what wasn’t.
They felt almost like a family. She’d once hoped for a family. She liked children. But it hadn’t happened.
He felt more like a friend now, had relaxed enough to share a drink on the patio, or bring her a fish he’d caught.
She couldn’t help wishing . . . wishing for more. But she didn’t dare wish for too much because he was still holding back a little, still acting only as a friend and neighbour.
Pity.
Then one day there was a knock on the door and she found John there, leaning on his crutches. She made him a cup of coffee and carried it out for him as they went to sit by the water.
‘I wonder if you’d help me and Kerry again.’ He fiddled with his cup before adding, ‘I have no right to ask, but . . . I’ve been notified that they’re sending someone to check up on me. My wife’s lawyer is making another fuss about who looks after Kerry.’
‘Were Kerry and her mother close?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Jen wasn’t a very hands-on sort of parent at all. But she does like to win, and she regards not getting custody as losing.’
When he didn’t continue, Sara prompted, ‘So . . . how can I help?’
He took a deep breath. ‘Could you pretend to be engaged to me? That’d make it look so much better – and you do get on well with Kerry. It shows when you’re together.’
She was so surprised for a moment that she could only stare at him, then she smiled. ‘I wasn’t even sure you liked me.’
He closed his eyes for a moment, then stared at her. ‘I like you too much. I didn’t think I ought to get mixed up with anyone when I have so many hassles in my life. So I held back. But fate keeps bringing the three of us together.’
‘It’s nice to have good neighbours,’ she said carefully.
‘We’re more than that, I hope. I’d really like to get to know you better.’
‘I’m happy to pretend to be engaged, if that will help, John. I’m really fond of Kerry. And I’d like to get to know you better too.’
His voice grew gentler. ‘Why don’t we give it a try, then?’
She nodded. She knew what she hoped for and she rather thought he felt the same way, but there was no need to hurry. He was still wary and she wasn’t going to push him into something he wasn’t sure about. Let him find his own way.
Anyway, living next door made it simple to take things easy as they got to know one another better.
Just then a dolphin swam past, swishing its tail and looking as if it was smiling at them in approval. She smiled back.
Suddenly, she felt sure it would all work out as she wished.
The Pelican Affair
Anna’s Notes
This is based on another personal experience. In my little seaside town, pelicans really do mug tourists. They’re big birds.
When we first moved here, they used to try to get inside the houses. They knew where the catches were for the doors, but those huge beaks are no use for opening them. Thank goodness.
We have stood outside watching the sunset, though, and been joined by a pelican, who stood with the circle of people, quite at ease. He (or she) was as tall as my shoulder.
T he West Australian sun shone down brightly and seemed to be winking at her, telling her to stick to her decision. Sarah Lawson took a deep breath and tried to recapture the tone that used to make her daughters do as they were told.
‘You won’t change my mind, Jan. I’m going to hire a holiday flat for a week and give you and your family a bit of a break.’ She just had to get away from her kind but bossy daughter for a while, if they were to stay friends.
‘But Mum, there’s no need. We love having you here. I’ve been wanting you to visit us in Australia ever since Dad died.’
‘Two months is far too long for any guest. You and Tony could drive me down to Mandurah, though. Or no – perhaps I should hire a car.’
‘No need for that. It’s a small seaside town. You can walk everywhere you need to if you get a place near the Foreshore. We’ll drive
They felt almost like a family. She’d once hoped for a family. She liked children. But it hadn’t happened.
He felt more like a friend now, had relaxed enough to share a drink on the patio, or bring her a fish he’d caught.
She couldn’t help wishing . . . wishing for more. But she didn’t dare wish for too much because he was still holding back a little, still acting only as a friend and neighbour.
Pity.
Then one day there was a knock on the door and she found John there, leaning on his crutches. She made him a cup of coffee and carried it out for him as they went to sit by the water.
‘I wonder if you’d help me and Kerry again.’ He fiddled with his cup before adding, ‘I have no right to ask, but . . . I’ve been notified that they’re sending someone to check up on me. My wife’s lawyer is making another fuss about who looks after Kerry.’
‘Were Kerry and her mother close?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Jen wasn’t a very hands-on sort of parent at all. But she does like to win, and she regards not getting custody as losing.’
When he didn’t continue, Sara prompted, ‘So . . . how can I help?’
He took a deep breath. ‘Could you pretend to be engaged to me? That’d make it look so much better – and you do get on well with Kerry. It shows when you’re together.’
She was so surprised for a moment that she could only stare at him, then she smiled. ‘I wasn’t even sure you liked me.’
He closed his eyes for a moment, then stared at her. ‘I like you too much. I didn’t think I ought to get mixed up with anyone when I have so many hassles in my life. So I held back. But fate keeps bringing the three of us together.’
‘It’s nice to have good neighbours,’ she said carefully.
‘We’re more than that, I hope. I’d really like to get to know you better.’
‘I’m happy to pretend to be engaged, if that will help, John. I’m really fond of Kerry. And I’d like to get to know you better too.’
His voice grew gentler. ‘Why don’t we give it a try, then?’
She nodded. She knew what she hoped for and she rather thought he felt the same way, but there was no need to hurry. He was still wary and she wasn’t going to push him into something he wasn’t sure about. Let him find his own way.
Anyway, living next door made it simple to take things easy as they got to know one another better.
Just then a dolphin swam past, swishing its tail and looking as if it was smiling at them in approval. She smiled back.
Suddenly, she felt sure it would all work out as she wished.
The Pelican Affair
Anna’s Notes
This is based on another personal experience. In my little seaside town, pelicans really do mug tourists. They’re big birds.
When we first moved here, they used to try to get inside the houses. They knew where the catches were for the doors, but those huge beaks are no use for opening them. Thank goodness.
We have stood outside watching the sunset, though, and been joined by a pelican, who stood with the circle of people, quite at ease. He (or she) was as tall as my shoulder.
T he West Australian sun shone down brightly and seemed to be winking at her, telling her to stick to her decision. Sarah Lawson took a deep breath and tried to recapture the tone that used to make her daughters do as they were told.
‘You won’t change my mind, Jan. I’m going to hire a holiday flat for a week and give you and your family a bit of a break.’ She just had to get away from her kind but bossy daughter for a while, if they were to stay friends.
‘But Mum, there’s no need. We love having you here. I’ve been wanting you to visit us in Australia ever since Dad died.’
‘Two months is far too long for any guest. You and Tony could drive me down to Mandurah, though. Or no – perhaps I should hire a car.’
‘No need for that. It’s a small seaside town. You can walk everywhere you need to if you get a place near the Foreshore. We’ll drive
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