A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe (feel good books .txt) 📕

‘No, all good. You’re faster on the computer.’ He sat and gave Milo the plastic hammer to hit against the table.

Helen pressed on. ‘If Cynthia’s a plant, why would she have told me three times that she’d vote for the housing project? The mayor’s far more likely to be dabbling in bribery and corruption.’

‘Or are you blinkered because you want it to be Geoff?’ Bob asked.

‘I don’t want it to be anyone, but there’s a pattern emerging and I’m facing facts.’ She uncapped a red pen, circled the male names and drew lines between them. ‘When I started this project, all the councillors met with me except the mayor. His secretary always had an excuse. Right from the start, the female councillors were enthusiast and supportive, but the men vacillated saying things like “We’ll certainly give it serious consideration” and “We need to think about it in the broader context of the shire’s social responsibilities”.

‘Geoff Rayson gave Vivian a verbal “in-principle” agreement and since then he’s consistently backed away from the project, removed me from my job and kicked me out of the cottage. We have photographic proof that all these men have met with Tucker and all of them have gone cold on the tiny houses project. On the other side, we have three female councillors who have only been in the same place as Tucker at the business awards and he hasn’t approached any of them.

‘After I told Vivian how many times Tucker’s been in Boolanga this year, the three women requested a meeting with him. He told them Riverfarm was too small for his company to consider building a resort, but we think it’s a smokescreen.’

‘It’s less hectares than across the river,’ Lachlan said.

‘Not if they incorporate the community garden,’ Jade said. ‘I know you hate Judith, Helen, but should we give the garden committee a heads-up? They might come on board if their garden’s under threat.’

‘Outside of this group, I don’t think we should be telling anyone anything,’ Bob said. ‘Not until we’ve got real evidence.’

Helen tapped the marker against the butcher’s paper. ‘I know Bob thinks Craig has the money for the Tesla, whereas the other two appear to have had recent cash windfalls. But in my mind, that money shines a spotlight on the Tesla.’

‘According to Google, the Tesla dealership’s in Melbourne,’ Jade said.

‘I might take a drive,’ Bob said.

Helen tried not to roll her eyes. ‘You might know everyone in Boolanga, but Melbourne’s a different kettle of fish. There’s no way you can just walk in and find out if Craig paid cash or if someone else did.’

‘People are people, Helen. If you take an interest in them, they tell you all sorts of things. Besides, I’ve always wanted to test-drive a Tesla.’

‘I’ll come.’ Lachlan’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

‘Not this time, son. I’m thinking an old duffer from the country might get a bit more information than a young buck.’

‘You’re nothing like a duffer, Bob,’ Jade said.

Lachlan laughed. ‘Yeah, but he can act the part when it suits him. He’s conned me more than once.’

‘We could post a photo on Facebook of the Rehns’ island holiday,’ Jade said. ‘It’s not like it’s illegal. It’s sitting right here unprotected on Birdie’s page.’

‘That would be like firing a flare and the others would scramble,’ Helen said. ‘Our power comes from being able to implicate all four at once. Now we’ve found evidence of money, we need to track it to the source.’

Milo threw the hammer for the third time, enjoying how Lachlan took him with him as he bent down then straightened up.

‘Now that child’s conning you, Lachlan,’ Helen said. ‘Might be time to wise up.’

Bob’s phone buzzed. ‘Oh, good, lunch is ready. Jade, Lachie, can you duck down to the bakery and pick it up? You can leave Milo here if you like.’

As soon as they’d left, Helen said, ‘Don’t push them so much.’

‘All I’m doing is providing some opportunities for them to have a bit of time on their own.’

‘A ten-minute walk to the bakery and back?’

‘Magic moments.’

‘It’s not real though, is it? Milo exists.’

‘I don’t follow.’

‘It’s my observation that many blokes are put off by other men’s kids.’

‘It’s not like Lachlan got to know Jade first and then discovered Milo. He knows they’re a package deal.’ Bob sounded as close to belligerent as she’d ever heard him.

‘Yes, but does he know the deal includes Corey?’

Bob frowned. ‘Lachie only made his move because he thought he was off the scene.’

‘He’ll always be Milo’s father.’

Bob pondered that for a minute. ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’

‘O brawling love, O loving hate,’ Helen countered.

‘That was Romeo on Rosaline, not Juliet. Don’t be so bleak.’

Helen was about to say that Corey Noonan generated bleak wherever he went when Bob added, ‘Can you keep an eye on the little chap for a sec? I need to use the facilities.’

Bob disappeared and Daisy followed. Milo voiced his objection from under the table.

‘Don’t worry,’ Helen told him. ‘Your biggest fans will be back soon.’

Milo crawled out with the hammer, pulled himself up and handed her the toy.

‘Thank you.’ She gave it a gentle toss a few feet away.

His sky blue eyes widened in surprise and then he chortled in delight before babbling what was probably, ‘Do it again.’

‘Go and get it.’ He stared at her. ‘Bring it to me and I’ll throw it again.’

He babbled some more and her attention drifted back to the butcher’s paper. When he shrieked, she glanced around and was surprised to see him standing on his own halfway between her and the hammer. She was used to seeing him pull himself up to stand next to objects, but never standing on his own.

‘Milo, did you walk there?’

He turned at her voice and promptly sat down.

An unexpected thrill shot through her and she pulled him to his feet. When he was steady, she let go of his hands and picked up the hammer, holding it out towards him.