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Ana arrived at school on Monday with a spring in her step. She hadn’t planned to tell Liam about Rick, but she hadn’t been able to hide her fear and she was glad she’d talked to him about it.
But the confession hadn’t budged the dread that continued to simmer in her belly.
Entering the staffroom, she found Deborah straightening chairs. ‘Hey, Deb.’
‘Good morning, Ana. How was your weekend?’
Ana didn’t miss the underlying question in Deborah’s tone or her bubbling curiosity. ‘Good. And yours?’
‘Oh, fine. My husband and I went horseback riding and had a picnic.’
Ana smiled as she checked her pigeonhole. ‘That sounds lovely.’
‘It was. How about you?’
Ana resisted a smile as she adjusted the folders in her arms. ‘I know why you want to know. Liam said you might get like this.’
Deborah blinked. ‘Like what? I’m not like anything. I just want to know how your weekend was. And maybe a little more because my boy mentioned that you’re seeing each other.’
Ana shook her head. She couldn’t blame Deborah. Mothers were usually interested in their children’s love-lives and after the conversation surrounding Vivian’s grandson that first week at work, Ana knew Deborah possessed the desire to become a grandparent. But the last thing Ana needed was for the woman to jump ahead and start knitting booties.
‘Yeah ...’ Ana’s stomach clenched as Deborah broke into a grin. ‘We’ve been hanging out a little. And I’ve been taking Louis to agility training.’
‘Yes, I heard about your border collie. That’s why I wasn’t surprised when Liam said he liked you. Lucy said Louis’ getting quite good.’
Ana’s heart swelled. ‘He’s learning. But ... yeah, you could say that Liam and I are seeing each other.’
Deborah’s eyes brightened and Ana’s stomach clenched harder.
‘I think you’ll be good for him, Ana,’ Deborah said, placing her hand on Ana’s forearm. ‘And he for you. He’s a sweet boy, my Liam, and I like you too. So, make sure he brings you around for dinner one night. I can’t tell him because he won’t listen to me.’
A lump formed in Ana’s throat. ‘Deb, we’ve only been seeing each other for a fortnight.’
‘Then come over in a couple of weeks.’
‘Okay. I’ll keep it in mind.’
‘Good. Now, I’ll let you go get ready and I’ll see you at the staff meeting.’
‘You will.’
Glad the inquisition was over, Ana waved and left.
* * *
‘Nice house, mate.’ Liam glanced up at the dusk sky through the roof beams of Michael’s house, taking a long drink of his beer.
Michael sat beside him in the soon-to-be dining room against the wall frame and smiled fondly. ‘It’s getting there.’
‘One day you may even have indoor plumbing,’ Adam said as he returned from a visit to the bushes.
‘Yeah, but I don’t mind taking my time. You guys remember how it was when we did your houses. I want to enjoy every moment of building this place so I can look back in twenty years and reminisce.’
‘Every nail shot with love, hey?’ Liam teased.
‘Well, I do plan to have a family in here one day.’
Jack thumped his fist on a doorframe. ‘We’ve done some solid work.’ As a rather handy bloke, Jack often helped Michael and his mentor Graham when he had the chance.
Liam nodded as he glanced around at the wood and concrete. ‘It’ll look good when it’s done.’
‘I hope so,’ Michael said. ‘Then I can figure out how to convince the right woman to fall in love with me and move in.’
‘Got one in your sights?’ Adam asked with a laugh.
Michael ignored him and drank his beer.
‘You know I’ll help you with painting and installing the fittings,’ Liam said. ‘But I’m always keen to do the landscaping and lay some turf.’
Liam had learned when they’d built Adam’s house that there wasn’t much he could help with until the walls were up and the roof was on. He was the painter in the family and would help hang doors, install cupboards, and lay floor tiles, which they’d start doing at The Bent Banana next week. But his passion lay in what went on outdoors in the landscaping and gardening.
‘It’ll be a while before we get to the turf,’ Michael said, downing the last of his beer. Jack reached into the esky and handed him another.
They were due at the homestead for a random Thursday night dinner in half an hour but had gathered for a drink at Michael’s first to fill in time. All of their dogs—Steph, Rusty, Michael’s cattle dog, Sally, and Jack’s kelpie, Jill—ran around the site playing in the dirt and sniffing the bushes.
‘Mum said Aunty Deb’s pretty optimistic about you dating Ana,’ Adam said, grabbing another beer. ‘You’re in the shit now if things go south.’
Liam sighed. ‘Yeah, I told Mum. Because I do like Ana. And she might sound optimistic because I think I’m optimistic.’
‘Mate, you’re optimistic about everything,’ Jack said. ‘You’ve only been dating her a few weeks.’
Liam frowned. ‘So? You don’t think you can know straight away whether or not you want to be with someone?’
‘Maybe not straight away.’
‘I didn’t say I was going to marry her, did I?’
‘Not yet,’ Michael said.
‘Hell, you move so slowly we’ll be lucky to ever get a wedding,’ Adam said with a laugh. ‘But don’t tell me that’s what you’re thinking about, Liam. Like, I’m happy for you. And I like Ana. But still ...’
Liam ignored the disapproval in Adam’s voice as he lifted his beer and grinned. ‘Well ... she’s pretty damn special.’
He was sure about that. Despite her fears that she’d need to run again, Ana was special. And he’d do everything he could to ensure she felt confident about staying in Elizadale.
Even if Rick did find her.
