Coming Home (5 page)

"A few thousand.
The wages and expenses account is separate from your father’s spending
money."

"Don't need it
anyway, just asking. Thanks, Tory. You coming?" He looked down at Russ.

"Yes." Russ
stood up and reached across the desk to shake hands with Tory. "Thanks for
everything."

"I'll be out for
the funeral tomorrow. If you have anything else you need to know, give me a
call."

"No worries,
thanks. When are you expecting Rooney?"

"Hopefully later
today or in the morning. I've let her know about the funeral. The will she can
hear later if it comes to that."

"Can you tell her
I can't wait to see her. Give her my number and tell her to call me if she
isn't coming straight out to the house."

"Sure, Russ.
Thanks for coming in guys. I'll see you tomorrow."

They shook hands. Russ
walked out of the solicitor’s office and held the door for Cade as he hobbled out
on his crutches.

"Where's your
car?" Russ asked, shielding his eyes from the bright sunshine.

Cade nodded to the
bright yellow Ferrari sitting at the kerbside.

"Really? Geez,
that must have set you back a bit." He walked over and squatted down to
look in through the passenger window.

"Yeah but it's
worth it. Best chick magnet on the planet." Cade took the key from his
pocket and unlocked the door, pulling it open. "Have a seat."

Russ slid his long legs
into the car and relaxed against the black leather seats.

"Want me to take
you for a spin?"

"Another time
maybe. I want to go out and see Essie. Are you coming out or staying in
town?"

"May as well stay
at the house. At least that won't cost me anything." Cade gave him a
winning smile. "Be good to have a home-cooked feed for a change too."

Russ looked over and
wondered why he and his brother were so different. All Cade wanted was a good
time and no responsibilities. It didn't look like much had changed since he’d
become a football star. If anything, it probably made him worse.

He got out and shut the
door. Standing with his hand on the car, he looked in. "See you there
then. Drive carefully."

"Always. Stop
being so damned fuddy duddy and worry about something that needs it. I
don't."

Russ walked back to his
BMW sedan and sat going over the terms of his father's will. It really didn't
impact greatly on him, as things had turned out. It would be a shame if Rooney
and Cade didn't agree to live there. To see the home and all its contents go to
strangers gave him a sense of loneliness that surprised him.

In all the years he’d
been away from home, he hadn't missed the property, only his mother. She’d
visited often enough before he married. His ex hadn't liked his mother as much
as he’d hoped she would, and the fact they couldn't stay at the house annoyed
her even more. No chance to live it up and impress his father, getting her toes
in the door.

Why couldn't see
through her? Everyone else could. Am I so damned gullible, so soft in the head?

He shook off his
thoughts. Russ was glad Essie was taken care of at least. She deserved a home
and retirement after all the love and care she’d showered on their family. The
thought of seeing her again after all these years made him smile.

It was time to go home.

***

Russ drove along the
familiar roads toward Petersham Homestead. Down the New England Highway and
turning at Maitland, he cruised through the tiny but popular town of Lorn. The
closer he got to the family property, the tighter his chest became.

The final sweeping
curve of the road rose ahead of him and he slowed the car as he crested the
hill. Sweeping paddocks led down to a large lagoon that fronted the property.
Memories of days lazing on tyre tubes rushed in to remind him of his childhood.

Russ pulled over to the
side of the road and gazed at the property. Large fig trees surrounded the main
house as it lifted tall chimneys to the sun. The slate roof glowed in the late
afternoon light. It looked as though nothing had changed in the ten years he’d
gone.

Horses grazed peacefully
in the front paddocks and ducks floated on the water where he’d gotten
sunburned more times than he could remember. The weeping willows that lined the
lagoon and followed up the driveway were taller but otherwise the picture in
his memory was the same.

A tractor rolled over
paddocks on one side, down past the old convicts’ barracks, cutting hay and he
wondered if it was Kate. He smiled to himself. Fancy his brother's shadow all
grown up and running the place. Things really had gone full circle. Little Kate
had adored Cade, following him everywhere, at every chance she could.

How his brother
couldn't see that she'd worn her heart on her sleeve was beyond him. But then
all the girls had adored his brother. The blond-haired, blue-eyed sporting hero
always had someone running after him. It was a shame that none of them had
managed to tame him.

Constantly in the news
for his antics and celebrity girlfriends, Cade had scoffed at the playboy tag
and insisted his goal was only to play the best he could for his team. Now Russ
wondered if those days were finally over.

The thought of Kate all
grown up made him smile
. I wonder if she’ll still fall at Cade’s feet after
all these years?
Russ put the car in gear and headed down the road, turning
in at the same cast iron letterbox that had sat as a sentinel for over a
hundred years.

He drove up the long
sweep of the driveway and through the wrought iron gates, pulling up in front
of the house. Nerves fluttered in his stomach as he turned off the key.

Before he was out of
the car, a small woman came running from the front door.

"Russ, you're
home." She raced down the steps and threw herself into his arms, sobbing
against his chest.

"Shh, Essie, it's
okay, I'm here." He held her close, feeling the sobs racking through her
frail body. When her cries turned to small hiccups, he held her back and wiped
the tears from her wrinkled cheeks with his thumbs. "Still throwing
yourself at the boys after all these years, Essie."

"Oh, away with
you." She reached up and batted him on the shoulder and he feigned pain.
"It's so good to see you home. It threw me for a minute."

"I get it, Essie.
It kind of threw me off coming up the driveway too."

"I'm sorry this is
the reason you came home. I know your dear mother would have wanted be here to
see you return."

