AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The voice preceded Ish running into the room. ‘Wow, this looks so different. Can I have a banana?’
They jolted apart and stood stock-still.
‘Sure, help yourself,’ Ava said but her eyes remained glued to Noah’s. Their chests heaved in unison.
Noah turned and left the room.
Chapter Sixteen
In 1919, the horse, Artilleryman won the Melbourne Cup and the treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War 1.
Ava sat in the dim spare room reading the pages of the broadsheets spread out in front of her. Quite metropolitan for its time, the local paper, The Bellethorpe Times had covered both international and local news in the early twentieth century. A photograph of the prize-winning cake from the 1919 Brisbane Exhibition took pride of place on the first page. When they had lived in Bellethorpe before the move south, Mum and Dad had taken them to the Ekka, as it was known. She and Charlie had been most excited about the sample bags with their treats and the Ferris wheel ride they’d been allowed to go on twice.
Ava didn’t read every article in entirety but skimmed the contents out of interest, taking care not to damage the fragile pages. She had gently wiped over each page with a dust cloth and laid them flat one atop the other and place them under a heavy, framed painting. The spare room would be their safe place until the papers found a permanent home elsewhere. Even the few items she’d found in this house would double the collection at the history centre. The local museum could be a better option and she mulled over how she could help. A project for another day, but until then, these items were safe here.
Touching her fingertips to her lips, her nerve endings tingled and she thought of Noah. Their gentle and sweet kiss had deepened in urgency quickly. Was Noah’s need as great as hers? She’d surprised herself by wanting more, seeking their kiss to continue. Her body still ached for his touch. What would have happened if Ish hadn’t interrupted? Yes, she wanted the kiss but had she lost her mind?
Inviting a relationship would be disastrous. How could she build the foundations of anything? For a start she was still married and Henry didn’t know where she was. No one in this town knew she was living a life of subterfuge; let alone poor Noah. Any moment she expected Henry to arrive and then what…He’d haul them back to where he thought they belonged, wouldn’t he? No questions, no explanations. Despite the love they’d shared there would only be repercussions and retributions. Regardless of what her husband might wish to do to her, she’d never allow Ismail’s future to be compromised. He could not grow up in the strict regime that his father stood for. That was not negotiable and she’d do anything to avoid that. Wracked with guilt because of the life she was living, Ava knew in her heart that telling Noah the truth could be fatal for both of them.
There was so much to worry about. The money she’d transferred to Noah and his discomfort. He seemed to think she was wealthy, and she guessed she had given him that impression, but her insides had been squirming as she’d made the transfer. Reluctantly she left the newspapers, retrieved her laptop and gazed out the window at a blazing orange sky while it powered on.
She pulled her gaze away and logged on. It was as she suspected. Her funds were dwindling. The move, the house, the renovations had made a massive dent. She needed to find a job but hadn’t planned on returning to work yet. She really wanted to finish the house first.
Closing the laptop, she went to the old timber bureau she’d picked up at a garage sale and slid open a drawer at the bottom. From the front the timber appeared to be a decorated panel, but it was deceptive. Inside was a small secret, compartment. Large enough to hide her ring. Pulling it out of the case, her heart hitched as it always did when she looked at the sparkly gem. She’d finally adjusted to not wearing it and her fingers didn’t wander to that bare spot anymore. But …the ring remained special, was symbolic of all that she shared with Henry, of their love. A reminder of deliriously happy times, when they loved each other deeply and were a united front. Selling other items of her extensive jewellery collection hadn’t been so painful. They were beautiful pieces acquired over time but did not hold her heart in its grips like the topaz ring. Together they’d chosen the band, the gold, the jewel and accompanying diamonds. It represented a time in their life that was full of promise.
But she was in charge of their future, had to do anything to secure it. Now faced with return to work sooner than intended, or an injection of much needed funds, she had to put her sentimentality to rest.
But how?
Her gaze returned to the setting sun and the vista over her lands as she contemplated. She caught sight of Clive’s house. Clive! Yes, he’d help, she could trust him. And honestly, what other options did she have?
Now the strong orange glow of the sun had muted to pink and amber. Ava checked Ish was still playing with the dogs in the lower paddock and walked quickly to the fence before she lost her nerve.
Ducking between the palings and moving past the horse stables, Ava approached Clive’s house for the first time. The out-of-place dish on his roof sat on what was otherwise quite a nondescript low-set brick house. Not at all country-traditional or farm-like.
She rapped on the door still able to hear Ish’s giggling on the breeze. Clive opened and he immediately stepped back in surprise, glanced behind him and appeared flustered. Was it that surprising that a neighbour should visit? Perhaps his wife was here too and she’d interrupted? Didn’t people drop in unannounced in the country? She could trust Clive couldn’t she or was this a mistake? Too late now.
‘Ava, hello, how are you?’ His tone was friendly enough but not his usual joyful self. He remained half-hidden behind the open door.
‘Hi Clive. Sorry to bother you. I have a favour and hope you can help.’
‘Is everything okay?’
‘Um, yes, of course. I just want some advice.’
He nodded, seemingly reassured.
‘I would like to sell something. Would you be able to recommend somewhere?’
‘What sort of thing?
‘This ring.’ She tugged it out of her pocket and held it up. Clive’s eyebrows arched.
‘Yeah, I know. Can you advise me of anywhere around here?’
Clive glanced behind him again before stepping out and shutting the door, double checking it was closed. Odd...maybe his wife was asleep?
He took the ring and examined it. ‘It’s beautiful.’
