‘Well … this looks more formal. Your grandmother’s smiling, but her eyes are almost … sad. As for your grandfather, he perhaps looks more pleased with himself than happy.’
Neve sighed. ‘He does and yes, Netta doesn’t look at all like how she does in the other photo. She’s also lost weight. I don’t ever remember her being so thin.’
Neve opened the box and took out the metal plaque.
‘I’ve seen something similar before,’ Tanner said, taking his phone out of his shirt pocket to snap a picture. ‘Maybe on an airplane? My father will be most interested to see this.’
‘I’m sure he will be as it is an aircraft engine plate.’ Neve shot him a quick look. ‘Are you sure about contacting him? It’s more than okay if you have second thoughts.’
‘If anyone knows their wartime aircraft, my father does.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me yet, he mightn’t pick up the phone.’
Even though humour edged his tone, Neve didn’t smile. ‘He will.’
Tanner masked his doubt by taking a photo of the wedding picture as well as the ball invitation. If he had to he’d drive to Sydney and knock on his father’s door. The years of following leads and grasping at hope when searching for his birth mother made him aware of the importance of Neve finding out as much as she could about her grandmother and her secret groom.
When the water glasses were empty and Patch had enjoyed the cookie Tanner had snuck under the table, there was no more reason to stay. He helped Neve to carry the jug and glasses inside. Just like when with the girls, she waited on the front steps and waved to him until he’d driven through the front gate. Long after she’d stopped waving, he checked in his rear-view mirror until she’d headed inside.
He blew out a deep breath. Somehow, he’d held himself together while alone with Neve. Today there’d been no further intense, out-of-control moments, even when he’d touched her face. Instead, a companionship and sense of peace had evolved while they’d worked to rescue the calf and then sat on the veranda. For the first time the lure of the long paddock didn’t beckon. In that moment there was nowhere he’d rather be than riding by Neve’s side.
Once back at Claremont, he unloaded Arrow and headed to his flat. He’d call his father before he went in search of Meredith in the main part of the house for their daily cuppa. It was his choice he lived where he did. Not only did he have his own space, but he had the freedom he needed to leave at any time.
He took a seat at the small kitchen table. Beyond the window the midday sun warmed the undulating summer-gold hills. Now the days were growing shorter, the rural landscape would soon lose its bleached hue. Fingers cold, he dialled his father’s number. The ringtone echoed in his ear as no one answered. He was just about to lower his mobile when his father’s well-educated voice sounded. ‘Stewart Callahan speaking.’
Tanner swallowed. His father still didn’t recognise his number.
‘Hi, Dad, it’s me.’
He could picture his father’s lips pressing together at the news.
‘Dad, you still there?’
‘Yes. You only just called for my birthday. Are you in trouble?’
He briefly closed his eyes. He’d always been the model son. Never once had he called his father for help, even when he’d needed it. ‘No.’
‘Right.’
He wasn’t sure, but there could have been relief in his father’s clipped reply. More likely it was a crackle in the phone line.
His father spoke again. ‘Are you coming back to practise law?’
Tanner ground his teeth. ‘No. I’m calling because I have a friend who needs someone knowledgeable in Second World War aviation history.’
‘Is this friend a woman?’
‘Yes, but she’s just a friend.’
‘Where’s she from? Not America again?’
Tanner repressed a sigh. His father wasn’t going to let him forget every poor choice he’d ever made. ‘No. Here.’
‘Was she born … out there?’
‘No, she’s moved here from the city.’
‘So she’s a city girl?’
Tanner took a silent breath and strove for calm. Even in his seventies his father would still slay an opposing counsel. ‘Technically, yes. But she’s a girl who can live anywhere she wants and at the moment she chooses to live out here.’
To his surprise his father gave a dry laugh. ‘I like her.’
‘You don’t know her.’
‘I don’t need to. You’re calling because you want to help her, which means she’s more than a friend, and if she’s a city girl it also means you still have something in common with the world you left behind.’
