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Back The Model Wife Save as PDF
Chapters (48)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Tricia Stringer
  5. Title Page
  6. Dedication
  7. One
  8. Two
  9. Three
  10. Four
  11. Five
  12. Six
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Author’s Note
  46. Acknowledgements
  47. Excerpt
  48. One

“You remind me of my lost boys when they first arrive. Some of the things they’ve seen and done shouldn’t happen to kids. Their eyes are like the shutters we use to keep out the wind in cyclone season and then, as this place works its magic, you can see that light begin to shine out from inside them again.”

“They’re lucky to have you.” Natalie risked a look at Rosie, who shrugged.

“All I can do is provide a roof over their head and decent food to eat; it’s being here that makes the difference.” She leaned closer. “I’ve seen that change in you since you first arrived with a face all shut up. Is it being here, or Gabe who’s made the difference?”

Natalie shifted on her chair. The backs of her legs had stuck to the vinyl upholstery in spite of the cool of the air conditioner. Her first reaction was to say ‘the place’ but then she pictured Gabe’s smile and a wave of guilt swept over her.

“Listen to me.” Rosie’s laugh broke the tension. “If my mum was here she’d be telling me to mind my own business. I’ve always been a stickybeak. Poking my nose into things I shouldn’t.”

Natalie stood up. “Thanks for the tea, Rosie. It’s been lovely to chat.”

“Any time.” Rosie followed her to the door. “Gabe said you want to stay longer.”

Natalie paused, the door still shut against the windy day outside. “I’m not in a rush to go. I’d better let them know at the office though.”

“You’ll be right. I already told Tika to pencil you in for another week.” Rosie smiled and opened the door. A blast of hot air greeted them and Natalie hurried outside, not wanting to allow the dirt into Rosie’s lovely clean house but Rosie stepped out after her and shut the door.

“Would you like to go fishing?” she said. “I wouldn’t mind some fresh fish again and Charlie’s nagging me to take him.”

“I’d love to.” Natalie was pleased to have something to look forward to.

“I reckon this wind will drop out by early afternoon. We’ll pick you up after lunch.”

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

Bree stood under the back verandah watching the rain pelt down. Not the drifting drizzle that had been taunting them on and off since early May. This was the big, heavy, pounding drops of a soaking rain they badly needed. The tennis court where they’d been working all morning to get rid of the weeds and make it level was a quagmire. The others had all come inside for lunch when the rain started but Bree had gone to the shed to tinker with a bike she’d pulled apart. Now she was greasy and wet.