Copper Creek: The Complete Boxed Set

by Smith, Wendy

  “Dad! Can we play a game now?”

  I chuckle. “Give me a minute to get dressed, and I’ll be with you.”

  He shifts his gaze to Lily. “Mum, are you naked?”

  Only her shoulders show, but I guess he’s not used to seeing her like this.

  “I …” she starts.

  He rolls his eyes. “I’m so glad I didn’t hop into bed with you last night, then.”

  Turning, he disappears, presumably heading to the living room. Lily’s a brilliant shade of red and I can’t help myself, laughing as she slams her head back onto the pillow.

  “Stay here. I’ll bring breakfast in after I’ve got him sorted out.”

  She reaches up, dragging her fingers through my beard. “You’re good to me.”

  “You deserve it.” I shuffle off the bed, dragging on my clothing before I can get distracted by her again. “Besides, if I can keep him busy, I might just be able to get a quickie out of it.”

  Lily laughs. “I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a quickie with you.”

  I waggle my eyebrows at her. “Try me and find out.”

  Fifteen minutes later with Max playing Lego Batman downstairs, I show her exactly what I mean.

  * * *

  In the afternoon, I set off for Corey’s place. In exchange for using his ute, he borrowed my car, which I’m anxious to get back. I’m guessing he gave it a good thrashing.

  With Lily’s directions, I set off up McKenzie’s Mountain. It was named for the first settler family to the area. They sat on the hill and watched as the township sprung up beneath them. There’s no hope of watching from above now—the bush has grown dense and it’s beautiful in its own way.

  The road is sealed, but bumpy. I doubt it’s had any maintenance in years. With no other traffic, I slow as I pass the commune or cult, or whatever it is. When I was a kid, the people from the group used to come down into town often. The only thing different about them was that they all dressed the same and that their kids didn’t go to school with us. From what I hear, they’ve become more secluded, cutting themselves off from the outside world as much as possible.

  I shiver and push on. Corey’s place is supposed to be just over the ridge. It turns out to be easier to find than I thought it would be as I spot my car just off the road and the small house behind it.

  It’s beautiful in its solitude, but still not too remote. It’s not far to town, but the house is surrounded by trees, visible only when you get out the front of it.

  Corey steps out onto his deck as I pull up his driveway, waving as I get out of the ute. “Hey. Everything go okay?”

  I nod as I step toward the house, gravel crunching under my shoes. “Sure did. We’ve got furniture ordered, and I bought a TV and a few other things ready to go. We’ll need your help next weekend though.”

  “You got it.” He nods back toward the house. “Want a coffee?”

  “Sure.” I trail into the house behind him. It’s pretty bare. In the corner of a living room is a television, and opposite that an old couch. In the kitchen is a small round wooden table with four chairs. Corey indicates for me to sit at the table and I do so, looking around the room. “So, this is your place.”

  He flicks on the kettle and grabs some cups out of the cupboard.

  “Yep. It’s cosy and does the job. I’m not home a huge amount. Sometimes pest eradication means days away from here.”

  While Corey spoons out the coffee and sugar, I lean back in my chair. This is such a cosy place, and so Corey. The walls are devoid of decoration, the table’s basic with no cloth. I guess it makes sense if he’s barely around.

  He carries the cups to the table and sets one down in front of me before sitting.

  “So, you move into the new house next weekend.”

  I nod. “Yep. James is helping me with the garage during the week. Jack still has a whole heap of gear he hadn’t managed to sell—it’s just in storage. I’m grabbing that, too. It’s enough to get us open and working. I can’t wait to get into the house and online so I can sort out whatever else we need.”

  Corey chuckles and takes a sip of his coffee. “Max won’t know himself. Maybe Lily will take better care of herself, too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, little brother. You know more than anyone. She cuts back on looking after herself so that Max has enough. Drives me a little crazy. I’d give her a month’s worth of meat at a time, but I knew damn well that she’d stretch it to make it last longer and give him bigger meals.” He shrugs. “I mean, fair enough, but she was just wasting away in that place.”

  Nodding, I sigh, wrapping my hands around my mug. “I thought as much. She’s so thin. But I’ve made sure there’s been enough food in the house these past few weeks, and she seems to eat more with each meal.”

  “That’s some white knight shit you’ve got going on. Think you can keep it up?”

  I laugh. “We’ll be fine. I lucked out with the apartment in the States, and bought it a few years ago when property prices were lower. They took off and I cashed up. In US dollars, too. I suspect if I was still over there I wouldn’t be quite so flush.” Sipping the last of my coffee, I put the cup back down. “Between the garage being cheap and Eric paying Lily a decent amount for the sheep, we’ve got enough to last a few months.”

  “We’ll all help out if we have to as well. Owen will no doubt still deliver bread, plus you’ll be closer to him now. I’ll still bring you meat when I go hunting.”

  “It’s all appreciated.”

  “You know …” He studies me closely. “When I heard you were back, I thought there might be trouble and then you’d bugger off again. I’m glad you’re here and that you’ve made amends.”

  I let out a sigh. “I don’t know if I can ever fully make amends for everything, but I can do whatever it takes to support my family.”

