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“I’ve put together a lunch pack for you,” Lynne said, pointing to a cooler bag sitting on the kitchen bench.
“Oh, wow, thank you.” Leah moved over to have a look. A salad roll, a banana, a bottle of juice and a homemade brownie. “A brownie! When did you make this?”
“Last night, after you went upstairs.”
Leah swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat. She’d forgotten how Lynne used to pack a homemade treat in her school lunch. It was thoughtful and sweet. “Thanks. I really appreciate it. Oh, what’s this?” Tucked under the brownie was a little packet, wrapped in gold paper. Leah pulled it out and looked at Lynne.
“It’s a birthday present.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. Helen gave it to me to give to you.”
Leah opened the gift. It was a jewelry box. Lifting the lid, she saw a delicate gold necklace, with a charm dangling from it.
“That one was mine, this one was your grandmother’s.” Lynne pulled down the collar of her shirt to show a matching necklace. The charm was of a mother holding a small girl in her arms, beautifully intricate.
“Oh, Mum, it’s beautiful!” Leah carefully removed it from the box. “Can you put it on for me?” She turned around, moving her hair to the side to allow Lynne to do up the clasp. When she turned back, she threw her arms around Lynne, saying, “Thank you. I love it.”
“You’re welcome.” Lynne patted her shoulder before stepping back. “I’ll just finish your coffee.” Stirring in the sugar, Lynne pressed a rubber lid onto the ceramic coffee cup. “Here you go.”
“Ta.” Leah took the cup, then stood there awkwardly for a moment. “Well, I, ah, I guess I’d better get going.”
“Of course.” Lynne grabbed the cooler bag off the bench and handed it to Leah. “Just one more thing.” She hurried to the pantry cupboard and pulled out a Tupperware container. “Because you haven’t had breakfast,” she said, handing over a muffin. “It’s cheese and basil flavored.”
Leah smiled. “Thanks.” She turned away, taking a deep breath as she walked back into the hallway. Saying goodbye to her mother was going to be much harder than she expected. She opened the front door and dragged her suitcase through, not bothering to call out to her father. Lynne followed her out to her car, standing next to it with her arms folded as Leah heaved her suitcase into the trunk and slammed it shut.
Putting the cooler bag on the passenger seat, Leah turned back to Lynne, hesitating for a brief moment before putting her arms around Lynne. “Bye, Mum. I love you.”
Leah felt Lynne stiffen in surprise, then she hugged her back. “I…I love you, too.”
Stepping back, Leah was surprised to see her father standing at the front door. “I’ve got a few things to sort out when I get back to Blessed Inlet,” she called to him. “But when that’s done, Mum’s coming for a visit. If anything stops that from happening, I’ll come back to get her.” She wasn’t sure what she was expecting in response. An argument. Raging. Disdain. But all David gave her was a slight nod of the head. Satisfied, Leah slid into the driver’s seat of her car. “I’ll see you soon,” she said to Lynne as she pulled the door shut. As she backed down the drive and turned her car out onto the street, she was a bundle of emotions. Nervous, trepidatious, excited. All of it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The miles between Melbourne and Blessed Inlet flew by. Leah stopped near Lakes Entrance to eat the lunch Lynne had made with a smile on her face. As she made it to the outskirts of Blessed Inlet, her heart thudded heavily. Home. She was home. She eased down the long, pitted track to her house, then gasped. There was Mikayla, standing on her veranda, watering her plants. Leah pulled to a stop and jumped out of the car.
Mikayla stepped off the veranda, leaving the hose running, and said, “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!” She pulled Leah in for a tight hug.
“Hey!” Leah said, hugging her back. “’What are you doing here?”
“Just did some grocery shopping, thought I’d drop in and check on the house. Hasn’t rained for a few days, so I was just giving the plants a quick drink.”
“Thank you! You didn’t have to do that.”
“Bullshit! I’ve put a lot of effort into these plants, you know.” Mikayla’s eyes were dancing
Leah laughed. “So you have. I’m sorry I can’t offer you a cuppa. I didn’t stop at the shops on my way in.”
“I’ve got milk and bikkies in the car.”
“Oh, lovely. I’ll put the kettle on then.” Leah moved inside, taking a deep breath as she looked around her little house. It was good to be home. She filled the kettle with water and turned it on, before moving to the loungeroom and opening the sliding door. That view. She’d never get sick of it. Calm, deep blue ocean, a bright sky and white, puffy clouds.
She glanced at the painting she’d made the day she’d fought with Callum, still sitting on the easel where she’d left it. She looked away quickly. The power of the emotion in it disturbed her.
“Happy birthday, by the way,” Mikayla said, coming inside with a grocery bag and a gift-wrapped package.
“Thanks! You got me a present?”
