by Annie Seaton
“Yes, please. Love one.”
“How did it go, Jemmy?”
“Good, I think. The questions were easy, but it’s a long time since I’ve done a job interview. The principal was friendly enough, and she told me all about the school and let me ask a lot of questions.” She squeezed her hands in front of her. “Anyway, I’ll know later today. I’m going to stay in town until I hear. If I’m successful, I can go to the school and get organised. Fingers crossed, anyway.”
“Make yourself at home here. There’s not many places to fill in a day in Spring Downs.”
Jemima took the coffee that Angie passed over and cupped her hands around the mug. “Thank you. Gosh, I’m so nervous. Would you believe I was more nervous about this interview than I was before any of the big fashion shows in New York? After I came out, still shaking, I bumped into one of the school dads—an old friend of Liam’s—and I was so worked up after the interview I could barely string a sentence together. He probably thought I was rude.”
“I’m sure he didn’t.” Angie laughed. “I can understand why you were nervous. It’s because you want it so badly.” She shook her head. “Are you sure you really want to be a teacher? It’s such a different life to what you’re used to.”
“I’m sure. It’s wonderful to be back home.” Jemima grinned at Angie. “Except for having to live with my brother until you marry him. Are you really sure that’s what you want?” she teased.
“Point taken.” Angie grinned back at her. “We all know what we want out of life. Or we think we do.”
Jemima stood and rinsed her coffee cup in the sink. “While I think of it, do you know if there’s a connection between Mrs. Sykes in the library and the school principal?”
Angie nodded. “Yes. They’re sisters-in-law. And there’s another Mrs. Sykes, too. She works at the bank. The three brothers apparently moved to town a few years ago and bought up a lot of land around the district.”
“Oh gosh. I do hope the library one hasn’t gossiped to the principal about my past career. I didn’t mention it. I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Jemmy, and it has nothing to do with whether you are suitable for the job. You made a success of what you did and studied at the same time, and that’s pretty impressive.”
“Thanks, Ange. Anyway, fingers crossed. And fingers crossed that she hasn’t read the paper yet.”
“Let me know when you hear.”
The call came at two-thirty when Jemima was sitting in the milk bar, having her third coffee. She’d already toured the museum, learned all about the local bushrangers—it would be a good place to bring a class to learn about Australian history—called in at the library, done the grocery shopping, and had snagged a table at the milk bar while she waited. She sat and stared at the main street; not much had changed since she’d left home. The shop fronts still needed a coat of paint, and a couple of the smaller stores had for lease signs in their windows. It was sad to see Spring Downs losing its vibrancy.
She jumped and grabbed for her phone as it buzzed on the table.
Disappointment settled in her chest like a stone as Mrs. Sykes advised she hadn’t gotten the job. The successful applicant was a new graduate from the same university where Jemima had completed her course.
“Thank you for letting me know.” Jemima stared across the road as she held the phone to her ear. She’d remain professional, even though the let-down cut like a knife.
“Mrs Sykes, is there any feedback you can give me? About my interview technique. How I could improve my answers?”
“You answers were fine. The teacher the panel chose was from a small town, and we felt that her background aligned more closely with our school goals. Don’t be too disappointed. With your background, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other opportunities for you.”
“My background?”
“Working internationally. Your skill set will open up many jobs for you.”
Not in Spring Downs.
“Thank you for the opportunity of being interviewed.” She put her phone down and bit her lip, trying to overcome the disappointment that was coursing through her. She was a small-town girl, and this was where she wanted to be. Teaching came naturally to her, and she loved being with children. How could she remove that image of her that everyone here seemed to have? She silently cursed that newspaper article and then realised that a positive approach was what she needed.
Jemima headed to the newsagent’s store, purpose in her step. There was no point being down about it. If she couldn’t teach at the school, there were plenty of other opportunities to implement her teaching skills. She purchased a packet of square, lined cards and a black pen and walked to the library. When she’d been there earlier in the day, she’d seen a community notice board filled with cards for all sorts of for sales, positions vacant, and work wanted ads. She sat at a table in the library and drafted an advertisement. It took three cards before she was happy.
