A Dusty Christmas

by Lilliana Rose

  “I mean it, Aaron, you’re on the couch or floor, or I get into the ute and drive away leaving you to make your own way back to your farm.”

  “Fine. You just remember, I’m trying to help here.”

  “Booking a room where we share a bed isn’t helping.”

  “Fussy.”

  She glared at him. He was a tough nut to get through to. She’d faced him once before, and sure as hell she would do so again. “I’ll remind you in another way then?” She held up her fist.

  “Okay, okay, settle down. I’ll sleep on the couch. You remember I was trying to save money. You’ve got a new bearing to pay for, and they aren’t cheap, you know.”

  Dusty didn’t need to be reminded of that. New bearings were thousands and thousands of dollars. It was going to hurt. Not as much as losing Blaise because of Aaron’s interfering behavior would, though.

  She snatched the keys from him. Room number five. She saw the number on the door up ahead. “Neighborly help doesn’t extend to physical activities of any kind, remember.” Her words were sharp and to the point.

  She saw the surprise in his eyes and hoped she was finally getting through to him.

  Friday, December 20th, 2019

  “I’m going to be fine.” His dad told him for the second time since morning tea. “You should go back to Dusty.”

  Blaise wanted to. He was desperate to see Dusty. Would Aaron have gotten to her? Convinced her to go back to him? The bastard would’ve tried, persistently, to bring Dusty around to having a relationship with him. He tried to take comfort in how she’d told him she loved him. I love you. The words had kept him up all night. He mulled over her tone, wondering if she meant those words or not. It was hard to think this was a step in the right direction when they were sharing a hotel room together, and bloody hell even a bed. How could this have happened?

  “Blaise?” His dad interrupted his thoughts.

  “I want to be here for you and mom.” He wriggled on the uncomfortable chair in the room. His mom was home resting after the long hours in the hospital, and Scott was off working.

  “She’ll be happy to see you after her long trip.”

  Blaise had filled him in on what Dusty was doing. He wanted to think Dusty would be wanting to see him, but there were a few things in their way. The broken combine. The harvest. Aaron. Then there was the fact that they had been delayed a day. He flexed his hands at the thought as if he were itching to punch Aaron. He was sure that bastard was up to something. He wouldn’t miss an opportunity. Dusty had tried to reassure him, but the delay was the last straw.

  Do I trust her? He sort of did. Well, until finding out she was sharing a bed with Aaron last night didn’t help. There had been the time when she had kissed him back. They’d worked through that, and these last few months they had put that behind them. So, he had thought.

  The one thing he was clear about was not trusting Aaron.

  “I dunno, she’s pretty busy with the harvest.” He didn’t think that there was any point to rush back. Despite what his imagination was conjuring about what could’ve happened between Dusty and Aaron, if nothing had, if she was still interested in him, but her focus was going to be on the harvest. It was as if Dusty driving off with Aaron had ignited all his fears about their relationship.

  “You can’t develop the relationship here. You need to be close to her,” his dad said. “Your mom is fine, Scott’s looking after her. And I’ll be home in a few days before Christmas.”

  “I’ll come back for Christmas to be with you all,” he said hurriedly. He didn’t care what Dusty might have in mind, he was going to be with his family since she had the farm business to contend with. If by some miracle she’d finished the harvest, then she could choose to come with him or not. And if the latter, then they were going to have to have the hard conversation about the lack of future between them. Would it come to that? He still hoped it wouldn’t. It was simply hard not to, especially when Dusty was driving with Aaron somewhere between Melbourne and Acacia Plains. The fear played too heavily on his imagination, and he couldn’t shake the doubt.

  “I think you should have it with Dusty. It will be your first Christmas together, after all. Your mom will understand, you know.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint her.”

  “You would disappoint her more if you upset Dusty, ended up single, and put the chance of her having grandkids off even longer.”

  That sounded about right to Blaise. His mom didn’t openly say much about how she was looking forward to being a grandma, but there’d been a few comments in the last year which he could recall suggesting that she was excited about the prospect.

  “So, what do you say?”

  “How about I stay today and go back tomorrow,” suggested Blaise.

  “You should be there when she gets back. It will let her know you’re there for her.”

  “You’re sounding like Mom.” Blaise rested his head into his hand. His dad did have a good point. His mind might be going crazy with what could potentially be happening between Dusty and Aaron, but he still had feelings for her. Strong enough feelings to have Dusty in his future. By being back at the farm, that was more likely to happen. They couldn’t develop their relationship if they were apart.

  His dad chuckled then groaned in pain. “Hurts to laugh.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay longer?”

  “Positive. Your mom would never forgive me if she thought I was keeping you and Dusty apart.”

  “You’re doing nothing of the sort.”

  “Then you will have Christmas with her.”

  Blaise nodded. “I’ll come have Christmas dinner with you.”

  “On Boxing Day, and you can only come if you bring Dusty.”

  “You’ve been spending way too much time with Mom, haven’t you? That’s exactly something she would say.”

  “Let me tell you a secret. It’s important to make sure your wife is happy. And I know that this is what will make your mom happy.”