‘Dad …’ As much as he tried, he couldn’t stop the warning rasp in his voice. A bout of his father’s coughing silenced the rest of his reply. They hadn’t even spoken for five minutes this time before his coughing had started.
‘Have you been to the doctor like you were supposed to?’
‘I don’t need to.’ His father coughed again. ‘What does your city friend want to know?’
‘There’s a good doctor here you could see.’
‘I’m fine.’
Tanner sighed. Bassie’s stubbornness was nothing compared to his father’s. ‘I’ll send two photos to your email. Neve’s trying to identify the man in the picture. The woman is her grandmother.’
‘Okay, I’ll make no promises about helping, but I’ll take a look.’
Then his father hung up without another word.
CHAPTER
9
Autumn had officially arrived.
Neve tugged at the sleeves of the denim jacket she wore with a white shirt and black jeans. The cold air contained the bite of winter and the flawless sky had turned a dull grey. She sipped at her breakfast cup of tea that she always enjoyed on the veranda. Tomorrow might be a morning to stay inside.
A stiff breeze swayed the treetops and a flurry of raindrops drummed on the tin roof. She’d woken to the sound of rain and thunder last night. Now the garden glistened and the fresh scent of wet soil mingled with the perfume of the yellow roses. She was surprised how little she missed the cityscape with its hard concrete angles and pungent fumes.
A tiny blue-and-black wren hopped across the lawn to perch on the rustic bird bath. As Tanner had predicted, the echidna had vacated its nearby hidey-hole by the following morning. The girls had helped her fill in the indent and after the night’s storm the grass would soon cover the bare dirt. Every day now Maya and Kait continued to search the garden to see if their spiny visitor had returned.
Neve stared into her tea, the warmth of the mug seeping into her palms. With Graham having the girls today, Tanner’s last week of coming to Rosewood had ended a day early. The girls’ sadness had been eased by his promise that he’d give them a riding lesson whenever he could.
They’d also been buoyed by the knowledge that next Friday was the first day of the Mudgee small-farm field days and they would see him there. Tanner was booked to do a horse-training demonstration. Neve would drive the girls over to the neighbouring town—she’d never been to a field day—then Graham would arrive to take them to a friend’s house for the weekend.
A magpie carolled, but Neve didn’t look away from her tea. All week she’d been dreading Friday arriving and now it was here, she wasn’t sure how she felt. No longer would there be a blue ute parked beneath the cedar tree every weekday. No longer would the sight of Tanner striding across the garden fill her with equal parts nervousness and happiness.
The day they’d rescued the calf had reminded her of all the reasons why she hadn’t managed to stop thinking about him. Tanner, with his integrity, strength and unselfishness, was a forever man. She frowned at her tea. But it had also highlighted her vulnerability. He triggered emotions and longings that she wasn’t currently equipped to deal with.
When his thumb had smoothed across her chin she had been gripped by a need so strong she was surprised h
e didn’t feel the trembling of her knees. If she’d been a more confident person she’d have stood on tiptoes and kissed him. But she wasn’t. Tanner was no more looking for any complications, let alone a relationship, than she was. She also hadn’t wanted to end their time together on any awkwardness.
It took a second to register her mobile ringing from where it lay on the table beside her. Ella’s face filled the screen.
Neve answered, hoping her words didn’t sound distracted. ‘Morning.’
‘Morning. How about this weather?’
‘I know. It feels like we’ve fast-forwarded into winter.’
‘Don’t worry. By lunch the humidity will kick in and it’ll be back to feeling like summer. Are you still coming to town?’
‘Yes, but not to see Cressy. She couldn’t make coffee. But Meredith called and invited me to lunch. She has some old wartime scrapbooks and photographs she thought I might like to look at.’
Tanner had asked if he could also show the wedding photograph to Meredith as she had a keen interest in local history.
