Exiles (Aaron Falk #3)(33)

“Hopefully.” Charlie rubbed his eyes. “I suppose we were lucky Gemma said yes to it at all. Some of the committee didn’t want to approve it, did I tell you?”

“The appeal?” Raco was whispering now as Henry stirred. He rose delicately and began to pace a slow circuit up and down the veranda.

“Felt it was too much of a downer for the opening night. I can see their point, to be honest.” Charlie stifled a yawn and glanced at Rita. “Oh, I caught her on the way out to say thanks, and she said hi, by the way.”

“Gemma?” Rita said.

“Yeah. And to you, mate.” He nodded at Falk, then leaned back and closed his eyes. “Said you guys met once a while back? In Melbourne or something.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Falk tried to keep his voice casual. “That’s right.”

Raco, still pacing, didn’t seem to notice, but Rita certainly did, her interest instantly piqued. Honestly, the woman had the instincts of a bloodhound when it came to any hint of activity in Falk’s largely dormant love life. They eyeballed each other steadily across the table, and Falk suddenly had the strong sense that while Raco could barely remember him and Gemma crossing paths, this was not news to Rita. Finally, a tiny smile on her lips, she looked away, leaving Falk wondering what exactly she’d heard.

“Rohan and Shane didn’t want to come back for a drink?” Rita returned her attention to Charlie, who opened his eyes.

“No. Shane said he’d stick around at the stall. And I guess Rohan needed to get back to Zoe.”

“What did he talk about at the appeal?”

“A few things,” Charlie said. “How he and Kim met—”

As they chatted, Falk turned several more pages of the album. He was deep in high school territory now. Kim with her ponytail. Charlie’s hair was certainly a statement, although so was his younger brother’s, and Falk couldn’t stop himself flashing a grin at Raco. Raco was still rocking his son and laughed when he saw what Falk was looking at.

“Tread carefully, mate,” he whispered. “You’re one choice comment away from being invited to step into your car and drive yourself back to Melbourne.”

Falk smiled and turned another page. Footy games, parties, the usual rites of passage.

“God, look at that. I remember my own formal,” Rita said suddenly, leaning over for a closer look at the ill-fitting suits and shiny dresses. “I went with Caleb Maloney. Wait. Maroney?” She shook her head and turned back to the book. “And there’s Shane. Wow, he was big, wasn’t he? Even then.” She tapped a kid already head and shoulders above the others in the group shot. “And Rohan, there. Charlie.”

Falk pointed to a blond girl he also thought he now recognized. “Is that Naomi?”

“Let’s see.” Rita leaned in. “Yep. I’m sorry you haven’t met her yet. But she’s coming to the house tomorrow, by the way. The priest wants to meet you both.” She winked at Falk. “Brief you on your godparenting duties.”

“Okay. Sounds good,” Falk said, with as much enthusiasm as he could manage at that time of night, and Raco laughed.

“Power through it, mate. It’s a fifteen-minute chat.”

Falk smiled and went to close the album, but Rita put a hand out.

“Oh God, look at Dean,” she said, turning the page to better see a young guy captured laughing at something just out of shot. “That’s a lovely one. Zara should make a copy of that for Joel.”

“Let’s look.” Charlie leaned in and stared at the boy without saying anything more, then handed the album back.

“That’s Dean Tozer,” Raco said quietly to Falk over the baby’s head. “The bloke in that accident I started telling you about at the reservoir? With the memorial plaque. He died about—what? Is it five years ago this year?”

“Six.” Charlie didn’t have to think about it.

“Gemma’s husband.” Rita glanced at Falk. “Joel’s dad.”

Falk nodded. He looked at the man, back when he was still a boy. He had been stocky, with freckles running along his arms and a friendly, open face. Falk wondered what exactly had happened. Car accident, obviously. Unexpected, Gemma had said. The police were involved.

“Hit-and-run,” Charlie said, guessing his question. “Start of festival weekend that year. Early morning while he was out walking his dog.”

“Shit, really?”

“Yeah. Back when you used to be able to drive along the reservoir track. Some people used to try to go that way to avoid breath tests on the highway.”

“And it was at the Drop? Same spot as Kim?” Falk felt himself frown at that, and Raco caught the look.

“I know, mate.” He shrugged as best he could with Henry in his arms. “We all hear how that sounds, but the fact is, the rest of the reservoir’s pretty flat and safe. If an accident’s going to happen, it’s pretty much always going to be at the Drop. It’s a blind bend, then you’ve got walkers stopping there, catching their breath, looking at the view or whatever, so it’s a bad mix. That’s partly why they blocked the track off to cars after what happened to Dean. Service vehicles only now. So, I dunno. I guess that’s better, at least.”

Falk looked over at Charlie, who was frowning into his empty glass but had not reached for a refill. “I’m sorry, mate. That’s rough.”