  A smile crosses his face. “Well, if you ever get stuck, you’re always welcome here. I reckon I could squeeze you all in.”

  “Thanks.”

  He frowns. “What we did was just as bad. I think we were all a bit young and stupid to think you wanted to stay away. But at the same time, it made sense. It was a lot to be lumped with at that age.”

  “I guess, but then Lily had the whole lot on her shoulders. That wasn’t fair either.”

  Corey shakes his head and sits back in his chair. “What happened to her was so bad. Of everyone, I knew how much you loved her. I told her I’d take care of her in the early days, but she wasn’t interested.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “You propositioned her?”

  “Not like that.” He screws up his face. “I told her if she needed someone I’d be happy to take on her and Max. I didn’t expect any great romance or anything. Even when you were apart, she was yours. But that lady of yours is way too independent.”

  I chuckle. “That she is. Though I’ve worn her down. Even convinced her to spend a little money on herself yesterday.”

  Corey nods thoughtfully. “That’s good. It’s Drew you have to watch out for—he’s the one who flirts.”

  Although I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I know enough to know that Corey is screwing with me. The twinkle in his eyes gives him away.

  I look forward to spending more time getting to know all my brothers again.

  32

  Lily

  Our first night in our new home.

  It took most of the day to get in here. I don’t have a lot, but using Corey’s ute and a trailer we borrowed from Jack Kirby, we got everything moved.

  When I say we, it was mostly Adam and his brothers doing all the lifting. Empty boxes sourced from the local supermarket were scattered around the house, and Max and I started packing. Our whole life together went in those boxes.

  We never had a lot of material things, but Max and I had each other. That got me through the hard times, and now hopefully there will only be good.

  Box after box goes in the car and the ute.

&nb
sp; With the house empty, I stand in the entranceway looking up the stairs. The memories are overwhelming. Max learning to crawl, his first steps, all the times I’d hear him running down the stairs despite me telling him not to. This has been our home.

  “You alright?” Adam places his hands on my shoulders and kisses my hair.

  “Just remembering. Max and I have done so much in this house.”

  Adam’s warm arms slide around my waist, and I tilt my head as he rests his head on my shoulder. “We’ll make new memories now. The three of us.”

  “I know, it’s just …” Tears well up that I can’t explain. I had been made welcome to this house, made it my own, and never felt obligated when Mrs Murphy was alive. Part of me looks forward to handing it back to Eric, his mother’s will fulfilled, but the rest of me will miss the old place.

  “It’s okay. I’m pretty sure it’s normal to miss somewhere you’ve lived in for so long. Do you want to take the keys to Eric, or do you want me to?”

  I lean back. Adam’s arms around me don’t just signal his love. They’re my support when I’m adrift. The new house is everything I want, but it’s hard not to waver when I’m firewalling my solidity for the past twelve years.

  His lips brush my neck, and I close my eyes.

  “I’ll do it. It’s only right, given the way I moved in here.”

  He squeezes me around the waist before letting go, and I turn to smile at him. Adam nods as he scans my face. I think he’s just checking that my expression matches my words. I’m calmer than I thought I’d be now.

  “Well, I’ll take Max and the last load over to the house and meet you there. Owen was in the kitchen when I left, unpacking your things and putting them away. I think he was planning on making pizza for dinner.”

  I nod. “That sounds amazing.”

  Adam pecks me on the cheek and leaves me in the entranceway, closing the front door behind him. I take a further moment to look around and as I hear him drive away, I open the door, looking out into the yard. I’ll miss my garden, but there’s plenty of room at the new place for one.

  Time to move on.

  * * *

  I’ve travelled the road and turned up Eric’s driveway more times than I can count over the years, but this is the last time. I can’t see us having any reason to visit him again.

  He’s sat out on his deck when I get there, and he stands as I get out of the car and toward the house.

  “Sit for a minute?” he asks as I mount the steps.

  I nod. “I can’t be too long.” Licking my lips I say the words that mean so much. “My family’s waiting for me.”

  He’s always been one for trying to analyse situations, and he stares at me for what feels like the longest time but in reality is probably about thirty seconds. “I won’t keep you. Just wanted to tell you how much I’ll miss you.”

  I can’t return what he’s just said. We have been friends, off and on, but it was hard to stay friendly with someone who didn’t respect boundaries. Eventually, I settle on the truth. “It’s going to be weird. For a while at least.”

  “If you ever need the house again, it’s yours.”

  I meet his gaze. He’s giving me a backup plan in case things don’t work out with Adam. I’m grateful, but nothing is going to keep us apart again. “Thanks. I do appreciate it.”

  Eric lets out a sigh. “I thought for the longest time that we might just end up together. I’ll always be sorry it didn’t happen.”

  “Can I be honest?”

  His lips curl. “I’ve never stopped you before.”

  “Nothing was ever going to separate me from Max. That’s all it boiled down to. I wanted someone who would put us first.”

  He swallows hard. “I understand.”

  “Do you? You deserve happiness as much as I do. Find someone special and stop being a zombie.” I can’t help the smile on my face.

