Bluegrass Bend

by Mandy Magro

  Alice stood at the doorway of the kitchen, a tea towel over her shoulder. ‘In a hurry to get somewhere love?’

  ‘He’s not answering his phone.’ Ivy grabbed her coat from the rack near the front door and started tugging it on. ‘I’m going to skip lunch and make my way over there. I need to talk to him.’

  ‘Okay then, hang on a sec.’ Alice disappeared and then reappeared with an apple. ‘You have to eat something, sweetheart – I’m gathering you haven’t eaten since yesterday and you don’t want to go fainting on the poor bloke.’ She tossed the apple in Ivy’s direction.

  Ivy caught it. ‘Thanks, Aunt Alice.’ She dashed over and gave Alice a peck on the cheek. ‘Love you.’

  ‘Love you too.’ She watched on as Ivy headed back to the front door. ‘Oh, and Ivy …’

  Ivy spun around. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I think you’re on to a winner with this one.’

  Ivy grinned. ‘I hope so.’ And she disappeared out the front door, leapt down the steps and ran to her ute.

  ***

  Standing atop the hill, Ronny clutched the urn to him. He wasn’t ready to say his final goodbye to the woman who’d given him everything, but would he ever be? Larry stood beside him. His face looked as downtrodden as Ronny felt.

  Shirley offered them a sad smile. ‘Are you both ready?’ Her voice was soft.

  The two men nodded, and Ronny removed the top of the urn. Then, making sure the wind was blowing in the right direction, he positioned himself to tip Lottie’s ashes over the cliff face.

  ‘Fly free, Lottie, we love you,’ he said as the ashes joined with the breeze and floated away from them. His eyes filled with tears and instead of blinking them away, he let them fall. A quick glance told him Shirley and Larry were doing the same thing.

  ‘Love you, Lottie,’ Shirley said, smiling through her sadness.

  ‘We miss you,’ Larry added as he pulled a handkerchief from his top pocket and then blew his nose loudly.

  They all stood in silence for a few moments, their heads bowed as they paid homage to the woman who had touched their lives with her big loving heart.

  Shirley was the first to break the silence, pulling a bottle of champagne from her handbag, along with three plastic flutes. ‘Lottie had been saving this for a special day. Shall we?’ she said, passing a glass each to Ronny and Larry.

  ‘We shall,’ Ronny and Larry said in unison.

  Shirley filled their glasses and they raised them to the heavens.

  ‘To you, Lottie, thank you, for everything. I just hope you can forgive me for letting the cat out of the bag,’ Ronny said.

  Shirley reached out and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. ‘Of course she’ll understand, Ronny. Love changes everything.’

  ‘It sure does. I’m perfect proof of that,’ Larry said with a chuckle.

  ‘Good point,’ Ronny said, smiling. He looked out to where the earth seemed to drop off the edge of the horizon. ‘I just hope Ivy can find it within herself to forgive me.’

  Shirley gave him a squeeze. ‘She will, love, Ivy’s a beautiful soul, just give her some time. It would have been a huge shock for the poor girl, finding out the way she did, and with her archenemy rocking up at your door too – everything would have hit her at once. She’ll come round, I know it.’

  ‘I hope you’re right, Shirley. I really do.’ He wanted to drive over to Healing Hills right this second, but it was good to get a woman’s point of view and Shirley was right in saying Ivy might need some time.

  Half an hour later, Ronny was back at the cottage. He was going to try Ivy one more time, and if she didn’t answer, he’d give her some space for a day and head over to Healing Hills first thing in the morning, if he could stand it that long. Picking his phone up from the floor, he swore under his breath when he realised it had gone flat. He went in search of the phone charger, sure he’d left it beside his bed. Focused on the task at hand, he gasped as he walked into his room and spotted her naked body sprawled out on his bed.

  Grabbing his towel from where he’d tossed it over his bedroom door, Ronny threw it towards her. ‘For God’s sake, cover yourself up.’ He turned away, shaking his head. ‘What made you think you could just waltz into my house and make yourself at home?’

