In a Lifetime

by Ariadne Wayne

  “She’s such an attention seeker sometimes. Ignore her.” Ella said.

  I’d been here for five minutes, and it already felt like home.

  “I’m on the way out to check on the sheep, Matt. Want to come?” Ella’s dad spoke. In my peripheral vision, I saw Sam roll his eyes. Clearly not his thing.

  “Sure. Sounds great, Mr Brown.”

  “We’ll go after a coffee. You look like you need something to warm you up. And it’s Eric.”

  I nodded, Ella squeezing my arm harder. It was obviously important to her that I got on with her family. They seemed really lovely.

  Eric didn’t ask Sam if he wanted to go, turning and walking back to the living room instead.

  “Dad’s been up for hours already. He’s got a few dairy cows to take care of. You’ll have really fresh milk in your coffee.” Ella laughed, pulling me toward the living room to the couch. Her mother arrived seconds later, with a tray full of coffee cups and a jug of milk.

  “Help yourselves. Have you had breakfast? I can put some bacon and eggs on.”

  “Sounds amazing, Mum.” Sam appeared in the doorway, having been left behind by us.

  “Matt?”

  I nodded. “Sounds great. Ella was in such a rush, we didn’t stop for breakfast.”

  “Ella was excited to be here to get ready for her wedding, and for her family to meet you,” Ella said.

  “It’s so creepy when you refer to yourself in the third person.” I picked up the milk jug, pouring a generous helping into my coffee.

  “She is creepy.” Vanessa sat on the floor, now covered in a thick woollen jumper. She spooned three heaped teaspoons of sugar into her coffee and poured milk in, sitting back, cradling the cup in her hands.

  “I don’t know. She’s usually pretty alright.” I winked, and Vanessa grinned.

  Yep. I could get used to this.

  I’D CLIMBED into Eric’s four-wheel drive and we’d headed out across a couple of paddocks before we got to the sheep. As we walked the last few metres to the gate, it dawned on me that he was checking on them because it was nearly spring. Soon there would be lambs, judging by the heavily pregnant ewes standing around chewing on the grass.

  This whole place would be teeming with new life, how beautiful it must be then.

  “Some of these girls are real close,” Eric said, confirming my thoughts. “I check in the mornings to see if we have any newcomers.”

  “Must be rewarding, taking care of them.”

  He shrugged. “It has its moments.” He looked up at me with those same piercing eyes Ella had. “It’s good to finally meet you. I wasn’t kidding when I said Ella speaks about you a lot.”

  “Ella’s a good friend. I’m glad to be here.”

  He licked his lips, and in that moment, I knew this invitation wasn’t about showing me around. “Do you think she’s doing the right thing?”

  Could he see how I felt? I swallowed. “Sam and Ella love one another deeply.”

  “I’m the kind of man who speaks my mind, as you’ll come to know. I helped her when she wanted to buy the house and move in with him, but I have my doubts about him looking after my girl. I know she dotes on him, but he never seems to do anything for her. I trust you will keep this confidential.”

  “Absolutely.” I nodded. Lord knew I had enough secrets at this point—one more wouldn’t matter.

  “They don’t seem to have a lot in common. When she first brought him home, he spent a lot of time being fed by my wife while she talked about you. That was behind my comment about not knowing which one she was with.”

  I grinned. “We’ve all spent a lot of time together, especially when she and Sam were first together. We lived in the same house for two years. I got used to tripping over your daughter’s clothing.”

  He roared with laughter. “We’ve all had to deal with that. When Ella first moved out, Vanessa said she was glad that none of her underwear would fall out of the hot water cupboard anymore.”

  “I can relate to that. Go to grab a towel and end up with a bra.”

  Eric patted me on the back. “I want to make sure my girl is making the right choice.”

  I swallowed down every doubt I had. Sam needed me to back him up. What else was a best friend for? “She is. He’s a good man. He’ll take great care of her.”

  Eric turned his back on me, looking toward the sheep. But not quickly enough for me to miss the words he uttered. “More like she’ll take care of him.”

