‘Of course not,’ Tab replied. She’d left her car at the farm this morning and although she was tired, getting Ned wouldn’t add more than another hour to her day.
‘Thanks. I can’t wait to hear how his first day with the new teacher was.’
‘Yeah.’ Tab tried not to frown at the mention of Fergus McGrumpy. As long as he was kind to Ned, it didn’t matter what he thought of her, or she him.
When Meg parked in the school car park a few minutes later, she practically leapt from the car. ‘Aren’t you coming? Ned will be so excited if you’re here to collect him.’
If not for this last statement, Tab would have remained firmly glued to the passenger seat, but she loved her nephew and didn’t want to let his teacher stop her from being a doting aunt.
‘Yes,’ she said, unclicking her seatbelt and climbing out.
There were a number of mums already waiting outside the class and of course all of them wanted to ask Tab’s opinion on Ryder’s delinquency. As if her opinion actually mattered. Why did everyone have such long memories in the country? And why did her only serious boyfriend, her very first and only love, have to be so bloody famous?
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Jimmy Long ran outside and rang the bell and kids started spilling out of the classrooms, putting an end to the conversation. Tab hung back, letting Meg go forward to get Ned. As the crowd started to disperse, she got her first glimpse of Fergus McWilliams since their awkward introduction.
And good grief, he was far hotter than her memory had given him credit for.
Standing in the doorway watching his class depart, he was wearing navy blue smart trousers and a shirt of a lighter blue, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and the top button open in a casual way. He could have been a model in a fashion catalogue. Although he was fully clothed this time, Tab’s mind flashed with an image of him shirtless and her cheeks immediately burned. So he’s hot? So what? Ryder had been handsome too—in a different, more boy-next-door kinda way—so Tab knew well enough that looks did not a person make.
Still, she couldn’t look away. She watched, almost touched by the sweet way he farewelled each kid individually.
‘Bye, Ned,’ he said, grinning down at her nephew.
‘See ya, Mr McDuck.’
McDuck?
Ned waved as he laughed and threw himself into Meg’s arms. She must have whispered something to him, because he looked up and screamed, ‘Aunty Tab!’
It was her turn for a hug and as Ned gripped her hard and launched immediately into his awesome day, Meg hung back to introduce herself to Fergus. A safe few metres away, Tab couldn’t hear what they were saying, so was shocked when Meg started to walk towards them and Fergus followed.
His hands shoved in his pockets, giving him an almost boyish charm, he nodded at her. ‘Afternoon, Tabitha. I was wondering if we could have a quick word?’
‘What?’ She blinked, surprised he even remembered her name. ‘You want to talk to me?’
‘Yes. It won’t take long.’
Meg looked between them and grinned. ‘Ned and I will wait in the car.’ She practically dragged the boy off by the scruff of his collar.
Tab had no idea what he wanted but she could guarantee it wasn’t anything like Meg was obviously thinking. Or wishing. Her sister-in-law was a hopeless romantic.
‘Do you want to come inside?’
Tab swallowed at the thought of being alone in the classroom with him. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
He looked confused, probably thinking she didn’t trust her hormones alone with him. She rolled her eyes — he wasn’t that hot.
‘I don’t have a child in your class.’ She gestured to the few parents who were still lingering and lowered her voice. ‘People in small towns jump to conclusions quickly.’
‘Ah, right, okay. Sorry, I’m still getting used to how things work.’
She nearly smiled at that; his uncertainty was almost sweet, but then she remembered what a wanker he’d been and levelled with him instead. ‘What was it you wanted to talk to me about?’
He glanced quickly at the ground and then back up to meet her gaze. A tinge of red spread in his cheeks. ‘I … I just wanted to apologise.’
Wow. Tab didn’t know what she’d been expecting but it was not this—in her experience men rarely went out of their way to admit they were wrong. ‘For?’ she prodded.
There were a number of possibilities—for his rude behaviour when she’d tried to welcome him, for gawking at her arm as though she were an alien or for assuming she was cracking onto him when she was just trying to be nice.
