Always Noah's: The Western Australian Series

By Lilly Barrett

During the last devastating couple of years, I've suffered immensely. 

Now; finally, I need to get my shit together. 

 Eden; a nanny I employ for the triplets. A local I met.  She and I have a connection, as well as a physical attraction that just won't desist, no matter how many cold showers I endure. 

I blame the Birthday puppies, all three of them. It's their fault that my house has been turned upside down.

Mayhem is the norm now and life is pretty sweet with my babies.

That is until my stupid brother has a paragliding accident and nearly cripples himself.  His recuperation at the farm means I have to return to the city and take over the business while he recovers, nursed back to health by my woman. 

Then all HELL breaks loose, when I suspect she's looking after him too well.

Can Logan and I recover our solid foundation? I doubt it.

Forgiving their betrayal isn't easy. Is it possible, or will I end up alone with nothing but heartbreak, a fractured soul, memories, and my children?

 I'm determined to have my happily ever after with my blued eyed, blonde haired vixen. I've earned the right to be happy and loved, after what I've been through, and she makes me whole again.

Sometimes love is enough, you just have to fight for it.

 So be it.

Bring it on.

This is one fight I'm not prepared to lose.

Not now. Not ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lilly Barrett
• Release date: Jul 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9780995412941

Lilly Barrett

I'm a fifty something Aussie author living in outback WA. I share my life with 2 gorgeous daughters, a husband and 3 lively dogs along with foster dogs for the local animal rescue.

Book preview

Lilly Barrett

Always Noah’s

By Lilly Barrett

Copyright 2015 Lilly Barrett

Copyright © 2015, Lilly Barrett as pseudonym for the writer.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the places and products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission and is by no way sponsored by the trademark owners. The author also acknowledges the artists and songs mentioned in this work of fiction.

This is a contemporary romance novel and is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and sexual content.

ISBN-13: 978-0995412941

Editing by Melissa Van Natta

Book design and formatting by Swish Design & Editing

Cover design by Soxsational Cover Art

––––––––

Copyright 2015

During the last devastating couple of years, I’ve suffered immensely, after having my soulmate ripped from my life by a madman.

Now, finally, I need to get my shit together.

Come and meet Eden; a nanny I employ for the triplets. She's a local I met again, and immediately offered the position. We have a connection, as well as a physical attraction that just won't desist, no matter how many cold showers I endure. Her arrival at the farm also relieves my parents of their continued burden as they help me care for my cute kids, allowing them to follow their dreams and travel around Australia.

I blame the Birthday puppies, all three of them - one for each of the triplets. It’s their fault that my house has been turned upside down. Mayhem is the norm now and life is pretty sweet.

That is until my stupid brother has a paragliding accident and nearly cripples himself. His recuperation at the farm means that I have to return to the city and take over, running the business while he recovers, nursed back to health by my woman.

Then all HELL breaks loose, when I suspect that she’s looking after him too well.

Can Logan and I recover our solid foundation?

I doubt it.

Forgiving their betrayal isn’t easy, and trusting them again is harder. Is it possible, or will I end up alone with nothing but heartbreak, a fractured soul, memories, and my children?

I’m determined to have my happily ever after with my blued eyed, blonde haired vixen. I’ve earned the right to be loved, after what I’ve been through, and she makes me whole again.

Sometimes love is enough, you just have to fight for it.

So be it.

Bring it on.

*Warning: This is a contemporary romance novel and is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and sexual content.

For my girls

Follow your dreams

I love you both

Blurb

Dedication

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Connect With Me Online

About The Author – Lilly Barrett

It’s been two years.

Two fucking years of hell.

Two years without her.

I don’t know how I’ve survived. If it hadn’t been for the kids, I don’t think I would’ve. Even still, there were times that I wanted to go...be with her again. I miss her so fucking much. My heart still hurts when I think about her - her beautiful face, her smile, her stunning crystal green eyes.

My Mia. The love of my life.

My soulmate and best friend as well as my wife, and the mother of my incredibly wonderful toddlers. All three of them.

Raising triplets on your own is hard work, believe me. If it hadn’t been for Mum and Dad, I’d never have managed. They’ve been lifesavers, my anchor - my support system when I thought it was all too hard.

