Tarryn pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes.
And she still didn’t know what to do about it.
She turned and went back to her shouse. She had to get the damn banners back for Phyll—who of course could have contacted Allie herself but had chosen not to. Tarryn set the kettle on to boil. There was no way she could call Allie with her mind churning faster than the Quandong laundromat—but she could call Sophie.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she picked up her phone and scrolled to the landline number she’d called before. The number she now realised was Sophie’s. She pressed the call button.
“Events Done Right, this is Bree.”
“Good morning, Bree, this is Tarryn Harris from Quandong. Is it possible to speak with Sophie Lane?”
“One moment, please.” The call clicked over to chiming hold music.
A minute later, a voice said, “Sophie speaking. How can I help you, Tarryn?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but Phyll asked me to give you a call.” She outlined the issue with the missing banners.
“We’ll find and return them.” A pause. “I’m glad you called, Tarryn. I intended to call to thank you for doing such a great job as Allie’s assistant during the festival. She’s told me how efficient you were and how you did far more than you had to.”
Ha! If only she knew how much extra I did do.“No worries. It was just a job to me, but I take pride in doing everything to the best of my ability.”
“Was it just a job? Allie said it was more.” Sophie’s voice softened. “I realise weddings aren’t your thing, but Allie said you played the part of fake bride very well. Maybe too well.”
Tarryn’s nerves twanged like an out-of-tune banjo. Was Sophie about to chew her out for seducing her sister? “I did my best.”
“You did. Thank you.” Another pause. “You know, it would have been easier to call Allie directly about the banners. She’s the one who’ll have to send them. I’m still…incapacitated. She’d be pleased to hear from you.”
Pleased? What did that mean? Pleased so she could be cold in her words? Pleased so she could gain closure? Pleased…how? “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Because you’re going to disappoint her again?”
Was she? The empty space since Allie left didn’t reek of anger anymore: it was sadness, an incomplete feeling, a hollow shell where her heart used to be. “Sophie, I don’t know how much Allie has told you, but I think we both let down the other. It wasn’t a one-way thing.”
“Maybe not, but…I’m her twin. We’re identical in most things: we vote the same, we dress similarly, we like the same foods. But until now, Allie being straight and me being gay was always the thing that stood us apart. Because we’re so similar, I used to think one of us would discover our sexuality was different from how we’d always thought. I wasn’t sure which one—sexuality can be such a fluid thing. And, too, I wondered if maybe this would always be the thing that set us apart. But if that’s what’s holding you back from happiness…well, maybe it needn’t be.”
Tarryn looked down at her feet. First Phyll, now Sophie. Was she that pig-headed she was letting this stand in the way of what she wanted?
Was this it? Was Allie her person?
She’d been silent too long. Sophie cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get all preachy on you. I’ll pass on to Allie to send the banners back. Thanks for the—”
“Wait.” Tarryn’s heart thundered in her chest. “I’m coming down to Sydney to visit my mama in a few days anyway. How about I pick the banners up from you?”
“Sure.” A ripple of amusement threaded Sophie’s voice. “That will work. Can you let me know when you’ll be here so Allie can have the banners ready?”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Sophie. I’ll see you maybe…Monday, if that will work?”
“That’s fine. Thanks for the call, Tarryn. I look forward to meeting you then.”
She ended the call. Now she was committed—for better or worse. She snorted. Wasn’t that a line out the traditional wedding ceremony? She’d had no intention of visiting Mama—it was the most transparent excuse ever. Sophie was probably calling her sister right now to tell her.
A couple of days to sort out a few things that had been pushed to one side while the festival was on and then she’d leave at dawn on Monday. She’d see Allie. Maybe when they were face-to-face, the right words would come. An apology, a reconciliation, a kinder breakup…she didn’t know. Hopefully, she’d figure it out before then.
She picked up the phone again to call Will to ask him to feed the alpacas while she was away.
Chapter 28
Tarryn cursed as the trafficslowed for yet more roadworks on the highway, then came to a halt at the temporary traffic lights. She tapped her fingers on the wheel as the stream of cars, trucks, and caravans rumbled past in the opposite direction. At this rate, she wouldn’t get to Sydney before dark—and she wanted to arrive at Sophie’s house before five. Not for the first time, she considered turning around and heading home. This was likely to be a wasted trip, a fool’s errand. She had no idea where Allie lived, and Sophie was likely not to tell her.
