Remnants of the Heart (Winds of Change Book 3)

by Kristen M. Fraser

  The radio played music from a Top Twenty countdown. Dusk’s light faded to grey and darkness enveloped them as Brad drove toward Sandwater Bay.

  “What brings you to this part of the world?” he asked. He heard Hannah’s sharp intake of breath, and from the corner of his eye, he saw her fingers twisting together on her lap. The fact that they were bare didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Work.” It was a simple answer. He wasn’t normally the chatty type, but even her short replies were stretching him.

  “What do you do?”

  “I’m a …” Hannah paused. Her lips pressed together as she gazed out the window. “A psychologist,” she finished.

  Oh. A shrink. “That’s impressive.”

  “Not really. What about you? Some kind of gardening?”

  “Landscaping.” Although, maybe for not much longer if the mounting piles of bills were anything to go by. He needed a miracle to turn his business around, or else he’d be knocking on bankruptcy’s door. But he wouldn’t allow his thoughts to take him there, not when he was enjoying the company of the woman beside him.

  “Do you know the area at all?” Brad drove past Di’s Takeaway Store and turned down Rosewood Street heading toward the ocean.

  “Not really. I passed through it years ago on a road trip with my family.”

  “It’s probably changed a bit since then. More housing estates. More people. There are some new shopping centres as well. Still a great place, though.”

  “Well, I guess it’s better to grow than remain stagnant.” She flashed him a soft smile before resuming her window gazing.

  Brad grunted as he mulled over her words. It sounded like something his sister Abigail would say. Something he was well aware of, yet felt paralysed to do anything about. Being stuck had become the norm for him in the three-and-a-bit years since his father had passed away. A security blanket of sorts. Although an unhealthy one, at that.

  A few minutes later, he pulled into the driveway of the address Hannah had given him. The headlights illuminated a three-bedroom bungalow, complete with white window shutters and planter boxes along the front porch, situated at the end of a cul-de-sac a couple of blocks away from the water.

  “Nice place.” He peered through the windscreen. From what he could see, the house was in good condition, and even the yard looked freshly landscaped. He tried to ignore the dip in his gut that he wouldn’t be able to offer his services. He wouldn’t mind an excuse to see her again. Oh, what was he thinking? She probably had a partner or family arriving later. He hadn’t asked her that question. Their conversation had been about work and the town in general. Thank goodness family hadn’t been mentioned. He didn’t feel like talking about his. He loved them, but the loss of his father still pained him, even after all this time.

  “I only hope the house is as nice on the inside,” Hannah said, climbing out of the ute. “I’ve only seen photos online. It ticked all the boxes for me, so I hope it lives up to my expectations.”

  “Only one way to find out.” Brad untied Louie, then folded down the half door and helped him down. The dog darted across the lawn, sniffing new scent trails before lumbering back to Hannah and running circles around her. Her melodious laugh floated on the breeze.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re happy to be here.” She lunged for his collar and grabbed the lead. “It was nice to meet you, Brad. Thanks so much for the ride and arranging for my car to be towed.”

  She held out her hand. Heat flooded his veins as soon as his calloused hand captured her petite one.

  “Happy to help.” His voice was gruff. Clearing his throat, he quickly released her hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope you settle in well and your car gets sorted soon. Murray’s a good guy.” Remnants of her touch warmed his skin. What on earth had just happened? They’d only shaken hands, and yet it felt like a bolt of electricity zinging over every nerve ending.

  “Thanks again. I appreciate it.” Hannah shot him a warm smile and slapped a hand against her thigh, calling to Louie. “Come on, boy. Let’s see our new home.”

  Brad waited until the interior lights turned on and Hannah was safely inside before returning to his vehicle. He slowly exhaled as he shifted into gear and drove away. Perhaps tonight his dreams would be filled with the brunette with the forest green eyes, and not the pile of unpaid bills that would still be waiting for him in the morning.

