by Lisa Ireland
‘It’s not that I don’t like it here,’ Bea said. ‘I love it. I want to stay, but I can’t accept charity. I just don’t feel right about it.’
‘You see? That’s what I mean. Small-town life is probably not for you. Because we’re not offering charity here. Helping each other out is part of who we are. It’s in the town’s DNA. When you move to Dulili you become part of a big extended family. Okay, sometimes it might be a dysfunctional family, but we’re family just the same. When someone in the town needs something we all rally together. That’s just how it is. If you don’t want to be part of that, I completely understand. It’s not for everyone. City folks are used to having their privacy and I guess the loss of that is hard for some to overcome.’
‘It’s not that. I love being part of this community, but … well, I feel like I’ve let you all down. Everyone here has already done so much for me. I can’t possibly expect people to give more.’
Evelyn shook her head and clicked her tongue. ‘Now that’s where you are wrong. The B&B is a large part of the future of this town. Some of the events the project committee have planned for the future depend on there being adequate accommodation in the town. The B&B is an integral part of that. Every bed counts. But even more than that, we’re hoping the B&B will draw tourists to the town all year round. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. It only takes a few people to have a good experience and to go back to Sydney or Melbourne and tell their friends to get the ball rolling. Every new person visiting this town provides a boost to our economy. Do you see what I’m saying, Beatrice? This town needs you. The only way you’ll be letting us down is if you leave.’
Bea chewed the inside of her lip to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes from falling, but she couldn’t keep the waver from her voice as she replied, ‘Yes. Since you put it that way I guess I really don’t have a choice. I’ll stay and I’ll gratefully accept all offers of help. Thank you both so much.’
Mitch let out a whoop, jumped up from his seat and hugged Bea tight before planting a kiss on her lips. A knowing smile settled on Evelyn’s face. ‘Time for me to get going,’ she said, placing her teacup gently back on its saucer.
Bea extracted herself from Mitch’s hold and stood up. ‘Let me get your coat for you, Evelyn,’ she said.
‘I’m parked behind you, Mum. I’ll have to move so you can get out,’ Mitch said. He looked at Bea. ‘I’ve got a ton of things I need to see to today. I’ve been a bit preoccupied the last few days. Can I drop by later?’
Bea nodded, grateful that she was going to get a few hours to herself so she could process the day’s events.
‘Great. I’ll be back around five. We have a few things to talk about.’ With that he kissed her cheek and headed toward the laundry to collect his boots and coat. Bea and Evelyn trailed behind. Mitch waved to them both as he headed out into the rain.
Bea retrieved Evelyn’s coat and hat from the laundry while the older woman slipped her shoes off and pushed her feet back into her gumboots. ‘Thank you so much for everything, Evelyn. Really.’
‘No. Thank you for staying. And not just because of the B&B. I haven’t seen my boy this happy since … well let’s just say for a long time.’
Bea’s mouth went dry. What had Mitch told her? She had no idea where their relationship—if you could call it that—was going. She wasn’t exactly ready to be talking about it with his mother. ‘Oh. I don’t know … um … I’m not sure …’
Evelyn laughed. ‘Don’t worry. You don’t have to say anything. Callum would be mortified if he thought I suspected anything. Maybe I’m wrong, but from the day you moved in Callum’s been more and more like his old self. Whatever’s going on between the two of you certainly agrees with him. I’m so glad you’re prepared to stay and give the B&B a go. None of us wants to lose you.’
Chapter 13
‘Hey, Mitch, I’ve got a box full of taps here and some other fittings,’ Lachlan said. ‘Where do you want them?’
‘Bea’s brother, Joe, is in charge of all the plumbing stuff. Better check with him. He’s in one of the en suites I think.’
‘Thanks mate.’
Mitch paused to wipe his brow for a moment. Despite the chill outside he was working up a sweat demolishing Bea’s kitchen cupboards. Four weeks had passed from the day Bea had agreed to stay and in that short space of time so much had been achieved. As expected, the town had rallied together to help Bea renovate Honey Hill House. The wonky kitchen floor had been re-stumped, the repaint of the outside was almost finished, and when the weekend was over all the major building work would be completed. All that would be left was for the floors to be sanded and polished and for Bea to complete the decorating. Uncle Sid wouldn’t have recognised the old place.
