Xia shrugged as she filled the kettle. ‘I figure I’ve got nothing to lose. Now, shall we discuss the valuation so I know if I can afford a shoebox or a storage container to live in when I get to Melbourne?’
Karly smiled, but as they discussed her appraisal over the next thirty minutes, she couldn’t ignore the niggling thought that she could be in Xia’s situation in eight years. While she’d never particularly yearned for the dream man/wedding/kids scenario, would that change in time? Would she be thirty-eight, lamenting her lack of prospects in Acacia Haven, yearning for a relationship?
She’d like to think not but, if anything, she was a realist. Goals changed, life plans morphed. Pop wouldn’t be around forever, and while Summer and Nev looked like staying put, what if her best friends left town for some reason? Would she be inclined to stay?
Usually, she’d yell a resounding ‘Hell yes!’ from the top of Main Street, but meeting Xia and hearing her new goals had shaken Karly more than she cared to admit.
Worse, as she headed to the office, Hudson popped into her head again and foolishly he became entangled in her dreams of a possible future she could hardly imagine.
CHAPTER
17
Hudson had planned on meeting with Jeremiah today to present his ideas for taking over the agency. But he knew Karly would insist on being at that meeting and he couldn’t face her, not after his mortifying revelations the previous night.
One minute he’d been intent on getting to know her better so their business dealings could be friendly rather than fraught, the next he’d blabbed about losing his mum and had almost bawled in the process. Not cool. Though that hug hadn’t been all bad … even if he’d much prefer her arms around him in passion rather than pity.
He’d made an ass of himself by running out of there too. Rather than sticking around and changing the subject, he’d acted like a kid trying to outrun his demons and she would’ve seen straight through him.
So he’d scheduled his meeting with Jeremiah for Wednesday and spent the morning holed up in the granny flat catching up on work back in the city and the afternoon taking a self-tour of Acacia Haven and its intentional living community of Serenity. He’d had three offers from locals to show him around: nothing like country hospitality. He’d been impressed by the sustainability of Serenity and knew any house that became available on the market would sell quickly. He often had retirees in the city wanting a sea change and this place would be perfect. Along with the tour, he’d been plied with veggies from their community garden and left with a box of squash, zucchinis, tomatoes and carrots in the boot of his car. Perhaps he could give them to Karly and suggest he whip up a veggie pasta in her kitchen so he’d have an excuse to have dinner with her.
Or maybe he could ask her out to dinner … But that would reek of a date and he didn’t want to blur lines. After his presentation he’d have no such qualms, as he had little doubt Jeremiah would sign the agency over. Like most of his business dealings, his offer was too good to refuse.
As he drove back into town, he spotted the pub on the corner and remembered Jy’s offer to catch up for a drink on Friday. But he doubted he’d be in town until then and wouldn’t mind getting the guy’s lowdown on being a transplant to Acacia Haven; and considering his girlfriend was one of Karly’s best friends, he wouldn’t mind getting some intel on his neighbour either.
After parking, he sent Jy a text and waited, glad when he responded quickly that he’d meet him at the pub shortly for a drink. After he headed inside to wait, the cool beach chic decor of the pub surprised Hudson. He’d been to many small Victorian towns similar to this one and most boasted old-fashioned pubs with faded crimson carpet and mahogany bars, but this pub took advantage of the ocean views with massive windows, a blue and beige colour scheme and modern furniture. It had a small beer garden too, with the requisite old barrels surrounded by stools.
He’d barely had time to look around before Jy arrived. As if sensing his surprise, Jy said, ‘The advantage of living in a small town. Everything is only a few minutes away.’
Hudson laughed and shook his hand. ‘Glad you could make it.’
‘Summer’s doing essay marking tonight so she was happy to see the back of me.’
‘What’ll you have? Beer?’
‘Sure. There’s a good local brew on tap if you’re game to try it.’
‘Sounds good.’
After getting two pints of the local beer from the bar, Hudson returned to the table to find Jy glued to his mobile, a frown denting his brow. ‘Something wrong?’
‘Just school stuff. Nothing that can’t wait.’ Jy pocketed his phone and picked up his beer, taking a healthy slug. ‘I thought getting back into the classroom and being in charge of a small school would be easier than Korrungal Grammar, but it has its challenges.’
‘So you’re a city boy at heart?’
Jy nodded, his goofy expression instantly alerting Hudson the principal had moved here for love. ‘Yeah, but Summer lives here and keeping the school doors open is her passion, so I moved here too.’
‘What’s it like trading Melbourne for small-town life?’
‘Surprisingly, it’s not too bad. I have a place in Brighton I’m renting out, and Summer’s mum moved to Melbourne around the time I transplanted here, so we pop down regularly for weekends in the city.’
Hudson couldn’t imagine living in a country town. He thrived on Melbourne’s cosmopolitan vibe, the ever-changing housing market, the ebbs and flows of a business he’d thrown his heart and soul into. But he admired Jy for making the change.
‘Sounds like the best of both worlds.’
‘It is, but …’ Jy winced a little. ‘Nev’s coffees are great, but I miss my favourite barista.’
Hudson chuckled. ‘I actually ate at her café with Karly on the first day I arrived. Nev makes a mean pastie.’