The Falls

by Cathryn Hein

  ‘You have now.’

  ‘No more secrets?’

  Instead of replying, Lucas kissed her until she couldn’t remember he hadn’t answered.

  Vanessa had never felt so amazing. Dom was, as she’d fantasised on many occasions, rather spectacular in bed. Each morning found her waking with a sense of delight and anticipation that even when she was young she’d never experienced.

  Oh, how she’d missed sex. And intimacy, and all the other wonder­­ful relationship things – small and big – that Dom was proving so adept at. Seduction. Silly, sexy lover’s babble. The simple act of listening when Vanessa wanted to talk. She could kick herself for waiting so long. All those worries she’d once considered huge and insurmountable had become petty in the dwarfing shadow of Dom’s love.

  It was proving contagious, too. Falls Farm itself seemed to fizz with excitement. Penny had returned home from the Wellness Centre fairly skipping, and this time it had nothing to do with black cohosh or coffee put in places it never belonged. It was all due to discovering that Graham was in treatment at the centre. The husband she had never wanted to leave in the first place. Who, with her big loyal heart, she’d forgiven for all his many sins.

  Everyone was finding light in their personal darkness.

  Except Teagan.

  Yesterday afternoon, Lucas had called in for a candid chat. He’d sat on a cane chair with his hands held prayer-like against his mouth and worry carving lines in his brow.

  ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ he’d said. ‘I hate lying to her. Especially about —’ He caught the word before it could be said and Vanessa softened in sympathy.

  ‘Dom. I know, darling. He told me.’

  Why she hadn’t clicked before Vanessa still couldn’t fathom. Dom’s and Lucas’s relationship was so obvious now – their extreme physical beauty, the blue-eyed blondness, Lucas’s unrestrained and unfathomable dislike of Dom. They were akin in nature, too, both driven in their own, unique way. Both considerate. Both protective of the women they loved.

  He leaned back and blew air between his lips. ‘She’ll flip when she finds out. Not just about me. About you, about her dad being at the Wellness Centre.’ He scraped his hand down his face. ‘Jesus.’

  ‘So we tell her.’

  ‘Right. When?’

  ‘Perhaps Sunday. When she’s not so tired from work. We’ll have lunch here. You, me, Dom, Penny. Afterwards we’ll sit together and explain.’

  Lucas hadn’t liked it. The memory of Teagan attacking Dom was too fresh. That and the aftermath, when she’d frightened him so terribly with her absent stare and thoughts of leaving. But Lucas was right, none of them could keep hiding like they were. At least he’d come up with a distraction. Buying Teagan’s horse back was a genius idea.

  Which was exactly what Vanessa had just done.

  Honestly, her family were sending her broke. But better Vanessa spend her money when it could do good than leave it to them when she was dead. Plus now that she had official confirmation that Merlin was safe, she didn’t have to fret. Insurance would take care of that tiny-penised twerp Callum.

  Emily had been delighted to help. She’d even offered to bring the horse up herself, but Vanessa didn’t want to put her out and suggested they organise specialist transport. Horses were moved around the country all the time, and with the many racing and equestrian facilities in the area there was bound to be someone coming by. With practical matters resolved, they’d fallen into a conversation about Teagan. Having suffered family dramas of her own, Emily hadn’t been in contact as often as she would have liked and was eager for news that Teagan was settling in well after the trauma of losing Pinehaven. Vanessa had prevaricated, feeling it wasn’t her place to reveal too much, but was left in no doubt that Emily was as worried for her niece as the rest of them.

  They’d exchanged numbers, promising to sort Astra out as soon as practicable.

  Her immediate problems solved, Vanessa sat back with her hands across her belly, feeling smug. Smug and more than a little horny. Something she found rather surprising given that Dom had left only a few hours before. She hoped he wasn’t too exhausted, poor darling. Lucas apparently didn’t give any quarter when it came to cricket training. Dom was already covered in bruises from being smacked by Lucas’s powerful bowls.

  Tomorrow would be such fun. The Falcons’ first home game. Vanessa had decided to make it a proper English-style picnic day at the cricket, while Dom had promised to provide Humvees to shuttle the Falls Farm contingent to the ground and back, so no one had to worry about drunk driving. A few champagne cocktails, some lovely finger food, and an afternoon of slightly sozzled cricket watching. Perfect.