  I leaned on the fence, watching the animals move around, squinting into the distance. “Is that a lamb?”

  “Where?”

  I pointed, and he narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re right. Let’s take a closer look.”

  In the centre of the paddock, with sheep all around it, was a lamb. It shook on its thin legs, but bleated loudly as we approached. Eric laughed, slapping me on the back. “Good spotting. For a city boy.”

  I grinned as he scanned the paddock for signs of any others. It appeared this little one was it, and I swear Eric was as proud as a new father himself as he checked the lamb over, nodding as he went.

  “They’ll come thick and fast now. Won’t all be as good as this one, but it’s a start.”

  “It’s so cool it happened now. I’ve seen lambs in petting zoos, but seeing one like this is a bit different.”

  He laughed. “We can call this one Matt, then.”

  “Great. My mother will be so proud I’ve had a sheep named after me.”

  Eric stood straight, shaking his head as he led me back to the gate. “I like you.”

  He didn’t say anything else on the way back to the house, but I liked him, too.

  BY THE TIME dinner rolled around, I was well and truly at home.

  Sam had been inside the house with Ella most of the afternoon. I had been out and about to see the farm animals. We’d gone to see the cows after lunch, and then Vanessa had taken me to see the chickens. She might not have resembled Ella physically, but she never stopped talking, and we got on like a house on fire, just like Ella and I.

  “Do you like living in the city?” she asked.

  “It’s okay.”

  “I hate it here.” She scowled as she scooped up the eggs into a bowl.

  “I like it. It’s nice to get real fresh air.”

  Vanessa stood. “It’s so quiet and boring. I’ll be going to the city in a couple of years when I go to university. I can’t wait.”

  I held the gate as she came back out, closing it again after her. “What are you going to study?”

  “Medicine, I think. Dad and I have very different ideas. I don’t know why. He let Ella do what she wanted.”

  We walked up the path that led back to the house. From the slight elevation, I could see over the farm, down to the paddock we’d gone in the morning over to the one I’d seen this afternoon. It seemed big, but it really wasn’t. Enough space to feel free.

  “Your dad is a good guy. I bet you he thinks you’re more capable than you realise.”

  She stopped, rolling her eyes at me. “You’re either on my side, or you can’t be my friend.”

  I laughed. “I think you’re probably the kind of person who could do anything.”

  She grinned, turning back toward the house. I followed her down the path and into the kitchen. Ella stood inside with her mother, her eyes sparkling with happiness as they sipped coffee, and she kept glancing at her engagement ring while they talked. The closer she got to being a bride, the more beautiful she was, I swore.

  A sharp pain in my side reminded me that Vanessa stood beside me. She grabbed my arm, dragging me into the living room. “Sit there. I’ll make you a coffee.”

  “Yes please, Ness.” Sam smiled at her.

  “So, one coffee for Matt. What about you, Dad?”

  Eric chuckled. “Sounds good. Get one for Sam too.”

  Vanessa flipped her plait over her shoulder and disappeared back into the kitchen. I glanced sideways at Sam, but he was engrossed in
his phone again, playing some game.

  DINNER WAS AMAZING. Ella’s mother had cooked a beef roast that fell apart; it was that tender. She’d grown the potatoes herself, and the vegetables. It had to be the best food I’d eaten in a long time.

  After dinner, Sam disappeared to have a shower. Ella grabbed my arm. “Do you want to get us a drink each, and we’ll go outside for some fresh air?”

  “Sure. What are we drinking?”

  She leaned in. “I’ll get the vodka, you get the Coke from the fridge.”

  I found the glasses in a cupboard, and retrieved the mixer. Ella produced a bottle of alcohol from another cupboard. “You mix them. I’ll help Mum load the dishwasher.”

  “I can do that,” I said, turning toward the bench.

  “Don’t you worry about a thing.” Ella’s mum tapped me on the shoulder. “You’re our guest.”

