Free The Last Mile Home by Di Morrissey Page A

one pot!’
    â€˜Like the magic pudding!’ exclaimed Abby and they both laughed. She went back to the deserted table and opened her pay packet. There was a neatly folded wad of pound notes with the hours worked and the amount tabulated in pencil on a piece of paper. Pinned to it was a new five pound note with another note. Thanks for helping us when we needed it. Buy yourself something pretty next time you’re window shopping. Cheers, Barney Holten.
    Abby gasped in surprise. He must have slipped it in after talking to her about shopping in Sydney. She blushed and put her pay in her pocket; then, curling her fingers around the five pounds, hurried outside.
    She waited until she saw Barney shake hands with two men who were about to drive off. He saw her standing in the twilight and came over to her. ‘You and your dad setting off now too?’
    â€˜Yes. Thank you, it’s been a nice dinner. Andthank you, but I can’t take this.’ She thrust the blue note at him and turned away.
    Barney caught her wrist and stuffed the money back in her hand. ‘Look, I don’t want to embarrass you. You did more than your share. Call it a bonus. Really, I won’t take no for an answer.’
    Abby didn’t want to feel under any obligation to Barney Holten. ‘I don’t feel right about it. I didn’t do anything more than anyone else.’ She was looking down, feeling uncomfortable, and was relieved when she heard her father approaching.
    â€˜We’re all set to go, Ab. Our stuff is in the ute.’
    â€˜Hop in, Dad.’ She turned away, not looking at Barney. ‘Goodbye. Thanks again.’
    Barney stopped Bob McBride. ‘You have a stubborn girl there, Mr McBride. I gave her a bonus and she won’t take it. Here, put this away for her.’ He handed the five pound note to him.
    Bob McBride glanced at the money and at Abby. ‘You got your right pay, luv?’
    â€˜Yes, Dad. I didn’t do anything extra. Really.’
    â€˜Then if you don’t feel you’ve earned it, don’t keep it.’ He handed the money back to Barney. ‘We appreciate the gesture. Thanks.’
    Barney nodded, suddenly aware he had made Abby feel beholden or had somehow demeaned her, and he regretted it. ‘I just wanted to saythanks. I appreciated her pitching in at short notice,’ he said softly.
    â€˜A handshake’s all the thanks that’s needed,’ replied Bob McBride. He shook Barney’s hand. ‘Be seeing you round no doubt.’ He strode over to the ute.
    Abby glanced up apologetically at Barney. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass him. She held out her hand and he shook it looking again into her wide eyes.
    â€˜Thank you,’ he said.
    Abby smiled at him and gently drew her hand from his. ‘Thank you. See you again.’ She hurried after her father and didn’t hear Barney’s soft response.
    â€˜I hope so.’
    Abby’s father nodded off to sleep as she drove home. She wished Barney Holten hadn’t offered her that extra money — though it would have been nice to give it to her mother — because it had spoiled the ease she’d felt when talking to him. Suddenly, instead of being two young people simply chatting together, he had reinforced his position as the wealthy one, able to dispense favours. For a moment she was angry with him, thinking he was trying to buy his way into her good graces. Then she laughed at herself. Who do you think you are, Abigail McBride? As if BarneyHolten would even want to go to that much trouble. He probably felt he only had to snap his fingers and she’d come running. Well, he was wrong on that score. Sensibly she realised he had probably felt a bit sorry for her and figured with such a large family and her looking for work, extra money would be welcome. Now she was angry with herself. She should have kept the money. ‘Oh well,’ she sighed aloud as she turned