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“Oh Josie, that’s really kind of you. Let me know how much the stickers and cards cost.”

Josie looked ahead and nodded. “It’s fine. Helped me take my mind off… this.” Her hand gestured in the air.

Hazel patted Josie’s leg. “It’ll be fine. I promise, you’ll feel better when it’s over. You have your diary?”

“In my bag.”

“Great. You’ll be okay. Serena and I will be here when you get out. Then we can go and have some cake.”

Josie gave Hazel a small smile. “I’m looking forward to it. Here’s hoping I don’t throw up beforehand.”

The door next to the reception desk opened. A tall man with hair the colour of mahogany stepped into the room. As he approached, Hazel noted his eyes, a deep sapphire blue. Before she even looked at the name badge on his chest, she recalled their school days together.

“Josie Campbell?” he asked, his voice now deep and husky.

Josie stood, and Hazel followed suit.

“Hi,” Josie said in a small voice.

“I’m Officer in Charge, Noah Daniels. I’ll be handling your case.” Noah gave Josie a reassuring smile.

Noah eventually turned to Hazel, recognising her in an instant. “Hazel, how are you? I heard you were back in town.”

“Hi Noah, I’m good, thanks. Impressive title!” Hazel noticed Josie standing next to her, clearly wishing this to be over as soon as possible. “I better leave you to it. Look after her, Noah.” Hazel pulled Josie into a hug. “I’ll be waiting here for you.”

“Of course, Hazel. Josie, follow me.” Noah gave them both a tight smile as he ushered Josie through the door.

Hazel watched the clock. Josie had been with Noah for over an hour. She hoped everything was going okay. The door to the station opened, and Serena rushed in. She spotted Hazel sitting in the row of plastic chairs. Hurrying over, Serena dumped her bag on a spare chair and took a seat next to Hazel.

“Oh gosh, sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. I managed to get the rest of the day off, but the substitute was late. Is Josie in with Noah?”

“Yeah, for about an hour so far. Oh, Serena, she was so scared, the poor thing. I feel so horrible for her.”

“It’s a very tough situation. Noah will look after her. You know what he’s like.”

“I had no idea Noah was a police officer, and I had no idea he was even back here. Wasn’t he supposed to marry Skye Larson straight after school?” Hazel pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Yes.” Serena lowered her voice. “After you left, they postponed the wedding. I was gone a few weeks after you, but was back within the year to see my parents. The wedding was all set to go ahead, and then Skye declared, to the whole town at a karaoke night, mind you, that she was too good for Noah and was leaving to move to America, to become an actress.”

Hazel gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “What?” she whispered, trying not to squeal. “Poor Noah. He was always the loveliest guy.”

“Still is,” Serena said as she reached into her bag for her water bottle. “Skye left the next day. She went over to LA and tried to make it as an actress, but in the end her parents had to spring for her flight home. In the time she was gone, Noah had moved to Newcastle and joined the police force. Apparently she went down there, tried to talk him into getting back together, which he had no time for. Then, out of revenge, she slept with his best friend - remember Kyle Barnes?”

Hazel nodded, desperate to hear the rest of the story.

“Then she straight up told Noah what she’d done, hoping he would be jealous. He told her to get lost for the second time, then apparently Dotty - do you remember her?” Serena cocked her head to the side.

“Of course, the town gossip! Where is she now?”

“Moved to a nursing home in Brisbane about four years ago,” Serena said quickly. “A real loss to the community, honestly. We haven’t had anyone who can get news around town as fast as Dotty could. Anyway, Dotty saw Skye buy a pregnancy test at the chemist and, look, totally frowned upon, don’t agree with sharing anyone’s medical information without their consent-”

“Of course,” Hazel interrupted, nodding vigorously.

“But Dotty kinda told a few people, who told some more people. You know, small towns!” Serena raised her eyebrows. “Anyway, Skye tried to brush it off, but she just kept randomly vomiting, like, in bins on the street, at the park at the Easter Festival, even in the gutter out the front of the fish and chip shop. Morning sickness. I’ve been there, let me tell you, it is not a fun time. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“But that sorta gave it away. By this point, the shine had worn off for Kyle, and he was actively avoiding her, especially with the rumours flying around. But his parents made him face the music, so he married her. They had to move up north to get away from the gossip and the whispering. They really did Noah dirty, and the town did not like that. Last I heard, they had about four kids.” Serena finally stopped talking and took a sip of her water.

“So, she ended up doing exactly what she was trying to run from in the first place,” Hazel noted.