Chapter 24
CHAPTER
Elora had done a few mock-ups for a farm-to-table restaurant marketing plan when her phone beeped with an incoming text. She hated that her heart leapt like a teen’s at the thought of receiving a text from Cruz, the boy she liked.
‘Idiot,’ she muttered, picking up her phone, a tad disappointed when she saw Bindi’s name on the screen.
Hey El, Are you free for a coffee this morning? There’s a food truck, Marco’s, parked behind the town square every day that serves a mean brew.
Elora had been surprised by how quickly she’d bonded with Bindi and liked that the feeling must be mutual, if her new friend had reached out so soon.
Sounds good. Meet you there in thirty?
She heard a ping as Bindi liked her response and Elora shut down her laptop. Cruz had seemed amenable to hiring Bindi at the restaurant, though it wasn’t Elora’s place to tell her. Besides, with the way Cruz’s mood vacillated, he might get snarky if she told Bindi the news.
As she headed for her car, she took a quick detour to check out the shed Cruz had mentioned as being a potential site for his pop-up restaurant.
The double doors had been left unlocked and she stuck her head in, surprised by the cleanliness of the place.
The shed wouldn’t take much work to make it appealing: rustic tables and benches, fairy lights strung, candles and native floral arrangements; country charm meets upmarket cuisine from a sexy chef.
It would be easy to market a place like this.
If she pitched it right, she’d have Cruz’s new venture booked out for a month.
Excited by the prospect of working on it with him, she arrived in town early and sat in her car with the windows down, inhaling the fresh country air and watching the line of people at the food truck.
Bindi hadn’t been wrong about Marco’s being popular—it looked like half the town got their caffeine fix from the truck.
And despite it being a tad early for lunch, several people carried wrapped gyros.
She couldn’t see Bindi, so got out of her car and strolled around the truck, ignoring the tempting aromas of roasting lamb and garlic sauce, because she’d stuffed herself at breakfast thanks to Cruz.
Him cooking for her had been a gesture she hadn’t expected but appreciated nonetheless.
For a guy who liked to come across as an ogre, he had a softer side that many men didn’t.
Thinking about breakfast brought thoughts of the activities that had preceded it, and heat flushed her face at the memory of how good they’d been together.
Surprisingly, there hadn’t been much morning-after awkwardness either when she’d bumped into him.
In fact, by the way he’d looked at her, he wanted a repeat of their memorable night and she wholeheartedly agreed.
If she only had a few nights left here, she intended on making the most of them.
With no sign of Bindi, Elora strolled a little further, past a public pool.
A high fence surrounded the pool, and she wondered how many teens took it as a personal challenge to scale it on hot summer nights.
She’d never been one of the cool kids, considering she moved schools often, and she envied the ease with which some kids were surrounded by friends, their popularity worn like a badge of honour.
About to head back to the food truck, she caught sight of a woman pushing through a jagged hole in the wire fence in the far corner near the pool’s change rooms. She had a towel draped over her shoulder and carried a toiletry bag, and glanced around before sprinting to an old, puke green–coloured SUV.
The homeless problem in Melbourne tugged on Elora’s heartstrings and she regularly donated to shelters, but it never occurred to her that homelessness might be a problem in country towns too.
Having grown up in a few as a kid, she remembered close-knit communities who rallied around their own in times of need and assumed Rosevale Grove would be the same.
Then again, it had been years since she’d lived in a small town, let alone visited one, and she knew next to nothing about the infrastructure and support available here to those who needed it.
Glancing at her watch, she picked up the pace. As she reached the food truck, she spotted Bindi waving to her from the end of the queue.
‘Hey,’ Elora said, smiling. ‘This coffee better be as good as you promised.’
‘I’m no connoisseur, but it hits the spot. Thanks for meeting me.’ ‘
No problem. I’m glad you reached out.’ She made circles at her temple. ‘Working the last few hours has made me loopy. I could do with a break.’
‘Did you enjoy last night? The guys can be a bit much when you first meet them.’
‘I had a ball. Thommo and Robbo are hilarious, and Kyle’s a good guy.’
‘What about Cruz? You two seem to be getting along, and that’s no mean feat, considering the guy isn’t a people person.’
To her mortification, heat scorched her cheeks, and Bindi hooted. ‘Oooh, look at you, getting all hot and bothered. Did something happen between you two?’ She leaned closer. ‘You can depend on me. I won’t tell a soul.’ She made a zipping motion over her lips.
Elora would like nothing more than to confide in her new friend, but Cruz lived in this town, whereas she’d be out of here shortly, and she didn’t want to embarrass him or leave him open to speculation and gossip.
‘He’s a nice guy beneath the prickly exterior,’ she said, mustering her best air of nonchalance, and thankfully, Bindi bought it.
‘Did you ask him about work? I thought coming back here would be a good move, but there’s a job shortage and I need employment ASAP.’
Bindi’s abrupt change of topic surprised Elora, as did the hint of desperation in her eyes. ‘As someone who owes my ex an exorbitant sum of money, I know the feeling.’
Bindi’s dubious glance told Elora she didn’t believe her.
‘So, did he say anything about me working for him?’
Elora nodded. ‘I mentioned it to him, and while he doesn’t want me advertising the fact yet, he’s keen on opening a small restaurant on the farm and will need help. Have you waitressed?’
‘You name a job, I’ve probably done it,’ Bindi said, sounding forlorn. ‘Thanks, El, I appreciate you asking him for me.’
‘No worries.’
As they reached the front of the queue, tension radiated off Bindi, and Elora wondered if her need for work was more than just a keenness for employment and had more to do with financial troubles. If anyone understood, she did.
‘What are you having? My treat.’
‘No way.’ Bindi shook her head, her lips set in a stubborn line. ‘I invited you.’
Elora understood pride. She’d contemplated asking her parents for the money to pay off Jason and be free of him once and for all, but the thought of them knowing her business didn’t sit well with her, especially as they rarely checked in anyway.
But pride didn’t pay the bills, so if Bindi needed a helping hand, she’d step up. ‘Please. I’d like to buy you lunch to thank you for being so welcoming last night. It can be tough being the new chick in town and I really did have a great time.’
Bindi studied her face for a moment too long, as if searching for the slightest hint of pity, before she nodded. ‘Thanks. I’ll have a small latte, milk and one sugar, and one of Marco’s famous gyros.’
‘They smell amazing, but I had a big brekkie.’
Unfortunately, her expression must’ve betrayed her again, because Bindi winked and said, ‘Did Cruz cook it for you? What with him being a chef and all …’
‘He did,’ she said, unable to stop another blush, and Bindi laughed.
‘I haven’t seen Cruz in twelve years, but from what I remember, he was a lone wolf, so I think it’s great he’s hanging out with you while you’re here.’ She pretended to frown. ‘Just don’t break his heart, okay? I’m protective of my boys, even if they were pains in the arse in high school.’
‘Noted.’ Elora placed their order and moved to the side. ‘Were you close to all of them?’
‘Thommo and Robbo were always goofballs, so they were fun to hang out with. Kyle’s a good friend, but Cruz hovered on the outskirts, not wanting to have anything to do with us.
We still invited him along anyway.’ Bindi smiled.
‘I’ve got a few old pics on my phone …’ she trailed off, patting the pockets of her jeans.
‘Damn, I’ve left it in the car. Be back in a sec. ’
Bindi sprinted across the town square to a row of cars parked behind the kids’ playground and headed straight for the old green SUV Elora had seen by the pool. The same car she assumed the homeless woman lived in.
Stunned, she realised the desperation behind Bindi’s need for employment.
Her new friend must be homeless.