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Rick strode through the Monday shoppers, his gut tightening as he entered the lingerie store. Lace and satin knickers lined the walls and empty push-up bras left nothing to the imagination. Fuck, it’d been a long time since he’d touched a woman. Held breasts. Screwed. Prison had offered a lot of things, but he’d sure missed convenient sex. All his blood rushed south until his jeans grew tight. Perhaps when he found Ana, he’d take one last ride before—
‘Good morning, sir. Can I help you?’
Rick eyed the middle-aged woman and resisted a grimace. The sexy undergarments she sold would do nothing for her with that flab she tried to conceal around her waist. The thought quickly iced the heat running through his veins. Rick forced his hands to relax and reminded himself why he was there.
‘Yeah. Is Nadia Hamilton working today?’
The woman frowned. Her nametag read Helen. ‘I’m afraid it’s just the two of us,’ she said, indicating towards the other old woman.
Rick’s hands curled. He swore this was the store Ana had mentioned her bitch mother was moving to. She’d worked at two in the time he’d been with the slut. He’d visited them both, but the whores who worked there hadn’t seemed to know who he was talking about, the fucking liars.
‘It’s just, last time I was here to buy gifts for my girlfriend, she was very helpful. Nadia knows what she likes and I wanted to deal with her again.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, but I’m sure we should be able to help you out. What is your girlfriend’s size?’
Rick gritted his teeth. ‘Can you just tell me when Nadia will be in?’
Helen exchanged a look with the other woman. His pulse spiked. Did she work here? Would she be in another day?
‘Nadia Hamilton does not work here,’ Helen replied. Her eyes remained kind, but her tone had hardened. Rick wanted to grab her and shake until she spat out the location of the whore mother. ‘Would you like to see our selection today and what’s on special?’
Rick rolled his eyes, turned, and marched out of the store.
Fucking bitches. The lot of them.
* * *
Over the past two weeks, meeting new people had happily overwhelmed Ana, but it was nothing compared to the first day of school. The children arrived in droves, sporting clean uniforms with shiny shoes and glossy books. The older kids ran around smiley faced and excited, but some of Ana’s grade ones clung to the hands of their parents with terrified expressions on their young faces. Ana was ready for tears.
The first couple she met were Jason and Rebecca Taylor with their daughter, Lisa. Meg had told Ana that the family operated Tropic Sun and that Rebecca was her paternal cousin. Jason was the only son of John and Millie Taylor, and he managed the banana farm. Lisa seemed rather happy about coming to school, but still clung to her mother’s hand.
‘Hello, Lisa.’ Ana smiled kindly as the little girl blinked her big blue eyes. ‘How are you?’
‘Good,’ she replied in a small voice.
‘Do you want to pick a place to sit? You can have any spot here at this group of tables.’
Rebecca and Jason helped Lisa settle in while Ana met parents left, right, and centre, everyone welcoming her with a genuine smile. The noise grew as the classroom filled and the kids greeted their friends. Molly took the desk beside Lisa and three little boys argued over who got to sit in the middle. Ana smiled, her heart threatening to burst before the bell had even rung.
She got her class settled and began the day with housekeeping. She was good with names so didn’t forget anybody. As a new teacher, the kids asked her questions that led to a long description of Sydney, where most of them had never been. But Ana didn’t mind. She was back in her element, doing what she loved, and she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Being in the classroom again with young, fresh-faced children eased the stress she’d experienced these past few months. Teaching them would be a pleasure. And if she was still breathing in October, then ...
She sighed. One day at a time. Next year was a problem for later.
* * *
‘That was a long day,’ Meg groaned as she and Ana locked their classrooms, exhausted.
‘It was.’ Ana had enjoyed herself, but she longed to go home, put her feet up, and not get up again for a week.
‘Yeah. So, I didn’t have time to ask, how was dinner with Liam? You must tell me everything.’
Ana smiled. Even with her busy day, she hadn’t stopped thinking about last night. She tingled at the memory of his kiss and quivered for more. ‘It was lovely.’
