As a golden glimmer of autumn daylight filtered through a gap in the curtains, the deafening notes of The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” blasted from the phone, causing it to dance around the bedside table and shocking Briony Shepherd into an upright position. After snatching up her fiancé’s device, she shook Alex awake, tapped the green icon, and pressed it against his sleep-crumpled ear, mouthing, ‘It’s your mum.’
Alex rose on one elbow, meeting Briony’s worried frown as he mumbled a “hello”.
With the time difference between Scotland and Australia foremost in her mind, a call at this hour could only spell bad news.
Alex touched the speaker icon and his mother’s broad Scottish accent filled the room.
‘So … if you want to see him before he passes, you’d better get on a plane now.’
Briony tilted her head in question as Alex murmured, ‘Grandpa.’
She nodded understandingly in the quiet; voices blurring as unease lodged in her throat.
It had been one of the worst months she could remember. On one of the rare nights she finished at the hotel early, Alex had organised a lift home with another staff member, and she had gone shopping. Minutes from home, while she sat waiting for the lights to change, two thugs had attempted to carjack her, smashing the driver’s side mirror when they couldn’t open the locked door. She had accelerated forward with a lurch as the green light appeared and sped to the relative safety of their rented home, shaking with terror and with barely a glance behind her to check if the youths had run off or fallen under a following vehicle. Still not over her shock, days later an unexpected storm had blown in from the sea while no one was in the house—drenching her brand-new laptop while it sat on the table beside an open window. The burglar-proof mesh had offered no protection from the deluge, and it had cost her a fortune to have it dried and restored.
Briony’s concentration fixed on Alex as his mother said, ‘He’s still talking a wee bit. But he’s gone down quickly. The doctor says he might have a few days if we’re lucky.’
Alex groaned and Briony stroked his upper arm and mouthed, ‘You have to go.’
‘I’m on my way.’ He rubbed a hand over his golden stubble-coated jaw, said goodbye to his mother, and ended the call. ‘My strong, stoic grandfather. It’s hard to comprehend, but what else should I do? I want to see him again.’
‘I know,’ Briony said. They gazed at each other for a quiet moment before she spoke. ‘You’re thinking about last night, aren’t you?’
He nodded as the previous evening’s drama in the hotel kitchen flashed through Briony’s mind.
The tirade had been between Silvio, the new senior manager, and one of the chefs. The cause trivial—a plate returned from a customer following a mix-up of the order. The issue had been easily remedied, and the customer had been kind and understanding. Silvio had not. Upsetting the rest of the team clearly wasn’t something he considered, but for Alex and the three other kitchen staff, the unwarranted and over-reactive explosion had come as a shock in their previously well-oiled and friendly squad.
‘I don’t want to leave you, especially with that sodding boss.’ Concern wrinkled Alex’s freckled face.
‘I’ll be fine.’ Briony hugged him, determined to hide her own fear. ‘Once you’re on the way to Scotland, I’ll talk to him. We’re due for holidays, so I’m sure your absence for a few days will be fine,’ Briony said, crossing her fingers behind her back as she spoke.
Wide awake now, she grasped the laptop off the table, and hopped back into bed.
Within minutes, with the flight booked, they began throwing clothes into a bag.
‘Six hours before departure sounded like heaps of time, but it’s not, is it?’ Alex said, his blue eyes dark with anxiety.
Briony shook her head. ‘No. Let’s eat and then get on the road. Hopefully the peak-hour gridlock will have cleared by then.’
Alex grimaced. The highway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane airport was notoriously frantic and, despite the multiple lanes, the traffic crawled to a standstill no matter the time or weather.
As they gathered the essential passport and coat from the cupboard, silent fear engulfed Briony. She breathed slowly, certain Alex would hear her pounding heart as dread roiled inside her.
Coping with his grandfather’s passing would be a struggle for Alex, but explaining his absence to the new manager filled Briony with terror.
***
With two hours to spare, Briony drove into the airport car park. Adrenaline had fuelled their mad scatter, but now the panic faded and reality set in. Her relationship with Alex had been tested for three years, starting with pandemic restrictions and then their separation when Briony returned to Australia without Alex. When he could finally travel without having to spend their life savings, he’d arrived in Sydney where Briony had been waiting, believing their worries were over.
Several short-lived hospitality jobs had followed, and their love deepened before they found employment in the high-end Surfers Paradise hotel—their perfect combination of Alex’s chef skills and Briony’s marketing expertise ensuring a warm welcome and good wages. The hours were long and demanding, but they had become used to the challenges and enjoyed the friendly team at the hotel—until Silvio arrived and rapidly took the shine off the entire situation.
Alex dropped his bag on the ground and reached for Briony. As his arms wrapped around her, she pressed her face against the hollow between his collarbone and neck, fighting back tears. Her reliance on the big, strong Scotsman who had stolen her heart surprised her. She found reassurance in his loyalty and positive outlook on all that was thrown their way—and now, when her vulnerability was higher than ever, he was leaving again.