‘For my ungraciousness when you came to say hi and for my embarrassing assumption that you were coming onto me. I heard about your pregnancy.’ He nodded towards her still-flat stomach. ‘Congratulations.’
Her hand drifted instinctively to said stomach and she couldn’t help smiling. ‘Apology accepted.’ She’d never been good at holding grudges and felt her dislike towards Fergus wavering a little.
‘You were right about the women,’ he added. ‘It sounded so ludicrous and far-fetched, but …’
She raised her eyebrows and couldn’t help a little smirk even though she normally wasn’t one to gloat. ‘You’ve had some interest?’
‘You could say that.’ He grimaced and she felt a little tingle of something dance down her spine at the combination of amusement and horror in his eyes. ‘I’ve never had so many invitations to dinner in my life. But it’s not just that; I even had the offer of—’
‘Let me guess,’ she interrupted. ‘A puppy?’
‘Yes.’ His caramel eyes widened. ‘How’d you know?’
‘Not to make you feel any less special, but you’re not the first guy Adeline Walsh has tried to lure with one of her adorable Maremmas. I did try to warn you.’
He had the good sense to look abashed. ‘Yes, you did.’
‘Of course, you could always take the puppy and run?’
Fergus chuckled. ‘Tempting, but my cat already hates me enough.’
He was handsome even when he scowled, but the smile that lifted his lips now made him cute in a less polished kind of way, and she tried to ignore the way her breath quickened at his deep throaty laugh. ‘Your cat hates you?’
He nodded. ‘It’s a long, boring story.’
Tab found she actually wanted to hear it but Meg and Ned were waiting in the car. ‘Right, well, I’d better be going. Hope your first day at school was good. I’ll probably see you around.’
‘Sure. Sorry again. And, I promise I’m not always such a wanker.’
‘I’ll reserve my judgement on that,’ she said, resisting the urge to ask him why he’d acted like one.
As she turned to go, he said, ‘One more thing?’
‘Yes?’
‘I know you don’t owe me any help, but … Adeline keeps pestering me for an interview for the local paper. Is that legit or …?’
Tab laughed—a week in Walsh had made him paranoid. ‘It is. Adeline is the editor of the Walsh Whisperer. The way she talks you’d think it was the New York Times, but locals do love it and they will all be curious about you, so an interview is a good idea because it means less chance of a grilling when you’re in IGA trying to buy milk.’
‘Right. Thanks.’ He ran a hand through his hair as if exhausted by all of this. ‘I guess I’ll do the interview then. Is there anything else I should know?’
And because she was in a good mood from seeing her healthy baby on the screen, she decided to give him one more piece of advice. ‘Well, something to keep in mind is that pretty much everyone is related to everyone else in one way or another, so be careful what you say about anyone because it might come back to bite you on the bum.’
‘Got it. Appreciate the tip.’
‘You’re welcome, and good luck.’
There was a swing in Tab’s step as she walked out of the schoolyard and across to Meg’s four-wheel drive.
‘You look happy,’ he
r sister-in-law declared the moment Tab opened the passenger door and slid into her seat.
‘It’s been a great day.’ She turned to Ned in the back seat. ‘Do you wanna see a picture of your cousin?’
His eyes widened. ‘For real?’
She nodded, dug the ultrasound photos out of her bag and handed them to him. ‘Be careful.’
‘Wow.’ His expression was full of awe. ‘How does the camera see through all your skin? Is that the baby’s arm or leg? Is it a boy or a girl?’
Both Tab and Meg laughed at his barrage of questions and Tab answered them all patiently. ‘So how was your first day of school?’ she asked, as Meg turned off the main road in the direction of their farm.
‘Awesome. Mr McDuck is the coolest teacher ever.’
‘Why do you call him Mr McDuck?’
‘He’s named after a duck,’ Ned explained. ‘Apparently his mum loved Donald Duck but didn’t love the name Donald so called him after one of the other ducks.’
Meg and Tab exchanged a look of horror. ‘No duck names for your baby, okay?’
