Ben quirked a brow. ‘Straight to sales. Such a corporate woman.’
She tilted her chin at him. ‘That’s my business.’
He glanced at the display cabinet of fresh cakes and sweets. ‘In that case, which delicacy in your business is your favourite?’
Holly stepped back so she could see through the glass sliding door on her side. ‘I have to say the pink lamingtons—Mrs Fairclough’s specialty. Best with a milk-free Earl Grey tea. Nice way to start a morning. Or end a night.’
‘I’ll take two pink cakes.’
She laughed and slid the door open with one hand and picked up the tongs with the other. ‘You won’t be able to stop at two.’
‘Better make it four then.’
‘Excellent. See. I’m a natural saleswoman.’
‘Are you? I thought your passion lay with medicine.’ Said in that quiet, caring way, that she was actually coming to hate. Because it did her in. She put the white box on the counter and carefully folded the lid closed.
Then she closed her eyes and breathed. Taking the time unapologetically to steady herself. ‘That is not a part of this morning’s conversation.’
‘When then?’ Still that caring voice. ‘Tonight? Don’t you wish you could talk about it with someone who really understands the pressures of saving lives?’
‘No.’
‘Liar.’ Said mildly. Then, ‘But okay, I’ll stop.’ His voice came back to normal deep baritone. ‘And yes, please. Large, double shot, cap on, full. Takeaway. Thanks.’
Which left her no place to go but back to her machine.
Then he said, ‘The boys love their soccer, you know.’
She glanced up. ‘I know. Prodigies. They played a season at five, when their mum was alive. But I haven’t re-registered them for the team here, yet. Don’t even know how.’
‘The season doesn’t start for another month or so. Want me to ask around for you?’
‘No.’ Good grief. ‘I’ll sort it. Thanks.’ She handed him his coffee. ‘Look. Ben. It’s been a wild four months. You should find someone nice and stable who appreciates you. Ask her out. I’m way too much work at the moment.’ But she cried a little inside as she said it.
He studied her thoughtfully. ‘I know. You are. Way too much.’ He didn’t elaborate on that, adding, ‘I’ll stop rushing you. But I do want to know what happened at work to make you leave. And the sooner the better, I’m thinking.’ He glanced around the coffee shop. They both saw Al coming. ‘I had a friend who didn’t get over it. I don’t want that to happen to you.’
What had the friend done? Were they male or female? Had they given up medicine like her? Or worse? The bell tinkled as the street door opened.
‘Morning, Al,’ Holly said in an almost normal voice.
‘Morning, Holly. Ben.’ Al almost rubbed his hands to see Ben there. He was obviously bursting to corner him. To Holly’s amusement he didn’t get the chance.
Ben saluted the older man with his cup, picked up his box of lamingtons and murmured, ‘Gotta run, we’re mustering today and I have to be back in town by four,’ and left.
Holly got on with her job. Pretending she didn’t feel disappointed. Though, she couldn’t dispute there was that hint of elation for the promise of four this afternoon. ‘Lovely day out, Al.’
‘You got a new customer? Or a new admirer,’ the older man said slyly.
‘No time for admirers, Al. Plenty for customers, though.’ She smiled at him and put his coffee on the counter. ‘Three fifty.’
Al paid. Studied her again even though she was still smiling blandly at him, and then he left, though Jasmine nearly took him out with the door as she bowled in.
‘Oops, sorry Al. Wasn’t looking.’
‘You never do,’ he muttered as he lifted his cup above his head as if to save it, and Jasmine rolled her eyes at Holly.
‘You have a good day,’ Jasmine offered, tongue-in-cheek.
Al’s ‘Hmph,’ could be heard as the door closed after him.
Jasmine shrugged as she sat down at the counter. ‘What’s up his nose?’
‘I think he was hoping to corner Ben this morning, and the good doctor gave him the slip.’
‘Do you think he is? Ben? A good doctor?’ Jasmine was studying her as she spoke. Holly looked back suspiciously. Where was she going with this?
