She breathed deeply, inhaling a mixture of scents, from eucalypts and ferns to the water itself. A small mob of kangaroos hopped to the edge of the pond, not the least worried by Charlotte’s presence. She stayed still, not wishing to startle them, nor be turned on if they saw her as a threat.
One by one they drank. She counted nine, including a joey which popped its head out of a pouch to blink at Charlotte through curious eyes. If only she’d brought her phone, she could take pictures. But that’s what the brain was for. Keeping precious memories like this.
Unless you have Mother’s diseases.
As the kangaroos moved off, she wished she was free like them. No fears of being a genetic walking timebomb. Nothing to stop her living life to the fullest. Falling in love. Having her own family. Remembering them when she was old.
Grief kicked her in the guts. She put both hands on her stomach and pressed lightly, eyes closed. Until she found the courage to take the genetic tests to find out, her life was on hold. Any thoughts of a family to love were unwelcome reminders of what she probably would never have. It wouldn’t be fair to them.
“It wasn’t fair to me.” Saying it helped. That’s what she always told her patients. Say the fears aloud to take away their power. “I’m scared.” This was a whisper. “I don’t know what to do.”
From the pond came a different sound. A high-pitched whistle of pee-ee, pee-ee, a thin but piercing sound broke her thoughts apart and she opened her eyes.
On a branch above the pond, and only a few metres away, a small bird watched her. A second later it dived and, in a motion, almost too fast for Charlotte’s eyes, captured a tiny fish. It flew past, its wings a vivid blue, with yellow on its neck and a long black bill.
Only when it disappeared did she work out what she’d just seen. An Azure Kingfisher.
Charlotte’s car bumped along the road to the Christmas Tree farm without incident. No sign of speeding utes or law enforcement—if you could still call Sid that. There were no cars going either way. Only Charlotte. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Was ten too early?
After seeing the kingfisher, she’d floated home. What an incredible moment. The little endangered bird with its bold whistle and speed was unbelievably beautiful. Charlotte knew it wasn’t endangered worldwide, but here, from what she’d been told and read, it was rare to see them.
She parked in an otherwise empty carpark. This time, she concentrated on her environment. On two sides of the carpark, the trees were tall, creating a natural and peaceful boundary. They were cleared on the third side to make way for the sheds and sales area. And then there was the house. Still striking with its two floors overlooking the valley on the other side, its paint was peeling and the garden around it overgrown.
“Pretty rundown, huh?” Darcy appeared from the trees behind her with a grimace. “I’ll fix it. Just got other things to fix first.”
“Hi Darcy. I was admiring your house. What an amazing view you must have.”
“If there was ever time to enjoy it.” He carried a chainsaw. “Sorry. Been one of those weeks and now I find this out in the middle of the trees.”
“The chainsaw?”
Darcy headed for the sheds and Charlotte caught up.
“Why was it out there?”
“Asking myself the same thing. This was stolen a couple of weeks ago from the back of my truck. Had to buy another. At this time of year.” His voice gave away a frustration and anger. “What kind of person steals a man’s livelihood?”
Let me guess…
“We’re doing our best up here and don’t hurt a soul, no matter what some of the gossips say.”
“Ignore them is my advice. The bookshop’s Facebook page is being trolled by fake accounts with a bunch of lies right now.”
Darcy gave her a look of disbelief. “The bookshop? Even worse. Rosie is one of a kind and always there for anyone who needs a hand. Has this whole town lost the plot?”
“Where was the truck when this was stolen?”
“Um…far end of the northern boundary, I think. Yeah. I’d been cutting back some undergrowth near Glenys’s fence line. This time of year, fire is a risk and with all the other stuff I’ve had to do, controlling the undergrowth was miles behind.”
They passed the sales shed. There was no sign of any movement there. Then, toward a large shed further back.
“So, you were using the chainsaw and then it disappeared?”
“Are you a police officer?” Darcy grinned.
“Sorry, don’t mean to interrogate. No, just someone who is a bit alarmed by what’s going on around this town.”
“Okay. I tossed it on the back and went to where I’d been cutting. It took maybe half an hour for me to drag a heap of branches back with me to bring back to my mulcher. Didn’t even notice it missing until I got back. Damned annoying.”
They were at the shed and Darcy went straight in. “I’ll be right back.” He took the chainsaw to a long workbench and left it there. The shed was huge, holding a tractor, his flatbed truck, and an assortment of tools. Charlotte stepped back so it didn’t look like she was casing it.
On his way out, he pulled the door closed and locked it. “Can’t lose anything else.”
“Darcy, last question. The chainsaw—you said you found it just now. Was it anywhere near where it disappeared?”
“Other side of the property and under some old branches. It didn’t get there on its own.”
“No idea who took it?”
He shook his head. “Thought it had fallen of the back and I spent hours looking for it. Gave up and got another one. Who would take it and then leave it where I’d find it?”
Who indeed.
“I know you must think I’m nosy, but I have seen the work of these Christmas Tree thieves close up. They had a chainsaw, Darcy. I wonder if it is worth having yours fingerprinted?”