  ‘Oh, come on, Ronny, come to bed with me. I promise it’ll be fun, especially seeing as it’s your first time. I know you want to.’ She giggled. ‘Every man wants to be with me.’

  Her voice was syrupy sweet, sickly so, and it grated on his already frazzled nerves. ‘No, I don’t want to. I never have.’ He turned back to face her, relieved to see she’d sat up and pulled the towel around her. ‘Now please, Amy, get dressed. I can’t deal with this right now.’

  Amy jumped from the bed, anger contorting her features. ‘You can’t deal with what right now? No man has ever said no to me.’ She smiled conceitedly, shaking her finger towards him. ‘Oh, I get it now. The reason you’re a virgin is because you’re gay and you haven’t had the courage to come out of the closet yet.’

  Ronny half-laughed as he threw his hands up in the air in mock defeat. ‘Yeah, you got me all worked out, Amy.’

  Amy nodded, the pleased look on her face clearly stating she felt like the smartest person on earth.

  Ronny felt like bursting out laughing. How big-headed and stuck-up could a person be? To think he was gay because he wouldn’t sleep with her. Really?

  The sound of a vehicle coming up the drive dragged Ronny’s attention out the window. A ute pulled up, and his heart stopped dead in its tracks. How in the hell was he going to explain his way out of this one? ‘You have to get some fucking clothes on, Amy. Now.’ His voice was tense, desperate even.

  Amy turned to the window, a smirk upon her bright red lips. ‘Does she know you’re gay?’

  ‘Nope. But I guess you’re going to tell her.’

  ‘Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll do you a favour and help scare her off.’ Amy dropped the towel, walked over to the window, tugged the curtains so they were far apart and waved brazenly.

  Dread filled Ronny as he dashed towards Amy, threw his arms around her waist and tossed her onto the bed. ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’

  ‘Helping you, you big idiot. Because if I can’t turn you, she definitely won’t be able to.’

  Gobsmacked at Amy’s attitude, Ronny bolted out of the bedroom. If Ivy had seen Amy, she’d never let him near her again.

  He made it to the front door just as he heard the ute rev to life. Panic filled him. No, please …

  He dashed across the driveway and stood in front of the ute, blocking her path. Ivy revved the motor, warning him to get out of the way, the look in her eyes one of complete hatred.

  He held up his hands. ‘It’s not what it looks like.’

  Ivy remained silent, the tears sliding down her cheeks ripping at his heart.

  He leant on the bonnet. ‘Please, this time, you gotta let me explain.’

  Ivy revved the motor again.

  Amy appeared from the house, now fully clothed. She waltzed over to Ivy’s window. ‘Just for the record, nothing happened. He’s gay, so you can have him.’ Then, sauntering away like a slinky cat, she disappeared around the side of the house to where she must have hidden her car. Seconds later, Ronny heard her drive away.

  Still, no words passed from Ivy’s lips.

  Ronny hadn’t budged. He wasn’t letting her go like this.

  Ivy threw the ute into reverse, skidded to a stop and then swerved around him, the back end fishtailing as she sped off down the driveway.

  Ronny saw his world falling apart as she disappeared in a cloud of dust.

  Running for the house, he felt something running beside him and a smile fleetingly passed his lips as he looked down at Jessie. ‘I gotta go after her,’ he said.

  Jessie barked a reply, and Ronny liked to think she was saying, My oath you do.

  Slipping and sliding down the hallway in his socks, he grabbed his keys from the dresser an
d then raced for the back door. Tugging on his boots, he motioned for Jessie to jump up on the back lounge and then sprinted for the Kingswood.

  Twenty-five minutes later he had driven through the front gates of Healing Hills and was pulling to a stop in front of the homestead. He switched off the ignition, took a deep breath and then leapt out. Striding to the front door, he was met by May. He readied himself for an ear bashing, and was shocked when May stepped out onto the verandah and wrapped her arms around him.

  ‘Thank you for saving our girl.’

  He hugged her back. ‘There’s no need to thank me.’

