Page 76 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘I said I dropped out of education,’ she said, directing the conversation to safer waters. ‘But I should have said formal education, because we never stop learning, do we?’ She twirled a chip around on her fork and bit it in half. ‘We’re basically giant sponges, soaking up facts: history and geography and politics. We learn from each other, like me learning about period poverty from your daughter, and you learning the art of a curry sauce/gravy mix on chips and of course, we’re always learning about ourselves.’

‘Art?’ He looked doubtful and took a pull from his own drink. ‘And what have you learned about yourself recently?’

‘That you don’t have to be a barrister to make a difference in the world. That anyone can make life better for another human being. At Auntie Small’s we might not be able to rescue someone from a desperate situation, or secure justice for a person who’s been badly treated. But we can do our bit: we can be a friend; we can listen and keep their secrets. Pull them up by their bra straps and send them on their way with a bounce in their step and a smile on their face.’

‘Sounds like a noble cause to me,’ Barney grinned. ‘How did you feel when you found out Auntie Small’s had been shortlisted for independent retailer of the year?’

‘Honestly?’

Barney nodded.

‘Terrified.’ A memory flashed up: Nula handing her the envelope, Katie opening it, her chest feeling like someone had fixed a tight band around it as she read the congratulations from the Gazette. What if they found out about the photos? Would they still be congratulating her then? ‘But also deeply flattered; my Auntie Jean would have been very proud.’ Katie took a bite of her fish.

‘You talk a lot about Auntie Small’s, but what about Katie Small? Tell me about her.’

She swallowed hard; talking about herself was so far out of her comfort zone she might as well be on another planet. She thought about the Sea Glass Sisterhood. About how Grace and Robyn were facing their fears head on. If she was really determined not to let her past cloud her life anymore, it was about time she followed suit.

She returned his gaze, her stomach fizzing with resolve. ‘I was a teenager when I arrived in Merle Bay, but I’m an adult now, a businesswoman. The shop was Auntie Jean’s legacy, but the future of the business is in my hands and I’ve got big plans, so watch this space.’

‘Brilliant.’ Barney picked up his phone and halted the recording. ‘That’s a great place to end the interview.’

‘Thanks.’ She shovelled in a few chips in quick succession. ‘And just in time; my dinner was going cold.’

Barney eyed her. ‘You’re very driven. It’s quite inspiring to listen to you.’

‘I don’t know about that.’ She waved a hand dismissively; inside she was beaming with pride. ‘I think I was on auto-pilot for a long time. It feels good to be in the driving seat.’

‘I sympathise with that,’ he said heavily. ‘And auto-pilot feels like a hell of a safer way to travel at times.’

‘What drives you?’ she asked.

He raised an eyebrow. ‘The old turn the tables on the interviewer trick? I see you.’

She laughed. ‘Busted. But you’ve finished interrogating me, so now it’s my turn.’

He grinned. ‘Fair enough. For me it’s the sniff of an untold story. The chance to get in there, uncover the truth and give readers a story which informs, educates and entertains.’

‘Regardless of who the investigation hurts in the process?’ she asked with a flash of concern.

She still hadn’t been to the police. It was on her list of jobs for tomorrow after the sea glass walk with Robyn’s previvor ladies. Robyn had asked her and Grace to lend her some moral support and afterwards, she was hoping to take Grace aside and ask her to go with her. But what if it all went pear-shaped? What if Barney got hold of the pictures? Would he print them, she wondered, knowing how mortified she’d be?

‘I operate to a strict ethical code,’ he said, with a frown. ‘Not all journalists are morally corrupt. But even though I’m sympathetic, inevitably some stories find their way into the public arena which are going to hurt some people.’

A shiver of fear ran down her spine and before she could stop it, she gave a high-pitched nervous laugh.

Barney didn’t appear to notice. He stretched his legs out in front of him and stared out at the water. ‘There’s something hypnotic about watching the sea, I could listen to the waves all day. What’s that?’ He sat forward and pointed at a black blob in the water.

‘A seal,’ Katie said. ‘Another reason why I like this spot. If you keep looking, you’ll spot more.’

‘No way!’ His face lit up like a little boy’s. ‘I’ve never seen a seal in the wild.’

For the next few minutes, they kept their eyes trained on the water, counting a total of five seals playing together, disappearing one moment and popping up again the next.

‘That was amazing. Will they all be one family?’ he asked.

She shrugged. ‘They’ll be a pod. Otherwise known as a herd or harem.’

‘A harem?’ he questioned. ‘Does that mean there’s one lucky guy?’