‘Let’s just say I don’t think any of us will be letting you out of our sight for a while.’ She watched Ryan smile. For now, he was okay with that.
An hour later his parents were back and they all sat around talking. Barry and Debbie spoke about their grey nomad experiences, the places they’d liked the most and the things they’d seen.
‘Well, I’d better be heading home,’ Jonny said eventually. ‘I’ve still gotta drop by Frankie’s shed and pick up the new dizzy cap he found for my speedway car.’ Jonny got up out of the chair and stretched.
‘Still racing around the speedway track, Jonny?’
‘Sure am, you know me, Mrs C,’ said Jonny with a smile.
‘Here, I’ll walk you out.’ Debbie stood up.
‘It was so good to see you, Jonny,’ said Barry.
‘You too, Mr C.’ She bent down to plant a kiss on Ryan’s head. ‘Catch ya, mate. Please stay out of trouble,’ she warned. ‘Be good to your shrink.’
He gave her a wink. ‘I’ll try.’
Jonelle knew that they always turned to humour in the hard times. It was their survival mechanism; if they didn’t laugh, they’d cry, and she’d done enough of that.
With a last glance at Ryan she left with Debbie in tow. ‘Please let me know if you want anything done around the farm before you get back. I’ll go and clean up Ryan’s place. I don’t think he needs to come home to a mess.’
‘Thanks, Jonny. You’re a sweetheart.’
‘Mrs C, I’m going to try and sort through Ryan’s books and see what I can find. You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No, of course not, love. You’re practically family. When we get back we’ll all pitch in and give you a hand. I know Ryan feels guilty that he could lose the farm, but we’d rather have our son back in good health than some old patch of dirt.’
‘Thanks, Mrs C. I hope this week goes okay.’
‘Don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on him.’
Jonny nodded, relieved.
‘Well, you travel home safe,’ Debbie said as Jonny closed the ute door. ‘Oh, Ryan’s dog!’
‘It’s okay. Mum’s got Missy back home,’ she told Debbie through the open window.
Debbie put her hand on Jonelle’s arm. ‘I won’t ever forget what you’ve done for us, Jonelle. You’re just like a daughter. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Thanks, Mrs C. That means a lot. I’ll see you when you get home.’
Jonny waved and then backed out of the parking spot. She was leaving the hospital a lot happier than when she’d arrived. She couldn’t wait for Ryan to come home, but until then she was going to find a way to solve his financial problems. Jonny didn’t know much about loans and finances herself, but she knew a person who did.
Chapter 12
DANIEL had asked Gemma to book an appointment with Jonelle regarding her bank loan. He’d already put it off long enough, trying to give her time after Ryan, but he couldn’t wait forever. He’d tried to call her but he just hadn’t been able to get past the first ring. It was bad enough that he had to discuss this with her at all. She was supposed to be meeting him in his office any minute but he half expected her not to turn up. She seemed good at burying her head in the sand. Not once had she mentioned anything about her debt, even though she must have known he’d have to deal with it eventually.
Not that he wanted to be dealing with it. He’d never had a problem like this in the city, but he didn’t see any of his city clients outside of bank hours. He’d also never been attracted to them, well, not this much, anyway. But business was business, that’s what his dad always said. John took pride in his hard-edged, meticulous work ethic. He’d even told Dan that his brother, Cam, would never amount to much, thanks to their mum’s mollycoddling. John told Dan he was better off living with him and that he’d end up much more successful. Dan didn’t know if this had turned out to be true or not. He had no idea where his brother was these days.
‘Don’t go picking at that scab,’ his father had said when a teenage Dan had asked him whether he could catch up with Cam. ‘Your mum would have turned him against us. They don’t need us and we don’t need them.’
When he first left with his father he’d tried to stay in contact with Cam but it got harder, so much harder. John froze him out any time he found out Dan had been to see Cam at school. His father had a way of making him feel like he’d cheated on him. He could make Dan feel so guilty. Only now, thinking back, did he realise just how weak-minded he’d been. Or maybe he’d just been young.