  ‘Well, I think there is,’ May said with a smile. She sniffled and wiped her tears. ‘Ivy’s upstairs in her room. We gathered things hadn’t gone too well when she came racing into the house a few minutes ago and ran up the stairs without saying a word to us.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Ronny pointed upwards. ‘Can I please go up there and try to talk to her?’

  Alice was at the door now, a grateful smile on her face. ‘Thank you, Ronny, for doing what you did all those years ago.’

  Ronny held up his hands and shook his head. ‘Please, after hurting Ivy the way I have, I really don’t deserve your thanks.’

  ‘You would have had your reasons for not telling her, I’m sure.’ She gestured for him to come inside and he did so, following May.

  Alice waved an arm at the spiral staircase. ‘Please be gentle with her, she’s endured so much heartache.’

  ‘I promise I will be.’ And up he went, the whole time trying to figure out what to say first.

  Silence greeted his knock at the door.

  ‘Ivy, please talk to me.’

  ‘Go away.’

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘Leave me alone.’

  ‘Never.’

  Heavy footfalls approached the door. It swung open and Ivy glared at him, her eyes as wild as her hair. ‘What do you want from me?’

  ‘Nothing and everything.’

  Her eyes flashed. ‘What in the hell is that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Well, if you let me, I’ll be sure to explain it to you in great detail.’

  Ivy contemplated this, and him, for a few moments. ‘Oh, bloody hell, okay.’ She squared her shoulders and jutted her chin out and all Ronny wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her anger away. ‘And it better be a damn good explanation.’

  ‘I’ll try my best.’

  Ivy peered over his shoulder, as though looking for someone. ‘I don’t want to talk here, though. I love my aunts and I know they’re only looking out for me but they don’t need to hear all our troubles.’

  He glanced behind him, understanding the fact she didn’t want to do this with her aunts about to hear them. ‘We can do it back at my place, where we’ve got privacy to sit and talk? I don’t want to rush everything and miss anything out. I want you to know everything there is to know.’

  Ivy folded her arms and tapped her foot, and for a moment Ronny thought she was going to renege on the whole listening thing. ‘I’ll be there in an hour, or so,’ she said sternly.

  ‘Okay, thank you.’ He lightly touched her arm, and was relieved she allowed his hand to stay there. ‘I promise you, Ivy, once you hear everything, I think you might forgive me for being such a dickhead.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ she said as she bit her lip and turned away.

  CHAPTER

  20

  The heat from the campfire chased the evening’s crispness away and made Ivy’s skin tingle pleasurably, the warmth seeping beneath her skin and into her bones. The hypnotic orange flames licked at the kindling and projected long shadows all around them. Like a well-choreographed dance the glowing embers seemed to move in rhythm with the flames, matching every dip and sweep as gracefully as an entrancing ballerina. It was mesmerising to watch and helped to calm the nerves in her stomach. A Sunny Cowgirls tune drifted from the stereo on the back verandah and Ivy found herself softly humming the familiar song. She was grateful for the music that was helping ease the tension hanging between her and Ronny.

  Even though she was still angry with him, Ivy couldn’t help but admire Ronny’s burly frame, the way his muscles tensed as he picked up the logs and added them to the fire, and his tight arse in those jeans – the entire package was drool worthy. Needing to drag her eyes away, she looked at the sky where millions of stars blazed brightly among the deep ebony expanse of night, the brightness of the moon not taking away from the sheer brilliance of the glittery show. She recognised the Milky Way and the Southern Cross, the constellations something she’d always found captivating.

  Ronny sat down beside her, and followed her gaze, smiling. ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’

  ‘It sure is,’ she replied softly.

  ‘You know, when I was in prison, I used to lie in bed at night and dream of the day I’d be able to admire the beauty of a night sky again. And now here I am, doing just that.’ He turned to her. ‘And do you know what makes it even more special?’

  Ivy brought her eyes to his. ‘What’s that?’

  ‘The fact I get to do it with you.’

  ‘Please don’t say things like that.’ She smiled sadly as she looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. ‘What’s going on with you and Amy? And please be honest with me.’

