Page 102 of On the Edge

‘I guess so,’ Nel said, but she wasn’t sure.

Didn’t this change everything?

Chapter 70

It was an hour since Sophie had paid the bill at the tyre shop—gratefully accepting the mates rates offered by Barry’s friend—said their farewells, and loaded the kids into the car.

As red dirt flashed past her, she thought of Barb and Baz, still feeling overwhelmed by their uncomplicated generosity.It was as though Barb had sensed not to ask questions about the events in Carrinya.When Sophie responded to her question—Someone you know?—with a simple shrug, Barb had held her gaze, then she’d reached into her bag and pulled out a mobile phone.

‘It’s an old one,’ she said.‘I dug it out of a cupboard last night when I noticed you didn’t have one.’

Sophie took it, then looked into Barb’s kind eyes.‘Are you sure?’

‘It’s just sitting around gathering dust.’

‘Why?’

Barb gave her a sad smile.‘Let’s just say I know what it’s like to be running from someone.’

Who had Barb run from, Sophie wondered?

Her thoughts turned to Ryan, picturing him sitting in a prison cell, trying to make sense of how he’d got there.

*

‘Let me do the talking,’ Ryan said when they arrived at the lighthouse.

Sophie nodded, feeling optimistic.Everything would be okay, like he said.Maddie would see sense.

He took her hand and kissed it.‘I love you, Soph.’

Warmth flooded her body.It was the first time he’d said it.

‘I love you too,’ she said.He leaned in and kissed her, deep and longing.

‘Let’s do this,’ he said when he pulled away, like they were a team.

He took her hand as they walked across the deserted lot under the bright moon, a shining orb in a clear sky.

‘Where is she?’Sophie whispered.A shiver ran down her spine as she wondered if this was a good idea.

‘She’ll be down at the lookout.’His voice was strong and confident, easing her doubt.

They crossed the uneven ground towards the lookout and emerged onto the landing above Deception Bay.

Ryan stopped.‘Maddie.’His voice cut through the cold night.Sophie was right behind him, so close she could feel his body heat.

As Maddie stood up, her tear-stained face caught the moonlight giving her a strange luminescence.She took a step towards them, then stopped.

‘Who’s there?’Her voice was thin.‘Who’s with you?’

‘This is Sophie.’A pause.‘My girlfriend.’

There was a moment of stillness, silence—maybe it will be okay, Sophie thought—then Maddie cried out.

‘No!No, Ryan!Please.’

‘She’s my girlfriend, Maddie.We’ve been together for a little while.I didn’t want to tell you, because …’ He let the sentence hang in midair, unfinished.‘I’m not gonna be with you, Maddie.You have to get rid of the baby.’