Meg raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s all I get?’
Ana laughed. ‘Fine. We talked a lot. He said he planned to make The Bent Banana dog-friendly and I suggested he sell homemade dog treats.’
‘That’s an awesome idea!’
‘He thought so too. Dinner was delicious and, yes, he kissed me goodnight.’
Meg grinned, skipping as they strolled down School Street. ‘Wow! I’m not at all jealous. How was it?’
‘What? The kiss?’
‘Of course!’
‘It was ... amazing.’ To say anything less would be an insult. ‘It’s just ... oh, seriously, Meg! I didn’t expect to come here and meet someone. Not like Liam. Don’t you think it’s too soon?’
Meg wrapped her arm around Ana’s shoulders, squeezing gently. ‘Ana, haven’t we had this discussion? There’s no reason you shouldn’t date Liam and you need a huge upgrade after your last boyfriend. Just go for it. You know you want to.’
‘Yeah ...’ She could admit that much. And as for the rest of it, she’d figure it out later. ‘We’re going to the roadhouse tonight to get burgers.’
‘The burgers there are to die for!’
Arriving at Jackson Villas, Ana waved Meg off and headed inside. She dumped her bag onto the dining table, then pulled back the curtains to see Louis.
Ana gasped and pushed open the sliding door. ‘Louis!’
Louis stopped digging the hole and dropped his head. He crept towards Ana, his front paws black, head down, and eyes sad. Ana placed her hands on her hips, appalled at the sight before her. The yard was a mess with holes and dirt everywhere. Louis lay at her feet, his head between his paws and eyes squeezed shut. An ache formed around her heart. She couldn’t yell at him. Not when he was showing signs of being intimidated. Poor Louis. The last thing she needed was him relapsing. He’d only dug because he was bored. And being bored was her fault.
Ana pressed her lips together, grabbed Louis’ nose, and lifted his head. ‘Bad boy. That was a very bad boy, Louis. You are not allowed to dig holes.’
Then she sat in the doorway and sighed, lifting Louis into her arms. She cradled him and held him close.
‘I’m so sorry, baby. I should have known better. I’m sorry I took you away from your big yard, but you know we had to leave.’
Louis wriggled and Ana let him go. His eyes were happier now that he’d realised she still loved him, but it didn’t lessen Ana’s guilt over being a bad dog-mummy. She’d brought Louis to Elizadale where he was bored and hot all because they had granted Rick parole. She’d known he wouldn’t stay in prison forever, but he hadn’t even served half of his five-year sentence. Good behaviour and showing signs of rehabilitation, the court had argued. But Ana knew such claims were fake and believed with all her heart that Rick had done everything he could to be released with the sole intention to find her. And hurt her.
Now Louis had a small backyard and had dug up the grass and gardens.
Fighting back tears, Ana took his head in her hands and buried her face in his soft fur. What could she do? She could try to find another place to live, but the real estate market wasn’t exactly booming out here.
Glancing around, she assessed the damage. She could save that plant and the grass would grow back once she filled the holes. Unless Louis dug again tomorrow.
‘You have too much energy, don’t you? And not enough ways to burn it off. I’m sorry, but if you don’t dig, I promise to take you to the park every afternoon.’
She’d taken him to the park or for a walk every day since they’d arrived, so she didn’t know why he’d chosen today to dig. Nevertheless, she should have provided her precious boy with the home he needed. A border collie couldn’t be locked in a small yard all day no matter how much she walked him.
‘Get your ball, Louis.’
He bounded away in search of his tennis ball. If she threw it for a while, he could work off whatever energy he had left. She’d fix the yard later.
Louis dropped his ball at her feet and Ana threw it. Perhaps Liam might have an idea to prevent Louis’ boredom. She hated to ask him for help again, but other than leaving Louis with his toys, she didn’t know what else to do.
They played until she left for the pub.
‘I’ll take you for a walk when I get home, no matter how late it is.’
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