by Fiona Palmer
‘Last one in’s a rotten egg!’ Billy jumped in with a splash and a squeal.
Nat followed and found the water temperature perfectly refreshing. It was deep enough that it reached above her chest when sitting down. Perfect for leaning back against the covered bale. ‘Drew, this is fabulous.’
‘Yeah, it beats driving to Lake Grace to use the public pool.’
Billy paddled about while Nat and Drew sat there talking about saving the school, the farm versus the city and all sorts of everyday things.
‘I went to an all-girls private school and it was okay. I enjoyed sport and hanging out with my friends. Uni was even better, especially when I got to do my prac in real classrooms. We had a local tavern that was our hangout and they’d get these great bands in over the weekends. Can’t beat live music, Drew.’
‘Yeah, I got a small taste of it while I was at Muresk. So many opportunities.’
‘Dad, Seth and Mallory would love this,’ Billy said, swimming up between them.
‘I know. Kim’s bringing them over in an hour.’
‘Yippee!’ Billy sank into the water with his hand over his head, pretending to be a shark and nibble on their toes with his fingers.
Nat made a mental note to leave before Kim arrived, mainly because she didn’t want to be the third wheel. At times it was hard to understand what they were talking about – some of the farm stuff was quite technical and they mentioned people she still wasn’t familiar with. Maybe part of her was a little uncomfortable with Kim finding her at Drew’s again in case she got the wrong idea; maybe Gary’s phone call had put her on edge. Either way, it was nearly time for her to head home and prep some work for school on Monday.
‘Aww,’ said Billy when she announced her departure. ‘Do you really have to go?’
‘Yep, buddy, sorry. Thanks for the swim and the bike ride. I had lots of fun.’
Billy gave her a wet hug. It made sweating her butt off in the shed all worth it. The hard work was forgotten with the fun she’d had, the new things she’d experienced. Was farm life always like this?
‘Thanks, Drew, I had a great time. I’ll catch up with you again soon.’
Drew walked her to her car. He didn’t bother with a towel and she was thankful for the last glance of this handsome man. How had Kim not made a move all these years? He only had eyes for his son, which was sweet, but it wouldn’t hurt if he found someone to make their family bigger. Billy would thrive with a mother figure, someone to help take Alice’s place, someone to help share Drew’s workload.
‘You’re welcome anytime, Nat. Seriously. We love having you out. Thanks for all your help. Let me know if anything ever needs fixing and I’ll try and repay the favour.’
Nat opened her car door before turning. ‘Actually, now that you mention it, are you any good at putting cupboard handles back on? This morning I went to get out the coffee and pulled a bit too hard.’
‘Not a problem,’ he said with a smile. ‘I’ll come take a look next time I’m in town if you like.’
‘That would be great. See you!’
Nat left the farm feeling recharged and happy – a feeling that was becoming a regular part of life in Lake Biddy.
Chapter 16
NAT was sitting outside talking to Henny and Penny when she heard a car pull up out the front. Had Drew come to fix her cupboard already?
‘Hello? Natalie, are you here?’
Nat sprung up. ‘Gary?’ Her heart raced in surprise. Her fiancé’s head appeared by the gate. He was clean-shaved, sideburns perfectly even, and his lips spread in an alluring smile. ‘Oh my god, Gary, what are you doing here?’ Nat hurried over to open the gate, still feeling shocked to actually see him in Lake Biddy.
‘Hey, princess,’ he said pulling her into his arms.
He smelt like expensive aftershave, suits and the breath mints he lived on since he’d quit smoking.
‘I can’t believe it,’ she said, taking in his groomed hair, touching his smooth shaved jaw and gazing into his dark-coloured eyes. Gary’s soft hands caressed her neck before kissing her deeply.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispered. He was wearing his dark-blue pinstripe suit without the jacket.
‘Did you drive straight from work?’
‘I just sorted a few things before I came down. Hell, is it always this hot and dry?’ He clutched at his matching blue tie and gave it a jerk.
‘Did you drive all the way out here? How long can you stay? You should have called me,’ she said as she pulled him towards the shade of the small back verandah.
