Georgina passed Christine her tea and sat down opposite her. ‘This job couldn’t have come at a better time as well. My car broke down yesterday, but thankfully that’s being sorted out now.’
‘Oh dear. Nothing too bad gone wrong, I hope. Any idea what it was?’
‘No idea. But it’s all good. It’s actually at Harris’s Garage. Matt who works there is fixing it for me.’
‘Harris’s Garage. Ah yes. That’s the place on the right just before the petrol station isn’t it?’
Georgina’s head cocked to the side. ‘So you’ve heard of the garage before?’
Christine nodded. ‘Yes. It’s been there for years, Robert took over it from his father, and I dare say Matt will do the same when Robert is ready to retire.’
Georgina's curiosity was instantly piqued. ‘Do you know Robert and his family well?’
‘No. Not well. Robert’s wife Linda has been here to have her hair cut and coloured a few times over the years. Lovely lady, but not big on idle chit-chat. She’s very quiet and usually reads a magazine when she’s having her hair done.’
‘Oh right. So you don’t really know much about...Matt then?’ Georgina tried to ask after Matt as casually as possible, but the facade didn’t get past Christine. She knew it wouldn’t. Christine had a knack of seeing right through her, like she had done for years. After all, Christine had known Francis and Georgina all their lives. She’d been the first person to cut their hair when they were just toddlers. Christine knew practically everything about the Shelley sisters.
Georgina felt the weight of Christine’s stare on her as she sipped her tea whilst pretending to study a picture on the wall she’d seen a thousand times over the years.
‘You’re asking about Robert’s son, Matt?’ Georgina met Christina’s eyes. They twinkled knowingly. ‘I can’t possibly think why you would be interested in him.’
They both burst out laughing. Georgina quickly relayed the story about how Matt had helped her yesterday and wascontinuing to help her by doing the work that needed to be done on her car in exchange for her answering the phone at the garage. Georgina ended with an exasperated whine. ‘But how am I meant to fit all three jobs into one week, in addition to getting residents to sign up to be voluntary entertainers at the annual sunset picnics event?’
Christine looked thoughtful as she sipped the last of her tea. ‘The thing is Georgina, you don’t even know yet when Matt and Marcos need you to work for them, so there’s no way of figuring out how you are going to fit each job to work alongside each other. Until you know, there’s no point worrying about it.’ Georgina nodded and the tinkle of the bell above the door announced someone entering the salon. ‘In the meantime, I’ll find out what I can about the handsome Matt for you.’
‘Oooo. Handsome Matt. Who is that?’
Both Georgina and Christine’s heads turned in unison when they heard Mrs Calloway’s voice. Georgina looked at Christine with wide eyes. The last person she wanted to put two and two together and get five was Mrs Calloway.
‘Oh it’s nothing Mrs Calloway. Sit yourself in front of the washbasin and I’ll be with you in a moment.’ Christine dipped her head in the direction of the door, prompting Georgina to make a quick exit. She led Georgina to the door.
Mrs Calloway headed for the washbasins but paused to look in Georgina’s direction. ‘How’s the name collecting going for volunteers, Georgina?’
Georgina continued to follow Christine and called back over her shoulder. ‘It’s a work in progress Mrs Calloway.’
Mrs Calloway lifted her eyebrows as if surprised by the answer.
At the door, Christine leaned into Georgina. ‘Don’t worry, your secret crush is safe with me.’ She finished the sentence with a wink.
Georgina’s mouth dropped open. ‘Crush?!’
Christine opened the door. ‘Lovely to see you Georgina love. I’ll be sure to regale our topic of conversation and yourR to Rnews to your father.’ Georgina smiled, she loved Christine was talking in code so that Mrs Calloway couldn’t pry.
‘News?’ said Mrs Calloway from behind. ‘Anything exciting?’
Christine shook her head with a smile and gave Georgina a reassuring look.
‘Thanks Christine. Speak soon.’
Georgina left the salon and stood outside contemplating where to go next. Her plan was to do a street-by-street sweep of Seagull Bay. She’d started in her own street, but that was way up at the top of the bay. Her stomach growled and reminded her she’d started the day without filling it.
Turning her head in the direction of Tammy’s Tearoom, her body quickly followed suit, and her legs began to take her there.
Holidaymakers were already milling about in their summery attire for the day. Georgina loved to see what tourists coming to the area wore. She especially loved to see women wearing big straw hats, oversized sunglasses and flowing flower printed dresses. Men usually wore polo shirts or tee-shirts teamed with shorts and caps.
Smiling and throwing out the occasional hello as she passed them, she headed for the tearoom.
Unsurprisingly, she could see it was already rammed full of a mix of locals and holidaymakers when she entered. To her delight, she saw her father seated up in a corner, tucking into a sandwich. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he gave her a wave and pointed to the empty seat opposite him. Georgina nodded and headed for the small queue waiting to be served.
