She’d just hung up from giving her statement when Carter came spilling in the door with Aaron behind him. ‘Where’s Dad?’ Aaron asked.
Pulling her thoughts back into line and hoping there was no sign of the fury—and panic—she felt within, she said, ‘He’s gone with Reid to look for Maccy.’
‘I hope they find him,’ Carter said, hands clenched together.
She hugged him to her. ‘Me too.’ And she did. She truly did. He was family now. He had to be fine. If he was, it would be like a sign that nothing could break their little unit apart.
Barb appeared in the kitchen doorway, a smile on her face. ‘Typical. You’ve arrived in time for the scones I just took out of the oven,’ she said to the boys. ‘You sniffed them out, didn’t you?’
Carter broke from Prita’s hug and grinned up at her. ‘Aaron said you’d be making some fresh ones with Flynn and Mum coming home.’
‘Well, he was right. But the scones have to cool down a little before I can let the devouring hordes at them. But you can come and help me set the table with everything we need for afternoon tea.’
‘We’re not devouring hordes,’ Aaron said as they walked towards the kitchen. Then he leaned towards Carter and said, ‘What’s a horde?’
Carter solemnly told his friend the meaning of the word, as they walked to the kitchen. Pride swelled in her chest, warming her through. Then her heart lurched as the door slapped closed behind them. Nobody would take that little boy away from her. She wouldn’t let them.
‘So, what’s wrong?’ Barb asked.
Prita jerked. She’d been so focused on Carter, she hadn’t realised Barb had stayed in the room. ‘Nothing.’ Barb gave her a look. ‘I’m just tired.’ The eyebrow went up further. ‘I’m worried about the clinic and starting again and having no clothes.’
Barb nodded and gestured for her to take a seat on the couch, then sat beside her. ‘That’s part of it, but not what’s worrying you now. You’re too sensible to let things like that truly get to you. It’s something else. Something to do with that little boy.’
Prita gaped at her. ‘How do you do that?’
‘Do what?’
‘Know things?’
Barb shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I just do.’
‘Your superpower.’
‘Damn right.’ She patted Prita’s arm. ‘I also know that sharing your problems often makes them easier to deal with. It helped me before, sharing my worries about Flynn. Let me take some of your burden now.’
Prita sighed. Then found herself spilling everything her papa had told her.
‘I’m sorry, love. Truly sorry that all this is happening at once for you.’ She sighed and looked out the window. ‘It sometimes seems like the universe must have finished shitting on you but then, no, there’s more steaming dung being heaped on your head.’
Prita couldn’t help but snort at the analogy.
Barb smiled at her as she met Prita’s gaze. ‘All you can do is take one day at a time and go from there. You’re a strong woman. You’ve gone to some dangerous places in the world with your work, made incredible changes for that little boy, survived some personal tragedies. You managed to deal with all of that and you’ll manage this too.’
‘I know. I was just telling myself that.’
‘Wise woman.’
‘I’d be wiser if I took my own advice.’
‘Wouldn’t we all.’ She patted Prita’s hand, her smile softening. ‘I can take one burden away from you. Your clinic. I’ve already started to make calls. It’s amazing the things people have lying around. The rest we can buy or hire and have shipped here. We’ll have an office and treatment room set up for you in no time at the cottage and will get the word out you’re back up and running. Should only take a few days. It’s not perfect, but it will do while the insurance is sorted and you get your place rebuilt.’
‘Oh, Barb, you’ve done too much already.’
‘Nonsense. You’re part of the family. You belong here. There’s no way we’re going to let some arsonist bastard chase you away.’
She gaped at Barb. She hadn’t realised how much she needed to hear that. She was overwhelmed with everything happening so fast with no chance to get her thoughts together let alone deal with the last issue before the next one popped up. She needed her papa to be here. She also needed Barb and her CoalCliff mob’s help and support. She’d be stupid to keep denying it—especially now when the stakes were higher than before. ‘Thank you.’ She reached out and pulled the other woman into a tight hug. ‘Thank you.’
‘It’s my pleasure.’ Barb leaned back, her expression serious. ‘Also, Flynn needs you, so there’s me being a little selfish too.’
‘I will try and do what I can for Flynn, but I’m not a specialist.’
‘I know. But I think you’re good for him in a not-doctor-way as well.’
‘We went through this before. I’m not … there’s nothing …’
Barb wagged her finger at her. ‘I know. But there might be. And might be’s are exciting things, aren’t they?’ She stood and walked to the door. ‘Come have some tea and scones with your boy and pretend for a little while that everything is fine. The rest we can deal with later.’
Knowing Barb was right, Prita followed her into the kitchen, and even though she wasn’t hungry—there was too much going on inside her to leave room for food—she sat down and drank tea and ate scones with her boy and laughed and pretended for a little while that everything was going to be fine.
