The Wedding Countdown. Barbara Hannay

you like it over in Western Australia?’

      He let out a brief sigh. ‘I’ve been successful there,’ he replied evasively, then added, ‘if monetary gain counts as success.’ He stared at the contents of his mug. ‘Parts of that state are superb. The Kimberley region fascinates me. It has to be among the best wilderness areas in the world. But the mines of Western Australia are completely different from the North Queensland coast. But, you see, being there made forgetting easier.’

      Tessa slumped low in her seat. The mug almost slipped from her limp grasp. ‘Forgetting?’ she managed to whisper, although her throat swelled painfully. ‘You wanted to forget everything here?’

      ‘It makes sense not to cling to unpleasant memories, doesn’t it?’

      Unpleasant memories! How could he say that? She had fretted and pined and made herself sick over someone who’d been doing his damnedest to get her out of his mind.

      Tessa sat up straight and lifted her chin even as hot tears sprang in her eyes. ‘It makes perfect sense,’ she told him. ‘I’ve certainly put the past behind me.’

      ‘Where it belongs,’ he said softly, his face grim. ‘You’ve done well, Tessa. You’ve built a new career, acquired a husband-to-be, and all those fine and fancy wedding presents are piling up.’

      How could he make the simple truth sound so insulting? Tessa knew if she stayed another minute, the telltale tears would fall.

      She jumped to her feet. ‘When you go away again,’ she said as airily as she could, ‘you should make sure you take that old lamp you made from the bailer shell with you,’ and then she quickly hurried across the deck and into the house before he could reply.