page28 (2/2)

The pain and sadness wound around him, made him cross his arms to keep her away

‘Never stopping in one place long enough’

Harry sank to his haunches, unable to stop listening when he knew he should Eavesdropping wasn’t gentle, that despair? He couldn’t Every word dug into hihter, smacked his heart He understood her need for control; she had to hold on to as around her, to keep her life on the straight and narrow She believed she had her father’s genes, but he didn’t accept that She was too grounded, just didn’t kno to let go a little Though these past teeks she’d gone so that

He didn’t want to hear any more Sienna’s sadness was too hard to deal with It resonated with his He leapt up and headed for his deck, where his shoulder sluht drizzle he hadn’t really noticed until nowthe warm air heavy and his skin uncomfortable As far as days went, this one had been a doozy Make that, the worst in a long tined supreme Two jobs in two cities The rescue position was his preference, even if permanent Melbourne would be safer on his heart, but still filled with difficulties

Both positions offered security in one way or another Both would give him time to settle a bit, possibly buy a horateful tenant Both ca problems His family versus the woo; who’d just tightened the hold over him

Decisions, decisions He didn’t knohere to start So he wouldn’t He’d take his usual out and sleep on it, see what popped up in his

He didn’t wake, because he didn’t go to sleep At four thirty he crawled out of bed and pulled on running shorts and a grey singlet The colour suited his o for a run The roads would be quiet but didn’t appeal There were beaches to choose fro for an hour first Mission Bay won out Handy and easy to negotiate the way around to the next bays He could head straight into work afterwards No need to return ho Sienna outside

The sun had begun its climb up the sky as he locked his vehicle and did so the restless night spent tossing and turning in bed

Bed Sienna The two fit together perfectly, and gave hi to banish She was one stubborn woo away, even when there were kilo to do about her? About them?

Crunch, crunch, crunch went his shoes on the wet sand Swish, sent the se of the tidal line Thuto the end without thinking about Sienna

Or which job to take

Or settling down

Or whether to beco on some mountain in a far-eastern country

Splat His foot had snagged a sled on the

hard sand Great Just perfect Concentrating on trying not to concentrate on Sienna had dumped him hard His ankle throbbed A cut on his hand froreat

Sienna Burch, this is all your fault

Scra to his feet, he tentatively tried out his ankle A dull ache, and when he shifted his weight onto that leg it was good to go After rinsing his hand in the salt water he started for the end of the beach again, this ti in his head

Strange, but it was quieter in there now, as though acting calm made him calm He breathed deep, lifted his eyes to take in the blue sky with a few clouds scudding around the top of Rangitoto Island The harbour waters were tossing up s out frorounds Gulls squawked overhead before diving deep into the water

He couldn’t fault the place At moments like this he felt at home

Harry tripped, righted himself At home? Get away This was not the city he wanted to stop in to put roots down So he’d ated the job on offer here Didn’t it? Returning to Melbourne wasn’t exciting hied back to his four-wheel drive and a towel After wiping himself down, he threw on a shirt and crossed the road to a café for an early breakfast and lots of very strong coffee

His phone rang loud in the near empty café ‘Hi, Derek’

‘Connor’s doith gastro I’ crews around Can you come in now?’

‘Onon the stuffy red suit that the kids adored Funny, but they were easier to handle when he was dressed up as their favourite character ‘Can you put uy behind the counter ‘Those eggs were delish’