I don’t know how Mia did it when I wasn’t around. I scarcely have time to work while they’re awake. Luckily, Mum takes them for a few hours each day so that I can do what I need to do to keep the company running.

Logan has it all under control now. I was concerned about him stepping up to become CEO of Byrne Global Resources, so that I could move back to the family farm with Mia and the babies. I help out by dealing with the people side of the business, while Logan deals with the mining side, as well as the computer program development.

I can hear them giggling as they try to sneak in to climb up on my bed, and wake me with tickles, as they’ve done every morning since they started sleeping in their ‘big kid’ beds.

Jake’s the ringleader, always has been. Callan’s the follower and Alice just goes along with whatever the boys decide, unless she doesn’t want to, then her mother’s stubborn streak takes over. She never allows them to get into too much trouble. She’s like their voice of reason. So much like her mother, that sometimes it hurts to look at her. Mia left us when Alice was barely 7 months old, I know she’d hardly remember her, but she has Mia’s mannerisms. It’s amazing and painful at the same time.

Mia’s picture lives beside our bed and the kids love to touch it and look at her. It’s one of her the day we got married. She was so happy and carefree and looked like an angel, even though the ceremony was in a Vegas chapel. I glance over at it now and her smiling, glowing face looks back at me. That was when she had her hair long. So long it was almost to her knees. I still practice braiding hair with Alice. Already she has a mop of dark hair and she tells me all the time that she ‘want hair like mummy’. So far I just smile and kiss her sweet face. I’d do anything for these three.

I close my eyes and pretend to sleep, even throwing out a loud snore to make it believable as they get closer. I open my eyes slightly to watch them.

They’re so cute.

They sound like a herd of elephants, but think they’re being really quiet. My lip twitches in a small smile, but I’m careful to hide it quickly.

Callan’s the first one to reach the bed and he quickly climbs up like he has a hundred times before, and the others follow. Suddenly they all lunge at me, throwing their little bodies over mine and I sit up instantly, as I’ve done a hundred times before. They still don’t expect it and I laugh as they all collapse into giggling bundles on my lap. This happens every morning and has been a normal happenstance since the first day they realized that they didn’t have bars to keep them in bed.

I scoop them up and smother them all with kisses as they laugh louder, slapping at me with their little hands.

I’d give anything for Mia to be here with me right now. She’d be the first one to start a tickle session with them. They adored her and she returned their adoration ten-fold. She’d have done anything for them.

Who’s that in my bed? I tease as I hug Alice to me gently, blowing raspberries on her exposed stomach where her pajama top and bottoms don’t quite meet. She giggles and kicks at me wildly as Jake climbs up to help her out and I put her down and scoop him up to do the same. He’s bigger than the other two and he’s stronger when he kicks so I’m careful to keep out of the way of his flailing limbs as he breaks out into a fit of giggling like his sister.

Callan sits back and watches quietly. That’s just his way. He’s always content to sit back and allow Jake to try something new. That happened when they started crawling and then walking. Callan sat back quietly watching while Jake quickly learned how to move and once he’d mastered it, Alice and Callan followed in their own time.

Jake was always the first. He’s a big bruiser.

I can’t believe how big they’re all getting. It seems like every day they grow more when I’m not looking.

They had their second birthday a while ago. Mum did it all. They go to playgroup once a week so Mum invited all of their friends over for the afternoon and we had games and cake. Actually it was more like controlled chaos than organized games but we did try.

Scarlett even came home from London for it. My little sister loves her niece and nephews and wouldn’t miss the opportunity to spend some special time with them. She tries to be here for birthdays or Christmas whenever she can. So far she’s two for two on each count. I appreciate the gesture. I love having her around, even if it’s just for a short time.

I don’t need to pretend with Booger. I can be myself and if I’m having a bad day she lets me, and I love her all the more for it. I kinda feel like with Mum, I have to be the tough guy who’s holding it all together and being strong for the kid’s sake, but with Scar I don’t have to.

When she heard what happened that awful night 2 years ago, she caught the next plane home from London, even though she’d only been working over there for a few months. She’s a Marine Biologist for the British Government and gets to travel all over the world doing whatever she does. I’m not sure exactly what that is, but I know that it involves exotic locations for weeks on end.

