North Star by Karly Lane Page A

nodded politely as she smiled at him. He looked to be about the same age as Liam—perhaps they might be friends, Kate thought hopefully.
    Amy was the very image of her mother, petite and blonde with big blue eyes. She appeared to be around Georgia’s age, but Kate noticed that the scowl and the pout were missing, so maybe she was wrong. Weren’t all fourteen-year-old girls supposed to be the same?
    Kate saw two shadows in the doorway behind her watching quietly. She beckoned them outside. ‘Georgia, Liam, this is my very old friend Jenny.’ Liam clung to her side and Georgia hung back sullenly.
    â€˜I’m not that old,’ Jenny protested.
    â€˜This is Amy and Matt,’ Kate continued, ‘and their dad, Mr Beaumont.’
    â€˜G’day, kids. Call me Nathan. How’re you settling in?’
    Kate prodded Liam gently and he murmured a quiet, ‘Okay.’
    â€˜Matt, can you go and get the basket, please,’ Jenny asked, then smiled as she turned back towards Kate. ‘I figured you’d be up to your neck in mess here, so I brought morning tea and reinforcements.’
    â€˜Oh Jen, you didn’t have to do that,’ Kate said and felt tears sting her eyes in gratitude.
    â€˜What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?’
    â€˜A better one than me, who didn’t even bother to stay in touch all this time,’ Kate said quietly.
    â€˜Kate, I didn’t either. It’s okay. The thing about us is we were always able to pick up where we left off each time you came back, remember? Come on, let’s have a cuppa and then you can tell us what we need to do.’
    Within moments, scones appeared from the depths of Jenny’s massive picnic basket, along with containers of cream, jam, butter and golden syrup. Thermoses of tea and coffee appeared too, with containers of milk and a jar of sugar. Kate eyed the basket, wondering what else could possibly be hidden within its depths.
    â€˜I wasn’t sure how set up you would be out here, so I brought everything.’
    â€˜It’s not set up at all, it’s such a mess,’ Kate said.
    â€˜Are you still staying in town?’
    â€˜Yes, at the motel. It’s taking longer than I expected to make this place even remotely liveable.’
    â€˜Well, it’s silly having to drive back and forth to town each night—come and stay with us.’
    â€˜Oh no, we couldn’t impose like that, Jen,’ protested Kate immediately.
    â€˜Rubbish. It makes sense; the kids can all catch the same bus to school. Our place is only next door.’
    Kate smiled at this. Next door usually implied you could see the neighbouring house; out here next door was at least ten kilometres away.
    â€˜Are you sure it’s okay? I mean, three extra people is a lot in a household.’
    â€˜We have plenty of room, it’ll be fine.’
    Kate felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It wasn’t just a financial weight; she felt as though she no longer had to face all this on her own.
    Kate gave Jenny and her family a tour of the house to show them the extent of the task ahead; none of them batted an eyelid. Instead they got straight down to work and didn’t stop for a break until after one. By then the kitchen was clear and so were the hallways.
    It was agreed then that Kate and the kids would go into town and collect their belongings, check out of the motel and go to Jenny’s place. The next day they would all return to North Star bright and early for a full day’s work.
    Later in the evening, seated at the kitchen table in Jenny’s lovely home, Kate looked over at her friend and smiled. ‘In barely a day you’ve completely turned my life around.’ It was true, she not only had accommodation, company and extra hands to clean up the house, but her children now had company as well: Kate’s spirits had lifted to see Liam and Matt getting on, if