‘Yeah, it’s a fair drive. Not much out here, is there? And nothing is open on a Sunday.’ Gary pulled a face and wiped at the sweat beading along his brow. ‘I have to head back tomorrow night or early Tuesday. See how they cope without me. You do get phone signal here?’ he asked before pulling out his phone and holding it up, waiting for the bars to show.
‘Yes, we’re lucky – there’s a phone tower nearby but if you face the wrong way or you’re behind the wheat bins it drops out.’
‘Wheat bins?’
‘The big white sheds you would have driven past. Opposite the town.’
Gary nodded but didn’t seem all that interested. ‘I’ll get my stuff. I grabbed some things I thought you might like for dinner.’ His teeth, all perfectly white and straight, shone as he smiled.
That night they had a little picnic outside, on a rug on the lawn: champagne, strawberries, chocolate, her favourite selection of sushi, all complemented by a bunch of beautiful flowers.
‘This is amazing. You thought of everything.’ He really was thoughtful and sweet. It was what had made her fall for him in the first place. She pushed aside her niggling thoughts of being rushed into marriage and decided to just enjoy the moment.
Gary held her hand and moved the ring on her finger, which Nat was glad she had replaced after her trip to the farm.
‘I wanted it to be magical. We have so little time together.’ Nearby the chooks made little noises as they moved about their coop. ‘They are rather cool, aren’t they? Just going about their business,’ he said as he watched Henny and Penny.
‘I love them. They keep me company and we’ll have fresh eggs for our breakfast.’
‘Hmm, I like the sound of that.’ Gary snuggled closer and kissed her lips. He’d changed into his denim shorts and a white polo shirt. ‘Maybe it’s not so bad here.’ His hand snaked up her thigh. ‘Shall we take this inside? Away from your feathered friends,’ he added, kissing her neck.
‘Yes, I’d hate to scare the girls.’
‘Is there space for both of us in that tiny room of yours?’ Jumping up, Gary grabbed the bottle and the chocolates and led the way inside.
‘I’ll guarantee you’ll like how cosy it is.’ Nat gave the last of the food to the chooks and headed inside with a smile. She pushed away all the little voices that threw up caution and fear about her future. Maybe it would turn out okay and she’d be happier than she thought.
Gary stayed all Monday, working from her house while she was teaching and then coming to visit the classroom after school hours.
‘Can I come in?’ he said, knocking on the classroom door.
‘Gary! Hi, babe. What do you think?’ Nat got up and gestured to her classroom. ‘You’ve missed all the kids; they’ve gone home. But see? This is what we’ve been working on.’ She may have gushed a bit over the kids’ work and what they were doing but she was just so excited to be able to share her passion with him, and for the most part he seemed really interested.
‘This kid can draw,’ he said of one of Liam’s artworks. ‘Those chairs seem so little.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘That was us once, sitting in those little chairs. Next it will be our kids.’
Nat was still beaming when Kath dropped by.
‘So this must be Gary,’ said Kath. ‘Not many fellas scrub up like that around here.’ They shook hands. ‘It’s nice to finally meet Natalie’s fiancé. She’s such a gem to have here,
we’re all so thankful.’
Nat felt her cheeks flush. She hoped he could finally see how important this job was – to her and to her colleagues.
Kath said she’d lock up, so Nat and Gary went to the shop to buy something for dinner.
‘Holy heck, check out the price of that!’ he said after a quick lap around the small shop.
Nat felt uncomfortable with how loudly he’d spoken, but felt even worse knowing that had been her first impression too. She was fast learning that the cost of getting things to the country was exorbitant. Even the bread and milk seemed ridiculously expensive, but Frank had explained just how much the trucking company charged to deliver it. And he couldn’t haggle over the freight price or find another transport company because no one else wanted to deliver to their little town. Struggling locals paid the prices and did so with a smile just to keep their community shop alive. If it closed they’d have to travel 60 kilometres to the next town.
Jess walked past in a pair of torn shorts, singlet and ugg boots. Nat loved the way no one seemed to look twice at what others wore or judge them by it. It was so different to the world she came from.