Qualified teacher available as a nanny/governess. Prepared to live in if required. Willing to teach/care for any age child.
She added her number to the bottom of the card and walked across to the community notice board. There were spare pins along the bottom, and Jemima crouched down to pull one out. As she pinned the card to the centre of the board, she felt a tug on the bottom of her shirt. She glanced down and smiled. It was Gwennie, the young student she’d helped this morning.
“Hello,” the little girl said shyly.
“Hello again. Did you have a good day, Gwennie? No more feeling sick?”
“I was better, and I did, and I made lots of friends, and I learned lots, too.”
“What have you got there?”
Gwennie frowned and held out a card. “I can’t reach, and if I put it on the bottom, no one grown up will see it. Would you please pin mine up high?”
“Sure.” Jemima took the card, and as she went to pin it up, she read it and hesitated.
Oh dear.
She crouched down beside the small girl. “Gwennie,” she said. “I can’t put that on the board for you.”
Small white teeth bit trembling lips as Gwennie looked at Jemima. “Did I make a mistake with my words?”
“No, sweetie, it’s all good, but does anyone know you’re putting that ad up?”
“No, I wanted it to be a surprise for Daddy when I found us a new mummy.”
Jemima read the card again, and her heart went out to this little girl. “A new mummy?” She wondered where Ned’s wife was.
“Maybe we should ask Daddy for the best phone number to put on it. You did forget to add one.”
“Oh, silly me.” Gwennie let out a very grown-up sigh. “I guess we’ll have to ask Daddy then, because I don’t even know the name of the road our new farm is on. It’s only new to us, though. It’s old for Daddy.”
“Where is Daddy?” Jemima looked around, but the only other people in sight were the sour Maisey Sykes and an elderly woman checking out a book.
“He’s up the road at the bank. I’m supposed to be waiting with Ryan and Kelsey, but I sneaked out when Kelsey wasn’t watching.” She let out another sad sigh, and Jemima’s heart almost broke. “But I guess Daddy will have to know now because I do need a phone number, don’t I?”
Jemima held out her hand, trying not to think of this little girl running across the main street where the cattle and wheat trucks constantly sped through town. “How about I walk you across the road and take you back to the bank?”
Gwennie would be lucky to be seven years old. What is Ned thinking leaving her in the supervision of another child?
She looked at Jemima and nodded. “That would be very kind of you.”
As they turned, Gwennie looked up at the board. “What’s your ad for?” She stood on her tippy toes and read the words on Jemima’s card slowly, and her precise pronunciation was perfect.
“Oh wow!” Her cute little face lit up in a huge grin. “That’s perfect! Take it down r
ight now.”
Jemima tipped her head to the side and smiled. “But I’ve only just put it up.”
“Oh please, please take it down. You don’t need to. You can be our new mummy.” She held up her card. “Then I won’t have to advertise, after all.”
“Come on, we’ll go and see your daddy first.”
Gwennie put her hand in Jemima’s, and as they headed out of the library to the main street, she chattered away.
“My sister’s name is Kelsey, and she loves horses, but she likes the new kittens, too. Ryan is a cry baby, but he’s still only little, and we don’t have a dog yet. Well, we have an old working dog, but I’m not allowed to play with him. Daddy isn’t sure if he’s been vass- vassin—”
“Vaccinated?”
“Yes, that’s it. Daddy said he doesn’t want us to get those worms.”
Jemmy wished she knew what had happened before she took Gwennie back to Ned. But it wasn’t the right thing to ask a little girl who was advertising for a new mother.
She’d have a quiet word with Ned about what his daughter was up to.
Jemima held her hand firmly as they stood at the side of the road. A road train came thundering into town, and she smiled as Gwennie covered her nose with her free hand.