Darcy folded his arms, deep in thought. All was quiet apart from birdsong in the trees. “Short of taking it out of the area to find someone who could help, what good will it do? Sid Morris won’t do anything.”
“Why though? Does anyone ever ask him why he won’t pursue a lead?”
“Not if you want to stay off his radar. Now, I’ve taken up a lot of your time, but I haven’t asked how I can help you? How’s the poor little tree you bought?”
Charlotte smiled. “I think it might be growing. Bit by bit, it is looking healthier. Gets a bit of sun and plenty of encouragement. I thought I’d see what else you have in the way of gifts as I’m short on what I’ve got so far.”
“Come and see. I’ve done a bit of woodwork now it’s so quiet.” He led the way to the sales shed.
“Will you make things to order?”
“Sure. What do you have in mind?”
“Wind chimes. Lovely big ones.”
“Never tried those. Let me have a play and see if my equipment lets me do the tubes.”
Lachie was behind the long table, straightening rows of tinsel.
“Hey mate, where’s Mum?”
“Mrs Forest was on the phone, so I came ahead.” Lachie gazed at Charlotte. “I remember you.”
“I remember you also. Lachie Forest, chief helper.”
A broad smile filled his face.
“Darcy?” Abbie’s voice drifted from near the house.
“Up here, babe.” Darcy called. “Back in a minute.”
Once Darcy was out of sight, Lachie’s smile faded. “Mum’s upset. The man with car isn’t coming now.”
“Oh. The man who was buying it?”
“Uh huh. She didn’t know I was there, but she told him if he didn’t buy it, we might lose our home. And there’d be nothing for Christmas.” He rolled some baubles as he spoke, eyes following them as they tapped each other along the table.
Charlotte’s chest ached for the little boy.
Lachie didn’t know there was a pile of brand-new books coming his way. At least he’d have those to open. And Charlotte was certain Rosie in
tended to use the donation money to help the Forest family.
“Something good will happen, Lachie. I promise you—”
“I’d rather you don’t, Charlotte.” Darcy strode toward the shed. His face was blank. “Don’t promise what can’t be.” He went to the cash register and opened the drawer. “Abbie mentioned you helped her out at the supermarket, and I thank you for doing such a kind deed.”
He held out a twenty-dollar bill for Charlotte.
“Not necessary. And hope is important, particularly…” she glanced at Lachie, who still played with the baubles.
“Reality is important.” Darcy’s voiced was strained, and his eyes showed a defeat that hurt Charlotte to see. “Please.”
She took the note.
“We have each other and that’s what matters, hey mate?” Darcy put his hand on Lachie’s shoulder as if his son was a lifeline. “We don’t need charity.”
“It wasn’t…but I—”
“Come on, Lachie, let’s go give your mother a hand.”
The message was loud and clear. Charlotte nodded and walked across the carpark to her car. Pride was all Darcy had at this moment. She slid behind the wheel. Abbie was at the edge of the carpark near the house and when Lachie and Darcy reached her, they wrapped their arms around each. Abbie’s shoulders shuddered as she sobbed.
But Darcy had more than pride. He had a family.
Charlotte drove out of the carpark slowly, unable to stem the tide of tears that came from a deep and lonely part of her heart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Back home, Charlotte had a long shower. Her mission to get ideas for ways to help the Forests had failed. They needed more than she or the town could give them, and besides, would they even accept a helping hand?
As water poured over her head, she closed her eyes, digging deep inside for the pain awakened so unexpectedly by Lachie, then reinforced by seeing the family supporting each other. Her heart hurt for them and every bit as much for herself but it was okay. Now she’d found it, she could deal with it. She’d never experienced the kind of family love the Forests shared.
But it wasn’t your fault. You were a little girl filled with love. And you are worth loving.
She repeated it in her mind a few times, then aloud, letting the emotions wash away with the shower water. When she turned off the tap, a sense of calmness settled on her. This was progress.
Wrapped in a towel, Charlotte went into the spare bedroom and touched the box on the bed. It wasn’t time to open this yet. But she knew she was one step closer to exploring the past her mother had hidden away from her for so long. In the week off work following Christmas, she’d start sorting through the secrets. For whatever reasons, Angelica Dean had hung onto bits of her own past, and that of her daughter’s. Maybe those reasons would become clear once Charlotte let herself look.
For now, though, there was a lot to do in a very small space of time. Closing the door on the bedroom with the box, Charlotte went to her own room and dressed in pants and shirt. If she was to complete her gift shopping, she needed to get on with it. She made a list of people to buy for and what to get.
Rosie (cat gifts/teapot)
Trev (no idea whatsoever)
Esther and Doug (almost no idea. Maybe a bottle of wine? Or movie tickets?)
The Forest Family
Charlotte was stuck on the last one even more than the others. What she really wanted was to give them all the trappings of a Christmas dinner plus presents. But she barely knew them and understood she was partly responding to her own feelings about their situation.
As she drove out of Kingfisher Falls a little later, she argued with herself.
Darcy was adamant he wanted no charity.