‘Natty!’ yelled a familiar voice.
She turned just in time to collect the hug thrown at her. Billy was still in his school uniform, with long pants and long sleeves despite the heat.
‘Hey, Billy, how come you’re here?’
‘I’m allowed an ice-cream.’ His cheeks strained with his grin, then he spotted Gary and slowly took in the man beside her. His nose scrunching up. ‘Who are you?’
‘Billy, this is Gary, my fiancé. Gary, this is one of my students.’
Gary bent over and held out his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, young man.’
Billy beamed from being greeted so formally.
‘G’day, g’day,’ said Drew as he came down the aisle where they were standing. ‘Wondered where you’d got to, Billy. Hi, Nat.’
Drew’s shorts were torn on one corner, grease stained his khaki work shirt and he smelt like fuel. But he pulled it all off with an alluring working-man look. A look she knew Gary was taking in. Nat’s heart sank.
‘Hi, Drew. I’d like you to meet Gary,’ she said, knowing there was no way around this moment.
‘Nice to finally meet you, Gary,’ said Drew as they shook hands.
Nat was fascinated by the stark contrast of hands: one pale and smooth with perfect nails, the other tanned, callused and etched with dirt.
‘Come on, Billy. We’d better go. Frank’s waiting out back with our stuff. Grab your ice-cream.’ Drew gave them a nod goodbye and turned to let them be.
‘Bye, Natty.’ Billy almost followed his dad before turning back. ‘Hey, maybe you should bring your boyfriend out to see some shearing. He might be as funny as you were,’ he said with a cheeky grin.
‘Bye, Billy.’ Nat waved him goodbye and was relieved when he darted off after Drew. She turned to the shelf and picked up a small jar of apricot jam. ‘Did you want this for your toast in the morning, or are you happy with eggs again?’ she asked Gary.
But Gary didn’t answer. While they finished their shop, he smiled and spoke with the locals, who all wanted to meet him, but didn’t say another word to Nat.
Back at the house, Nat changed out of her work clothes and put on shorts and a singlet. Gary seemed to have mellowed a bit, and was texting on his phone again. Nat felt nervous. The meeting in the shop would surely come up again.
‘Can’t you leave some of that stuff for Sharon?’ she asked.
‘It’s Sharon I’m texting. She’s trying to find a report that Dad’s chasing for a meeting.’ He looked up and frowned. ‘Besides, she’s Dad’s assistant, not mine.’
‘You’ll need your own soon. Do you get Sharon when your dad retires?’
‘Ha, Dad will die before he retires,’ Gary said, a little forcefully. ‘That’s why I’m putting so much work into this new venture. If I can seal this new resort deal, then I want to go to Dad and ask for a partnership, or at least my own casino resort brand.’
‘That sounds great.’
He was watching her as she opened the fridge door for an apple. ‘I’ve been thinking . . . You should come home with me. You’ve been here long enough, you’ve proved your point.’
She turned to face him. ‘What point would that be?’
‘That you can teach. You don’t need to see out the year in this backwater to prove to any of us that you can do your job. I want you at home, with me. Maybe you could finish the year at a Perth school, one close to home.’
Nat clenched the apple as she stood before him. ‘No, Gary, I can’t do that. These people are depending on me. They can’t find another teacher at short notice and besides, I’m all involved with trying to save the school.’
‘I really don’t see why you’re putting so much energy into this. You seem far too invested. I think they should shut the school. That way they can pool resources. It makes sense.’
‘No, it doesn’t!’ Nat felt a void the size of an ocean beginning to form between them. How could he think that? He knew how much this job meant to her, didn’t he? Had she not fought for this time and time again? Was he ever going to understand? ‘That is a crap trade-off in comparison to what closing this school will do to the town. Kids on long bus rides, people leaving the district. The town needs its school, Gary, and I can’t abandon my kids.’
Gary’s eyes narrowed. ‘Is this about that Drew guy? He’s the one you’ve been helping, isn’t he? Not quite the single old guy I was picturing.’ His brown eyes took on splashes of crimson, like a red desert storm gathering across the land.