‘Deal,’ Tab said.
The moment Meg stopped the car, Ned leapt out and rushed off to find Lawson to tell him all about his day. As their dogs stopped him briefly in his tracks to welcome him, Tab put her hand on the door.
‘Not so fast,’ Meg said. ‘I see what you mean about Mr McDuck. Until he spoke, I thought McDreamy was a more suitable title, but he definitely didn’t give off a friendly vibe when I introduced myself. He barely met my eye and made it very clear he’d rather be doing anything but talking to me.’
‘Really?’ Tab hadn’t got that impression at all this time.
‘Ah huh. Ned obviously thinks he’s the cat’s pyjamas though.’
‘Maybe he’s just one of those people who has difficulty talking to adults?’
Meg raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ve changed your tune. What did he want with you anyway?’
‘Oh, just to apologise for the way he acted the other day.’
‘Wow, that is noble,’ Meg conceded with a slight pout. ‘Now I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to like him or not.’
Tab laughed. ‘Well, since Ned likes him and he tried to make amends with me, I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt. We’ll assume he’s just shy and a little awkward, unless proven otherwise.’
‘Good plan. I have to say it would be a struggle to dislike someone that looks like him.’
‘Hey, looks aren’t everything, and you’re a married woman! Married to my brother, in case you need the reminder.’
It was Meg’s turn to laugh. ‘Being married doesn’t make you blind.’ She paused a moment. ‘But in case you need the reminder, you’re not married. And now McDuck doesn’t think you’re coming onto him like most of the other single women in town, perhaps you have an advantage.’
Tab scoffed. ‘Oh yeah, being pregnant, suffering extreme tiredness and the odd bout of morning sickness is a massive advantage. Soon I’ll probably have swollen ankles as well. What guy in their right mind could resist that?’
A serious expression came across Meg’s face. She opened her mouth but Tab jumped in before she could say whatever it was she wanted to say.
‘Anyway, I’m not looking for a partner.’
‘I just want you to be happy,’ Meg whispered.
‘I am. I know you and Lawson are so darn in love with each other that it’s hard to believe anyone could be truly happy without the same, but I’ve got a wonderful life, a great family, a thriving business, and a lot to look forward to.’
‘What about a bit of fun then?’
Tab shook her head. ‘You’re incorrigible, you know that?’
But despite her declaration of un-intent to her sister-in-law, she was only human and there was a tiny little something inside her that buzzed at the prospect of getting to know Fergus McWilliams a little better.
Chapter Eight
On Thursday afternoon when Ferg arrived at the sporting complex for cricket training, there were already a few cars parked around the edges of the oval. He was looking forward to coaching the kids cricket—the evenings were long down here, so at least it would keep him busy a little longer before he headed home to an empty house. Well, empty bar Mrs Norris, who he was still no closer to winning over.
He chuckled as he envisaged how the session might run—Lisl bossing him about and telling him how to do everything while Levi and Tate ran amok and tried to lure the rest of the young cricketers into mischief.
‘Hey, Mr McDuck!’
As Ferg climbed out of his car, the few kids that had been careening around on the oval ran over to him. He was already regretting telling them the origins of his name.
‘Hi Jimmy, Hi Victoria, Hi Milly, Hi Max. You guys want to help me set up?’
‘Yes,’ they cheered in unison. This was what he loved most about teaching the middle primary years—they were still all so enthusiastic and eager to please; life hadn’t soured them yet.
He gave an obligatory wave to the mums nattering at the side of the oval as he carried the large kit bag towards the cricket pitch in the middle of the grass. As he directed the children to put the little yellow cones out on the ground to mark the different skills stations, a couple more cars arrived and more kids spilled out. Most of them were large, dirt-covered four-wheel drives—Prados or Patrols with the odd crew-cab ute thrown in for good measure, so he looked twice when an old-fashioned ice-cream truck drove in.
‘Ice-cream!’ shouted the kids, abandoning the tasks he’d given them and rushing towards the van.
