by Stacey Nash
‘I hope so. Tell Mum I won’t be home for dinner.’ Hannah leaned in and kissed Pop’s cheek then waved as Jase pulled out onto the main street.
Chapter 22
Morgan felt a sense of pity every time he saw Courtney Clifton, but that day it was greater than ever. Possibly because her husband sat by her side. Morgan had practically frozen the second they’d walked into therapy together. The bloke he’d tried to talk to that day at the pub—Morgan hadn’t recognised him through the giant beard and scraggly hair. But in the office, sitting beside his wife, there was no mistaking Andrew Clifton even if he wasn’t as polished as he’d been six years ago.
‘Ever since … well, ever …’ Andy scowled at him. ‘Courtney’s been telling me I should talk to someone. So—’ he spread his arms, ‘—here I am, doc. Fix me.’
It was hard to take a session seriously when the client had assaulted someone you cared for, but Morgan ploughed on. ‘You’re here, Andy. That’s a great start.’ He took a sip from his water. ‘I can’t fix you though. That’s something only you can do for yourself. What I can do is give you the tools to help make that happen.’
Courtney nodded encouragingly while Andy sat there, stony-faced.
‘What’s going on for you right now, Andy?’
‘Unemployment.’
‘And …’
‘And there’s not a lot of money, but Andy’s been drinking …’
Morgan kept his focus on his client. ‘How much would you say you’ve been drinking?’
‘Enough,’ Andy snapped. ‘It’s not like we have any money.’ He shot his wife a filthy glare.
Studying her entwined fingers, Courtney murmured, ‘Falcon needs new shoes, the water heater blew last week, our power’s about to get cut, and there’s—there’s—’
‘Bloody hell, woman.’ Andy looked away. ‘It’s only a few beers.’
‘I don’t understand why you can’t be happy at home. Why you need to be at the pub all the time.’
‘Don’t deserve happiness. It doesn’t matter where I am.’
‘What makes you say that, Andy?’ Morgan bit down on his tongue to stop from clenching his jaw.
The other man peeked at his wife and shrugged. ‘Just don’t.’
‘Everybody deserves happiness.’ It was difficult to admit that this man—who’d hurt someone Morgan cared about—had a right to be happy.
Andy had slouched in his chair, a look of despair now replacing the closed expression he wore on arrival. Morgan took a breath. ‘Courtney, would you mind stepping out for a few moments, so we can speak openly?’
‘I’m his wife.’ The woman crossed her arms. ‘We have no secrets.’
‘I think your husband might benefit from some one-on-one therapy, but that’s entirely up to him of course.’
Without shifting from his straight-backed position, Andy said, ‘It won’t take long. Read that book you always lug around.’
With downcast eyes, Courtney rose and let herself out of the room. Andy stared at a spot over Morgan’s head. When it became apparent the man wasn’t going to speak, Morgan asked, ‘Why don’t you deserve happiness?’
Andy puckered his lips. Sucked them in. Closed his eyes.
‘I’m not here to judge you, Andy. Anything you say is between the two of us. But, if you’d rather speak to someone else …’
‘You know that I hurt someone.’
The truth hurt, even when you already knew it; Morgan’s stomach crumpled as if he’d copped a fist to the gut.
‘Yeah, I do.’
Andy’s gaze snapped to Morgan’s.
‘And you know what it cost me back then. But hell, I was a kid and didn’t understand. I thought … well, I thought she wanted it. It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised the truth. She had no idea her friend had set us up. The girl told me she was just shy.’
Red-hot heat flushed through Morgan, making his head pound. He kept his expression neutral though, his eyes on his client who avoided looking at him.
‘I think about it constantly.’
‘How do you feel about it now?’
‘I did the wrong thing; how do you think I feel?’
Morgan inhaled through his nose, offering the same advice he would to a stranger. ‘Have you thought about seeking her forgiveness?’
Andy’s eyes snapped up, but Morgan kept the clueless facade.
‘It might help you to heal.’
