Coming Home (Williams Siblings)

by Ann B. Harrison

  Russ looked up. "What are you saying, Essie?"

  "He joined the police force. Doing well for himself too. Pretty much runs the place from what I hear."

  "Stevie is a cop?" Rooney's voice shook with disbelief. "Are you kidding me? He was the worst kid in town. It's amazing he never ended up with a record."

  "Don't go thinking I've turned into a know-it-all but I reckon he did it to prove he could be better than what your father thought him to be."

  Russ shared a glance with Rooney. "What exactly do you know that you’re not telling us, Essie?"

  ***

  "Your father took it upon himself to go and visit Stevie when you ran away. I guess he thought he would know where you were. Seems he gave the poor boy more than a piece of his mind, if you get my meaning." Essie wiped her hands on her apron as she spoke.

  "Dad took it out on his hide, didn't he, same as he did to me?" She gripped her hands together waiting for what she knew was the answer. Deep inside, Rooney had wanted him to hurt as she had been hurt, but the adult woman she was cringed at the thought of her father bashing her boyfriend. He was a hard man with a heavy hand. She still had the scars on her butt from his leather belt to prove how mean he could be.

  "Yes, he did. After that, Stevie took it upon himself to prove to your father he wasn't the kid he thought he was. He went back to school at night to get his HSC. Joined the police force and made a name for himself. Still the determined little brat he always was too, by all accounts." Essie grinned as though she knew all the secrets. "Pity those poor criminals who think they are cleverer than the police. They don't stand a chance against Stevie."

  "Poor bastard." Russ shook his head. "So now you know where he is, when are you going to do it?"

  "When I feel the time is right and don't go trying to push me, either of you. This is my business and I'll do it when I'm ready." She slammed her hands on the counter and stormed from the kitchen, annoyed at being put on the spot. It was easier to think of Stevie being the one who didn't have to pay the price of being caught in the barn. Easier to hate him for the way he left her to fend off her father by herself. That way she could blame him for how hard it had been by herself, trying to study and raise a toddler when all she wanted was to run to his side for support.

  Deep down, Rooney knew he would have worried about her. Anyone would run from her father, he brought out the fear in everyone at some stage. Stevie had every reason to be scared.

  But the sight of him running out of the barn buck naked with his jeans in his hands had wrenched at her gut, leaving her with an emptiness she’d found hard to fill. Until Tam was born. Then she was too busy to miss what she didn't have.

  Now she was back, the thought of seeing him again was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

  Rooney walked up the stairs and paused at her bedroom door. Tam had insisted she leave the curtains open so she could see the moon against the darkness of the sky. Her little girl was afraid of the dark. A night light was plugged in the power switch by the door, casting a muted light across the beautiful carpet and antique furniture filling the room.

  Tam slept on her back with one arm thrown above her head and the other wrapped around an old stuffed toy. Rooney leaned down to brush the thick dark hair from her daughter’s face and smiled. All the hardship had been worth it to keep this precious little being safe.

  Rooney looked up when she heard soft footfalls behind her. Russ placed his hand on her shoulder.

  "I didn't mean to piss you off," he whispered.

  "I know."

  He looked past her to the sleeping child and she watched the smile light up his face. "She is beautiful."

  "Yeah, I think so too but I'm biased. She has turned out pretty well, considering."

  "I doubt you would have it any other way, Rooney. I'm sorry Mum never got to see her."

  "Yeah, me too."

  "Come outside and spend ten minutes with me. I'm too wound up yet to sleep." Russ looped his arm through hers and walked her down the stairs. The front door stood open and they walked out onto the wide wooden veranda to stand looking over the front lawn. The huge Morten Bay fig trees in each corner of the yard swayed in the gentle breeze. Rays of white from the moon shone down on the dam at the front of the property, and the sound of water birds drifted up to the house.

