‘H
ey, Mum?’ Ward walked through the back door of his childhood home, carting an assortment of shopping bags.
‘This is nice surprise, dear.’ Shirley walked around the kitchen bench and kissed his cheek.
‘Brought those dishes back.’ He put the shopping bags on the bench. It was a sweet deal, readymade homemade meals for the freezer when no one at home felt like cooking. ‘I’ve put the money inside.’ He pulled out a chair and took his usual seat at the round kitchen table.
‘You gave me too much last time.’
‘So, what. Go get a haircut or buy a new dress with the change.’ He liked spoiling his mother, who spoiled him.
‘Thank you.’ She patted down his unruly hair, making him feel like a little boy all over again. ‘I’ve made a special dog stew for Max. Saw it on the tellie the other day, it’s to help with his digestion with the roughage needed for such big dogs.’
‘You’re cooking for the dog now?’
Shirley removed a large bag from her freezer to show him. ‘They’re portion-controlled on what that tellie-vet recommended for a dog that size.’
Everyone else did something for Max, except Ward, who only let the dog follow for a run in the mornings. ‘I haven’t decided if I’m keeping him, Mum.’
‘It’d be a shame if you didn’t. I’ve always wanted a dog, and Max is such a lovely big bear.’ She put the food back in the freezer, flicked on the kettle, and dished out a plate of cake.
‘Why not get one, now Tina doesn’t live here.’
‘It’s not just Tina, your father has allergies too, dear.’ She put a plate of sliced cake on the table, then started on the tea cups.
‘Dad seemed fine patting Max.’ Not like his sister who’d ran out the door sneezing.
‘He’s fine in small doses. We’re okay to look after the neighbour’s dog for a week.’
‘Where is Dad?’ Ward asked, plucking a slice of homemade carrot cake from the plate.
‘Work. Remember, it’s only Thursday, dear.’ The tea bag’s tag fluttered on the side of the mugs she carried to the table and sat next to Ward. ‘Tell me, did you make the team?’
Ward dunked his tea bag and grinned up his mum. ‘Yep, I’m playing on Saturday.’
‘We’ll be there.’ Shirley smiled wide with pride.
‘Mum, do you think you could babysit Max for a night? Or do they call it dog-sitting?
‘Why?’
‘I want to take Zara out.’
‘Didn’t Zara say you and Max were to stay together for a week?’
‘Yeah. It’s not a full week, and I haven’t made up my mind. The boys are keen, and Zara’s fine if I say yes or no.’ Which had been a huge relief, because Ward never wanted to disappoint Zara. ‘But with my lifestyle, and if Dad’s got allergies I’d need someone to look after Max when we play away.’
‘Oh, honey.’ Shirley pressed her hands against her heart.
‘Don’t get too far ahead, Mum.’ Guessing it was too late if his mother was already cooking for the pit bull.
‘We’d be happy to have Max here, but only in small doses to not upset your father’s allergies.’
‘Cool, so how about tomorrow night?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘The deal was you had to spend a week with Max.’
‘But I want to go out on a date with Zara and—’
‘Helloooo.’ Tina’s nail-scratching screech caused the glass cabinet doors in the kitchen to rattle.
‘Oh no, voice-quake.’ Ward reached over and stilled the glass doors. He then rubbed his forehead at the headache strolling through the back door with a rustle of many skirts.
‘Mum, I brought that gluten-free bread for you and Dad to try, it’ll help with your digestion.’ The shift of clothes and bell ringing stopped. ‘Ward, I didn’t know you were visiting?’
‘Didn’t you recognise my car in the drive? You walked right past it to get inside.’
‘No.’ Tina’s bells jingled while she placed her groceries on the counter.
Did his sister need glasses too?
Shirley got up from her seat and unpacked the groceries. ‘Did you fetch more of that yummy fruit?’
‘Told you that organic fruit tastes better.’ Tina passed a bunch of bananas to Shirley, giving her brother a side-glance. ‘You’d notice the difference in taste too if you Neanderthals cooked something besides meat.’
‘They make the best banana cake,’ said Shirley, giving Ward her peacekeeper’s look.
