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“Coming home is easy when it’s you.
So I guess after all,
I finally found a love that’s true.
Cos, coming home is easy when it’s you.”
Bonnie sat, almost numb through the aftermath, once the crowd settled down and Roland came back on the stage to announce the astonishing amount raised by the concert. Pamela Tinknell wept quietly beside her as a montage of photographs of the band, most of them featuring Tinker, were shown on a screen at the back of the stage. Her husband, stoic as only a man under tremendous emotional stress could be, sat holding his wife’s hand, dry eyes fixed on the images.
Tamara whispered in Colin’s ear. Bonnie wondered if she were telling him about Tinker being his daddy. The boy was wide-eyed as he watched the pictures. He would be asleep before they arrived home from the look of the shadows under his eyes and the limpness of his body.
Bonnie could empathise. After the tension of the evening, her whole body was jelly, not only her limbs. There was still the after-party to get through. Mainly the sponsors and performers and representatives of the charity.
Leo had tasked her with making sure the Tinknells found their way to the supper room across the courtyard of the community centre. Tamara would be delivering Colin to her dad, so Gordo could take him home and put him to bed. He’d declared babysitting as his preferred option to socialising, which surprised no one who knew him.
Even with the limited guest list, there was a crowd in the supper room. Kevin and Pamela had spotted some old friends, so that responsibility was taken off Bonnie’s hands. There was no getting near Xander and the band. Along with the other artists, they were having photographs taken by news and marketing people at one end of the large room, away from the food buffets.
Bonnie occupied herself with getting food and a cup of tea for Flo, who’d found a table and was clinging to it against all comers. Whatever her feelings about Xander, she still had responsibilities, and so did he. Her desperate need to talk to him, to ask if he meant all those lyrics, had to wait on their respective commitments. For all she knew, he planned on partying the night away with the rest of the band.
The guests were starting to trickle away when Angie Schultz popped up in front of Bonnie.
“Bonnie Callaghan. I’m surprised the rest of the press haven’t come looking for the ‘Girl from Yesterday’.”
Glancing around for help, Bonnie realised there was none coming. Xander was still somewhere in the scrum of reporters.
“I’m surprised you’ve abandoned the real news to come looking for rumours.”
“Are you saying you aren’t the inspiration for those songs?”
“Why would you make that assumption?”
Angie’s face lit with a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry. Xander told me you had reasons for keeping things under wraps for the present. Blame the reporter in me for trying for an admission of something.”
“It sounds like I might incriminate myself.”
The woman picked up a canapé from the nearby buffet. “I’m off duty now, anyway. I’ve got all I need. But Xander promised me first dibs on any news on the personal front, if I lay off. Fair warning. Okay?”
Suddenly liking the blunt-spoken reporter, Bonnie returned the grin. “Fair warning.”
“I’ll be seeing you around.” Her words came over her shoulder as she drifted off in the direction of the entryway.
Bonnie wondered if she would. Had Xander been keeping up the pretence or was this fresh news?
Flo and Don joined her, interrupting the mishmash of thoughts.
“We’re heading home so we can take over the reception desk. Pamela and Kevin will follow, so you won’t have to worry about them.” Bonnie could understand them worrying. They’d had to call in an old friend with no real experience, because everyone who worked at the inn was attending the concert.
Flo had a knowing look in her eyes, as if she knew something Bonnie didn’t. Don gave her an understanding smile. “We’ll see you tomorrow.” In other words, don’t rush home.
Finally alone, Bonnie contemplating heading home herself. She had no responsibilities waiting for her, and there wasn’t much she could do here. Most of the people she knew were gone. There was hardly a reason to hang around with only a hardened group of partygoers still clinging to the performers. Even Cat had wandered off, leaving Zac with his band, a warm promise in her lush smile. Bonnie was pretty sure they had plans for something more intimate than a booze-up with his fellow musicians. Sure enough, he was already doing the final round of goodbyes, including a wave in Bonnie’s direction. She returned it with an odd buzz. Was it for her as an old acquaintance, or because she was counted with Xander’s group, so part of the magic circle?
Checking for her keys to the inn in her pocket, she made her way to the door. It was a fine moonlit night, ideal for a stroll through the darkening streets. It would probably still be fairly busy, being a Saturday, plus concert goers who might be continuing the party at the local watering holes.
“Where are you going?”
A soft touch on her arm spun her around. “Xander?”
Chapter Fifteen
