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‘Okay, you get to it, and I’ll clean up here.’
He was wiping his hands from the washing up when Sybella appeared back in the kitchen, bag on her back, dressed and ready. Her school dress was crumpled but he’d deal with that issue tomorrow, he couldn’t become super dad in one morning, could he?
Opening the door, they almost tripped over a bright red ceramic dish sitting on the ‘welcome’ mat.
‘What’s that?’ Sybella asked.
‘It’s a casserole dish.’ He reached down to collect it. Lifting off the lid, Caleb closed his eyes and inhaled. ‘I’d say that’s beef stroganoff.’
Sybella leaned in too, screwed up her nose before skipping ahead towards the gate. Hoisting the dish onto his hip, Caleb headed out too.
At school he headed straight for Bight Right Inn. ‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Kathleen exclaimed as she rushed over. ‘We thought you weren’t coming.’ She bent over at her hips and caught her breath dramatically.
‘What’s that?’ she asked after recovering.
His hesitation was only a flicker. ‘Today’s special, beef stroganoff.’ Her eyes widened and she whispered, ‘fancy.’
Caleb hated being in the school canteen, their food was embarrassing. Sure, it fitted into their made-up categories, but they could do better. Perhaps he was a Jamie Oliver in the making? He squashed that thought pretty quickly as he slathered extra avocado on the multi-grain bread roll. Who was he to care anyway?
Bridie rushed in and his breath hitched. ‘I’m ready to help,’ she said and faltered. Again, she was resplendent in pink. He didn’t realise he liked the colour so much. But while the colour popped, her sunken eyes were streaked red and she looked haggard. ‘It looks like you’re all organised,’ she muttered, her smile off-kilter and less beaming than yesterday. Her legs still looked damn fine in her blue skinny jeans, though.
‘I’m impressed. This place usually looks like a bomb has hit it during prep. What’s your secret?’
He shrugged. ‘No secret. A good chef cleans his own mess.’
Bridie opened the fridge. ‘Wow! These look amazing.’ She held up a salad roll and one of the fruit cups. ‘What’s this?’ she pointed to the row of dishes on the bench.
Caleb bit his tongue. Anyone else and he would have snarled. For Bridie, he softened his tone. ‘Beef stroganoff served on a bed of rice in individual cups.’
Bridie placed her arms across her chest. ‘What can I do?’ Her voice was softer too, almost a whisper.
He stood in front of her, so close he smelled berries mixed in with a hint of vanilla. ‘It’s all done. Go home and help your dad, or,’ he realised he didn’t know what she did, ‘go get a coffee.’
Bridie glanced at Kathleen. ‘I could serve at first break?’
‘Sarah and Mabel are both here, so we’re good today.’ Bridie nodded. Once more, out of character, he wanted to rescue her, and he wasn’t a rescuer.
She spoke first. ‘You look better today.’ They shared an unspoken exchange before she reached for her bag.
‘I’ll see you at the Bastille Day committee meeting tonight.’
She’d left before the words registered. WTF?
4
Bridie brushed past the people milling in the entry to the community hall. What the heck? Had she got the night wrong? No, she might be tired but was super organised and never messed up the details. Except, tonight the hall buzzed with activity. In amongst the fifty or so people present was a group of wives from surrounding farms. They stood in a huddle holding flutes and sipping sparkling wine. Wine? They never drank at meetings. There was also a selection of nibbles on a long side table.
She must have the wrong night.
Bridie searched for familiar faces and spied a few members of the local council, including Jacqueline, of course. Then there was Yvette, the bakery owner, Geoff, the editor of the local paper and every woman resident of Bellethorpe.
Something was up.
Bridie saw local schoolteacher and her dearest friend, Maggie and dashed towards her. ‘Hey, what’s up? Why is half the town here?’ Maggie was also the secretary for the committee.
Before she could answer a hush came over the assembled group.
Bridie watched Caleb enter the hall. Maggie focused on the stranger along with every woman in the room. Bridie even heard their collective intake of breath. She had to admit she held her breath, too.
