absolutely gutted when she left.’ Charlie sighed sadly. ‘It changed him. Believe it or not, before marriage, Gibby was the life of the party round here. The local larrikin.’
She frowned. Could she believe that?
‘I’m telling you because I know you’ll understand,’ Charlie said, folding his arms across his chest.
‘How?’ She pushed herself off the wall, ready to get back to work. The noise in the bar was growing. Cal was out there but she’d need assistance.
‘He’s like us, isn’t he?’ Charlie explained. ‘We’ve each lost the person we loved more than anyone. He’s hurting just like you.’
His words felt like a slap in the face. However unfortunate, no way was Gibson’s situation anything like hers. She did feel a twinge of pity for him – having the love of your life walk out would definitely be harsh – but what was to say he hadn’t treated his wife with the same disregard he showed her?
‘I can’t believe you can compare us, Charlie. Divorce and death have nothing in common. His loss isn’t the same at all, and you of all people should understand that.’ She felt the fury building within, raising her temperature. ‘Did he ever try to win her back?’
Charlie hung his head. ‘Not that I know of.’
‘See? I’m sure his pride was hurt, but if he truly loved his wife he wouldn’t just let her go. He’d move heaven and earth to win her back. That country verses city stuff is crap. If a woman loves a man, she’ll move to Mars to be with him. I would have for Jamie.’
‘I’m sorry.’ The shock in Charlie’s eyes made Imogen realise she’d been overly defensive. ‘I just wanted you to know he’s got reasons for the way he acts.’
‘We’ve all got reasons, Charlie,’ she replied, trying to be a little softer this time. ‘And choices. But just because one woman wrongs you doesn’t mean you should treat every woman you subsequently meet with such disregard. He’ll never be able to move on if that’s the case.’
‘True,’ Charlie answered sadly. ‘I really don’t know what to do.’
Imogen sighed. This really bugged the old guy – it made her want to drive out to Gibson’s farm right away and have it out with him. ‘They say time heals everything. Maybe he needs a little more. Or maybe he just needs to meet the right woman.’
‘Know anyone?’ Charlie looked hopeful for a moment.
She pursed her lips while she thought. ‘Maybe.’
Cal was too young and Pauli too adamantly against relationships. The only candidate that came to mind was Jenna. Her friend would be more than happy to scratch any itch Gibson might be harbouring, but physical release was all she would have to offer. Deep down, Imogen imagined Jenna was exactly the same type of woman as Gibson’s ex-wife. She was no more likely to settle in the outback than a skyscraper. ‘Leave it with me,’ she said finally, hoping that promising to help would stop Gibson creeping into every sentence that came out Charlie’s mouth.
Chapter Eight
Early on Friday morning, Gibson did the usual rounds of feeding and checking sheep, all the while umming and ahhing about jumping in his ute and heading to Perth early. He had to go on Sunday to visit his parents anyway, and it wasn’t like he had big plans for this evening. Tonight, he’d be alone in his big house, knowing that pretty much every other bloke in town was at the pub, enjoying themselves. The rest of the day loomed ahead and he knew that even if he occupied himself on the farm, his mind would be in town.
He hadn’t realised how much The Majestic was a part of his social life – okay, in non-footy season, it
was
his social life – until he’d stopped visiting daily. Aside from Charlie and old Mrs Lorder at the general store, the only conversation he’d had lately had been with Jack and Jill, and he was fairly sure interactions with dogs didn’t count. But was driving to his parents’ place a few days early going to be any better? He
She frowned. Could she believe that?
‘I’m telling you because I know you’ll understand,’ Charlie said, folding his arms across his chest.
‘How?’ She pushed herself off the wall, ready to get back to work. The noise in the bar was growing. Cal was out there but she’d need assistance.
‘He’s like us, isn’t he?’ Charlie explained. ‘We’ve each lost the person we loved more than anyone. He’s hurting just like you.’
His words felt like a slap in the face. However unfortunate, no way was Gibson’s situation anything like hers. She did feel a twinge of pity for him – having the love of your life walk out would definitely be harsh – but what was to say he hadn’t treated his wife with the same disregard he showed her?
‘I can’t believe you can compare us, Charlie. Divorce and death have nothing in common. His loss isn’t the same at all, and you of all people should understand that.’ She felt the fury building within, raising her temperature. ‘Did he ever try to win her back?’
Charlie hung his head. ‘Not that I know of.’
‘See? I’m sure his pride was hurt, but if he truly loved his wife he wouldn’t just let her go. He’d move heaven and earth to win her back. That country verses city stuff is crap. If a woman loves a man, she’ll move to Mars to be with him. I would have for Jamie.’
‘I’m sorry.’ The shock in Charlie’s eyes made Imogen realise she’d been overly defensive. ‘I just wanted you to know he’s got reasons for the way he acts.’
‘We’ve all got reasons, Charlie,’ she replied, trying to be a little softer this time. ‘And choices. But just because one woman wrongs you doesn’t mean you should treat every woman you subsequently meet with such disregard. He’ll never be able to move on if that’s the case.’
‘True,’ Charlie answered sadly. ‘I really don’t know what to do.’
Imogen sighed. This really bugged the old guy – it made her want to drive out to Gibson’s farm right away and have it out with him. ‘They say time heals everything. Maybe he needs a little more. Or maybe he just needs to meet the right woman.’
‘Know anyone?’ Charlie looked hopeful for a moment.
She pursed her lips while she thought. ‘Maybe.’
Cal was too young and Pauli too adamantly against relationships. The only candidate that came to mind was Jenna. Her friend would be more than happy to scratch any itch Gibson might be harbouring, but physical release was all she would have to offer. Deep down, Imogen imagined Jenna was exactly the same type of woman as Gibson’s ex-wife. She was no more likely to settle in the outback than a skyscraper. ‘Leave it with me,’ she said finally, hoping that promising to help would stop Gibson creeping into every sentence that came out Charlie’s mouth.
Chapter Eight
Early on Friday morning, Gibson did the usual rounds of feeding and checking sheep, all the while umming and ahhing about jumping in his ute and heading to Perth early. He had to go on Sunday to visit his parents anyway, and it wasn’t like he had big plans for this evening. Tonight, he’d be alone in his big house, knowing that pretty much every other bloke in town was at the pub, enjoying themselves. The rest of the day loomed ahead and he knew that even if he occupied himself on the farm, his mind would be in town.
He hadn’t realised how much The Majestic was a part of his social life – okay, in non-footy season, it
was
his social life – until he’d stopped visiting daily. Aside from Charlie and old Mrs Lorder at the general store, the only conversation he’d had lately had been with Jack and Jill, and he was fairly sure interactions with dogs didn’t count. But was driving to his parents’ place a few days early going to be any better? He
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