Afternoon Teas
Katie’s local council conference looked like being worse than predicted: a bunch of mostly middle-aged men with more interest in their political aspirations than their community, all arguing about things they barely understood. The sessions were yet to start. Delegates had convened for afternoon tea while registering. How on earth was she going to stand three full days of it, especially when she needed to be back at Ivy-May, taking charge?
Katie’s rise from concerned community member to local committee chair, then elected councillor, had made her the popular choice for mayor. For twenty years she’d thrived on community involvement and had loved every project, including growing her accommodation business and getting Candlebark Creek on holidaymakers’ lists. The small town that might have died, like so many others, was given a second chance, and it credited one person with that: Kathryn Tate. How Katie longed to be back in her small town doing the things she enjoyed and, more importantly, keeping an eye on the young Marchette woman, who’d turned up out of the blue. But Kathryn Tate wasn’t at home. Instead she was on the not-so-sunny Sunshine Coast, stuck in a conference room, outnumbered by men, and out of her mind with worry.
She excused herself from the current circle of naysayers surrounding her and slipped out to telephone her son, glad to find he was alone.
‘And where is your guest, Blair?’
‘Which one, Mum?’
‘Don’t be coy with me. The girl from this morning.’
‘Her name’s Nina.’ He sounded cross. ‘And she’s baking up a storm for the CWA ladies due any minute. How’s the conference shaping up?’
‘As I expected. Now, about Nina.’
‘So you did like her?’
‘Our time together this morning was too short for me to have formed an opinion, other than that she’s obviously quite a bit younger than you.’
‘Thirty does not put me over the hill.’
‘You know what happened the last time you fell in love with someone younger.’
‘Ouch! Thanks for the reminder, Mum.’
‘Blair, I’m sorry. I mean, there are local girls knocking, all from good families, if only you were interested in opening the door to one or two.’
‘Haven’t you noticed the hinges on my door wearing away while I work through the females in Candlebark Creek one at a time? My strike rate is not the best.’
‘Don’t be crass, Blair. Just make sure the next one you choose is content with country life. Not sharing, or not understanding, your partner’s passion is the quickest way to bring a marriage undone. Believe me.’
‘Not that I need to run potential dates by you, or Dad, but so you know, Nina and I have a lot in common.’
‘You’ve hardly known each other long enough to discover anything and, as you’re all too well aware, some women only tell you the things they want you to know. What says more about people are the things they don’t tell, which take time to reveal themselves, darling.’
‘If I let myself go through life thinking every woman out there is untrustworthy I’ll never marry again, and you, Mum, will never get more grandkids. So how about giving Nina a break? I know she comes from a good family, and it’s not as if she’s after the money I don’t have.’
‘You have a substantial property and an inheritance, Blair.’
‘And Nina’s mum started the Bark Hut Country Bakery group, which, according to its website, is not a small player. In fact, there’s a store not far from where you are, in Maroochydore. Maybe support a local business in town and bring a few muffins back with you.’
Katie knew of the company. A development application had come across her desk in her first year with the council. She’d seen the name Ava Marchette and promptly cast her vote. She recalled the chain’s headquarters was somewhere on the Sunshine Coast. Did that mean Ava was still living close by?
‘Mum?’ Blair prompted.
‘I’m here to work,’ she reminded her son.
‘Okay, fine, a suggestion only.’ Blair was sounding edgy. ‘Look, I’m also busy with a dozen CWA ladies due any minute, so if you’re done discussing my love life…’
Katie’s sigh was long and loud. ‘Blair, I’m worried about your father. He seemed a little off. Promise me you’ll give him some space until I get back in a couple of days and talk with him.’
‘What’s that mean?’
‘I mean keep your visitor away from Ivy-May.’
‘But why?’
‘Because he was looking tired.’
‘And I thought he perked right up in Nina’s company. But I’m happy to keep an eye on him – and on her.’ His sass was back. ‘Enjoy your conference, Mum, and don’t worry. The place isn’t going to fall apart because you’re not here for a few days. I’ve really got to go.’
Katie returned to the conference, feigned family emergency and, with the help of a sympathetic local council counterpart, she secured both a loan car and the residential street address for Sunshine Coast resident Ava Marchette.
*
‘If you’re looking for Ava, she’s not at home.’ The voice came from bushes dividing two identical neat villas. Katie turned to see a straw hat bound with pink ribbon and a pair of beady eyes peering over the foliage. Behind the woman, a courtyard was crowded with garden ornaments, including a pair of pink flamingoes acting as sentries to a carport housing a lolly-pink mobility scooter.
‘I was hoping to see her. Never mind.’
‘You’re a friend of Ava’s? I haven’t seen you before.’
‘Good gracious, the two of us go way back. Must be thirty years or more.’
‘That is indeed a firm friendship. How wonderful. She’ll be here any tick of the clock.’
‘How do you know what time?’
‘It’s book club day with Helen at the library. Ngaire, Taryn and the team put on a beaut afternoon tea.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Twenty minutes, I’d say.’
‘Right.’ Katie knew then why she loved her rural life.
‘You can leave a phone number if you want, or wait. You’re welcome to come inside for a cuppa. I was about to pop the kettle on when I saw you come up the path.’
‘As tempting as your invitation is…’ And it was. Katie might learn everything she needed to know about Ava from the nosy neighbour. ‘I do have some calls to make. I’ll wait in my car.’
Would she wait? The twisting in her gut made her re-evaluate her purpose. What did she hope to achieve by seeing the woman? Ava Marchette was surely no longer a threat to Katie. Her daughter shouldn’t be either.
*
As predicted by Hedge Lady, a car displaying personalised plates with the initials AM turned into next door’s driveway.
Ava…