But instead of the piece fromAnne of Green Gablesshe’d read at the Penwarra Players auditions, lines she’d practised for months, Harriet had teamed up with Pansy at the last minute and they were doing a different piece.
Clem’s heart sank.
It only took one line, and a hissed correction from Pansy, before the cracks began to show. Instead of reading the partof Anne, Harriet had been relegated to the role of Matthew Cuthbert in a scene from much later in the story.
Clem looked across at Spencer, catching his grimace. The Harriet who had auditioned two months ago, and the Harriet who stood on stage before them now, were two different people. Her voice wobbled, and even with Pansy’s indiscreet prompting, she still managed to fluff her lines. She battled through, and managed a deep bow at the end, but behind the tight smile, Clem knew her daughter would be disappointed.
She sought her out after the show but Harriet didn’t want to talk about it.
‘How’s your night going?’ Spencer fell into step with her on the way back from the amenities’ block, smelling shower fresh with a towel draped around his shoulders and kit bag in his hands.
‘Great up until Harriet bungled her performance. She was so looking forward to the talent show, I hope she doesn’t take it to heart. She was sure it’d lead to a good role in the end-of-year concert.’
‘I don’t have much to do with the junior school play,’ Spencer admitted, ‘but I’m sure Lyndall won’t rule Harriet out of the cast because of that shaky performance.’
‘I sure hope not. I really don’t feel like switching schools,’ she joked. ‘Penwarra is a beautiful school, and the girls won’t have any adjustment issues moving into the senior classes, seeing it’s all in one. Just a block down from the daycare centre, too. I’d be mad to send her elsewhere.’
‘I wouldn’t get to bump into you in the car park either,’ Spencer said.
She smiled, checking behind her to ensure no one was watching, before grabbing Spencer’s hand, ducking behind an enormous red gum and pulling him her way. And when hetucked his fingertips into her belt loops and pulled her close, all thoughts of plays and schools fell from her mind.
Spencer stretched out on the saggy lounge in his cabin, his arm resting around Clem’s shoulders.
‘Another cuppa?’
She nodded. ‘Maybe one more, then I really should go back to my cabin.’
It wasn’t the Hilton, and they were fully clothed, but if Clem’s lingering kiss was anything to go by, she was also picturing all the ways the scenario could be improved.
Spencer allowed his mind to wander.An open fire instead of a temperamental split system, a charming log cabin instead of a pre-fabricated camp one, Clem’s long, bare legs strewn across his, her hair spread over his pillow, their clothes on the carpet …
He broke off the kiss.You’re supposed to be working, not torturing yourself.With a stern mental shake, he collected their cups, catching his breath as he flicked on the kettle.
‘Don’t look so guilty.’ Clem laughed. ‘I’m sure parents and teachers talk and drink tea after dark at other camps.’
‘Usually around the camp fire, and in the communal kitchens, not one another’s cabins.’ He chuckled, resting against the small kitchenette bench. ‘So how are you liking the camp vibe? Are you sick of us teachers using you as a lackey?’
Clem laughed at that. ‘The opposite— you’re both sweethearts, and the more I see you in action, the more I think teachers are an underpaid and under-appreciated profession. I can’t believe how patient you are; I wouldn’t do it for quids. Not without having a complete breakdown, and I’ve learned the hard way those aren’t half as much fun as they’re cracked up to be.’
She said it lightly, but her eyes stayed glued to her chipped fingernails.
‘That sounds like more than a throwaway line,’ he said, remembering how distraught she’d been in the hospital and the brief details Jeff had revealed. ‘You don’t have to tell me anything, but if you ever want to talk …’
She gave a soft laugh, meeting his eye.
‘Maybe another time? It’s not the most romantic story. I’d rather focus on the future than rake over the past. And honestly, I don’t want to dive into the depths of my marriage, or everything that went down in the divorce.’
She tucked her feet up on the couch, a smile returning to her face.
‘Obviously, if there are any intervention orders out against you or anything I should be worried about, then definitely speak up. In fact, yes, please tell me that before we go any further and we can probably save each other a lot of heartbreak.’
Spencer let out a gruff laugh. He passed her a fresh cup of tea, smoothing back a strand of hair that had flopped over her face.
‘If I did have a violent background, which I definitely don’t, then the TV producers wouldn’t have touched me with a ten-foot barge pole, nor would the schools, and I’d have steered well clear of getting involved with the sister of a police officer. I don’t want to talk about my wife, but there are no red flags there, I promise. And as for Emily, I quickly realised that we were too different for things to work. Things feel right with you.’
‘I’m glad you had a good marriage,’ Clem said softly. ‘I can’t exactly say that about mine. If my ex-husband moved to Antarctica, I wouldn’t be terribly cut up, though that might be harsh on the girls.’
A noise came from outside and they both froze, staring at the door.
