Page 4 of The Dairy Farmer's Daughter

Justin watched as the door was closed, and he could no longer see the shiny brown casket through the tinted glass window. "No. I said my goodbye years ago."

He turned away from the car, needing to focus on something else, anything other than the car taking his father's body away to be burnt.

He looked at Freya. The light streaming through the trees gave her an ethereal quality. As though seeing her for the first time, he was captivated by her beauty. The scattering of freckles across her nose. The warm brown of her eyes and the soft blonde of her hair.

"I'm sorry for your loss. All of it." She smiled at him, and something passed between them. Empathy perhaps, understanding.

"Thanks." For a long moment, they held each other’s gaze, and beneath the buzz of his nerves, he sensed another connection being made. Something stronger than empathy. An alliance of sorts, that together they would get through this.

Then the crowds gathered. By now, the whole congregation had discovered who he was and wanted to learn more about Boyd's son and whatever had happened to him. Freya squeezed his hand before letting go and disappearing into the throng of people.

"Will you be staying long?" Deborah Deslop asked Justin as they sipped tea on the terrace outside the church

For what felt like the hundredth time today, Justin smiled politely and declared he was only up for the funeral.

"What will happen to the farm?" Mr Deslop leaned in. He had introduced himself as the town's bank manager.

"I'm not sure. I have an appointment with Boyd's lawyer this afternoon." He glanced at his watch, noting he still had plenty of time before he would have to leave. He had spotted Webster's Law Firm on Maple Street as he had driven through the one-street town. He had been surprised to see so many people out and about, sitting at the trendy-looking cafes, drinking coffee and reading papers.

Mr Deslop pulled out his card from his jacket pocket and presented it to Justin. “Your father banked with us his entire life. My details are all there if you need anything handled.”

“Thank you.” Justin put the card in his pocket. Accounts would have to be closed and things sorted out, just as soon as he talked to Stephen Webster. Justin was hoping he could leave it all in the lawyer’s capable hands. He planned on heading back to the city tonight and being back at work tomorrow morning.

"What do you do for a crust?" Mr Deslop asked.

Justin drew in a breath, once more feigning brightness. "I'm a software developer."

"Oh. Do you work for a big company in Brisbane?" Mrs Deslop looked like she was memorising the conversation, no doubt so she could tell all her friends at bridge.

"I freelance. I just finished a project for a travel agency chain." Justin loved talking about his work, but people didn't usually understand the technical aspects involved.

A woman's melodic laughter rang out, and Justin lifted his head in the direction the sound came from. Freya was grinning widely, deep in conversation with some people he hadn't met.

His pulse quickened as he studied her profile.

"I saw that you met Freya Montgomery already," Mrs Deslop said. "She's around your age. She has a sister, and two cousins too."

"Yes, her mother introduced us earlier," he replied and drained his teacup, wishing it was coffee.

"She works on computers too." Mrs Deslop nodded, her eyes wide. "You two would have lots to talk about."

"Really?" He nodded, lips tight.

"She does all the marketing and business development for Emerald Hills," Mr Deslop said. "It's become quite the empire, thanks to her."

Justin raised his eyebrows. She is the one behind Emerald Hills? He had seen their catchy advertisements online. Freya couldn't be more than twenty-five, but he of all people knew that hard work and a keen eye could achieve great things—especially using today's technology and social media. In a world of Insta-fame and YouTube streaming, anyone could become a star, and almost anything could go viral.

Mrs Deslop caught Freya's eye and waved her over. Freya excused herself from the group and walked toward them. Justin watched as she smiled and nodded at various acquaintances along the way.

"Thanks for coming." Freya hugged the older woman and shook her husband's hand. "How are you?"

They exchanged pleasantries, all the while Justin watched her. She was pretty, really pretty.

Mrs Deslop placed a chubby hand on his shirt. "Justin has just been telling us about his job. He's a software developer."

Freya turned inquisitive eyes on him. "Really? I would be very interested in talking to you, if you don't mind."

"Sure." He gestured to the table laden with refreshments. "I was just going to get another one."

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