“She’ll be fine. It was the suddenness of it, that’s all. She can cope with mice as long as they don’t surprise her like that one obviously did.”
Dan inspected the cupboard where they kept the toaster. “These old cupboards share the wall as their back. There are a couple of gaps.”
“But I don’t have food in there.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve seen mice eat the chipboard shelves out of a cupboard when there’s nothing else.”
“What if there’s more? I can’t have Mum going into hysterics again.”
“It couldn’t be helped, Paula. She’ll be all right. It’s a fear she’s had all her life.” Rex’s tone was almost gentle. “When she was a little girl she stayed with her grandparents during a mouse plague. She woke up one night with mice in her bed and her hair. There was no electricity and it took a long time for her grandpa to light the old kero lamp and come to help her.”
Paula shuddered. That explained why her mother had always had a fear of small creatures, even those big brown moths with the eyes painted on their backs that had been in a holiday house when Paula and her sisters were kids. She recalled the fuss her mother had made about getting them removed.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I did my best to make the house mouse-proof, and I did try to warn you we weren’t ready for visitors.”
“Your mother will be fine. She knows we can’t rid the world of all small creatures, although it surely wouldn’t hurt if there were no mice.”
“I’m with you there,” Dan said.
“Oh, and she’s worried about your lunch going cold in there.”
“I’ll go and wash my hands.”
“Dad, you go and sit with Mum. I’ll finish getting the lunch and make her a cup of tea.”
“I don’t think she’ll want any toast.” Her father gave her a wink and went back to the lounge.
No, thought Paula, I don’t think any of us will be having toast until I’ve given the toaster the once-over. She threw all the offending pieces in the bin, put the kettle on and used the electric grill to toast some cheese sandwiches. She was glad to see the smile on her father’s face again. Pity it took a mouse to put it there.
Later that afternoon they set off with Dan for a tour of the property.
“This vehicle is very nice, Daniel. The interior still smells new. Have you had it long?” Diane asked from her seat in the back of the dual cab beside Paula. Rex sat in the front with Dan.
“Only a week.”
“What made you decide on the dual cab?” Rex asked. “Wouldn’t something like I’ve hired be more appropriate for a family vehicle?”
“This has to double as the family car and the work vehicle. I did a lot of research on them. Jim McInerney, our local car dealer, reckons this one is the best value for performance and money at the moment.”
“Yes, well, he wants to make a sale.”
Paula tensed. Her father was being very presumptuous.
“I know car dealers don’t always have a good reputation but I’ve found Jim to be as honest as the day is long. He’s been in the business for over forty years. You wouldn’t last that long out here if you made bad deals.”
“It’s a big vehicle for Paula to drive. She should have —”
“I’ve managed it fine, Dad,” Paula cut in. “And Jim McInerney struck me as an honest man.”
“You thought that about Marco and look where that got you.”
Paula sat up rigid in the back seat. Heat flooded her cheeks. Had her father gone mad? How could he mention Marco’s name again, and in front of Dan? It was unthinkable.
“Oh, Paula. Did you tell Daniel about the oven?” Diane tried valiantly to change the subject.
“No, I…”
“It’s our gift to you both, Daniel.” Diane filled the silence. “We wanted to get you something while we were here and that old stove has had it so Rex has organised for a new oven to be installed.”
“I hadn’t had a chance to tell Dan about it yet.” Paula’s eyes met Dan’s in the rear-view mirror. His serious mask had returned and she couldn’t tell how he was reacting.
“It’s very good of you, Rex,” he said.
“Oh! Look at the lambs, aren’t they gorgeous.” Diane lowered the window.
Dan slowed and they watched as tiny lambs wobbled on unsteady legs behind mothers while older and stronger ones frolicked in little groups.
“They’re my first lot of autumn lambs,” Dan said. “I’ve always had spring lambs but this year I’ve got one mob lambing early to see how it goes.”
“Tell me a bit more about the sheep market,” Rex said. “You were saying the other night that current prices are good. Are these animals for meat or wool?”
