Clem shook her head sadly. ‘I can’t flick a switch and forget. We’ve both been married, but you lost the love of your life. I haven’t got a chance of competing with Belle’s ghost, especially when you don’t even talk about her. Before that disastrous day in the props room, I hadn’t heard you speak her name. No anecdotes, no frustrations, no nothing. How can you move on if you can’t even talk about her?’
‘I’m going to try,’ he said, feeling the hope seeping out of him.
Clem shook her head sadly. ‘Even if we agreed on all the fundamental things, I’m the opposite of what you’re looking for, Spencer, you said it yourself. You might think you like the idea of all this—’ she waved at Indi, who was riding the low-hanging branch like it was a horse, clicking her tongue to make a clip-clopping sound, ‘but it’s even more of a circusthan the TV show, and I don’t have an off-camera therapist or a contract end date.
‘You should find someone who’s young enough to start a family, someone who isn’t pre-occupied with growing a small business to fund her children’s future.’
As much as she tried to maintain a matter-of-fact tone, Spencer felt a fresh wave of regret at hearing the pain in Clem’s voice. She finally met his eye as she nodded sadly.
‘Let’s consider this a close call. We’ll get the play done, then you’ll move somewhere new, I’ll find an alternative honey supplier for the cafe and we’ll probably never cross paths again.’
He was doing a terrible job of expressing what he wanted. That was the opposite of what he was proposing, but it looked like Clem had made up her mind.
‘You don’t … don’t want to try to work this out?’
Clem shook her head again, not meeting his eye. ‘I think it’s for the best, Spencer.’
A cry rang out through the air and they both rushed to the swamp gum. Indi lay sprawled on the ground underneath, nursing her wrist. They crouched down beside her.
‘Hey, are you okay?’
Clem gathered the little girl into her lap, wrapping her arms around her and kissing the top of Indi’s soft braids. ‘It’s okay, Mum’s got you, honey. You’re alright.’
She gave him another of those sad smiles. ‘She’ll be fine.’
He stepped back, knowing if there was a chance to rectify this situation, he needed to rethink it. And fast.
20
‘Looking good, ladies.’
Over the noise of the grinder, Clem heard Lauren and Jack pulling up in front of the van beside the sunflower field on a bright January day. Her brother leaned out the passenger window. ‘I’ll have one of everything, Selina.’
The teenager laughed. ‘We need taste-testers, not family members eating our moneymakers. We still want to cover our costs, right Clem?’
Clem was pleased with her trainee’s astute comment. Now that she’d replaced the coffee machine with the model her Aunty Jean had recommended, the coffees tasted brilliant. Selina was more open to guidance, her coffees had come along in leaps and bounds, and she was almost ready to be let loose on the general public.
‘The van’s camouflaged with the field of sunflowers behind it,’ Lauren said, looking as sunny as the crop in a bright-yellow dress and floppy raffia hat. ‘I’ve heard great things about your customer service too, Selina. My friend April stopped by with Connor last night, and they both raved about you.’
Selina flushed under the praise. She had insisted on working off her debt for the damage she’d caused, and while Clem appreciated the gesture, she was more relieved that the teenager had been smart enough to understand that Luka Grubb was a bad influence. She had a new boyfriend now, one who didn’t encourage her to steal, or leak inside secrets like school contract pricing, or Sunny Cross Cafe’s most popular menu items.
And with the right training, and a major attitude adjustment, Selina was fast becoming a respected team member, instead of the employee Sebastian and Kev drew straws to avoid.
Lauren and Selina started chatting about the latest slasher film at the cinema. Jack beckoned to Clem.
‘Can I have a quick word?’ he said when she came down the van’s steps. Clem nodded, checking that Harriet and Indi were happy at their trestle table before following Jack to the edge of the road. ‘Is this about my fabulous PowerPoint presentation? Did you love it? Do you think it will impress the parents and friends committee at Southend Primary School?’
Jack knew how much hard work she’d put into the presentation, and had seen firsthand how snazzy the finished product looked. ‘You’ve got a great package to offer them, and they’d be mad not to support a local business using produce from this area, made by someone who knows what kids need and want. It’s amazing.’
She beamed, following him to the cafe. The first two weeks of January had been hard going, but she was positive that was all behind her now. ‘And you don’t need to keep the discussions about contracts and quotes on the downlow. Selina messed up last year, but I have full confidence she won’t do it again.’
Jack shook his head, and when she met his gaze, she saw a soft, resigned sadness. ‘Jack, what is it?’
‘Aunty Jean passed away.’
Clem stopped in her tracks. ‘What? When? Where?’
‘At the hospital, this morning.’
