Six Months Later
“We are so naughty.” Roberta giggled, locking the cottage door behind them and making for Nate’s bedroom which they now shared.
“Nah,” Nate declared, stripping off his work clothes and leaving a trail from the front door to his room. He toed off his work boots at the bedroom door and bent down to roll his socks off. “But we better make this quick. Dad is coming over this afternoon to give me a hand.”
“Well, hurry up!”
Nate snorted as he went to draw the curtains closed.
Roberta loved it when they snuck back to the cottage at odd hours of the day, stripped naked and had fast, hot, furious sex. Her shift at the teahouse finished only minutes ago. Nate would usually still be working until later, but three pm signalled an afternoon break. They could do this!
Her skin tingled once she was fully naked. She pulled back the doona and fell onto her back, enjoying the feel of cool sheets on her skin. She wriggled her shoulders, getting comfortable on the pillow, breathing in moist air drifting past the slowly billowing curtains.
It’d rained for most of the morning, but the sun finally came out by the time she finished her shift, casting its wintry rays over the shimmering waters. Lake Barrine was a long way from the Melbourne winters she left behind with no regrets.
When Nate toppled onto the bed beside her, already sheathed, all other thoughts vanished. This was one time she couldn’t multitask. Nate’s hands were everywhere, and Roberta moaned in tune with the guttural groan Nate released when he rubbed his hands up and down her back, then to her buttocks, pressing her as close as possible to his throbbing hardness.
Nate rolled over so she was on top, and she deliciously slid onto him. “I’ve been thinking of nothing else for the past hour. It’s been torture waiting.”
Nate chuckled. “Yep, you are the naughty one.”
“And you haven’t?” she asked, knowing it wouldn’t take long to reach her climax once his rhythmic thrusting began.
“I never stop thinking of doing this. You are one dangerous addiction.”
Roberta couldn’t help but laugh even more as Nate playfully nibbled her lower lip, giving it a gentle bite, causing her body to come to life with a vicious roar.
Their mouths joined in hot unison, burning as desire spread through her, heating her blood, urging, pleading for Nate to speed it up a notch. With the rasp of his teeth, light exploded behind her eyes, and she sank into his kiss like a drowning woman.
When he moved to her bare throat, a pulse fluttered wildly, and she inhaled, filling lungs starved of air, readying herself.
She clenched him tighter in her hold and held on to it for one more blissful moment before releasing him, opening her eyes long enough to see the raw need as Nate slammed into her. With her head down, she let go. Enjoying the spasms which set Nate off too.
Flopping down, chests joined, she took a moment to enjoy that sated feeling. Nate’s chest heaved in time with hers, his hand resting on her backside providing her with his never-ending reassurance.
“I love you, Nate Surrey.”
Nate smiled back. “I love you, Roberta Mintello.”
She enjoyed this quiet time for another minute, knowing she had to duck out and do grocery shopping before the shops shut.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Roberta raised her face, eyeing Nate. “What sort of surprise?”
He lowered his head for a hot, searing kiss. When he broke it off, he beamed with his all-consuming smile. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”
Roberta groaned, knowing she’d never get it out of him, but would try her hardest to prise it anyway. “Did TREAT get the landowner to agree?”
“Huh? Why would that be a surprise? We all know he’ll eventually cave in and allow us access.”
“Well, what then?”
Nate gave her another searing kiss. “Get dressed quickly. I’ll show you.”
Roberta rolled onto her side, allowing Nate to shuffle out from underneath her and go to the bathroom. Roberta loved surprises, and agreeing to coordinate her half a million dollars with TREAT had been the biggest surprise of her life. She’d never heard of the organisation, but they were a dedicated bunch of volunteers who spent years replanting native trees on the Atherton Tablelands. Coordinating with local landowners and Queensland National Parks, many volunteers over the years had assisted with restoring and joining areas of rainforest by planting native trees in areas cleared by early settlers. This sort of restorative work made her heart sing.
Her contribution felt so right. She only recently learnt that TREAT stood for Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands. Their motto of ‘the right tree, in the right place for the right reason’ resonated with her when Nate suggested them as a possible recipient of her donation. Now she was one of their hardest working volunteers when she wasn’t nursing part-time or helping Tash on the weekends, and she couldn’t imagine not being actively involved with them.
“Ready yet?”
Still languishing in bed, she immediately rose. Nate was dressed in the board shorts he normally wore swimming, and a small pack was slung over his shoulder.
“Are we going swimming? Because I’m not going anywhere near that chilly water.” It was winter in the tropics.