Adam shook his head. Jack remained his quiet self. Michael, however, laughed and gave Liam a friendly punch in the shoulder.
‘Good on ya, mate. Knew you’d be the first one of us to take the fall. Obviously, I figured Jack might one day wake up to himself, but he’s still as thick as ever. Ana’s a nice girl.’
Liam smiled. ‘Yeah, she is. And I don’t think Jack’s ever going to wake up to himself.’
‘I’m ignoring you lot,’ Jack commented, his attention on the dogs.
‘Ignorant bastard,’ Adam muttered under his breath. ‘But I’m happy for you too, Liam. You’ve found a good one. All we need now is for the rest of ya to fall into that ditch while I take the road less travelled and continue on as a single man.’
Jack laughed. ‘Mate, you’re gonna meet some chick one day who you’ll fall flat on your face in love with. And you won’t have a clue what to do with her.’
‘Yeah,’ Adam scoffed. ‘Never gonna happen.’
Liam smiled to himself. He could see right through his cousin. Adam might not believe it, but he’d want to settle down one day. Surely no one wanted to deny themselves what he was feeling right now. The joy, the fulfillment. The panic. It was amazing and downright terrifying, but he was willing to embrace it. One day at a time.
But when it was Adam’s turn, Liam was pretty sure they’d all enjoy watching him screw it up.
* * *
Liam was still at the Tourist Centre when Ana collected Louis on Monday, so they returned home where she curled up on the lounge and FaceTimed her sister. Natalia was always happy to chat, even if she was in the middle of her daily date with the treadmill, and Ana was keen to tell her about her fabulous weekend. But she let Natalia speak first as her sister usually needed to get work issues off her chest.
‘I mean, I love my job, but people still think they can just take a pill and fix all their problems. And you already know how I feel about that. Lifestyle measures need to be implemented first! But no one wants to hear they need to take better care of themselves, they just want drugs.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ Ana said, having heard all of this before. ‘You’re not a miracle worker and people need to take responsibility.’
‘For most things, yeah! But whatever. What’s going on with you? You’re the one with the hot country guy.’ Natalia grinned. ‘What’s the latest?’
‘What about the man you’re dating?’ Ana asked, even though she knew it wasn’t serious since Natalia hadn’t even bothered to tell her his name.
‘Yeah, that’s over. Nothing bad happened, but I’m taking a break from dating. I don’t go anywhere to meet the right people and it’s too much effort. There. Your turn.’
Not surprised, Ana didn’t press the matter and let her sister live vicariously through her own love-life as she told Natalia about her Saturday afternoon in Mareeba with Liam.
‘We didn’t do anything special just had lunch and did some necessary shopping. But I was intrigued by the mango wine they make up here, so we stopped by the winery and oh my God, Nat! It’s the best thing ever. I know you don’t drink, but even you would love it.’
‘That sounds so good it almost tempts me,’ she said with a grin. ‘Are things getting serious?’
‘Sort of ... although I don’t know what I was thinking.’ Ana sighed. ‘It can’t last.’
‘Don’t say that! You were thinking that you deserve to have a life and you do. This is a good thing, Ana. I’m happy for you and I’m glad you told him about Rick. Liam sounds like a catch.’
‘He is. We’re going to Smithy’s tonight for Valentine’s Day.’
‘Ooh? Is it going to be a special night? Have you shaved your legs?’
‘I always shave my legs! But I don’t know ...’ Ana bit down on her lower lip. ‘I like taking things slow.’
‘Yeah, but you’ve been dating for three weeks now! You’ve been to dinner at his house and he’s come to yours. You can’t hold out forever.’
Ana resisted a laugh. Typical Natalia. Her sister enjoyed talking about sex and despite her problems with men, she always had the best advice. But while the thought had crossed Ana’s mind, she’d been flattered more than anything when Liam had dropped her home on Saturday evening and left after a few steamy kisses.
But if nothing escalated soon, she’d need to reconsider their definition of ‘slow’.
‘I know,’ Ana said, meeting her sister’s gaze on the phone screen. ‘But things are comfortable the way they are.’
‘Well, hopefully he won’t move slow enough to drive you insane. If so, take things into your own hands and seduce him.’ Natalia grinned wickedly. ‘Black dresses are the best for that. Plus, it’s fun.’
Ana’s belly fluttered. She didn’t want to think about it. Although ... ‘We’ll see.’
‘Excellent.’ Natalia sipped from her water bottle. ‘So, what else has been happening?’
‘Um ... agility’s going well. The Maguires have made plans to visit their sister for her twenty-first birthday. But apart from that, I love my work and Liam swears that any day now the rain will come and not stop for weeks. I sort of can’t wait. Apparently, there’s a creek and rockpool or something on Shadow Creek that Liam says is better after the rain and he wants to take me there.’
‘I believe rain up there is quite different to what we’re used to. I just hope you don’t get a cyclone.’
‘No, there aren’t any cyclones brewing.’
‘Good.’ Natalia hit stop on the treadmill and the whirring ceased. ‘My hour’s up. But send me pictures if you see any waterfalls. You know how much I love them.’
‘There are plenty around here that I’ll see eventually, but I’ll send you pictures.’ Ana checked the time. ‘I’d better go. I have to get ready.’
‘Okay. Don’t worry too much about Rick, Ana. We’re keeping an eye on things and we’ll let you know if he skips out on parole. We should know before he makes it to Elizadale, I’m sure.’
Ana nodded. She could only hope so.