  The phone rang. She picked it up, thrilled to hear Bunny’s greeting. Five minutes later she put the phone down and smiled even more happily.

  Oh, yes. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.

  *

  Elsa had once again failed to turn up to work on Saturday, causing Teagan to take the load and making her too late to catch the Humvee shuttle to the cricket oval. By the time she arrived the ground was buzzing. Players in coloured clothes dotted the field, throwing balls, doing stretches and practising blocking manoeuvres with their bats. Lowering her head to see properly through the ute window, she hunted for Lucas, amused to spot him catching for Dom, who was bowling what appeared to be a highly unorthodox version of spin.

  Lucas filled out his blue-and-gold Falcons uniform beautifully. To be fair, Dom didn’t look bad either. Leaner, but with the same broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped physique. Both wore blue floppy hats against the sun and zinc cream on their lips, but where Lucas looked sexy, Dom looked a bit of a dill. Though uncharitable, the thought gave her a catty frisson of pleasure. It was in that moment that Dom and Lucas broke into laughter over Dom’s latest unconventional bowl and Teagan experienced a lurch of unease. The similar way their blue eyes crinkled was uncanny. Almost as if they. . . but no, the idea was ridiculous. It was just the uniform making them look alike. Forcing the thought away, Teagan scouted for a spot to park.

  She found the last remaining patch of shade under the bordering line of old gums and alighted. The day was already warming, the temperature forecast to be in the low thirties. With nothing else to wear, Teagan had donned an ancient halter-neck chambray sundress. Normally she would have worn shorts and a singlet or T-shirt, but for some reason she felt an afternoon at the cricket warranted a dress. Though old, it was pretty and showed off her shoulders and legs.

  She picked her way around the outside of the field towards the small besser-block clubhouse. A line of portable shades formed a bright string along the boundary, beneath which the teams’ various supporters had laid out picnic rugs, card tables and deck chairs. Someone had fired up a barbecue and the stomach-grumbling scent of frying onions and sausages filled the air. Eskies and ice buckets dotted the landscape. This was a crowd clearly up for an alcoholic afternoon.

  Spotting her, Lucas waved and made a take-five type of gesture towards Dom before jogging to the fence. Teagan stopped, thrilled when Lucas reached across to pull her into a kiss. Sunshine lit his blue eyes and made them vibrant.

  He looked her up and down, the sunlit glow turning hot. ‘I like that dress.’

  ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have worn it.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I wouldn’t want to put you off your game.’

  He grinned, gloriously sporty and handsome. ‘Not a chance. Anyway, it’ll give me something to aim for.’

  She raised her eyebrows.

  ‘If I score a century will you wear it to bed tonight?’

  ‘If you score a century I promise to do that thing you like. In the dress.’

  His grin flashed even broader. ‘You’re on.’ He glanced back at Dom. ‘I need to get back to warming up. If I stay talking to you any longer I won’t be able to get my box on.’

  ‘Can’t have that. I rather like your crown jewels.’

  ‘I rather like you.’ He grabb
ed her and kissed her again.

  She watched his progress as he crossed the field, clutching her pendant and feeling surreal. As Lucas approached, Dom turned and waved at her and she was surprised to find his smile seemed genuine. Confused, Teagan gave a weak lift of her hand in response.

  She kept her attention on Lucas as she walked the rest of the fence line. Happiness bubbled inside. This wasn’t a fantasy. He really wanted her. She could have hugged herself with joy.

  ‘Teagan!’ Ness waved from under one of the shades. As always, her aunt looked stunning. With each movement, her rich dark-blue sateen dress caught the sun and flashed like a fishing lure. The figure-hugging top was cut like a love heart, and though modest, it moulded her ample breasts and showed off their lush roundness. Her skin was creamy and lightly freckled. Her softly waved red hair was held away from her face by pushed-up bug-eye sunglasses. Bright lipstick stained her lips with screen-siren perfection.

  Penny stood with her in a button-fronted green-and-white polka-dot sundress that would have been very flattering had she not been standing next to her luminous younger sister.

