‘Why you’re with me.’
He flicked another glance. ‘As in why we’re in Orange together?’
She chewed the edge of her lip. ‘Probably a wider scope than that.’
He made a thoughtful sound but didn’t say anything further. She left him to think about it. She needed to think about it herself. He wouldn’t be the only one questioned.
‘What do you think I should say?’ he asked when they were out of the traffic and cruising down the open road. This was much easier driving for conversations.
‘Whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ll be firmly in the “we’re friends, not that it’s your business” camp. But you can probably get away with “no comment”. If you give any details, they’ll only want more.’ She grinned hoping to soften the harshness of the comments. ‘I love the people of Dulili and Carol is a good friend but they don’t have to know all your business. And they’ll accept it if you say that too.’
They headed straight to Carol and Alan’s, and when they pulled up out the front, she wondered if they should have gone home and declined the invitation.
Chapter 14
Dogs appeared first, leaping and barking, rumbling and chasing. Lachlan slowed, which was just as well because a tumble of boys appeared next, then chooks, a couple of pet lambs, and the peacock. Lachlan’s eyes grew wider with each new body he had to avoid driving over.
‘I might just pull up here, hey?’ His voice shook just a little as he put the vehicle into neutral and pulled on the hand brake.
‘Could be safer,’ she answered over the noise. He turned off the ignition. ‘Watch when you get out that you don’t get barrelled over.’
She didn’t know what was on Lachlan’s side of the vehicle but she had a couple of kids, a dog and some chooks to contend with. When she’d hugged the boys, patted the dogs and waved the chooks away, she took a step towards the house only to be rammed from behind by a hard-headed lamb. She stumbled, less gracefully than she would have liked, and sprawled across the dusty driveway.
‘Caesar!’ One of the boys cried. She quickly righted herself before she ended up at the bottom of a scrum. Timothy, the middle boy, held out his hand to help and she grinned.
‘Did you teach your lamb to do that, Timmy?’
He giggled. ‘No. He learned it all himself.’
She dusted off and Matty, the youngest, helped, brushing his tiny hands against her dusty knees. ‘It was you, Matty, who taught the sheep to ram, wasn’t it?’
He looked up, all serious eyes. ‘Nope. He gets me too. All the time.’ She swept Matt up and settled him on her hip.
‘Do you think we’re safe together?’
He giggled. Dunstan came up from behind. ‘Sorry, Alicia. I was supposed to lock them all away before you got here.’ He looked so grown up and so solemn, that she couldn’t stand it. She had to make him laugh even if Carol would chastise her for it later.
‘You were supposed to lock your brothers up, Dunst?’ She pulled a face of mock horror and Tim and Matt giggled again.
‘No,’ Tim yelled. ‘The bloody lamb.’ She could hear his father’s voice in those words and she let out a chuckle she was sure she shouldn’t have.
‘No swearing.’ She made an effort of being a responsible adult even if her chuckle ruined the impact and Tim grinned.
When shopping bags rustled, she remembered Lachlan and realised how appalling her manners were. ‘Lachlan, I’m so sorry. Have you met the boys?’ She introduced each of the boys and then Dunstan introduced the dogs, who each sat and held a paw up for Lachlan to shake. It was so cute. Dunstan was incredibly serious, and trying so very hard to do the right thing. Lachlan’s bemused expression didn’t tell her exactly how he was surviving this onslaught but he seemed to be taking it in good spirits.
That was before she took a few steps forwards and saw Stew sneaking his head into one of the shopping bags Lachlan had placed on the ground. ‘Stew,’ she growled.
Timothy raced over and batted Stew’s muzzle away from the bag. ‘You should know better,’ Timothy admonished the dog and she could hear his mother in those words.
‘You think we need to help with the bags?’ she asked Matt who was swivelling on her hip, trying to keep an eye on the antics of the four dogs.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The dogs can’t eat my present.’
‘Who says I have a present for you?’
He giggled. ‘You always bring presents.’ Then he tugged at her ear and whispered a little too loudly. ‘Are you gonna marry him?’
Trying not to choke on laughter, or choke the kid, she managed to say, ‘Not today, sweetheart.’ It seemed to appease Matt who went back to dog watching. She stooped to gather some of the shopping.