‘I’m heading out your way to see a horse with ringworms and would like to take a look at Miss Dell.’
‘Not Bassie?’
‘No … Tanner called to ask if there was a chance Dell might be in foal. I said I didn’t think so but would look into it.’
‘No way.’ Neve looked across to where Dell and Bassie had sought shelter from the wind behind a dense orange tree. She’d noticed Dell’s stomach had grown a little rounder but had assumed it was the lack of exercise now that she remained in her paddock.
‘Yes way. It turns out where Bassie and Dell went after they were rescued, Dell used her Houdini skills to open stable doors and gates. She apparently had a special friend, a donkey called Bolt.’
‘Why doesn’t that surprise me? When will we know for sure?’
‘I trust Tanner’s hunch but will check her over to make sure she’s going okay.’
‘The girls will be so excited. Do you want me here? I can stay.’
‘No, it’s fine. And yes they will be, but it will still be a while until they’ll have a baby Dell to cuddle.’ What sounded like a big breed of dog barked in the background. ‘I’d best get back to work but will call you tonight.’
‘Okay. Talk soon.’
As Neve ended the call she realised she was smiling. A baby donkey. She couldn’t think of anything more adorable.
Heart now light, she headed into town. Apart from small puddles on the side of the road, the overnight rain had drained away. Once in Woodlea she replenished her grocery supplies, returned the girls’ books to the library and visited Sally for her regular latte.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she kept a close eye out for Tanner’s blue ute. She also kept watch for Edna’s white four-wheel drive. But apart from seeing Hewitt in the post office, she didn’t stop to talk to anyone else.
When it was close to lunchtime, Neve took the road out of town that would deliver her to Claremont. Ella had been right. The cloud cover had dispersed and now bright sunshine bathed the bitumen road. The car’s air conditioning hummed and her jacket lay discarded on the back seat. She’d also twisted her hair into a messy bun. The humidity had rendered her curls more rebellious than usual.
At a drystone-wall entrance she turned to enter a poplar-tree-lined driveway. She slowed to enjoy the journey. She’d never been to Meredith’s home before. The aged trees on either side of her would have witnessed the progression of time as horse-drawn vehicles had given way to motorised cars. Just like in years gone by, the poplars continued to mark the ending of summer with a hint of yellow shimmering amongst the green. By the middle of autumn they’d glimmer like living flames.
Through the tree trunks she glimpsed the impressive veranda wrapped historic homestead. She could only imagine Tanner’s reaction to discovering this was where generations of his mother’s family had carved out a life in the Bell River Valley. Unpretentious and humble, Tanner never talked about where he lived. She wondered if he didn’t have Rigby blood in his veins if Edna would consider him such a worthy future son-in-law.
Neve parked in the shade cast by a towering jacaranda tree. To her right stood a modern stable complex complete with a round yard. Down by the creek gold glistened as Arrow rested beneath a tree, his tail swishing. To her left a sandstone path led past manicured beds filled with cheerful flowers and a last flush of white iceberg rose blooms.
As she passed the corner of the house she stepped off the path to touch the glossy deep-green leaves of a sheltered pale-pink camellia. Her mother had loved camellias and had grown an assortment of varieties.
A door opened and closed, before light footsteps sounded on the veranda floorboards. Meredith appeared and walked down the wide front steps between two sandstone urns filled with white alyssum.
‘I thought I heard a car,’ she said with a welcoming smile. ‘Patch usually barks, but he’s over at the shed with Phil and Tanner getting ready for sowing.’
Neve smiled, hoping her expression didn’t reveal it had been on her mind whether or not Tanner would be home. ‘They would have welcomed this rain.’
‘They did.’ Dressed in simple white pants and an orange linen shirt, Meredith gave her a hug. The older woman’s subtle and delicate perfume completed the impression of grace and elegance.
‘Thanks for lunch and letting me look through the scrapbooks,’ Neve said as their embrace ended.
