I hear a soft inhale.
“Dark Sky Eco Retreat?”
The delight on his face is everything to me.
He sits on the edge of his chair.
“The one near Siding Spring Observatory?”
“Uh huh. We’re booked for three nights. And there’s a new moon.”
“You really…”
He hugs me so fiercely that the pancakes nearly slide onto the ground.
“Whoa, almost lost them,” I laugh.
“Warrumbungle has been on my dream list for years.”
“I hear their telescope makes all others look the length of a pinky finger.”
“Star nerd,” he grins.
“If I am, you’re entirely at fault.”
I hand him a plate and a fork.
“Now sit, birthday boy. Your feast awaits.”
???
Plates licked clean, we cosy up next to the fire.
Marco has grown rather quiet since finishing his breakfast.
“All good?”
A restless sigh suggests otherwise.
“I was. Until I remembered.”
“We don’t owe anyone a visit,” I tell him. “We can go straight to Beth’s.”
“I know. But… it’s not just him. It’s her.”
I take his hand in mine.
“If you need longer to decide, we can stay another night.”
“You’d brave the possums for me?”
“In a heartbeat,” I reply.
“But Beth’s expecting us for dinner,” he says.
“I could call her on the pay phone. Jundah has one, right?”
“They do.”
