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He hesitated before he strode back through the stables, through the next paddock and past the shop. What in the blazes just happened? Why was she so sensitive to something that was routine in his workplace? Business issues? Check and if necessary tweak the plan. He didn’t mean anything sinister.
What would it take to get through to her?
He stared back at the cottage and stables with a sense of wonder. What she’d achieved put him to shame. It upset him that for years he was no more than a call away and could have advised her at various stages along the way. He admired her despite the fact that she frustrated the hell out of him.
He paused as he pulled out his keys. Why should he care? Why was he so fired up? He was here to show his sons around Bindarra Creek, to rediscover their mother, and nothing more. He didn’t need this, but Kristy did need some advice. He knew she would never accept a sudden injection of funds, but what if she wasn’t funnelling her funds into the right places?
He gave one final glance at her home. He would be back; he couldn’t relax knowing she was sacrificing so much. Did her plan have an end date?
CHAPTER8
“See you tomorrow, Kristy.”
Kristy looked up as Janelle climbed into Rex’s car to go home with him. She nodded and waved them on as they drove past.
For the past two days she’d stewed over Josh’s impudence at wanting to see her business plan. Who did he think he was? Apart from being Amanda’s husband he could lay no other claim to asking such personal questions. Especially since he’d never been at home to say hello or see her on any of her visits to see Amanda in Sydney. He was never there. Why? It didn’t make sense.
Kristy entered the shop, closed the front door and leaned against it. She stared at the small mountain of receipts that still lay on the floor behind Janelle’s counter. The older woman was rushed off her feet and Kristy could not afford a junior to come and help out. Along the walls were half-opened boxes where people had opened them to get to the stock; on the other side and behind reception were unopened boxes crawling up the wall. The Christmas tree behind reception was not standing upright and a few baubles lay crushed at the base.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe Josh was right. The room didn’t even look bright, the single light bulb was faint as, and nothing in the room would induce you to want to buy. Her eyes flew open.People are only buying from me because it saves them a trip to Tamworth.What a sobering thought. Apart from a few stores in Bindarra Creek selling a few Christmas ornaments, she did not have any competition.
Why wasn’t she maximising that advantage?
She let out a groan. This room was so uninviting and her woeful attempt with the dressed-up tree in the corner was a joke. She didn’t even play any Christmas carols.
Kristy rolled up her sleeves.First things first, she thought. She went into her bedroom and rummaged around her shoe boxes. Selecting one, she emptied it out and went back into the shop where she shoved all the receipts on the floor into the box and dated it.
She gave the floor a good sweep, picked up all the broken baubles and tossed them out. Next she tackled her unopened boxes of stock. She lined the walls of her hallway with the unopened boxes, moved in one of her bedroom lamps into the shop, and started re-dressing the Christmas tree.
Two hours later she stood back to survey her efforts, satisfied. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked for now.
What had Josh said? A second pair of eyes to possibly help strengthen her plan?Oh, god, what a fool I’ve been.The man knew his stuff and her pride had stepped in. She headed straight for the shower.
An hour later she was driving down Main Street. It was a lovely summer’s evening and there were quite a few couples out walking the streets. She spotted Josh walking with the boys. She gave her horn a light tap. Josh looked up and she pulled up across the road from him.
She wound down her window and called out, “Where are you heading?”
Josh gave her a wide smile and relief flooded her body.
“To your old primary school. The boys want to take a look. Join us?”
The man did not hold a grudge.
Kristy didn’t hesitate; she parked her car and grabbed her things. Josh opened the car door for her. “This is a brilliant surprise,” he said as she climbed out.
Shivers tickled down her spine.
On the grass verge, she knelt down and held out her arms. She grinned as Blaydon and Jaiden ran up to her for a hug. They almost knocked her over.
She took Blaydon’s hand and Josh took Jaiden’s and together they walked to the local Bindarra Creek Public School. Apart from driving past it a couple of times a week, her old school didn’t factor in her life, and Kristy hadn’t walked inside its grounds since the day she walked out.
It was a single-level dark-brick building with a large double door at either end. She pointed to a huge old gum tree at the main entry point to the school. “Just inside that front door was the principal’s office, following his office were all the classrooms, and all the classrooms opened onto the assembly hall.”
A memory struck her.
“Come on, I’ll show you something that might interest you.”
They walked to the nearest gate and entered the school grounds. She grinned at Josh as they walked towards the old gum tree by the principal’s office. “I know we’re not supposed to be here outside of school hours, but if I don’t show you now you might never see it.”