‘My pleasure. I was hoping to eat outside, but it’s a little too wet so we’ll have to make do inside.’
Meredith’s version of making do involved a gourmet quiche, avocado salad and homemade bread, all set out on a lace tablecloth in a dining room flooded with natural light. Neve’s mouth watered and her senses rejoiced at such a beautiful room. Despite its formality, the silver-framed photographs on a side board and the vase of purple salvia and gum leaves made the room feel welcoming and lived in.
She bent to look closer at the photographs. The largest frame held a picture of Tanner and Meredith standing side by side. Tanner’s relaxed smile, and the arm he had around his mother’s shoulders, communicated the love he had for the woman who had been missing from his life for so long. Another photo held an image of Tanner next to Meredith and Phil that had to be taken at their garden wedding. Other photos contained Denham and his family, Denham with Cressy, while black-and-white pictures paid tribute to past Rigby descendants.
‘They’re lovely photographs, Meredith.’
Meredith came to stand beside her. ‘Even before I lost Tanner, family had always been important to me. I think it was because, to be honest, I never felt like I had one as a child.’ She picked up a picture of an elderly couple in which each adult wore a severe expression. ‘I loved my parents, but ours wasn’t a house full of affection. My brother and I weren’t raised to express our emotions.’
‘I understand. My grandfather was a cold and distant man. My mother never said anything, but I think she made sure she broke the cycle. She was always hugging me and telling me she loved me, so much so I used to catch the bus to school so she wouldn’t embarrass me in front of my friends.’
Meredith laughed softly. ‘I would have liked your mother. Poor Tanner … I know he’s a grown man, but a day doesn’t pass without me kissing or hugging him too.’
‘He wouldn’t mind. Deep down, I didn’t either.’
Meredith passed Neve a grainy photograph of a smiling man holding the reins of a horse. ‘This was Simon, Tanner’s father.’
Neve studied the image. Even with the poor photo quality she could see the resemblance to Tanner in the similar face shape and the way his father held his shoulders. ‘They’re very alike.’
‘They are and not just physically. Simon was a jackeroo and loved his horses.’ After Neve handed the frame to Meredith, the older woman took a last look before returning it to the side board.
They made their way to the dining table and were soon enjoying the delicious lunch.
Meredith looked up as she buttered a piece of crusty bread. ‘Tanner mentioned Maya and Kait have been baking for him.’
Neve nodded before she finished a mouthful of creamy quiche. ‘He’s been such a good sport. Did he tell you everything they make for him is blue?’
Meredith’s eyes rounded. Neve wasn’t sure if it was because she’d called Tanner a good sport when it came to interacting with children or if it was because of all the baking being blue. ‘He didn’t. Why blue?’
‘They think it’s his favourite colour because of his ute and work shirts.’
‘You know … I’m not actually sure what his favourite colour is. I’ll have to ask him.’
Neve smiled. ‘It would be helpful if it was red or yellow. Do you know how hard it is to find blue food?’
Meredith’s answering smile revealed a faint dimple. ‘It would be. I’m curious now, I’ll be looking for blue food recipes.’
‘Lucky for Tanner and his tastebuds there won’t be any more blue treats as we won’t be seeing him for a little while.’
Meredith’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. ‘Has he said he’s going off droving again?’
‘No, not that I’ve heard. It’s just his work’s done with Bassie and Dell, and Bethany has a new horse she needs help with. We’ll still see him, at the field day and then the following week when he’ll give the girls another riding lesson.’
Meredith’s slender shoulders relaxed.
While they ate and discussed growing camellias in a hot climate, Neve couldn’t help but sneak glances at the scrapbooks and photo albums at the far end of the mahogany table. Maybe they contained the clues she needed.
Once lunch had been cleared away and a fresh pot of tea sat in front of them, Meredith moved the scrapbooks and albums closer. ‘So what are we looking for?’
The Round Yard Page 13