  He frowns, his pale eyebrows knitting together. “A zombie?” Snorting, he shakes his head and laughs. “Let me guess. It’s a Maxism.”

  “Yeah, it is. No matter what, he’s the most important guy in my life. I think sometimes you men forget that.”

  His eyebrows shoot up. “Us men? Are you talking about …”

  “Yes, I’m talking about Adam. He has to understand that, too. He’s the love of my life, but what I have with Max is a bond no one will ever break. Even unintentionally.”

  Eric nods, and I bend to kiss him on the cheek. He turns his head at the last moment, planting a kiss on my lips.

  “Gotcha.” He gives me a crooked smile, and I roll my eyes in return.

  “Nope.”

  “Don’t you dare tell Adam I did that.”

  I laugh as I turn away. “I’m not keeping anything from him. Just be aware of that.”

  “Are you sure he’s not keeping anything from you?”

  I stop and turn back. “What do you mean?”

  “He was gone a long time. Man has to have his secrets.” Eric’s gaze penetrates me as I stand there. I can’t let him see that his suggestion has knocked me.

  Listening to Eric only creates doubt and doubt kills love. “If there was anything bad in his past, he’d have told me.”

  Eric nods, scrutinising my reaction closely. “Okay. I’m always here if you need anything.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Hell will freeze over before I ask Eric Murphy for a single thing. Ever.

  * * *

  Later that night, with Max settled and asleep, Adam and I christen our new bed. We’ve had nights in my bed, but this is different. It’s brand new and ours.

  “Happy?” Adam holds me in his arms, his right hand stroking my left breast as we lay curled up together under the crisp lemon sheets. He’s with me and all is right with the world.

  I sigh with contentment, smiling with what must be a hazy look in my eyes. Nothing compares to the freedom of being with Adam in this way, knowing nothing else can rip us apart. We’re together and solid.

  “I’ll take that as a yes?” He grins.

  “I don’t even know where to begin.”

  He traces his finger down between my breasts and over my stomach. The past few weeks I’ve been healthier than I have been in years, and I’ve even filled out a little. We don’t have a huge budget, and things will be tight for a while, but being here and having a view to the future makes it a million times better than it was in the old house. Once Adam gets the business going, things will be even better.

  “Do you miss the army?” I whisper, a little afraid of his response.

  His fingers stop, and he taps my skin as he smiles, spreading his palm on my belly.

  “I miss my friends. Some of us were together for a while. We were brothers.” He slides his hand down my thigh. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else but here now, though.”

  “I’m so glad you came back.”

  He grins and leans over to press his lips to mine, his love radiating through his kiss. His unending affection makes me melt. It’s been so long since I’ve been so loved, and now I’m enveloped in it all of the time.

  “So am I. Maybe we can’t get back the time we missed out on, but we can sure as hell make new memories.”

  We lie in silence for a few moments, comfortable in one another’s company.

  “Eric tried to stir one last time today,” I say. I want my earlier words to mean something. There’s nothing I want to keep from Adam.

  “He’s just pissed I got the girl.” Adam laughs, nuzzling my temple.

  “He wanted me to doubt you. But I can’t do that. I need to be able to trust you, and you to trust me.”

  Adam raises his head. “Lily, if you have any doubts …”

  The expression on his face tells me everything. Maybe there are things he’s done while he was away, but that was in the past. This is our new start.

  “No doubts.”

  His eyes light up.

  “Unless you have a wife and other family tucked away somewhere.”


  He chuckles. “No wife.” When he licks his lips slowly, fear sets in. He looks as if he’s about to tell me something big. “There was someone. She put up with me, helped me through the hard shit when I first got out of the army. But you were always it for me. Didn’t matter what had happened, how long I’d been gone. It wasn’t fair on her. So when it got really serious, I broke up with her.”

  My heart thuds. I can’t help the jealousy that swells inside, but he chose me. Even when he hadn’t seen me in so long, even when he didn’t know if I’d moved on.

  I fling my arms around his neck and hold on tight.

  He chose me.

  33

  Adam

  The garage is close to opening. James has done a hell of a lot of work to help me out tidying the building up and making it my own. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited in my life.

  Word is already spreading. I got a call this morning from a farmer needing help with a tractor. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but I’m itching to get my hands on anything mechanical. It’s been far too long.

  It doesn’t take much to get it running again.

  “Coffee?” he asks.

  “Sounds good.”

  We walk toward the big farmhouse. As we approach, a litter of puppies come tumbling out from where they’ve been eating. I laugh as we’re surrounded.

  “Look at you lot.” I grin.

  “They’re ready to go to new homes. Interested?”

  I think of Max and the way he’d acted around Eric’s dog. The one he’d named. “Sure am. How much are they?”

  “About the same as the repairs you’re doing for me.”

  I chuckle. “What a coincidence. I’ve got a boy who would love me forever if I got one. Not sure about his mother.”

  “Pick which one you want. They’ll end up on farms around here otherwise. I’m sure one of them will be well loved with you.”

  I grin and look them over. They’re full of life and excited, panting and seeking attention. Except for one of them. He stands a little off to the side.