Page 57 of Buried In Between

Jacqueline grasped Ava’s arm. ‘Ava, this turtle could revitalise the town, our economy, increase our tourism beyond wineries and short weekends away, make us a destination.’

Ava shook her head which only made Jacqueline grip tighter. ‘The agenda of every small town is to survive. We need attractions to keep us alive. Yes, we’re a farming community, yes, we have the best wineries in this region, and a handful of other attractions people will only visit when they are already here. Jobs are getting harder to maintain every year. People are moving away in droves, only the sturdy remain.’

Jacqueline dropped her hand now and held it aloft, moving it as she talked. ‘This could be a museum, a site where amateurs fossick, people learn about bones and extinct animals and whatever else there is. A spot of historical and cultural and educational significance. You cannot keep this to yourself.’

‘You misunderstand me, Jacqueline. Nothing this important to history, to science, to archaeology could ever be, should never be kept quiet. It is for sharing and learning. I will do that. But not yet…’

Already Jacqueline moved around as if sizing up the site for future development; she picked up items, shifted others, admired rocks, examined the gazebo.

‘Stop! This is not for you to decide. This is private property. I would never, ever keep this to myself but I will decide when it is revealed to the world and until then it needs to be kept safe and protected.’

Jacqueline’s glare was deadly. ‘You have two weeks and then I’ll take matters into my own hands.’

‘Jacqueline, you are the mayor but you run this town with a council and you need to inform and advise your council and take a vote before any decisions can be made.’ There was venom in Noah’s voice as he appeared out of nowhere.

Sheesh. Another person on the dig site. If Ava couldn’t keep people out now and no one knew about it, how could she protect it when people were aware. An image of security guards manning her gate flashed into her mind, and it wasn’t unwelcome. That is how she felt. Violated and exposed. No one appreciated her dilemma; she needed to keep her identity a secret. The day was steaming, but Ava sweated buckets.

Noah approached the small group. ‘Jacqueline,’ he nodded in greeting. ‘I saw you arrive. But I’m afraid I agree with Ava. Her approach is the better one. Let her continue her research, keep the press away and things quiet for the time being?—’

He was going to continue but Jacqueline cut him off. ‘My agenda is always for the greater good of the town, c’mon, Noah, we’re on the same team. But resisting anything new, any project that might attract people to the town should not be your automatic response. Do you honestly want Bellethorpe to stay like this forever? It is hardly reaching its potential. This is huge. Could be transformative for the town…’

Ava stood back and the pair bantered; clearly this was an old argument. She crossed her arms on her chest, listening to them sparring, very interested in Noah’s opposition, wishing she believed that he was truly on her side and didn’t have ulterior motives.

‘If this place becomes what you suggest, a tourist attraction, if we monetarise this find, profit from it, yes more people will come for the weekend, might mean we build additional accommodation and some unfortunate person might set up an extra café with some fancy city food, but we need long-term growth and infrastructure to keep this town alive. Industry, farming, a bustling family community, not a quick buck. Any attraction you speak of might attract a few city people on the prospect but they never stay. We need long-term residents to make this town prosper.’

‘I admire your position in the face of opposition, Noah, even though it’s exhausting. But you’re right, that is why we have a council of like-minded folk who decide together what’s in the best interests of the town.’ Jacqueline turned to her then. ‘Yes, Ava this is your property, but I simply cannot sit back and allow this not to benefit our town and I’m very confident that my fellow members will agree. Nothing needs to happen today, but it will happen, be sure of that.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

‘Ava, sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I came down to see you for a reason,’ Noah said. They were back at the house now, Jacqueline had left, her car was just visible on the far winding road. Another vehicle zipped across the paddocks and Ava watched it disappear. It was Matthew and James returning to Clive’s place where they’d set up home for the duration of their stay. Clive had been very generous in offering them use of his house. As the car slipped out of sight, she gave him her full attention once more.

‘The lads are onto the bathrooms but won’t get the two rooms completed today, so the water’s off as they’ve pulled everything out to start fresh installation tomorrow.’

‘Oh, wow. Is that ahead of schedule? Or am I losing track?’

Noah thought it was a bit of both. Since her days had been filled with more than simple house renovations, Ava’s focus on the house had lessened. ‘Well, that’s the other thing. We need to finalise the fittings. I know we’ve talked about it but it’s crunch time. So, you and Duke are welcome to come to my place and shower and I’ll put on some dinner, and on the way, we can stop at the hardware store to pick up those last few fixtures.’

‘Okay, um, yeah, sure. Duke, can you grab whatever you need and then feed Daisy and the pups and make sure they’re comfortable.’ After collecting her clothing and toiletries, Ava went around the house and secured each window and door. Noah controlled his eye roll.

It was a fifteen-minute drive to the homemaker centre, a big, large warehouse chain store on the outskirts of the main drag of town.

‘This is such a modern store,’ Ava commented as they trawled the long aisles filled with goods. Duke dragged along a few steps behind them and Ava kept glancing back to check on him.

‘It’s new, been open a few months now. The owners are from out of town. A local would never set up this venture. That’s half the problem, city folk have the resources and the ambition but not the ticker to persevere over the long haul, when one day blends into another and life in the country becomes ordinary, they head back to the city to chase fun and entertainment.’

‘But Noah, where would we buy the bathroom fittings but for this store? It’s an advantage, isn’t it, for you, me, and everyone else in Bellethorpe that the business be a success.’

He stiffened, the muscles of his jaw balling. ‘We’ve always had to travel over to the next big town for supplies. Nothing changed there. And we will again when this place folds. You don’t understand, Ava. This place will be wonderful for a while, but they never last. These are the third owners this site has had with its numerous incantations. Different names, different owners and the same goods for sale. I give it three months.’

‘But Noah, business is booming. It’s late and the aisles are packed. You’re being unfair. And you’re shopping here.’

Ava ran her fingers along the edge of a gold-rimmed claw-foot bath on display. ‘You’ve already chosen your baths.’ He didn’t want them wasting time. ‘And the two waiting to be installed look remarkably similar to these.’

‘They are beautiful. I cannot wait to have a bath in this.’ Noah tried not to reflect upon Ava naked in the bath. Luckily, she moved away. ‘What else is on the list?’

‘We’ve got the matching gold towel rails and toilet roll holder and cleaning set. That will look fantastic together. Lights and vanity are done, tick. I’ve never been a fan of dark mahogany timber, but I think it’s going to come up a treat next to the white porcelain of the bath and the gold trims. The tapware, you’ve chosen these, yes?’ Noah held up rather simple but elegant faucet and matching hot and cold waters taps.

‘Yes, do you like them?’

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