Outback Sisters (16 page)

‘Pretty much.' Logan looked unashamedly proud of this fact and for some bizarre reason, Angus found himself wavering.

‘Come on,' Logan continued. ‘I'm not asking you to give up your hermit existence permanently, just for the weekend. If that thought pains you too much, put yourself in Frankie's shoes. No girl likes to go to a wedding alone.' And then he hit him in his soft-spot. ‘Imagine if it was Liv. Wouldn't you want some knight in shining armour to rescue her?'

Angus groaned, rubbed his jaw and raised his eyebrows. ‘I'm no knight in shining armour.'

‘Maybe not, but it could be fun,' Logan said, sounding like he was running out of arguments.

And then Angus had an idea. ‘Tell you what,' he said, ‘how about we make a deal? I'll go to the wedding with Simone's sister if you agree to stop trying to convince me to attend the renewable energy meeting. I'm not interested and I know this farm is both of ours, but I don't want any other party coming in and telling us what we can and can't do on our own land.'

Shock flashed across Logan's face. As he deliberated, Angus prepared himself for another argument. If past discussions were anything to go by, no way would his brother back down on this. He knew Logan didn't want to be so tied to the farm anymore and that he saw this as the perfect way to achieve his goal.

‘Okay,' Logan finally breathed, defeat etched across his face.

Angus almost lost his grip on the lamb he'd just grabbed. ‘Okay?'

‘Yep. You've got yourself a deal.' Angus could see it physically pained his brother to agree, but it was a testament to how Logan felt about Simone that he did. ‘Looks like we're going to a wedding!'

‘I suppose you want me to get a haircut as well.'

‘You really should,' Logan conceded. ‘And that beard could do with a trim.'

Angus gave Logan the finger, rubbed his beard affectionately and then got back to the sheep.

Simone gave each of her daughters a kiss goodnight and practically threw them at Jason's parents, who'd agreed to look after them while she attended Stella's hens night. She waited until she was out of view of the old farmhouse and then pressed her foot down on the accelerator, red dust flying up behind the Pajero as she drove towards the main road. Joan and Eddie McArthur lived about fifteen kilometres east of Bunyip Bay and thanks to the girls dilly-dallying to pack their overnight bags, Simone was already running late. The phone coverage was crap out this way, so she couldn't call Frankie or the others, but they never expected her to be early anyway.

She passed the time bopping along to The McClymonts and as she entered the outskirts of town, her mobile started ringing on speaker phone.

‘Hey Mum,' she said as she accepted the call.

‘What are you and my darling girls up to tonight?' Ruth asked by way of a greeting.

‘I've just dropped them off at the farm. It's Stella's hens tonight at Ruby's, I'm heading there now.'

‘I'll bet that will be a bit of fun. Do Jason's parents know about your new man?'

Simone frowned as she turned off the highway into town. ‘How did
you
know about Logan?' Although it was a stupid question; the Madden girls talked. ‘Frankie, Harriet or Grace?'

‘Harriet—she seemed quite proud of herself for setting you up.'

‘She's lucky I didn't kill her. And I haven't told Joan and Eddie yet but I think they'd be happy if I found someone else. They've said on more than one occasion that I should put myself out there again.' She shuddered at that awful expression—but that's the way people spoke, as if she was some product that had been returned and needed to be re-shelved for purchase.

‘Will their financial support continue if you and this Logan fella get serious?' Ruth asked, her tone anxious.

When Jason died, Simone had used his life insurance to buy a house in Bunyip Bay. Although owning her own home had meant she'd never been in dire financial trouble, the McArthurs continued to pay her an allowance from the farm, wanting to look after their son's wife and children. ‘Mum, I have no idea, but it wouldn't matter either way. You know I've saved that money for the girls. We've never relied on it; we get by okay on what I earn.'

Ruth sighed and Simone hoped she wasn't going to pry into how much she earned from her art. She'd always got the impression Ruth and Graham, and even to an extent her real dad, didn't take her art seriously, but plenty of other people were prepared to pay good money for her creations.

‘That's good then. You know I can't help worrying.'

