The Wildwood Sisters

by Mandy Magro

  Approaching a T-intersection, the GPS she had borrowed from her nan spoke to her in its annoyingly fake accent: Turn left, then make a sharp right, and then you have reached your destination.

  ‘Really?’ Renee muttered, remaining stationary while glancing about and seeing nothing but a picturesque endless landscape devoid of any houses. After being told to make three U-turns in the middle of town only to end up heading in the original direction she was going before making the U-turns, she had a very strong urge to tell the computerised woman where she could shove her directions. But having become accustomed to using a GPS after living in Melbourne for so many years, she was afraid she’d get completely lost. She’d never been over this side of Opals Ridge before. She’d never had a reason to, until now. She took a gamble and switched it off—how hard could it be to find a couple-of-thousand-acre property?

  Turning left, she stole a quick glance at the pecan pie beside her, extremely proud of her efforts. It had turned out beautifully, with the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, nutty, sweet and sticky. She had wanted to try making one ever since tasting it in Las Vegas at a real estate conference and finding herself completely addicted to the mouth-watering pie with her very first bite, but today had been the first time she’d had a good enough reason. Living alone, she didn’t often have the motivation to cook such elaborate things—salads and takeaway were her usual in Melbourne. She’d have to try her hand at making her other American favourite, clam chowder, now she had the cooking bug again. She adored being back in the kitchen, and being able to create culinary delights for those she loved. Living back at Wildwood Acres was giving her so much more time to do the things she adored, the kind of time that made life seem so much more gratifying.

  Unexpectedly spotting the landmark Dylan had told her about—a mammoth anthill that would make a six-foot man appear to be a midget—Renee slowed the four-wheel drive down and took a sharp right turn, the beers she’d grabbed from the drive-through in town spilling from the box and rolling across the seat. She reached out to stop them falling onto the floor just as two kangaroos shot out from the scrub and bounded across the road in front of her. Slamming on the brakes, the Land Cruiser slid to a shuddering stop, and, as the irritating woman on the GPS had stated only minutes ago, Renee had reached her destination. As the dust cleared, Ironbark Plains sprawled out before her like a pair of welcoming arms, the countryside green and lush and inviting.

  Her pulse rate returning to some form of normalcy after her near miss with two of Australia’s icons, she drove through the open front gate and across the teeth-jittering cattle grid. Heading down the long drive, she admired the paddocks peppered with horses and cattle along the way. A windmill spun slowly in the distance as if in tune with the unhurried vibe of the countryside, and just over the rise she could spot the metal roof of the cottage aglow in sunshine. She smiled from within. Just like at Wildwood Acres, something about this vast, rugged, ancient landscape drew her like nothing else. Space, freedom and silence, pleasures she couldn’t obtain easily in the city, were in abundance. This, right here, was her kind of paradise—the country girl inside of her now outshining the city girl she thought she had become.

  With the charming cottage now in full view, Renee pulled off the drive and parked up beside Dylan’s Land Cruiser. A little girl was playing in the front yard with a dog large enough to pass as a pony, her smile as wide as the woman’s beside her. It was obviously Dylan’s daughter and mother. Annie and Claire acknowledged her arrival with a wave. She waved back, her hand shaking a little. Now she was here, she was shitting herself.

  Just calm down, she whispered to herself as she turned off the ignition and bent down to gather her handbag from the floor, her eyes coming back up to meet Dylan’s baby blues as he suddenly appeared beside the driver’s window. She fought to stop herself drooling. Wearing a half buttoned up flannelette and butt-hugging denim jeans, along with bare feet and a dazzling smile, he looked smoking hot.

  ‘Howdy, Renee. Find the place okay?’ His smile accentuated his striking dimples.

  She wasn’t about to own up to the fact she had used a GPS. How embarrassment! ‘Hi, Dylan, sure did, was a cinch…thanks for the great directions. I stopped along the way and dropped the diary off to Craig, too.’

  ‘That’s great. I reckon that was the right thing to do.’

  ‘Yeah, me too.’ She dragged her eyes from where his chest peeked out from his button-up shirt and clambered down from the four-wheel drive. He reached out and touched her arm, sending what felt like lightning reverberating throughout her. She could almost swear her heart stopped for a second from the shock of it.