Lachlan had completed dog introductions, had met the sheep, and each chook had been pointed out along with the peacock. He gathered the rest of the groceries. ‘Lead on, boys.’
Carol and Alan met them on the verandah and Alicia suspected they’d been spying. They’d probably orchestrated the chaotic arrival to see how Lachlan handled it. No doubt they’d tell her later that they’d done it for her benefit, then proceed to give her their analysis of Lachlan—not as an employee but as husband material, which had obviously been discussed since Matt had asked the question. Kids don’t allow for secrets.
But she couldn’t be annoyed with them. They had her best interests at heart, and they were going to feed her. Plus, they’d back off when she told them to, until then she might need Carol’s ear.
They didn’t have any rest before dinner. While Alan barbequed and Carol exclaimed over the grocery gifts, they played backyard cricket with the kids and the dogs. Dunstan was the master of the backyard and ordered the boys and the dogs around like a commander. Even Lachlan was given instructions and he followed them unquestioningly. Alicia knew her position in the game. She took Carol’s place, as wicket keeper and umpire. Standing behind the batsman, her ruling was law, and she loved it.
When Lachlan came up to bat, she quickly briefed him on the local rules. ‘You can’t hit hard. No catches to Matty because he’s too little. Go easy on Tim. And watch the canine fielders.’
Lachlan was clearly sceptical as he scoffed at her final words.
‘You’ll pay.’ It was the only warning she gave him.
The first few balls, he hit along the ground and Matty scrambled to gather them and throw the ball back to the bowler, Dunstan. The next ball was more of a floater and Lachlan hooked it for a big shot. He began to celebrate, ‘Look, look …’
The ball soared into the air, arcing beautifully, coming down a good distance from where the ball was struck, and Stew was racing for it. It was a magnificent sight. A long-haired Border Collie raced across the lawn a black and white blur, body stretching out with each bounding step. Then his head angled, his body soared and with a snap of body and jaw, he claimed the ball from thin air and landed on four delicate paws.
The backyard erupted. Dunstan was yelling his victory. Tim was screaming out Stew’s name in one hugely long syllable. Matt was cheering. The dogs all started barking, except for Stew, who paraded back to the pitch and dropped the ball at Dunstan’s feet.
Alicia was laughing almost as loudly as the kids but not at Stew, at the incredulous expression on Lachlan’s face. He hadn’t moved since the dog took the screamer of a catch. His eyes were wide. His mouth opened. And his bat was poised in the final position of the after-swing.
Alan yelled from the barbeque. ‘That’s my dog!’
‘You’re out. You’re out. You’re out.’ Dunstan danced around Lachlan, who quickly regained his composure and handed his bat to Tim.
‘A great ball,’ Lachlan said to Dunstan and brushed his hand across the boy’s head. ‘A brilliant catch.’
‘A bloody good dog.’ Dunstan beamed with pride.
‘No swearing,’ Carol and Alicia both yelled together but Alan had echoed his son’s words, so no one took the reprimand seriously. There was laughter. And chaos. Complete
and utter chaos.
Lachlan was the last to bat, with the exception of the canine fielders who weren’t given a turn, so the game concluded at Carol’s command. The bat was put away, and Stew was awarded the ball. The boys rushed off to do their chores and wash up before dinner and Lachlan and Alicia were offered a well-earned drink.
Alan handed Lachlan a beer. ‘Oh, umm, thanks,’ Lachlan said, looking sheepish and uncertain.
Alicia held her hand up at Alan. ‘Lachlan drinks soft drink.’ Lachlan held the beer and muttered something she didn’t catch. She turned to him. ‘Don’t feel obliged. No one cares if you have a beer or a softie.’ She met his gaze and held it. She didn’t want him to change his mind because of any imagined pressure.
He nodded once. ‘Thanks, Alan. A soft drink would be better.’
Alan returned and exchanged a soft drink for the beer in the stubby holder. ‘No problems. I should ask before giving people beer.’
Lachlan shrugged. ‘I should probably drink beer.’
‘Nah.’ Alan grinned. ‘You stick with what’s better for you. If you drank beer, you’d then have to decide which sort you liked and then correct everyone who gave you the wrong brand.’ He clunked his beer against Lachlan’s soft drink. ‘Cheers, and thanks for playing with the boys.’
