Page 6 of A Chance to Believe

‘Rasmus mentioned it. To do with your wool, nothing about you. He didn’t realise you weren’t giving out your address.’

There was a flare of something in his eyes, regret, or annoyance. His face didn’t say. ‘Do you have somewhere to stay?’

‘I contacted a real estate agent. She has nothing available right now, but I have a room booked at the Maidens Head Inn.’ She’d grinned at the name, but locals probably saw nothing funny in it, merely an extension of the town’s name. ‘If I can’t get anything locally, I can try Bialga.’

‘Should you be moving so far from the city with your pregnancy?’

‘I have a referral to the local clinic and my obstetrician comes to Bialga one day a fortnight, so I can keep in touch. It will depend on him whether I go back to Brisbane for the delivery or whether I can have it here or in Bialga.’

‘I know the doctor and his wife. A family connection and they were at school around the same time as … as us. Good people.’

‘I’m more concerned about whether they’re good medical staff. But I’ve heard from other sources that the clinic is excellent.’

‘You know people here?’

‘My half-brother is a surgeon. He started work at the clinic recently and does surgery at the hospital. I also have a cousin living here.’

‘Michael Long is your brother?’

‘You know him?’

‘He’s Ben’s doctor. He had to have some minor corrective surgery a few months ago.’

‘Small world. I haven’t seen Michael recently, so I’m hoping to catch up while I’m here.’

The pen dropped to the table and he passed the back of his hand over his mouth. ‘So, it wasn’t only because of your pregnancy.’

‘I wouldn’t be moving here because of Michael. We hardly know each other. His mum broke up with my dad before he met my mother. The last time we spoke properly, before I contacted him to ask about medical facilities here, was at my parents’ funeral over ten years ago. Mostly, it’s just birthday greetings on social media. I see more of my cousin.’

‘Would I know her?’

‘Tess is a Wilkie. Barry and Karen Wilkie are her parents.’

‘Did they have an apple orchard on the north side of town? Recently retired?’

‘That’s them.’

‘I don’t really know the family. They’re more my parents’ age and their daughter wasn’t in any of our classes.’

‘Tess went to boarding school after she finished primary school, anyway.’ She hesitated, half afraid her question might be intrusive. ‘Your brother’s injury. Was it recent? You said he had surgery a few months ago.’

His mouth compressed, and for a moment, she thought he would dismiss the query.

‘The accident was years ago. He was having some problems, and they said they could ease some of the pain by adjusting a tendon or something like that.’

His lack of interest in following up on the connection clearly wasn’t because of his brother. Small hope easily crushed. ‘He’s still in pain?’

‘In more ways than one. But, yes.’

‘I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘Please refrain from mentioning it to my brother. He prefers everyone to ignore it so he can get on with his life.’

‘Of course not. I didn’t want to embarrass him by asking him directly. I’m a stranger, so I need to tread carefully.’ She understood how nosy people could be when your life was upended by tragedy.

‘Kimberley will consider you an intruder. If she’s rude, you don’t have to put up with it. If it’s a problem, talk to me.’

‘I doubt if I’ll see too much of her.’ Which would quite likely suit Kimberley.

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