“Both. They’re bred for their good body size and their increased fleece weight.”
Paula sat, miserably listening to Dan’s careful explanation of his breeding program. Her father could match Rowena in the speed he delivered bombs and then changed the subject. She wasn’t sure how much more of this roller-coaster visit her nerves could stand.
Later that night, tucked up in their bed, Paula tried to explain. “I’m sorry my parents are making their presence felt. The oven was a surprise to me as well. I hadn’t had a chance to tell you about it.”
“They are very generous,” Dan said. “I feel bad about that old oven. I should have put a new one in before you came. You know I would have got around to it once seeding was finished.”
Paula put her fingers over his lips. “Don’t worry. I could have managed. Anyway, only a couple more days and they’ll be gone.” She kissed him gently. “Then we can be alone again.”
“We’re alone now.” He rolled to meet her and she melted into the wonderful sensation of his embrace.
CHAPTER
11
“Dan’s not with us, Rowena. He’s back on the tractor.” Paula and her parents had driven over to Rowena’s together for the Sunday evening meal.
“I know, he called me on the two-way. He can work himself far too hard, my dear nephew. He’ll be here in time for main course, I insisted. Now, come through to the lounge. I’ve got the fire going in there.”
Paula gritted her teeth. If Rowena says jump, we all have to ask how high. They followed her past the kitchen and the delicious smell of roast meat to the living room.
Rowena’s house was more compact than the old farmhouse. It had a small galley kitchen with a casual eating area at one end just big enough for four. The lounge was a large room and through double sliding doors was a formal dining room. The furniture was a mixture of neat and comfortable except for one battered vinyl recliner rocker with a throw rug over it drawn in close to the fire. It was the only thing that looked out of place.
“Do sit down, everyone. Rex, have the recliner.” Rowena straightened the rug. “It’s quite comfortable. Dan always sits in it in his work clothes but the rug is clean. Now, what will you have to drink?”
They decided on a bubbly red. The bottle was open and Paula wondered if Rowena had drunk a glass or two already. She seemed more relaxed, almost vibrantly happy. Her barely pink shirt was crisscrossed with white lines and had tiny frills edging the pocket and collar. It gave Rowena a much softer, more feminine appearance.
“Your Crows played a good game last night.” Mr Crawford raised his glass in a mock toast.
“Yes, it was an exciting evening.” Rowena’s cheeks glowed and there was a sparkle in her eyes.
“You are a real fan then,” Diane said. “I’m afraid I don’t understand the game. Rex enjoys it though, don’t you, darling. Daniel seems to like it too. It was nice to see him relaxing with Rex last night. You’re right, Rowena, he is a very hardworking young man.”
“Dan was a handy footballer himself for our local team but he injured his knee and decided he’d give up playing.” Rowena’s look was wistful. “Sad for him really, he was a damn good ruckman.”
Dan and Rex had watched the game on television the night before, and Paula and
her mother had worked on setting up the beautiful antique dresser they’d placed in the kitchen. It was just right to display some of the special wedding gifts and Paula had one or two things of her own that fitted in quite well.
She had already decided the kitchen would be her next project, once her parents left. There wasn’t much she could do about the built-in furniture but the table would be better at the end of the room in front of the window and a coat of paint on the walls and cupboards would give the room a new lease of life. She would have to keep a strict eye on Carl’s colour mixing though.
The football talk continued and Paula got up to inspect the photos Rowena had dotted around the room. They were mainly of Dan at various ages; a portrait shot of him as a baby, a black-and-white snap at about primary school age where he was in footy gear, shaking the hand of a man presenting him with a trophy, and a high school photo where he looked thin and gangly and uncomfortable in an ill-fitting blazer. On the old upright piano there was a picture of him as a teenager with a serious-faced older man. It had to be his father, they were so alike.
“I think we’ll have our soup now. The roast is nearly ready and Dan will be here soon.”
