Coming Home (Williams Siblings)

by Ann B. Harrison

  The minister approached. "Is there anyone else before we start, Russ?"

  "Cade..."

  "Is here," his brother said as he hobbled down the aisle. He leaned down and kissed Rooney, whispering in her ear before dropping onto the hard wooden seat beside Tory.

  The service passed in a blur and by the time the last of the mourners had shared food with them and left, Russ was rubbing his temples, the tightness giving him the mother of all headaches.

  "Russ." Rooney looked up at him. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a bun and her pale skin was free of makeup. Redness rimmed her steely blue eyes and Russ knew there were going to be more tears by the glimmer of moisture in her eyes. He had been watching out for her and she hadn't yet been up to see their mother’s grave. As their father’s casket was laid in the ground, Rooney had looked away, her gaze on the hills she used to ride as a child.

  "Hey, you okay?" He slipped his arm around her shoulders and walked her outside to the garden.

  "I will be. I guess. Can you come with me up to the grave now there is no one here? I need to say goodbye to Mum, and I don't think I can do it on my own."

  "Sure, but wouldn't you rather have Cade take you up?"

  "He's sitting on the front veranda with a bottle of whiskey. I doubt he’ll be going anywhere for some time." She looked up at him, her lips quivering as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes once more.

  "Come on then." Russ sucked in a deep breath and walked her up the hill toward the chapel.

  ***

  Rooney felt her stomach rolling as they followed the fence line down toward the chapel. The wind blew enough to cool the summer heat rolling over the hills. She glanced around at the farm as they neared the graves. Nothing had changed since she was last home. Pushing away all other thoughts, she looked over the fence as Russ reached for the latch on the gate. She’d dreaded this moment ever since Tory had called her to tell her the news. Now she had to farewell both her parents on the same day. It was a hard call for even the strongest heart.

  She held onto Russ's arm, her fingernails would no doubt leave marks on his skin. Afraid she would fall, she gripped harder.

  Russ patted her hand, and soothed her with the same words he’d used when she’d nightmares as a child. "It’ll be fine, baby girl, I'm here for you. I won't let you go."

  He would sit on her bed with his arms wrapped around her shoulders as she trembled with the horror only a small child could conjure up in their heads. When the lights went out and their world was a labyrinth of dark tunnels where all the monsters imaginable lived, waiting for her to close her eyes.

  By the time the sun rose in the morning, Russ would be cradling his little sister in his arms, extracting her from the tangle of her sheets. He spent the night while she slept protecting her from the monsters that chased her in her dreams.

  They stood looking over at the mound of freshly dug dirt covered in flowers where they had laid their father to rest this morning. Beside it was the simple headstone for their mother. Rooney wondered who had placed the fresh flowers in the vase and wished she'd the courage to do it herself.

  "Ready?" He looked down into her eyes and gave a gentle smile. "Take your time, honey."

  Her voice came out hoarse. "Thanks." She lifted her chin and took a step forward. After the first step, it became easier and they walked to the headstone. Rooney eased up on her grip on her brother’s arm, breathing deeply to steady herself. I can do this, I can do this.

  The grave site was kept neat and tidy. Her mother's favourite rose bush rambled over the lower fence where the valley dropped down to the river. Had someone moved a bush from the garden or take cuttings and if so, who? It might have been Essie because I doubt it would be Father.

  The delicate pale pink blooms were perfect against the weathered boards used to section the chapel from the stock. Soft green moss grew in the shaded crevices of wood, giving it the aged look her mother liked for the gardens. She used to say it gave the farm a more permanent feeling, as though it had been there forever. I miss you, Mum, so much it hurts me every day. I know you’d understand why I didn't come and say goodbye before now, but that doesn't take the pain away. If I hadn't been so worried about what would happen to me when I came face to face with Dad, I would have come sooner. But the time never seemed right. There was always too much to do, a sick toddler or work calling.

