Your loving beau, F.
Her bedroom door burst open and Alex stood there dressed to go out. “Come on, Mom. We’ll be late.”
She glanced at her bedside clock and then back at her son.
“You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?” He shook his head.
“What?” She folded up the letter and slipped it into her bedside drawer.
“Hamish asked if we wanted to go out today to the Easter Show and you said yes.” He came in and sat down on the end of her bed. “But that was before you, you know, got upset last night with Gran again.”
Billie bit her lip, embarrassment heating her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Alex. It’s getting to be a pattern with me and your grandmother, isn’t it?”
“She really doesn’t want you to go away, does she?”
Billie groaned, and covered her eyes, doing her best to fight the fog in her brain. “No, she doesn’t. I doubt I can deal with another incident like the last couple either.”
“I’ll understand if you want to stay home and rest. You’ve had a hard week of it with the bath episode and then Gran. I can…
“No. We’re going.” She threw back the blankets. It’d be a great way to keep her out of the house and away from her mother until she left for Singleton on the Monday. Anything to avoid the cold looks and uncomfortable silences. “I promised and I won’t go back on a promise. Go make me coffee and toast while I get dressed, okay?”
He grinned, his face lighting up at her words. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, make it two pieces please. I’m starving and make sure you eat too. Don’t want you fading away.”
Alex reached out and gave her a quick hug before bounding out of the room. His footsteps thumped down the stairs and Billie took a moment to reflect. Last night hadn’t been as bad as the night earlier in the week with the storm but still she had felt shaken after her mother’s repeated attempts to put off her trip to Singleton. She’d stood her ground, had refused to fight back and listened as Lucy had cried and cajoled in an attempt to get her own way. Father had eventually taken her to the bedroom and Billie had reached for a bottle of wine to try and take the edge off.
With Hamish as their guide, they caught the train to the show and armed themselves with show bags and fairy floss.
“I want to show you the dog trials.” Hamish took her arm and guided her away from sideshow alley. “I have a soft spot for them because for years my mother bred and showed border collies. Amazing animals, so fast and agile. Ferociously loyal too.”
“Is she showing this year then?”
“No. She retired from showing when my father died.”
“I’d love to see them.” Being out in the fresh air seemed to be doing her the world of good. Her headache had faded and for the first time in ages, Billie was enjoying being among people.
“Do you still have dogs, Hamish?” Alex glanced at her and Billie knew where this conversation was headed. Her son had wanted his own pet for ages but now wasn’t the time.
“Actually, yes. We have a little of pups almost ready to go.” He grinned at Billie. “What do you have planned for tomorrow? We could catch the train down to see them, make the most of the nice weather. What do you think?”
“Look, I don’t know…
“Awh come on, Mom. What harm can it do?”
Billie wanted to refuse but the pleading look on her boy’s face tugged at her conscience. He more than deserved to do something he wanted to do. There would be the inevitable argument about getting a pet which she had so far managed to brush off but after what they’d been through, how could she say no. “That sounds wonderful. Are you sure your mother won’t mind us all descending on her?”
“Not in the slightest. She loves people.”
Hamish grabbed her arm and guided her between the throngs of people milling around the exhibits. “Down this way, watch out for the step here.”
Billie ducked the mud puddle and skipped over to the side of the concrete path to let a woman with a pram and a cranky toddler pass. The smell of hot fat drifted from the chip van, and she debated stopping for a pot of fries. She bumped into a group of teenagers and went to apologise but the words were ripped from her mouth. Pain shot through her arm as her handbag was yanked free from her grip. Billie screwed her eyes, the burning of her shoulder pushing all thought from her mind.
* * *
“Wilz? Oh my God, tell me what happened.” Someone grabbed her arm and tried to lift her to her feet.
“Go away. Leave me alone.” She brushed them off, hugged her arms around herself. Her head spun dizzily and she wanted to throw up. The pain engulfed her, made her want to scream out in protest.
Breathe in, slowly now until everything is under control. Last thing you need to do is make more of a fool of yourself in front of Hamish. The bustle and noise of the crowd went strangely quiet as she concentrated on holding onto her senses, to will away the pain.
The last thing she remembered was trying to avoid a teenager with filthy clothes and a scowl on his face, reaching for her handbag, wrenching it from her shoulder as she tried to turn away from him. She should have been more aware of her surroundings. This never would have happened to her in San Francisco, she was always on the ball. She’d gone soft lately.
A gentle touch on her cheek made her open her eyes. A young woman glanced down at her. Tears trickled down her cheeks, leaving damp trails to her chin. “Wilz. Oh my goodness, you scared