His mobile rang, he answered it when he saw it was his mate from Perth. ‘Hey, Josh.’
‘Dan. Skinned any roos yet?’ Josh teased. His voice was as smooth as his pick-up lines.
‘Not yet, but there’s still time.’
‘So how are you handling it? Ready to come back yet? Shit, you couldn’t pay me enough money to go out there. What the hell is it like?’
‘Different. Lots of dust, flies, land for miles but the scenery is pretty amazing.’ Instantly he thought of Jonelle.
‘Yeah, well, hurry up, hey. Marcus is flat out training for this running thing and Scott’s got sick kids, so I’m flying solo. You know I hate going out on my own.’
‘Are the kids okay?’
‘Yeah, it’s just the flu but Scott can’t get away and I don’t want it.’ Josh didn’t like kids much. Too noisy and snotty for him. But Dan loved hanging out with them.
There was a knock at his office door. ‘Hey, Josh, look, I’ve gotta go. I’ve got a meeting. I’ll give you a call later.’
‘No worries, mate. Take it easy out there.’
Putting his phone down he called out, ‘Come in.’ Jonelle’s face appeared around the door, her hair falling in gentle waves. He swallowed long and hard.
‘Hey.’ Without asking she plonked herself in the chair opposite. She smelt like grease and her hands were stained with dirt. Her face had a smear across one cheek. He tried hard not to smile. Others wore make-up, Jonelle wore grease, but she wore it so well. It was hard to be work-focused when she could evoke so many crazy feelings in him. Excitement, humour, fascination, and when she blinked those long pale eyelashes it caused a strange burning feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Dan gathered his thoughts. ‘Thanks for coming in, Jonelle. As you’re probably aware, I need to discuss the default on your loan.’
‘I figured.’
He waited for her to say a little more, but that was all she gave him. ‘Jonelle, how did you get into this mess in the first place? I can’t see how you could have such a large loan still outstanding on such a small business. Realistically I can’t understand how you could still owe your initial loan and be defaulting . . .’
Jonelle sighed, leaning back in her chair. Her fingers sat laced at her waist. ‘I had a problem with some out-of-town arsehole not paying up on an account, and it was a big bill. Picture a couple of massive trucks, full new tyres, oils etcetera. It wasn’t just me he took for a ride. And of course I couldn’t afford to take him to court, I was already skint. So dickheads like him get away with it. Anyway, stupid me didn’t have insurance on loss of income and now add to that the drought, so most of the district owes me money.’
‘I see.’
‘Well, when I took on the business, Coot had never had insurance either. He was oldschool, and there was a slight bit of miscommunication so I didn’t know about the insurance . . .’
‘Slight’s probably an understatement.’
‘Yeah, but I can’t go back and fix it so I’m just trying to do the best I can.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘And then there’s the drought.’ Jonelle continued with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘Everyone is doing it tough and in a place like this, you have to give people a break. I help out the best I can.’
‘Jonelle, that’s not really the best way to run a business.’ It felt like his dad had just spoken through him. He couldn’t even believe what he was saying. What he really wanted to say was that
he found her compassion and loyalty endearing.
‘It’s the only way I know.’
Dan took a deep breath. ‘So, what would you like to happen, Jonelle?’ he asked, as he tried not to get lost in her eyes.
‘Well, I’d like to keep running my business, to keep providing for my town, and to wait out the drought and then I can go on as usual.’
‘I can tell you it doesn’t always work that easily.’
She leant forward, her face softening. ‘Look, is there any way I can get an extension? Another six months? I just need more time, please.’
If she were anyone else, he would have just said no, especially if he was to have the bank’s interests at heart. But he was struggling with Jonelle. He had to fight to speak, and for the first time in his career he wanted to go against everything his father and his job had taught him. ‘I’m afraid we can’t.’ God, the words were like sharp gravel up his throat. It wasn’t the worst part either. The look of betrayal, anger and then despair that shot across her face made him uncomfortable.
