Hartley's Grange

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  Her idea back then had been to rent it out to bring in some extra money, but she’d been busy at work and put her plans on the backburner. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Things were different now – all she had was time.

  Lily leant against the old glass counter in the centre of the room. The windows at the front were big and brought in much-needed light – well, they would once she removed all the newspaper and gave them a good clean. The room had a high ceiling, deep mouldings and an intricate ceiling rose depicting a festoon of ivy and flowers. With a bit of elbow grease and some white paint, Lily could transform this space into an elegant shop floor.

  A sigh escaped her lips. It would make the perfect dress or bridal shop – or even better, a boutique to showcase her very own bespoke designs.

  Lily shook her head; she shouldn’t allow her imagination to run away like that. What she needed to do was to put together some more designs, finish sewing a couple of sample dresses she was in the middle of working on, and start sending out applications and inquiries. She didn’t have the luxury of being indefinitely out of work, and if Lily wanted to make a name for herself, she needed to find work with a good designer. She only hoped that she could find someone as up and coming as Edwina.

  But a little voice whispered again in her head: wouldn’t it be better to design for herself and not be another anonymous team member behind someone else’s label?

  Lily frowned as she pushed herself off from the counter. Silly thoughts like that could get her in all sorts of trouble. But just imagine a shop of her very own, which specialised in unique handmade frocks that lent themselves to special occasions.

  Lily twirled around and took the whole space in. She could almost visualise what it would look like. Not just a shop but a showroom, catering for brides not just in Violet Falls but right through the surrounding area, to Bendigo and maybe even in time all the way to Melbourne.

  Was she crazy? Yeah, she was out of her mind. The whole thing could fail spectacularly.

  But if it did, at least she would have tried to make her dreams a reality.

  She paused for a second and stared at the windows. In her head she could picture the perfect dress for display, a full length evening gown in a pale green silk with a crystal embellished bodice. Lily chuckled; she was letting her imagination get the better of her.

  What she needed right now was a paying job, not some airy fantasy. Besides, she’d never make it onto the great fashion catwalks of the world by having her own little shop in Violet Falls. Making it as a recognised designer overseas was what she really wanted right now, wasn’t it? Or was it autonomy over her designs? The questions swirled around her head.

  It took Lily another two days of mulling it all over. She’d gone back home and written three extensive lists. The first listed all the repairs and renovations that had to be done to the shop. The second one was all the reasons she should stop dreaming and go back to Melbourne and find a decent paying job. And the third was a list of why she should open her own business. The more she stared at the third list, the more points she added. Soon it was almost twice as long as the Melbourne one. When she found herself adding inane little points like ‘cleaner air’, Lily dropped her pen and stood up in disgust. Was she just talking herself into it, or was it truly a conflict between heart and head?

  Lily took a breath and tried to look at the situation honestly. Why would she want to stay in a place she’d never thought of as home? But maybe that was it: other than wanting to be closer to her sister and Holly, maybe the one thing Lily needed right now was a home.

  ***

  ‘You’re going to what?’ Violet asked as she sunk back against the couch.

  ‘I’m going to open my own shop,’ Lily said with a smile. ‘That is, if you don’t mind me staying here for a while.’

  ‘Of course I don’t mind! God, how could you even think that?’

  ‘Well, we haven’t lived together for ages, and I don’t want you to feel that I’m encroaching on your space.’

  Violet shook her head fiercely. ‘As if. Now, tell me everything.’

  ‘Okay, I know it sounds a bit crazy, but I want to open my own dress shop. I’ll make up some samples for the shop floor but the majority of it will be bespoke orders. I already have design samples that I did separately from Edwina Partell’s, and I’ve been building up my portfolio over the past couple of years. So I’ve been thinking: I can go back to Melbourne and try to get a job with another designer, or I can use the shop and attempt to make it on my own.’

  ‘That’s amazing,’ Violet said with a smile. ‘Look at you, all fired up.’