“You shouldn’t get wet unless you do something impulsive and silly.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? What do I wear?” she asked, about to walk out of their bedroom.
“Shorts and tee will be perfect.” Nate swooped in for another heated kiss before she walked out. “But hurry up.”
Roberta grumbled in response as she walked towards the other bedroom where she kept most of her belongings, even though his kiss was leaving her with a desire to climb right back into their bed. “Do I need a hat?” she called out.
“Yep, won’t hurt.”
“Shoes?” she checked, fishing out a T-shirt and denim shorts from a pile of freshly laundered clothes.
“Nope.”
“Nate,” she dragged out his name as she stretched her unironed shirt down over her stomach, “where are you taking me?”
Back in the living room, Nate took her hand and led her to the door. “Just to the edge of the lake.”
With the cottage door closed behind them, it took only seconds to reach the water’s edge. Roberta baulked when she saw it. The old rowing boat was moored to a stake driven in the ground. It swayed with the gentle swell while a couple of well-intended visitors were also taking a closer look at it.
“When did you get time to finish the epoxy coating?” Roberta knew they’d more than done enough sanding on the old rowboat months ago but had largely forgotten about it when the need to concentrate on the funds took over their lives.
“Dad helped a bit.”
How did she not know this? Dealing with her half a million consumed many hours, as had her desire to help Nate with his responsibilities of spending two million dollars. Time was moving at a stupid, warped speed, and the old rowboat had been relegated to the back of her mind.
“Come on, we’re going for a row.”
“I’ve never been in a rowboat before.”
“Well, allow me to welcome you aboard.”
Ooh, she loved this thoughtful man. She wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing with all her might. The groceries could wait. “This is so exciting. Have you got your phone for a selfie?”
“Nah, we’ll take one later.” Nate disentangled her arms and helped her step over the high-sided old timber rowboat.
Roberta sat on one end facing Nate. He would do the rowing. A touch of nostalgia from the bygone days. She tilted her head back while Nate untied the mooring ropes. For the middle of winter, the sun still had a touch of warmth as it broke past the cloud cover, allowing its rays to shine directly on them for this momentous occasion. Nate pushed the boat into deeper water and climbed over the side, settling on his seat and grabbing the oars.
“I should post a photo of this old beauty on our social media page,” Roberta said.
Nate grinned, the muscles of his arms flexing in time with the oars as he began the rhythm of rowing. “Anything to get your face on social media.”
She smiled as memories resurfaced. The odd term ‘media tart’ popped up again. She’d featured so many times in the local papers over the past six months. The most memorable being that photo. She still cringed over it. When Nate carried her out of the teahouse that day, moon boot and all, a reporter had snapped it. It shared the front page with another snap of Roberta shaking hands with Brian and the write-up of that momentous day.
So much had happened since. The promises by the premier led to drastic changes to the controversial wind farm Nate and his supporters had rallied against for months. The number of turbines was reduced, and a new design was to include a minimum buffer to neighbouring World Heritage listed rainforest. The project would completely avoid wet sclerophyll forests adjoining World Heritage areas as well as all known brood frog habitats.
The changes also had to include a First-Nations-led fire management plan, including the control of widespread feral pests. According to Nate, it was a balancing act. Providing more clean energy while significantly improving the habitat for protected species.
For Nate and his team, this was a huge win. One they were still celebrating.
For now, though, Roberta savoured the sight of Nate as he continued to row towards the centre of the lake. “How’s the old girl feel to row?”
Nate smiled. “She’s rowing like a dream. I’ve wanted to do this for years.”
The strong, steady beat of her heart beat in time with the pull of the oars through the calm waters. This man did this to her, and the intense gaze he gave her as he rowed left her stomach tumbling.
When he stopped, he lifted the oars above water level, allowing the boat to glide.
“This is perfect, Nate. Thank you.”
He lifted the bag strung over his shoulder and unzipped it, pulling out a small box. A familiar box. “What the heck? When did that turn up again?”
Nate opened it. She gasped and scrambled for a closer look, dangerously rocking the rowboat.
“You better sit back down.”
“But, but—”
The white sapphire, now set in a gold ring, glinted back at her. The sun’s rays rained down on its star shape, glittering in the late afternoon. “How, what? Tell me, Nate. What are you doing with it?”
Once she was seated in her proper spot again, Nate left his seat and got down on one knee. Holding the box out, he asked, “Roberta Mintello, will you marry me?”
