‘Thank you,’ he whispered. For more than you will ever know.

He gave her the envelope and pressed it in her hands.

She was a good girl. This letter would mean he’d finally have a chance at doing something right with his life.

‘You’re welcome.’ Nicole tilted her head slightly.

‘Place looks good.’ He turned to leave.

‘Do you like the colour?’

‘Prefer the original, but it’ll pass. I suppose. Don’t give up your day job, though.’

‘Don’t have one.’

‘Yes, you do,’ he said, giving her a pointed look. And Nicole frowned.

Thirty-five

Nicole headed into town, the sun warming her skin, the gentle breeze teasing her hair. Charlie had been insistent that the letter get posted today and with the only task on her list for the day – painting the verandah supports – now finished a stroll in the midday sun was perfect.

She paid Jacqui for the postage and had a cuddle with Amy.

‘My, she’s growing,’ she noted, cooing at the baby perched on the post office counter.

‘They make a habit of it.’ Jacqui smiled. ‘Do you want to take her out for a bit? Give her some fresh air?’

‘Oh, no … I couldn’t. I can’t. I —’

‘She’s been fed and changed and there’s really nowhere you can go where you can’t get back here in about fifteen seconds if you need to.’

Jacqui looked so tired Nicole couldn’t ignore her plea for help. She gave in, and pushed down the little voice of fear inside. She put on the baby pouch and Jacqui helped her position Amy, who seemed very happy in her new spot, where she could face the big wide world.

‘Thanks,’ Jacqui said with a sigh, laying her head on the counter.

‘No dramas. We’ll go buy some lunch for Aunty Nicole and visit Aunty Mandy, and …’

Nicole gently closed the post office door, pulling down the small blind that covered the glass panel and turning over the open sign to read ‘back in ten’.

Nicole walked down High Street and passed Bill Tucker. He was faring well, but his arthritis was playing up a bit. He was looking forward to the grand final on Saturday, though. Jim was off to a job fixing old Grandma Cartwright’s loo, which had nothing wrong with it, the old duck just liked the company. He wouldn’t charge for the visit. You’d think the family would pop in and see her some time, but they were always too busy. Greg Telford was on his lunch break, and was thinking of getting something healthy, like a salad. He couldn’t have a carb-blowout before the most important match in Ranger history. His dad would have something at the store for him.