  ‘Yeah, I think it’s more panic and nervous energy. But ever since I came back here I’ve had this weird feeling.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know – it sounds kind of silly. I thought that after a few days of hiding I’d be ready to go back to the city and start over, but the funny thing is, I think I want to stay here with you and Holly. Maybe I need a bit more moral support than I thought.’

  ‘That’s not weird – we love you being here! And you can have as much support as you want.’ Violet slid over on the couch and gave Lily a hug.

  ‘Anyway, I’d really like to work with each client to make the perfect dress, one that suits not only their body but their personality, too. All my dresses will be unique and made especially for the customer.’

  ‘It sounds fantastic, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work and money to get it off the ground.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. I’m not afraid of the work, and with the bit of money Grandad left me as well as my savings, I should have enough to hire Johnno and his crew to fix up the back of the shop. Hopefully there’ll be some left over for some paint and material.’ Lily drew in a quick breath. The idea excited and terrified her all at the same time.

  ‘You know that I’ll help in any way I can,’ Violet said.

  Lily let out a laugh. ‘Oh, I’m counting on it, big sister.’

  ‘Uh-oh, what have I let myself into?’ Violet said, a look of mock horror on her face.

  ‘Well, you can’t take it back now. I’m holding you to it because I’ll need all the help I can get.

  Chapter 5

  ‘Have fun. Say hi to the girls from me.’

  Lily glanced at her sister. ‘Why don’t you come in and say it yourself?’

  ‘Nah, maybe next time. Go on, this is the first time you’ve caught up with them in the actual physical world in years.’

  Lily leant forward and stared at the café across the street where two women sat at a table in the large window. Her school friends, Hailey Waters and Jill Burnley, were waiting for her.

  ‘I’m nervous – crazy, right? It’s just that I haven’t seen them for such a long time.’

  ‘Well, you can’t back out now,’ Violet said as she gave her a pointed look. ‘Besides, they’re your friends, and it’s not as if you haven’t stayed in touch.’

  Violet was right – even when they had run away to Melbourne all those years ago, Lily had still managed to email and text Jill and Hailey. For the first couple of years they had kept any correspondence secret, just in case her grandfather was looking for them. He’d kicked Violet out but, legally, Lily at fifteen was still officially in his care when they left town. Her friends had been loyal and neither one of them ever broke Lily’s confidence, even when Mac McKellan was grilling everyone in town trying to find out Violet’s whereabouts.

  ‘Go and have some fun – you deserve it. We’re not in hiding anymore.’

  ‘I’m not hiding!’

  ‘Of course you’re not.’

  Lily wrinkled her nose. God, she hated when Violet used that parent tone, the one which meant I know you’re lying but I’m giving you my support anyway. ‘I’m busy planning, designing and sewing so I can get the shop open, remember?’

  ‘Yes, and it’s been almost a month and you’ve barely been outside the front door.’

  Lily frowned as she kept her ey
es on the café. ‘Maybe that’s true, but I’m still not hiding.’

  ‘Okay, okay, if you say so. I’m just getting worried about you, that’s all. So if you’re not trying to duck out, why are you still sitting here? Get your arse in there – your friends are waiting. They’re going to be happy to see you, and after a few minutes it’s going to be like you never left town.’

  ‘Hmmm, I suppose.’

  ‘Oh, stop being such a wuss and get out of the car!’

  ‘Okay, okay!’ Lily glanced at Violet and grinned as she picked up her handbag and opened the car door.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You’re beginning to sound like Mac.’

  ‘Oh shut up, I am not,’ Violet laughed. ‘Give me a ring if you want me to pick you up.’

  Lily got out of the car. ‘Thanks, but I’ll probably walk. It only takes fifteen minutes, and the fresh air will do me good.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll see you later,’ Violet said with a wave.

  Lily watched Violet drive away before she took a breath and walked across to the café. Stepping inside, she squared her shoulders and put a smile on her lips before heading to the table.

  ‘Oh my God, look at you!’ Jill squealed as she jumped up and grabbed Lily into a fierce hug. ‘You look fantastic!’

