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“Yep. And Noah would have moved heaven and earth for that girl. I do kind of feel sorry for her, though. I mean, she was what, eighteen? She probably just got cold feet.” Serena fixed the lid back on her water bottle.

“That is rough,” Hazel agreed. “But I don’t condone sleeping with Kyle for revenge. That’s a bit twisted.”

“Very. Anyway, Noah came back about five years ago. Hasn’t had a girlfriend since the whole Skye drama.” Serena quickly shut her mouth as she saw the door open.

Noah guided Josie into the foyer. Her face was red and her eyes slightly puffy, like she’d been crying, but she was also looking far more relaxed than she had before she went in. When she saw her friends waiting, she smiled. Josie and Noah headed over to the chairs, while Serena and Hazel rose to stand.

“Hi Noah! Great to see you. How’d you go, Josie?” Serena asked, pulling Josie into a tight hug as Hazel rubbed Josie’s back.

Noah gave Serena a small wave. “She did very well. I’m sure she’ll fill you in. I better get back to work.” He turned to Josie. “If you have any issues, or remember something else, don’t hesitate to call me. I’m available twenty-four seven, on the number I gave you.” Noah flashed Josie a kind smile. “Hazel, Serena.” He tipped his head forward in acknowledgement.

“Thanks, Noah,” Hazel and Serena said in unison. They quickly ushered Josie outside.

“How did it go?” Hazel asked. The three friends linked arms, Josie in the middle, and walked towards Bird & Book.

Josie waited a beat before opening her mouth. “At first I was terrified. Noah was very professional, and he was really kind about it all. I was so worried I would be judged, or accused of lying. I basically just gave him the diary, and he had a flick through it. He asked me some questions. My name, his name. Gosh, that felt horrible to say out loud. I nearly couldn’t do it. It took so much of my strength to say his name. Cole Miller. Bastard.

“Noah went over some of the entries in my diary. Quizzed me a little. That was hard, as I’ve blocked most of it out. I told him I didn’t want to take things any further for now. I just wanted police to be aware of what’s happened. Noah left the room for a while to look him up. Apparently, he’s in jail. So, all those times I thought I saw him, it was just my imagination. Noah said he’ll probably be out within the next two years. I might look into my rights and stuff closer to the time. But I mean, it’s been years now. He’s probably forgotten all about me.” Josie paused and took a deep breath. “I feel so much better, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Thanks for helping me do this.” Josie gave her two friends a hug.

“Always,” Hazel replied.

“Let’s go and have some cake.” Serena grinned.

The following week flew by. Hazel had been busily preparing stock to sell at the markets. Her hands had started to ache after days of twisting wire and using tiny tools.

She’d finally taken a break and was relaxing on the couch, drifting into a light sleep when her phone suddenly rang, the loud shrill waking her. Scrambling, she reached to answer it. “Hello?” she asked groggily. She used her free hand to rub her eyes open.

“Hazel McCleod?” the voice asked.

“Yes?”

“This is Kelly Johnson calling from Cloud. How are you?”

It took a second for things to click. Cloud? She took a deep breath. “Hi Kelly, I’m doing great, yourself?”

“Good thanks, Hazel. I’m calling about the application you submitted for the position of Brand Manager we posted online.”

Hazel played with the fringing on a pillow as she waited for Kelly to tell her she hadn’t been successful. She felt an itchy warmth that crept up her neck, blushing her cheeks scarlet.

“Is now a good time to do a phone interview?” Kelly continued.

Caught off guard, Hazel nearly spluttered loudly. “Uh, yes. Sure.”

“Sorry I haven’t given you any notice, but we like to see how our candidates do on the fly.”

Hazel managed to get through the phone interview, answering Kelly’s questions as best she could. Kelly mentioned there would be a follow up call for successful candidates in the next few weeks. Hazel thanked her and hung up the phone. She was baffled. Why would Cloud want her? Sure, she was accomplished in her career and had a good portfolio, but surely she wouldn’t have nearly as much experience compared to the more senior people she was sure would have applied. She sighed. Her interview performance just now wasn’t up to scratch by her standards, so she doubted she would hear back from them. Oh well, she thought. At least I tried.

CHAPTER NINE

Saturday morning arrived sooner than Hazel expected. Her stomach was in knots, and she woke before the sun. Telling herself to relax, she lay in bed and tried to get back to sleep. It was no use though. She was wide awake.

She got up. It was a chilly morning in early October. Halfway through Spring, Hazel knew the day would warm up. The clothes she’d lain out the night before would be weather appropriate, but she might need to take a cardigan. She selected one from her suitcase and headed downstairs, laying it on the top of the stack of items ready for the markets. Hazel quickly scanned the stack, double checking that she had everything. Satisfied, she padded into the kitchen and made a cup of tea.

As she lay back on the lounge, she heard Bailey bounding down the steps. He greeted her with a furious wag of his tail and jumped up, snuggling into her body. Hazel switched on the television and channel surfed until the sun began streaming in through the windows. Stretching her legs, she put her cup in the sink and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl before making her way upstairs to get ready.

Two hours later, she’d arrived at the markets and set up her stall. Taking stock from the middle of the walkway that separated the rows of stalls, she noted a few pieces that needed to be moved. Looking around, Hazel glanced at the other stalls. One was selling homemade dog treats. Another had dried flowers in colourful vases. The man across from her was selling native honey. She could also smell something warm and sweet in the air. Hazel was tempted to wander over and have a taste. Her stomach grumbled. Hoping one of her friends would arrive soon, perhaps she’d be able to pop over and grab something to eat.

Turning back to her own stall, she rearranged the items. In the centre sat a collection she’d named Precious Pastels. Rose quartz earrings, a lavender amethyst necklace and a choker made from aquamarine were striking against the black cloth she had borrowed from her mother.