  Chapter 2

  Stretching out like a starfish in the queen-sized bed, Hannah slowly peeled her eyes open. A bark sounded, and her brain took a moment to compute where she was. Sandwater Bay. She’d slept soundly, which was surprising given the new surroundings. Perhaps the adventure of her car breaking down and the anxiety of starting over in a new town had exhausted her. Because for the first time in two years, she hadn’t dreamed of the police knocking at her door or woken up in a sweat from the nightmares of her loss.

  Tossing back the covers, she padded through the house. Sunlight streamed through the living room curtains, and she couldn’t help but smile at how perfect the house appeared in daylight. The online photos hadn’t done it justice. With white walls and beach-themed décor, it oozed comfort. The furnishings had been another thing that had sold her on the rental. She didn’t want to move and pay for new furniture or hire a truck to move her own. Instead, she’d donated most of it to the church’s Bargain Basement, the op shop that raised funds for mission work in Vanuatu and Fiji. She would need to purchase a few items, but she’d settle in first before deciding what she needed. With only her and Louie as the occupants, she wouldn’t need much. It would have been a different story if she’d moved two years ago.

  Two years ago, she wasn’t even contemplating the town of Sandwater Bay. Two years ago, she’d been planning a wedding to Josh Beland. Two years ago, she’d been flicking through bridal magazines and looking at wedding reception hire. Two years ago … No, she wouldn’t allow herself to go there.

  That familiar tightening began in her throat, and she quickly washed her face in the sink to wake herself up and rinse away the remnants of grief clinging to her heart. She refused to start the day with a heavy heart and old memories.

  Louie bounded out of the garage when she opened the door, taking a few moments to give her a good morning lick before sliding across the hardwood floors and darting out onto the back deck. Leaning against the railing, Hannah chuckled as he raced around the yard, sniffing every corner, under every bush and along the fenceline. The yard was flat with enough space for him to play, and the perfect size to maintain without too much effort. A small row of hedges ran along the side fence. There was room to plant a raised vegetable garden. And a nice shaded spot in the corner would be the perfect place for an outdoor setting to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

  Once back inside, she fed Louie and prepared breakfast with the food she’d packed for the move. Grabbing her phone, she punched in a few numbers before remembering there was no one to call. How many times had she done that in the past two years?

  The one person she could call would probably be busy preparing for her weekend, and having recently married, Hannah didn’t want to disturb her so early. Her best friend, Tania, was an extrovert and always had something social planned. Was it sad that she only had one good friend? Hannah was an introvert and didn’t do so well in crowds. She was never the one spending Saturday nights out with girlfriends or window shopping. She enjoyed one-on-one conversations and catching up for coffee. But years at university with a fun-loving blonde by the name of Tania Elmerick had cemented a life-long bond. Even though Tania had married and moved interstate, they still kept in touch. Tania had seen Hannah at her worst. Had cried with her during her darkest days. Had prayed with her. Had laughed with her. And a friendship like that was irreplaceable.

  Hannah’s fingers flew over the screen as she tapped out a message. Sorry if I’ve woken you. Just letting you know I made it! Had some drama with the car, but I’m safe and sound. Looking forward to starting work next week.

/>   It wasn’t long before an answer appeared on the screen.

  So excited for you! What happened with the car? I’m praying all goes well for work.

  Hannah told Tania about her car breaking down and briefly mentioned the guy who’d helped her. Brad. She left out the part where she’d felt butterflies at the sight of the stranger in the headlights of his ute. Or the warm rush along her skin when they’d shaken hands. Or how her breath had caught in her throat when he’d slid into the ute, sucking all the air out of the cab. She was tired and anxious, that was all. It had to be the only explanation for her visceral reaction to the handsome stranger. She wasn’t one for silly romantic notions, especially regarding strangers. All thoughts of romance had been dashed on that fateful evening two years ago.