Jake wraps his hands around my mouth and squashes it together as I try to speak and thinks it’s hilarious as unintelligible sounds come out instead of words. Ugh.....shooolll weeee dettt sommme bweakfast?? I ask as they all collapse on the bed, giggling uncontrollably.

I sit up further and push pillows behind me to support me, as I wait for them to climb back over me again. This ritual never gets old. Alice gets on my outstretched legs and moves up close to my body and Jake gets on behind her and Callan behind him as they all yell Horsey Daddy! excitedly. I raise my knees and buck them around a bit while they giggle and drop their heads back, shoulders shaking with laughter.

Once they’ve had enough of that, they climb off me and I’m allowed out of bed. I sit on the side and look over at them, as they make their way to the edge of it and slide down to the floor.

As I stand up the boys immediately stand on one of my feet and wrap their arms around my legs tightly holding on, and Alice raises her arms for me to pick her up and put her on my shoulders. We’ve been doing this for months now and no matter how often we do it, we all love it. Walking through a doorway with three toddlers attached is an art-form, believe me. Hell, even just walking with them down the hallway to the kitchen is a major feat.

I stop in Alice’s bright pink bedroom and change them all as they wriggle and squirm around. Mum says that we need to start toilet training them soon and once again my mind flashes back to Mia.

What the fuck do I know about toilet training babies? In fact, I knew almost nothing about babies at all. When we had them I had to learn quickly – we both did.

Callan spent nearly a week in the NICU as he was the smallest and most vulnerable of them all, and need more attention. That was the best and worst time of my life. I had three newborns dependent on me, and a wife who I nearly lost to Eclampsia. She ended up in ICU as I ran back and forth from her to Callan and then to the other two. Mum was amazing. She came and stayed with us while we struggled with them those first few weeks. I thank God for her every day.

Breakfast is always a noisy affair as I cook toast for them or get them cereal and fruit. They all sit up at the huge wooden table on their chairs waiting and chatting loudly over one another. All I can really see of them is their little heads over the top of the table. As usual Jake’s being a menace and poking Callan with his spoon.

Oi you. Stop that right now. You know that isn’t nice. I admonish him as I do every morning when he does it. You’d think he’d learn after the first couple of times, but no.

Trying to keep them still to dress them, is a workout at the moment. You kinda have to grab them as they’re running past and quickly do what you need to do while they can’t get away. I wish I had half their energy.

Come on you guys. Let’s go see Nan and Pop and see what they’re up to eh? I say as we head out the door as we normally do after breakfast.

Alice squeals as Dad scoops her up into his arms and plants kisses all over her face and neck. This is his normal greeting for her. The boys get a hug and their hair ruffled in greeting. Careful Dad, it just took me forever to get Jake to hold still long enough to comb that hair. He’s full of beans this morning, that’s for sure.

He always like that. He’s never been any different that one. He says as he watches them run inside to greet Mum with hugs and kisses. He’s just like you were when you were his age. He says with a smirk.

No wonder Mum’s got grey hair then. I swear they’re gonna make me bald before I’m forty at this rate.

A laugh escapes him at the absurdity of the statement. My hair is thick and too long at the moment. He’s always telling me to get it cut, but I like a bit of length to it and Mia adored it. She said it made me look like that Thor bloke in the movies. That’s one of the reasons that I keep it longer. The other is that I never make the time to go for a haircut. When I go into Albany without the kids, I’m normally rushing around because Mum’s looking after them and I do what I need to and get home as quick as I can. On the rare occasions I have to go to Perth I’m normally too busy in the office to worry about a haircut.

I sold the house by the beach in Perth not long after Mia died. I couldn’t keep it knowing that she was murdered in that house. Every time I walked into the living room I could see her bleeding out on the rug, her femoral artery torn open by Jackson’s bullet.

Now we have an apartment near Logan, which is fine for what I need. It has 4 bedrooms and Mum comes up and watches the kids while I go into the office and do what I have to do.

You sure you’re okay with looking after them this morning Ma? I ask her for the hundredth time since yesterday. She looks over at me again and nods her head and assures me that they’ll be fine. They’re making cupcakes today.

God help her.

