Maybe she shouldn’t rule out making a connection with someone based solely on the fact that their personality differed from her own. It was who they were at their core that truly mattered. If she’d had her way, she never would’ve gotten to know Ellie and Noah nor discovered that they were incredibly kind and accepting of others. So maybe she should give Elsie a chance? Once she got to know her, perhaps Beth would come to understand that she wasn’t so scary after all.
Decision made, Beth scribbled down another response.Okay, I’m in. But I might need your help to feel comfortable.
Hana beamed.Anything for my favourite pupil. (Don’t tell the others.)
Beth laughed out loud. ‘What others?’
Hana winked, then put their head down and wrote Beth’s next set of instructions.
* * *
Beth woke up the next morning with one thought in mind—she needed to fix things with Flo. In talking with Hana the day before about the craft group, Beth had realised that several weeks had passed since she’d fled Flo’s living room. While she’d needed that time to recover from the shock of Flo’s revelations, she’d now come to terms with the news that her father had grown up in Karlup and that her parents had met here. She could even understand why Pru had put conditions on her gifts, and with that understanding came a whole lot of gratitude. If Pru hadn’t insisted that Beth spend time here, she never would’ve formed so many wonderful friendships or discovered that the roots she had in this town went deeper than she ever could’ve imagined.
And now that she’d made the decision to stay in Karlup for the foreseeable future, Beth desperately wanted to re-establish her connection to Flo, to learn more about her aunt, just as she’d continued learning about her father from Mick and Celia. Perhaps that’s what Pru had wanted for her all along, to gather stories of her family, to understand who she was and where she came from—that, more than anything Pru had left her, was the most precious gift.
But regardless of how eager she was to make amends, she didn’t want to impose too early, so she waited until mid-morning to drive out to Blackwood River Road.
As she passed by the window on her way to the front door, she half-expected Flo to call out her usual greeting—Beth knew from all her previous visits that Flo was always in her chair at this time of the morning, enjoying a cup of tea as she knitted or crocheted—except not a peep came from inside.
Beth knocked on the door and waited.
Perhaps Flo didn’t want to speak with her.
Beth wouldn’t blame her if that were the case. Especially after the way she’d snapped and stormed out. But then, perhaps Flo had simply dozed off in her chair. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Beth knocked again, this time a little louder. ‘Flo? Can we talk?’
Silence.
She lay her head on the door, losing hope. But just as she was about to give up and drag herself back to the car, she heard Flo call out, her voice muffled, and a moment later, the door opened.
Flo, still dressed in a nightie, peeked out from behind it.
‘Beth!’ She pulled the door wider and flattened a hand over her chest. ‘Oh, how lovely to see you! I was starting to think you’d left town.’
If Beth wasn’t so worried, she’d feel ashamed for not having reached out sooner. But shewasworried. It wasn’t like Flo to answer the door in her pyjamas.
‘Is everything okay?’ She followed Flo into the lounge room. ‘Did I wake you?’
‘No, no,’ Flo assured her as she lowered herself into her recliner and raised the leg rest. ‘I’m just not feeling the best and decided to have a lazy morning.’
Beth studied her closely, noticing her pale complexion. ‘Nothing serious, I hope.’
‘Only some aches and pains, dear. It’s what happens when you’re as ancient as me.’
‘You’re hardly ancient.’
‘I beg to differ.’ With a sigh, Flo rested her head against the chair and closed her eyes, which did nothing to dispel Beth’s worry.
‘Why did you get out of bed to answer the door? You’re clearly not well.’
‘Pish posh. It’s just old age. Now, do something useful and put the kettle on.’
Beth fought a grin. Apparently, a few aches and pains made Flo rather crabby. ‘Can I get you something to eat as well?’
‘No, thank you, I’m not hungry. But I wouldn’t say no to a glass of water and some Panadol.’
Beth fetched the meds and flicked the kettle on. ‘Have you seen a doctor?’