It’s just a minor hitch, she told herself. A bump in the road. But one as important to Alex as it would be for Briony if it were her in his place.
As though reading her unspoken thoughts, Alex slid his hands up to her cheeks and held her gently as they kissed. ‘I’ll do whatever I have to for Mum and Dad and be back as soon as I can. Okay?’
‘Okay.’ She gave him a watery smile, meeting his kind eyes and reassuring grin as he rubbed a hand through his straw-coloured hair.
They walked toward the terminal, pausing at the overhead sign to confirm the flight details, and in less than half an hour they hovered beside the “Passengers only” sign.
‘See you soon,’ he said, then planted a last kiss on her lips and stepped onto the escalator.
Her gaze never shifted as he disappeared out of sight. With sagging shoulders, she trailed back to the car.
The return trip to the Gold Coast was uneventful, the peak hour traffic cleared and the autumn sun shining. But Briony felt conflicted.
The beach was lovely, their comfortable shared house convenient and inexpensive by Gold Coast standards, despite the too-loud music played by their housemates when they were trying to sleep after a late shift. Balancing the current toxic undercurrent floating through the hotel staff with the positives of living on the coast had become hard enough, particularly as she reminisced about her days living on the Isle of Skye. She would be thirty soon and desperately missed country life. Since returning to Australia, they had both loved being able to dress in light clothing, soak up the sun almost every day of the year, and enjoy the casual, beachy lifestyle. But now, did the call for Alex to return to Scotland signal the end of the life they thought they wanted? She wasn’t sure.
***
Prepared for Silvio’s outburst, Briony stared, mesmerized by the fury oozing from his every pore. She’d read about people frothing at the mouth, spittle forming around their lips, but had never actually witnessed it. Now she bit back a hysterical giggle as his face deepened to a shade of puce while he ranted.
Thumping a fist on the counter, he shouted, ‘How dare he go without discussing the issue with me first.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to say they would have if urgency hadn’t prevailed, but she decided against it, fearing it would make matters worse. Instead, she clamped her teeth together and remained mute.
‘I will have his wages completed today and he will not be welcome here again.’
Briony’s mind raced. While they were “casual employees” and therefore subject to immediate dismissal, both had dedicated six months of long, hard hours to ensuring the smooth running of the business. They’d believed their efforts were valued and appreciated until the supposedly vibrant and experienced Silvio joined the staff. Even if they had been before, now they were not.
Her shock and fascination at Silvio’s reaction rapidly turned to disappointment and then anger as her thoughts spun. Her instincts had been right. She and Alex had both given their all—and this was their thanks.
She nodded, her voice firm but quiet as she fought to control her rage. ‘Fine. While you’re arranging for Alex’s termination, you can do mine too. I am giving my notice from this moment—and will put it in writing if you require it.’
Shooting him a challenging stare, she lifted her chin, spun around, and strode out of the room.
***
Briony checked her watch. Alex would be in the air by now. Should she send him a message? They had wi-fi on the plane. She chewed her lip as the urge faded. The last thing he needed was more stress. She would wait until he reached Scotland. With the anger now abating, leaving her determined but resigned to her decision, she picked up her phone and dialled her mother.
‘Hello?’
Briony let her shoulders slump at the sound of her mother’s cheery tone. ‘Hi, Mum. How are you?’
‘I’m fine. We’re all fine.’ Ginny paused. ‘But I can tell from your voice that you are not.’
Briony took a deep breath and relayed the day’s events, beginning with the phone call from Scotland and ending with the diatribe from the manager. ‘So … we’re now officially unemployed and I’m not sure what to do?’ she ended with an unsuccessful attempt to quell her quavering voice.
‘Don’t worry, love. Everything will work out for the best. What’s the situation with your house? Are you tied to the lease, or can you leave?’
Ginny Shepherd was a strong, caring woman—and an insightful mother.
Briony cleared her throat, her mother’s practical tones easing her anxiety. ‘No. It’s Angela and Mark’s home. We pay them room rent, so I guess we could leave at any time—even if I have to give them extra while they find another tenant.’
‘Right then. The answer is simple. Check with the payroll people at your workplace and ensure you’ve followed procedure. Talk to Angela and Mark and sort out what their needs are—and then come home to the farm.’
Briony straightened as the weight lifted. Of course, she always had an option—she’d just temporarily forgotten it in her quest for independence. Featherwood Station was her childhood home and would always be there for her, no matter what life threw her way.
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Her mouth lifted in a faint smile. ‘I’ll nip back to the hotel with my written resignation and talk to the others when they get home from work. Then I’ll let you know.’
‘Perfect. We’ll see you soon,’ Ginny finished.
Briony faced the window, blinking as an enormous dog dragged its screaming owner past the front fence at a gallop. Suddenly, the familiar peace of the Featherwood Falls homestead and all it contained became her goal. Beyond that, Briony couldn’t think and didn’t care. She was tired. Her brain was weary, and she craved the peaceful company of her mother.
‘Yes. If all goes well, I’ll be home at the end of the week.’