  Blaise smiled. His dad might be in the hospital in pain, but his sense of humor was still coming through. “I’m starting to think that you’d rather Dusty come for Christmas instead of me.”

  “We want the complete package, son.” His dad sighed.

  Blaise could tell his dad was getting tired. “I’ll let you have a rest.”

  “Not yet. First you need to show me those photos of the combine you’ve been driving. I need to believe that my accountant son has been getting his hands dirty.”

  “Gee, thanks, Dad,” said Blaise sarcastically as he took out his cell. The first thing he noticed was there were no messages from Dusty. It wasn’t easy not knowing. He vaguely remembered Claire telling him that this was the way it was often on the farm. Could I get used to this? He flicked through the pictures to the one where he was standing near the combine and showed his dad.

  His dad whistled. “Big, eh?”

  “Yeah, and I couldn’t believe how tired I was after driving it for only a short time.”

  Blaise flicked through a few more photographs from the farm, noticing that his dad was getting more and more sleepy.

  “I’ll go now. Rest up, Dad.”

  His dad nodded and closed his eyes. “Looking forward to seeing you and Dusty together.”

  Blaise hoped so too.

  Dusty and Aaron stopped at a service station to refuel the ute and get some food. To have a break from sitting, they stood by the ute, eating their burgers. They were four hours away from arriving at Acaia Plains.

  Dusty rolled up the paper and threw it in the bin. “That was deliciously disgusting.”

  Aaron chuckled. “It was.” He licked the barbecue sauce from his fingers.

  “I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed tonight,” said Dusty.

  “I could join you?”

  “Like hell. How many times do I need to tell you no?”

  “The way I see it is that I’ve now got leverage, so maybe you need to reassess th
ings.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can tell your city boyfriend that, you know… you just couldn’t resist me.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  “He won’t know that.” Aaron smirked.

  How dare he.

  “I thought you were being neighborly? Turns out that really isn’t in your nature.”

  He stepped toward her, arms out, trying to embrace Dusty. “You just need convincing of who is the real man you should choose.”

  Dusty kicked him. Hard. In the balls.

  Aaron doubled over, gasping in pain.

  “I have chosen the real man. Now, he will believe me because, let’s just say, you’re going to be walking as if injured, and Blaise will believe me that I kicked you right where it hurts.”

  Aaron stared blankly at Dusty. It was her turn to smirk. She’d got him. Messed up his plans.

  “You’ve got three seconds to get in the ute, or I’m leaving you behind.” She walked around the ute, and got in, starting it up.

  Aaron limped into the passenger’s seat. He didn’t say a word.

  Dusty felt a surge of confidence go through her. She’d chosen her man, and now it was time to make sure that he was going to be around for the future.

  That’s if she hadn’t left it too late.

  Blaise turned from the dirt road into Acacia Plains driveway. He’d slept in his old room in his parents’ house last night. The noise of the city kept him awake for hours. He couldn’t wait to get back to the quiet of his rental in Wilkton. His dad was still in the hospital. It would take a while before he was back on his feet, and then walking again as his broken legs healed. His dad was alive and would be fine. Blaise took a punt and told them he and Dusty would be down Christmas evening.

  Fuck, he hoped that would happen.

  It was as if saying that to them would help it to come true. Then he had no idea what could go on in her mind during the trip to and from Melbourne with Aaron. The whole sharing the same room left him unsettled. He had some way of getting under her skin. Would Aaron manage to again?

  I can trust her. He knew that, but he wanted to see her to be sure.

  Blaise slowed down looking ahead at the combine. There was no activity. No Dusty. Bluey wasn’t there either. It was late morning. It was meant to be a trip there and back. Overnight. It worried him that she’d be too tired to keep driving, and after his dad being in a car accident, his stomach had been roiling with worry. The road to Melbourne was notorious in parts for high-speed accidents.

  Could that have happened to Dusty?

  Is that why there was no sign of her now?

  Blaise parked his Audi car near the back gate of the farmhouse, got out his phone and checked it. There were no messages from Dusty. No calls. Nothing. His gut tightened with worry. Had something bad happened?

  Ted came up to greet him as he got out of the car.

  “Good boy. Where’s Dusty, hey?” He patted the kelpie behind the ears before walking into the house yard.

  “Dusty? Claire? Anyone home?” Blaise had learned quickly that calling out was the best way to get their attention.

  No one answered. He knocked on the back door, then checked if it was locked. It wasn’t. He pushed the door open.

  “You there, Claire?” he yelled out.

  “In the kitchen, Blaise.”

  He breathed out with relief. Glad that someone was home.

  “Is Dusty back?”

  “Not yet. Have you heard from her?” She was at the kettle, two cups ready. “Tea?”

  “Thanks.” He plonked onto one of the kitchen chairs at the table. It was Claire’s pastime to make everyone a cup of tea. Right now, he could do with one.

  “I haven’t heard from her. You?”

  “Not this morning.” She turned from the kettle, two cups in hand. “I’m sure she’s fine. She was when she rang me a few hours ago.”

  “They got the part then?”

  “Yes.” She set a cup of tea in front of Blaise, then sat opposite him. She seemed distracted. Her eyes reflected a dark shadow of worry.

