A Heart This Big

by Cheyenne Blue

  “She is. She’s your comfort zone.” Grizz stood. “For what it’s worth, I liked the Leigh I saw at Banksia Farm.” She picked up the empty mugs in her good hand. “Billy’s claim won’t go forever. Then Nina won’t be your client.”

  “It will run for months yet.”

  Grizz shrugged. “What’s a few months in a lifetime?”

  Leigh watched her black-clad shape disappear through the door. Grizz was right, of course, but in a few months’ time, when Billy’s claim was settled, Nina could be anywhere, with anyone. And Leigh could be comfortably dating…not Meredith, but someone like her. Someone safe and professional and a little bit dull and predictable.

  Like herself.

  Collecting eggs reminded Nina of Leigh. Every time she lifted the lids of the nesting boxes, she remembered how Leigh had cautiously felt inside, wary of snakes. She recalled Leigh’s fear of them. How brave she’d been when she’d trodden on a brown snake that time.

  For all that the farm wasn’t Leigh’s world, it had seemed she loved visiting, enjoyed the work. Enjoyed Nina.

  Nina’s toes curled in memory of the kiss. How long had it been since she’d been out on a date? Years. Having a farm that took all your time and money and a kid who she was doing her best to raise left little time for dating. Even if there was someone she wanted to date.

  She sighed. Leigh was probably looking forward to a power date with the barrister she’d mentioned. What was her name? Meredith.

  Tonight, Nina would make macaroni cheese, Phoe’s favourite. The two of them planned a movie night. Phoe wanted The Hunger Games—again. Leigh and Meredith were probably going on a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour. There’d be a mellow jazz band, expensive wine, and at least five courses.

  Maybe it was time to put herself back out there. She could sign up on a dating site, and the next time Gino was back from the mines to take Phoe, Nina would go on a date. Or several.

  Nina reached the end of the nesting boxes and straightened. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that they usually ate breakfast an hour ago.

  She returned to the barn to replace her tools. Voices reached her: Phoe’s and a boy’s. One of the Barn Kids no doubt, arrived a bit early. Nina detoured to say hello, and the child’s voice piped up clearly.

  “Please, Phoebe, please! Can I have a ride on Mr Petey? He’s missed me, I know he has.”

  “No, Billy. I’ve said no. Go away. We can’t have you here.”

  “Why not?” Billy sounded hurt, his voice trembling.

  “You know.”

  “I don’t. Mum wouldn’t let me come, and now you don’t want me either.”

  Nina’s pulse sped up. Billy. Here. Begging for a ride. The kid who was now so scared of animals he needed counselling. Allegedly.

  Before Phoe could answer again, Nina went across. She leant her arms on the door and looked down at Billy, then at Phoebe, who was inside, brushing Mr Petey with short, fierce strokes. Her brows were knitted together, and she stared at the pony’s neck.

  “Hi, Billy. We haven’t seen you around for a while. How’ve you been?”

  Billy beamed—probably happy to see a friendly face after Phoe’s scowling one. “Good. ’Cept I miss Mr Petey.”

  “He missed you too.” Nina’s mind whirled. Was what she was doing wrong? She didn’t know. What she did know was that Billy wasn’t acting like a kid who was scared of animals; he was behaving like any of the Barn Kids: excited to be here, wanting to be close to the ponies. “Do you want to pat him? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

  “Yeah!” Billy didn’t wait for another invitation. He struggled to open the bolt on the door.

  Nina didn’t help. If Billy wasn’t scared, that had to be a good thing, but there was no way she would pressure him. Billy-the-Kid had to do this by himself.

  Billy finally worked the bolt free and went over to the pony.

  Nina followed. If Billy became panicky, she wanted to be where she could do something about it. She gestured to Phoe to move closer to Mr Petey’s head. Just in case. “Did you forget something, Billy?”

  A frown crinkled his forehead. “Oh yeah. I have to shut the door so that Mr Petey doesn’t get out.” He went back to the door and pulled it closed. “Can you bolt it, Nina? I can’t reach from in here.”

  “Sure I can,” Nina said. “Are you okay in here with Mr Petey?”

