The Goodbye Girl by Angela Verdenius Read Free Book Online

me being in your guest bed, the one you have fond memories of?”
    Alex grimaced.
    “Yeah, I thought so.”  He smiled up at Harly as she placed a cup of hot tea before him.  “Thanks.”
    She ruffled his hair like a child before returning to the stove.  God, Harly was mothering him.  That felt nice.  Even though she was a little younger than him, she had that motherly, caring air about her.  It was a wonder Alex hadn’t knocked her up yet.
    Curiously , he cast a glance across the table to where Alex was cradling his cup of tea between his palms.  His friend was watching his wife with eyes warm with love, the contentment practically oozing from him.  It was nice to see, comforting in a way.  It proved that marriages could remain strong even when couples had to spend a lot of time apart.
    The love that binds.  He wondered what that would feel like, he’d probably never know.
    “Got any plans for today?” Harly broke eggs into the frying pan.
    Rousing from his thoughts, Nick sat back in the chair.  “Thought I’d go into town, have a look around.”
    “That takes care of ten minutes.” Alex laughed.
    Nick grinned when Harly looked pointedly at Alex.  “And what are you doing today?”
    “Hmmm, let’s see.”  Alex ran his gaze up and down her, a gleam in his eyes.
    She blushed.
    Grinning, he slouched in his chair.  “Actually, I told Paul I’d help him build the new room onto Maryanne’s café.”
    “ He’s starting today?” Harly kept her gaze on the frypan.
    “Yep.”  Alex looked at Nick.  “If you come to a loose end, you can join us.  Bit of work will be good for you.”
    Nick nodded.  “Sure.”
    “You’re on holiday, Nick.”  Harly slid fried eggs onto the plates.  “Don’t feel you need to do anything.”
    “It’s fine.  I like working with my hands.”
    “Makes a change,” Alex said.
    “Hey, I work with my hands.”
    “Being Sarge means you tell others to work with their hands.  You were smiling the whole time you told Hollins and Barker to dig the new latrines.”
    “Your point?”
    “I didn’t see you pick up a shovel in your lily white hands.”
    “Some of us are born to lead.”  Nick buttered toast.  “Don’t be bitter.”
    “Sarge, huh?”  Harly sat down opposite him.  “Doesn’t that mean you’ re working under Alex’s orders?”
    “Don’t be bitter, Nick.”  Alex smirked.
    Nick flipped him the bird.
    “Ooohh, if my mother saw you now, she’d box your ears.”
    “Eat your breakfast before it gets cold .” Harly passed him the salt shaker.
    Alex slid her a look.  “Yes, Ma’am.”
    She arched her brow at him.
    He saluted.
    “That’s my soldier boy.”  Laughing, Harly reached for the butter.
    The by-play between his friends made Nick smile, but her words nudged at him.  ‘Soldier boy’ .  Today he was on a stealth mission to find the elusive Goodbye Girl.  Actually, now that he thought about it…
    Nick caught himself before he asked Harly if she knew a woman called Bree.  To be fair, he hadn’t told Alex that he was looking for Bree while he was here, he wasn’t entirely sure that his friend would agree.  He hadn’t discussed it with Alex and he wasn’t about to, not right now.   Maybe later, depending what happened.
    He got a lift into town with Alex, getting out of the Je ep at the back of the café where Paul and his workers were already at work.
    “Come to do a bit of honest labour?” Paul stood with the plans spread out on the bonnet of the work ute.  “Two tough soldiers, we should have this room up in no time, hey boys?”
    The carpenters, Smithy, Mack and Bundy, all of whom Nick had met the last time he’d come, grinned.
    “’Course, without the snazzy uniforms the sheilas won’t be salivating at your feet,” Smithy drawled.
    “I have Harly,” Alex replied.  “The pick of the bunch.”
    “I have no-one.”  Nick sighed.  “I better go and put my uniform back on.”
    Bundy strutted past