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Back The Cottage at Rosella Cove Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Book
  3. Dedication
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-one
  25. Twenty-two
  26. Twenty-three
  27. Twenty-four
  28. Twenty-five
  29. Twenty-six
  30. Twenty-seven
  31. Twenty-eight
  32. Twenty-nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-one
  35. Thirty-two
  36. Thirty-three
  37. Thirty-four
  38. Thirty-five
  39. Thirty-six
  40. Thirty-seven
  41. Thirty-eight
  42. Thirty-nine
  43. Acknowledgements
  44. About the Author
  45. Also by Sandie Docker
  46. Book Club Questions
  47. Welcome to the Kookaburra Creek Café
  48. Prologue
  49. One
  50. Sign up to Read More and discover new favourites

As the night grew cold, she curled up on the sofa under a blanket in front of her empty bookshelves, and read over her notebook where she’d jotted down the questions that had come to her that morning looking at photos of Ivy. It was getting harder not to skip ahead with Ivy’s letters. But the routine was comforting and it was almost as if she was checking in with a friend at the end of the day. Nicole missed having someone to check in with. In her lonely life, these snippets of light were worth holding on to a little longer.

2nd November, 1941

My Dearest Tom,

The sun was so warm today, my love. The morning began as it often does in late spring, crisp and cool, and melted into a warm bright day with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. The sea was such a beautiful deep shade of turquoise and I found it soothing as ever to watch the gentle, rhythmic ripples. Had you been here, I know you would have loved removing your shoes to feel the warm grass between your toes. So, my dearest, I did so in your stead and I must admit I giggled like a schoolgirl as I danced our wedding waltz barefoot around the headland.

Perhaps I shall never wear shoes again. What would Mother have to say about that?

Nicole thought back to Mandy’s photos, with Ivy barefoot in each one, and smiled to herself.

As fate would have it, I had no need to send her on an errand today as the CWA required her services. You know how she cannot refuse being needed. She tried to take me with her but I feigned illness.

Mother was out of the house by ten, which gave me ample time to ready our anniversary picnic. Naturally, I prepared far too much food. Even when you were here I would make too much. Imagine the excess today with only one mouth to feed! Still, the seagulls did not complain.

I found myself talking to them as I would you while they squawked and scavenged around me. They were not very good listeners.

I could not bring myself to enter the boatshed, my darling. I made it as far as placing my hand on the doorknob, but before I could turn it open, images of that night before you left for war flooded my mind. Oh, what I would not give to have another night in the boatshed with you.

So, I remained outside today, eating our anniversary lunch with the seagulls. I miss you so, my darling.