Page 30 of Autumn at the Willow River Guesthouse
‘This girl, Lily. She lost everything and moved back in with her family. She meets a struggling writer when she starts working at a guesthouse … but what happens next?’
Lily stared at Victoria. The woman’s hands had twisted into claws, like someone readying themselves to rip out a victim’s heart. Her face had a look of anticipation that made Lily feel a little nervous.
‘Ah … she, ah, she tries to help the woman … the writer, I mean. Because … she doesn’t know what to do with her own life, so she figures she’ll put the energy into helping someone else.’
Victoria, still staring at her, backed away until she bumped into her desk. Her hands scrabbled behind her until the fingers of one hand closed over a notepad. The other hand knocked over a jam jar filled with pens and pencils, but as they rattled against the tabletop Victoria didn’t even turn around, just felt with her fingers until she found what she needed. Then, lifting the pad and pen, she nodded to Lily.
‘Go on.’
‘Ah … the writer has … issues. Yes, issues. She’s a … ah, recluse. She’s scared to go outside but the girl … helps her. They become friends—’
‘A twist!’ Victoria wailed with such sudden ferocity that Lily took a step back and nearly tripped over a stool near the door behind her. ‘We need a preliminary twist to drag the reader in, one that sinks its claws into their soft, pliable minds and will not let go!’
‘Okay … well … how about the writer … has a secret.’
Victoria’s eyes widened. ‘Yes. A secret. What’s the secret?’
‘You’re a writer, you tell me.’
Victoria blinked. ‘Yes. Yes, you’re right. I will give it some thought.’ She dropped the pad and pen back on the table and turned to the hamper, lifting the lid. ‘You may wait downstairs, Tiffany. Oh … what on earth is this?’
‘Potato salad,’ Lily said with a shy smile. ‘But I doubled up the bacon today so you don’t feel too perturbed.’
‘A thoughtful girl, you are,’ Victoria said. ‘Now leave me.’
Lily didn’t want to be told again, hurrying downstairs to the lounge room where she hunted through a couple of drawers until she found a towel to dry herself with. Then, she waited until the call came from upstairs.
She found the hamper sitting outside the closed door. The lid wasn’t closed properly, and when Lily lifted it she caught sight of a piece of paper taped to the underside.
What’s the secret?
She smiled before pocketing the piece of paper.
On the walk back to the guesthouse, she would give it some thought.
16
Kicking the Beehive
‘So … she never goes outside?’
Uncle Gus shrugged. ‘Not that we know of.’ Then, grinning, he gave a shake of his bushy hair and widened his eyes. ‘Perhaps she goes outside in the dark and stalks around like some kind of vampire. Ooooh.’
Aunt Gert slapped him on the arm. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. She’s busy writing another book. That’s why she doesn’t go outside. She gets food deliveries so she doesn’t need to go shopping, and she has those crazy fans wandering around—’
‘Nutters, the lot of them,’ Uncle Gus said. ‘Those orange anoraks are like warning lights for psychopaths.’
Lily laughed. ‘I don’t think they’re that bad.’
‘I expect they glow in the dark. They make pairs and run down the cycle path going “choo choo!”’ Uncle Gus slapped his leg and chortled, making Lily fearful he was going to be sick.
‘Look, don’t make fun of them,’ Aunt Gert said. ‘Or her. It can’t be easy being famous.’
‘Especially when you go from being a bit famous to really famous practically overnight,’ Lily said. ‘No wonder she doesn’t go outside.’
Aunt Gert narrowed her eyes. ‘I get the feeling you’ve got a pet project going on,’ she said to Lily. ‘Are you going to bring her back into the world?’
‘I wouldn’t go that far, but I might see if I can get her to go outside,’ Lily said.
