soft.”
“They’ll both be shorn in another month or so when the weather gets warmer, so they’re at their softest now. You can pet them again before you go.”
Was that a hint? Allie drained the last mouthful of coffee and stood. “I need to leave. I’m meeting Phyll. She sent me a list of possible inclusions for the parade. Some are good. Others are impossible. And it’s probably too late to include most of them anyway. You did well getting four dogs in wedding costumes.”
“You underestimate Phyll. She’ll ring up every person in Quandong who isn’t already doing something in the parade and press them into it. That’s why she gets to organise most things: because whether you like her methods or not, she gets things done.”
“Still, she’s treading on toes.”
“That’s Aunt Phyll.”
“Is she your aunt on your mother’s side or your father’s?” Tarryn hadn’t mentioned her parents—indeed, why would she—but she presumed they didn’t live in Quandong. If so, Allie was sure she would have met them during the planning.
“She’s my dad’s sister. Mama is French, and she emigrated over here about forty years ago. She met my dad in a Sydney boarding house. They married and settled here because Aunt Phyll lived here and offered to let them rent a house she had. I was born in the local hospital.”
“So you’ve always lived here?”
“No. Mama didn’t like small-town living. She moved to Darwin, taking me with her. She’s since moved back to Sydney. Dad stayed here. He’s dead now, but he left me this land. I returned when I was seventeen.” A brief smile. “Reckon I’ll stay.”
“It’s a good place. I’ve never lived outside of a city, but I’d like to one day.”
Tarryn touched Allie’s hand. The touch held the warm comfort of a sheepskin glove. “If you want to, you’ll make it happen.”
For a moment, Allie sat there, staring at Tarryn’s tan hand on her paler one. There were many things she could make happen—if she wanted to.
* * *
“I thought we could print some headshots of our most anti-gay politicians. Ones who constantly try to undermine gay rights,” Phyll said. “Then we’ll have people marching in the parade with a huge cardboard cut-out of the faces over their own. We’ll sell those powder bombs they use for the colour runs, and people can bomb the politicians’ faces, turning them into rainbows.”
Allie’s mouth hung open for a moment. “That’s a great idea, Phyll. But I’m not sure we can organise it in time. We’ll need the cut-outs, source enough paint bombs to sell, and find volunteers who don’t mind dressing up and having their clothes ruined.”
“The powder washes out,” Phyll said. “The school will do the printing for us, and even if we only have two or three of our most hated pollies, it will be enough. I can get the volunteers. Can you get the powder bombs?”
“If you can do the rest, I’ll make sure we can. I’ll get Tarryn on to it.”
“Tarryn’s a good girl.” Phyll shot her a censorious glance. “Didn’t deserve to be chewed out last time.”
Allie fidgeted. “You’re right. I’ve apologised. It wasn’t her fault—it was mine. The email didn’t go through.”
Phyll gave a short nod. “Glad you apologised. Right thing to do.”
“You’ll be seeing her tomorrow,” Allie said. “For the vote counting. You can check how she is then.”
“Don’t need to. You strike me as a genuine person, Sophie. One of the reasons we hired you. How are you getting on with my niece?”
“Fine.” Allie pushed aside the thoughts of Tarryn’s lips from the morning. “She’s very efficient.”
“I didn’t mean that.” Phyll’s brows lowered. “If you both are voted as the fake couple, you’ll need to look the part, y’know. All cosy-like.”
“I doubt it’ll be us. People will realise it’s impractical with the last minute organising we’ll both have to do.”
“And people know I could do it blindfolded with one hand behind my back,” Phyll shot back. “She’s single, you know.”
