Outback Sisters (33 page)

‘You don't have to say anything. You can sleep on it, but after that we need to start thinking about the future. There's every chance I'll only be able to help you on the farm for a few more years.'

‘Do you have a … like a date or something?'

Logan laughed. ‘Yep. Twenty-first of November 2019.'

‘I guess that's a no,' Angus said, not laughing.

‘I don't know exactly. I might not ever completely lose my sight or it might be gone in a couple of years. Either way, I don't want to wait until it's too late to make plans. I think the wind-farming option is a good one. Of course, once I can't work on the farm anymore, I won't take any income—' Not that he took much now. He mostly lived on his writing income. ‘So you'll be able to put that into hired help—or you could find a wife who happened to love the land just as much as you.'

Angus snorted. ‘Yeah, like that's likely.'

‘There are plenty of women farmers as hands-on as their husbands. I've even seen some on the Rural Matchmakers site.'

‘Fuck.' Angus glared at him. ‘That's why you signed up for the internet dating thing, wasn't it?'

Logan grinned. ‘Guilty as charged. I honestly did have to write an article about it, but then I thought if it worked for me, maybe you'd consider trying it as well.'

Angus shook his head. ‘No way. You know my stance on relationships.' He paused, then added, ‘You're an optimistic tosspot, you know that?'

Logan chuckled. Being a glass-half-full type had helped him when the specialist gave him the bad news. As had the bottle of Bundy he'd drunk in his hotel room afterwards.

‘You're a good man, little brother, worrying so much about me. But I don't deserve it.'

‘We'll have to agree to disagree on that one,' Logan said. And that was about as mushy as they got.

‘What about you?' Angus asked. ‘What will you do?'

‘I'm considering applying for a radio gig. I've got some experience and there's a position going at ABC Geraldton. If I get it, I'll have been there a few years before things get really bad and if I move to Gero I won't have to drive much. Plenty of blind people hold down normal jobs.'

‘Good for you,' Angus said. ‘You're handling this so much better than I would.'

Logan wasn't so sure but he didn't want to dwell on it anymore tonight. They were nearing home and he couldn't wait to head to bed and call Frankie. ‘You still going to Perth this weekend to see Liv?'

‘Yep. I'll leave Friday lunchtime 'cos I've got an appointment in Geraldton in the afternoon. Do you want to come?'

‘Would love to,' Logan lied, ‘but I've got a few articles that are pressing and I want to knuckle under this weekend and get them done.'

‘Okay. Do you want me to tell her … about your eyes, or would you rather do it yourself?'

Logan thought a moment. ‘I think I should. If she has questions, I'll be best able to answer them. But I'll call her tomorrow, so you don't have to keep the secret for me.'

‘Righto,' Angus said as he turned down their gravel drive.

Logan smiled. He'd been anxious for months about telling his siblings about his condition, but he actually felt lighter now that he'd begun.

After the week she'd had with Harriet, the last thing Simone felt like doing was meeting her friends for afternoon tea for the official viewing of Adam and Stella's wedding photos, but neither did she want to be a sourpuss. She pushed open the door to Frankie's café and saw she was the first to arrive.

‘Hey, sis.' Frankie stuck her head through the hatch from the kitchen and waved. ‘Not like you to be early.'

Simone glanced at her watch as she plonked herself down on one of the couches in the corner. Truth was she'd been pottering around the studio for the last couple of hours, unable to concentrate on anything, so although she wasn't particularly enthused about looking at the wedding album, she'd been happy for the excuse to stop pretending to work. She shrugged at Frankie. ‘Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf?'

Frankie snorted and went back to whatever she was doing. Stacey appeared a few moments later.

‘Hi Simmo, can I get you anything?'

Simone frowned, unsure whether she wanted a drink, something to eat, both or nothing at all. In the end, she went for the safe bet. ‘Just a skinny flat white, thanks.'

As Stacey smiled and headed back to the counter, Simone leaned forward and picked the latest edition of the
Bunyip News
off the table. She flicked straight to Drew's column, the only thing worth reading in her opinion. The last sergeant—pudgy O'Leary—had written dreary columns that read much like a church sermon, but Drew always made her laugh with his anecdotes about what was happening in town. He had a way with people, especially the young ones, and a way with words. Ruby was one lucky girl.