  And yet, a small part of her wondered if she would see her rescuer again.

  Chapter 3

  “I hope your move went well and you’ve started settling in.” Barbara Gilpatrick, the lead psychologist of Liberty House, handed Hannah a rectangular badge with her name printed in bold black writing.

  “Aside from my car breaking down, it’s gone well so far,” Hannah replied, pinning the badge to her pale blue blouse. She’d spent the past week unpacking and familiarising herself with the neighbourhood with Louie by her side. Murray had repaired her car, a problem with the alternator, which meant she could drive to Liberty House without the stress of getting an Uber or some other form of transport for her first day.

  “Well, besides that hiccup, I’m glad you’re settling in. Anyway, let me show you around. It’s a very simple set up.” Barbara, a woman in her mid-fifties, was as effervescent in person as she had been during the video interview. Hannah disliked talking on the phone, or on video link-ups at the best of times and she’d been mortified when Louie had bounded onto her lap during the interview. Barbara had laughed, told her she absolutely loved dogs, and offered her the job the next day.

  “I love it,” Hannah replied, eyeing the room. Liberty House was bright and airy, and Hannah felt right at home as soon as she stepped foot inside.

  Sunlight warmed the waiting area where a young woman, perhaps a few years younger than Hannah’s twenty-eight, smiled from behind the reception desk. With an auburn bob and brown eyes, her smile lit up, making Hannah feel at ease.

  “And this is Lexie Lurie.” Barbara introduced the two women. Any angst Hannah had felt about the new job dissipated with Barbara’s spirited welcome and Lexie’s friendliness.

  She had a feeling she would enjoy working here. Liberty House’s focus was on grief and bereavement counselling. They dealt with other issues as well, but Barbara had mentioned she’d been called to minister to those grieving. Immediately something had clicked with Hannah. And while Barbara hadn’t been outright in declaring a faith, Hannah wondered if she was a believer, because not many people would use such terms in casual conversation.

  After viewing the rest of the clinic – two consulting rooms, one larger room for group therapy, a kitchenette for the staff, and the waiting room, Barbara led her into one of the consulting rooms and gestured to a seat while she took the other.

  “What do you think?”

  “I love it,” Hannah gushed. “I really do. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I felt at home.” Her words came as a surprise, but that’s exactly how she’d felt. Welcomed. At peace. Something her heart hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “That’s wonderful.” The other woman smiled warmly. “Because that’s how we want our clients to feel. There’s no point trying to help them navigate loss and other issues if they feel uncomfortable as soon as they step inside the door.”

  Hannah nodded in agreement, recalling the clinic she’d previously worked at. It had been modern in design, yet it lacked the warmth of this clinic.

  “Now, you’re not going to like what I’m going to say next.” Barbara folded her hands on her lap.

  Hannah’s stomach plummeted, and her smile did the same.

  “I had a family issue arise over the weekend that I need to attend to. I’m hoping to be back by the following weekend.”

  “Oh, I hope everything’s okay.” Hannah’s heart raced and sweat beaded along her hairline. Was she about to lose her job? After all this effort to move, was Barbara about to tell her she no longer required her services? She still had the job at the hospital. That was only one day a week, though. She might have to ask to increase her hours if Barbara was going to renege on her employment. Thankfully, there was enough money in her savings account to last for some time, but without the security of permanent work, she would whittle through it quickly.

  “I know it’s not ideal, or the best introduction for working here, but if we spend today going through the ins and outs of the practice, then would you be happy if I left the clinic in your hands?”

  Hannah’s eyes widened. “Um …”

  “You’re probably not happy at all.” Barbara chuckled. “And understandably so. But Lexie’s rescheduled several appointments to ease the load. I’ve informed the remaining clients that you’ll be standing in for me, so you won’t have a huge workload.”

  “I don’t know,” Hannah replied mildly, crossing her hands on her lap and glancing around the room. It wasn’t like this was her first rodeo, but to start at a new clinic without the support of the lead psychologist was daunting.