  Lily clung to the petite blonde with short spiked hair and pushed down the lump that was forming at the back of her throat. Jill had always had an elfish vibe going on when they were kids, and from what Lily could see nothing had changed.

  And I didn’t want to come in because I thought everything would be different. Idiot, she thought to herself.

  ‘It’s great to see you, Jill.’ But as Lily began to pull away, she was firmly held in place as Hailey came in for a hug as well.

  ‘I’ve missed you so much!’ Hailey said with a laugh, clasping her tighter. Tall and lean with an enviable athletic build, her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  ‘I’ve missed you too. Sorry it’s taken eight years to do this in person.’

  ‘You’re here now and that’s all that counts. Besides, we’ve been living vicariously through your emails for years. Come and sit down and tell us everything,’ Jill ordered as she scooted over into the chair by the window.

  Lily laughed as she sat down. ‘Well, I don’t know about that – my life in Melbourne wasn’t that interesting.’

  ‘Hah, are you kidding? You in the big city and us stuck in this backwater?’ Jill grinned.

  ‘You do remember that we ran away without any money or a plan on how we were going to survive, don’t you?’

  ‘Yeah, as I said, excitement. I was here serving in Mum’s supermarket and basically watching paint dry,’ said Jill dryly. ‘So, tell me everything. Why are you back and how long are you going to stay?’

  ‘Well, I don’t know exactly where to begin.’ Lily glanced down at the menu to gather her thoughts.

  ‘How about with that sexy boyfriend of yours?’ Hailey asked as she picked up the menu and started reading it.

  ‘Ah, that would be ex-boyfriend,’ Lily admitted.

  ‘No! What happened? I thought you and Pietro were solid,’ Jill said, giving her arm a quick squeeze.

  Lily shrugged and let out a sigh. ‘So did I, but I guess I was wrong. I found him with one of his models in a more than compromising position.’

  Hailey and Jill let out simultaneous cries of outrage.

  ‘I know. I’d left work early and gone to his studio.’ Lily shook her head and gave a small laugh. ‘He’d told me that morning he had an important meeting and shoot on that afternoon.’

  Jill grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Not your fault – the guy’s a scumbag and doesn’t deserve you.’

  ‘Thanks. Anyway, the upshot of the whole thing is that I’ve decided to move back to Violet Falls.’

  ‘That’s great!’ Hailey exclaimed as she put down her menu. ‘It’ll be just like the old days. Hey, are you guys ready to order? I’m starving.’

  Lily shook her head as she looked down again to scan the menu. ‘Um, no, sorry – just give me a sec. I think I’ll go for the roast vegetable salad.’

  ‘Me too. I ordered that last time and it was amazing,’ Jill said. ‘So, I suppose you’re going to be looking for work around here?’

  ‘What about your old job? I thought you loved it?’ Hailey asked.

  ‘I did, but I just felt it was time to move on. Anyway, I’ve decided to open up my own store. It’ll be custom-made designs plus some accessories.’

  ‘Fantastic! I suppose you’ll be fixing up the old Beckett shop?’ Hailey asked.

  ‘That’s the plan. There’ll be a few on-the-rack dresses but I’ll be concentrating on making bespoke event dresses.’

  ‘So, custom-made – like wedding dresses?’ Hailey asked.

  ‘Yes, as well as any other special event.’

  ‘Great – that means I can continue living vicariously through you and your new business,’ Jill grinned.

  ‘Anyway, that’s enough about me. So, Jill, how’s the supermarket going?’

  ‘Pretty good. Do you remember how much I used to hate having to do my time on the floor when I was a teenager? Well, funnily enough, I love it now that I’ve taken over from Mum, although I’m more behind the scenes than on the registers.’

  ‘That’s great,’ Lily said. ‘And what about you, Hailey? How’s life at the Town Hall?’

  ‘I’m still on the front desk at the council. It’s a pretty good job.’

  ‘If you want to know what’s going on in the town, ask Hailey. I swear, she knows everything,’ Jill said with a smile as she looked into her half-filled coffee cup. ‘So have you run into anyone else since you’ve been back?’