I promise I’ll be as quick as possible. I have to get them enrolled in Kindergarten now, or they stand no chance of getting into the private school we want them in. It’s really only 12 months away and you know how horrible the wait list is. Bev and Craig had to wait 3 years to get their child in.

The drive into Albany from the farm takes about half an hour and the radio fills the silence that never used to happen when Mia was in the car with me. I glance over to the passenger seat and I can still see her sitting there sometimes out of the corner of my eye. I still talk to her, especially if I’m having a bad day. We used to talk all the time and I miss that.

I miss holding her close every night. I miss braiding her hair. I miss her giggling laugh, her bright green eyes and her gorgeous pink lips.

Fuck I miss her.

Rascal Flatt’s I won’t let go comes on the radio and I switch it off. Every time I hear it I have a meltdown.

That was our song.

I heard it one day on her phone music list, when she synced it to the car’s sound system and immediately that became our song in my head. Now I can hardly bear to listen to it. It just hurts too much.

Running my hand up through my hair I wonder if I have time to go and have a haircut today. I’ll try if I’m not too long at the school. I have an interview with the Principal at 10 and I took extra care this morning when I shaved and dressed. When I’m at home all day working around the farm I rarely worry about how I look, but today I found some black slacks and a nice pale blue button down shirt, hoping to make a good first impression. This school is very hard to get into and finding three places for one family will be asking a lot, but I’m hoping they can make it happen. This is where I went to school and this is where I’d like my kids to go as well.

I sit outside the Principal’s office waiting patiently and wishing Mia was by my side right now. She was always better at this shit than I am.

The door opens and I look up at the sound. I see a pretty red haired woman dressed in a tight, knee length navy skirt and a silky pale pink blouse. I glance down at her feet and see high-heeled pumps, very similar to the ones Mia used to favor. They make this woman’s legs look great. I raise my eyes again and take in her pretty blue eyes and clear, pale skin that’s surrounded by a mass of long auburn hair. Surely this isn’t the Principal?

She raises her eyebrow as she notices me looking at her. Mr. Byrne? Would you like to come in and take a seat?

I immediately follow her into the bright sunny office and sit down slowly in the chair in front of her wide desk.

I’m Charlotte Smythe, the Principal of the school. I understand that you have a child that you’d like to attend the year after next, is that right? She says glancing down at the paperwork in front of her.

Err not quite. I actually have three children that I want to enroll. I reply politely.

Oh I’m sorry. I thought it was just your youngest that you were looking to start. I apologize. How old are the other two?

I shake my head slightly and smile across the desk. No, I’m sorry Mrs. Smythe. I wasn’t very clear. I have triplets. Two boys and a girl. They’ll be 3 next year and then 4 in June the following year. I went to this school, as did my brothers and sister, and I’d like to continue the tradition.

It’s Miss actually. I’m not married Mr. Byrne. She corrects me quickly. Ah, I have their paperwork now. Here it is. She says pulling out the enrolment forms from the file. I see that you live out of our school zone area. You realize that we prefer to stay local if we can. Wouldn’t the public school be closer for you if you’re out that way?

I shift uncomfortably in my chair and raise one leg to rest the ankle on the other knee. No. I’m willing to drive them to and from school every day. If for some reason I can’t, my parents will. They live on the farm and help me out with the kids.

Hmmm I see you’re listed as a single parent. Will that be an issue? I take it you have custody of the children? She asks and I’m not sure what she’s getting at and she must notice my confusion, and speaks before I have a chance to reply.

I’m sorry, I’m just asking because I don’t want a mother turning up here and trying to kidnap her children or object to them being here. It’s happened before. A bad divorce can cause all kinds of complications for the children.

Suddenly I understand. Oh, no Ms. Smythe, I’m not divorced. My wife died two years ago in a tragic accident. Now there’s only me and the kids. No nasty vindictive ex-wife. I assure her, my heart physically hurting as I think of Mia again briefly.

A picture of her in my office on the first day she started working for me, pops into my head. I remember opening my door to see an angel at the desk outside. I think I loved her in that instant.

I shake my head to clear the image and concentrate on what the Principal’s saying about fees, uniforms and start dates. After she’s finished I thank her politely for her time and stride out the door listening to her tell me that I’ll get a letter to confirm it, but there should be no problem with their enrolment.