  ‘Drink?’ asked Ness, waving a bottle of expensive pink champagne at Teagan.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘That’s the right attitude.’ As Ness poured she eyed Teagan’s outfit. ‘You look lovely. That dress suits you.’

  ‘Thanks. You’re looking unfairly glamorous as always. You look nice too, Mum. Is that new?’

  ‘Yes. Vanessa found it for me.’ Penny smoothed her hands over the skirt. ‘It’s a bit more colourful than I’m used to.’

  ‘I think it looks great.’ Teagan accepted the glass and held it up. ‘To a win for the boys.’

  Ness sipped, leaving a scarlet kiss of lipstick on her flute. ‘I do so hope they aren’t trounced. Dom would be very disappointed. Men are so competitive.’

  ‘At least they have a full side,’ said Penny as Mark Dunkerton jogged out to Dom and Lucas for a chat.

  Teagan’s gaze followed and once more she was struck by the similarities between the two men. She’d considered their likeness previously, but Dom’s metro smoothness and Lucas’s country rugged­ness had made their differences seem vast. Now, stripped of their usual clothing and wearing matching Falcon’s uniforms, they could easily be uncle and nephew.

  ‘Good of Dom to step in when he’s never played before,’ continued Penny.

  ‘Lucas says he’s quite talented.’

  Disquiet tightened Teagan’s stomach muscles. ‘They’ve been practising, have they?’

  ‘Mmm,’ said Ness, not meeting her eye before smiling sunnily. ‘Have you had lunch, darling? You must be starving after working all morning. We’ve made all sorts of canapés.’ She hurried to an esky. ‘Or would you prefer something more solid? I’ve some roast-beef-and-Branston-pickle sandwiches.’

  ‘Whatever you prefer. Although I’m tempted to pinch a sausage off that barbie. They smell unreal.’

  ‘Best you don’t.’ Ness began laying out plates. ‘It belongs to the opposition.’

  Leaving Ness to her preparations, Teagan moved alongside Penny and pointed to the ground’s pristine white picket fence. ‘This is all very English and civilised.’

  ‘Vanessa said it used to be quite run down. As part of his sponsorship Dom paid for a new fence and roller for the wicket. Apparently the ground has never looked so good.’

  ‘Generous of him.’

  ‘He’s that kind of man.’ Penny eyed her. ‘No matter what you think.’

  Right now, Teagan wasn’t sure what she thought. All she understood was that the more she observed Dom and Lucas, the more troubled she felt.

  ‘Perhaps he is,’ she said, not taking her eyes off the men. Lucas even stood with his legs spread and arms akimbo the same way as Dom. ‘But he’s also a businessman trying to curry favour with the local community. His generosity won’t be all due to altruism.’

  But Penny wasn’t to be budged. ‘Really, Teagan. Must you see underhandedness in everything? You have no idea how kind that man has been. To me, your aunt, and especially to us as a family.’

  Without warning, a plate was shoved between them and pushed aggressively towards Penny’s chin. ‘Vol-au-vent?’

  Looking startled, Penny snatched one off and quickly stuffed it in her mouth, smiling stiffly as she chewed, while Ness smiled with equal rigidity.

  ‘Oh good,’ said Ness, lowering the plate. ‘Bunny’s made it.’

  Like a blonde Amazon in Falcons colours, Bunny strode towards the clubhouse, eyes fixed on Mark Dunkerton. Men, women and dogs stepped aside as she marched determinedly under the awning. Without a pause for breath she kissed Mark firmly and long on the mouth to the whoops and teasing of his teammates.

  ‘Yes,’ was all she said.

  Mark gaped at her.

  Bunny grinned at his stunned expression and ruffled his hair. ‘Play well, Cherub. And don’t get hurt. You and I have a whole lot of loving to do.’

  Ness squealed and did a little jig. The Falcons erupted. With a bow and a wink at a still speechless Mark, Bunny strode over to Ness.

  ‘Right.’ Bunny slapped her hands together and rubbed them. ‘A celebratory drink is in order.’

  Laughing and still jigging, Ness threw herself at Bunny, hugging her hard.

  Penny and Teagan looked at one another.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘I,’ said Bunny proudly, unwrapping a happy-teared Ness from her neck, ‘am getting married.’

