Chapters (50)
- Cover
- About the Book
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by Sandie Docker
- Book Club Questions
- Welcome to the Kookaburra Creek Café
- Prologue
- One
- Sign up to Read More and discover new favourites
‘See you.’ He swayed on his heels for a second and then turned and left.
Thirty-three
Nicole spent the evening on the floor of the spare room applying the last coat of gloss to the skirting board. Danny had texted her about an hour ago with a simple ‘Goodnight’, but it was enough to give her hope. She knew she had to be patient and that was okay.
Hope was a pretty powerful force. Ivy had taught her that.
She flipped open the wood box and took out Ivy’s next letter.
30th November, 1975
My Dearest Tom,
Today is the last Sunday of the month and we had yet another lovely picnic. The sun was glorious and shining, but not too hot. The wind we have been having for the past few days stayed away and the entire town seemed to be spread across my lawn on brightly coloured picnic blankets with baskets full of food. I cannot believe how it has grown over time, but I relish in it. We have not missed a month since the first picnic with Father Anthony.
He brings the Sunday School kids each time and now William Tucker brings the football team. It is wonderful seeing all those people running on my lawn barefoot, enjoying themselves. Carole’s little girl, Amanda, seemed to like tearing up the grass and putting it in her mouth.
Nicole couldn’t suppress a giggle, picturing a tiny, redheaded Mandy eating Ivy’s lawn.
Some of the children play elastics. Some of them have races. The grown-ups seem to have just as much fun. Some of them have races too.
Everyone has it down to a fine art now, setting themselves up comfortably for the afternoon. I always have a few tables with drinks and a selection of salads and some fruit. I decorate the tables with bright flowers from the garden in tall vases and short vases, round and square, glass and ceramic.
Charlie stayed a little longer than usual after helping me set up today. Perhaps he was concerned about my fatigue this morning. But once everyone arrived I was fine, and he soon disappeared.
I have decided what to do with this place, my love, when my time comes as it inevitably will. I am astute enough to know my body slowly fails me, as age dictates it must. I hope you do not disapprove of my plans. Charlie has shown no further relapse and I believe when my time comes he will feel it keenly. So, I have decided to leave him the cottage and the boatshed. Did Mother just turn in her grave? It may just keep him going and he is the only family I am left with.
Charlie owned the cottage. Her suspicions were confirmed.