Right As Rain by Tricia Stringer Page A

was ten years ago.”
    Once again Hugh fought back the urge to gasp in air. What had he been thinking? That he could erase all the pain by arriving back in town and starting afresh? Somehow he’d thought he could find a chance to talk to Mackenna about Carol, but that wasn’t going to work. Mack was a good friend. He couldn’t bear to disillusion her.
    He jumped as she put a gentle hand on his arm. “Look, I’ve got to collect a script for Dad,” she said. “Why don’t you head next door to the pub and I’ll meet you there? I think we should talk about this.”
    She gave him an encouraging smile then moved swiftly into the shop. He glanced at his watch. It was nearly five thirty. Maybe a couple of drinks with Mackenna would be okay. He just needed to steer the conversation away from Carol.
    Around the bar he recognised a couple of faces, blokes he’d been to school with, but the rest were strangers. He bought the drinks and was talking with a local farmer when Mackenna rejoined him. She seemed to know everyone and as the evening wore on he was introduced to most of the people in the bar. Apart from a few questions about what he’d been doing before his return to the district and a couple of work-related discussions, the talk was all light-hearted. No-one cared about the distant past.
    Mackenna had become immersed in a conversation with a bloke she introduced as a local winemaker, Chris someone from Bunyip Wines. Hugh got caught up with a guy keen to talk about his new stud bull, but when the bloke went to get another drink Hugh decided to head for home. He gave Mackenna a wave.
    â€œHugh, we’re going to the other pub for a meal. Come with us.”
    Chris nodded in agreement.
    â€œThanks but I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
    Mackenna leaned in close and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Her eyes were bright.
    â€œWe’ve still got to have that conversation,” she said softly.
    He gave a vague nod and headed out into the cool night. He was glad there had been no chance to talk with Mackenna alone. His earlier panic was gone. He’d run into Sid Thompson and survived. Even though he thought he’d finally allowed himself to come to terms with Carol’s death, her father obviously hadn’t reached that conclusion.
    Hugh sighed. He wasn’t in Sid’s shoes but at last he felt as if he could understand the man’s anger. He had hoped after all this time it may have dissipated a little but that obviously wasn’t to be.
    Hugh made his way back along the dark street. At Rory’s shop he paused. A couple of lights illuminated the sculptures in the windows. At least bumping into Mackenna had given him the garden idea. Fixing that up would keep him busy when he wasn’t working and it would be something good he could do for his mother before he left.

CHAPTER
13
    Louise waved to her two sisters as she walked past the window of the seaside cafe. They’d had to drive further than she but as is often the way, the person with the least distance to travel arrived last. She wove her way between the other lunchtime diners to reach the corner table. Marion, the eldest of the three, rose to her feet and threw her arms around Louise in a perfumed hug.
    â€œHow are you, darling?” Marion rested her hands on Louise’s shoulders and looked at her closely. “You look a bit tired but that’s only to be expected after what you’ve been through. Perhaps Alfred could make you a tonic. How’s Lyle?”
    â€œLet her sit and catch her breath.” Caroline, their middle sibling, leaned across and gave Louise a kiss on the cheek as she sat.
    Caroline looked smart and well groomed as always. She and Louise liked the same kind of clothes. Marion dressed in layers with beads and bracelets, which were fine for city living but not practical for chasing sheep or pruning vines.
    Louise relaxed back into the chair. It was so