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do that? Make him say things he wasn’t sure he wanted to say. ‘I decided not to keep in contact anymore.’
    ‘That’s a shame. If she’s happy and friendly…’
    Tate put the clipboard down and fidgeted with his cuff. ‘I’ve got my mates here. I don’t need anyone else.’
    ‘Everyone needs friends back home.’ Walt put his pen down.
    Tate shook his head. ‘Not me. I’m different now. After everything I’ve seen and done, I can’t switch off and pretend like I’ve got a normal life. She doesn’t need someone like me.’
    ‘Why not?’ the padre challenged. ‘You’re a good friend. You and I have a good relationship, and I know you spend a lot of time with Frank and Douglas. They value your friendship and so do I. I have to disagree, a man needs friends when he gets home.’
    Tate re-organised the rows of boxes he’d already ticked off the list. ‘What if she wants more than I can give?’
    ‘If you’re not comfortable, you say so. Politely and respectfully. If she’s as nice as she seems from her emails she’ll accept it. Chances are, she isn’t even looking for a relationship so you’ll have nothing to worry about.’
    Tate looked at Walt and smiled. ‘Good point.’
    ***
    A week later, halfway through an Orthodox Christmas delivery of potted trees, an email from Tate McAuliffe popped up on Layla’s phone. When she hadn’t received a response to her late night email she’d thought that was the end of it. Now, her heart beat a strange tattoo as she stared down at the screen. With more haste than usual, she finished loading the ten-inch high firs into the back of the ute, then grabbed her water bottle and leaned against the tailgate with her phone.
    Hi Layla ,
    Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Email contact is restricted here. I’m sorry to hear about your dad and your brother Ben — I remember that accident. And I’m sorry you lost your mum too. I can tell how much you miss them and I want you to know I’ll take care of those WSC cards — I always wanted a set when I was younger, so you found the right home for them .
    They put a pretty good spread on for our Christmas Lunch — the Commanding Officers (COs) prepare it and serve the enlisted. We even had prawns and mango! Which was bizarre when it’s freezing outside. Saw the highlights of the Test. What was Australia thinking, batting first?
    What are you doing for work now Christmas is over?
    Tate .
    Layla laughed out loud when she read Tate’s question about her job. Bonsai Christmas was a full-time job, all year round. Sure, she had Ian, her lovesick nurseryman, but even so she was needed on deck most days. Once the heat of summer was over, she’d order the next batch of seedlings to pot and shape, and in five years, she’d sell them as perfectly formed miniaturised trees, perfect for apartments and townhouses. Christmas in July was growing in popularity too, to take advantage of the cooler winter weather, so now she was working on a six-monthly schedule, rather than an annual one.
    But it was the creative side she loved, sitting in the workroom, developing and producing miniaturised versions of Christmas decorations to dress the trees. This year’s collections had been all about the Aussie summer. Surfboards and cricket balls, beach umbrellas and thongs.
    Next year would be all about colour — orange and teal and tan. Colours you didn’t normally associate with Christmas. She was even considering hiring more staff for the nursery so she could focus more on the decorations and less on the trees.
    She checked her face in the side mirror of the ute, then holding the phone as far away as she could, took a photo of herself.
    Hi Tate ,
    Great to hear from you. At Bonsai Christmas, we have at least three Christmas celebrations each year — 25 Dec, Orthodox and Christmas in July. Photo attached of me with the trees for a big Orthodox celebration in Sydney. Driving down today to deliver and decorate them. I own the business