  “Course.” Billy sent her a beaming, gap-toothed smile. “Mr Petey’s my friend.” He returned to the pony and flung his arms around Mr Petey’s neck. The pony lowered his head and nuzzled Billy’s pockets, probably searching for treats. Billy pressed his head to the pony’s shoulder. “I love you, Mr Petey. You’re my bestest friend.”

  “Does your mum know you’re here?”

  “Nah. She’s not home. Tally’s looking after me. ’Cept Tally’s watching TV and didn’t want to play, so I came here.”

  “We better make sure you get home safe, then.” Nina pulled out her phone. “Can I take a movie of you so your mum knows you’re safe?”

  “Yeah. Take a photo of me and Mr Petey so Mum knows he still loves me. She told me he didn’t.”

  What the hell is going on? Nina activated the video on her phone and aimed it at Billy. This was so Stella could see that Billy was safe, she told herself. And because she didn’t want to be in any more trouble than she already was. This would be a record that Billy wasn’t coerced or harmed in any way.

  “Can I ride Mr Petey now? Then you can make a movie of me and Mr Petey so I can show Mum.”

  Nina’s heart pounded. Sweet baby Jesus, Billy had handed her proof that he wasn’t scared. But what about his arm?

  “How’s your arm, Billy? Is it all better?”

  “Yeah. It’s been better for ages.”

  “You had a brace on it the last time I saw you.”

  “Mum makes me wear that whenever I go out with her. The doctor man said I was all good now.”

  “And you want to ride Mr Petey? You don’t have to, Billy. Just tell me if you don’t want to.” Nina spoke steadily and clearly, hoping the phone’s microphone would pick up her words.

  “Yeah! More than anything. Can I have a ride?”

  “Phoe, come and take my phone and keep filming this for Stella. Have you got your phone too in case my battery goes flat?”

  Phoe nodded.

  Nina handed her the phone, hoping that Phoebe had caught her intent. Get a video of Billy, obviously happy, unafraid, and delighted to be reunited with his bestest friend, and a lot of the claim would fall apart. At least, Nina hoped it would.

  Mr Petey’s tack was in a corner, and Nina swiftly tacked up. Phoe kept the phone trained on Billy as he petted the pony and pulled down Mr Petey’s head so he could sing into his ear.

  Nina opened the stable door and led the pony out.

  “Battery’s died,” Phoe said from behind her. “I’ll use mine.”

  “Wait until we’re in the paddock.” Nina wanted to make sure she got a video of Billy riding—if indeed he did.

  Once in the paddock, Billy ran up again. “Can you help me up, Nina?”

  “Sure.” Nina didn’t make any move, but her gaze flicked to Phoe, who held the phone. She arched an eyebrow in question.

  Phoe gave a short nod. She held the phone in front of her, the camera light blinking.

  “Do you want to ride, Billy?”

  “Yeah!” His shout was so loud that Nina winced.

  Mr Petey lifted his head and regarded Billy.

  “You tell me if you want to stop, okay?” Nina said. “That’s very important. If you don’t want to do it anymore, you tell me, and we’ll stop immediately. Got that?”

  “Yeah. But I never want to stop.”

  Nina looped an arm through the reins, helped Billy onto the pony’s back, and adjusted his stirrups. She made su
re Billy was comfortable and had remembered how to hold the reins properly. “Okay up there, big guy?”

  “Yeah.” Billy’s grin split his face.

  Nina led Mr Petey in a slow circle. “You okay, Billy? Are you scared?”

  “No!” Billy flapped his legs, urging Mr Petey on. “Can I go faster?”

  “Not this time.” Nina led Mr Petey in another slow circle.

  Phoebe lowered the phone and put it in her pocket. The battery must have gone, or the memory was full.

  “I think that’s enough for today,” Nina said. “We need to let your mum know where you are. She’ll be worried.”

  “No. She thinks I’m with Tally.”

  “All the same.” Nina helped Billy to the ground. They walked back towards the barn.

  “Billy! Oh, thank God, Billy, you’re safe.” A teenage girl Nina had never seen before ran across the paddock from the drive. She grabbed Billy by the arm and pulled him away.