What did her friend expect her to say? ‘I imagine so. He’s always been honest, caring, and obviously more driven than I gave him credit for.’ Holly busied herself making Jasmine’s coffee. ‘Large or medium?’
‘Medium. Funny he never mentioned he was going for medicine at school.’
‘Why?’ Holly shrugged. Wishing the conversation would move in a different direction. ‘Maybe he did and we weren’t listening. It’s not like we spent much time with him. Did you see Jason last night?’
‘No. I stayed home and did my taxes.’ She shook her head as if even she couldn’t believe it.
‘You lie. Jasmine!’ Holly battled not to laugh. ‘Are you okay?’
‘My tax agent threatened me. I think he’s getting cold feet and if he is I’m not making it easy for him.’
‘The tax agent?’
‘No.’ Jasmine huffed then, just like Al had. ‘Jason Ridgeway.’
Jasmine wasn’t the only one with a fried brain. Holly tried to think of something sensible to say but she was wondering if she could tell Jasmine about Ben. ‘Jason loves you. Why would you think that?’
Her mouth curved down. ‘I’m not so sure. He just seems different. Or maybe it’s me. I don’t want to blow this, but I think I am. And I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Change the subject.’
Holly put her friend’s coffee on the counter and didn’t look at her as she said, ‘Ben sent me a basket of daisies and a sympathy card because he hadn’t known about Susan.’
‘That was nice of him.’ Despite her words Holly could tell Jasmine thought daisies a little strange. Even paltry. Her daisies were anything but paltry but maybe she’d just let that go, because defending them would draw attention and now she’d mentioned Ben she wanted to backpedal. And Jasmine was sad. Didn’t need nice gestures rubbed in. Thankfully the doorbell jangled again and Jason walked in.
He was tall, dark haired, and rough around the edges like a pirate. The perfect man for Jasmine. His eyes went straight to Jasmine and narrowed.
‘Why are you avoiding me?’ That was one thing about Jason: he didn’t beat around the bush.
‘Why are you avoiding me!’ Belligerently from Jasmine.
Jason shook his head in exasperation and looked at Holly. Damn. She’d been hoping she’d been invisible.
‘What am I going to do to convince this woman she’s the one for me? I’m running out of time before Saturday.’
Holly reached under the counter and found her keys. Threw them at him. ‘My flat. It’s close. Talk about it. I’ll make her a fresh coffee when she comes back.’
Jason took his fiancée’s hand in his with intent. ‘Good idea.’ He glared down at Jasmine, her face a little shell-shocked that Jason had been so decisive. ‘Come with me, troublesome woman.’
Holly thought she heard very quietly, ‘I’m going to kiss you silly,’ as she watched Jasmine being towed out the door.
Holly leaned back against the cabinet behind her and sighed, a little dreamily, and hoped this was the last time her friend would have doubts before the wedding.
They had rehearsal tonight at seven and she needed to check Mrs F was still available to sit with the boys. At least the twins would be physically exhausted after another soccer afternoon with Ben.
Chapter Eleven
Ben
The last steer ambled in through the open gate at Brierly Park cattle yards and Ben waved his hand to the stocky cowboy as he shut the yard. He loved this. Much more than he’d expected. He might just have to keep Wednesdays as his station day forever. In fact he could live out here instead of in town; but that was for another day.
Days like this made him think about his grandfather, and the quiet way he’d shared his livestock knowledge with Ben as he’d been growing up. Ben might have lost his parents, but he hadn’t wanted for love from his grandparents. There’d been two of them and one of him, but it still wouldn’t have been easy to take on a grandson at their age.
Which made him think of Holly. Holly managing on her own with the twins was a lot of responsibility. Maybe one day she’d let someone like him share the load, if that was what she needed, but he wasn’t stupid enough to push. Slowly does it.
He jammed his hat more firmly onto his head and cantered his horse over to talk to Andrew Lachlan, his grandmother’s new manager. ‘Great job, Andy. That’s the last from the east paddock.’
‘The cattle are lookin’ good, Ben.’ Andy glanced up to a far hill. ‘Just one more fence to rebuild and we’ll have the place secure again.’ He gestured over the lower paddocks down towards the creek. ‘Feed’s looking good down on the flats.’