Hannah’s attacker fell silent. After a few moments ticked by, Morgan sucked back another strong breath. ‘I think it might be best if, for now, we focus on how you can move forward. Make some appointments for just yourself. Either with me, or if you’d prefer, there are a few people in Bourke or even Dubbo I could recommend.’
‘Righto.’
Morgan wasn’t sure if Andy realised his part in the bullying inflicted on him, or if he thought Cooper had acted alone. He probably should have said something, but it wasn’t very professional and it might scare off this man who needed help. Brooding silence settled over the tiny room.
‘Are you ready, Andy?’ Morgan gestured towards the door.
With a nod, the other man rose and opened it, calling his wife back in. Courtney’s eyes stayed on her partner, asking a million questions with a simple look.
Changing tack, Morgan said, ‘Andy, what do you think about how much you’re drinking?’
‘It’s probably too much.’
‘And would you be prepared to do something about that?’
Andy shuffled into his corner of the two-seater and his gaze darted around the room, from the small window to the armchair to the tiled floor. ‘Like what?’
‘Well, you could cut back or take steps to stop drinking entirely.’
Andy didn’t respond, just stared at the light-green walls.
‘Either way, I’d suggest that you may need some help.’
He nodded and Morgan spotted a tear trailing from the corner of his eye, while he sat there otherwise looking stoic.
Courtney reached out and took her husband’s hand. ‘I just want you to get better. I couldn’t bear it if you tried to …’ She wiped at her brimming eyes.
‘I’m not going to try and off myself again. Hell, woman, that was years ago.’
‘Falcon needs his daddy.’
After they’d left his office Morgan lingered for a long time, staring at the wall just as Andy had done. Not only had he given an alcoholic a beer, he’d told the man who’d assaulted Hannah to seek her forgiveness. Finally, he picked up his phone and fired off a text to her, then waited, his stomach still tied in knots.
***
Hannah stood outside the Chinese restaurant with her hands tucked inside her sleeves and a thick red scarf wrapped around her neck. Pink coloured her high cheekbones, and Morgan chickened out.
‘Thanks for waiting around for me.’ He kissed her frost-bitten cheek.
‘It was silly for you to come all the way out to the farm when I was still in town. Besides, Mum’s a stickybeak. She wouldn’t have left us alone.’
Morgan forced a smile.
His pocket began ringing, and Hannah’s gaze shot to the phone bulge at his thigh. Her eyes lingered a moment, heating Morgan’s blood. He swallowed, hard.
The call went to messages. At least, he assumed it did. It was more than likely a client, since a few had taken to calling him after hours. Normally he didn’t mind, but his focus needed to be on Hannah right then. She stamped her feet against the pavement in what was probably an attempt to warm them up.
‘Let’s go eat.’ Morgan guided her through the arched entrance.
The usual waitress met them at the door with a wide smile. ‘Mr Morgan. Welcome back.’ She looked from him to Hannah. ‘I have just the table for you tonight. In the back, yes?’ She blinked. ‘It is good for private moments.’
Hannah’s cheeks coloured. ‘That would be lovely.’
The little Asian lady led them to a place exactly as promised. Hidden in the far back corner of the r
estaurant, a large potted plant obscured Morgan’s view of the front door and half the room. She handed them both a menu and disappeared.
‘How’s business going out at the farm? It seemed a bit tense the other night.’
Hannah placed her bag on the floor. ‘We’re getting there. We shipped off the last of our modules for processing in Brissie. We really need those bales we’ve got tied up in the factory though. It’s all part of the same sale, so needs to leave the port together, or we’ll be slammed with double the freight.’
‘Hopefully something will happen soon.’
He wasn’t kept in the loop at all, but the people who’d been coming to see him all had a common goal: get to the bottom of what was happening with the gin. He’d seen liquidations string out for months. Hopefully this one would be over with quickly.
‘Mum was a bit excitable the other night.’ Hannah cringed. ‘Sorry about that.’
This time the conversation he was sitting on couldn’t hold back his smile. ‘She’s sweet.’
