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‘Okay, we can do that.The Bay Galleryhas a new exhibition opening on Saturday. John’s combining some of my new surfing prints with a few of Ted Crawford’s pastels. I promised him I’d be there. How about we all go together?’

‘A gallery opening?’ It wasn’t the sort of event Will normally attended, but he supposed he could make the effort, and it might appeal to Cleo. ‘Okay.’

‘We don’t have to stay long and can go for a couple of drinks later. There’s a new place Ailsa is keen to try. Why don’t you contact Cleo to make sure she’s free and will go along with it?’

‘Right.’ Will wasn’t looking forward to the prospect. But Cleo had agreed to be part of all this, so why should she refuse?

‘Now, what did you want to talk with me about? You said something about the carnival committee?’

‘Yeah. You should be part of it and now I’ve been made chair of the damned thing, I need someone I can trust around to support me.’

‘Surely there are others who can do that?’

‘There are, but no one who’d have my back like you would. And, if you hadn’t buggered off like you did, you’d have been part of it long ago. What do you say?’

‘When you put it like that, how can I refuse?’ Martin laughed and clapped Will on the shoulder again. ‘So, what do you need me to do?’

The pair took their beers over to a table by the window and Will outlined his concerns both about the threat the development posed, and the need for aggressive fundraising before the event.

‘If it’s fundraising you’re interested in, you should talk to my sister and Cleo,’ Martin said.

‘How so?’

‘The food and wine festival.’

‘What’s that got to do with it?’ Will was vaguely aware of the Bellbird Bay Food and Wine Festival which had been run on alternate years ever since the then mayor got a bee in his bonnet about ways to attract tourists to the area which didn’t include surfing or other water sports events. But it wasn’t something he’d ever paid much attention to, other than the fact he often got a spin off in clients who came for the festival and decided to try out surfing.

‘It’s scheduled for the weekend before the carnival, to coincide with the school holidays, both here and interstate. We could maybe look at trying to combine the two, encourage the foodies to stay around for the carnival.’

‘How do you know all this?’

‘I have a sister, mate, who talks about it non-stop.’

‘But how would it help raise funds for us?’

‘Not really sure, but there must be a way.’

‘Hmm.’ Will filed the idea away. Maybe he’d talk with Cleo about it. Then he realised Martin had said “we”. ‘So you’re in?’

‘Seems like it. Guess now you’re the big cheese, you’ll need someone to keep you in line.’

They both laughed. It was just like when they were younger and sparring all the time. Will was glad Coop had come back to Bellbird Bay. He’d missed his old pal. Even though he and Dee had got together soon after Martin had left, it wasn’t the same. He and Martin Cooper had met in primary school and been inseparable till Martin headed off to Sydney at the end of high school. They’d partied together, competed for girls and surfing honours. There had been little to choose between them, and Will was of the belief the championship would have gone to Martin if he’d stayed. Instead, it had been Will who took out the championship in the carnival that year and went on to be lauded by his peers.

Having settled this to his satisfaction, Will suggested they order and, after enjoying their customary burger and chips, they headed off to join the other committee members and thrash out the finer points of arrangements for the annual surf carnival.

On the drive home, Will remembered Martin’s suggestion that they attend the art gallery opening. As soon as he reached the house, he took out his phone and, after staring at it for far too long, pressed Cleo’s number.

Seventeen

Cleo stared at her phone in surprise. Had she really agreed to go with Will Rankin to a gallery opening? He was the last person she’d have expected to suggest such an outing. Last time she’d been in his company the talk had all been about surfing. If she was honest with herself, she’d expected his next invitation to be for a surf lesson, and she’d been prepared to refuse. But this?

On reflection, the idea had most likely come from Ailsa or Martin. They were to be there too – a double date, Will had said. Who talked about double dates these days? Or maybe people still did. Cleo had no idea of the current dating scene. Anyway, she’d agreed. The sooner they managed to get through this farce, the better. She was glad Ailsa would be there. It would save her trying to make conversation with Will Rankin. What on earth could they talk about? They had nothing in common. But she’d agreed to take part in this, so would keep her end of the bargain. She just hoped it wouldn’t go on for too long.

It might even be fun. Cleo had never been to a gallery opening before – not in a regular gallery. Where she and Stan had lived, there had been artists and writers, and the artists often had a show of their paintings. But it had always been a casual affair with lots of wine and chatter, before everyone drifted off home. She expected this would be different.

*

Next day, Cleo was having a quick bite to eat when Bev appeared to order lunch.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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