The bell on the café door tingled and Simone looked up to see Ruby enter. Speak of the devil, she thought, as she smiled up at her friend and patted the couch beside her. ‘Hey there.' She held up the paper. ‘I've just been reading Drew's column. He's a busy guy.'

‘I know. I barely see him.' Despite this acknowledgement, Ruby smiled in the way lovers do when someone mentions their partner and then raised her eyebrows. ‘I didn't expect to see you here first,' she said as she gave Simone a quick hug.

Simone smiled tightly. ‘Was in dire need of caffeine.'

Ruby nodded in understanding as Stacey returned and deposited a steaming mug in front of Simone.

‘Hi Ruby,' Stacey said.

‘Hello,' Ruby replied. ‘Could I have a white hot chocolate please and a black coffee for Drew?'

‘Sure.' Stacey retreated again.

‘Where is Drew?' Simone asked.

‘He's working but he's going to pop in for a few minutes soon.' She sighed and leaned back against the couch. ‘How are you anyway?'

‘Good,' Simone lied, pasting a smile on her face. Hopefully Ruby wouldn't see how much of an effort it was because if she asked what was wrong, Simone wasn't sure she could answer. She just didn't feel herself at the moment but couldn't pinpoint whether it was the animosity with Harriet, the fact her mind kept drifting to Angus Knight and their illicit night together, or something else entirely. Maybe she needed a change. Maybe they all did. Although she could just imagine Harriet's response if she told them they were leaving Bunyip Bay.

But dammit, she was the mum—the one who worked her arse off to pay the bills and buy them the latest fashion items, who cleaned their clothes and, more often than not, their rooms. If she wanted to move them all to Timbuktu, then Harriet could just suck it up.

‘How's things with you?' she asked Ruby.

‘Oh great.' Ruby beamed. ‘I'm crazy busy with lessons after school and on the weekends, and I'm thinking of getting another pony. I don't like having to turn down any kids who are eager to learn.'

‘I'm so pleased for you,' Simone said, which was the truth. When Ruby had first returned to Bunyip Bay last year, she'd just come out of an abusive relationship and then there'd been so much drama and bad feeling when her parents' ag store burned down. It was more than time that life cut her a break.

Before either of them could say anything else, the door opened again and in walked the Burtons. They were all holding hands—a grinning Heidi in the middle—so they had to turn and come in sideways. Simone and Ruby laughed at the sight.

‘What?' Stella asked, as Heidi broke free and rushed to hug them. First she wrapped her arms around Ruby as if she hadn't seen her in weeks and then she gave Simone the same treatment before settling on the couch between them. Ruby and Adam took the couch opposite.

‘You three looked just like a family of elephants travelling in a line when you came in,' Ruby said. ‘Anyway, sit down and tell us all about your honeymoon. How was it?'

Stella smiled in a way that gave her daughter's massive grin a run for its money and Adam looked adoringly at her as if she were the only woman in the café.

‘Fantastic,' Stella breathed. ‘We were so indulgent, some days we slept till noon and then spent the next few hours on the beach or lazing by the pool before—' she broke off abruptly, looked to Adam and then blushed, ‘—before going out to dinner.'

Simone exchanged a knowing glance with Ruby. She reckoned they'd indulged in another activity to work up their appetites before those dinners, but she didn't really want to dwell on the thought of her cousin having sex. ‘Sounds fabulous. I could so do with a holiday.'

‘Me too.'

‘Hey, everyone.' Frankie arrived, laid a plate of red velvet cupcakes on the table and then pulled up a chair, only to be ambushed a moment later by Heidi. She laughed as the little girl climbed up into her lap. ‘Want a cupcake, gorgeous girl?

Heidi nodded and helped herself. Within a few seconds she had icing smeared all over her face.

‘What'd I miss?' Frankie asked.

‘Not much,' Stella said. ‘We only just arrived. Is Drew coming?'