  ‘You need a hand with anything?’

  His voice was so husky, and God he smelt good. ‘Um, yes please.’ She reached back across the seat and grabbed the dessert, acutely aware of his eyes upon her as she did so. She turned and passed it to him, pleased with his reaction as he caught sight of the pie.

  ‘This looks bloody amazing, Renee.’ He licked his lips. ‘What is it?’

  ‘An American classic—pecan pie. One bite and you’ll be addicted.’

  ‘I already am.’ With a quirked brow, he smiled charmingly. ‘Hmm. You’re a woman of many talents, Miss Wildwood.’

  ‘Why thankya, but you haven’t tasted it yet.’

  ‘If it tastes as good as it looks, I’ll have died and gone to heaven.’

  The way his eyes were drinking her in as he said that made Renee wonder whether he was referring to her or the pie. God, how she wanted to reach out and rip his clothes off right now, to make love to him with reckless abandon. The thought made her feel flushed and she hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. ‘Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say.’ She rolled her eyes at her stupid choice of words as she reached across the seat once more to retrieve the beers and the shopping bag, relieved to be able to look somewhere other than in his deeply hypnotising eyes. Turning back to him she held up the beer. ‘And I’ve also brought cold beverages.’

  He grinned. ‘You’ve thought of everything. Thanks.’ He pointed to the bag she was now holding. ‘And what goodies are hidden in there?’

  ‘Oh, just a little something for your mum and Annie. I thought it might help break the ice between us.’

  ‘Thanks Renee, but you didn’t have to do that.’ Hidden from any prying eyes by the Land Cruiser, Dylan balanced the pie in one hand and pulled her in by the waist with the other, giving her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Thanks for coming. I hope I haven’t thrown you in the deep end by inviting Mum to join us.’

  Taken aback by his gesture, but tingling pleasurably from his touch, Renee smiled shyly. ‘To be honest, I’m nervous as hell, but I’ll be right.’

  ‘If it makes you feel any better, I’m a little nervous too.’ Dylan chuckled, his deep throaty laughter very sexy. ‘God, look at us. Anyone would think we’re bloody teenagers again.’

  ‘I know, crazy huh?’

  ‘Yeah, crazy, but in a good way.’

  Silence fell between them. Renee’s eyes were briefly drawn to Dylan’s hand, where the gold wedding band he’d been wearing was replaced by a white suntan mark. He’d taken it off. As much as it broke her heart, knowing how hard it must have been for him to do that, it also filled her with hope and joy.

  Oblivious to Renee’s observation, Dylan smiled and motioned towards the house with a nod of his head. ‘We should head on over and say g’day, and then we can jump in the pool before dinner if you like. Annie’s hanging out for a swim.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan.’

  ‘Follow me. I promise my mum won’t bite. She’ll probably love you to death if anything.’

  Dylan headed off towards the cottage, and Renee walked beside him, his easy-going nature helping to relax her. She wouldn’t have guessed he was feeling nervous—he looked so cool, calm and collected. Claire met them at the gate while Annie remained playing with Bossy.

  ‘Mum, this is Renee. Renee, this is my mum, Cl
aire.’

  ‘It’s so lovely to meet you,’ Claire said as she reached out and pulled Renee into a hug.

  Renee hugged her back, feeling instantly at ease in her company. ‘It’s lovely to meet you, too, Claire.’ She grabbed the bottle of local mango wine she had brought along for Claire from the bag and passed it to her. ‘This is for you. I hope you like white wine.’

  ‘I don’t drink much, but when I do, white wine is my favourite, and I still haven’t had a chance to try this one. Thank you, love, that’s very kind of you.’

  Renee breathed a sigh of relief. She shouldn’t have been so worried. ‘You’re welcome.’

  ‘While you settle in, love, I’ve just got to go over home and check on the potato bake. I was going to make potato salad but changed my mind at the last minute. We don’t want to be eating charcoaled potatoes. Back in a jiffy,’ Claire said as she toddled off towards her granny flat.

  ‘Annie, come and say hello,’ Dylan said, placing the pie and beers down on the outdoor table.