  ‘No, not really. I’ve been basically holed up at Violet’s place, planning my next move.’

  ‘Which is?’

  ‘Have the shop fixed up, finish some more designs and take the first wobbly steps towards world domination.’

  Hailey and Jill dissolved into giggles. Yeah, some things never change, Lily thought. ‘Oh, I did run into the lovely Flynn Hartley on the day I arrived.’

  ‘Oh, do tell,’ Hailey said.

  ‘Nothing much, really. He helped me out, that’s all.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘It was the day of that big storm, do you remember? Anyway, I was just coming into town when I swerved to miss a roo. The car spun a couple of times and I ended up hitting a pole. Flynn happened along and gave me a ride to Violet’s.’

  Jill waggled her perfectly shaped eyebrows. ‘I remember you had the biggest crush on him at school. Maybe after all these years you could finally act on it. Hmmm, there’s food for thought.’

  Lily chuckled. ‘I don’t think so. And even if I hadn’t sworn off men – like forever – Flynn would be the last guy I’d go for. No, I’ve learnt my lesson: from now on, I’m staying away from the drop-dead sexy type.’

  ‘Oh, but they’re such fun,’ Hailey said with smirk.

  ‘Nah, they just lead to trouble, an empty wallet and a broken heart. Quiet and dependable all the way.’

  ‘Sounds boring,’ Jill said as she raised her coffee cup. ‘Here’s to all the drop-dead sexy types.’

  Hailey picked up her cup and raised it in front of her. ‘I’ve got a better toast: to old friends and better futures.’

  ‘Ooh, I like it,’ Lily said as she lifted up her cup. ‘I’ll drink to that!’

  ‘Me too!’ Jill clinked her cup against the others. ‘To us!’

  ***

  Flynn stared out the country rolling down before him. Eight hundred acres of rich grazing land, bush, gullies, hills and almost two and a half thousand merinos – on a day like today, it made you feel just that bit closer to heaven.

  He knew every inch of it, which wasn’t surprising as he’d spent his entire life at the Grange. The property had been in the Hartley family for generations and when his grandmother, Edith Hartley, died, he’d inherited the whole thing.r />
  Flynn walked along the ridge of the hill; it was still early morning but he could already feel the warmth of the sun. He headed to an ancient ghost gum and sat down beneath its shady boughs. To the left the dirt road snaked its way past a clump of peppercorn trees towards the crossroad in the distance. From here, Flynn could just make out the 1950s weatherboard house that stood on the track, just before the turn-off to Violet Falls. It had once been part of the Grange but as soon as Flynn had inherited he’d sold it off, along with half an acre of land.

  Some memories needed forgetting.

  His grandmother had been a hard woman. She’d taken him in and raised him, a fact she never let him forget, when his mother had abandoned him as a baby. Gwen Hartley had been seventeen when she ran away from Violet Falls.

  Did he blame her? Yes, no … well, damn it, maybe.

  She’d never come back and he still had no idea if she was even alive. As a kid, Flynn often wondered what his life would have been like if Gwen had taken him with her. Some nights, when the air was still and the house silent, he’d prayed she would come back and save him from his grandmother’s indifference.

  Things changed when he was older and strong enough to stand up to her, but as a young child Flynn’s upbringing was as harsh and brittle as his unbending grandmother. Oh, she made sure he was fed, clothed and had a roof over his head – it was her duty, and he should’ve been grateful for everything he’d been given. But he knew in his heart that she had never loved him and he was nothing more than a nuisance and an embarrassment. When he was old enough to work around the farm he was at least finally useful to her mind, but Edith Hartley never had a kind word for her grandson, let alone any affection. He was a blight on her life: the bastard son of a runaway daughter and living proof of a deep shame.

  And not a day went by that she didn’t tell him so.

  Thank God for the McKellans. If it hadn’t been for them he would never have known what it was like to be part of a family. Mac treated him like a brother, Sarah had mothered him and John McKellan had called him ‘son’ and given him advice. The day he died, it felt as if Flynn had lost his own father, and the pain of it still smarted after all these years.