Exiles (Aaron Falk #3)(113)

She watched Joel for a moment longer, then put her arms around his angular frame and squeezed. A quick, tight hug that Joel returned, smiling a little to himself as she let him go.

Gemma turned back to Falk, her hand reaching out instinctively for his. He could feel her palm warm and dry against his own and hear the soft in-out of her breath. She stood close to him, her shoulder solid against his own.

“So,” she said. Falk’s eyes met hers. “What now?”





38

SIX MONTHS LATER




Falk stared at the computer screen and scanned the report in front of him, frowning at a couple of the numbers. He clicked open a second spreadsheet to see the corresponding figures, then did a quick calculation in the margin of the notebook in front of him.

Check this, he wrote, circling the results. The office was quiet around him, and he glanced at the time. It was later than he’d thought. Falk rubbed his eyes, switched off the computer, and stood, stretching. He gathered up his keys and stepped out from behind the desk.

“Luna.” He whistled softly, and she followed him out of the office, waiting at Falk’s feet while he locked the door behind them.

The autumn afternoon sun was still bright in the sky as Falk and Luna headed down to the vines in search of Charlie. Falk had enjoyed watching the seasonal change in the vineyards over the past months. The harvest had gone well, both Charlie and Shane agreed. It had been a good year. Falk found Charlie fixing a length of snapped wire on one of the rows.

“Those invoices all look fine,” Falk said, holding the line taut while Charlie wrapped it around. “I’ve marked a couple of items from last month that need reconciling, but I’ll chase them down on Monday.”

“Great, thanks.” Charlie checked the wire, happy. “You heading off?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m finishing up, too. Time for a quick one?”

“Can’t tonight. Joel’s back for the weekend. Girlfriend, too, this time.”

“Oh yeah.” Charlie grinned as they started back up toward the house. “Zara said something about that. The four of them are going for drinks tomorrow.”

“Four of them, as in Zara’s bringing the vet?”

“She is. The vet is still going strong.”

He was a veterinary student intern, technically. On the advice of her therapist, Zara had decided to defer any plans and take some time out, which Falk thought was probably a wise move. She’d gotten a part-time job at the local animal shelter and kept bringing her work home with her, to Charlie’s ongoing frustration. He never said no, though, and their back hallway now sported a line of food bowls. Zara had slowly grown friendly with the student vet, whom Falk and Gemma had found to be both kind and competent when he’d checked Luna’s teeth. For the young bloke’s part, he seemed thoroughly thrilled to have Zara keeping him company during his yearlong placement.

Zoe, now eighteen months old, was living with a local foster family who took her to playgroup and the park and dressed her in clean clothes in Kim’s favorite colors. They brought Zoe to visit the vineyard every other day. Charlie and Zara had sat down and discussed things carefully and both been of the same mind, and Charlie was now working his way through a long and complex family court process. Gemma, who’d had to jump through a few custody hoops for Joel after Dean’s death, had put Charlie in touch with her lawyer, who seemed quietly confident.

“All right, mate, have a good weekend,” Charlie said to Falk now as they reached the drive. “See you guys on Sunday night?”

Falk nodded. The family barbecues at the vineyard had become a regular six-weekly event, when Raco and Rita would pack up the kids and drive over from Victoria for a few days. The schedule was dictated by Raco’s rostered time off and marked in pen in everyone’s diaries.

“Yep, see you then,” Falk said, and raised a hand goodbye to Charlie before setting off with Luna down the drive. He walked to and from work these days.

Falk had returned to Melbourne last spring, given it two weeks to see if he still felt the same, then handed in his notice at the AFP. The response from his superiors had been mild disbelief followed by genuine surprise. There had been a series of conversations encouraging him to reconsider. He’d appreciated it, but hadn’t changed his mind. In the end, still incredulous, they had proposed an option of a year’s unpaid sabbatical leave.

“That sounds pretty fair,” Gemma had said. “Maybe take it, if they’re offering.”

“It feels a bit one foot in, one foot out,” Falk said.

“Well, you don’t have to look at it like that.” She’d smiled on the phone screen. She’d propped it up near the couch in her living room, and through the door behind her, Falk had been able to see Joel studying at the kitchen table and the leftovers from dinner on the counter. Falk had been alone in his flat, the room so silent he could hear the cars passing on the road outside. The urge to be in Marralee instead was like a steady, dull ache.

“I miss you,” he’d said.

“Yeah, me, too. Looking forward to seeing you.” She’d glanced over her shoulder. “Joel’ll be happy to have you around, as well. So thank you again, by the way, for—” She laughed. “You know, upending your whole life to give this a shot.”

He’d smiled at her. “I’m happy to.” He meant it.