‘Why not? I’m not asking for a lot. Just time. This drought has to break. Six months, it’s all I’m asking for,’ she pleaded. ‘Please, Daniel.’
Dan’s teeth were clenched together so tight that his jaw was starting to throb. ‘I’m sorry, Jonelle. I would if I could.’
She shot him an unconvinced look that made him feel like a big fat liar. The throbbing in his jaw intensified.
‘So, it’s like that.’ She stood up abruptly, squared her shoulders and left his office without a backwards glance.
‘But I . . . ’ He hadn’t finished but Jonelle was already out the door. He wanted to see if he could help her, maybe offer some advice, but the look she shot him said she wouldn’t have listened anyway. Not to him, not now.
‘I guess that will do for now,’ he said to himself.
He’d never experienced something so uncomfortable before. He felt like he’d just stabbed his best friend in the back. Dan didn’t know how people could work like this in a small town. No wonder the last bloke quit.
His phone rang, and he answered, glad for the distraction.
‘Daniel, it’s head office for you on line one.’
‘Thanks, Jean.’ He pressed line one and answered.
The next ten minutes were taken up discussing a letter that had been served to some people at the end of January during their review. With the reports Dan had sent in to head office on the state of the drought, the bank was now keen to take action. The farm could never recover from this level of debt – it was time to foreclose. Dealing with foreclosure on businesses was something Dan was used to.
He hung up the phone and sat there for a few moments. He glanced at his day planner, touching the date. He should have been thinking about the poor farmers about to receive notice that they would be losing their farm, but something else filled his mind. Today was his mother’s birthday, and not just any birthday. Today she was turning fifty. Daniel had a sudden urge to know how she was, what she was doing, whether she was celebrating with Cam. After John and Dan moved out, his mum used to call and try to talk to him, then one day the calls stopped. It was like she just gave up and moved on. It cut deeper than the divorce.
He couldn’t even imagine how she would look now. Would her hair be grey? How long had it been since he’d last seen her? Seven years? Maybe ten? He’d seen glimpses of her when he’d seen Cam at his sports events and she’d always smiled and waved, but never approached him. She was obviously happier without him.
He picked up the phone and dialled the one mobile number he knew by heart. It answered after a few short rings.
‘John Tyler speaking.’ The voice was strong and noble.
‘Afternoon, John.’
‘Daniel. How are things down in . . . ?’
‘Bundara.’
‘Yes, Bundara.’
‘All right so far. Such a huge area has been affected by the drought and I’ve just been on the phone regarding a client we want to take action against. I think they were hoping the old guy would sell up, but he’s not going to make it easy on us.’
‘Some of them never do, Daniel. They don’t realise it’s the bank’s money and they just want to keep taking and not repaying. Nothing is free in this life. Or it shouldn’t be, anyway.’
‘I know.’
‘Have you been working on your application for that business banking relationship manager position I told you about?’
‘Not yet. It’s been hard settling in here.’
‘You don’t need to be settling in, son. And nothing needs to be hard. You are there to do a job, not make friends. Now, you’d better get started on that application soon. I hear applications close early January. Send it to me if you want me to look over it, or if you need any help. This job will look great on your résumé.’
‘Thanks, John. I’ll do that. Anyway, while I’ve got you, I was just wondering . . . um . . . did you notice today’s date?’
‘What about it?’
‘Mum’s birthday. She’s turning fifty today. Have you heard from her of late?’ She’d only been twenty-one when Daniel was born; he’d be thirty next year.
‘No. Why would I? She didn’t want us, remember?’ His voice turned gruff, just like it always did when Dan brought up his mum or Cam. It was almost fifteen years since the divorce, but still Dan could barely mention his mum’s name without getting this sort of response from his father. Dan had always tried to be so understanding, but John didn’t make it easy. His dad was a man who held a grudge and he was proving it could last a lifetime.
‘It was just a thought. Forget I even raised it. How’re the budget meetings going?’ he asked, steering his father back into safe territory. For the next ten minutes they discussed the details of John’s job. Dan went along with it to keep his dad happy. After all, John was all he had left now. Who else did Dan have to make proud?