  ‘Nothing’s going on – I swear it. I honestly can’t stand the woman after what she’s done and I wouldn’t care if I never laid eyes on her again.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, really. I came home from spreading Lottie’s ashes to Amy lying naked in my bed, without a hint of an invitation to do so. I don’t have time for a woman like that.’

  ‘And why did she say you were gay?’

  Ronny shrugged casually. ‘Because I didn’t want to sleep with her, she just assumed I was gay.’ A wayward smile stole his lips. ‘I told her I was a virgin at the cafe the day you saw us, hoping it would make her leave me alone, but it didn’t work, it only made things worse.’

  ‘Okay.’ Ivy stifled a smile – this wasn’t the time – and turned so she could see his eyes in the flickering firelight. ‘Ronny, I need to know why you lied to me about who you really are.’

  He nodded and leant forwards as he hung his head. ‘There were a couple of reasons.’ He shifted in his camp chair so he could face her properly. ‘Firstly, and most importantly, one of Lottie’s final wishes was for me to keep my true identity hidden, so I could get on with my life without unfair judgement. And because she left me all of this –’ he swept his arm around them, ‘– I felt bound to do as she asked. She did everything for me when she was alive, and left me everything she’d ever loved when she passed away, so I felt I owed her.’

  ‘I can understand that, Ronny, I truly can, but it doesn’t make what you’ve done acceptable. It was okay for you to not let everyone else know, but –’ Ivy placed her hands over her heart. ‘How could you look me in the eyes and make love to me the way you did and not tell me who you are?’

  ‘Trust me, Ivy. It’s damn near broken me, not telling you. I came close to spilling my guts to you many times while renovating the cottage. I’d planned to tell you everything over dinner last night, but then things got carried away and before I knew it, we were making love. And then, well, you know the rest.’ He sighed weightily. ‘At first I thought I was protecting you by not telling you who I was. You seemed to have gotten on with your life and I didn’t want to bring everything back up for you again. And I also thought if I told you it was me who saved you that night, you would somehow feel indebted to me.’ He looked away from her, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stood. He paced in front of her, blinking fast. Ivy wanted to reach out and touch him, but she refrained. They needed to do this, wade through the heartache, so they could come out on the other side, hopefully together.

  Ronny stopped pacing and turned to face her, his eyes filled with unshed tears. He knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. Ivy noticed they were trembling.

  ‘And I
didn’t want you to see me as a murderer, I wanted you to see me for the man I truly am – a man with a kind heart, not some kind of thug.’

  Ivy couldn’t contain herself any longer. This beautiful man had risked his life for her and spent years in prison because of it. And now he was afraid of her judging him. She let go of his hands and cupped his cheeks, looking deeply into his eyes. ‘You saved my life, Ronny. But that’s not why I love you the way I do. I love you because of the beautiful man you are. You make me feel so loved, so protected, and so safe to be who I truly am, warts and all. And you’ve gotten me to pick up my guitar and sing again. Now that is magic in itself.’

  Ronny smiled. ‘You truly love me, even after everything that’s happened?’

  ‘With all my heart and soul.’

  Ronny pulled her into his arms and held her tight. ‘I love you, Ivy, and have since the very first time I laid eyes on you – I just didn’t know it back then.’

  He placed a lingering kiss on her lips. Within seconds, the kiss turned hungry. Ivy’s heart soared, the sensation of his tongue caressing hers sending shivers through her. Breathless, they pulled back and held each other’s eyes – words unnecessary.

  Suddenly, all around them was the quick flicker and crackle of light as hundreds of fireflies sliced through the night air with their sugary light. The winged beetles flashed incredible patterns of light, creating an explosion of colour. It was like a silent symphony, a mind-blowing tribute to their love. Ivy’s eyes widened as she took in the magnificence surrounding them – it was like Mother Nature’s fireworks. She liked to imagine it was their mothers’ ways of letting them know they approved of their love. Ronny stood, pulling her to standing with him as he wrapped his arms around her, before reaching out and catching a firefly in his hands. After a few seconds he opened them again ever so slowly, allowing Ivy to marvel at the light within his palms as the firefly flitted upwards and away. Turning back to him she curled her fingers into the waistband of his jeans and dragged him closer.