  I mixed the drinks and headed out the back to the deck with them, leaving Ella with her mum. The evening was cooling quickly, but it was still early enough that it wasn’t too cold yet. We’d get maybe half an hour out here before having to go inside.

  “Over here.” Ella appeared in the doorway, and led me to a swing-seat. It was comfortable, and if it wasn’t chilly, I could have gone to sleep on it after that dinner. It had settled in my stomach, and I struggled to keep my eyes open as we sat. Ella smiled as I handed her the glass.

  “I barely saw you today,” she said.

  “I think I’ve been everywhere. Spending time with your dad was cool; I got to see a new lamb.”

  She grinned. “I love this time of year. So much new life.” She clamped her lips together. “Sorry if Vanessa is a bit too much.”

  I shrugged. “She’s fine. Full of energy, but I guess being a teenager on a farm might be a little boring.”

  Ella took a sip of her drink, closing her eyes briefly. In the dim light cast from the house, she looked beautiful. She was only inches away; I could lean over and kiss her. I licked my lips and swallowed hard. This could be my last chance to make a move, to tell her how I felt, but at the same time it would be a dick move. Her fiancé, my best friend, was right inside the house.

  Ella breathed deep, opening her eyes and fixing her gaze on me. Uncertainty flickered across her face.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I can’t imagine doing this without you.”

  “I’m glad I’m here. For both of you.”

  “So …” She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “What happened with you and Christie? You never told me.” Her sapphire eyes drilled through me. During the wedding planning, she’d asked me a couple of times. I’d managed to change the subject up until now, or find a distraction. It hadn’t been hard with everything going on. There was no getting away this time.

  I shrugged. “It didn’t work out.”

  “She seemed really into you.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes away from hers as they scrutinised my reaction. “Do we have to talk about this?”

  Ella frowned, not dropping her gaze. “You and Sam are my best friends. I care. And I thought you would have been more hurt than you were when you two broke up. I always thought it was weird for you not to be that upset.”

  I swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in my throat. Of course I’d been upset at Christie leaving, but what could I do? There was no hiding from the feelings she’d unearthed, and it wasn’t as if they were about to change overnight. Not after all this time.

  Once Christie knew, there was no way we could face the future together.

  “I was hurt. We ran out of steam.”

  Now, she looked away. “I’m not trying to interrogate you. I want to see you happy.”

  “I am happy. My two best friends are getting married.”

  Ella looked back up at me, a smile spreading on her lips. She held up her drink and I brushed my glass against it. “To you and Sam. And to happy endings.” She took a sip, screwing up her nose this time. “There is far too much vodka in that.”

  “Maybe I’m trying to get you drunk. There are still two days before you get that second ring on your finger.” Maybe I was half joking.

  Ella snorted. “Just as well I can handle my drink then, isn’t it?”

  “What a shame.” I grinned as I sipped my glass, pulling the same face she had. “Oh, I see what you mean.”

  “I’m going to drink it anyway. It’ll help keep me warm.” She laughed, leaning back in her seat, looking up at the sky.

  It was beautiful out here. There seemed to be about a million more stars in the sky on the farm than in the city. I closed my eyes; it was so calm and peaceful. We were far enough off the road not to hear any traffic that might have been out there. The only sound was the hum of talking coming from inside and the crickets, singing loud and proud in the dewy grass.

  “I love this place.” Ella put down her drink, linking her arm in mine and leaning on my shoulder. My concentration broke at the fruity scent of her hair as she snuggled up, and I fought the urge to pull my arm away and wrap it around her. She was only being friendly, but it screwed with my head big time.

  “It’s lovely. Why did you leave?”

  She shrugged. “I wanted to study, and experience the big city. Maybe one day we’ll come back up here.”

  “I can’t see Sam living anywhere like this.”

  She tilted her chin, facing me. “No?”

  “He’s a city boy, through and through. He faked glandular fever to get out of going camping when we were in high school.”

  “What about you?”

  I waggled my eyebrows. “Thinking of swapping out your groom?”