‘And Jase was an arsehole.’ Hannah glanced away. ‘How are your folks?’
Her question took him off guard. ‘Good, I guess. It’s been a while since I last saw them. Since they moved to Perth actually.’
‘They went from here to Newcastle to Perth?’
‘Yep. They’ve always moved around heaps.’
Their waitress came back, brandishing a pen and pad. Hannah didn’t order much, just a bowl of fried rice and a glass of water. He made up for her lack by ordering all the best dishes, so there’d be plenty to share.
Stalling was only making telling Hannah more difficult. He’d best get it over with. He flipped over a pair of wooden chopsticks then flipped them again, before chickening out again. ‘Jase doesn’t want us dating.’
She gave him a look. ‘I know.’
‘Morgan!’ Curse Elsie Sumner’s bad timing. How had she even spotted him back there?
He looked up at his client and forced a smile.
‘And Hannah.’ She was good at hiding the hopelessness she’d displayed in group sessions, but people tended to mask their true emotions in public.
Hannah’s smile was as tight as his felt. ‘It’s good to see you.’
‘What happened to you?’ Elsie flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder. ‘You never turned up at the girls’ night.’
‘Life got busy.’
Elsie’s blue eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them, realisation dawning. ‘I see.’
Whatever Hannah’s problem with this girl was, she seemed happy to let Elsie believe he’d tied up her time.
‘Well, if you ever happen to find a moment, look me up.’ She turned a full smile on him. ‘See you on Wednesday, Morgan.’
As Elsie walked away he waited, trying not to psychoanalyse why Hannah pushed people away. When it became apparent that she was more interested in toying with the tablecloth than speaking, he cleared his throat.
‘He walked into my office today.’ It was a breach of client confidentiality, but Hannah was too important for him to keep silent.
‘He?’ Hannah’s fingers stilled—her eyes, too. For a second, Morgan thought she’d even stopped breathing she became so statue-like. ‘So, that’s what this is about. I’m still some kid in need of saving.’
‘No. That’s what Jase’s issue with us dating is all about.’
‘About Andrew Clifton?’
‘About Cooper falling off the rails after he found you—you—Andrew …’
‘Trying to rape me?’ Hannah supplied.
Shit, why was it so hard to say?
‘We damn near killed that arsehole, and I’m not talking about the beating Coop dished out on the spot. I’m talking about all the shit we did afterwards to make him pay. It was downright bullying, Hannah, and I just found out he tried to take his own life. Was that because of his own guilt or because of the shit we put him through? Even if the bastard deserved it, Coop and I …’ Morgan fingered the chopsticks again. ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right.’
Hannah’s face now matched the starched tablecloth.
Their waitress reappeared, sliding a bottle of water and two glasses onto the table. She passed Morgan a Pepsi, and when she left he picked up the chopsticks, flipping them again and again. His throat tightened. His chest thumped.
‘Just now, in therapy, I suggested he seek your forgiveness.’
Hannah sat there staring at her hands, the silence stretching between them. The waitress brought their meals out, filling the gap with food.
The moment they were alone again, she spoke softly. ‘You what?’
‘Hannah …’ He reached across the table, his sleeve making a mess of the chow mein.
She pulled her hand away from his. ‘No. You need to leave.’
‘Hannah—’
Her face betrayed nothing. Not a flicker of emotion. She’d locked him out, just like she’d done to Elsie.
Morgan felt as if he were going to chuck up. He pushed his chair back, and despite going in knowing he had to talk to her about Andy, he wasn’t expecting things to turn so sour. He wasn’t obnoxious enough to believe he should stay, or that he should try and explain things further, when he didn’t understand his own thoughts. So he slunk to the counter, slapped down a pair of fifties, and slipped out the door. Outside, Morgan picked up his phone and dialled.
‘Yo.’
‘Hi, Cooper.’ Morgan kicked the pavement. ‘I need you to come get Hannah from the Fat Buddha.’
‘Why?’