The floor sanding and polishing would take a week to complete, but it didn’t matter. Bea would stay up at the cottage with him. In just over a month they’d become inseparable. Officially they hadn’t moved in together, but it was a rare night they spent apart. When they did spend the night in separate beds, Mitch missed her like crazy. He’d quickly grown accustomed to the way her slender body melded into his own, and he now he found it hard to get to sleep without her in his bed. Last night he’d tossed and turned for ages and he figured tonight would be the same.
Thank God Bea’s brother Joe was going home on Monday morning. He didn’t think he could bear more than three nights apart. Bea had insisted that they not share the same bed while Joe was staying, even though logistically it made more sense for her to spend those nights at the cottage with him, thereby freeing up her bed for Joe. But she wouldn’t budge on the matter. The spare rooms were all covered in plaster dust and panting drop sheets, leaving poor old Joe sleeping on the couch.
He was surprised at how coy she was about their relationship in front of her brother, especially given how open they were with his family. Not that they’d had much choice. They all lived in such close proximity that it was impossible to keep a secret. He knew his mother was trying to keep a lid on it, but it was hard for her to hide her delight at their union. And she wasn’t the only one.
It was funny how everyone in town had accepted their relationship without question. There had been no raised eyebrows, no elbows nudged in his ribs, no inappropriate questions, in fact no comments at all—not even from straight shooters like old Imelda Wade. It was as if everyone had expected the two of them to form a couple. Whatever it was, he was happy to roll with it. He was happy and no one was on his case. Who could argue with that?
Bea appeared in the doorway with a glass of cold water. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘Thought you might be able to use this.’
‘Thanks, babe.’ She winced and he grinned in response. ‘Sorry, I know you hate it when I call you that, but I sometimes I just can’t help myself. You are a babe. You know that don’t you?’
Her cheeks flushed an adorable shade of pink as she glanced around to see if anyone had overheard. ‘Stop it, Mitch. You’re incorrigible. I just came in to tell you that the CWA ladies are serving morning tea on the front verandah. A cuppa and scones if you feel like it.’
‘Too bloody right I feel like it. I’ll be out in a minute. I just want to get the last of these cupboards out.’
She reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder before leaning in for a kiss. ‘Thanks for all this. It’s amazing.’
He squeezed her lithe body against his own. ‘Happy to be of service.’
‘Sorry to interrupt.’ Joe’s voice came from behind.
Bea disengaged from his embrace and turned to face her brother. ‘Hey Joey. I was just about to come find you. There’s morning tea out the front if you’d like some.’
‘Yeah, that sounds good. But I want you to come and have a look at the first en suite. Everything’s done now bar the tiling. I want you to check everything looks the way you expected.’
Bea jumped up and down and clapped her hands. ‘Come on then. I can’t wait to see it.’
Mitch didn’t really have a h
andle on Joe yet. He was polite enough, and contributed his fair share to the conversation whenever the three of them were together. But when Bea wasn’t in the room, Mitch detected some coolness from her older brother. Joe was reserved with Mitch, only speaking when spoken to and even then giving monosyllabic answers much of the time. Mitch hadn’t broached the subject with Bea, not wanting to burst the bubble of joy she’d been floating around on ever since her brother arrived. Hopefully it was nothing. Maybe Joe was just naturally quiet around people he didn’t know well. In any case he would be gone by Monday and they could go back to their normal domestic arrangement.
Once the B&B got sorted they should invite all of Bea’s family to stay. There would be plenty of room. It would be great to get the two families together seeing as … well, he might be getting ahead of himself here, but the way he saw it, eventually those two families would become one. He hadn’t mentioned marriage to Bea yet. He didn’t want to scare her off, especially after all her misgivings in the beginning. He’d coaxed her into taking their relationship one day at a time, and so far that was working out just fine. But one day he hoped there’d be more than that. She was the one for him. The only. He wanted to stand up in front of their family and friends and declare his love out loud. Hopefully, given enough time, Bea would feel the same way.