  Ella laughed. “No. I’m being nosy. Would you live somewhere like here?”

  “Can’t see why not. It’s quiet and peaceful. The city’s busy and noisy, and I love that, but sometimes it’d be good to have a break.”

  She went back to leaning her head on my shoulder. “I want to make him happy, Matt.”

  “If he’s not happy by simply being with you, he’s an idiot.”

  My circulation nearly cut off. She squeezed my arm so tight. She didn’t say anything more, just clung to me, and I guessed the squeeze was her way of saying thanks. I meant every word. For the last two years, Ella had run around after Sam, taken care of his every wish. He was lucky to have her, and not only because I loved her too. Because she was so kind and caring. I could sit out here with her on my arm forever. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  She rested her head on my shoulder. “You can ask me anything.”

  “What’s the deal with you and your sister? I didn’t realise there was such a big age gap.”

  Ella nodded. “It goes back to when my dad took over this place. He inherited it from his grandfather, not his father. My grandfather didn’t want to be a farmer. It caused a huge rift in the family. He fell out with his father, moved to the city and made it big in property, earning a lot of money. Dad loved the farm and took it over. Grandad was disappointed Dad chose the farm over following in his footsteps and cut Dad off. Dad and Mum decided to have one child, because they knew there would be ups and downs and didn’t want to have a huge family to support if things went really bad.”

  “So they had you.”

  She nodded. “That’s right. When I was eight, they did have a bad year. Dad sold some of the land, but it was tough, and then Mum found out she was pregnant. So, my father swallowed his pride and went to Grandad for help. I think it was the push they both needed to make amends. Grandad helped him out financially, and I got to know him. Vanessa was born, and we had maybe three years with him around before he died.”

  She picked up her drink, taking another sip.

  “The farm’s shrunk further since then. Mum and Dad don’t need the money from farming; they do it because they love it. It’s how they helped us into the house.”

  I tilted my head, resting it on hers. It all made a lot of sense. And I got it. If I’d had my hands on this place, I wouldn’t let it go either. No wonde
r Ella loved it so much.

  The rest of the world didn’t exist as we sat together, I’d do it all night if I could.

  Still, it was time to let go.

  9

  MATT

  In the morning there were more lambs and sheep to be moved around. I’d been asked again by Eric to join him, and this time, had a chance to get plenty of exercise while we moved the sheep and fixed some fencing.

  By late-morning, sweat dripped from places I didn’t know existed, and Eric patted me on the back, chuckling. “Go have a shower and a cup of tea. Reckon you’ve earned it.”

  I grinned. “Thanks for letting me help. It was a great workout.”

  “Thank you for helping. You’re a good man, Matt.”

  “You’re welcome.” I looked around the paddocks. “It’s so nice being here.”

  He chuckled. “You’re welcome here any time.”

  “Thanks.” I took a deep breath. This was amazing. How had I never explored anywhere like here?

  His expression changed in an instant, from smiling to frowning. “I asked Sam to come out, too. He didn’t seem interested.” Eric clamped his lips together. “Don’t get me wrong. It bothers me that he’s inside with the ladies, while you’re out here. Ella will inherit part of this place one day; I want to know it’ll be in good hands.”

  I shrugged. “I’ve always been more active than Sam. He’s lucky he has a good metabolism.”

  “It’s close enough to lunch time. I bet both of you could do with a beer.”

  That was better. A smile and a laugh told me we’d steered back to a good place. One where he wasn’t making me feel like he thought Sam was the wrong choice for his daughter. “That would be fantastic. Though I think I need a shower first.”

  He chuckled again, nodding as I turned back toward the house and headed for the bedroom. Stripping off my clothes, I twisted the mixer in the shower to run the water warm.

  As I soaped up, I thought again about what he’d said. There was something hanging over all of this, from the moment we’d arrived. The wedding was tomorrow, and Ella’s family seemed welcoming, but what was with the doubt? Surely her father’d had time to settle any bad feelings he might have about Sam.