And it was a long way down. Charlotte peered over the side. There was an almost sheer drop to the river of at least a hundred metres.
Rosie had mentioned people falling. Charlotte grimaced. Had anyone survived? Perhaps the railing wasn’t there when it happened.
Enough of this doom and gloom. It was going to be a glorious day from the appearance of the rapidly lightening sky with its drifts of golden and pink cloud.
Charlotte took the steps down to the bottom of the falls, conscious of some slippery parts that weren’t maintained. The ramp that Rosie mentioned was a mess, full of potholes and overgrown in many places. No wheelchair or pram could safely navigate it. Surely council was responsible for this? Or maybe it was Parks and Wildlife. Easy enough to check later and make a complaint to the right place.
The falls disappeared from view as the steps wound through old forest. Massive ferns and a canopy of ghost gums cooled the air. Charlotte stood still for a moment as a large bird crossed ahead. Its huge red bill and head shield made for a ferocious first impression, but the glossy black top half of the body and brilliant blue bottom belonged to the quite benign Swamp Hen, which Charlotte had seen around the edge of town before. It wandered back to the undergrowth and Charlotte continued.
The path suddenly took a sharp turn and the canopy disappeared. Charlotte stepped onto lush grass at the edge of the large pool at the bottom of the waterfall. The water was clear to the bottom and flowed away slowly to become part of the river. She squatted and trailed her fingers in water that was surprisingly cold. The sheer beauty of the landscape tip-toed into her heart. This really was a place she could love and call home
Almost every customer wanted to talk about the meeting last night and what they dubbed the ‘Christmas Tree Thief’ affair. Some people were outraged that the Forest family were being targeted, but others shared their concerns.
“It does have some fact behind it.” One woman looked over her shoulder as she loudly whispered. “That farm has never recovered from the scandal. Apples don’t fall far from trees, mark my words!”
“I’ll mark your words as utter rubbish.” Rosie had muttered the minute the customer left. “With a cherry on top.”
Charlotte giggled.
Rosie stared at her so solemnly that Charlotte stopped. “Sorry.”
“This is not a laughing matter.”
“No. But you are so sweet and always polite to the nth degree so…”
“If you knew what I think sometimes, you’d be whipping out those psychoanalyst tools and measuring me for a straitjacket.”
“Nah. Nothing going on with you that needs as much as a sedative. By scandal, did she mean the divorce?” Charlotte tidied rows of Christmas cards on a spinning stand. “How long ago was it?”
“Ten years or so. Darcy had just left home to do an apprenticeship in Geelong.”
“Carpentry. He told me last night.”
“Okay, you need to explain.”
“I will but finish first.” Charlotte shuffled some overstocked cards into empty slots.
“Well, it was all very sudden. Darcy’s father came to see me, all upset. Wanted to return a book he’d bought for his wife’s birthday a couple of days earlier. I gave him a refund and he told me to keep the money. He just didn’t want the book because she’d packed up, on her birthday mind you, and told him she was leaving with Octavia’s husband. Don’t think he ever saw her again.”
“Wow. How heartbreaking.”
“He was shattered. Let the farm go. Once it was the destination place to buy trees and was a thriving little wholesale nursery. There’s greenhouses up there and he sold seedlings and young trees to the garden centres.”
“Like the one owned by Veronica?”
“Yes.” Rosie wheeled across to Charlotte. “After a year or so, he’d closed the nursery side of it and every Christmas sold less and less. He wasn’t well liked by then with his temper, so people went elsewhere.”
“Darcy mentioned he has to pay off land rates.”
“Did he now? Guess his father left him more than just an under-performing business.” Rosie handed Charlotte some money. “Get us some coffees? Then you can tell me why you suddenly know so much about Darcy Forest.”
When Rosie went for a short lunch break later, Charlotte opened a local region book she’d seen earlier to read up on the Swamp Hen she’d seen on her walk earlier and was pleased she’d identified it correctly. She rather liked birds and might have to buy some binoculars and take bird watching a bit more seriously.
“Interested in our natural wonders, dear?”
Charlotte jumped. She’d not heard Glenys enter the shop and was a bit shocked to find her standing only a few feet away, leaning on a walking stick.
“Glenys. Apologies, I didn’t hear you come in.”
Glenys tilted her head to one side with a slight smile. “You had your head buried in that book. Do you know, I took some of the photographs in it?”
“You did? Oh, please show me.”
For a few minutes, Glenys went through the book showing off her skills, which were excellent. She explained she’d been a wedding photographer for a long time but longed to be known as a wildlife expert.
“I’m so impressed, Glenys. What an interesting life you’ve led.” Finally, Charlotte was able to close the book and slide it back on the shelf. “Is there something in particular you’re looking for today?”
“Not as such.” Glenys hobbled to the counter and Charlotte went to the opposite side.
“Are you alright? I’ve not seen you with a walking stick before.”
“Oh, it’s an old injury that plays up now and then when I overdo things. The thing is, I said some unkind words about the Forest family the other day and wanted to let you and dear Rosie know I was simply out of sorts. In a bit of pain and wasn’t being very nice.”
“We really didn’t notice.” Charlotte lied.
“You are too nice. Which is why Rosie