  Teagan grinned in delight. From under the awning the Falcons boys broke out into more whoops and backslaps as they congratulated and teased their captain.

  ‘Win or lose,’ said Bunny, grinning hugely, ‘it’s going to be a big night at the bowlo.’

  It was going to be a big day at the cricket, too. Mark lost the toss and the opposition chose to bat. Teagan, Penny, Bunny, Ness, the other wives and girlfriends and several villagers stood by the fence clapping and cheering them on as the Falcons filed out.

  The team huddled in the centre of the ground as Mark barked out instructions and pointed to field placings, mouth working as he channelled former Australian test captain Ricky Ponting and chewed nervously on gum. Lucas was sent to slips, while Dom jogged towards the outfield. Peter Somersby, not a limp wrist in sight, jogged easily to mid-on. Realising how close he was to the batsman at short square leg, Tony de Vitis’s Italian swagger took on a distinct wobble.

  The crowd wandered back to their various sunshades. Nick and Stacey arrived with baby Olly and another esky rattling with ice and booze. Gus and Debbie Anderson from the IGA brought a tray of hot party pies and sausage rolls, which Teagan, desperate for quick sustenance to soak up too many gulps of celebration champagne, tucked into. Soon Vanessa’s shade was spilling with people, drinking, laughing and chatting. High on a glorious day, community spirit and Bunny’s good news.

  Mark opened with his fastest bowler, a storky-looking man Ness said was a local carpenter and who Teagan had met briefly at the trivia night. The Falls contingent groaned as he was hit for four on the first ball. Mark shouted encouragement, Lucas following suit.

  More balls followed. Another boundary followed by three dot balls and a single. The game was underway.

  Teagan settled into a deck chair with a plate full of Vanessa’s sandwiches. Any attempt to avoid a champagne refill had been thwarted by Bunny, who insisted everyone celebrate on her behalf. Teagan supposed it didn’t matter. The Humvee shuttle would see her home and her old ute would be fine left overnight at the grounds. Still, Teagan warned herself to be careful. A little bit of alcohol was fun, and helped her forget her worries for a while. Too much made her thoughts turn dark and roused the nasty whispers in her head. Today was for Lucas, not her screwed-up mess of a mind.

  She looked around, at the people she had now come to call friends. At her mother looking the best she ever had, at her generous, vibrant aunt. At Bunny who couldn’t stop grinning and toasting everyone who came near. At her boss, hi
s wife and their chubby-faced baby, the Andersons and their easy smiles.

  At Lucas, crouched in slips. Talented, athletic, sexy, kind and maybe, just maybe, truly hers.

  The Falls Farm crowd left their seats to line the edge of the shade when Lucas was called into bowl. He had a sublime action, smooth and powerful. When the first ball was hit for a four he stood in the middle of the wicket with his hands on his hips and a grim expression, his eyes narrowed at the batsman. He walked back, catching the ball as it was thrown to him with ease. At the end of his run-up, he turned, the ball twisting in his hands, before exploding towards the wicket. This time the ball was right on stumps and fast.

  The batsman played at it. The sound of the snick had Teagan holding her breath. The ball flicked up, ricocheting towards Mark, who cupped his hands and caught it with barely a bobble. The ball went flying back into the air as he whooped in triumph. Lucas accepted the head rubs and back slaps of his teammates, Dom’s lasting longer than any of the others. Bunny crowed from the sidelines like a rooster.

  Lucas bowled another over, finishing with an impressive one for five as the incoming batsman treated him with more wariness.

  ‘Cherub will swap the bowling around now,’ said Bunny, nodding sagely. ‘Ed next, I think.’ She smiled as Mark did exactly that. ‘Good man.’

  The afternoon swung between indolence and drama. The Falcons’ tactics kept the opposition in check. As the overs ticked by, the frustrated batsmen ceased blocking and took to playing at anything close to being off line. Bunny kept everyone amused with her insightful but massively biased commentary.

  ‘You should be out there,’ Nick told her.

  ‘I might make it out yet if someone gets injured.’ As soon as the words were spoken Bunny hunted for something wooden to touch, sighing in relief as she laid fingers on one of Vanessa’s serving boards.