  Happily obeying her dad, Annie jumped up from where she was rolling around on the ground with the giant dog, and skipped over towards them. Renee knelt down to greet her. ‘Hi, Annie, I’m Renee.’ She held out her hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’

  Annie smiled in a way that melted Renee’s heart, the little girl’s eyes full of vibrant life as she enthusiastically shook her hand. ‘Hi Renee, it’s nice to meet you too.’

  The dog came skidding in beside Annie, clearly eager to meet their new guest.

  ‘And who is this?’

  ‘She’s my dog, Bossy.’ Renee reached out and gave her a rub on the head. Bossy responded by trying to lick Renee on the cheek, but she warded the doggy love off just in time, giggling.

  Annie giggled too. ‘Looks like she likes you.’

  Renee stood, smiling. ‘I reckon she might.’ She reached into the shopping bag and pulled out a small box. ‘I thought you might like this. It’s a loom-band kit. You can make bracelets and necklaces, and even rings.’

  Annie gasped with delight as she took the box from Renee’s outstretched hand. ‘Oh wow, I’ve seen these on telly.’ She smiled gratefully. ‘Thank you so much, I love it.’

  ‘My pleasure. I can show you how to make them later, if you like.’

  ‘I’d love that,’ Annie said as she sat down on the ground and eagerly opened the lid, grinning as she began sorting through the multicoloured little elastic bands.

  Dylan smiled appreciatively. ‘That’s so kind of you, Renee. Thanks.’

  ‘That’s okay, I’m glad she likes it.’

  ‘So who’s up for a swim?’ Dylan raised his eyebrows at Annie, but the little girl was in a world of her own. ‘Earth to Annie,’ he added, chuckling, as he gently tapped her on the head.

  Annie looked up at him, beaming from ear to ear. ‘Yes, Daddy?’

  ‘You still want to go for a swim, sweetheart?’

  ‘Oh, yes please!’

  ‘Well, you run inside and get changed into your togs then, okay?’

  ‘Okay, Daddy.’

  Watching Annie skip off inside the cottage with her loom-band kit tucked safely under her arm, Dylan turned to Renee and smiled. ‘Looks like you’ve won a little girl’s heart, and simply by just being your thoughtful self.’

  ‘She’s so beautiful, Dylan,’ Renee said, returning his smile. ‘No wonder she’s your everything.’

  ‘Yep, she sure is.’ He stopped, searching her eyes. ‘And so are you.’ He reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek with his fingers. ‘In a matter of minutes you’ve just made me feel like everything’s going to be okay.’

  His tone was so deep and rich Renee felt as though she was going to gain weight just by talking to him. ‘I hope so, Dylan. I really do.’ She placed her hand over his and the two of them stood staring into each other’s eyes, words evading both of them.

  ‘You need to get changed into your swimmers?’ he said vaguely, his penetrating gaze making her feel giddy.

  There was so much Renee wanted to say right now but instead she just nodded. ‘Uh-huh.’

  ‘Well, we better head inside and get changed then.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ she said again, biting her bottom lip.

  Turning around, Dylan made sure the coast was clear before bringing his lips hard up against Renee’s, and with a quick swirl of his tongue he had her feeling as though her legs were going to give way yet again.

  A few hours later, refreshed from a few fun dips in the pool and their bellies full from the delicious food, Renee and Annie sat together at the end of the alfresco table, an assortment of colourful bracelets and necklaces in front of them. Renee, Claire and Dylan also sported quite a few around their necks and arms and fingers.

  Annie was beside herself with excitement as she gabbled on about all the friends she was going to give her newly made treasures to. Dylan watched on with a huge smile on his lips, conscious that it was half an hour past her bedtime but not wanting to break the magic between Annie and Renee. He would put her to bed soon. Claire sat beside him with a now almost-empty glass of wine in her hands, an equally happy smile lighting up her face.

  ‘They’re getting on like a house on fire,’ Claire whispered.

  ‘They surely are. It’s like they’ve been best buddies for years,’ Dylan said softly before taking a casual sip from his beer.