  “I’ll only be a phone call away,” Barbara added. “And Lexie will still be here a few days for the administrative side of things. I wouldn’t expect you to do that as well.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly. She’d done locum work before, so it kind of fell into the same realm. “As long as I don’t scare your clients away.” That was the last thing she needed. For people to complain to Barbara about the new psychologist. She didn’t want to ruin the hard work Barbara had done, or be the cause of people leaving the practice.

  “I’ve seen your resume and I’ve spoken to your previous employees. And I am confident you will be fine. As I said, there won’t be many clients to see and I’m only a phone call away.” Barbara stood and made her way to the door.

  “Oh, and just to let you know,” she turned in the doorway, “I’ve got someone coming to do some external work while I’m away. If any problems arise, just call me.”

  Hannah drew a deep breath. If her new boss believed in her, then surely she could show a little more confidence and enthusiasm than she felt. Besides, God was with her, and with His strength, she would get through. He’d given her the strength to survive the past two years, so surely a week without her new boss around would be a walk in the park.

  Chapter 4

  “Some of us are heading to the Milton after work if you want to join us.” Justin Sinclair removed his olive green cap with the Summit Landscaping logo embroidered on the front and swiped a hand through his dark hair.

  Brad tossed the last bag of green waste into the back of his ute and closed the tray. “Not today, mate. I’ve got some other stuff I need to start on.” A whole lot of stuff, if the spreadsheet his accountant had sent through earlier in the day was anything to go by. “Thanks for the offer, though.” He didn’t mind going out for the occasional drink with his casual employees. It showed that he was approachable and wasn’t lording it above them as their boss. But today, he didn’t trust himself with just one drink.

  “Maybe another time, then. You work too hard, boss.” Justin grinned before jogging over to Mitchell Callahan and Simeon Myers, the other two casual employees working on the job. Oh, to be young and commitment-free again. Not that he was much older than the others, he had at least seven years on them, but it felt like he’d lived a lifetime. And while he had no dependents, his business took up most of his time, especially now that he was struggling to keep his head above water.

  A flicker of yellow paper under the windscreen caught Brad’s eye. With a groan, he grabbed the flyer and tossed it onto the passenger seat with his invoicing book before leaving the job site. Why did people think it was okay to touch person
al property without permission? Not once had he thought about doing windscreen drops for his business. He wondered how successful they actually were. Did people look at the flyers or just toss them in the trash like he did? If anything they left a sour taste in people’s mouths.

  Once back at the office, a small detachable at the end of a row of warehouses in the industrial estate, Brad poured coffee from the pot on the warmer and sat down at his desk. Shadows lengthened across the room and dust motes danced in the golden glow of the afternoon sunlight streaming through the gaps in the slat blinds. Staring at the email from his accountant, he ran a hand through his hair, wondering how he was supposed to make sense of it all. He’d never been great with numbers. Probably why he’d barely scraped through basic math in high school. His father had been the numbers man. The one who’d taught him about profit and loss statements. The one who had patiently discussed investments and the importance of having an emergency fund. The one who’d taught him not to bite off more than he could chew.

  The blur of numbers made his head hurt and he picked up the phone, ready to call his father. And then he remembered. He was gone.

  Brad punched the desk, knocking over a container of pens and scattering a tray of pushpins across the mess of papers. How many times had he gone to call his father and realised too late that he was no longer here? It had been just over three years since the great Greg Tolbrook had left this earth, and Brad still felt the loss every single day.

  People said it would get easier. People said all kinds of things to allay someone’s pain. But he wondered if those people had ever lost someone. He wondered if they knew what it was like to feel such pain and emptiness inside.

  Brad had a different worldview from his father, a pastor, and they didn’t always agree on things. But they shared a bond like he’d never had with anyone else. And it, along with his heart, had shattered when he’d died.