  "So, tell me, how is the new job going really?" Rooney untangled her arm from Russ's and sat down on the front steps. She shuffled over when he lowered himself to join her.

  "I love the change of pace, if nothing else. The head nurse is pretty efficient and has everything running well." He sighed and ran his hand around the back of his neck.

  "What aren't you saying?"

  "I think all but one of the nurses have hit on me already and I've only been there a week." He laughed, the sound loud in the still night air.

  "What's wrong with that? You're young, good looking and available."

  Russ nudged his sister with his shoulder, grinning. "The only one who appeals to me is playing hard to get."

  "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you then." Rooney slapped her hand on her thigh, giggling. "Best you get out your ‘rules of dating’ book. It’s been some time since you needed to rely on your charms and skill."

  "I'm onto it already, thank you. I'm taking her to dinner on Saturday."

  "Who is it? Anyone we know?" She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.

  "No. From what I can gather, she grew up in Sydney and trained there before getting this position."

  "Good luck. Make sure you take her somewhere nice and, once you get to know her, you can bring her home for a meal. Essie would love that." She kissed his cheek. "I need to go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a big day and Tam wakes up at the crack of dawn." Rooney stood and stretched.

  "Good, I'll get to meet her before I go to work then." Russ stood up and followed her into the house, saying goodnight to Essie before heading upstairs to his room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "This place is a freaking dump." Cade used his crutch to push aside a bunch of dirty rags on the floor, making sure nothing would came out to bite him.

  "Mind your mouth, there is an impressionable child outside." Rooney walked past him and peered into the treatment room, the disgust on her face obvious.

  "Seemed pretty impressed with the big brother this morning. Russ, look at me, Russ can I come with you, Russ what time will you be home?"

  Rooney glanced over at him with a huge grin on her face. "Not jealous are you?"

  "Nah. She's an awesome little kid. I know she likes me and that's good enough." He leaned his crutches against the wall and surveyed the room cringing at the filth. The windows were streaked with dark smears of God knows what. Dust and cockroach droppings lined every window ledge and he fiddled with the latch to open the windows.

  "First things first. I'll sweep out and you can throw everything you can lay your hands on into the skip bin outside. Don't touch anything in the treatment room though, please. I have to go through everything and see if I can salvage any of the instruments."

  Cade looked at Rooney. "Are you serious? The whole place should be tipped and fumigated."

  "You know I can't afford that. What money I have will need to go into paying for board and start up money for this place."

  "What do you mean, board? We own the place remember." A confused look crossed his face.

  "Yeah, we do but the money Dad left was to run the farm, not pay for our food. I spoke to Kate this morning before she headed out. We all need to put in for the food bill at least. The farm can deal with the power and running costs of the house, but not feeding us apparently."

  "For fuck’s sake. This just gets better and better doesn't it? The old man must be laughing in his grave. He gets to bring us all back and we have to damn well pay to live there."

  "Yeah well, deal with it, Cade. Can we get on with this and discuss money later?" She pulled on a pair of gloves and threw a set his way, grinning as
he caught the pink rubber gloves. Rooney grabbed the broom and started sweeping years of neglect and filth out the door.

  By the time Essie arrived with lunch and to help out, they had cleared all the rubbish, swept and mopped the place. The windows were still dirty but open to let in fresh air. Cade sat on a milk crate with his leg stretched out in front of him with Tam by his side, amusing him with stories.

  "Thank goodness, Essie. I'm dying of hunger and thirst here. Rooney is such a hard taskmaster, she won't let us relax for one single minute."

  "Get away with you. You can't pull one over me, Cade, any more than when you were younger." She brought in cooler bags of food before going back out for more cleaning supplies. When she came back in, Cade was already into the cold chicken sandwiches she’d made earlier.

  "Can't you wait for everyone else before you eat?"

  Cade laughed, his mouth full of food. He chewed and swallowed before answering. "You should know me better than that. I'm starving and I couldn't wait any longer. Tam is hungry too, aren't you?"