Ward shrugged eating his mum’s carrot cake. ‘Have you had your hearing test yet, Tina?’
‘The appointment is for tomorrow,’ Shirley said to Tina across the kitchen counter.
‘Are you going?’ Ward asked his sister.
Tina shrugged. Shirley raised an eyebrow, pursing her lips together.
‘Wouldn’t hurt. Even if it’s to tell you there’s nothing wrong with you.’ Even if his sister was beyond help.
The bells on Tina’s ankles rang as she swivelled to face her brother. ‘Hey, I got that same lecture from Ron—which I don’t need from you—especially when you couldn’t care what happens to me.’
‘I do.’ Ward brushed the crumbs off his palms and leaned back in his seat. ‘I’ll admit, you are a pain in the arse, but if you were in hospital I’d visit. I’d even get you some flowers.’ He’d prefer to send them, if he could get away with it. ‘But this is your health and lifestyle, and hey, hearing aids are so small you’d hardly notice them.’
‘How would you know?’
‘Zara’s dad wears one.’
Shirley closed the cupboard as she flicked on the kettle, putting a tea bag into another cup. ‘Zara did tell me her father had one, can’t sneak past him anymore.’
‘That’s her business, not mine.’ Tina jutted out her chin.
Ward watched his sister over the rim of his mug. ‘I saw Ron today.’
‘We broke up.’ Tina blinked as if forcing herself to not cry, while their mother stroked Tina’s shoulder.
Wow, Tina really liked the jockey. His heart tugged at her pain. Huh, he did care about his big sister who, most of the time, was painful. ‘Ron told me why he broke up with you.’ Surprised he was talking to his sister—and doing it for Ron.
‘What did that little bugger tell you? Of course, you’d side with him.’
‘I do.’ Ward nodded, sipping his tea. ‘Which is the first time I’ve agreed with one of your boyfriends.’
‘Typical,’ scoffed Tina, crossing arms over her chest, screwing up her nose.
‘Now, dear, your brother’s only teasing.’ Shirley rubbed Tina’s upper back while glaring at Ward with wide eyes in a warning to stop.
But Ward didn’t want to stop. ‘Ron told me the reason he broke up with you was because he wants you to take that hearing test. He said you refused to go believing he won’t like you if you had to wear a hearing aid. Which is BS. Ron doesn’t care what you wear.’ Waving his hand over her tie-dyed-sunbeam trip she wore today. ‘And he said he loves you.’
‘Really?’ Shirley smiled wide, gripping Tina’s arm. ‘I like Ron too, dear.’
‘Ward’s making it up, Mum.’
‘No, I’m not,’ Ward said, reaching for another piece of cake.
Tina re-crossed her arms in a huff, the bells rang, and her clothes rustled like paper being screwed up by a class full of kindergarten kids. ‘Are you keeping that monstrosity of a beast at your place?’
‘Haven’t decided yet.’
‘Shouldn’t have a creature like that in society, he should’ve been put down.’ Tina threw her hands in the air, rolling her eyes, and huffing like an outdated steam train.
Ward scowled at his sister. ‘Max is a good dog. It’s not his fault he was made to fight for his life.’
‘I like Max too,’ Shirley said, pouring hot water into the teacup that she left it on the counter beside Tina and returned to her seat at the table.
‘Dangerous, is what that dog is,’ scoffed Tina, picking up her cup.
‘Aren’t we all? Or are you faking your need to save all creatures big and small? I met a real one of those saviours from the RSPCA last week. You’ve got to respect them for what they do.’ Ward was glad to know the pony he’d helped rescue was recovering well, according to Zara’s update earlier.
‘Sounds like you’re keeping him, huh?’ mumbled Tina, taking a sip of her tea, leaning her hip against the kitchen bench. ‘I bet it eats like a horse.’
‘Mum’s made Max a stew.’
‘With all these vegetables too, dear,’ said Shirley proudly. ‘You must tell me if Max likes it.’