  “Wait a minute,” Nina snapped. “Who are you?”

  The teenager turned, and Nina saw the tear marks on her face.

  “I’m Tahlia,” the girl said. “S’posed to be looking after Billy today, but he ran away.” She dropped to her knees in front of him. “Billy, you are so naughty. I was really scared.”

  Billy flung his arms around her neck. “Sorry, Tally.”

  Tahlia stood. “Stella told me if he ever ran off, to look here. Sorry to have bothered you.”

  “It’s no bother. Come again, Billy, but next time, make sure someone comes with you.” To Tahlia, Nina added, “Do you want a lift home?”

  “No, it’s okay. It’s only a few minutes’ walk. But thanks.” Tahlia gripped Billy firmly by the hand, and they walked across the paddock towards the drive.

  “I rode Mr Petey, Tally.” Billy’s voice drifted back to Nina. “We rode for miles and miles.”

  Phoe came up and slipped under Nina’s arm, draping it over her shoulder as she used to do when she was a little girl. “Is that good? Does that mean it will be okay?”

  “I don’t know.” Nina’s sigh gusted out. “I hope so.”

  Chapter 18

  “Nina Pellegrini’s here for her appointment.” Grizz’s voice came over the phone. “Are you ready for her?”

  “Give me five minutes, then show her through. Thanks, Grizz.” Leigh pushed back from her desk and went over to the window. Same view, same harbour, same blue sky, sparkling water, busy streets. Same yachts sailed by the same people who didn’t have to be at work in a high-rise office on this summer’s day.

  She smoothed down her skirt, ran a hand over her hair, and checked the twist was still in place. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Nina’s a client. Nothing more. Nina had set that in stone when she’d refused to change lawyers. It was for the best anyway. She and Nina were poles apart. Their work, where they lived, their situations in life couldn’t be more different. It was for the best that this—whatever this was—had stopped dead. If she repeated that enough, maybe she’d start to believe it.

  Leigh turned away from the window and went back to her desk. She checked her lipstick in a hand mirror she kept in her desk drawer. It was perfect, same as always. But this time, she needed that veneer of perfection if she was to see Nina and not feel something.

  She composed herself, and when Grizz showed Nina through, she was able to stand, greet Nina with a nod and a professional smile, and thank Grizz.

  “Tea, coffee?” Grizz asked.

  “No, thank you,” Nina said.

  Leigh kept her face impassive. Nina was probably dying for a cup of tea, but there was a tightly reined-in excitement about her, as if tea would be a distraction.

  Leigh waited until Grizz left and slid the glass door closed behind her. “How can I assist today?”

  Nina hadn’t made much effort for her trip to the city. The borrowed professional clothes were gone, and she wore a T-shirt and a pair of beige cotton pants, the sort that were for sale in any chain store. Casual as they were, they weren’t Nina’s everyday pants. The red dust of the farm would stain them in their first wearing.

  But casual or not, the teal-coloured T-shirt highlighted her lustrous hair and tanned skin. Leigh clenched her hand. She’s a client.

  Nina leant forward. “I want to show you something.” She pulled two mobile phones from her bag and laid them on the desk. “I think this changes things, but I need your opinion.”

  Leigh glanced at the phones, then back to Nina’s face. Nina vibrated with tension, as if she was barely contained in her skin, as if the smallest encouragement from Leigh would have her beaming her wide smile and throwing her arms around Leigh in delight about…something.

  “What is it?”

  Nina picked up one of the phones and tapped it a few times, then handed it to Leigh. “Press the play button.”

  The frozen image showed Mr Petey being hugged by a small boy. Leigh tapped the play button.

  “Can I ride Mr Petey now? Then you can make a movie of me and Mr Petey so I can show Mum.” The boy’s piping tones came tinnily through the phone’s speaker.

  Then Nina’s voice. “How’s your arm, Billy? Is it all better?”

  Leigh stared at the phone and watched Billy hugging the pony, Billy chattering and happy, Billy obviously unafraid. Nina’s calm voice making sure Billy really wanted to be there and wanted to ride. The video ended.

  Nina handed her the next phone. “And this one.”