  You would love Tamara, Mum. She is so much like you. Feisty, full of life, and so much compassion it breaks my heart. I hope I'm doing the right thing bringing her home. Russ and Cade don't know about her yet. What they are going to say when I tell them?

  I wish you were here, Mother. I wish so many things but that…most of all.

  A firm hand rested on her shoulder and Russ dropped to the ground beside her, pulling her close in his strong safe grasp. As Rooney leaned into him, she relaxed.

  "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you when she passed, Russ. I know how close you were to her."

  "I guess you had your reasons, Rooney. I wish you could tell me what kept you away though." She shivered at the thought that the time to avoid the subject had come. Looks like now will be the perfect time then.

  "Well, I was going to talk to you about that. It's not that I didn't want to come home, I couldn't."

  He held her far enough away to look into her eyes. "Why not?"

  She dipped her head and sucked in a breath before meeting Russ’s puzzled gaze. "I was in hospital." Rooney held up her hand when he tried to talk. "I was a little too busy giving birth to my daughter to attend."

  She watched the emotions flash through his eyes and waited for the accusations to fly. There were going to be some very ruffled feathers in the next few days.

  "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you Rooney. You know I would have." He gripped her hand. "I'm disappointed you didn't trust me enough for that. I thought you would have come to me for help."

  "I didn't tell Cade either, if that is what you’re wondering." She smiled and held his hand. "Russ, you know you would’ve tried to convince me to come home and tell Mother and Father. Not that I would have blamed you, I was only eighteen. Cade would have laughed his head off for being so damned stupid and falling pregnant."

  "Does Stevie know?"

  "No."

  "Are you going to tell him?" A frown marred his face.

  "Not if I don't have to. I'm sure he’ll find out sooner or later." Rooney laughed bitterly. "He is her father even if he is a spineless little prick. Do you know what happened that night or just Dad’s version of it?"

  "Why don't you tell me your version? It's the only one that matters at the moment."

  "Father caught us naked in the barn. Instead of sticking up for me, Stevie ran. The bastard ran out of the barn naked as a buck rabbit, pulling his pants on as he did. He left me there to take a hiding and make excuses to Father. You should have seen the welts on my arse when he sent me to bed. I couldn't sit down for a week."

  "So you ran away."

  "Yeah, isn't that what bad girls do? I ran away and didn't look back."

  "Rooney, you were never a bad girl. A little fiery maybe but not bad. I know you called in to see Cade. Why didn't you stay with him?" Russ picked at a piece of grass, rolling it between his fingers as he looked at her.

  "His place was like a damned whore's train station." She shivered at the memory.

  "What did you do for money? You should have come to me." Anger slipped into his voice.

  Rooney had wanted him to rescue her—like he always had—but she’d been too scared.

  "I had money saved up. I didn't have to live on the streets, if that's what you think. I ended up in Brisbane, got a job waitressing and lived in a cheap boarding house. I didn't even know I was pregnant to start with. Yeah I know, dumb hey?" Rooney traced her fingertips over her mother's name. "Anyway, long story short, I got jack of serving irate customers and had a job as a vet assistant by the time I found out. Thing was, I had made up my mind I wanted to be a vet and
my boss wanted to help me. Pete and his wife are like family. They took me in and made sure I was okay when I had Tam. Then they pushed me to study. It was hard, really hard, with a small baby but I got through it." She dropped his hand and stood up, brushing down the black pleated skirt she wore. "I was saving my butt off to get a down payment on Pete's business so when he retired I would have enough for the bank to see I was earnest and give me a loan. Things didn't work out, and here I am."

  Russ stood up and held onto her shoulders. "What happened?"

  "Pete's wife is sick. He was offered good money for the business and he took it. He would have been a fool not to. That left me at a loose end. Now we have to come home."

  "Interesting will, isn't it? I never thought he would do this to us." He shrugged. "I think it's a good idea, for me anyway, and I think for you too. I'd like to get to know my niece. Where is she?"