Simone turned into Ruby and Drew's driveway and smiled at the sight of Faith Forrester's ute up ahead. ‘I know. It's a mother's prerogative.'

‘Anyway, tell me about this Logan fella. I've heard he's tall, blond and quite a looker.'

‘Harriet said that?' Simone's cheeks burned at the thought of her mum and her daughter discussing her love life.

‘Yes, so what else is he like?'

‘He's a journalist and also helps his brother out on their farm,' Simone said as she parked between Faith Forrester's ute and Frankie's hatchback in front of the impressive house that used to be Ruby's parents' place.

‘I don't want his resume, I want to know what he's like? Does he make you laugh? Does he make you …
scream
?' Ruth giggled like a teenage girl.

‘Mum!' Simone gripped her fingers tightly around the steering wheel.

‘What? You're an adult now. You have two teenage daughters. I know you've had sex and we've all been hoping that one day you'd have some again.'

Oh. My. God!
Simone swallowed, unable to believe they were having this conversation. She and Logan had kissed again in Geraldton—and whenever his lips touched hers, her heart skipped a beat, but it felt more like nerves than anticipation. Truthfully, she was afraid her body had forgotten how to feel those things, terrified her hormones had grown sick of all those years waiting and up and left. ‘It's early days, but I'm bringing him to the wedding next weekend. You'll get to meet him then.' She hoped this news would distract her mother's inappropriate thoughts.

‘I can't wait. And I've got an idea!'

By the time Simone disconnected the call and climbed out of the Pajero, she'd somehow agreed to her mother's crazy plan. And maybe it was for the best. Maybe she just needed to jump in, head first, so she didn't have time for the crippling fear that consumed her every time she thought about being with a man again.

As she headed up the garden path towards the house, she heard the sounds of Taylor Swift's latest album inside. Considering that, like the wedding, Stella's hens night was going to be a small affair—only her closest friends and soon-to-be cousins-in-law in attendance—the party sounded in full swing.

Poor Stella was estranged from her own family, but Adam's parents had welcomed her with open arms. It was hard to believe they'd barely even known each other a year. She hadn't replaced the little girl they'd lost all those years ago, but Esther and Dave loved Stella like a daughter and Heidi as if she were their granddaughter by blood.

Hitching her overnight bag up on her shoulder, Simone lifted her hand to ring the bell but the door was flung open before she could do so.

‘What took you so long?' Ruby asked as she reached out and dragged her inside.

‘Teenagers cannot be rushed,' Simone replied as she kicked the door shut behind them.

‘Harriet and Grace take after their mother,' called Frankie from somewhere further inside the house. ‘Simone can't be rushed either.'

Simone stuck out her tongue in the direction of the voice and Ruby laughed. ‘I love you two,' she said, threading her arm through Simone's. ‘I always wanted a sister.'

‘They have their uses,' Simone conceded. ‘The girls and I would likely starve to death if it wasn't for Frankie.'

‘Wait till you see the feast she's conjured up for tonight.' Ruby led Simone into the lounge room where Stella, Faith and Frankie were draped over the leather couches, glasses in hand.

She waved at her sister and then bent down to envelop Faith in a huge hug. Faith had grown up in Bunyip Bay and although she and her long-time best friend, now fiancé, Daniel Montgomery—better known to his mates as Monty—had come back for a visit just after Christmas, they were once again busy with their new lives on their property down south and everyone missed them. ‘Look at you,' Simone exclaimed. ‘Pregnancy suits you. Monty must be looking after you.'

Faith grinned. ‘I have no complaints. The man is a saint.'

Simone smiled and then glanced at the coffee table in front of them, laid out with a mouth-watering array of homemade dips and nibbles, all beautifully displayed in Frankie's trademark style. Although her stomach rumbled at the sight, it was the glistening bottle of bubbly Simone was interested in. She thrust her index finger towards it. ‘I need me a glass of that. Now.'

The perfect host, Ruby slipped her arm free of Simone's and turned to fill the empty glass that sat on the table.

‘Sorry we didn't wait,' Stella said apologetically. ‘I was a little nervous about leaving Heidi for the night and Frankie thought this might help.' She held up her crystal flute.