Ben nodded and couldn’t help the swell of pleasure. His grandfather’s good work hadn’t been wasted. They’d almost hauled the station back from the rundown state he’d returned to, already, and the light rain last night had been the perfect amount for the new feed Andy had planted. Andy had been a real find as the new manager.
Ben glanced at his watch. Three o’clock. He could have ridden out here all day. The blue sky hung with those woolly clouds and the breeze gave a welcome respite from the sun. He patted his horse’s neck. But there was someone he wanted to see in town.
‘Anything else you need a hand with before I go?’
Andy shook his head. ‘The vet’s coming to see the cow with mastitis and he’ll give the new pups their needles while he’s here.’
‘I’m off then.’ He turned his horse back towards the stables and cantered back up the hill. He’d see Holly in town in an hour. That was good but he couldn’t help imagining her here, riding beside him, the wind in her hair, her cares gone as she smiled at him. Nice fantasy. Though he did smile at the extension view of twin schoolboys on smaller horses behind them.
He had it bad. But after this morning, he had a glimmer of hope things might have changed for the better with Holly, and at least he had a chance to very slowly introduce her to a possible future from his viewpoint. She wasn’t ignoring him.
Chapter Twelve
Holly
By five o’clock Holly had read the book of rules on junior soccer, Ben had run the boys through some drills and they were finishing with a fiercely fought two-against-one rematch, and the final cheer had died out. Holly couldn’t help but admire the adroit way Ben ceased play right at five minutes to five. She didn’t think he was exhausted, just organised and punctual. She liked that and it was something she sorely missed with the boys in her care.
The three of them sauntered over to her, chatting about rules of the game, or that was what Holly decided it was when she caught a few words like chicken and fowls. She didn’t think they were talking about poultry.
As they arrived Holly remarked, ‘You boys sound like you’re hatching something there.’
Ben looked at her, and she could see him replaying the conversation in his mind. ‘Pun,’ he murmured and smiled at her with such a wicked grin she blushed. She’d thought her comment too obscure for anyone else to get and it made her wonder just how much of her mind Ben could read. But there was something nice about the adults getting it.
The boys glanced at them and then each other and shrugged. Pat looked at Ben. ‘Can we do this tomorrow and Friday?’
Holly stood up. ‘Not Friday, I’m staying with Jasmine Friday before the wedding on Saturday and you’re staying at Mrs Fairclough’s house that night.’
‘Tomorrow then?’ This was Tom, unusual for him to be demanding, but obviously Ben had made a hit of serious proportions.
‘Sure thing.’ Ben looked at Holly. ‘Same time?’
Slightly embarrassed by her nephews’ demands, Holly nodded. ‘As long as you don’t mind being tied up in the afternoons on your last free week.’
He studied the boys and shrugged. ‘Of course, I don’t mind beating the other team.’
‘We nearly won,’ Pat crowed. ‘Next time.’
‘In your dreams,’ Ben teased. ‘And because you lost you know what you have to do.’
Ben threw the ball and the boys jogged off along the edge of the oval, dribbling the ball back and forth between them to do a lap.
‘How was your mustering?’ As soon as she said it she saw his mouth widen into a grin at the recollection. It was a ridiculously attractive addition to his handsome face and she tried not to stare. Good grief. He obviously loved the outdoors still.
‘Hot and dusty. But I enjoyed it.’ A quick smile her way. ‘You would have loved it. A lot.’
Holly blinked. Not something she’d had time for since she’d left this place and certainly no time since she’d arrived back. But yes, probably she would have. Funny Ben would remember that.
He glanced around the park where they sat and went on. ‘I’ve missed it. Missed here. Missed Brierly Park. I know now I’m here for the duration and always thought I’d have to pick a larger town. The expansion of Wirralong has been a bonus that’s helped me.’
Her thoughts exactly. ‘Makes it easy to have a coffee shop. I didn’t think I’d come back at all. Nothing here for me now really, except Jasmine. But I can see it’s healing for the boys and I’m making just enough money and very good friends.’