Chapter 13
THE tin walls of the workshop creaked as they contracted in the cool night air but the noise was drowned out by the sound of Jonny replacing the radiator hose in old Mr Fredrick’s Volvo. Sometimes she liked to put on the radio, a bit of talkback to keep her company, and it was best later at night with more music programmed. She had the large sliding door open, letting in the breeze, along with some moths that hung around the shed lights.
‘Hey, haven’t you finished up yet?’
Jonny lifted her head out from under the bonnet to find Renae standing near the open door. She had her multicoloured cotton strapless frock on – dressy without being too fancy for Bundara. ‘No. Probably got another hour or so to go.’
‘Damn it. No chance of talking you into coming to the pub?’
‘Afraid not. I got a bit behind this week with everything that’s happened.’
‘But the whole gang’s there. Zaccy, Gemma, Rick, Nadia and Diff. We’re gonna organise a get-together next weekend at the pool. You know, a way to get everyone together after Coop’s . . . incident. Kind of like a men’s shed talk thingo.’
‘It sounds great, Nae. Count me in and put me down to help out if they need it. But I really gotta get this done. I lost a lot of time yesterday cleaning up at Ryan’s.’
‘Well, funnily enough, I thought you’d say something like that. Lucky I brought you these, then.’ Renae pulled a six-pack of beer from behind her back.
‘Oh, Nae. You’re a legend.’ Jonny took one of the Carlton Dry stubbies, delighted to feel how cold it was, and cracked off the top.
Renae put the beers on top of a stack of tyres. ‘Well, I’d offer to stay and help . . .’
‘But we all know how that would turn out,’ laughed Jonny. The last time Renae had offered to help she wouldn’t touch the grease or oil, she’d refused to lift anything that was dirty or heavy and then she’d complained the whole time that it was boring. Yet put her in a garden with a pair of gloves and it was a different story. What Nae could do with plants was amazing.
‘Yes, we sure do. Well, if you do f
inish up early, drop by the pub, yeah?’
‘Righto. Thanks for the coldies,’ Jonny called.
After Renae had disappeared into the night, Jonny took the new hose and clamp over to the Volvo and set to work. Forty minutes later, she was disturbed again. Luckily, she had just finished on the Volvo.
‘Hey, Jonelle,’ said Daniel, his voice reaching her over an old Elvis song on the radio.
She almost choked on her beer. She’d never expected to see Daniel, let alone this late. It was almost nine o’clock. He was wearing running shorts, fancy running shoes and a black singlet. ‘Hello,’ she said slowly and maybe a little gruffly, still feeling miffed that she’d been summonsed to see him at the bank earlier that day and then denied a simple extension. She’d been made to feel like a naughty kid in the principal’s office and had then been sent packing with a massive detention. She’d tried to put his refusal for an extension out of her mind. She wasn’t ready to face what that meant right now.
‘Sorry. I was restless so I went for a run around town and just happened to see your light on. Are you still working?’ he asked. Her overalls were splashed with radiator water.
‘Ah, yeah. Just finished.’ She considered offering him a beer, but then thought better of it. It went against every country fibre of her body. Jonny leaned back against the Volvo to pull her overalls off over her boots. She’d been thinking of speaking to him about her idea at the bank, but that was before he’d been an arse. Personally she’d like nothing better than not to ask this favour of him but Ryan meant everything to her. She just had to suck it up. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’re here.’ Now they were words she never thought she’d say. ‘There’s something I wanted to ask you.’ Instead of thinking about her own problems she’d steered her thoughts to helping Ryan and she kept coming back to the same conclusion. Dan. She’d been stewing over this for days now. How to ask Dan for help. It was going to be like swallowing pins.
‘Really? Me too.’
Jonny straightened up her singlet and adjusted her cotton shorts. She didn’t wear much under the overalls in this heat. Daniel looked quite flushed too, especially when she caught him watching her. Jonny ground her teeth together, angry at the skip in her heartbeat.
The Sunburnt Country Page 9
