“That will work,” Kirra said. Others nodded as well.
Only Phyll appeared uncertain. “What if a totally unsuitable couple wins?”
Kirra folded her arms across her flat chest. “Define ‘totally unsuitable.’”
Phyll flapped her hand. “Comedians. Underage children. People who don’t reflect the values of our town.”
Values?Phyll sounded dangerously close to an extreme right-wing politician on a mission to purify Australia.Ha! Good luck with that.“If we let people know our reasons, hopefully everyone will consider them when they vote. You have to trust people.” Allie gave Phyll a soft smile. Getting on Phyll’s wrong side would be a shortcut to failure.
Phyll gave a soft harrumph and settled lower in her seat.
Allie scribbled more notes on her pad.
Phyll leaned across. “You know we hired you an assistant? She can take notes in future. She’s not here today, though. Had a prior commitment with her other work.”
“No, I didn’t know.” She dropped the pen on the pad. This wasgreatnews. Hopefully the assistant was a whiz at event planning. “Is she local?”
Phyll nodded. “Yes. Her name’s Tarryn Harris and she’s very efficient. She runs her own metal-work business, but she also picks up many of the short-term jobs around town.”
“I hope to meet her soon.” She tapped the pad. “There’s already a lot she can be doing.”
Phyll’s eyebrows lowered until they closed in on her nose. “I’ll tell her to get in contact with you.”
Allie pressed her lips together. It was a pity Tarryn wasn’t at the meeting, but hopefully, she would make life a lot easier.
* * *
Despite Kirra’s dire prediction, the meeting wound up by six. Allie arranged to meet one-on-one with the various organisers the next day.
Her car was a mess. Guiltily, she threw the clutter that littered the passenger seat into the back so Kirra could ride with her.
Kirra fastened her seat belt. “The apartment where you’re staying is above my café.”
Allie’s eyelid twitched. She’d driven along Quandong’s main street on her way to the meeting but hadn’t noticed the café. And what if there was more than one? Sophie had mentioned Kirra owned a café, so she had probably been there. What if she went to the wrong one? She fumbled the key in the ignition of the Pajero and pulled out of the car park and headed into the centre of town. The wide street had cars parked in the middle, and the shops on either side of the street were a mishmash of architectural styles. The only common denominator were the brightly painted doors. She drove underneath the large banner that spanned the street announcing the Gay Bells Festival. Large silver bells—wedding bells, she presumed—adorned each end. She looked around, trying to see a café.
“You’re in luck.” Kirra pointed. “There’s a park right outside the door.”
Thank goodness.The brightly painted sign proclaimingKirra’s Kaféwas decorated with pictures of the vivid blue rainforest fruit that gave the town its name. A rainbow flag fluttered from a pole next to an Australian Aboriginal flag.
Allie parked and grabbed her case.
“This way.” Kirra used the key to unlock a lime-green door sandwiched between the café and the health food store next door.
The door swung open, and Kirra led the way up a steep set of stairs which opened into a large room with high ceilings. Light streamed in through tall windows, illuminating a large, dark wooden table, a couch with a coffee table in front of a TV, and a compact kitchen.
Allie caught her breath. The apartment was gorgeous, perfect. Nicer—and bigger—than her low-ceilinged apartment on the twentieth floor of a huge complex in Sydney. She turned a circle, humming in appreciation.
Kirra led the way to the rear and flung open the door to the bedroom. The small room was dominated by a queen bed covered by a quilt with an aboriginal design. “Bathroom’s through there.” She indicated another door.
“The apartment’s gorgeous.” Allie smoothed the soft cotton quilt, tracing the blue and green patterns. “I love this design.”
“It’s Bundjalung. There’s an artists’ collective up the street. They do beautiful things. This design is a representation of the clans.”
“I’ll go and take a look at what else they have.”
“You do that. Is there anything else you need?”
“I’m good, thanks.
