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“Maybe you’ve heard of it.”
“I have heard of it.” She’d been given a referral to go there once she’d been discharged from hospital after one of her many surgeries, but she’d never used it. By that time, she had gone far beyond her endurance for well-meaning doctors that tried their well-meaning best to control her. To push her down the path of more surgery, more pain, more rehabilitation. She was afraid he was going to start asking questions, since her condition was surely more obvious to him than the average person. But then, movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she blew out a breath of relief. Leah was coming down the track. That was the second time in as many days she’d been rescued from possible intrusive questions by well-meaning friends.
“Hi,” Leah said when she got close enough. She smiled at Ryan and Georgie thought she might have seen a speculative gleam in her eye. “You wanna come and hang out while I work?” She asked, turning her attention to Georgie.
“Sure, that would be lovely.” She swung her legs to the ground, bracing herself to stand. Ryan was there in a flash, putting his strong hands under her elbows and easing her to her feet. “Thanks,” she said, keeping her eyes downcast.
“You’re welcome.”
“And thanks for the muffin.”
“You’re welcome for that, too. Don’t worry about the chair. I’ll take it back later.”
“Okay.” She shot him a quick look as she turned away but his face was unreadable.
“Interesting,” Leah said quietly as they walked slowly up the track.
“Not really,” Georgie deflected.
CHAPTER4
Once they got to the Long House, Georgie settled onto a stool next to Leah’s workstation. Juniper was across the way, throwing a plate on her pottery wheel. She gave Georgie a welcoming smile, but was deep in concentration, so turned back to her work straight away. William was at the end of the long room, working at a block of wood with some carving tools. Billy, his brow furrowed like his father’s, sat next to him, working at his own block. Leah set to work, her dark head bent over a delicate ceramic vase. She was painting a bright, swirling pattern on it. For Georgie, who didn’t have a single artistic bone in her body, it all seemed pretty spectacular.
About five minutes after she sat, Mikayla bounced into the room, carrying a cardboard tray. “Coffee’s up!” she announced, taking a cup and plonking it in front of Juniper.
“Oh, cheers,” Juniper replied, without looking up. After taking William his coffee and Billy his hot chocolate, Mikayla returned, sitting down next to Leah.
“Didn’t know how you had your coffee, so I got you a latte and some sugar packs.” Mikayla handed Georgie one of the cups, Leah another and took the last one for herself.
“Thanks, that’s lovely.” Georgie took the coffee from her with a smile.
Mikayla leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand, watching Leah work. Then she sat back on the stool, folded her arms across her chest. Sipped her coffee, put it back down, crossed her arms across her chest again.
“Jesus, Mik, you got ants in your pants or something?” Leah asked, giving her a quick look. Something in Mikayla’s face caught her attention and she put her paintbrush down.
Just at that moment, Juniper finished her work and glanced up, to find Mikayla staring at her. “What is it?”
“Mik’s got some news,” Leah replied.
“Oh, lovely.” Juniper grabbed her coffee and came to join them at the table.
“We’re booked.”
“Oooooh, when for?” Juniper asked.
“Third of September.” Juniper and Leah squealed, confusing Georgie. “We’ve tentatively booked the food and wine trucks, just need to run it by Callum.”
Georgie finally understood. Mikayla and Rafe’s wedding plans. “Why do you have to run it by Callum?”
“Because my brother, bless his heart and enormous wallet, has insisted on paying for the wedding.”
“Wow, that’s so lovely.”
“I know.” Mikayla sighed and smiled at the same time. “He had a hard time convincing me, but the emotional blackmail worked a treat,” she joked.
“You’re still keen on a beach wedding, even in September? It’ll be rainy and probably still a bit chilly.” Juniper asked.
“Yeah, I reckon so. Early spring should be okay. I mean, I could do it sooner, but that’s too risky. We’ll put up a marquee and have fire pits and heaters and stuff. I guess we’ll wear shawls or something if it is cold?”