‘Of course it’s not about him. Don’t be ridiculous. Drew and Billy are just friends in need of a little help. I want to do what’s right and see out my year,’ she said, trying to stand her ground. Her voice was firm but her knees were not, and neither were the fingers trying hard to hold on to the apple.
‘Don’t be ridiculous?’ he growled, taking a step closer. ‘You are my fiancée.’ He was so close she could smell his minty breath and see the grey hairs in his neat sideburns.
‘I’m sorry, Gary but —’
He didn’t give her a chance to reply. His hand came around her neck, pulling her even closer.
‘Is this just a game to you? Are you playing around on me with this guy while I’m not here?’
He squeezed her neck, her throat, and Nat felt the air rush from her lips. What was he doing? Did he not realise he was hurting her? The apple fell from her hand, bounced once on the floor and rolled under the table.
‘Gary, stop!’ she rasped.
He released her and stumbled back, looking almost shocked. She somehow found the chair by the table and sat down, totally focused on breathing.
‘I’m sorry. I love you, babe. I just couldn’t handle you cheating on me.’ Gary brushed her hair back gently, causing her to flinch and jerk away from him. Had that really happened? Gary placed the bruised apple on the table in front of her. ‘I just love you so much.’ With that he kissed her forehead and disappeared into the lounge room.
Nat pushed the apple away as hot tears slid down her cheeks.
Chapter 17
NAT was juggling an armful of classroom materials and trying to unlock her front door when she heard her phone ring. She groaned as she ignored the phone in her bag and shunted the door open with her hip. No sooner had she stepped inside when her phone started up again.
‘Seriously?’ She tipped her armload onto the table. Files, sticker sheets, her pencil case and kids’ schoolwork slid across the top as she dived into her bag.
‘Hi, Drew,’ she said cautiously. Her mind went straight to Gary and his strong fingers around her neck. She swallowed slowly and tried to ignore the reaction of her body. Drew was not at fault.
‘Oh, Nat, please tell me Billy is with you,’ came his agitated voice.
‘Billy? No. He went home on the school bus well over an hour ago.’ Nat panicked for a moment. Was she supposed to h
ave him?
‘No, he got home all right – his bag’s here, but his motorbike’s gone and I can’t find him. I’ve looked everywhere. I half hoped he’d ridden in to you for some reason; it’s all I could think of. I’ve got Kim and Matty checking their place.’ Drew sucked in a shaky breath after his rapid-fire words. ‘Shit, Nat, I’m going crazy. Where could he be? What if he’s hurt?’
His words caught in his throat and Nat’s heart ached for him. ‘Take a deep breath, Drew, and let’s think about it. Have you checked the bike track?’
‘Yes, twice. I’ve checked the sheds, all the dams. Even Turbo is still here, which is freaking me out – he’s always with Billy. That’s why I thought Billy might have gone to you, Turbo wouldn’t have followed him that far.’
‘Would he really ride on the road to me?’ she asked, feeling a sickening wave churn through her stomach.
‘I honestly don’t know, Nat. I was at the sheds, and he always comes to me if I’m not home. It’s not like him. I’m freaking out. Can you come over?’
The pleading in his voice melted her heart. ‘I’ll get changed and come right now. I’ll check the roads on my way.’
‘Thank you, Nat. Thank you so much. Call me if you find him.’
‘Of course I will. See you soon.’
Nat ran to her room to change into jeans and a T-shirt and put on socks and her boots. She glanced at the small bruise on her neck, wincing more from the memory than any pain. Gary had continued on as if nothing were wrong; he had left as planned, hugging her as if he hadn’t harmed her. Nat didn’t know what else to do, so she just left it, even though she felt confused by his sudden outburst. But now was not the time to dwell, she thought as she rushed from her house. She had a boy to find.
She hoped to god that Billy was just somewhere unexpected. Visions of his little body sprawled and twisted on the ground, motorbike bent beside him, accosted her mind. Tears prickled as the full weight of this possibility hit home. She forced them away. It just couldn’t happen.