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“There’s a Christmas play at the cinema on Saturday night. Sounds like fun, and then the carols the weekend after, and then on Christmas Eve, there’s a community picnic with Santa and races and the works. The kids love it.”

“Sounds hectic for a sleepy little town.”

Billie stood and picked up her cup to take inside to the counter. “I hope to see you at one of them.”

“I’ll make sure I’m there,” Violet said. “And thanks for checking out the ute.”

Billie gave her a wave as she headed to the door. “Thanks for the coffee. I owe you one.”

Violet went to the counter and ordered another coffee. As she was about to pay, she saw Joe’s ute drive past. She glanced at her watch; it was just before eleven-thirty; he had mentioned finishing by then. She ordered a second coffee, and paid for them both, and went to wait at the table outside.

“How was your morning?” she asked as he walked up the footpath and sat beside her. A smile lifted her lips. Joe had a smear of paint down the side of his face. “You’ve been painting.”

“Yep, I finished off the front fence for Mrs Ainslie. It was a short notice job. She’s got family coming for Christmas, and wanted the front spruced up. Paddy Cullen, a local bloke who helps out around town, was going to do it, but he didn’t turn up. How did you know?”

Violet took a serviette off the holder in the middle of the table, leaned over and wiped the side of Joe’s face. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and there was a sexy dark shadow along his jawline.

“Oh, I guess I have paint on my face.”

“You did,” she said.

“Anyway, we got the job done. How was your morning?”

“I picked up a little bit of Christmas shopping. Just a couple of small gifts for Jaclyn and Georgia.” Violet patted her bag; she’d collected the parcel from Amy on the way back from the garage. “I discovered the garage is shut until Friday, but I ran into Billie Miller. I’ve got some good news and bad news.”

“Doesn’t sound good.”

“Billie drove me down to the garage and had a look. That’s the good news. The bad news is she thinks it’s a gearbox, so your mechanical diagnosis wasn’t that far off, and she thinks it will need a new one. Apparently that model has had a recall. It must be in my mail that goes to my sister’s now.”

Joe scratched his head. “Ouch. So, what’s your plan?”

“Billie suggested ringing the dealership in Tamworth and getting it trucked in there to get fixed. She reckons it could be quicker there than the dealer in Brisbane where I bought it.”

“Good luck with that,” he said. “I’d take you, but it’s a little bit far and it’s a bit hilly going down that range into Tamworth.”

“I wouldn’t expect that,” Violet said. “I feel so stupid and so useless.”

“It’s not your fault. A brand-new car that obviously didn’t meet standards.”

Violet nodded glumly.

“I’ve got a good suggestion,” Joe said. “I’m starving. How about we go around to the pub after we finish our coffee and have a pizza before we go home? I’m done for the day with work.”

Violet raised her eyebrows. “Home?”

Joe said, “Okay, home for me, my place for you.”

“We really need to sort out what I’m doing. I can’t just camp at your place indefinitely.”

“Honestly, Violet, I wouldn’t expect you to do anything else. Stay. As long as you don’t mind being a bit of a way out of town.”

“I owe you big time.” Her face brightened. “I’ll buy lunch.”

Joe’s grin was wide. “As long as we get two pizzas, I’ll accept your kind offer.”

Riverside Pub, as the name suggested, was around the corner from the café on the banks of the Akuna River. A delicious aroma came from the kitchen as Joe and Violet walked in.

“Hi Joe,” Max, the barman called out, raising his eyebrows with a grin when he saw Violet with Joe.