Heartbeats in Moonlight

Chapter 35

At eight o'clock that evening, Ben, Jack, Amelia and Ella walked into the school hall that had been decorated with checked tablecloths and rows of streamers. There were lots of people around, but most were sitting at tables, so it was easy for Jack to scan the room.

"I told David to save us a table." Jack announced. "Ah, there they are." He'd spotted Greg and David. With his hand in the small of her back he directed Amelia toward the table. Amelia glanced in apology over her shoulder when she saw they were heading for David and Greg. Ella shrugged and offered a smile. She looked around and spotted Mallory.

"Ames, Mallory's here." Ella said quietly, and hoped to use that excuse to sit with Mallory.

"Great. I left her a message. But I wasn't sure she was back in town." Amelia tapped Jack's shoulder and she smiled at Ben and Jack who had stopped beside her, "Guys, excuse us a second." She smiled and nodded at a table.

Ben followed Ella's glance and saw that Amelia and Ella were about to head for Mallory's table. "Ames, before you go, what do you want to drink? Jack and I can go get the drinks in."

"A white wine soda, please." Amelia said.

"Gabriella?"

Ella turned around, "The same. Thank you, Ben." But she hoped he would bring the drink to Mallory's table. And hopefully she could stay with Mallory.

The two women headed for the table several tables from their own. "Are you going to join us?" Ella asked once she'd reached Mallory's side.

"No." Mallory shook her head. And Ella sighed in relief, she could definitely stay with Mallory. Mallory looked over at Amelia, "Sorry Ames, I couldn't get there for the afternoon."

Amelia shrugged. "That's ok. When did you get back?"

"Just gone three."

"So why can't you join us?" Amelia said, and Ella was about correct her, and then grumbled beneath her breath while Amelia said, "There's heaps of room, and anyway, even if there wasn't we'd make room."

Mallory smiled, and pretended that she was perfectly ok where she was, "I can't leave my cousin and uncle and family."

Ella groaned beneath her breath. She couldn't use the fact that Mallory would be on her own, given she was with her family. Typical. She couldn't stay with Mallory.

"Oh, right." Amelia glanced around. "Where are they?"

Mallory indicated toward one part of the room, and both Amelia and Ella recognised Mallory's cousin, and Mallory's uncle. They were both talking to Greg.

"I met your Greg this afternoon." Amelia announced with a smile while Ella considered her options. Either she stays with Mallory and her family or she would have to run the gauntlet with David and co.

"He isn't my Greg," Mallory corrected defensively and folded her arms. "I mean, I knew him at school, went out with him, but that was years ago."

"I heard he's nearly finished building his place out at the Gorge." Ella said hoping to start a conversation. She needed time away from David's table.

Mallory nodded.

"Is he going out with that woman from the bookshop?" Amelia asked, missing the look of pain that flit through Mallory's eyes. Ella hadn't missed it.

Mallory shrugged.

"I'm not sure that they are." Ella said softly. "All smokescreen if you ask me."

"Oh, Jack's beckoning." Amelia said. Ella groaned. Typical, her excuse and time away was torpedoed. Amelia hesitated, "Mallory, are you sure you don't want to join us?"