dirty so it can hold its own in the car park.’
She laughed, a throaty, joyous sound devoid of all the tension that had been rolling off her from the moment she’d looked up into his eyes at the dance. ‘My place is just up here on the left with the ti-tree hedge.’
He slowed, his headlights making out the hedge and catching glimpses of what looked like an old fishing cottage; the antithesis of the spacious apartment they’d shared in Melbourne. Once, they’d shared a lot of things.
She clicked the release on her seat belt, her tension slotting back into place like a wall. ‘Thanks for dropping me home and I hope you have a lovely visit with your parents.’
No hint of an invitation there, pal. Well, hell, he could match her strained politeness and raise it. ‘It’s great to see you. Perhaps we can have coffee and catch up at a more sensible time?’ So I can tell you about the children.
‘I don’t think so, Gabe.’
This time the barb stung and he snapped. ‘Look, I’m being polite here in a difficult situation. I had no clue you’d moved to Midden Cove. Hell, I didn’t even know you’d left Melbourne, so me being here is not in any way part of an attempt at reconciliation.’
Her body recoiled against the seat as if he’d slapped her. ‘Lucky I wasn’t under any illusions, then, wasn’t it.’
Remorse raised its head and he ran his hand through his hair, regretting that he’d inadvertently hurt her. Again. ‘I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I get it that you don’t want to see me and if you want, I won’t bother you while I’m here.’
That means you have to tell her now.
No way, not now, not like this.
Elly gave him a curt nod as her hand reached for the doorhandle, antipathy mingling with her intoxicating scent.
Memories instantly piled up of happier times—moments when they’d laughed until their sides had ached, occasions when they’d finished each other’s sentences. Times so far removed from this where they now sat side by side like strangers.
Despite what she’d said about wanting to leave Melbourne, he’d never understood that to mean coming to such an isolated spot as Midden Cove. He gave her a wry smile, and asked the question that had been on his mind from the moment he’d seen her. ‘Just tell me one thing. Are you really happy here, El?’
This time she blinked. Twice. Then with a toss of her head, which sent her rich chocolate hair flying around her face, she stepped out of the car. ‘I’m perfectly happy, thank you.’ Without looking back, she slammed the door shut behind her.
He didn’t believe her.
Elly sat at her kitchen table and stared out through her glass patio doors, watching a little blue wren take on his reflection in a territorial battle. That settled it: housework was a health hazard to birds and she shouldn’t bother to clean the glass again. She sipped her tea and tried to focus on what she had to do on this sunny Sunday. Her list was long and she really should get going on it, but her brain was stuck on Gabe.
Gabe was in town.
It shouldn’t matter a jot to her that he was in ‘the Cove’, but her brain mocked her by spinning that one thought around like a scratched CD.
More importantly, how long is he in town? She lowered her mug and groaned. Why hadn’t she asked him that last night? But she knew the answer—she’d been petrified that if she did ask she’d sound too desperate. Desperate for him to leave or desperate for him to stay, she wasn’t certain, and both ideas had actively competed for a brief moment. So when he’d suggested coffee, she’d panicked and the ‘ice queen’ had come out to protect her.
Boy, did she need protection. She didn’t trust herself not to go down the self-destructive path of wanting to spend time with him, which was completely ironic given his response.
Me being here is not in any way part of an attempt at reconciliation.
Gabe was nothing if not honest. He was right, too. Reconciliation wasn’t an option because nothing had changed between them and their lives were on two different trajectories. She took another sip of her tea. She still couldn’t believe he hadn’t trekked in the Himalayas because it had been the idea of that trip that had precipitated their demise as a couple.
She could remember his excitement clearly as he’d organised the delivery of Nepali food—a meal of dhal with roti and curried vegetables—before making her a cup of chai and presenting it with the glossy brochures. It would have been the third trip they’d taken in a year and it wasn’t that she didn’t love to travel, she did. But she’d also had an overwhelming need to stop and settle down.
I’m not interested in settling down, El. Come travel the world with me, it will be more fun.
And here she was in Midden Cove, working, and he was still travelling, although not to the places she’d expected.
The past is over, move forward. Giving herself a quick shake, she picked up her phone and got an update on Will, who was still critical and in ICU at Royal Hobart after skin graft surgery to his hands and feet. As she rang off, a text came through from Dev, suggesting lunch. She should go. She started to key in a reply when her phone rang.
‘Sorry to call you, Elly, but we’ve got an elderly tourist here with shortness of breath.’ Sandy, the experienced RN, sounded apologetic.
She swallowed a sigh as she glanced at the postcards on her fridge. Her medical practice partner, Jeff, and his family had taken off for a few months’ camping around Australia and although she was thrilled they were having such a great trip, the timing for her was lousy. She hadn’t had a complete day off in three weeks. ‘I’m on my way.’
‘How long have you been feeling unwell, Mr McGovern?’ Elly’s fingers gently probed under her patient’s jaw, feeling for raised lymph nodes.
‘My name’s John, love, and I’ve had the blasted cold for over a week. It started just as I got off the boat from Melbourne. We’ve come to visit the grand-kiddies and the new baby, but getting sick has put a bit of a dampener on things.’ He sighed. ‘Rachel, my daughter, she’s not too happy with me now the baby’s got the sniffles too.’
Elly felt for the poor bloke. ‘Viruses are in the air all the time. So you’re Rachel Morgan’s dad?’
‘That’s right.’
Rachel was Jeff’s patient so she wasn’t really familiar with the family. ‘How are you sleeping?’
‘That’s why I’m here. My cold’s pretty much on the turn but it’s this damn cough that’s really bothering me. The wife’s complaining I keep her awake at night.’ The grandfather winked at her. ‘I thought it prudent not to mention she’s snored for years.’
Elly laughed. ‘Sounds like a very wise move, John. Did you have a sore throat with this cold?’
‘A bit of a sore throat but that’s all gone now. I just feel tired, you know, run down.’
She nodded as she picked up a tongue depressor. ‘I’ll check your throat. Open wide,