Once I’m in the car I sit for a while and just think. I think about the kids and the logistics of getting them to and from school every single day. How are we going to make this work? It’s hard enough at the moment when they go to playgroup once a week. Maybe I should think about finally hiring a Nanny for them. I know Mum’s been great, but she’s getting older and I can’t rely on them to help out like this much longer. It isn’t fair on them.

I don’t know how long I sit there, but I glance down at my watch as my stomach rumbles loudly and I notice that it’s after midday. I decide to grab lunch before heading back, and start the car to head into the main shopping district. On the way there I notice a male hair salon and pull in there on impulse. I need a haircut and there’s no better time than the present.

As I walk through the door a young female greets me, and gives me the once over look of interest. She can’t be more than 20 I decide, ignoring her fawning and tell her I need a haircut if there’s anyone free that can do it.

She rushes off out the back and comes back in with a striking girl, who could be a professional model if she wasn’t a hairdresser. She has a mane of long blonde hair that’s curled and full around her face and she smiles at me politely, guiding me over to a nearby chair.

I study her in the mirror while she collects her combs and scissors from a nearby mobile trolley. She’s extremely pretty and I think this is the first time that I’ve actually noticed another woman since Mia’s death. I run my eyes down her body as she wraps a smock thing over me and ties it at the back of my neck. She must feel my eyes on her because she raises hers to the mirror and gives me a broad smile.

I can feel the eyes of the young receptionist on us as she watches intently, with nothing better to do.

So do you work here alone? I ask, glancing around at the empty salon.

Oh no. everyone’s at lunch at the moment. It’s a special day for them, so I volunteered to stay and watch the place so they could go and have a long lunch. She tells me with a grin.

What’s so special about it? I ask her, as she runs her fingers through my hair lightly, studying it.

Oh...um...boss’s birthday. She tells me distractedly. So how much were you thinking of taking off? I’m quite liking the long length on you. It actually suits you well. You look a lot like that Aussie movie actor...has anyone ever told you that? She asks with a laugh.

Thinking of Mia and her obsession over that Thor guy, I look up and meet her eyes in the mirror. Actually yeah they have. My wife loved my hair this long, but I think it’s time for a change. Short back and sides. What do you think?

She puts her head on an angle and studies me again the mirror and pulls back my hair against my head getting a feel of how I’d look with my hair short. I like it. It’d work for you, if you’re sure.

I nod slightly as she lets my hair fall. Go for it. Chop it off. I tell her decisively.

I sit and wait patiently while she snips at my long hair and I watch it all fall to the floor as she cuts.

Making conversation, I clear my throat and say, So have you always wanted to cut hair?

She briefly looks up from what’s she’s doing and smiles at me. No. I love this, but I trained as a child care worker originally. I love kids, but I moved away and couldn’t get a job when I came back so I started a hairdressing apprenticeship and finished that a few years ago. What about you? What is it you do?

A smile breaks over my face as I realize that this is probably the first conversation that I’ve had with a woman, that I’m not related to or friends with, in two years. ‘I’m a part time company director and a part time farmer. Got a farm out of Mt. Barker, about half hour out of town."

A company director? That sounds important. What does your company do? She asks with an inquiring look.

I glance back up to meet her eyes as they lock with mine. We have a gold mine up in the Pilbara and a few more out on the goldfields near Kalgoorlie. We also develop computer software specifically for mining operations. Keeps my brother and I busy, that’s for sure. I tell her with a smile.

And your farm? Sheep, goats, cows, chickens or alpacas? She asks, resuming cutting.

I look at her in the mirror again and really study her. She has on skin tight jeans that make her legs look extremely long, and a tight black t-shirt covering her small breasts, but the v neckline showing her slight cleavage is just enough to tantalize. She has long thin arms and her movements remind me of a dancer. She glides, even as she does something as simple as cut my hair.

Cows, I inform her with a grin. But we did also have a few alpacas and we have some chickens for eggs as well. Apparently once they have names, you can’t eat them, so they all die of old age with my Mum around.

You live with your Mum? She asks with a frown and I wonder why.

No they live on the farm as well. They have a separate cottage to ours. I tell her.