‘It was fun.’
Alicia left them and found her way into the kitchen with Carol. ‘Do you need a hand?’ Carol had salads made, the table set and everything under control. ‘Wow, I’ve no idea how you manage to do all this so quickly.’
She laughed. ‘It’s easy to do this when you’re not being wicket keeper, umpire, cook, Mum and first aid officer.’
Alicia stared at her. It wasn’t easy doing all that, yet Carol did it every night no matter how many mouths were around that table. She made it look easy.
Alicia headed to the bathroom to wash up while Carol yelled for the boys. She just finished when the house was filled with noise and footsteps. It was another fifteen minutes of absolute mayhem before the boys were seated and digging into their food.
She looked across the table to Lachlan. He appeared completely shell-shocked. He was staring from one boy to the next, his mouth ajar.
‘They’re quiet for a few moments every meal time,’ Carol said and Lachlan ran a hand across his face before a delicate pink tinged his skin.
‘Sorry.’
Before he could say any more, Alan butted in. ‘Don’t be, mate. They take a bit of getting used to. But you’re doing great with them.’
Alicia tried to smother a chuckle when she heard Dunstan mutter under his breath, ‘Hello, we’re here you know.’ He was seated beside her, furthest away from his parents so they wouldn’t have heard him. She’d keep his secret. The boys were growing up. Quickly.
‘Load up your plates before they need seconds,’ Carol said and passed the potato bake to Lachlan.
Dinner was fantastic. The salads were good but the fresh lamb chops were better than anything she’d had since she’d left home. ‘Yum. There is nothing like fresh lamb,’ she said during a quiet moment.
Lachlan’s eyes widened and a look of horror passed across his face. She stifled a giggle. ‘Not that fresh, Lach.’ She kicked him under the table, lightly, and a rueful grin appeared. Surely he hadn’t thought one of the pet lambs he met earlier had become dinner?
Conversation flowed freely, especially after the kids had full stomachs instead of being occupied with filling them. Dunstan was the ring-leader but he made sure everyone got a bit of the conversation, not just kids but the adults too.
Carol and Alicia got up to clear the table after the boys, big and small, had finished their multitudes of helpings. In the kitchen, Alicia put down the bowl of decimated salad and said without thinking, ‘Gosh, I thought it was only Lachlan who ate that much. I never have any left overs now. Glad to see Alan’s the same.’
Carol opened the cupboard and got out some small bowls, before scraping in the remains. ‘How long have you been feeding him?’
‘A few months now …’ And then it dawned on her. What she’d said. What she’d implied. Crap. She looked up at Carol who’d paused, the lid pressing onto the last container, but she was staring with eyebrows raised.
‘You’ve kept quiet for months?’ Her whisper contained awe, incredulous awe.
‘No. Of course not.’ Alicia’s voice was a lot gruffer than she wanted it to be. Damn. Why did I blab that out? ‘We’re friends. Nothing else.’
Carol slid the containers into the fridge while Alicia took the salad bowl to the sink.
‘Friends don’t share meals for no reason for months.’ Carol’s quiet words disturbed her but she couldn’t fully explain. She didn’t want to have to explain. It wasn’t her place to explain.
She had to give Carol some explanation, she was her friend and no doubt feeling miffed and ignored. ‘We were working on stuff.’
The expression on Carol’s face dropped. All speculation was gone. ‘Paul’s show?’ she guessed and Alicia didn’t correct her, only nodded. They had worked on that for some part of the time.
‘Sorry,’ Carol said gently, ‘I know I shouldn’t be pushing but I’m an idiot. I want all this for you.’ She wrapped Alicia in a hug. Carol meant well, and Alicia loved her for that.
It took a few moments of silence before Alicia could kick her mind into a little humour. She had to get out of this heavy conversation. ‘This total and complete chaos; you want this for me? Wow. I thought you were my friend?’
Carol pulled back. ‘You love this mayhem. That’s why you keep coming back.’ She grinned and they were back on even footing. Carol grabbed a huge fruit platter and they took it to the boys. How Carol had had time to add the fruit they’d bought, Alicia didn’t know. She was a wonder, this woman.