  "Staying with Pete. I couldn't bring her home before I sorted things out. I fly back tomorrow. We might drive back in the next week or so."

  "You okay?" Russ looked over at the gate at Tory watching them, then looked back at Rooney.

  "Yes. Tory knows everything. He’s my ‘go to’ person when I need to keep up with things." She reached out a hand. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I thought it was for the best."

  Russ took her hand in his, winding their fingers together as they had when they were children. "I know you are, little one, but I have to admit to being a little bit sad I've missed out on so much." He raised his other hand and lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "Just don't leave me out of things again, okay?"

  Rooney gave him a wobbly smile before answering. "I promise. We have a lot to talk about. What we all want to do about moving here. I can't let the property go to anyone else, Russ. I want to be responsible for keeping the folks’ legacy alive, even if everything Father did wasn't my idea of how things should be. Mother worked hard to keep this a family home. I want it to stay that way. At least for now."

  Russ kept hold of her hand and walked with her over to the gate where Tory stood patiently, watching the two of them like a hawk.

  Tory reached for her and Rooney fell into his arms with a soft sigh. He ran his hand over her pale blonde hair before kissing her cheek. "Okay now?"

  "Yeah, I think so. I needed to do that." She turned to Russ. "Thanks. You still have the knack of rescuing me."

  "Well, what can I say? You've always brought out the maternal side in me. How about we go down to the house and have a quiet drink, see how Cade is going?"

  Rooney laughed and Russ smiled. "Cade will be making love to his bottle of whiskey for the rest of the night, I should think. But I need to speak to Essie anyway and see if she needs some help with clearing up or dealing with all the food the neighbours have so kindly brought over."

  "When are you going to tell her, Rooney?" They both knew the housekeeper would take the news hard. She considered herself their second mother and would take it personally that she wasn't told of the pregnancy.

  "I guess now is as good a time as any. May as well get it over and done with and tell everyone, since I have to go back tomorrow anyway."

  They strolled back to the house together.

  Kate walked from her cottage as they came through the gate. "Rooney, I've been dying to catch up with you." She held her arms out and they hugged. "Sorry about your father."

  "Yeah, thanks." Rooney let her gaze travel over her childhood friend. Kate had grown into a beautiful young woman and she told her so, watching the blush race over her freckle-dusted cheeks.

  "I have some news to share with the family. I think you should be in on this conversation too. You and I were always so close." She sighed with relief when Kate nodded.

  "Of course, if you think I should be there, I will. Want me to get Cade for you?" Did Kate still have a case of hero worship for Cade? She had it pretty bad when we were kids. I wonder if this is an excuse to go looking for him? No, Kate was only being helpful. Surely, she'd outgrown the childhood crush?

  "Thanks. If we could all meet in the front room, I think that would be best." Tory laid his hand on Rooney’s shoulder and smiled encouragingly at her. He knew how hard this was for her, and she was grateful for his unconditional support.

  They walked into the kitchen together.

  "Essie, can we have you in the front room for a meeting please? I have some things I need to say to the family, and that includes you," Rooney said.

  The housekeeper looked up with a worried look on her face. She wiped her hands on her apron and reached back to undo the ties, letting it fall undone. Lifting it over her head, she walked towards the hallway, the apron still clutched in her hands.

  Tory, Rooney and Russ followed her. Rooney could hear Cade's voice before they got to the front of the house. "Come on Katie, don't be such a snob. Have a drink with me later."

  Kate walked from the front veranda inside the house, meeting them in the hallway. She grinned, giving Rooney a wink before she walked into the front room, her arm across Essie's shoulders.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cade tried to lift himself from the low cane chair and struggled. The amount of alcohol he had drunk to numb his brain was playing havoc on his legs. He laughed at himself and counted under his breath before pushing himself up with his hands on the arm of the chair. "Fucking yeah, I'm the man." He lumbered on heavy feet to the front door and leaned on the frame to watch the procession into the formal sitting room. He cursed, and with his bottle of whiskey in his hand, followed them.