Ruby opened her mouth to reply as the door opened again and there stood Sergeant Noble, a tall, impressive figure in his smart uniform. He strode in like a man confident in his skin, then leaned over and kissed Ruby on the lips. Simone had to admit, there was something about a guy in uniform. Although Angus was just as sexy in his well-worn farmer's attire.

No!
She banished that thought from her head and waved her hand against her cheeks, trying to cool her temperature. Luckily the others—all greeting Drew and asking if he'd had any interesting call outs that day—didn't notice.

‘Nothing too out of the ordinary,' Drew replied, ‘although I did have to rescue Dolce's cat from up a tree because none of the firies were available. I've got scratches all up my arms.'

‘Aw, baby, let me have a look at them,' Ruby said as she slid along the couch to make room for him. It felt very squishy with the three of them there.

‘What's up with you, Frankie?' Drew asked, looking over at her as Ruby examined his arms.

Frankie blinked. ‘Me? Nothing. Why?'

He raised an eyebrow. ‘You look different. You're glowing or something?'

‘Am I?' Frankie asked, fiddling with her collar.

Although Frankie had her hair tied back in her trademark plaits and was wearing her usual uniform of black chef pants and the café polo shirt, Simone could see what Drew meant. There was something different about her today. ‘That'll be down to her new man,' she said, without thinking.

‘What?' exclaimed the others.

Frankie gave them a shrug and a sheepish smile.

‘Spill,' Adam said, leaning forward.

‘There's not much to say … yet.' Frankie's cheeks flushed. ‘We've only … just started seeing each other.'

‘What's his name?' Stella asked.

‘Is he cute? What does he do for a living?' This from Ruby.

‘Um …' Frankie looked at the counter as though hoping for a reason to escape this interrogation, but Stacey had everything under control.

‘Leave her alone. She'll tell you when she's ready.' Simone remembered how awkward and pressured she'd felt when her friends were teasing her about Logan. They all meant well, but they were so blissfully happy in coupledom that they'd forgotten how hard dating and trying to find The One could be. She shouldn't have put her foot in it and told everyone about Frankie's new man.

‘Sorry,' Stella said, glancing down at her hands, looking chastised.

Ruby nodded. ‘You don't have to tell us if you don't want to.'

Frankie smiled. ‘It's fine. There's really nothing to tell yet and besides, we're here to look at Adam and Stella's wedding photos. I, for one, can't wait.'

‘And I can't stay too long,' Drew said.

Simone raised an eyebrow, biting down on the impulse to remind him that he was the one who raised the distraction.

‘You'll love them.' Stella leaned down to grab her iPad out of her bag. ‘But first I want to thank you for your parts in our wedding—you all made the day extra special.'

‘Yes,' Adam agreed and patted his stomach. ‘Thank God Heidi finished off the leftover cupcakes while we were away or I'd need new jeans.'

Everyone laughed. Adam didn't have an ounce of fat on his hard, lean body.

‘And Simone, thanks for helping Esther clean our house for us. It was lovely to arrive back and have nothing to do but relax some more.'

‘It was my pleasure,' Simone said. ‘But if you don't show us the photos soon—'

‘Okay, okay.' Stella put the iPad on the table, flipping back the purple cover to make a stand, then angled it so everyone could see. ‘These are only the proofs. The album won't be ready for a while but we need to choose the best ones. You guys can help.'

They all leaned in to get a closer look, Ruby swiping from photo to photo because she was the closest. They spent the next fifteen minutes oohing and ahhing over the beautiful photos—first of the ceremony on the beach, then the shots of the bridal party, most of which had been taken in Kalbarri National Park, and then photos of the fun and frivolities at the reception.

Stella kept a running commentary until Adam patted her knee and reminded her that everyone here had also been at the wedding so they probably didn't need quite such a detailed description.

‘Sorry.' Stella bit her lip. ‘I'm just so happy.'

‘And who can blame you?' Ruby said, smiling over at her. ‘These photos are amazing. You look gorgeous.'

Simone and Frankie murmured their agreement.

‘Heidi!' The little girl shrieked and pointed at the screen, clearly excited to see a picture of herself in her white princess dress.

Looking at these photos, Simone couldn't help thinking of the night
before
the wedding. Snapshots from that surprising evening kept landing in her head and giving her hot flushes.