“Are you coming to claim the tractor again today?”
“Sure am. Did you see how good I was on it yesterday? I can almost do it with my eyes shut.”
Bob laughed, the lines around his eyes crinkling. “Must get the skill from your old man.”
Roberta laughed too as they finished their breakfast. With her ankle still in a moon boot for another week—her fracture was only a low-to-medium ligament injury—it wouldn’t be long before she could finally ditch it. The pain was lessening, and her ankle was gaining strength. Didn’t stop her from driving the massive air-conditioned tractors Bob’s family used on their property. For two weeks now, she’d insisted on working on the farm every day. Up and down the lines she went. Brain-numbing work as long as the stereo was blaring and she could sing to her heart’s content, all in the privacy of the enclosed cab.
Lily had returned to Melbourne to sort out her life and make some decisions. There was no doubt in Roberta’s mind Lily would return to live with Bob. Weird coming to terms with it, but she was.
For now, she’d put her own life on hold, glad she had the excuse of her ankle. She was embracing the farm life, her newly found grandparents—her real ones this time—who couldn’t do enough for her, and her huge extended family. They’d dropped by daily since news of her paternity came out. From aunties and uncles to cousins and babies. So many of them. No one seemed surprised or concerned by the new addition to the family. So engulfed with their love, every single one of them sang the praises of the good fortune that had finally come Bob’s way.
Only on the rare occasion since accepting the change in her life had she allowed thoughts of Nate to slip past her defences. She heard nothing more about his environmental warrior activities and never sought any news.
“There’s a car coming up the drive. Expecting anyone?” Bob rose from the table, bringing his plate to the sink to rinse.
“No one I know.” Roberta stood too and carried her plate to the sink with a slight limp.
Glancing out the kitchen window, she saw a white car approaching. Bob took her plate from her and rinsed it.
“Do you recognise the car?”
“Nope.” It wasn’t Sally’s. They were catching up on the weekend again. Didn’t look like a hire car either, and Connor and Liz had already returned to Canada after they enjoyed a farewell dinner only days after Roberta’s release from hospital. It wasn’t Nate’s ute, not that she was expecting him any time soon. If ever. Wait, was it—?
Natasha stepped out of the car just as Roberta recognised it as the white family car always parked in the same spot at the lake.
“Isn’t that Nate’s sister?” Bob asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“I guess she’s chasing you. How about I leave now? You can phone me when you’re ready. I’ll come and pick you up.” Bob squeezed her shoulder before collecting his trusty bucket hat off the hook near the front door and walking outside.
What did Natasha want? Boulders tumbled inside her stomach. Any reminders of Nate did this. Seeing Natasha brought an avalanche of emotions and regrets to the surface.
“Hi Bob,” Natasha said outside the front door.
“Hello again, Roberta’s inside. We’ve just finished breakfast,” Bob replied. “I’m off now. I’ll see you around.”
With the front door open, Natasha spotted her and wandered in. “Hello, gorgeous. Still sporting the moon boot?” Natasha didn’t hesitate to give her a big hug before she stood back and looked down at her ankle. “How’s the walking going?”
Roberta smiled, already relaxing in Natasha’s company. “I should be able to hand the boot back in a week. I’ve only got a slight limp now which should completely heal with time. So, all good, I’d say.”
As long as Natasha didn’t know the full extent of her stupidity that day, she could live with herself.
“Sounds good to me. Can’t wait to have you back.”
Roberta gulped. Like everything going on around her, she let everyone believe what they wanted to. She had a job to return to, after all. In Melbourne. Far, far away from Lake Barrine and Bob’s potato farm.
“Cup of tea?” Roberta asked, trying to distract herself from all the unfinished business mounting up for her in the north.
“Absolutely. It’s my only day off, so I can afford a little downtime. I just dropped off the kids at school. Grocery shopping is next, then the day is mine until school pick-up time. Here, let me.” Natasha sidled past her to the kitchen, filling the kettle some more.
“Top left-hand cupboard for cups. Top drawer for spoons.”
“What sort of coffee do you want?” Natasha asked.
Roberta joined her in the kitchen and made for the coffee machine. “I’ll make it. What are you having? Earl Grey or herbal?”
“Earl Grey thanks”
Roberta grabbed the tea bag canister and put it on the sink, then set about making her second cup of coffee that morning. Bob had the full gambit when it came to coffee machines. No surprise their uncanny love of the beverage was another similarity between them. They often joked about their coffee snobbery.
With drinks made and more idle chatter concerning the weather, they sat at the kitchen table. Roberta had a gut instinct that this wasn’t a social call to check up on her progress. “So, what’s up?”
Natasha took a sip of her hot drink first, then put it down with a sigh. “Look, I know things happened between you and Nate, but he’s not saying much. Well, anything at all. Just walking around like a grumpy old bear ready to attack anyone in his way.”
Roberta couldn’t help the snort that escaped. “Sorry,” she uttered, sipping her coffee to avoid eye contact.
“You may well laugh, but I’ve been handed the biggest dilemma ever, and Nate doesn’t want a bar of it.”
Roberta was intrigued. “If it has something to do with me, I can understand Nate’s reluctance. I’m sorry, but we didn’t part ways on the best terms.”
