Running my dad’s restaurant until he and the new stepmother thought they could do better.
Fine.
Breaking it off with Pete before she broke something over his head.
Fine.
All behind her now. New life starting today.
Very fine.
She stood at the western edge of the restaurant and through large expanses of window stared out over the rows of vines before her. Across to the left, hedges of rosemary and lavender bordered a small veggie garden encased in chicken wire to prevent wildlife getting in and munching on the delicacies.
Heaven would be like this.
Masses of brilliantly coloured geraniums guided a walkway up the slope. Her sweep of the place stopped at Berry’s house, a long low mud-brick bungalow sat amidst scrubby gums. She watched as he came outside and strode back towards the restaurant, carrying what appeared to be a heap of linen. His dog trotted alongside.
The little flip-flop of something inside quickened as he got closer.
Clancy didn’t stop staring until he was out of sight. When she turned back, Heidi was watching her.
“He’s candy all right, even if he is an old guy.” Heidi was grinning widely. “Oh hey, and you’re blushing.”
Clancy tucked her chin to her chest and began to make her way out of the restaurant. “He’s the boss. And he’s got an armful of gear for my sleep-out. I was just checking to see where he—”
“Well, don’t be too long.” Heidi waggled her finger as Clancy walked past.
Berry was backing into the bedsit with linen loaded high in his arms. “I couldn’t remember what was what so I brought the lot. Or nearly.” He turned inside and dumped it on the bed. His nose crinkled. “But I think it might need to go through the wash first. It’s clean, but been locked in a cupboard for a while. There’s a washing machine around the side.”
“Fine. I’ll do that.”
“Clothes line there, too.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Should dry all right today.”
“Yes.”
“Pillows.” He looked at her. “One or two?”
“Two’s good.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Clancy poked her head out the door and watched as he paced up to the house again, the dog still trailing. Berry’s back was straight, broad where it was meant to be and narrowed to hips and backside, which filled his jeans exactly right. The dark salt-n-pepper hair was short and tousled, as if hands had gone through it to make it look artfully just-been-ravished. Oh.
It was a very funny feeling she was feeling, but good... new and fresh and good, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Something she thought she would never feel again. So, she would be careful with it. Not fan the tiny flame into a wildfire and forget all about her sanity in the self-inflicted frenzy.
Thoughts create feelings, Clancy.
She turned back inside the bedsit and decided to check it out properly. She started with its little cupboard on the back wall. Nothing there except a couple of bent up coat-hangers. As she peered over the top shelf, she could see a dog-eared manila folder way back. She stood on her tiptoes about to grasp it when she heard a vehicle pull up. Instead of grabbing the file, she went to the open doorway to check who’d arrived.
Not that she’d know anyone except the neighbours and she certainly hoped it wasn’t either of them.
A woman jumped out of the driver’s seat, slammed the door and headed straight for the restaurant.
Clancy caught movement from Berry’s house and looked up the slope. He was returning with pillows. When he saw the visitor he stepped up the pace and headed into the restaurant, too.
Well, follow that man with the pillows.
As she entered the restaurant, Berry stood, still with an armful of pillows, listening intently to the woman.
“Apparently a massive heart attack after that woman just left them in the lurch.” The woman speaking was an older version of Heidi sans the pregnant belly and the short curly hair. Hers was a mass of long, tight strawberry blonde coils like a
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