‘I wish I could say that was being overly dramatic, but it’s actually not. We’re dangerously short-staffed—have been for a while now.’ Nurse-to-patient ratios were seriously out of proportion and staff were constantly having to cover extra shifts and stretch their resources in order to give their patients adequate care.
‘But if the staff are burning out and can’t even take a sick day here and there, what happens when you can’t stretch any further?’
‘I guess they’ll shut down the hospital.’ The loss of a vital service for Barkley would have dire consequences for the community. It was something that was always in the back of Jenny’s mind. The elderly and their families who depended on the aged care facility would need to be relocated—something that many would find difficult, since they’d lived theirentire lives in the Barkley area. Not to mention the difficulty many others would face if they had to travel to Hamwell for basic things like child and family services, community nursing and the various allied health services locals depended upon.
‘Could they do that?’ Nick asked, suddenly sounding more serious than he had before.
‘If they found a way to save money somewhere, then absolutely. The bean counters are always looking to trim the fat wherever they can. That’s why this revitalisation that’s been happening in our area is so important. This is our chance to get people out here and show them what a lifestyle out here can offer. It’s the first time in forever that an opportunity like this has presented itself and it’s given a lot of people hope.’
‘Fine, then. I guess I’ll have to let you go to work.’ Nick made a long-suffering sound before lifting his head and looking down at her. ‘I love having you around the place.’
‘I lovebeingaround the place,’ she admitted with a soft smile. She really did. The old pub intrigued her with the secrets she imagined it hid within its walls. The history the old building must have witnessed—the comings and goings of fashion and culture and tiny glimpses of people’s everyday struggles and triumphs. She loved listening to its gentle creaks and groans at night and through the quieter times of the day as she lay in bed or sat out on the verandah. Her skin tingled as she thought about the warmth of the dry timber boards under her bare feet on a sunny afternoon as she sipped a glass of wine and listened to the steady hustle and well, maybe not so muchbustle, of the street below when she waited for Nick to finish working downstairs. The place was definitely growing on her.
‘But I,’ she said, finally able to concentrate now his lips weren’t distracting her, ‘have. To. Go.’ She punctuated each word with a firm kiss on his mouth and backed away from his wandering hands and quickly dressed.
‘Spoilsport,’ he called after her.
She blew him a kiss from the doorway and chuckled at the pout playing on his lips.
Jenny was still smiling as she reached the bottom of the staircase, but then her gaze fell on the table where Susie sat. She forced herself to continue walking instead of turning to avoid her like she wanted to. She’d tried her best to like the woman and she felt terrible that she had to force herself to be polite—she was usually a great people person—but Susie made it so difficult when she barely hid the fact she didn’t approve of Jenny and Nick’s relationship.
When Susie glanced up and saw Jenny, she stiffened and clenched her jaw.
‘I guessnowI might be able to get Nick to focus on the business we’re trying to run here?’ she snapped as Jenny walked past.
‘I don’t know,’ Jenny said with mock concern. ‘He’s pretty worn out. He might need a rest first.’
She hadn’t meant to react, but Susie’s self-righteous tone pushed her too far and her words had just slipped out. She took the tiniest bit of pleasure from the shock that passed over the woman’s face, but it was soon replaced by a cool arrogance that Jenny immediately recognised.
‘I guess I should be impressed—I’m not sure I could do such a large age gap, especially if I had children as old as yours.’
Heat began climbing up Jenny’s neck at the insult and a fresh wave of shame filled her as old insecurities began to rise. Then a tiny voice spoke up inside her, reminding her of how she felt when she was with Nick, and that this thing between them wasn’t some cheap, nasty fling to be mocked—especially by someone as cynical and cold as Susie.
‘Maybe you should try it before you knock it,’ Jenny said, channelling her irritation at the woman into casual disdain. Her gaze fell on the empty wine glass on the table and she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten all about telling Nick about the couple who wanted a tour of the pub. Then another thought occurred to her. ‘That was pretty strange earlier—when the woman at the bar seemed to think you were someone she used to know. Are you sure you don’t know who she was?’
The smugness in Susie’s eyes vanished. ‘Positive,’ she said bluntly.
‘She seemed pretty sure she knew you,’ Jenny continued. She wasn’t sure why she was pushing the woman, only that she knew, deep down, that Susie was lying. ‘I forgot to tell Nick about them.’ She turned to head back the way she had come. ‘I said I’d ask him if he could give them a tour of the place.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Susie said quickly, and Jenny stopped. ‘I’ll let him know. I’m heading up there now.’ She gathered her computer and the bag she’d quickly stuffed the remaining paperwork inside.
Jenny watched her make her way up the staircase and narrowed her eyes.That was not normal. Something had shakenthe unshakable Sussanne Angelopoulos and Jenny wished she knew what it was.
Nick bit back a sigh and looked up warily as Susie walked into his office without knocking.
‘Tomorrow I’d like to take a tour of this farm you’re getting your beef from. I’m not convinced the outlay is justified.’
Nick sat straighter in his chair and stared at his sister. ‘The expense is more than justified.’
‘I’ve looked at the numbers.’
‘I don’t give a stuff about the numbers. I’ve built the whole concept of the restaurant on using locally sourced beef that we process on site. Without that, we’re just another pub selling steak.’
‘The costs would be cut considerably if you sourced your steak from a butcher or wholesaler.’
‘That defeats the whole purpose.’
Susie made an indifferent expression. ‘The figures are not suggesting this idea is making enough of a profit to justify the extra work and expense.’