“Another stubborn person. I want to crack both your heads together.”
Roberta grimaced. “I’m really sorry. I’m not sure what I’ve done to cause you this distress.”
“I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the man’s life you saved.”
“A bit hard to do.”
“Yes, well, he’s returning from the States and wants to thank everyone involved.”
“Surely Sophie and Nate can handle it?” Roberta argued.
“Well, firstly, he specifically asked for you to be there. Secondly, Nate says he won’t turn up unless you’re there, and lastly, he’s some American royalty with more money than you can poke a stick at.”
“What do you mean? Is he royalty or just rich?”
“Rich and he’s taken an interest in everything we do at Lake Barrine, the measures we have in place to protect our forests, animals and the environmental causes Nate works with. He wants to donate two million dollars to the north’s environmental causes, and he wants Nate in charge of spending it. He also wants to donate half a million to you so you can donate it to a charity of your choice.”
“What the?”
“Exactly! In his own words, he said he doesn’t want to leave all his money to his only son. They already have more than enough.”
“Isn’t two million enough? Do you really need me there since I could be giving my share of the money to an entirely different charity?”
“Because Nate was very firm. He won’t accept the money unless you’re there. He wants your help. In his words, you got him into this mess, and you can help him clean it up.”
Roberta stumbled to her feet, leaning heavily on her chair. “Oh my God, is he serious? I save a man’s life and it’s my fault?”
“This is why it’s become my dilemma. Why I’m here today to beg you, Roberta. I know it will kill Nate to miss this opportunity. There is so much Nate wants to do, but he relies on private donations. To have two million land on his lap and not be taken will give him nightmares forever. Roberta, I know Nate won’t waste a single cent of it. Whether he uses it to build road overpasses to allow native life to move or erect signage and fencing to keep sensitive areas safe from too much human traffic or rally and fight the explosion of windfarms, there’s so much good he could achieve. He already does so much but always on a limited budget.”
“Then why is he being such a pain in the arse?”
“I don’t know. Nate’s never been like this before, not even when things with Crystal ended. He’s different this time, and that’s why I need you there. Please.”
Roberta sat back down and attacked her coffee again. “When’s this man coming?”
“Friday. He wants to finish the boat cruise this time, enjoy a Devonshire tea and make the presentations.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“One hour of your time, Roberta. That’s all.”
“What about the helping out bullshit?”
Natasha shrugged, her shoulders dropping like she had no answer.
Roberta tapped her index finger on the tabletop, her mind brewing with suppressed frustration. “We’ll kill each other, Tash.”
A hopeful smile spread across her face. “After you’ve killed him, you’ll make up with the best sex ever and live happily ever after.”
Roberta shot back up again. “Are you serious?” She wobbled on her moon boot before slumping back down on the chair.
“Totally, Roberta. Come on! Where’s your spunk? I’ve loved you from the first day. I’m not surprised Nate fell for you, too.”
“Who said anything about love? We fight all the time.”
“I’ve never seen him happier than when you were there, and I need something to happen to get him out of that bloody boatshed where he spends every minute he’s not skippering the boat or sleeping. Actually, I don’t think he’s sleeping.”
“Wasn’t he down south recently?”
“Yeah, well, apart from that short stint. According to Brent, his heart isn’t in the cause anymore. Just so you know, Brent is pointing the finger at you.”
“Oh, fuck again.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Uncertainty twisted her insides. Even if she never spoke another word to Nate again, she understood the magnitude of this enormous pledge of money. “Okay, I’ll be there, but I make no promises. I’ll ask Bob if he can drive me over as my replacement car hasn’t arrived yet. And … and Tash, you may as well know if Nate hasn’t already told you, I was only ever at Lake Barrine to uncover the box my mother buried. It wasn’t meant to end like this, and for that, I’m truly sorry. I like you a lot, and I’ve had a ball working with you, but I was always leaving. I still am.”
Natasha smiled brilliantly this time as though her words meant nothing. “I knew I could count on you. There’s no rush to leave, is there? What if your mum and brother decide to move up here? Huh? Have you thought of that?”
Roberta frowned. “Who have you been talking to?”
With one quick final slug of the remains in her cup, she got up and gave Roberta a hug and a kiss. “Everyone, girlfriend. Especially one particular physio who I know very well. She has a thing for your brother.”
“Bloody hell! Does everybody know everyone’s business up here?” Roberta blurted. Yet another reminder Lake Barrine was smack-bang beside a small rural town.
Natasha waggled her fingers in a casual goodbye as she made for the front door. “Yep, and the American tourist will be there for the morning cruise. See you Friday.”
Roberta watched Natasha drive away before limping into Bob’s small lounge. She collapsed into the comfortable seater, not sure how she was going to get up again. Not sure how long it would take her to phone Bob to come and collect her. She did her best to tamper down the flutter that insisted on spiking her pulse at the thought of seeing Nate again. Which was ridiculous. They were so not suited. They argued about everything. They … her muddled mind could only remember how they fit so well all those nights they spent together.
Making up with sex every single night had a weird appeal until common sense prevailed. She groaned loudly, the sound echoing as she leant back against the headrest.
Madness. That’s what she was calling her condition.