The Accident by Fiona Lowe

Author:Fiona Lowe [Lowe, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781867247005
Published: 2024-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

This was the first time Freya and Ryan had ever been on opposite sides of anything more significant than how to stack the dishwasher. Freya spent a restless night lying next to a rigid Ryan, missing his warmth spooned into her. When she woke, he’d already left for work, although he’d written her a note saying that if she changed her mind the appointment at Northam magistrates court was two o’clock.

She’d never been more grateful for Just Because and the Christmas rush. It consumed her and whenever the rest of her life tried to intrude she batted it away, rationalising that she had no space in her brain to think about anything else. Especially now she was one hand down. Hannah hadn’t formally quit but neither had she arrived at work.

Freya’s phone rang. ‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Hello, darling. The eye doctor’s receptionist has sent a quote and given me some dates. I didn’t want to book anything until I’d spoken to you.’

‘Are any in January? It’s my quiet month.’

‘It’s day surgery but I have to be in Perth the day before. Will Ryan mind?’

She heard the reluctance in her mother’s voice—her fear of being a burden.

‘Of course Ryan won’t mind. It’s not a problem, Mum.’

‘Well, I’m paying for our motel,’ Vivian said firmly. ‘So don’t think about arguing with me. Have you spoken to your sister?’

The shop bell rang. ‘I’ve got customers, Mum. Talk later.’ Freya hung up and walked back into the store. ‘Oh, hello,’ she said, recognising the young woman. ‘Georgie, isn’t it?’

‘That’s me.’ Georgie gave a self-deprecating smile. ‘I can’t keep away.’

Delight spun through Freya—she loved Just Because and it was reassuring to know others did too. ‘You’ve just made my day. Are you looking for something specific?’

Georgie seemed to take a deep breath before plunging her hand into the leather satchel on her shoulder. She pulled out an intricately decorated bridle and a horse made out of wool. ‘I make these.’

Freya turned them over in her hands, taking in the detail and the artistry of the two very different pieces. ‘They’re gorgeous.’

‘Thanks.’ Georgie’s smile was tentative. ‘I was wondering … you know … ’cos you promote locally made products on your Insta, would you like … be interested in selling them?’

Freya took in the hope in Georgie’s eyes and the quality of the products, and thought about her clientele. ‘My customer base is interested in homewares and knick-knacks so the fibre art may be a fit, but a saddlery would be better for the bridle. Or selling them from your own Insta account?’

‘I’ve been doing that, but you have so many followers.’

‘True, but it’s matching the product with followers’ interests that’s key.’

Georgie’s face fell and Freya remembered her own retail journey—trying to catch a break.

‘What’s your Instagram?’ she asked.

‘I’m on Insta and TikTok.’ Georgie pulled out her phone and showed Freya her grid.

The photos were art: the products displayed against a typical Wheatbelt scene of red earth, scraggly gums and an endless outback sky. But it was the photos and videos of Georgie with her horse that reached out and grabbed Freya.

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