Ahh...so you and your wife have one house and they have another? I get it. Sorry I thought you were too old to be living at home with your parents still. She says with a slightly embarrassed giggle.

I love her dearly, but No....couldn’t live full time with her, and no, there’s no wife. I tell her quietly as she frowns.

Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed when you said we. It’s none of my business if you and your partner are married or not. She says apologetically.

I shake my head and wonder why I need her to understand the situation. What do I care? I’ll probably never see her again anyway. No partner either. Just me and my munchkins, I have 2 year old triplets.

She frowns again and looks up to meet my eyes. Wow, that’s quite a handful for a single dad. Boys or girls?

Two boys and a girl. She’s just gorgeous like her mother was, and the boys are non-stop mischief at the moment. I say with a laugh.

So you’re a divorced father of three two year olds, run a farm with your parents and a mining company with your brother? No wonder you haven’t had time for a haircut! She says on a giggle, and for the first time in two years I feel my heart skip a beat at the sound.

That’s about it – except I’m not divorced. She died 2 years ago. And you’re a child care worker who’s also a hairdresser. We both multitask. At least I have help. Did your husband support you when you went back to study hairdressing? I ask.

Nope. No husband. Still single and looking for Mr. Right. All I seem to find is Mr. Right-for-tonight instead. I’ve given up looking for Prince Charming. He’s already found his Cinderella elsewhere I think. She comments with a laugh and wide smile, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. Plus after the end of this week, I won’t even be a hairdresser. I’ve been let go unfortunately. Business is quiet. So back to job hunting for me...again.

My mouth opens before my brain engages and I say on a rush, I’m looking for a Nanny for my kids. It’s hard work for Mum and Dad and I need to spend more time dealing with work - both on the farm and with the company. I’d be grateful if you’d help me out.

She stops cutting for a minute and stares at me in the mirror. Are you serious? You don’t even know me. Why would you give me a job? She asks with a frown, doubt filling her voice.

I’m Noah Byrne. I live out at Valley View, about 30 minutes out of town. See, now you know me. I say with a raised questioning eyebrow, waiting for her to introduce herself as well.

Eden...Eden Jensen. Former child care worker and nearly ex hairdresser and soon to be Nanny to 3 toddlers, if you’re seriously offering me a job? She asks, excitement reaching her ice blue eyes.

I swing my chair around to face her and shove my hand out from under the nylon cloak that covers me and stretch my arm out to shake her small one.

Pleased to meet you Eden Jensen. I’m definitely serious if you want the job. Would solve a lot of my problems and hopefully help you with yours as well. Do you live in town?

Um, yeah. I’m renting a unit out Middleton beach way, but the lease is up soon and I was tossing up whether to renew it or move back to Perth to look for work. Would it be a live in position or would I have just a day job? Coz I’m good either way. I just need to know for my lease. She tells me as she goes back to cutting my hair again.

Right, well I suppose that’s up to you. There’s more than enough room for you to live in if you want, rather than travel half hour up and back each day, but if you want to keep your place then we can make that work too. I tell her as I begin to get used to the idea of another woman in my house.

Mia’s house. I’m not sure how that’s gonna feel.

It’ll always be Mia’s house and the thought of another woman living in it makes my stomach roll. Just got to get used to the idea. I need to do this for Mum. I can see how tiring they are for her. It’s just getting too much to put on her and I feel bad for doing it. She loves having them all, but she needs to be able to have a break. I need a Nanny. It’s the sensible thing to do.

I’m kinda hoping that if you like the job and the kids that you’ll be around for a while. They don’t need to lose another woman in their lives right after they get used to you, so if you have plans to move up to Perth soon, please tell me and I’ll keep looking. I say as she glances up at me.

No. No plans for moving on. I was just thinking about it because Albany has limited jobs, but I love the place. Was born and bred here and I’d love to stay. She tells me with a smile.

I catch her eye as she looks up at me again and I smile broadly. Well I was born and bred here too. What school did you go to? Why don’t I remember seeing you?

I was shipped off to boarding school as soon as they could. How old are you? she asks quickly, trying to figure out what grade I would be compared to her.

I’m 34. I went to St Marks and then boarding school for Secondary School, but Mum and Dad have always lived here.