But a Christmas gift was not charity.
If she rocked up with a hamper of goodies, the family might be embarrassed because they had nothing to give in return or thought they were viewed as a cause.
On the other hand, hampers were popular gift choices for people who had everything.
She liked that.
The road she followed was new to her, heading across to the town of Gisborne. Once she’d found cat toys, then she’d return to Kingfisher Falls to buy the rest in her own town. She also had a shopping list so on Christmas Day she could make perfect salads and take them to Rosie’s in the evening.
As she stopped at a T-junction to turn, a car pulled up behind her. A dark blue car. She told herself not to jump at shadows because through the mirrors it could as easily be a sedan as a ute. But the tint was too dark to see inside. And she knew it was illegal to tint the windscreen like that.
She turned when traffic allowed and watched her mirrors. When the car behind followed, her heart jumped. It was a ute. The ute.
Stay calm. Drive normally.
There were no plates on the ute. It trailed her but not so close as to be dangerous so it might be a coincidence it was travelling the same way.
By the time she reached the ‘Gisborne’ sign, she’d decided it was that. Two vehicles using the same road. Even though one had no plates, illegal tinting, and probably was the ute involved in the thefts. If they went their own way soon, she’d be okay.
She found her destination and parked not far from the shop. The ute drove past with no sign of slowing. For a few minutes she stayed in the car. It didn’t return. The road was quite visible in both directions, with a carpark across the road, so she was sure she’d see the ute if it was around.
Time was getting away, so she took a deep breath and got out, locking the car before going shopping. She adored the shop, with its friendly staff and selection of products, but spent less time there than she’d otherwise do. At least now she had some goodies for Mayhem and Mellow.
Back in the car, she drove around the block to take a quick look at the town. Around the same size as Kingfisher Falls, this was another pretty village. The ute was parked outside a supermarket. Something made her pull into an empty parking space. She grabbed her phone and the door handle, ready to get some photos of the ute and hoping nobody was inside.
But two men emerged from the supermarket carrying cartons of beer. She opened the camera app and started taking photos. Their heights and builds reminded her of the men in the masks. They put the cartons into the back of the ute, talking to each other. They were young. Early twenties at the most. They got in and a moment later, backed the ute out.
Charlotte threw her phone back into her handbag and eased out of her parking spot after letting another car pass. The ute sped away and she followed around the next corner.
It was disappearing fast along the road and she wasn’t about to lose it. Or speed.
Patience.
A car pulled out in front and slowed her down.
“Not now.”
Her fingers tapped on the steering wheel until she found a safe place to pass. The speed limit increased as the road left town and Charlotte touched the accelerator.
Where are you?
At the end of a long curve she finally saw the ute. She doubted if she could match its pace, but if she didn’t completely lose sight, she might find out where they lived. Adrenalin coursed through her and she told herself to stay focused. This was the break she’d needed.
Where would they lead her to?
Glenys’s property? Maybe they were her relatives doing dirty work on her behalf. Glenys had been so cutting about the Forest family in the bookshop that time. And she lived next door to the farm so who knew if there were neighbourly issues. There was something secretive about Glenys Lane.
Or were they associated with Sid after all? He’d certainly ignored the ute even after Charlotte pointed out it had just damaged her windscreen, and he had no interest in investigating any evidence from the roundabout or Esther’s shop.
“I bet these two belong to you, Octavia Morris!”
Who else had such a grudge against the Christmas Tree Farm? She lived and breathed her hatred of the family, even though her own husband was as much to
blame for the breakdown of the marriages. These young men might be her grandsons or hired help. And now they were on their way to her house to celebrate all the chaos they’d created.
Charlotte was puzzled when the ute turned off before Kingfisher Falls. She was sure Octavia lived on the other side of town. Keeping her distance, she followed. The street was familiar but the last thing she’d expected was the ute to turn into the carpark in front of the garden supplies building.
Stealing more trees, gentlemen?
She nosed her car alongside the kerb on the street, far enough away to hopefully avoid being spotted watching them, and got her camera set up.
The passenger got out, spoke to the driver, then closed the door.
Now the ute was moving again. Charlotte took a couple of quick photos and was about to start the motor to follow when Veronica emerged from the shop. Charlotte almost dropped the phone as the young man pulled Veronica against himself and kissed her on the lips. Her arms went around his waist and she kissed him back.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Even as her mind formed the words, she was snapping images. She needed evidence, some means of connecting the ute, the men, and Veronica. And although she had no idea how to report this, or what step was next, Charlotte knew in her gut she’d found the Christmas Tree thief.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charlotte stayed in her car for a long time. A quick glance at the clock on the dashboard told her it was only ten minutes, but each one of those minutes dragged. Watching Veronica and the young man make out turned her stomach, for no other reason than knowing these were the people behind a whole lot of hurt in and out of town.
After a while, the kissing stopped and talking began. There was laughing and gesturing as the man described something in detail. Charlotte took the odd photo but didn’t know what she was going to do with them. She wasn’t a detective and might be considered a stalker or pervert now.
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