Page 42 of Larapinta

She nodded and then took a sip once he’d poured the whisky into her mug. She swallowed. ‘Nice. Warming.’

‘What did you want to talk to me about?’ he asked.

‘Nothing major. I just wanted to say thanks for the friendship and for looking out for me. I appreciate it. You’re a kind man.’

‘My pleasure. I enjoy your company, Sandy. I’ll be honest with you. There are very few people who fall into that category.’ Graysen put his head back and rested against the high cushion. ‘Since Marion died, I’ve been a loner. I’ve travelled the world, and I’ve kept to myself.’

‘You said the other night you had no children.’

‘No. There was just us, and when she died, I had no family to turn to.’

‘My girls have been my life, but recently I began to realise that I need to let them live their own lives. They were incredibly patient with me after Peter died. I was pretty hopeless for a few years.’ For the first time her voice cracked a little. ‘It was set up to look like a suicide, but I knew my Peter would never have taken his own life. I persevered and I researched, and I read government reports and then I finally convinced the girls something had happened, that it wasn’t me looking for spooks in the corner. It was a massive corrupt scheme to get our land that backed onto the national park. So many innocent people were hurt before it was all sorted.’

‘You’re a strong woman. You remind me of Marion. Not in looks but in your attitude.’

‘Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. Coming on the trek has created a good distance from the girls for me. I can’t be there for them forever. They need to make their own choices and their own decisions without my input. They each have lovely partners, as does my stepson.’

‘Your husband had an earlier marriage?’

‘No, Peter never knew about his son, so neither did I. That’s another long sad story for a rainy night. Ryan found us a couple of years ago, and he’s become part of our family. He and his wife, Dee, are having twins in a couple of months. That was one of the reasons I was a bit hesitant to come away. Plus, my middle daughter is pregnant too.’

‘Even if you let them lead their own lives, it sounds as though you’ll have a rich and full life.’ He sounded wistful. ‘I envy you.’

‘Well, if you’re ever in Darwin, come and visit. I’d love you to meet my family.’

‘I’d like that. It would be nice to have a friend too. It’s a date.’

‘Where are you going after the trek? Or where is home?’

‘There isn’t one. We lived in Sydney for a while and I do have good friends there. I don’t want to sound like Maggie, but we had two homes. One in England and one on the beach in Cairns. When Marion died, I sold them both. I didn’t even go back. Sold them furnished.’ Graysen reached into the V at the neck of his T-shirt and pulled out a fine gold chain. This is the only thing of Marion’s I kept. I wear her wedding ring around my neck. And lots of photographs, of course. But I still find it hard to look at them.’

His jaw was tight as he stared ahead. ‘I guess I’ll have to find a place to put down roots. I can’t travel forever.’

‘You’ve been lots of places?’ she asked.

‘More than a hundred countries over my lifetime.’

‘I haven’t been to one. We planned that for when the girls grew up and we sold the farm. But—’

‘But life happens,’ Graysen said. He reached for her hand and it felt right. ‘Don’t leave it too long, Sandy.’

‘Once Ellie’s baby is past the newborn stage, I’m going to look into some trips overseas. The thought of travel excites me. I’ve managed well by myself for a few days so far, I’m sure I could spread my wings.’

‘I’m sure you could too.’

‘What’s your favourite country?’

Graysen replied immediately. ‘Anywhere in the UK. The countryside, I mean. I always avoid big cities. I love the softness of the light and the green of the landscape. Marion always said it was genetic memory because my grandparents were all from the same area in Wales.’

‘When I go, I’ll make sure to ask you where to go.’

‘Good.’ Graysen glanced at his watch. ‘We’ve got an early start and it’s after ten. Maybe we should call it a night.’

He sounded as reluctant as Sandra felt. She’d enjoyed Graysen’s company.

Very much. Maybe too much.

It was like a school camp. You were thrown into the wilderness and the people with you became an important part of your world until you went home again.