‘You’d make more of both as a GP, as well as get better job satisfaction,’ he said bluntly. Then, more smoothly, before she could deny it, ‘I hear Jasmine is marrying Jason Ridgeway?’
She stuffed back all her vehement defence of her new vocation because the opportunity had been whipped out from under her. Better to talk of her friend anyway. ‘Finally. I’m bridesmaid and Elsa from the hairdresser’s is matron of honour. Out at the Wirra Station Wedding Centre. It’s a beautiful setting. We have to get Jasmine to the chapel on time.’
‘Will that be hard?’
Maybe. ‘Keeping her from wine Friday night might be. She’s nervous.’ Though she’d seemed more settled after Jason had ‘spoken’ to her this morning.
Ben was watching her mouth again. Why did he do that? ‘From my recollections, nervous and Jasmine don’t seem to go together.’
‘Everyone has nerves, you just have to hit the vulnerable spot.’ His gaze shifted, thankfully, when she said that.
‘True story.’ Ben looked a little struck even and Holly wondered what he was thinking. ‘By the way, I’ve been invited to attend. Apparently, Jasmine would like to include me in the guests.’
Ben in dress clothes. That would be something. The single girls would be beside themselves. And he’d see her a little different to her usual self. To add to the rest of the nerve-racking time she had coming. ‘That’s nice.’
The silence stretched, and she said the first thing that came to her. ‘So why aren’t you married with kids? You’re obviously good with boys?’ Why did that come out of her mouth? Or into her head?
He looked away and for a minute she thought he wasn’t going to answer. ‘Never found the person I wanted to spend my life with.’ Then back. ‘Or too busy playing medicine for a serious relationship. Long hours, high demands. Eye on the future. What about you?’
Well she deserved that. ‘Same.’ In fact, before this disconcerting man had reappeared in her world nobody had really made much impression at all. Why him? Why now?
He smiled at her. ‘Except now you have coffee shop hours. Lots of time in your new world.’
‘With two heartbroken boys.’
He shook his head. ‘They look good. You’ve done an amazing job with them considering how recent their loss was.’
She thought about that. Her eyes drawn to the tiny figures on the far side of the oval. Still kicking the ball between them. The kicks were bigger, so it appeared they were getting bored. ‘Sometimes they go very quiet. E
specially Tom.’
Ben looked across at the distant figures too. ‘To be expected. The article said their father had died?’
‘Yep. They’re orphans. Susan discovered an advanced melanoma on their dad just after the boys were conceived. It was too late and he died a couple of months later.’
‘Then your sister was amazing, too. How did she do it?’
‘She moved to Sydney and we lived next door to each other until the boys were ready for school. She came back to Wirralong then. So the boys grew up with me around, making the transition that little bit easier for all of us when disaster struck.’
‘It said car accident.’ Ben queried quietly.
‘Head on. Some fog. They said she died instantly.’ The last two words stuck in her throat and came out thick and clogged with tears. She’d just dumped the whole sad story on Ben and now gone emotional on him.
Thankfully the boys were nearly all the way round the oval and would be back in a minute. She needed to pull herself together. She stood up. Glanced at her watch. She had to get the boys bathed and sorted so she could do the same for herself.
She felt his gaze on her but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. She hated this new vulnerable woman she’d become.
‘We’d better get going.’
‘Sure. But after the wedding rehearsal, why don’t you come up and have an Earl Grey with me. I’ve got a box of divine pink lamingtons.’
‘It would be too late.’
He cocked one brow. ‘Would it be later than Monday night?’
Jasmine and Jason were having a romantic dinner together after the rehearsal. A gift she and Elsa had booked as a surprise. For eight pm. They’d both decided the couple needed it. ‘Probably not.’
‘Just use the garden entrance. I’ll leave it open at the street. A quick cup of tea and conversation.’
‘You said you wouldn’t push.’
He lifted his hands. Drew them back towards his chest. ‘This is me not pushing.’
She had to laugh at that as the boys arrived back.
‘Fine. After eight for one cup.’
Holly's Heart Page 5
