Page 74 of Whispers of Sweetwater

Molly’s hands wrapped around her mug. ‘He once said something to me,’ she murmured. ‘Months before he died. He was anxious, strung out. He said, “If anything happens to me, don’t trust anyone who offers help first.” I thought he was being dramatic. Paranoid.’

Lost for the right words, Brianna looked to her dad.

Logan scratched his jaw, nodding. ‘He might not have been wrong. Hayden and I stopped in at the mechanic’s this morning. Len wasn’t there, but his son, Roy, was. Young fella. Seemed decent. Didn’t give us anything concrete, but …’ He paused, frowning. ‘Something about the place, about how Roy held himself, I don’t know, it made my instincts kick up a notch.’

‘Roy? Really?’ Molly asked.

‘Yeah. He was friendly enough. But careful. Like he’s seen too much to say too little.’

‘Maybe, maybe not.’ Molly gave a faint smile. ‘I didn’t know what Jack meant by what he said about “the man who fixed my car”. Still don’t. But I’ve been remembering that line a lot lately.’

Logan leant forwards slightly, his expression gentler now. ‘That kind of thing sticks,’ he said. ‘When someone you love is carrying something heavy, like fear, and secrets, you feel it, even if you don’t know the details. Your gut remembers even when your mind tries to forget.’ He paused, looking to Brianna then back to Molly. ‘You’re not wrong to keep turning it over. Just don’t let it eat you alive. I gather your brother wouldn’t want that. And neither do we.’

Molly didn’t answer straight away. Her eyes shimmered slightly in the low light, and she stared down at her tea as if it might offer clarity. ‘I keep trying to tell myself that Jack wouldn’t want this to be the only thing I carry of him. But it’s hard. It’s all still here.’ She tapped her temple softly. ‘All the time.’

Brianna reached across the table, her fingers brushing lightly against Molly’s hand. ‘That just means you loved him,’ she said quietly. ‘And still do.’

Molly gave a small, grateful nod, her lips pressed together as she blinked back the weight of it.

Logan sat back for a moment, glancing at Brianna. ‘Hayden was a real help today. Asked the right questions, listened more than he talked. I don’t say this lightly, but he’s a good man. Decent. The kind you’d want beside you when things get messy.’

Brianna felt a flood of warmth at her dad’s impression of Hayden, but before she could respond, Sherlock’s ears twitched. Then his body tensed. A low, warning growl bubbled up from his chest as he rose slowly to his feet, tail rigid, gaze fixed on the front door.

Logan was on his feet instantly, hand hovering near his belt even though he wasn’t in uniform. ‘Stay here,’ he said sharply.

Brianna moved instinctively, but Logan shot her a look that anchored her to the spot.

He flicked the outside light on and approached the door with quiet precision. Unlocking it just enough, he nudged it open and leant out, scanning the garden. The sound of crickets and frogs singing met him. The breeze shifted the trees gently, revealing nothing. He stepped outside now, letting the door fall shut behind him with a soft click, and Brianna rose to watch him through the window. His bare feet made no sound on the warm timber or the dewy grass as he moved deliberately down the front steps and into the yard. He kept to the shadows, scanning the garden’s edges, the fence line, the tool shed, the thick cluster of palms near the water tank, towards Molly’s neighbouring cottage. Sherlock hadn’t moved, but his ears followed Logan’s path. Brianna held her breath, listening for anything – footsteps, a raised voice, something more than the night. Then a rustle. Sharp, fast. A shape darted out from the base of a tree, all furry and quick. Her dad’s curse echoed as a ringtail possum scurried up the trunk and disappeared into the canopy. Shaking his head, chuckling to himself, his body language softened as he gave the garden one last sweep. And when he stepped back inside, he double locked the door.

‘False alarm,’ he said. ‘Possum. Probably what Sherlock heard.’

Molly exhaled slowly, her body easing against the counter. Logan gave the garden one last glance through the window, then turned back, looking more relaxed. Sherlock gave a low huff and returned to his place near the door, curling in with a contented sigh. Brianna exhaled too. The tension didn’t vanish, but it stepped back, just a little, into the dark corners of the cottage.

A few moments passed then Molly stood to leave, slowly gathering her things. Her hand lingered on the back of the chair, and her eyes flicked towards the dark window before settling on Brianna. ‘I’m going to try and sleep in my own bed tonight,’ she said. ‘I think I just need the routine. Even if it’s hollow.’

‘You sure?’ Brianna asked, her voice soft but her concern unmistakable.

Molly gave a tired smile. ‘Yeah. If I don’t try now, I won’t sleep at all. Besides, your dad deserves the guest room, not the couch.’

Brianna smiled faintly, though her eyes lingered on her friend’s face. ‘You’d get a better night’s sleep in here, you know.’

‘I know,’ Molly said gently. ‘But I need to prove I can still sleep alone, even if I’m only pretending it’s normal.’

Logan studied her carefully. ‘You sure you feel safe enough over there?’

Molly nodded. ‘I’ll lock my bedroom door, keep my phone beside the bed, just in case. And I’m only next door. Less than thirty seconds away. If I so much as sneeze too loud, Sherlock will probably raise the alarm.’

That drew a small chuckle from Brianna, though her arms were folded tightly across her chest. ‘All right. But make sure you call if anything, anything at all, feels off.’

‘I will, Bri.’ Reaching out, Molly gave Brianna’s hand a loving squeeze. ‘You’ve been a champion through all of this.’

As Molly’s words caught in her throat, Brianna blinked back tears.

Logan wandered towards the door, standing tall and solid, his presence a quiet reassurance. ‘Now, you two, don’t start crying, otherwise you might make me shed a tear.’ He waited while Molly slipped on her sandals and tucked her empty travel mug into her tote bag. ‘I’ll walk you over,’ he said simply.

Molly paused as she slid the tote strap over her shoulder and looked up at him with a grateful smile. ‘Thanks, Logan.’

Brianna followed them onto the verandah, where the warm night air wrapped around her. Crickets chirped in rhythmic waves, and the scent of damp grass mingled with the faint trace of Molly’s perfume as she passed. Sherlock padded out and sat beside her, his body pressed close against her leg, gaze alert and ears forwards. He didn’t move as Logan and Molly made their way across the lawn. Brianna watched from the edge of the verandah, arms folded over her middle, heart tugging with unease. The glow from Molly’s floodlight threw their shadows long across the garden path. Then, reaching the cottage, Logan stood with her at the door, saying something Brianna couldn’t hear. They lingered for a moment, bathed in the warm light. Logan leant a shoulder casually against the post, arms folded, and Brianna could see the easy way he was trying to remind Molly she wasn’t alone. And that quiet moment between them gave Brianna space to breathe.