  "Yes." She looked up at Essie and gave a small smile.

  "Help yourself, pet. I'll put the kettle on and make your mum a cup of coffee." Essie went back outside and came in carrying a box with a spare kettle and the making for coffee. She looked around for the kitchenette and filled the kettle. "Rooney, time for a lunch break."

  "Yeah, coming," she replied from the treatment room. The sound of more rubbish hitting the bottom of the bin sounded before a subtle curse followed. "Bloody hell." She walked out, shaking her head.

  "What's up?" Cade held up the box of sandwiches toward her.

  "I was hoping some of the equipment would be alright. Sadly the sterilizer is cactus. That’s going to make a hole in my savings." She took a bite of the sandwich and sighed. "Essie, I love you."

  "I know, I know. Here, have a coffee to go with that." She walked out holding two mugs of steaming coffee, handed one to Rooney, and placed one on the floor beside Cade. "Now what did you want me to do first?"

  "Eat."

  "I already have. I came to help you clean and I don't have a lot of time. Windows?" She looked at the disgustingly dirty glass and back at Rooney.

  "Yes please." Rooney took another bite of her sandwich and washed it down with the hot coffee. "Looks like I'm going to have to spend more than I wanted. The equipment is really bad."

  "It'll work out, love. Have faith," Essie said as she pulled on rubber gloves and filled a bucket to start on the windows.

  After lunch, Cade and Rooney got stuck in again, and by the time Essie was ready to go home and prepare dinner, the place looked much more presentable.

  "Mum, Uncle Cade said I can ride home with him. Can I, please?" Tam clasped her hands together and looked up at her mother with a toothless pleading smile.

  Rooney brushed her hand over her daughter’s glossy dark hair. "Only if he promises to stick to the speed limit." She glanced over at her brother, giving him what she hoped was a stern look. "Okay, Cade?"

  "As if I would do anything to endanger the little squirt."

  Tam jumped for joy and wrapped her arms around her mother in a tight hug before racing outside to the bright yellow car.

  Rooney walked out and made sure her daughter was strapped in before standing back as Cade started the engine. "Drive safe, Cade. I won't be long. See you at home." She waved as the car drove sedately out of the car park and headed for the farm.

  Smiling to herself, Rooney headed back inside to do a final check on the equipment she had managed to salvage. With a pen in her hand, she walked around and listed everything she deemed good enough to use for now. When she got home, she’d go online and see how much of her savings she would have to use to get the doors open.

  The slam of a car door startled her and she looked up. The light was fading and she cursed. They would have expected her home ages ago. Lost in her own world, the time had flown.

  Footsteps sounded on the gravel car park and she walked over to the door to greet whoever had stopped by. Rooney looked out the door and her heart almost stopped beating. Memories of her past rushed through her mind. Stevie, the love of her teenage life, walked towards her.

  "Rooney." He stood looking down at her, his tall frame towering over her petite height. "Heard you were back in town." Stevie stood with his hands on his hips, watching her with dark brooding eyes.

  "Yes, Father died and we had to come back, but you probably knew that anyway." Her voice came out in a squeak and she took a deep breath before saying anything else. "I see you’ve done well for yourself."

  "Well it was kind of overdue, wasn't it? Either join them or get on the wrong side of the law." He looked at her lips and clenched his together.

  "What did you want, Stevie?" Please leave, before I dig by hands into your shirt and pull you inside.

  "Just to check up on you. I'm sorry about your father."

  "No you're not. He was a bastard to you." She coughed and cleared her throat. "I hear he gave you a belting too when I left home."

  Stevie threw his head back and laughed, digging his hands into his back pockets. "You could say that." He looked back at her, his gaze travelling the length of her body. "I guess I deserved it, although at the time I didn't think so."

  Rooney kept silent and watched the emotions race across his face.

  "Why didn't you tell me you were going, Rooney?"