  The quality wasn’t as good on the second video, but it was clear enough that Leigh saw Billy riding Mr Petey, begging to be allowed to go faster, the obvious joy on his face.

  “Well?” Nina demanded as soon as the video ended. “Is this good?”

  Leigh laid the phone down on the desk. “Yes, it’s good. It raises questions—a lot of questions—about the veracity of the claim. It certainly shoots Billy’s alleged psychological injury to smithereens. Also, he says his arm is fine and he’s only made to wear the brace when he leaves the house. That could mean his mother’s afraid he’ll knock the arm in unfamiliar settings—or she wants the injury to appear worse than it is.”

  Nina sat back, beaming. “So does this mean the claim will be dropped?”

  “Not so fast. There might be questions as to how the video was obtained, whether Billy was enticed in some way—”

  “He came to me! What was I supposed to do? Turn away an unaccompanied seven-year-old child? That was why I asked the questions I did. I wanted to make it clear there was no pressure, that Billy wanted to be there.”

  “You made that very clear. You did a great job.” Leigh leant forward and placed a hand on Nina’s.

  Nina jerked at the contact, and her gaze locked with Leigh’s. Hope shone in her eyes.

  Leigh swallowed. The spontaneous touch now seemed like a big mistake. She withdrew her hand, picked up her pen, and drew her legal pad towards her. “Where was Stella?”

  “Not sure. Billy was in the care of a babysitter. She turned up, obviously distraught, a few minutes after the video ended and took Billy home.”

  “Did you contact Stella to let her know where he’d been?”

  “No. I wasn’t sure if I should. Besides, he was in Tahlia’s care.”

  “I think this Tahlia may not have mentioned this to Stella.” Leigh tapped her pad with her pen. “So there’s a very good chance Stella is unaware of what transpired. Unless Billy has told her.”

  “He may have. He was so excited to see Mr Petey. But he also seemed very fond of Tahlia. If she told him not to say anything, he might not have. Leigh, what happens now?” Nina laid her hands flat on the desk and leant forward. “Imagine, maybe this will be all over!”

  Her hope was infectious, and Leigh’s lips twitched into an involuntary smile. She knew she was smiling stupidly, unprofessionally at Nina, soaking up her joy, but she couldn’t stop
.

  Nina’s eyes darkened, and she seemed to draw all her vibrancy inwards before she sent a beam of yearning straight to Leigh’s heart.

  Oh God. She couldn’t allow this. Leigh snapped back to the situation. Lawyer. Client. Her professional mask slid into place, and she leant back in her chair.

  The pleasure left Nina’s face, and some of the joy in the room went with it.

  Leigh swallowed. She shouldn’t feel as if she’d lost something precious—but she did. She picked up the phone. “Grizz, can you come in for a minute, please?”

  Grizz’s solid shape entered thirty seconds later. She flashed a smile at Nina, then turned her professional face on Leigh. “What can I assist you with?”

  Leigh handed her the two phones. “There’s one video on each of these. You’ll see the files are currently open. Can you download them to your computer and then burn a copy of each video onto three DVDs? Bring one copy back here for Nina.”

  “Got it.” Grizz picked up the phones and left.

  “This is what we’ll do.” Leigh was back in control. This was her world and what she did best. “We can’t approach Stella directly; we have to go through her lawyers. We’ll use these videos to put pressure on her. But we’ll have the element of surprise. I’ll call for an early settlement conference. I’ll say that my client wants to put an end to this sooner rather than later and is prepared to talk. We’ll meet together—you, me, Stella, and her lawyers—ostensibly to reach an early settlement, then we’ll hit them with this.” Leigh stood. “I have another appointment now, but if you want to wait in reception, Grizz will return the phones to you and give you a DVD of the video.”

  Nina nodded. “So this is good, then?”

  “Yes. It’s good.” Leigh moved towards the door and slid it open. “Thank you for coming in. I’ll be in touch when we’ve got the conference arranged.”

  Nina smiled. “Thank you, Leigh. You’re the best. I mean it.” A swift smile, then she left.

  Leigh watched her move with quick, light steps down the corridor. She shook her head once to dislodge the picture from her mind. She couldn’t be distracted now. She had work to do.