Standing Strong Read Online Free PDF Page B

the joey as a sign it was time to poke her head out of her pouch and rub her face with her paws.
    â€˜Yep, you’re right, could be worse,’ he said, scratching the tight belly Squish was presenting to him.
    He picked up the phone to send a goodnight text to the love of his life before dropping it like a hot potato. It was amazing how quickly a habit could form. He felt stung and decidedly sad when he realised he’d have to wait two years to send Jacqueline another text.

Chapter Five
    Jacqueline was getting on with things. She had no option other than to act as if her life was business as usual. Yes, she was sad about Damien, but it was her own doing, and she deserved to suffer at least a little. She felt guilty about what she was putting Damien through and every few minutes, when she wasn’t adequately otherwise distracted, had to tell herself he was fine. He’d shown more spine than she had of late. Today, her packed morning of appointments had kept her mind focussed. She’d even remembered to pack her lunch.
    Last night she’d busied herself with sorting out a replacement for the car lost in the fire that had destroyed Damien’s home. She’d decided it was safer to avoid getting embroiled in any competitiveness between the two car dealers in town and just replace her VW Golf with another from the place in Adelaide where she’d got her original one.
    Her dad was going to go in today and choose one for her and sort out all the paperwork. In her late twenties and supposedly an independent woman, she should be doing it herself, but it was quite impossible to do from so far away. Her dad had said he was happy to take care of it, and she secretly thought he appreciated being asked. Taking care of their children was what fathers enjoyed, wasn’t it? Especially now he had so much free time on his hands.
    It still bothered her that it had taken her parents so long to ’fess up about his arthritis and his plans to scale back his work commitments, but it was really none of her business what they did with their lives. Shockingly, she was actually quite thrilled they were moving to Wattle Creek just as soon as they’d sorted everything out. Perhaps she was growing up properly after all – monumental career blunder aside, of course.
    Eileen and Philip were definitely going ahead with doing up the old cottage they’d found next to Damien’s property. According to her father, they’d got it for a song. Apparently the few acres with it weren’t large enough to be productive and the place had for years been a bit of a thorn in the side of the family who’d owned it.
    â€˜It’s a win-win,’ her mother had announced in the sort of tone that suggested she’d just learnt some new lingo. They hadn’t decided yet if they would go ahead with opening a B&B. One step at a time. They’d renovate the cottage and then see how they felt.
    Jacqueline thought they had rocks in their heads even contemplating it. They certainly didn’t need the money, and wouldn’t. But she supposed Eileen, after a lifetime of being a stay-at-home mother and wife, felt it was her time to do something for herself. And she would be a great host, no doubt about that. She also loved to clean. Jacqueline wished she’d inherited that trait.
    She hadn’t told her parents about her and Damien. It was more the sort of conversation to be had in person – especially since they’d be here soon enough. Well, that’s what she told herself, refusing to accept she was being gutless. When she’d got off the phone to them this morning, she’d been concerned her dad might be in touch with Damien about Esperance. If so, would he tell Philip about the break-up? She didn’t think so – they would talk business and Damien would leave it up to Jacqueline to spill the beans to her parents. Not having to tell them would be good but she knew it was, sadly,