AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The practice has been invited. Pam has the details. You’re welcome to come.”
“But do you want me there?”
Stacey paused and an ache pulsed in my chest.
“If you don’t feel comfortable, I don’t have to—” I began, rubbing at my sternum.
“He must come,” Mama Zanetti demanded of Stacey. “I introduce my daughters.”
“I don’t mind. It’s fine,” Stacey said quietly.
I smiled and Mama Zanetti clapped her hands again. “This is very good. Now, I find Rosie.” She hurried away, talking to herself.
“You sure you don’t want something to eat? You look …”
“What?” she asked sharply.
Stacey had dark circles under her eyes, despite her makeup, and her shoulders were slumped.
“I don’t need a doctor’s opinion about how I look, thank you very much.”
“Honestly? You look beautiful, Stacey.”
She blinked.
“And hungry.” On cue, her stomach growled. Stacey shook her head.
I grinned. “Mini-quiche?”
“Ihatemini-quiche.”
“If you could eat anything at all right now, what would you choose?”
Stacey’s eyes crinkled at the edge, her tone wistful. “Hot chips and gravy from the pub. They are the best.”
I grinned again. “Okay. Let’s do it. My shout. Let’s get some food into you.”
An hour later, I sat Stacey down at a table to a bowl of hot chips and a small jug of gravy.
Granny Lynn’s daughter, her husband and grandchildren had left for a family-only graveside service to lay Mrs Hughes to rest. Our departure had been delayed saying good-bye to the remaining guests, with many congratulating us on saving Lesley’s life last week. Tom had assured Stacey by text he could take her grandfather home in his ute if she promised to get home safe.
Beryl, Arthur and Caz from dance class held us up the longest. They wanted to stay out for as long as they could from the aged-care home. With a couple of phone calls and a promise I was sober, an orderly parked the aged care home’s mini bus out front of the Ballydoon pub and the dance class joined us for an impromptu wake, with me helping as a proxy chaperone.
Beryl ambled past our table wearing a bright pink dress with a gin and tonic in one hand.
She stopped at our table. “Always said to Lynn I wouldn’t wear black to her funeral. They’re meant to be a celebration of a life, so I wore my party frock.”
As she walked off, I noticed she was holding three darts in the other hand.
“I assume they are allowed to play with sharp objects?” I asked as Stacey dunked a chip in the gravy and then took a bite.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she groaned. My dick stirred. Despite having been at a funeral, I couldn’t help but be captivated at the sight of Stacey enraptured by a hot chip covered in gravy.
I cleared my throat and stole a chip. “I’m afraid I’m due back at the practice soon.”
Stacey’s face fell. “You can’t stay?”
I shook my head. “But I don’t want to leave you here alone—”
