Chapters (48)
- Cover
- Praise
- About the Author
- Also by Tricia Stringer
- Title Page
- 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
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgements
- Excerpt
- One
Natalie paid for her accommodation and picked up a couple of brochures while Tika printed the receipt and organised keys. Outside again Tika locked the door behind her.
“You take Natalie down and get her settled then get yourself over to Aunty Rosie’s quick smart,” she said. “She’s got a big barbecue planned for tonight.”
Gabe groaned.
“You know everyone wants to see you.” She waved and walked away without another look at Natalie.
“Hop in,” Gabe said and they set off again, following the red dirt track between buildings and finally pulling up beside a metal-clad dwelling with a verandah stretched across the front.
Natalie stepped out onto more red dirt. The bricks of the paved verandah were ingrained with it; even the walls had a kind of rusty red glow. She unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was hot with a musty closed-up smell, basic but neat. She was relieved to see no sign of the red dust inside, at least. Gabe helped her carry her things to the door then hovered on the verandah.
“Will you be right?” he asked.
“Fine.” That word again.
“Aunty Rosie’s expecting me.”
“Of course.”
“I can show you around tomorrow.”
“Thanks, but don’t worry about me. You go be with your family.”
He went to leave then turned back. “I’m going for a kayak in the morning down at the creek. It’s pretty good down there. Would you like to come?”
“I’ve never kayaked before.”
He smiled. “It’s easy. Out with the tide then in with the tide. We won’t have to paddle.” He started to walk away. “I’ll call past around seven. See if you want to come.”
He jumped back into the vehicle and drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Natalie put on the air conditioner, relieved to find that in spite of its looks it was soon blowing lovely cool air through the room. She unpacked, found the bathroom, winced at the sign saying keep the toilet lid down to keep out the frogs, took her food to the well-equipped camp kitchen then sat on her verandah taking in her surroundings. It was peaceful here. Birds called, and there was the odd noise of a distant vehicle but other than that so quiet. She wondered where the beach was, found the map Tika had given her with the keys and realised the road that went past her door led there.