Morgan sighed.
‘I’ll fucking kill you,’ Cooper hissed. ‘Whatever the hell you’ve done to her, I’ll rip your bloody throat out.’
Morgan didn’t answer. He had no right to. This was why Jase hadn’t said yes. He’d known Morgan would hurt her, and now it had happened. He waited until Cooper’s silver truck pulled up then he left, walking the streets of Mindalby until his legs ached. Until his lungs burned from the freezing air.
Until the sun rose.
Chapter 23
‘Hannah.’ Cooper’s voice echoed through the restaurant.
Morgan had told Andy to seek her forgiveness. Maybe Jase was right, he wasn’t good enough … he’d hurt her too, and that was exactly why she shouldn’t get close.
The table shifted and an arm linked through hers, pulling her out of the chair like she was a child.
Hannah tugged herself free. ‘Let me go, you oaf.’
Cooper did as he was told. Hannah placed one foot in front of the next, moving towards the front counter. The waitress smiled sadly. ‘The bill is all settled.’
Hannah turned away and Cooper grabbed her by the elbow again, guiding her towards the front door. She shrugged him off a second time.
‘You’re not driving home, sis.’
She let him take her to his car, and as she climbed inside, Hannah wondered why Morgan would do that. Was this some counselling trick he’d pulled on her to try and make everything better?
Faced towards the side window, Hannah stared at the dark shapes blurring past. Cooper hadn’t said another word—nor did he all the way back to his place. Once they were both inside, he closed his arms around her and hugged Hannah like they hadn’t been arguing for the past month. After they pulled apart he disappeared into the kitchen and Hannah fell into the couch. Things had spiralled after the attack, but Morgan … had he really? The Cliftons hadn’t filed a lawsuit against him, just Coop. It hadn’t stuck, but Andy’s remorse must have.
Cooper shoved a mug of tea into her hand. ‘What did that bastard do?’
The cup shook in Hannah’s hand. ‘Nothing.’
‘Don’t lie to me, li’l sis. I’ll find out whether you tell me or not, and when I do, that son-of-a—’
‘He didn’t do anything, Cooper.’
Her phone rang and Cooper dived for her handbag, rummaging around until he emerged triumphantly. His face fell when he looked at the screen, but he still jabbed it and raised the device to his ear anyway.
/>
‘Bro.’ Cooper flopped back in the lounge. ‘Shit no. … Yeah, she’s here. A bit messed up though—that arsehole friend of yours screwed her over.’
‘Screwed me over?’ Hannah snatched the phone out of Cooper’s hand. ‘Jase, what’s going on?’
‘Nothing that can’t wait until after you tell me what the hell Harris did.’
Hannah sighed. ‘We were talking about Andrew.’
Jase didn’t say anything, but Cooper swore again and matched his words with a boot to the coffee table.
‘It’s not important. What did Coop say “shit no” about?’
‘Pop finally heard about his five minutes of fame, and the old guy lost it. I need your help to calm him down.’
‘I’ll be right there.’
Hannah ended the call and pushed up off the couch. ‘I need to go home.’
‘Fine,’ he said. ‘I’ll drive you.’
‘I’m more than capable—’
‘I said I’ll drive you.’ He pinned her with a glare.
‘Fine,’ Hannah threw back.
She raced outside with Cooper close behind her. If Pop was worked up about this, time was of the essence. His heart couldn’t maintain a raised blood pressure. So she didn’t complain when Coop stepped on the accelerator and sped out of town. Nor when he hit close on one-twenty zooming along Louth Road. Even going so fast, it still felt as though they couldn’t get there quickly enough. Burton Park was too far out of town. The flat landscape stretched out beyond the headlight glow seemed never-ending, until finally he slowed and turned into the driveway then bumped along the graded gravel faster than was safe.
Hannah threw open the door and jumped out of the car before he’d cut the engine. She raced inside and found all three of them in the living room. Kate was pressing a cool cloth to Pop’s head, while he sat there, glowering at Jase.