* * *
Bea twisted the tops off two stubbies and made her way out to the front verandah, where Joe had settled himself with the local newspaper. The sun was low in the sky and before long it would be too cold to sit out here even with her sheepskin coat on.
‘Check out that sunset,’ Joe said.
‘Yeah, we get some great ones out here. You’re lucky though. Up until this weekend we’ve had nothing but rain for weeks. Mitch says I need to prepare myself because it’s not that unusual to get snow at this time of year.’
‘Wow. That’d be something. Speaking of Mitch, what’s the deal with you two?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Obviously you’re together. Is it serious?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I’ve only been here for just over three months and we’ve only been together for one of those. Right now we’re taking it one day at a time and I’m happy with that.’
‘Hmmph.’
‘Hmmph, what?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Come off it, Joe. You clearly have something you want to say. Spit it out.’
‘I’m just confused, that’s all. I thought coming up here was all about standing on your own two feet. I mean, we all offered, Bea—you can’t say we didn’t—when it ended with Jason. Dad wanted you to come home and you know you are always welcome to stay with Nat and me. I don’t understand why you’re taking all this help from strangers, when you wouldn’t accept it from your own family.’
‘First of all, that’s not true. You’re here helping aren’t you? And I have accepted lots of help from Dad too. He helped me move all my stuff to Em’s after Jason and I broke up, remember?’
‘That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.’
‘Look. It’s hard to explain. Things are different here. Honey Hill House is my place, the B&B will be totally my business, but getting it up and running is kind of a community project. It’s important to the town and that’s why everyone’s pulling together to make it happen.’
‘Yeah, okay, but that doesn’t explain your … relationship with The Cowboy.’
Bea felt her temper rise. What was Joe’s problem? ‘He’s not a cowboy. Stop being a smart arse.’
‘He’s a cattle farmer isn’t he?’
‘Yes, he is. But you’re being condescending and I don’t like it.’
Joe’s face softened. ‘Okay, you’re right and I’m sorry. Look, from what I can tell Mitch seems like a perfectly nice kind of guy, but you know that’s what we all thought about Jason too. I just don’t want you to get hurt again.’
Bea reached over and squeezed her big brother’s hand. ‘It’s very sweet of you to be so protective of me, but you don’t have to worry. Mitch is the most loving and trustworthy man I’ve ever met—apart from the men in my family, of course. He knows everything about me and he doesn’t care. He understands why I had to have the surgery. He loves me in spite of my scars, or maybe even because of them—he says they’re part of me and therefore he loves them too.’
‘Look that’s all very well and good, but don’t you think things are moving a bit too quickly? Like you said, you’ve only been together for a short time. I’m not a fool, Bea. His stuff is everywhere. Shirts in your wardrobe, deodorant and shaving gel in the bathroom.’
‘So what? We’re sleeping together, is that what you want to know?’
Joe shifted uncomfortably in his chair. ‘That’s not really any of my business.’
‘You’re right,’ she said without any anger in her voice. ‘It’s not. Look, I know that what Jason did was terrible and I know I wasn’t the only one hurt by his betrayal, but I’m a grown woman, Joe. I have to accept some of the responsibility for how my life turned out. I see that now. I spent years in a relationship where I allowed all the decisions to be made by my partner, but I let that happen because I was tired of being a grown up, tired of having to make all the decisions. When I met Jason I just wanted someone to look after me for a change. And he did. The trouble with a relationship like that is that it isn’t equal. No wonder he freaked out when I started making up my own mind about things.’
‘You’re painting a pretty rosy picture of it all, aren’t you? The man left you practically destitute.’
‘Let’s not do this, okay? I’ve moved on.’
‘To another man.’
