‘We can still make it, right, B—’
‘Hang on!’ Helen leaned forward as far as the chains allowed. ‘Tara, who’s “we”?’
‘Jon and I put in a proposal to spearhead a community restoration project. We kept it quiet in case it didn’t go anywhere. You know how slow the shire can be, but in the end it’s all happened amazingly quickly. I was going to tell you as soon as we got the green light, but things at work have been crazy. And that’s a whole other story.’ She sighed and pulled her hair back, twisting it into a knot. ‘To be honest, I’m surprised the move’s happening today. I thought it was next week.’
A prickling whoosh of sensation streaked along Jade’s skin. She shared a look with Helen, knowing she was mirroring the same distrust and scepticism.
‘Who did you deal with at the shire, Tara?’ Jade asked.
‘About the project or the move?’
‘Both.’
‘Geoff Rayson for the idea, then Ryan Tippett about the logistics of the move.’
The two men who’d turfed Helen out of the cottage. ‘Bastards!’
‘I’ve seen the demolition order, Tara,’ Helen said. ‘They’re not moving the cottage. They’re knocking it down.’
‘No! That’s got to be a mistake.’
‘We don’t think so.’ Bob indicated the truck with New South Wales plates. ‘It doesn’t say house-moving, does it?’
Tara’s face paled. ‘Don’t move. I’ll ring Ryan straight away and sort it out.’
Jade plonked Milo on Bob’s lap. ‘Can you hold onto him for a minute and give me your phone, please? I’ll post some photos. Helen, think about what to say on a Facebook Live.’
Bob nodded towards the truck driver, who was still talking on his phone. ‘Reckon you should give me the padlocks first so we’re all secure when Daryl gets back.’
‘Good idea.’ Jade followed Bob’s instructions on where to place them and snapped them shut.
‘Here you go, mate.’ Bob handed Milo the keys.
‘That’s not a great idea. He’ll lose—Oh!’
Bob grinned. ‘Smart girl.’
Jade usually hated being called a girl, but unlike when others said it and she felt the sting of an insult, whenever Bob said it, it sounded like praise.
‘I’m calling Fiza and I’ve sent out a message on the garden’s WhatsApp to get the women down here,’ she said. ‘Will I ring Vivian?’
‘I’ll call Vivian, but let’s do the Facebook Live first,’ Helen said. ‘Then we’ll have some footage and you can ring WIN TV News.’
‘You think they’ll listen to me?’
‘Of course they’ll listen to you. You’ve had an article published in the Shepparton News and now you’re giving them a scoop.’
Helen’s confidence steadied Jade’s nerves. ‘Tara, do you have any lipstick Helen can use?’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake. I don’t need frippery.’
Jade glared at her. ‘If this video goes viral or lands up on the TV news, you’ll thank me for the lipstick.’
‘She’s right. A bit of colour suits you,’ Bob said and smiled encouragingly. Helen shot him a death stare and he raised his hands. ‘Not that you don’t look great without it.’
Tara handed Helen the lipstick and a mirror. ‘Ryan’s not in the office until nine and the mayor’s not picking up so I’ve left messages.’
‘Yeah, well, they’re not stupid,’ Helen said. ‘They planned for this to happen before business hours.’
‘But why? Geoff Rayson was genuinely excited at the prospect of the cottage being saved from demolition.’
‘It’s all going to come out really soon.’ Jade lifted Bob’s phone. ‘Remember—three points, Helen. Clear and concise. And in three, two, one …’
Helen looked straight at the phone Jade was holding steady and took a deep breath. ‘Something’s rotten in the Shire of Mookarii and the attempt to demolish this cottage and the community garden is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s time to ask some hard questions so I invite the mayor to come and talk to me here on the steps of Boolanga’s oldest building. Citizens of Boolanga, please come and ask questions too.’
‘Bit of Hamlet. Nice.’ Bob’s eyes twinkled. ‘I must be rubbing off on you.’
‘If that was true, I’d have said “a plague on both your houses”. You do fall back on Romeo and Juliet a lot.’
‘That’s because I’m a romantic.’
‘Well, I doubt my Hamlet will call Geoff out. If you had something to hide, would you be prepared to face a crowd?’
‘That’s the bread and butter of being a politician.’
‘That was awesome, Helen! The likes are going off!’ Jade’s face shone with excitement and admiration. ‘You’re all over this. Did you protest in the sixties?’
Indignation ripped through her. ‘I was barely born in the sixties!’
Bob laughed so hard tears tracked down his white-stubbled cheeks.
‘Helen, Bob.’ Daryl stood at the bottom of the stairs, his hard hat in his hands. ‘I think it’s only fair to tell you I’ve called the police. I didn’t want to, but taking the keys from the excavator was a step too far.’
‘Fair enough, Daryl,’ Bob said.
Fiza hurried over, her face filled with worry. ‘Oh, Helen, Bob! Is this safe for you?’
‘Nothing to worry about, Fiza,’ Bob said. ‘We’re exercising our democratic right to make our opinions heard. I just wish I’d had breakfast first.’
‘I will bring you food.’
‘Good idea, Fiza.’ Tara got out her phone. ‘Hit me with your orders. My treat. Jade?’
‘Seriously?’
‘Looks like you’re the communications officer so we can’t have you fainting from hunger. You can have anything you want as long as the bakery sells it.’
‘An egg and bacon roll and a hot chocolate would be awesome, thanks. Helen, are you right with Milo? I’m going to call WIN and get some more footage. Back soon.’
‘I’ll pay for whatever Daryl wants,’ Bob said.
‘Thanks, but I’ve got a thermos and the wife made sandwiches.’ Daryl walked back to the truck.
‘Fiza and I will be back as soon as we can,’ Tara said. ‘I’ll call you if I hear from either Ryan or Geoff.’
‘I respect your optimism, Tara, but it won’t happen.’
Squinting into the sun, Helen watched Tara and Fiza leave, then recognised Judith and Sharon, still in their exercise gear.