“Oh dear. I forgot to ask you,” she said with a worried frown. “If you’re going to come and be our new mummy, you’ll have to like the smell of cattle because we live on a farm. Is that all right?”
Once they’d reached the other side of the street and stood outside the bank, Gwennie tugged her hand.
“I hope Daddy won’t be cross with me.” Her little voice was quiet. “I only did it because I heard him on the phone to Grandpa the other night, and he said he needs to spend more time out on the farm, but with Ryan and us girls, he hasn’t got enough time. Since Mummy went to heaven, Daddy has looked after us all by his self.”
Jemima’s heart contracted, and her eyes stung as she looked into the earnest face of the little girl.
“Come on. Let’s take you back to Daddy. He used to be best friends with my brother a long time ago when I was a little girl just like you. I’m sure he won’t be cross.”
Chapter Five
Ned shook Paul Crowe’s hand and ignored the despair that was gripping his chest. For a second, he worried he was having a heart attack. He couldn’t do that. The kids wouldn’t have anyone. He took a deep breath, and the tightness eased.
It was stress, pure and simple.
“I’m sorry I can’t be more positive, Ned, but without a proven record on the land, I can’t authorize a rural loan. If it was for something other than wages, I could perhaps use it as security but just to hire a worker or two? Sorry.” The bank manager looked sombre. “I know it’s not a good option, but I can approve a credit card that will give you enough credit to see you through the year.”
They crossed the office to the door, and Ned shook his head. “Not at 30 percent interest. Thanks, Paul.”
He pushed open the door, and Paul walked out with him.
Gwennie ran across the waiting area. “Daddy, Daddy. Look who’s here!”
He lifted his head and stared. It was Jemima, but she no longer wore the red suit. Instead, a loose, checked shirt hung open over a white T-shirt and a pair of slim-fitting jeans. Her long legs—and boy, were they long—ended in a pair of dusty work boots. She smiled at him, and he tried to smile back.
Gwennie tugged at his hand, and Ned was lost for words when she pulled him over to the woman.
“Our new mummy’s here.”
Before Ned could speak, Paul strode past him and held out his hand to the woman. “Well, let me be the first to congratulate you, Jemima.” Paul turned to Ned as he shook her hand. “You old son of a gun, if you’d mentioned that you were marrying Jemima, there would have been no problem with the loan approval.”
Luckily for Ned’s sanity, Ryan dropped the new car that Ned had bought at the supermarket this morning and began to bellow. “Now it’s broked. Kelsey, you broked it. You broked it, you broked it. I want a new one.”
The bank teller was staring at them with her mouth open. Jemima held Ned’s eye as he crossed to the chair and lifted Ryan off Kelsey’s lap. As he stared back at her, she shook her head slightly in an almost imperceptible movement, and he swallowed down the denial that hovered.
“Ned, I’ve got another appointment now, but give me a call later. The loan won’t be a problem. Don’t worry about coming into town until I call you to sign the papers.” Paul patted his shoulder as Ned’s hands were busy trying to stop Ryan from crawling down his body to the floor.
Ned nodded and waited until the door to the bank manager’s office closed.
“What was that all about?” he said in a cracked voice. He cleared his throat and put Ryan down onto the floor.
“Hello again, Ned.” She nodded, and a sweet smile crossed her face. She lowered her voice to a whisper as Gwennie sat down on the floor next to Ryan. “I need to have a quick word to you about Gwennie. Have you got time to come and have a coffee?”
“And maybe you can tell me why Paul Crowe instantly approved a loan when he thought you were my—um—fiancée.” He scratched his head as she nodded. “Come on, kids. Milkshake time.” Ned took Ryan’s hand and followed Jemima out of the bank.
At the back of the milk bar, there were a couple of old pinball machines—Ned was sure they were the same ones that had been there when he’d been in high school. He watched as Kelsey and Gwennie each held one of Ryan’s hands and led him to the games.
He shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
“Country banks. It’s a bit more informal than I’m used to.”