  He stumbled over the edge of the Persian carpet, laughing as he hobbled to the nearest chair without his crutches.

  "You shouldn't be trying to walk like that," Russ hurried to grab his arm.

  Cade brushed him away and stood tall. "Leave me alone, Doctor. I know what I'm doing." He grinned and turned around, before letting himself fall backwards into the large comfy armchair. "See, I didn't spill a drop." He raised the bottle to his lips and took a deep drink of the honey gold liquid, ignoring the looks he got from his siblings.

  Kate took a chair opposite, her gaze blank as she watched him. Man, she's hot and damned if I won't have her in my bed before I go back to the city. She wants me, I know it. He figured by now she knew how to play the game. She'd make him sweat first but she'd give in eventually and he couldn't wait to have her body underneath him naked and panting.

  Cade toasted her silently, grinning when she turned away.

  "I have something to tell you all, actually a couple of things." Rooney stood in front of the fire and twisted her hands. She glanced around them all before locking gazes with Tory. He smiled and nodded his head.

  Cade dipped his finger in the glass, toying with the ice cubes until they tinkled noisily against the fine crystal. "On with it, for goodness sake, Rooney."

  "You all know why I left home. What you don't know is what happened next." She licked her lips and gave a wobbly smile. "I had no idea when I left here I was pregnant." She held up her hand as Essie tried to stand up. "No, please let me get this out." She wiped her hands down the sides of her skirt before looking up again. "When Tory called to tell me Mum had died, I was in hospital giving birth to my daughter. That’s why I never came back. I couldn't. It's something I've wanted to do ever since but there has always been something going on. I went to university and got my veterinary degree with a toddler at my feet."

  Cade watched how Tory reached his hand out and clasped hers. "Anyway, I was going to buy the business I’m working at but they sold unexpectedly and now all this has happened. Earlier today I inspected the old practice on Putty Road and put in an offer. It's a dump and needs a hell of a lot of work, but it's all I can afford. If they accept my offer, my daughter and I will be home next week."

  "Well, well, well." Cade sat forward in his chair, resting his whiskey bottle on his good leg. "I knew something like this would happen. The way you and that boy disappeared down to the barn all the time…our sweet little sister wasn't so sweet at all."


  "Get a grip, Cade. Stop being such an arsehole," Kate spat at him. "Rooney, is there anything I can do for you? You just have to ask." She stood up, walked over to Rooney and wrapped her arms around her.

  "Thanks, Kate. I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you but it was easier not to at the time."

  Essie glanced at her before joining the huddle. "Oh, child! I wish you’d come home. I could’ve helped out with the little one."

  "Yeah well, that’s probably what will happen now, so don't go getting your knickers in a twist, Essie. We all have to come home, so you’ll have your fill of us." Cade lifted the bottle to his lips taking a noisy slurp.

  Cade leaned back in the chair and shook his head. "Sorry to take the sparkle off your announcement, little sister, but has anyone bothered to think about what I want to do? I mean, Russ here had to run out of town because his trophy wife didn't want to stay with him and his job was going nowhere. You need to find a home for yourself and your child, but what about me?" He put his bottle on the table beside him, ignoring the disgusted look from Essie. "Has anyone even thought about what would happen if I decided not to come back home? I have a fucking career, for God's sake, and I like it." He ran his hand through his hair. "I don't want to come back here and fester away in the bloody country—not yet anyway."

  Rooney turned on him, and Cade blanched at the venom in her gaze. "Why is it always about you, Cade? Ever since you were a little boy, you had to be the one in the front. First to have everything, first to get the attention. Russ and I took a back seat to you and your goals, so don't you think it's about time you thought about what we want just for once?"

  "Honey, let it go for now. Talk to him when he isn't drinking." Russ tried to get her to back down.