Note: I wrote The Night We Met in 2022. At that time it was my first book and I expected that I would never write another story after that. I had published the story that I had wanted to tell even though it didn’t end on a happy note, it was true to my vision of a bittersweet love story.
But I couldn’t leave my characters alone for long. I had invested too much effort and angst in their romance and, because they felt real to me, I knew that their lives wouldn’t end on the final page of a book. Ghost of Timor was my way of telling the story of Christian and Alison’s lives after that bitter Christmas of 1997. What happened to them until they met again years later? This is the first tale of what happened next and why their story is the Love of a Lifetime.
JL Collins 2026
Canberra – January 2000
Camilla had almost melted by the time the courier finally arrived. The mid-summer heat was so intense that she baked in her dark business suit, even though she had only been standing outside for ten minutes. She’d dressed to impress and not for a day at the beach, which she admitted would have been more appropriate.
In her defence, Camilla hadn’t been planning to stand outside in the heat when she had dressed that morning. Working in the office of the most important man in the country, she always had to look her best, even though he wouldn’t have cared. But everything she did in public reflected on him. She also knew that work expected her to present an image of professionalism if she wanted to keep her job.
Most days, she wouldn’t have regretted her attire. Her black skirt suit, ivory silk blouse, lacy underwear, and matching stockings suited the office. But in the heat of the afternoon, she wished it all away for a light summer dress and sandals. All this discomfort just to wait for a parcel. It was all part of her job.
She had done it without question because they had asked her. Her job required her to do many things that others didn’t: work long hours; smile at people she loathed; wait on those who cared nothing for her time. So, when she’d agreed, standing outside for a few minutes on a sunny day seemed like a welcome change from the office routine. It was only in the last few minutes when the prickles appeared on her skin beneath her wool jacket that she’d wished she was somewhere else.
Once she’d collected the small package from the courier, Camilla dashed back inside the building to seek refuge from the heat. She walked all the way back to her desk before the heat had left her dark jacket. Once it was off, the building’s air-conditioning took its full effect upon her silk blouse. It took a few more minutes before she felt sufficiently cooled down to feel comfortable again.
She alerted her boss’s secretary that she had the small box in her possession. Instructed to unwrap it, she did and then just sat there. She thought she might check her emails again, but it was Friday and there was nothing for her that couldn’t wait till the following week. She was ready for the weekend, and bringing the box into her boss’s office when he called would likely be her last duty before she could go home. If she hadn’t caught his secretary’s eye minutes earlier, she likely would be home already.
With nothing more to do that day, Camilla idly looked about her for a momentary distraction. Seeing none on her clutter-free desk, she chanced a look inside the small wooden box that had caused her recent mild discomfort and delayed her departure. Inside there were two round gold medals, one larger than the other and each a seven-pointed star topped with a crown. The ribbon was mostly yellow with red chevrons pointing north at regular intervals. The words “For Gallantry” were cast onto the medal. It wasn’t the first time that she had seen or handled such things since she’d been working for the Prime Minister. She suspected another old general was receiving a retirement gift, but it may be someone younger, as there was all that business happening up in Timor at the moment.
She had only just resealed the box when the phone rang.
“Prime Minister’s office, Camilla speaking,” she said.
“Yes, we are ready now,” Prime Minister Howard said. “Can you bring it in, please?”
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