‘God, Joe, haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said? I’ve grown up. I know what I’m doing. I’m taking responsibility for myself. Mitch and I live in separate houses, have separate finances, if that’s what you’re worried about. But you know what? I trust him. I do. We’re equals in this relationship and if one day we decide to throw our lot in together then it will be because I want to, not because I need to. I’d like your blessing, Joe, but I don’t need it. I’m okay with my decision and in the end that’s all that really counts.’
Joe pinched the skin at the top of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed, the way he always did when he was thinking. ‘I’m sorry sis, you’re right. You’re a big girl now and I should trust your judgement.’
She smiled at her big brother, who she knew only had her best interests at heart. ‘It’s okay. I know I’ve made mistakes in the past, but you have to believe me when I tell you I’ve well and truly learned my lesson.’
* * *
The following day, Mitch made sure he was at Bea’s bright and early. He wanted to make sure he was there to shake Joe’s hand and bid him farewell. Hopefully one day the two of them would be brothers in law, and Mitch wanted the relationship to be an easy one. While Joe had been polite enough during his stay, Mitch sensed some tension between the two of them and he wanted to nip that in the bud.
The rain had finally cleared and although it was cold the early-morning sun sparkled in a clear sky. It was going to be a great day. Mitch could hardly wait to get Bea alone. Four long nights without being in her bed had him toey to say the least.
‘Good weather for travelling,’ he said as Joe emerged onto the verandah, a toolbox in one hand, his overnight bag in the other.
Joe nodded. ‘Yeah, I guess. If it stays like this, I should make pretty good time.’
Bea stood behind him, clutching a paper bag. Looked like she’d made him a packed lunch. ‘You take it easy on the road,’ she said, poking Joe with her finger. ‘We don’t want any accidents, you hear?’
Joe turned and planted a kiss on his sister’s head. ‘Don’t you worry, sis. You know I’m a careful driver.’
Bea nodded and went to hand him the bag but his hands were full.
‘Here, let me help you load up,’ Mitch said, moving to take the toolbox from Joe’s hand. Joe handed it
over—somewhat begrudgingly, Mitch thought.
‘Thanks mate. Well, I guess this is it, sissy. See you soon.’
Even though he stood a few metres away Mitch could see Bea’s eyes were glassy with tears. She threw her arms around her big brother’s neck and then planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘Got everything?’ she asked, but before Joe could answer she drew back. ‘Hang on, Joe. Don’t go yet,’ she said as she moved towards the house. ‘I almost forgot. I’ve got things for you to take home for the kids.’
Once Bea disappeared into the house Joe took his bag to the car, flipped open the boot and nodded for Mitch to place the toolbox inside. The two of them stood awkwardly together in silence for a moment, before Joe began to speak. ‘Look, Mitch, I don’t want to be a jerk, but there’s a couple of things I need to get off my chest. I don’t know how long before Bea appears so forgive me if I’m blunt.’
Mitch raised his eyebrows in surprise, but nodded for Joe to go on.
‘You seem like a nice enough bloke, but to be honest that’s what I thought about my sister’s ex-husband and I couldn’t have been more wrong in that instance. I don’t know how much Bea has told you, but she’s been through the wringer. I know she comes off all strong and independent, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be hurt. After I found out what her arsehole of husband had done to her all those years, I decided I would make it my business to be more involved, to make sure nobody ever hurt my little sister like that again.’ Joe looked him square in the eyes. ‘Do you hear what I’m saying?’
‘Loud and clear. But I assure you there’s nothing to worry about. I love your sister, Joe. I would never, ever do anything to hurt her.’
Joe nodded. ‘I hope not. But know this, if you do you’ll be answering to me. Talk’s cheap, Mitch. Don’t waste your breath trying to reassure me. The only way you can do that is by doing the right thing over the long haul.’
Mitch opened his mouth to tell Joe to take it easy, but Bea appeared on the verandah waving two knitted toys in their direction. He decided to go with his first instinct and play nice. He nodded and thrust out his hand to shake Joe’s. For a second he thought Joe might leave him hanging, but instead he gripped Mitch’s hand firmly and gave one short pump.