  "Let it go, Stevie. What's past is past and I want it to stay that way." She swallowed and looked down, finding it hard to look into his face.

  He turned and walked a few paces before turning back. "I might not be the kid I was when you left but nothing’s has changed for me, Rooney, nothing at all. See you around." He walked to the unmarked police car and got in, slamming the door behind him.

  Rooney watched him peel away, spraying gravel as he left. She slid down the door frame to sit on the step. Her breath came in small gasps and her heart was pounding. Nothing had changed for him. Does that mean he still loves me after all this time? Oh my God, what am I going to do? I should have told him. Damn it, Rooney, you’re such an idiot.

  She sat clutching her arms around her stomach while different scenarios ran through her head. Stevie would be bitter that she hadn't told him, Rooney could see that. It was her decision to cut all ties with home when she left, including those with the boyfriend who hadn't stood up for her. Although he didn't get off scot free as she had thought, he still had a lot to answer for. If he’d been a man at the time, their lives would be so different now.

  No point in crying over what might have been. I have a life now and a child to provide for. I'll tell him when I can do it without breaking down.

  Rooney wiped her face and realised she was crying. She grabbed a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose before standing up. It was time she left, Tam would be getting worried. Taking a quick look around, she grabbed her car keys and clicked the lock on the door before pulling it closed behind her.

  On the drive home, Rooney argued with herself. Too tired to even think it through rationally, she gave up and concentrated on planning her new business schedule instead.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Russ pulled up outside the small Victorian cottage on the outskirts of Singleton ten minutes early to pick up Elizabeth for their date. He glanced over the wrought iron fence at the small manicured garden. He could imagine her living in something like this. It was neat and tidy, everything in its place.

  He hoped she approved of the restaurant he was taking her to. It was small and cosy, close to home and not over the top pretentious. She hadn’t wanted a fuss. Happy to have her company for the night, Russ had agreed and booked at the Italian restaurant.

  Before he could open his door, she appeared in the small garden. Russ smiled and got out of the car, walking over to meet her at the front gate. The simple dark blue dress hugged her curves and accentuated her long legs. Her throat was bare and the front of the dress dipped to a point between her breasts. "You look lovely tonight,
Elizabeth."

  A blush raced up her cheeks and she smiled. "Thank you."

  Russ opened the gate and took her hand, walking her to the car. He opened the door and waited until Elizabeth was settled before closing it again. When he slid into his seat and started the car, she looked over at him. "Thank you for taking me out. I've been looking forward to it."

  "I hope you like the restaurant I've booked. La Casa, the small Italian place in town. You did say somewhere nice and not over the top if I recall, Elizabeth." He indicated and pulled the car out into the road.

  "Call me Lizzie please." She smiled.

  His fingers ached to touch the smooth line of her neck. To trace the length to her collar bone where he imagined the skin was as smooth as it looked. Russ gripped the steering wheel and kept his gaze on the road ahead. He pulled up at the restaurant into a parking spot out front. Before Lizzie could open her door, he was there to help her.

  She took the hand he offered to help her out of the car and then withdrew it when she stood. "Thank you. It's rather refreshing to find there are still a few gentlemen left in the world."

  "My father wouldn't have it any other way. We grew up opening doors for my mother and any other ladies we met along the way. Heaven forbid if we slacked off and forgot."

  "Why, what happened if you did?"

  "My father believed in punishment and not behaving like he expected us to would often mean the cane." He smiled and guided her into the restaurant. They stood waiting at the reception desk for their table until the waiter noticed them. "Table for Williams."

  "Follow me, Doctor Williams."

  Russ walked behind Lizzie as they were shown to a quiet corner of the restaurant. When they were seated, the waiter handed them menus and took their drink order. Finally, they were alone.

  "Where did you grow up, Lizzie?" Russ raised his glass of wine and took a sip, savouring the smooth red liquid.