Secrets in Pelican Crossing (Pelican Crossing #2)

Thirty-seven

Although Liz had just had a two-week break, the vagaries of the roster meant that Wednesday was her rostered day off and the day when she and her friends always met for lunch. So much had happened since they last met as a group, and she’d missed the previous month. Today, she knew she’d be the focus of the conversation.

It was her turn to host the event, so she spent the morning preparing several salads and setting the table on the balcony. She loved to eat out here when the weather permitted and where all her plants made it seem like an outdoor garden, and today was perfect. As she moved around the kitchen, Liz thought about the previous evening.

Finn had arrived at seven as promised bearing wine for her and a box of chocolates which he handed to Tilly, whose eyes widened at the unexpected gift. It had been a fun evening with Tilly keeping them both amused with anecdotes about school. She was a different girl from the shy, sullen teenager who had arrived in Pelican Crossing with her mother only a few weeks earlier. Then, when dinner was over, Tilly had disappeared to her bedroom claiming the need to do homework. Liz suspected it was more a case of Tilly wanting to give her and Finn some privacy or being eager to spend time with her iPad. Whatever the reason, she was pleased to have Finn to herself.

They spent the rest of the evening snuggled up together on the sofa, till he checked his watch and said it was time for him to go. The warm hug and kiss were lovely, but Liz was left feeling somewhat empty. She wanted so much more .

The sound of someone at the door put an end to Liz’s musings as she rushed to answer it, banishing all thought of Finn to the back of her mind.

Poppy and Rachel arrived together, chattering loudly as they walked inside, before taking time to greet Liz with hugs. They were already settled on the balcony with glasses of wine, discussing the full-page article in The Courier and the possible fate of the paper when Gill arrived.

‘What do you think, Gill?’ Poppy asked, when Liz had poured Gill a glass of wine. ‘We were talking about the possible closing of The Courier .’

‘It would be a disaster for the town, but we have to move with the times,’ Gill said, taking a sip of wine. ‘Oh, I needed that, Liz. Thanks. It’s not only happening in Pelican Crossing,’ she continued. ‘It’s happening all over Australia. Everything’s moving to the internet. Look at how people are favouring streaming services over cinemas, eBooks over paperbacks. Newspapers are only one more casualty of the digital age.’

‘But…’ Liz said, ‘… don’t you agree we ought to try to do something about it? The campaign to save The Courier appears to have a lot of support.’

‘We should do what we can to support it,’ Poppy said. ‘I plan to give a donation and I’ll be happy to have fliers in Crossings .’

‘I agree,’ Rachel put in. ‘We all need to do what we can. The paper has been good to me over the years, publishing articles about the B&B, about Crossings too, Poppy.’

‘I don’t dispute that. I’m only saying…’ Gill’s voice broke.

‘Are you all right, Gill?’ Rachel asked.

‘No, not really.’ Gill’s eyes moistened. ‘Sorry, I’ve had a bad couple of days. Max… Oh, I’d rather not talk about it.’

The others were silent for a few moments as they tried to imagine what Gill’s husband might have done now. Her divorce seemed to have been going on for ever with no resolution in sight. It never ceased to surprise Gill’s friends that the woman who successfully handled others’ divorces, was herself caught up in an acrimonious one.

They were halfway through the meal, and Liz thought she had avoided questions about Julie, when Rachel said, ‘I think Liz has something to tell us. ’

They all turned to look at Liz who blushed.

‘Rach already knows,’ she said, ‘but some of you might have seen me around with a young woman and a teenager.’ She saw Poppy nod her head vigorously, while Gill seemed surprised.

‘Julie’s my daughter, and Tilly is my granddaughter.’ Liz looked around the group, seeing nothing but support on her friends’ faces. ‘It’s a long story but basically, I became pregnant at fifteen, the baby was adopted, and we’ve been reunited.’

‘How did we not know?’ Poppy asked.

‘No one did. It was all over before we moved to Pelican Crossing. I never expected to see her again.’

‘Wow! What an amazing story. You must be thrilled,’ Poppy said.

‘I am.’

‘What about Tara and Mandy?’ Gill asked. ‘Her appearance must have put their noses out of joint.’

‘Tara is fine with it. She’s even given Tilly her old bicycle. But Mandy’s a different matter. I just hope…’ She bit her lip.

‘She’ll come round,’ Rachel said.

‘Don’t be too sure,’ Gill said. ‘Freya hasn’t spoken to me since Max left. She’s taken his side in our dispute and won’t even answer my calls.’

‘I’m so sorry, Gill.’ It was Poppy who spoke, but all three women knew how devastated Gill was at losing contact with her daughter who now lived overseas.

‘And what about you and Finn Hunter?’ Poppy asked. ‘I’ve heard a few things about you and our local newspaper editor. What will happen to him if the paper closes and can’t be saved?’

Liz felt a chill run down her spine. It was her worst fear, that Finn might have to leave Pelican Crossing. It wasn’t something they’d discussed, but she knew it was a possibility, the elephant in the room. ‘I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it. I think he’s focussed on ensuring it doesn’t happen… he and our mayor.’ Seeing everyone had finished eating, Liz rose to clear away the plates and bring in the strawberry flan she’d bought for dessert from the bakery near the medical centre. She knew it would be nicer than anything she could bake.

When she returned, the conversation had changed to a discussion of Poppy’s grandchildren. Two of her daughters had produced babies earlier in the year, and her oldest, Amber, would soon give birth to twins after years of trying unsuccessfully to fall pregnant .

‘No sign of Tara doing the same?’ Poppy asked. Amber and Tara were good friends. They had grown up with Gill’s daughter, Freya, and Rachel’s Jess. While Freya was still single, Jess now had three little ones who kept Rachel busy.

Liz shook her head. ‘No, she seems more focussed on her career and travel than on starting a family. She and Mark are talking about another European trip next year, so it doesn’t look like children are on the cards. I’d almost given up hope of becoming a grandmother before Julie arrived with Tilly. I have to say it was a bit of a shock to suddenly find I had a teenage granddaughter, but she’s a delightful girl, despite being a typical teenager. You have that in store, Rach and Poppy.’

‘They’re so lovely when they’re little.’ Rachel smiled at Poppy, making Liz wish yet again that Tara didn’t seem so against having a family.

The group finally broke up, Rachel saying she needed to get back to welcome a new group of guests, and Poppy heading off to meet Cam at the marina. Gill left at the same time as the others but gave no indication of where she was going. She tended to keep things to herself more than the others, perhaps because of the confidential nature of her law practice.

After they’d gone, Liz poured herself another glass of wine and took it out to the balcony where she sat gazing out at the boats on the marina and thinking about the conversations over lunch.

The one about Finn and the closing of the newspaper had really shaken her. What did the future have in store for her and Finn? Did they have a future together, or was what they had between them of a temporary nature, something which could be thrust aside if he decided or was forced to leave the town? At least she had dinner with him and his family to look forward to, she reassured herself. Surely Adele wouldn’t have invited her if she didn’t think her dad was serious about their relationship?