‘You know,’ Matt's voice came from behind her, making her jump slightly, ‘I meant what I said earlier. Your voice is really beautiful.’
Georgina turned to face him, a shy smile playing on her lips. ‘Where did you come from?’
‘I came back to talk to you—it couldn’t wait until tomorrow.’
‘Oh okay...and thank you for the compliment.’ They walked side-by-side, their shoulders touching ever so slightly, causing Georgina’s tummy to flutter. ‘You know, I haven't sung like that in...well, in years, really.’
Matt stopped walking and turned to face her, so Georgina did the same. He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. ‘Why not? If you don't mind me asking.’
Georgina sighed, her shoulders dropping heavily. She was weary from everything she was doing lately, but most of all, stepping into the shoes of her mother had made her really miss her lately. ‘I guess...after Mum passed, singing just reminded me too much of her. I remember we used to sing together all the time, especially during picnics on the beach.’
Matt nodded understandingly, gently taking her hand in his. ‘I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories.’
‘No, it's okay,’ Georgina said, surprised to find she meant it. ‘Actually, singing today... it felt good. Like I was connecting with her again, you know?’
Matt squeezed her hand gently. ‘I do know. And I bet she'd be thrilled to know you're singing again, especially for the event she loved so much.’
Georgina felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but for once, they weren't tears of sadness. ‘I think you're right.’ She lightly punched his large shoulder. ‘So, partner,' she said, injecting a note of playfulness into her voice, ‘when should we start practicing for our big debut?’
Matt's face lit up with a grin. ‘How about tomorrow evening? We could meet at the beach, get a feel for the setting. Then after that, we could use the community hall. That’s what I wanted to tell you. I rang and enquired earlier, and it’s free to use on Wednesdays.’
‘It's a date,’ Georgina said, then blushed as she realised what she'd said. ‘I mean, not a date-date, just a-a practice date.’
Matt's eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘A practice date it is, then. Though, for the record, I wouldn't mind if it was a date-date.’
Before Georgina could respond, Matt leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. ‘Goodnight, Georgina. Sweet dreams.’
As he walked away, Georgina touched her cheek where his lips had been, a warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the setting sun. She looked out at the bay, the water shimmering in the fading light, she felt truly excited about the future.
With a smile on her face and a song in her heart, Georgina headed home, already looking forward to tomorrow's ‘practice date’ and all the possibilities it held.
Chapter eleven
The early morning sun filtered through the garage windows, casting long shadows across the oil-stained concrete floor. Georgina stifled yet another yawn as she settled into the creaky office chair, the familiar and now comforting scent of motor oil and rubber filling her nostrils. She blinked hard, trying to focus on the appointment book in front of her, but the words seemed to swim on the page.
‘You want a cuppa, sunshine.’ Matt's cheerful voice cut through her fog of exhaustion. He leaned against the doorframe, his brow furrowing as he studied her face. ‘You okay? You look a bit...worn out.’
Georgina mustered a weak smile. ‘A coffee wouldn’t go amiss, Matt. I wanted to get a head start on organising these appointments, but I’m feeling a little stretched lately—too many jobs and not enough time.’
‘You should book a day off and spend it in bed, catching up with sleep.’
‘I'm fine,’ Georgina insisted, waving off his concern. ‘Just need to focus, that's all.’
As she turned back to the appointment book, Georgina's mind drifted to the night before. She'd been up until the wee hours, making phone calls and sending emails for the sunset picnic event. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her shoulders, a constant reminder of the legacy she was trying to uphold.
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was a text from her sister, Francis:
Hey sis, just checking in.
How's the event planning
going? Don't forget to take
care of yourself.
Love you!
Georgina smiled weakly at her sister's concern. It was as if she were tuned in to how she was feeling, and knew she needed words of support. She typed out a quick response:
