CHAPTER 1
Maree Houston was sick and tired of moving house. She’d lived in so many places over the past five years that she barely had time to pack before she was onto the next place. And with the rising cost of living, she was struggling to pay rent on her own with her four-year-old, Sam. That’s why she’d finally asked Jemma if they could move in with her and Dan. They had a cute little two-bedroom apartment across the road from the beach. Jemma agreed—they were trying to save up to have a baby and could use the rent money. And so, Maree and Sam had moved into the small guest room. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from Maree’s shoulders, and she finally felt as though she could breathe.
She wandered out onto the cozy balcony that jutted over the communal swimming pool and tented a hand over her eyes to cut the glare of the afternoon sun. It’d been five years since her divorce, and she’d struggled to find her footing ever since. She’d lived in Sunshine all of her life, but it felt strange now. As though she didn’t quite belong.
Everyone in Sunshine knew about her and Jack. They’d both grown up in the small seaside hamlet on Bribie Island, attended local schools and worked in local businesses. Jack still had family on the island, although he’d moved away after their divorce. Her own family was gone—her parents had passed, and the rest of her family lived on the mainland. Her friends in Sunshine were the only real family she had left—and Sam. He was her all. Her whole world revolved around him. Sometimes it felt as though she’d given up on everything but him.
She turned back into the apartment and tied an apron neatly around her waist over the top of her white blouse and long black pants. Then she went to the bathroom and cleaned her teeth, fixed her hair into a tidy bun at the nape of her neck. Sam was already at daycare. It was time to go to work.
The drive to the Aurora Boutique Inn and Bistro was only three minutes. She’d timed it the first day after moving in with Jemma and Dan.
Gwen had hired her a few months earlier, and so far, she’d enjoyed the work. She was a waitress and sometimes bartender in the bistro. The hours suited her study schedule, and the pay was decent.
She was studying online to become a financial planner. But at the rate she was going, she’d finally graduate and start working right before retirement. At least, it often felt that way.
The restaurant was already busy when she arrived. The evening shift always was. She clocked in and hurried to the kitchen to get the update on specials from the chef.
“You’re early, nice to see,” Anthony said. He wore a white double-breasted shirt, long black pants, and a white hat that covered his dark, wavy hair. His brown eyes twinkled at her. “The specials today are a lamb shank navarin with turnips and carrots, along with a crusty sourdough bread straight out of the oven. Then we have a fresh-caught barramundi encrusted with breadcrumbs and macadamia alongside a double-cream mashed potato and mixed greens. And finally, the soup of the day is a seafood bisque featuring Moreton Bay Bugs.”
She wrote notes in a small notebook she kept in her pocket. “Those sound delicious.” Her stomach grumbled. She was hungry already and hadn’t started her shift yet. By the end of the shift, she was always ravenous and couldn’t wait to eat whatever the chef had left for the staff. The previous evening, she’d polished off a dish of boeuf bourguignon, and it was so delicious, she’d eaten until she was completely stuffed full.
“Don’t forget, we’re also offering mulled wine for the Christmas holiday
season. And there’s a French Cotillion Christmas chocolate cake with whipped cream for dessert.”
She gave a nod. “Got it. I’m going to die of hunger before this shift is over.”
He dipped his head in the direction of the stove. “Grab yourself a breadstick before you get started. They’re hot out of the oven.”
“Thank you, Chef!” she said with a grin as she hurried to fetch one.
She carried it out of the way and slathered it with butter, then sat on a stool to eat while she waited for her shift to start. It would stave off her hunger for the first couple of hours. She was glad to be at work. She liked to be busy, and the dinner shift only got more hectic with each passing minute. By seven o’clock, it was in full swing. She was run off her feet, taking orders, delivering meals and clearing tables.
The lamb shanks were a big hit with at least one person at every table ordering them. They looked succulent and smelled divine. The meat was falling off the bone, and she hoped the chef would set some aside for the staff, although it wasn’t likely given how popular they were.
She carried four plates of lamb shanks to a table. The plates were hot on her arms and hands. She set them down with relief and a smile, and then hurried to the next table, where the hostess had seated another five people.
She stopped short, her heart in her throat. She recognised them all.
“Hi, Maree,” the woman said, her chestnut hair perfectly groomed into a bob, her grey eyes highlighted by elegant brown eyeshadow. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Hello, Margaret. How lovely to run into you all like this.”
She glanced across the table to see her ex-husband, Jack, staring at her with wide grey eyes, so like his mother’s.
“Jack, it’s good to see you too.”
He nodded, his cheeks colouring. “Hello, Maree.”
It was awkward. There was no way around that. It was the first time she’d seen Jack with his entire family since the divorce five years earlier. His father, Tom, stared at her then glanced down at his menu with a cough to clear his throat. His sister, Meg, smiled shyly at Maree. They’d always gotten on well, and she had been sad when
they lost touch.
She pulled her notepad from her pocket. She was going to need to write down this order—there was no way she’d be able to remember a thing. Her head felt light, and she thought she might need to sit down. But she’d take the order first. She didn’t want them to see her upset.
“You’re working here?” Jack asked.
She swallowed. “That’s right. I’ve been here for a few months now. Gwen—that’s the owner—is a friend of a friend. She gave me a chance, and so far, I’m loving it.” She was waffling. That’s what she did when she was nervous. She always suffered from verbal diahorrea when she felt anxious. And the worst part was that Jack knew it.
His eyes crinkled around the edges. “That’s good. Are you full time?”
“No, only part time. I’m studying,” she replied. “Are you here for a holiday?”
Jack glanced at his mother, then his father. He inhaled a sharp breath. “Actually, I moved back. Dad retired, and I’m staying with them for a while, spending some time … you know, catching up.”
“I didn’t retire. I cut back,” his father corrected him in a gruff voice. “I can do my work from anywhere.”
“Right, of course. That’s what I meant,” Jack said.
“Oh,” was all Maree could think to say. He was back? But Sunshine was her home, not his. She didn’t want him here. He’d been gone for five years. What would she do now? She couldn’t run into him around every corner. It would drive her crazy. She’d survived the past five years by never seeing him.
“I’m sure we’ll run into each other,” he said as if reading her thoughts.
She forced a smile onto her face. “I’m sure we will. So, what can I get you?”
She wrote down their orders and then rushed back to the kitchen. Leaning against the counter as she tried her best to catch her breath, she fought hard to keep the tears at bay. Jack was back in Sunshine. He was living here. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. When he’d left, she never thought she’d see him again. And now, he was here, in her restaurant, living in her town.
“You okay, honey?” another waitress asked, concern etched on her face.
Maree placed the
order with a nod. “Fine, thanks.”
She turned on her heel and fled back out through the restaurant and onto the back deck. It was closed for dinner this evening, so she had the space to herself. Decorated with lights, it looked romantic and cozy in the warm evening air. Stars twinkled overhead. She leaned against the railing and took deep, gulping breaths. Tears filled her eyes. She brushed them away with the heel of her hand as her heart rate slowly returned to its normal pace.
“You okay?” Jack’s voice startled her, sending her heart into a frenzy again.
She spun to face him. “Uh, yeah, I’m fine.”
“I know it’s weird to run into me like this. We haven’t seen each other in so long…” He slowly walked closer.
“Five years, four months, three days … but who’s counting?”
He chuckled. “Wow, that’s very specific.”
“I live here. This is my hometown.”
He leaned against the railing beside her, arms folded over his chest. “I know. It used to be my home too. And now it is again.”
“Why?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Mum and Dad wanted me to move back. They’re getting older, and I don’t see them as often as they would like. Plus, a few months with them has given me a chance to save for a house.”
“Oh? Where will you buy?”
“Haven’t decided yet. But I’m setting up my practice in Sunshine, so I might settle here.”
He was a physiotherapist. He’d always been so smart. She’d worked hard to put him through university. He was supposed to return the favour, but they’d separated right after his graduation. They’d married young. Too young, really. Everyone had warned her—they should wait, they shouldn’t rush into it, there was plenty of time—but they hadn’t listened.
“I don’t know if I can…” She didn’t want to finish the sentence, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he’d rattled her.
“It’ll be fine. It’s been five years. We’ll be friends. I’ve missed you.” His eyes narrowed. “We can manage it, can’t we?”
She chewed on her lower lip, then gave a quick nod. “Of course. Friends—I can do that.”
“We should hang out
out. It’ll give us a chance to put things behind us and move on. You know, so there’s no awkwardness.”
“We’re definitely not there yet,” she agreed.
He laughed. “It’s very awkward right now.”
“I’m glad it’s not just me.” She laughed along with him.
“So, we’ll hang out?”
“Okay, sure. Why not?” ...
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