‘Will do, Mum.’ Ward grinned at his sister’s scowl that he was about to make worse. ‘Hey, talking about food, I agree with Ron. Your mung-bean stew smells like peppered dirt, it tastes like mud, and I hate it.’
‘What?’ Tina’s jaw dropped as her forehead crinkled.
‘We weren’t allowed to tell you because we didn’t want to hurt your feelings. So Ron isn’t a liar. In fact, he’s the only one with the courage to tell you the truth.’ Ward popped more cake into his mouth and watched his sister’s reaction.
‘But—but—’ Tina stuttered as her eyes darted between her mother and brother. ‘Is that true, Mum?’
‘Well…’ Shirley wiped her palms down her skirt, took a deep breath and swivelled in her seat to face her daughter by the bench. ‘To be honest, dear, I don’t like it either. I tried. But it does taste gritty. Now, I do love that pumpkin risotto you make, that’s nice. Your father loves it, too.’
Tina pressed her lips together, staring at her mother.
‘Ron told me he wants to do some cooking lessons with you.’ Ward did say he’d go bat for the little man, even if his sister hated him more than ever. He had nothing to lose. ‘Why don’t you go? You like cooking and Ron said he didn’t mind trying new things with you because he loves you. You can see it.’
Tina flopped into the chair next to their mother, plonking her cup onto the table. ‘Did Ron really say that?’
‘Yeah.’ Ward nodded. ‘Now, that’s your deal. Said I’d have a word, and I did it.’ Should he bolt for the door to dodge the gooey state of his sister? But he didn’t doubt Ron would be getting that gushy call shortly. Ugh—where’s the bucket. ‘So, are you going to take that hearing test? Ron said he’d take you.’
‘I…’ Tina’s shoulders sagged as she fidgeted with her fingers on the table.
‘You made me see Zara against my will,’ said Ward.
Tina stuck her chin out, head high, and looked down her nose at him. ‘And you’re better now.’
‘You’ll never know if this might work for you, too, if you don’t try?’
‘Your brother’s right. Remember all that fuss Brendan made, refusing to see Zara that first time—and now they’re seeing each other.’ Shirley reached over and patted her son’s hand. ‘I like Zara, and you two would make such a lovely couple, dear.’
‘What?’ Tina screwed her nose up at her brother. ‘You and Zara?’
‘Yes. So stop thinking Ron’s got the hots for Zara when he doesn’t.’ But he was glad he saw Zara today, even though she got all shy on him. But he did get a kiss and cuddle in the carpark. Then she drove away from him again, with Tim making faces at him out the ute’s passenger window. But he had tomorrow. ‘So come on, Mum, please look after Max so I can take Zara out for dinner.’
‘Not for the first week.’
‘Where are you going?’ Tina asked, reaching for some cake.
‘Dunno, they’ve only got a pub out there. But I want to do something special, the lady deserves it.’
‘Really?’ Mother and daughter grinned at each other and then at Ward.
‘Early days, you two,’ he said, hiding his smile behind his cup. ‘Hey, Tina, you must have an idea of what’s good for a first date, right?’
‘You’re asking me?’ Tina stabbed her thumb at her chest.
‘I know, it’s shocking for me too, but you’ve been on more first dates than anyone I know.’ That included his whole team combined. ‘You must have an opinion. Please.’
‘Wow.’ Tina rested her elbows on the table, her palms covered her mouth, and stared at her brother.
‘Oh, my boy.’ Shirley covered her mouth same as Tina’s, with tears in her eyes. ‘We’ll help you.’ She reached across and patted his hand, then nudged Tina with her elbow. ‘Won’t we, Tina?’
‘No weird stuff. I don’t do that, and Zara doesn’t either.’
Tina kangaroo-hopped her seat closer to the table asking, ‘Do you want something romantic?’
‘Yeah.’
‘A candlelight dinner,’ said Shirley.
‘Yeah.’
‘With flowers and music,’ said Tina.
‘Okay?’ O-oh. He grimaced at the spark in their eyes that was about to become a bushfire. It didn’t hurt to ask, and he was never shy about asking. But the weirdest part was he’d asked his sister for help and listened to her ideas. And that never happened. Ever.
Until now.