Page 63 of Outback Hearts

Jill finished: ‘We came here as travellers.’ She paused, looked at Ryan standing in the crowd. ‘This place got under our skin. This community became ours. Thank you for welcoming us.’

The applause was thunderous.

At nine, Sassy spoke, her voice breaking with emotion. ‘My husband brought me here on our first date thirty-seven years ago. We sat at that bar—’ she pointed ‘—and he told me he loved me for the first time. When this place closed in ‘98, I cried for a week. I thought I’d lost that memory, that moment. But you’ve given it back. You’ve brought the hotel back to life. I’ll be forever grateful.’

And then, surprisingly, Margaret stood up.

She walked to the front slowly, the crowd quieting. She looked older than her seventy-two years, tired but determined.

‘I need to speak,’ she said. ‘I opposed this project from the beginning. I filed complaints. I tried to get the council to shut it down. I even—’ she paused ‘—I even filed a state inspection request, hoping to find violations that would stop the work.’

The crowd murmured. Everyone knew, but hearing her admit it was different. There had never been an admission of who had caused the vandalism, but it had been let go.

‘I was wrong about everything,’ Margaret continued. ‘Alex Miller saw what this town needed when the rest of us had given up. His son Jake brought the expertise and leadership to make it happen. And these young people—’ she gestured to the crew ‘—they brought the energy and determination we’d lost. Together they did what we thought was impossible.’

She looked directly at Alex. ‘I don’t expect forgiveness for my obstruction. I just want to say publicly: Garnet Creek is better because you refused to give up. Thank you.’

She sat down to shocked silence, then gradually building applause.

‘Did hell freeze over?’ Davo whispered to Amelia. ‘Because Margaret just publicly apologised. Again.’

‘Growth is possible,’ Amelia whispered back. ‘Even for people who seem unchangeable.’

The party continued late into the night. At some point, unofficial engagements were announced. Mick proposed to Charlotte in the beer garden, producing a ring he’d had hidden for weeks. She said yes, obviously, everyone was cheering.

Davo told Emma he loved her in front of forty witnesses. She said it back, both of them crying happy tears.

Even quieter declarations were made. Bec was making serious plans with her station manager. Bluey had convinced his teacher to move to his property after the school year ended.

‘It’s the outback,’ Brian said, watching it all with satisfaction. ‘People fall in love differently here. Faster, more honest, more committed. It’s the isolation—you can’t afford to waste time or hide your feelings. Life’s too short and distances too great.’

Around midnight, Jake found Amelia on the top veranda.

‘Hiding?’ he asked, climbing up.

‘Observing,’ Amelia corrected. ‘It’s incredible down there. Everyone so happy, so connected. We did this. We brought this community back together.’

‘We did,’ Jake agreed. ‘The building was just an excuse. The real project was reminding people why they loved this place. Why they stayed when others left. What’s worth fighting for.’

They sat in comfortable silence, watching the party below wind down.

‘Jake?’ Amelia said finally.

‘Yeah?’

‘Tomorrow. When we’re both just builders instead of a project manager and an apprentice. When there’s no possible ethical concern. Can we—’

‘Yes,’ Jake interrupted. ‘Whatever you’re about to ask, yes. Dinner, dating, being together openly, all of it. Yes.’

‘You didn’t let me finish,’ Amelia protested, laughing.

‘Didn’t need to,’ Jake said. ‘The answer to anything you ask is yes. Take you to dinner? Yes. Date you properly? Yes. Introduce you as my girlfriend instead of my colleague? Absolutely yes.’

‘Then I’m asking,’ Amelia said. ‘Tomorrow. Dinner in Emerald, somewhere nice. A proper date. Will you take me?’

‘I’d be honoured,’ Jake said formally, then grinned. ‘Though I should warn you, I’ve been planning this date for months. I have reservations at the best restaurant in Emerald, flowers ordered, the whole romantic evening mapped out.’

‘You planned our first date months ago?’ Amelia asked, delighted.