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He turned to her with a questioning look.

“Thank you.” Violet slammed the door before Joe could reply and she headed for the Cyprus Café.

This was the place that Joe had told her brewed the best coffee he’d ever had. He said the Levonis family had an amazing reputation. “Some people come down here from Tamworth on the weekend just to have lunch here.”

Violet entered the coffee shop and looked around with interest. The coffee aroma was certainly enticing as was the array of cakes in the glass cabinet. Even though Joe had said to make herself known to the young guy behind the counter she assumed was Nic, Violet preferred to remain anonymous.

He was a good looking, dark-haired young man and his smile was wide as Violet waited at the counter.

‘Good morning,” he said. “What would you like?”

“I’ll—” Her phone dinged in her bag just as she was about to place her order. She ignored it. “A flat white, please. It smells divine.”

“Anything to eat? Can I tempt you from our cabinet this morning?”

“It all looks lovely, but no, thank you.”

“Where are you sitting?”

“Perhaps a table outside?” she asked.

He took the twenty-dollar note she held out, and rang up her sale and gave her the change. “I’ll bring it out shortly.”

Violet found a table outside and sat down, pulling out her phone, hoping it was Joe.

No luck: it was a message from her sister

Where are you? Are you alright? I am worried, Violet. Answer me!

Violet quickly sent off a reply. Sorry, been out of range. All good. Will call later in the week. In a national park. I’ll let you know where I go to next. Hope all is well, love Violet.

There was no need for Wendy to know she’d broken down, or exactly where she was. Her sister had enough worries without worrying about her. And she was almost staying in a national park. Joe’s farmhouse was close to it. Wendy would have been horrified to know she was staying with a stranger.

Violet looked up as Nic brought her coffee to the table. On the saucer sat a small pastry roll.

He saw her curious glance and his perfect teeth flashed white in a smile. ‘That is our Christmas gift to our customers. A Greek diple, made by my mother.”

“It looks delicious,” Violet said with a smile. “What is it?”

“It is a traditional Greek sweet, made from dough lightly fried in olive oil and then covered with honey, walnuts and cinnamon.”

“Thank you.” Nic hurried off as there was a queue forming at the counter and it seemed he was manning the café alone.

Violet finished her coffee and the sweet. She picked up her bag, slipped her phone inside and decided to explore the town. Joe still hadn’t called so she assumed there was no more information about the garage closure. She was becoming desensitised and worrying less every hour. She had a new town to explore, somewhere to stay, and still more than a week to her interview. She would get there, even if it meant catching a bus.

It was still early and many of the shops weren’t open yet, so she decided to walk through the town to the garage. She’d taken notice of the route as Joe had driven her to the café. One right turn at Main Street past the grocery store and then follow the Tamworth Road. A brisk walk would do her good.

The distance was further than she’d thought and by the time she got to the garage—which was still closed—Violet was perspiring.

A couple of cars drove in and stopped at the fuel bowsers while she stood there and they then realised the garage was closed and drove out again. An elderly man climbed out of his car, went to the door and peered in as Violet stood in the shade to cool down before she walked back into town.

“Do you know what’s going on with the garage?” she asked.

“Yes, it was closed all weekend, because of a family matter,” the elderly man replied. “But I did expect Dale to be open today. I hope he opens up soon because I need fuel. I thought he might have put something on the door. I don’t like going to the other one.”

“Is there another garage in town?” she asked, surprised Joe hadn’t mentioned it. “I have an issue with my car and I need a mechanic.”

He shook his head slowly. “No, Fred’s Garage has the only mechanic in town. He’s got a second mechanic working casually too, so you’d think someone could open the place up.”