Page 22 of Ruby’s Outback Love

I hadn’t moved on. There was no woman in my life – at least no one serious. There never would be, my heart was taken and always would be.

Francine had met a wonderful man by the name of Allan and they were happily married with two little girls. We barely spoke these days but my parents had stayed in touch with hers and relayed news of their lives.

Despite the fact I was leaving, mum and dad decided to stay in Brisbane where they’d made a life for themselves and had a busy social schedule. They made me promise I would make the effort to visit and I readily agreed.

***

The pub was crowded, the music loud. I glanced around for Wade and our friends, finding them tucked at a table in a corner at the side of the bar.

Jesse noticed me first as I approached, stood and waved her arm about in the air. I lifted my arm in acknowledgement and indicated the bar. I grabbed a beer before continuing towards them.

Wade stood and clapped me on the back, offering me the seat beside him and Aurelia, his current flame.

After I’d settled into a seat, Wade lifted his beer bottle towards me in a toast.

“To Phil, may you find what it is you’re searching for and may time have healed the pain. Best of luck in your new job, in your hometown.”

Glasses and bottles clinked. I’d worked with Wade, Jesse and her partner, Kyle, for many years and they all knew most of the details about my past.

They were good friends and had urged me many times to visit Ruby in Sydney. To explain what had happened. To make her understand I had been with Francine before I’d made the decision to visit home and declare my love for the woman who meant everything to me.

I knew my friends meant well, had my interests in their hearts, but Ruby was stubborn and would never forgive a betrayal. Like it or not, I had betrayed her and it was hard forgiving myself.

Wade and Aurelia hit the dance floor. Kyle headed for a lady he’d had his eyes on since I’d entered and asked her to dance, leaving Jesse and I alone.

She placed her hand on my arm and I gazed into her worried eyes.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Phil?”

I nodded. “I need to go home, Jess, even if Ruby isn’t there, it’s where I belong. I want to finish my degree in Criminal and Social Law and set up a practice to help people at home to get the justice they deserve.

“What will you do if you find Ruby is also back?”

“I don’t know. It will be difficult seeing her with someone else. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

“You know, if she loves you anywhere near as much as you love her, and she’s still single, you’ll find a way to put the past behind you and be together.”

“I doubt it. I hurt her too badly, Jess. I didn’t even have the balls to tell her what had happened myself. She heard it from Baxter at the station on the night of my engagement party. Can you imagine how she must have felt?”

Jesse nodded. “I’ll still pray that you find some way to bury the hurt and move on.”

“Thanks, you’re a good woman.”

“I know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a hot guy at the bar who I reckon I’ll ask to dance.”

I laughed as she stood, planted a kiss on my forehead and swung her hips as she headed to the bar.

After downing the beer, I quietly slipped away. I felt anxious about returning home and not interested in a night out. I knew the others would understand.

CHAPTER NINE

Bourke NSW

PHIL

I drove into town slowly, glancing around as I went. It hadn’t changed much since I’d last been there fifteen years earlier. There were a couple of new buildings but in the main, only some of the businesses had changed.

I headed for the Major Mitchell Motel where I planned to stay until I found somewhere to rent. Maybe, if things worked out, I’d buy a small property on the outskirts of town. I had enough money saved to buy a place outright thanks to not being into drinking and partying. First off though, I needed to make sure this was where I wanted to be. My yearning for the town could have been a case of “the grass is always greener on the side where you can’t be.”