They were late.
Rebecca had planned for them to be on the road half an hour ago but here she was still standing in the kitchen, waiting. She was in no hurry and the reality was that they had plenty of time. She could hear the shower running and what may have been singing or possibly the summoning of a demon. She yelled down the hall. “You okay in there. Sounds like you’re in pain.”
There was no answer, so she poured herself a glass of juice, peeled off her shoes and sat down at the kitchen table. She lent back in the chair, stretching her neck, and looked up at the ceiling, spotting a tangle of cobwebs in one corner.
“Damn. How did I miss that?”
Over the past six months, she had cleaned every inch of the house, or so she had thought. Wanting to keep busy while the drama had slowly faded away and keeping busy had been exactly what she had done.
She had taken up pottery. Making use of Nan’s wheel and kiln and found that she not only enjoyed it but was respectable at it as well. There had been a street fair three weeks ago and with the aid of a fold-up table and a pergola, she had sold almost two hundred dollars of vases, jugs, and bowls.
Jake had cleaned up the backyard or as he said, “It’s not a yard, it’s a bloody paddock.”
Craig had finally gotten around to taking her out to a Country Ball, which had been more fun than she had expected. It had led to a second date, and a third and another, until finally they had become a thing. They had even tried another Trivia night, with Jake, Tate, Tracey, and Tony, but had come dead last when Tate had insisted on writing down the answers. His version of the answers.
She had taken up running most mornings, even when it was freezing. Sarge and Peaches always ran with her, sometimes all three of them coming home covered in mud. The two dogs had become best of friends, with Peaches mothering Sarge as if she could sense the injuries that the bigger dog still carried.
And now Craig was in her shower, or by the lack of sound coming from down the hall, he was out of the shower, and she hoped, almost dressed.
She walked down the hall and found him already in the bedroom, half-dressed.
“Almost ready.”
“Almost.”
“You might want to put some pants on. I think the bride is supposed to be the centre of attention.”
“Point taken. Pants coming up…and I have no idea where my good shoes are.”
“Seriously? I don’t know how your girlfriend puts up with you.”
Craig looked up at Rebecca with a huge smile. “So, it’s girlfriend now.”
Rebecca smiled back and began scanning the room for the missing footwear.
“Under the bed?”
“Looked.”
“Haven’t you got another pair?”
“It’s a wedding Bec. Can’t be wearing my grubby old plumber’s boots.”
“Fair enough, just look again. Don’t be having a boy look.”
Craig wandered down the hall, threading his belt through his jeans as he went. Rebecca watched from the bedroom doorway as he almost fell over a rubber chew toy and disappeared into the lounge room.
“Got them.” Craig’s voice echoed down the hall. “Under the dog’s bed. Crafty buggers are trying to stop us from going.”
Sarge and Peaches just looked on as Craig put the shiny, black shoes into the travel bag sitting on the coffee table, hoisted it over his shoulder and made his way to the door. “Let’s go then.”
Rebecca followed him out the door, and they found Jake standing beside the car.
“Now bro, are you sure you're going to be okay.”
“Seriously sis. I’m not some little kid. I’ll be fine. Me and Tate are having a feed at the pub tonight and tomorrow we're going to go out to Chaffey Dam and do some fishing. So, I’ll be keeping busy.”
“I’m glad you’ve made friends up here, but please be careful at the pub. And make sure you get up for work on Monday or Nashy will get even crankier than usual and don’t forget to feed the dogs.”
“I don’t reckon they’ll let me forget. Just go. Have fun and give my best to Tracey and Tony.”
Rebecca gave Jake a quick kiss on the cheek, which he wiped away with a grimace on his face.
“Save that for your boyfriend.”
“You jealous Jake?” Craig nudged Jake in the side.
“Will the two of you just go.”
Rebecca threw the last bag into the back of the Suzuki and turned to face the two others.
“Okay quick checklist. Wedding clothes? Check. Invitation?”
Craig pulled the folded shiny, silver cardboard from his pocket and held it up.
Craig read, “Tracey Pearce and Tony Higgins request the pleasure of your company to celebrate their wedding. Ceremony King Edward Park. Newcastle. Blah Blah Blah.”
“Check. Gift? Check. Flowers?” Rebecca peered into the back of the car at the bunch of wildflowers. “Check. Okay, let’s hit the road. See you Monday bro.”
Rebecca grabbed the keys from Craig’s hand. “I’m driving.”
“You sure? You do know where we’re driving?”
“Yeah, like I don’t know how to drive to Newcastle…but yes, I’m sure. Been carrying this weight far too long.”
She watched as Craig shrugged and limped to the car. His limp was getting better, but it was still one of the many constant reminders of what had happened all those months ago. The story, the rumours and eventually the truth had burnt through the town like a wildfire for weeks until people had found something else to focus on. Now it was just the few ongoing things like Craig's and Sarge's limp, or the sight of Peaches, or Nashy’s constant whine about his shoulder that took her back there. She had made a promise to herself not long after everything, that she would survive and now with her family, partner, pets, and friends she was doing just that.
The Friday afternoon summer drive was perfect. Sunshine, music, and laughs made the distance pass quickly.
Just before Murrurundi, Rebecca pulled the car to the side of the road. The siding here was narrow, but she was able to climb out, take the bunch of flowers from the car and with a few cable ties, attach the bunch to the guard rail.
She stood silent. No tears just a quiet smile and quiet words.
“I love you mum. I love you dad.” Then she felt Craig’s arm around her shoulder, and she slipped her arm around him, before wordlessly climbing back into the car.
She smiled, glanced at Craig, started the car, turned the music up louder and headed off, thinking to herself.
The road ahead held great promise and there was no way she was going to sleep through any of it.