Jemima was sitting opposite him at the table. They’d ordered coffee and were waiting for the kids’ milkshakes.
Ned ran his hand through his hair.
“What a day. I guess there’s some sort of apology in order, too. What did Gwennie do?”
Jemima shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. No harm done. I just wanted to make sure she got back safely. You’ve got your hands full, Ned.”
He sighed and ran his hand over the stubble on his chin. He must look like a derro. He and Ryan had ended up in the hay shed after he’d got home with the groceries, and he’d not left enough time to shave or get changed before he’d rushed back into town. No wonder Paul had knocked back his loan application.
Until he thought he was engaged to Jemima.
Bloody hell. What is going on?
“No, tell me. I need to know what she’s been up to. She’s a sweet kid, but she can be a loose cannon sometimes. I could tell you some stories.”
“She was putting an ad up on the library notice board for a new mummy.”
“Oh God.” Ned put a hand over his eyes for a moment. He dropped it and shook his head again. “So tell me how you applied and were selected so quickly.” He tried to smile to lighten the moment, but he was sure it came out as a grimace. “I’m sorry. A very serious talk with young Miss Gwennie will be first priority when we get home.”
“Please, there’s no need to apologise.” Jemima put her hand out and touched his, and he looked down at her long fingers as they lightly brushed his hand. Her nails were short and square, coloured with some sort of pale pink stuff. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ned.”
“Thanks, Jemmy. Do you still answer to that?”
Her smile was wide, and again Ned was taken aback by her beauty. Jemima’s skin was flawless, her blue eyes wide and clear and surrounded by thick, dark lashes and brows that contrasted with her blond hair. She’d changed from the gangly little girl with braids that he remembered teasing when he’d been at their house all those years ago.
“Recently, I have been. Since I came home. I’m with Liam at Gran and Pop’s place, across the road from your gate.”
“Liam’s back in the Pilliga, too? Fantastic. I haven’t caught up with anyone much since I’ve been back. I’ve been too busy. Last I heard, he was a reporter in Londo
n.”
“He came back last year. We all did. Or almost all. Sebastian will be back soon, too… Do you remember Lucy and Seb? Our cousins? Maybe you won’t remember Seb; he’s younger than I am.”
“A vague memory. And you’re working at the local school now?” Ned glanced to the back of the shop. Con, the milk bar owner, had delivered the milkshakes to the kids, and they were sitting quietly drinking them.
“No, I was just there for an interview. But it didn’t work out.”
“Sorry to hear that. You know, I remember being envious of Liam and his extended family. I only had one sister, and Jenny’s a lot older than me. She’d already married and left the farm before I’d even started high school.”
“You have a beautiful little family of your own now,” Jemmy said, looking at the children.
Ned’s heart swelled with pride. “I do.”
Jemmy leaned forward and touched his hand again. “Ned, I don’t want to pry, but I think I can help you out. Please tell me if I’m overstepping the mark.”
He held her steady gaze and nodded. “What do you mean?”
“I guess you were going for a loan and got knocked back?”
“I did. I need to hire a farmhand or two on the property. It’s mine now.” He gave a mirthless laugh as he looked at her. Jemima’s wide eyes were fixed on his, and Ned found it hard to look away. Her expression was full of understanding. “I never wanted to work on the farm. When Dad retired to the coast, he took on a few managers, but they never worked out. So when I was looking for a way to be able to look after the kids, and still have an income, the farm was the answer. I bought out my sister’s share.”
He spread his hands open on the table. “So now, I’m home in Spring Downs. The last place I ever thought I’d come back to. And I’m already wondering if I’ve made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“Yes. I’m finding it impossible to balance the farm work with looking after the kids. Thus the visit to the bank today to get some help.” Ned frowned. “But why did Paul change his mind when he heard what Gwennie said? I don’t want to sound rude, but how does you being their ‘new mummy’ make such a difference in getting a loan?”