"I know, but hey,
better late than never." He flicked a button on his key ring and opened
the boot to take an overnight bag from between the boxes.

"Are you home for
the funeral or for good, Russ? Looks like you have a bit of stuff with
you."

He tucked an arm around
her slight shoulders and walked up the steps onto the veranda. "Big
changes are happening for me, Essie. Pour me a cup of tea and I’ll fill you
in."

As they walked through
the dark polished oak doorway, his gaze picked out the familiar family crest
inlaid in the stained glass panels either side of the door. The smell hit him
first, a mixture of beeswax furniture polish entwined with the softer fragrance
of roses. His mother had loved her roses and Russ stopped when he spotted them.
The crystal bowl sat on the low table in the reception room as if she'd placed
them there herself. Even the old leather chairs were still tucked into the
curve of the stair case and he remembered seeing her there, waiting.

"You father
wouldn't let me change a thing when she died."

"I'm glad he
didn't. It's like she is still here."

"I swear some days
she is. Your room is still the same. I haven't moved a thing since you
left."

Russ dropped his bag at
the foot of the stairs and followed Essie into the back of the house to the
kitchen where the smell of baking filled the room. "You've been busy again
I see."

She filled the kettle
before placing it on the stove and grinned at him. "You know me well enough
to know I wouldn't have people over to farewell your father and not feed
them." She took a tissue from her apron pocket and blew her nose. "Is
Cade coming home?"

"Yes, he should be
here soon. I met him at Tory's but he has his own car. I don't know if he will
stay, Essie. His world is football." Russ stood with his hands in his
pockets and looked around the room. Nothing had changed in here either but he
hadn't expected it to. Essie was a stickler for order and kept things exactly
how she liked them.

She made him tea and
put it on the island counter between them. "I guess Tory filled you in on
what has happened here since you left?"

"Yeah, he
did." He lifted his cup and took a sip.

"Kate should be in
soon. She is a godsend to this place, let me tell you. When your dad started
finding it hard to manage on his own, she was happy to help out. She's run the
place ever since, taking on more and more until he could relax and let her
manage it on her own."

"I never thought
farming was her thing growing up. She always talked about going to the
city."

"Pfft, you know
why that was don't you? Your brother was going and she was stuck on him. Stupid
boy couldn't see what was under his damned nose."

"But all the girls
followed him around. That’s the way it was."

"Yeah, and more
fool me for being one of them." Kate walked in the back door throwing her
Akubra on the hook on the wall. She slipped her arm over Essie's shoulders,
giving the older woman a hug. "Russ, how are you?" She stepped over
to him and into his arms, a smile lighting up her emerald eyes. "It's been
too long."

"It has but I can
honestly say time has been very kind to you. You look great, Kate." He
held her at arm's length and gazed at her.

"Hard work must
agree with me then." She moved away and opened the fridge door, taking out
a plate of cold meat. "Can I eat this, Essie? I'm damned hungry."

She ripped off the
cling film cover and pulled a strip of meat from the bone. Kate closed her eyes
as she chewed and smiled in appreciation of the taste. Russ stood watching her,
fascinated. The little girl had grown into a stunning woman.

"Do I have
something on my face?" She licked her lips and wiped her hand over her
chin.

"Tory didn't tell
me you had grown up so…um well…stunning."

"Yeah well, that
just kind of happened." She shrugged her shoulders and continued to fill
her mouth, chewing slowly as she watched him. "So, what have you been up
to? Still playing doctor to all those rich folks?"

He laughed as she
winked his way. "No, never been that type of guy, which I’m sure you know
anyway." He smiled at her before he spoke. "You may as well both
know, I signed my divorce papers a couple of days ago. I’m a free man
again." The thought gutted him.

"Fuck, Russ, I'm
so sorry." Kate wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and took a step
toward him. "I didn't know, Tory never said anything." She lay her
hand over his and squeezed. "Anything I can do?"

"No but hey,
thanks. I'll get over it in time. Probably for the better anyway as things
worked out with this place."

Kate looked over at
Essie and chewed on her lip before glancing back at Russ. "Yeah, about
that…I hope you don't think I did anything to coerce your father to keep my
job. It came as much of a surprise to me as it did to you."

"You know me
better than that, Kate. Father would have given you the job because you
deserved it, not because you were after his money. He wasn't that stupid, and
neither is Tory."

"Yeah well, when I
heard about it, I wondered how you guys would take it." She laughed.
"I should have guessed you’d be good with it. Um, what about Cade? Did he
say anything?"

Russ ran his hand
through his hair and grimaced
. How the hell am I going to answer that?

"Okay, I get
it." Her mouth thinned into a tight line. "I’ll just have to deal
with it, I guess. It's good to have you back, Russ, even if your brother is
still an arsehole. I have things to do. Later." She turned on her heel and
stormed out, grabbing her hat as she went.

Essie clucked her
tongue. "Damn shame that boy hasn't had a chance to see how good Kate is
doing before he gets snippy with her."

"Yeah, well he’ll
just have to face her himself and sort it out. I tried and got the rough edge
of his attitude for it. I'm sure Kate can deal with him. She seems pretty
capable now she’s all grown up and not chasing him like a love-sick
puppy."

"I'm sure she can
but that's not the point, Russ. She shouldn't have to. Poor girl has had her
work cut out for her the last few years. Manages those farm hands pretty good but
they respect her as a boss, bit different to how Cade treated her."

"Yes, but won't it
be interesting to sit back and watch to see if it works on Cade?"