Free Love and Secrets by Mary Brennan Page B

practical, logical with a sense of purpose. Adrian
loved the room as he felt it portrayed himself perfectly. It was not a room for
sadness, compassion, or emotions, however the room accomplished its purpose by
strangely giving Adrian an expertise in making people feel important and
strengthened them when making decisions about their finances.
    Football was the
lifeblood of Rosedale, with competitions within the town and region. The town
games were played on Saturday afternoon with the away being played on Sunday. Adrian
played for North Rosedale and had never been picked to play against other towns
as Rosedale United. Adrian not only had mates from his own team but from most
of the other Rosedale teams, enemies on the field, friends off. You were
expected to support Rosedale United on Sunday and Adrian would attend most
games, watching from the stands before enjoying the rest of the day with Sarah.
Sarah would attend many games with Adrian who rather liked this arrangement as
they would discuss the games tactics as they drove home, both were
knowledgeable and the perfect play was always magically found by these
conversations.
    Sam was Adrian's
best mate, doing all the ‘boy’ things together as they had grown up. Stealing candy
as children, taking out the family cars for joyrides, motorbike riding, double
dates, and in later years bringing each other home drunk. The two had a long
and well established friendship. The friendship became a little strained as
Adrian continued to see Sarah on a regular basis. They began only to see each
other at football and social events but as Sam found girlfriends they would
often double date. The friendship had slipped into a familiar pattern, just the
way Adrian liked his world to be. Sam and Sarah had given Adrian a fun side to
his life which was well needed and enjoyed by all.
    The other
constant, beside Sarah, in Adrian's life was his dog, Mango. Mango’s mother had
been with him until he was 14 and it had been a natural progression, filling
the void that was left. Mango was a collie with fantastic golden marking and a
sharp face that made her endearing to anyone who happened across her and her
master. Adrian had trained her to shack hands with people she met. Mango loved
a ride in the car as much as a walk and when the two came together it was not
clear whether Mango or Adrian loved the occasion more.

Chapter 3
    The crossroad
that Sarah had faced was to either lay low in Rosedale and hope the storm would
pass, or make a break and find a new life. For her, the former was the easy way
out and that is what she had intended to do. Soon some new town drama would
rear up and the Adrian and Sarah’s story would be relegated to the history books.
    On Tuesday, she
awoke at 3 am, and could not get back to sleep. Eventually getting up to make a
cup of tea, she found herself questioning the now impossible life she had
planned. ‘All too easy’ was the answer that keeps ringing in her head. On a whim,
she opened her laptop and looked up the word ‘contentment.’ The internet
provided the definition, “Reaching capacity, the satisfaction of.” Is that what
she wanted? She went back to bed, overslept, and when she awoke again it was
with an urgency that she had never experienced. By lunchtime she had applied
for 4 positions in Sydney and in her lunch break would look for a place to stay
in Sydney as well.
    Saturday came
and she had a new life waiting for her; she just had to get in the car.
Suddenly she began to have second thoughts. She mentioned to her parents that
she had decided to move to Sydney, but that she was now undecided. Both her
parents were in agreement however; she needed a change of scenery. Her father
had literally pushed her into the car when she told him that she had acted in
haste and could not go. As she protested her father gradually moved her down
the path to the open car door, kissed her lightly on the forehead before a
gentle shove into the passenger seat. Her mother