‘No worries.' Simone sat down on the couch next to Stella and patted her knee.

‘There isn't much a few bubbles won't fix.' Frankie lifted her glass and took another sip.

Simone took her glass and downed about half of it in one mouthful. She let out a sigh of contentment as she felt the tension caused by another fight with Harriet ebbing away. ‘That stuff is good.'

‘Only the best for our bride.' Ruby winked at Stella as she topped up everyone's glasses.

Poor Faith was sipping on a glass of mineral water. ‘I would kill for some of that,' she said, flicking her long brown hair over her shoulder and frowning.

‘Surely you can have one glass,' Stella said.

Faith shook her head. ‘One glass is never enough. Better if I abstain. It's only nine months, right? Less now.' She placed her hands on her growing bump and looked from Stella to Simone and back again. ‘And it'll be worth it in the end. Right?'

‘Totally.' Stella nodded, her smile wide.

Simone raised an eyebrow and took a slug of her drink, then, ‘No comment. If it weren't for my delightful little angels I wouldn't have been late tonight. You'd think they were packing for a month-long cruise, not a weekend away.'

Frankie snorted. ‘So what was your excuse for the nineteen years before they came along?'

Simone glared at her, pretending to be annoyed.

‘Where are the girls?' Faith asked. ‘I'm hoping to catch up with them and the rest of the gang sometime this week.'

‘The gang' referred to the netball team Faith used to coach before she and Monty moved to Mount Barker. As key players in Adam and Stella's bridal party, Faith and Monty had returned for the wedding and the fun and frivolity leading up to it.

‘They're staying with Jason's folks on the farm for the weekend.'

Frankie chuckled. ‘Bet Harriet is pleased about that. She'll miss another footy match because I can't see Mrs McArthur bringing her all the way into town to see her boyfriend.'

‘No, the guys have a bye this weekend, thank God, and the boyfriend's gone to Perth with his parents,' Simone explained, taking another much-needed sip.

The other women laughed, recalling what it felt like to be sixteen and in love. Simone and Stella had both ended up pregnant to their first loves. She shuddered at the thought, thinking she really needed to try to talk to Harriet about contraception again—she was not old enough to be a granny yet.

‘Anyway, now that you're here,' Ruby said, leaning down and sliding a box out from under the coffee table, ‘we can really get started.' She reached into the box and pulled out a bright pink satin sash and held it up so they could all read the word ‘bride' scrawled across it in sparkly silver cursive writing.

‘Oh, no,' Stella squealed, shaking her head. ‘I'm not wearing that. You said this was going to be a civilised night.'

‘Sure you are.' Ruby used her stern voice, the one she used when giving horse-riding lessons, and tossed the sash over to Stella. It floated down into her lap and Faith snatched it up and then draped it over her, giggling.

‘Gorgeous.'

Stella rolled her eyes but the smile on her face said she didn't mind the attention one bit.

‘Just because we're staying in, doesn't mean we can't have a proper hens night,' Ruby said, pulling out a tiara that at first glance looked very regal, but under closer scrutiny seemed to have miniature penises sticking out the top of it.

‘Ruby!' Stella exclaimed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson as the tiara was placed on her head.

Frankie and Faith were quick to grab their phones to commemorate the event.

Stella pointed a finger at them. ‘Do not put any of this on Facebook!'

Simone's eyes widened as she stifled a laugh. ‘What on earth else do you have in that box?'

In reply, Ruby wriggled her eyebrows up and down. ‘Don't worry, girls, I didn't forget any of you.' And then she stuck her hand back into the box and pulled out four matching ‘bridesmaid' sashes and some weird reddish-beige necklaces.

Simone narrowed her eyes as she tried to work them out, then, ‘
Oh my!
' She slammed her hand over her mouth.

‘More penises!' shrieked Stella, losing her battle with hysterics. ‘I didn't know you were such a naughty girl.'

‘Me either,' Simone mused, taking another slug of her drink. When she'd first moved back to Bunyip Bay, Ruby Jones had seemed the shy and retiring type, but hooking up with Drew Noble had allowed her true self to be revealed. And when she wanted to be, she could be the life of the party.