He watched as Ned leapt out the passenger seat and his aunty emerged from the driver’s side. While the kids were obviously more excited at the prospect of a frozen treat, Ferg’s mouth went dry at the sight of Tabitha Cooper-Jones in sporty black shorts and a tank top that accentuated her lovely curves. His gaze was drawn unwittingly to her legs, which were lightly tanned and the most perfectly shaped pins he’d ever laid eyes on. How had he not noticed how attractive she was before?
Their first meeting he’d been too busy staring at her half-missing arm to notice and on Tuesday he’d been focused on his apology, but right now …
He shook his head and dragged his eyes up as she strode towards him, a flock of junior cricketers at her heels.
‘No ice-cream until after training,’ he heard her say and tried to focus on the thought of the cool delight himself in an aim to stop his body making a fool of him.
‘Hey Mr McWilliams,’ she said as she hit him with a killer smile. Her dark bob was contained under a cap with a WA MILK logo on it, and her eyes sparkled with warmth, giving her a girl-next-door kind of beauty.
She looked both sweet and pure, exactly the opposite of his thoughts.
‘Hello, Tabitha,’ he managed, ‘and please, call me Fergus, or even Ferg.’
‘In that case, feel free to call me Tab.’
Doing his best to tame his carnal thoughts, he nodded to Ned. ‘Hey kiddo.’ And then looked back at Tab. ‘Well, guess I’d better try and herd these cats,’ he gestured to the kids all running amok, ‘into some kind of order and get training started.’
She chuckled. ‘Good idea. How do you want to do this? Last year Terry and I got everyone warmed up together and then we split the group in two—I took the new, younger players and Terry took the ones who’d already been playing a year or so. But you’re the coach, so I’m at your service.’
Ferg frowned. ‘You’re one of the helpers?’
Had Joanne mentioned Tabitha would be assisting him? He thought he’d have remembered such pertinent information, but was rapidly beginning to learn that a lot of assumptions were made in the country. The grapevine wasn’t merely an expression, it was a real live thing, so everyone just expected that everyone knew what everyone else was doing.
Tab’s smile wavered a little. ‘Yes. I’ve been assistant coach for a few years.’
‘Assistant coach?’ He didn’t mean to sound so sceptical as his gaz
e once again dropped to her arm, or rather her stump. Was that what you’d call it? He wondered why she didn’t have a prosthetic attachment.
‘Do you have a problem with that?’ she asked, her tone suddenly frosty.
He snapped his eyes back up to her face, but hesitated a moment before replying. She might be able to throw okay but how could someone with only one functioning arm bat properly, never mind direct the kids how to?
‘You don’t think I can play or coach cricket with only one arm?’ Her voice rose and he was aware of the fact that not only had the kids stopped dashing madly about, but their parents at the edge of the field were watching him and Tab with bated breath.
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘You didn’t have to. And didn’t your mother ever teach you not to stare?’
Ferg couldn’t help prickling at the mention of his mother.
‘I’ll have you know,’ Tab went on, ‘I can coach cricket just as well with one arm, if not better, than you can with two. In fact, you’d be surprised what I can do with one arm.’
He heard laughter from the parents, but there wasn’t any such amusement in Tab’s eyes. She looked as if she was about to raise her good fist and slam it into his face.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to—’
‘No, no one ever does. They’re just ignorant and so are you. But don’t worry, I don’t give a damn what you think anyway. I’m here for the kids, so let’s not waste any more time debating my credentials.’
She turned away and he blinked, totally discombobulated. Feeling the watchful eyes of the parents on him, he resisted the urge to try to talk to Tabitha further, turning to address the kids instead.
‘Alright everyone,’ he shouted and clapped his hands together to get their attention, ‘come on in close so we can get started.’
The sound of Mr McWilliams’ voice was akin to nails down the blackboard. Tab fought the urge to leave him to it, to stalk back to her van and go fume quietly somewhere else, but she wasn’t about to abandon Ned or the rest of the team to such an ignoramus.
Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2) Page 7