The next messages were for my dad.
Lola
No eye deer, Dad.
Hope the caravan is holding up to the punishment of the outback roads. Miss you.
A quick shove sent my suitcase back to the top shelf of the wardrobe. I peeled off my daggy jeans and T-shirt, tossed them on the bed, and ran my fingers over the clothes hangers. So many pretty new dresses. I could buy whatever I liked and wear what I wanted now. It was a simple pleasure most people took for granted, but one that still made my heart sing.
A gingham sundress yanked over my head, sandals slipped on, and a light sweep of makeup—I was ready. My tiny cottage was my refuge, but I couldn’t waste my new life hiding behind the safety of four walls. I knew how quickly freedom could be snatched away.
I grabbed my bag off the hook by the door, marched outside, and headed for town.
It was time to be brave again.
The crowd at thevillage markets swarmed around me. I weaved through the people, smiling and nodding, saying hello, pretending I was fine.
Totallyfine.
I stopped at a stall to sniff the handmade candles, and at another, I sifted through the piles of second-hand books. My bag filled up quickly. A patient I’d seen once or twice sidled up to me as I thumbed through some knitting patterns. Her white powder puff dog yapped at my feet.
“How are you, dear?” she asked, patting my arm.
Brooke had warned me that word travelled fast in a small town, but I wasn’t prepared forthis. Interest. Sympathy. I’d never missed the anonymity of the city more.
“I’m good.” I forced a cheerful bubble in my voice with sheer willpower. “The weather’s nice today.”
She tutted me gently. “Talking about the weather.” Her lips stretched in a pitying smile. “Brave girl.”
I slipped my arm free from her grip, offered a weak goodbye, and disappeared back into a crowd. But not for long. Other women stopped to say hello. More gentle nudges of encouragement.
Then came the tip of a wide-brimmed leather hat and a smile creasing a bronze, weathered face. Ryan Hollyoak.
“Morning, Dr. Hughes,” he said.
“Hello.” I owed Ryan more than a simple hello for stepping in, but overwhelming the poor man by throwing my arms around him would be too much. “Thank you…for…” A rush of nerves made me break out with a smile before I could finish thanking him properly. I wasn’t used to talking to men outside of work. “Well, thank you…for…that.”
Ryan’s smile widened as he dipped his chin. “An honour, ma’am.”
“I…” Anhonour?
“I s’pose everyone’s trying to bend your ear today?”
“I do seem to have found myself the topic of conversation.” I looked helplessly around the crowded hall. “I really wish I weren’t.”
“Small towns.” He chuckled. “Living here’s a bit like the rain. You can’t fight it. You’ve just gotta make it through the downpour, and then you’re all good. Everyone will move on to the next thing soon enough.”
“I hope so.”
“Just don’t let a small-minded fool like Evan Barnes get under your skin. He doesn’t speak for all of us. It’d be a sorry day if we lost a good doctor because of the likes of him.”
The mention of Evan’s name made my heart thud faster, but I tightened my grip on my bag, determined to stay strong. “I’m not going anywhere,” I reassured Ryan. “You’re all stuck with me.”
“Glad to hear it.” Smiling, he tipped his hat to say goodbye.
My steps slowed to a shuffle between the next stalls. When I heard Rose’s shrill voice call out my name, I wanted to lift the red tablecloth skirting the cake stall, crawl underneath, and never be seen again.
“Yoohoo!” Rose wasn’t giving up. “Dr. Hughes!” Gnarled hands shot out, clutching around my arm to snatch me from the crowd.