  He hated that Dusty and Aaron shared a room at a hotel. Sure, he wanted Dusty to drive safely. But had it ended up as something more?

  If only I could’ve gone instead.

  “Oh, look at me, how could I forget. We need some cake. I made some last night.” Claire got up from her chair and went over to the counter area. “Jubilee cake, which I think now is one of your favorites?”

  “Only if you’ve made it.” He’d first tasted a Jubilee cake nearly two years ago when he first came to Wilkton as part of his job as an accountant. The cake had sultanas and raisins it in, and tasted delicious fresh with butter smeared on a slice.

  Claire placed a plate of sliced cake on the table, then took out the butter from the fridge. “Argh, I’m forgetful today. Let me get some plates.”

  “I should ring Dusty.” Blaise got out his phone. He couldn’t blame her for being absent-minded with Dusty not being back, but the call went straight to voice mail. Dammit.

  Blaise put his phone on the table. “Maybe she’s out of cell phone range.”

  “You sort of get used to being kept in the dark like this. My husband would be gone for hours and hours working on the farm.”

  “I can’t stand waiting.”

  “Though, I must say, having cell phones has helped.” She looked at him. “That’s when they answer or are in range or haven’t gone flat.”

  Blaise harrumphed.

  “I need your help with something.” Claire turned the cup of tea around on the kitchen table.

  “Of course, what would you like me to do?” Blaise needed something to take his mind off the fact that Dusty was driving with Aaron, and they should’ve been back by now.

  “You need to keep a secret from Dusty.”

  “You sure that’s a good idea?” Last time he’d gone behind Dusty’s back and helped Claire by going through the farm’s accounts, it had tested her patience, to say the least.

  Claire waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine.”

  Blaise couldn’t be sure. Too much had happened in the lead-up to Christmas, and he wasn’t sure she’d come back wanting to be with him. The time he had with his family in the city reinforced he wanted to move here and live with Dusty, but he wasn’t going to wait around for her to make up her mind.

  He was sure what he wanted.

  Her.

  Forever.

  If she couldn’t make up her mind, then he couldn’t help thinking that it would mean their future was going to be rocky, and the lack of commitment from Dusty was going to push him away.

  That, in itself, was telling him that their future wasn’t likely to be together. Christmas or not, the direction of their relationship had reached a critical point.

  “She won’t take any of Aaron’s lip, so stop worrying.”

  Blaise glanced at Claire. He didn’t really want to tell her what he was really considering—to stay or to head back to Adelaide.

  The lights of the Christmas tree caught his eye. It had been a genuinely fun night when they’d decorated the tree. It felt like he was beginning to make his own family with Dusty as they hung the ornaments.

  Why did relationships always seem to get rocky near Christmas?

  “I know… well, I know you two need some privacy.”

  “Claire, don’t worry, I’m not moving in.” He couldn’t hide the bitter tone from his voice.

  “Don’t be so sure about that.” Her voice took on a motherly tone of ‘I know better.’

  He shrugged his shoulders. What she did say was true. He wasn’t sure of that. And it was tearing him up inside. That, and she was driving hundreds of miles with that bastard Aaron. Who knew what could happen? Dusty had almost gone back to him just after he’d met her two years ago, even after Aaron had hit her.

  “Will you help me?” Claire asked again.

  “What do you want to do?”
>
  Claire smiled. “I’m moving out.”

  “You’re what?” Blaise nearly spilled his tea.

  She looked very proud of herself. “I’m moving out. I’ve bought a unit in the retirement village.”

  “What? Why?” His mind was racing—this was Claire’s home here on Acacia Plains.

  “Because you two need your space.”

  “You’re jumping ahead a bit, I haven’t moved in, and I’m not sure Dusty will ever agree that I can.”

  “That’s why I’ve bought the unit. It’s part of my plan to get out of the way of being an excuse for her to stop you from moving in.”

  “You don’t have to move out on account of me.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  He’d never really thought that Claire would have to move out if he came to Acacia Plains to live. He wasn’t sure how Dusty was going to take this news when she got back either. His stomach churned with worry that she would blame him for Claire moving out.

  “I do.” She leaned over the kitchen table and patted him on the arm. “I want you as a son-in-law, you know, and I do know my daughter.”

  Blaise wasn’t sure what to say about all of this. Claire seemed to have a bit more of an idea of what was going on with Dusty than he’d thought possible.

  “She just needs a little push.”

  “I don’t think Dusty likes being pushed.”

  “No. But doesn’t mean they’re not good for her. Now, are you going to help me get a few things moved in?”

  “It won’t be the same not having you around here.”

  “I’ll come visit.”

  Blaise chuckled. “How are we going to keep this a secret?”

  “She’s going to be too busy over the next few days getting the harvest finished.”

  “You’ve thought about this too much.”

  “I have.” Claire looked proud of her efforts.

  “Then I’m in.”

  Dusty fought against the urge to speed down the driveway of Acacia Plains. The last part of the trip with Aaron had been in awkward silence, but she didn’t care. He’d done the neighborly thing to help, but his true nature still showed its ugly self.