Paula marvelled that Rowena could be so sure. She trailed behind the others into the dining room where they sat at the beautifully set table.
Rowena produced another bottle of the red bubbly. “Will you top up the glasses please, Rex?”
Over soup, the conversation was all about Sydney. Rowena had been there several times. It seemed they had a few favourite restaurants in common and Paula was mildly surprised at Rowena’s obvious enjoyment of the Bondi lifestyle. She hadn’t really pictured her there. There were some layers to Rowena that she only got glimpses of.
Another bottle of wine was opened and Diane rattled on about some of her favourite shops. Paula found herself picturing some of the shopping trips she’d had with Alison and was engulfed in a sudden pang of homesickness. She was pleased to see Dan come in.
“Ah, Dan, just in time to carve the roast.” He had barely a chance to say hello and plant a kiss on top of Paula’s head before Rowena whisked him away to the kitchen.
It was a magnificent meal accompanied by a fresh bottle of red, a Clare Valley shiraz this time. Paula marvelled at her father and Rowena, who were tossing back the wine. Dan had a couple of glasses but the earlier bubbly had been enough for Paula and she stuck to water.
“That was delicious, Rowena.” Rex raised his glass in a toast.
“Thank you, Rex. I do prefer mutton to lamb. It has more flavour. But that was my last roast.” Rowena turned to Dan. “I hope you will find time to organise a kill this week, Dan. There’s not much left in my freezer.”
“I’ll see how the weather goes. They’re predicting heavy rain by the end of the week. If I can keep at it I should almost have the seeding finished by then.”
Paula’s heart skipped a beat. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Dan’s long hours would soon be over.
“Do you mean you have to kill your own sheep?” Diane’s voice was slightly raised. She’d had several glasses of the red as well.
“That’s how you survive on a farm, Diane.” Rex gave a snort. “You can’t run to the shops every five minutes from here.”
“But a lamb?” Diane glanced around the table, her eyes wide. No doubt, like Paula, she was imagining those dear little creatures they’d seen frolicking in the paddock.
“By lamb we mean a young sheep, not a baby.” Rowena stood up and began clearing away the dishes. “At any rate things are a bit more civilised these days. Our local butcher does the killing at his abattoirs and the cutting up and mincing for us, all we have to do is pack it. But I used to help my mother do all the preparation when I was a girl. Dad would kill the sheep and cut it up and we would mince and season and pack.”
“That must have been a big job.” Diane helped carry the plates. “I don’t know if I would have the stomach for it.”
Paula watched as the two women disappeared into the kitchen and wondered what would be expected of her. She didn’t like the sound of mounds of raw meat but at least it explained the hand-labelled bags of meat that were already in her freezer.
“Well, with everyone being so busy it is just as well I organised a few things for you while I was here.” Her father’s tone was serious and Paula felt a sudden apprehension.
“It was generous of you to buy the stove —”
Rex cut Dan off. “Oh, that was nothing really, just an extra wedding present. No, I have at least had time to organise Paula’s financial affairs since you two have obviously not got around to it.”
His words rocked Paula as surely as if there had been a real explosion.
“What do you mean, Dad?”
“There’s a lot at stake here and it’s obvious that you two haven’t given too much thought to financial matters. I spent some time with the local solicitor getting some papers drawn up for you both to ensure your financial security.”
“Dad, you’re still not making sense. What have you done?”
“You are totally reliant on Dan for income, for everything. You should be included as a partner.”
“Dad!”
“You’re stuck out here by yourself. You’ve left behind any prospects of a decent job. You don’t even have a car.”
“I still have my car in Sydney. I’ll sell it eventually. I’m hardly spending any money anyway. Just a few groceries and bits and pieces for the house.”
“If you keep spending your savings on daily needs you won’t have anything left.”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk these things through. You had no right to interfere. It’s Dan’s and my business.” Paula’s voice was rising. She glanced briefly at Dan. His face was expressionless as he sat silently looking at her father. “We will organise our own affairs.”