  ‘It’s beautiful to watch,’ Claire said before she hiccupped. ‘Oh dear, I think I’ve had my share of wine for the evening. Two glasses and I’m ready for bed. Talk about a wild party girl, hey.’ She chuckled heartily as she stood, padding over to lay a kiss on Annie’s head. ‘Night my darling. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  ‘Night Grammy. Love you to the moon and back,’ Annie said, blowing Claire a kiss.

  ‘Love you ’til the cows come home,’ Claire said fondly as she caught Annie’s kiss and placed it upon her heart. She gave Renee a peck on the cheek. ‘It’s been really lovely meeting you, Renee. I hope to see you again soon.’

  Renee stood and gave Claire a tight hug. ‘Thank you for making me feel so very welcome tonight, and thank you for that yummy potato bake that I ate way too much of.’

  ‘It’s been my absolute pleasure. And thank you for my very first taste of pecan pie. You’ll have to give me the recipe.’

  ‘I’m so relieved you all liked it. It was the first time I’ve ever made it.’

  ‘It’s the best dessert I’ve ever tasted,’ Claire said sincerely.

  ‘I’ll be sure to give you the recipe next time I see you.’

  ‘That’d be lovely, Renee, thanks.’

  ‘Night then,’ Renee said as she went back to work with Annie on a necklace for her teacher.

  ‘Night, son.’ Claire leant in and gave Dylan a hug, making sure to keep her voice to a whisper. ‘She’s a keeper. Don’t let her get away, will you?’

  Dylan choked back emotions, his mother’s observation meaning the world to him. ‘I’ll try my best not to.’

  ‘Nighty night, then,’ Claire said a little too loudly as she wobbled off in the direction of her granny flat, with Bossy close beside her. Bossy always walked her home before returning to her bed on the back verandah—forever the protective dog.

  Dylan stood, tossing his empty beer bottle in the nearby bin. ‘I’ve just got to duck to the loo, you two, and when I get back, it’s time for bed, Annie.’

  ‘Okay Daddy,’ Annie replied sadly.

  ***

  Bossy returned from walking Claire home just as Dylan disappeared into the cottage.

  ‘Can I ask you something?’ Annie said, expertly twisting a loom band onto another to form a chain.

  ‘Sure, shoot,’ Renee replied casually.

  ‘Are you Daddy’s girlfriend?’

  ‘Um.’ Renee’s heart pounded. How in the hell was she meant to answer this? Honestly, she supposed, because really, she and Dylan weren’t officially girlfriend and boyfriend. She relaxed, knowing she wasn’t lying. ‘Your daddy and me are ju
st really good friends.’

  ‘Well, you’re really pretty and very nice so I think you would make a wonderful girlfriend for Daddy one day. He needs somebody other than Grammy and me to love him, so will you please have a think about being his girlfriend?’

  Annie smiled at her with so much innocence that Renee wanted to just take her into her arms and hold her. This poor little girl had suffered immeasurable loss and heartache, and yet here she was, at only six years old, thinking of her daddy and what would be nice for him. And also welcoming Renee into their lives with open arms, and even more importantly, an open heart.

  Blinking back tears, she reached out and gave Annie’s little hands a gentle squeeze. ‘Thank you, Annie, that means a lot. And I promise, I’ll think long and hard about it.’

  Annie thought for a few seconds and then tipped her head to the side. ‘Do you like my daddy?’

  ‘I think your daddy is a very lovely man, and I like him a lot.’

  ‘Good, that’s settled then. You have to be his girlfriend,’ Annie said, beaming.

  After Renee read her two books and then looked on as she used her nebuliser and explained how cool her locator watch was, Annie turned over and was now sleeping soundly in her bed.

  Renee said her goodnights to Dylan in the darkness of the front verandah, wishing the night didn’t have to end. She was enjoying the sensation of his arms around her waist, and the feel of his breath on her cheek as they stood staring out at the beautiful starlit night. Turning to face him, she clasped her hands around the back of his neck, her full lips curling into a smile as she admired his rugged features. ‘You’re one sexy man, Dylan Anderson, still just as damn hot as the first day I laid eyes on you. No, actually, I reckon you’re even hotter now.’

  Dylan rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah right, whatever. You’re the sexy one here. I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you all night.’

  Renee felt her cheeks go warm with his compliment. ‘Ditto.’