The fruit was devoured, totally. All that was left were scraps and the plate. Boys sure could eat.
***
Lachlan and Alicia were left to entertain the boys when Alan insisted on helping Carol to clean up. The older boys were fighting over PlayStation games when Matt slipped his hand into Lachlan’s. ‘Will you read me a story, please?’
Glancing down, Matt’s huge eyes begged and Lachlan couldn’t say no. ‘Of course I will, Matt.’
He hoped he could. He glanced over at Alicia and she gave him a tight smile, a nod and a quick thumbs up. At least she didn’t look panic-stricken. He half-expected her to be horrified, because half of him felt that but Matt was little, how hard could it be?
‘What are we reading, Matt?’ Lachlan didn’t get a reply. Matt had scampered off.
‘He’s gone to get his favourite,’ Alicia told him softly before she was dragged to the television as a committed crowd for the boys’ competition. He’d never played video games, so he’d have been almost as worried if he’d been dragged to the television with the older boys.
He didn’t have to wait long. Matt came skidding back into the room with a book in each hand. Lachlan rubbed his palms down his jeans and took a couple of deep breaths. Then he sat on a beanbag with Matt settling in beside him and put his hands out for the first book. ‘So which one are we reading first, Matt?’
Matt sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and stared between the two books. ‘Don’t know.’
‘It’s a hard choice.’ Lachlan looked at the book closest to him. ‘The Very …’ He stumbled on the next word but sounded it out in his head. ‘Hungry.’ He looked at the jumble of letters for that last word, he blinked and looked again. The letters settled down. He sounded out the word, silently, then he saw the cover picture and grinned. ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar sounds like just the book to read after dinner.’
Matt giggled and handed Lachlan the book.
Lachlan opened the first page, scanned the pictures for clues, then slowly worked his way through each word. He put his finger beneath each word so he’d not lose his place. And Matt … Lachlan wasn’t sure if he should love the kid or curse him … but Matt read along with him and if Lachlan took
too long working out a word, Matt would say it before he got a chance.
Half of him was ecstatic that he was reading, out loud, to someone who was enjoying it. The other half of him was horrified that he was only just managing to read it, and sometimes Matt knew the words before he did. A three-year-old.
But he tried to push back the horror and capture the happiness. Matt beamed when they reached the end of the book. ‘Can we read it again?’ The other book had been dropped, forgotten, on the floor.
Lachlan read the book again. When they were about halfway through Carol called out, ‘Five minutes, boys.’
Lachlan and Matt read the end of the book together, grinning at each other. Then Alan arrived and called time. It was time for bed for the boys.
Matt jumped up and tugged Lachlan until they were in front of Alan. ‘Lach read me a story,’ Matt said with pride.
Alan ruffled Matt’s hair. ‘That’s great, mate. Now baths and bed. Do what your mother tells you.’
The kids raced out and Alan was left shaking his head.
‘They’re great kids,’ Lachlan said to him.
‘They’re damn hard work.’ Alan grinned but Lachlan could tell that he loved every minute of that hard work. ‘Coffee, tea? We’ll probably get twenty minutes of peace, then we’ll be on story duty. You get a double dose, Lachlan, sorry about that.’
Lachlan nodded. ‘It’s fine. I enjoyed it.’ He could hardly say that he’d never read a book before tonight. And if he could read to Matt again, it would be something he’d always wished for. He’d never had anyone read to him. He’d always dreamed that maybe one day he’d be able to read to his children but it’d always been an impossible dream.
Not impossible any more. He could read. He’d read a story to Matt. And now he’d read to him again before he slept.
When Alan placed coffee on the table, they began talking farming while pouring their mugs. Alicia and Alan chatted but when Lachlan asked a question, Alan was as patient answering as Alicia had always been. It was fascinating listening to them both. They had such passion for the land, for their jobs, for what they did. Alan seemed to live and breathe his place. He knew what was in each paddock, how many sheep he had, the date he’d sown, when he’d sprayed. Twice he pulled out a little notebook from his top left shirt pocket to check something up but mostly he rattled everything off without stopping to think about it.
The Healing Season Page 16