Rex snorted and Paula noticed his cheeks had a ruddy glow. “Like you did with Marco? You ended up losing out there, my girl.”
“You have no right!” Paula jumped to her feet, almost knocking over her chair.
“Which solicitor did you see?” Dan’s quiet voice silenced them both. They turned to look at him.
Rex took another sip of wine. “I went into the local practice in town, here.”
“Yes, but who did you see?” Dan asked again. Paula had never before witnessed the smouldering anger that she could see in Dan’s eyes now. It frightened her.
“I asked to see that nice young woman. What was her name, Paula? You introduced us to her on the first day here.”
“Katherine Melton.” The words slid from Paula’s lips.
In the silence that followed Dan rose to his feet, looked down at Rex and slowly shook his head. “I’m sure you meant well, Rex, but you shouldn’t have interfered. You really shouldn’t have.”
“I think it’s time for sweets.” Rowena strode into the room carrying the cheesecake on a platter like a trophy, a flustered Diane following in her wake carrying some plates. They had obviously heard the last part of the conversation.
“I’m sorry, Rowena, I’m tired and I’ve got a very early start in the morning again. I won’t stay for sweets.” Dan turned to Paula. “No need for you to come, stay and finish the evening.”
“Dan, I’m sorry, I…”
“We’ll talk later.” He kissed her on the cheek and left.
“Touched a raw nerve there, did I?” Rex asked in mock surprise. “He didn’t let me finish. Katherine wasn’t available so I saw the other chap who works there.”
“We don’t do business with that firm any longer, Rex.” Rowena’s voice was clipped. “If we need a solicitor there’s a practice in Adelaide that we use.” She passed out slices of cheesecake but Paula had lost all interest in food. “You will have to excuse Dan.” Rowena looked directly at Rex. “He does take his responsibilities very seriously and this is a particularly trying time of year.” She spoke quietly but there was no sign of the earlier, gentler persona. Her head was high a
nd her eyes glittered. “I manage the financial matters of our business but Dan and I are partners. We never do anything without consulting each other. Paula says she is an accountant so I am sure she will recognise good business practice. One does not sign over a share in a business without some consultation. In their haste to get married, Dan and Paula may have overlooked some of the details but I am sure they will work it out in time.” She sat and waved her arm at Paula. “Do sit down. Eat your sweets. I’ll send a doggy bag home with you, for Dan. He often takes life too seriously.”
Paula slumped into her chair.
“Paula will make sure Daniel has it for his lunch won’t you, darling?”
Paula looked at her mother through weary eyes. “Dan, Mum. His name is Dan. He hates being called Daniel. When will you remember that?” she snapped.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I keep forgetting, I…”
“Lots of people call him Daniel. It’s only natural,” Rowena said. “When he was born his father, my brother Daniel, wanted him to be named after him. His mother would only allow it if there was a variation, so Dan it was. He’s never been anything else to me. I’ve been looking after him since he was three years old.”
Rowena held Paula’s gaze for a minute before Rex spoke.
“You should understand, Rowena, I have the best interests of my daughter at heart. I will not see her lose out like she did with a previous relationship.”
“I understand exactly where you are coming from, Rex.” Rowena looked him directly in the eye. “I won’t allow Dan to become any more encumbered than he already is.” She smiled sweetly. “Now, please open this bottle for me. It’s a particularly nice dessert wine.”
“And this is a particularly nice cheesecake,” Diane said. “I usually make my own but you would never know this wasn’t homemade. Perhaps I can buy some on our way back through Adelaide, Rex. Do you think we’ll have time? Which shop did you say you bought it from, Rowena?”
The conversation flowed around Paula like waves over a rock. Her head reeled, yet she felt numb. She looked at the three of them carrying on a polite exchange about food, as if none of the previous dialogue had taken place. The cheesecake was beyond her but she tipped down the glass of wine that her father poured and helped herself to another.
A Chance of Stormy Weather Page 13