“Oh, Nate.” Dizziness clouded her mind momentarily. “Oh, Nate, yes, of course.” She blinked furiously, not believing her life could be so good and she so lucky. “But tell me please before I burst. Oh, my God, I haven’t thought of this rock for ages. Oh, Nate, I want to fling myself at you and hug you.”
“Don’t please,” he begged. “We’ll tip this thing over and lose this beauty forever.”
“Did Billy steal it?”
“He must’ve because it matched the detailed records of the original rock found.”
“Oh, bugger.”
“Yeah, a bit rough for his family. I hope they eventually accept the news. But when the station owner heard your mother’s story and the turmoil surrounding it, he offered it back to her as a gift. Your mother couldn’t believe it and had no idea what to do with it. When I asked her permission to marry you, this was her suggestion.”
Roberta sniffed as a tiny trail of tears trickled down her cheeks. Silly Roberta never cried. Or did she? She was now. “Can you please put it safely back in your pack? I can’t be trusted at this very moment. If I happen to throw myself at you, I don’t want to be responsible for its loss.”
Nate did just that. “I’ll put it on your finger later. I promise. How about we row back now?”
Roberta nodded, her heart expanding as Nate turned the boat around so she was facing the bank.
As they approached the shoreline, there was a sizeable group of people hovering near the edge. Visitors must’ve witnessed their launch and were eager to get some snaps now they were only about twenty metres away from the shore. They’d post it to social media way before she got a chance.
She looked up at the teahouse balcony facing the water and spotted Tash, Hannah and Sophie waving to them. Was that Nate’s grandfather, Jim, seated at one of the tables? She waved back. Did Nate know his grandparents were visiting today? Why so late in the day? And what were the girls still doing at the teahouse? Their shift ended when hers had.
Waving arms distracted her from the teahouse balcony. She turned to the crowd at the shore.
What the? Why was Sally waving at her?
She squinted, scanning the crowd further and spotted Bob and her mum.
And Daniel and Janelle.
And Nate’s mum and dad.
And her grandparents, surrounded by a horde of her cousins.
And Brian and his wife. From the States? Really?
And Zia Fiorina. From Falerna? What the heck? Fuzziness invaded her head. Was she dreaming?
And … wait … was that Connor and Liz? Holding their newborn baby girl?
She rose from her seat, unable to control herself. “Oh, my God, what is everyone doing here?”
“Sit, Roberta, or this thing is going to—”
The rowboat tilted dangerously with her sudden movement.
“Sit! Don’t—”
Roberta lost her balance, her arms waving as she tried to stop her uneven steps inside the rowboat. Too late. She lost her balance, falling over the side with a chilly splash. A collective shout from the shore was the last thing she heard before she disappeared below water level.
Rising to the surface, Roberta quickly freestyled back to shore. The water was freezing, and a chill was taking over her body.
“Bloody hell, Roberta. Only you could make such a drama out of something as simple as a marriage proposal.”
Roberta burst out laughing as Connor dragged her the last metre until she got her footing. Standing up, shivering, she flung herself at Connor and squeezed him in a tight hug. “What are you doing here?”
Not impressed, Connor scowled as he disentangled her from around his neck, holding her at arm’s length. “Jeez, not all of us want to be sopping wet.”
“Are you okay, Roberta?”
Within seconds, Nate’s arms were around her. Not even his warmth could hold back her violent shivering. “I’m freezing, that … that’s all.” A quick glance behind her and Nate’s dad was mooring the old rowboat and showing it off.
“Everyone!” Nate shouted to the gathered family as they came closer. “She said yes!”
A collective cheer rose from the group as Nate picked her up and held her shivering body against his chest. “Engagement party starts in half an hour. We’ll go get changed first.”
As Nate walked off, there were wolf whistles, more cheers and, for once, Roberta was left speechless. Surrounded by so much family and love, she furiously blinked, wrapping her arms around Nate’s neck. “Thank you, my love,” she whispered for his ears only.
Nate looked at her, shaking his head. He tried to keep his smile in check until it was impossible to do so, and it blossomed across his face. “You’ve turned my life upside down, woman. How could I want anything else?”
Roberta tightened her hold, drawn to Nate’s warmth. “Half an hour, did you say?” Roberta’s teeth chattered as she tried to whisper.
Nate’s eyebrows rose as he put her down in front of the cottage door. “We could probably stretch it a few minutes. Up for it again?”
“You bet,” came her immediate reply. “It’ll be the most sensible way to warm me up, don’t you think?”
“Can’t argue with that,” were Nate’s last words on the matter as he closed the door behind them, found her mouth, and began warming her up fast.