‘I can’t believe how many responses there’s been.’ Maddie undid her hair tie and Levi watched as her long blonde hair tumbled out of its ponytail. Three days had passed since they’d posted his dad’s profile. Three days in which Levi had studiously avoided the subject.
He looked away, pretending a devoted interest in finding his house key in the deep, dark recesses of his backpack. ‘What do we do?’ He had no idea what came next. Maddie had masterminded the situation and now a dozen women wanted to date his dad. Things were out of control. She’d caught the bus home with him so they could go through the profiles together.
‘We check out the responses and pick the ones we like best.’ She said it matter-of-factly, like she did this every day.
Levi fished the key out of his bag and unlocked the door, to be met by the warm, slightly stale air of a house that had been cooped up in the sun the whole day. He opened some windows in the lounge room, rewarded by the stirring of a cool afternoon breeze wafting into the house.
‘Hungry?’ His dad had left him a packet of assorted biscuits, supposed to last him all week. He tore it open where it lay on the kitchen bench and shoved a shortbread cream in his mouth.
‘No, thanks.’ Maddie sat on a kitchen stool, resting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. ‘I’ll have some water though.’ The tips of Levi’s ears burned hot as he felt her watch him get a glass from the cupboard and some cold water from a bottle in the fridge.
He got his laptop out of his school bag while she drank. Opening the screen, he navigated to Outback Singles and opened his dad’s profile. ‘I have no idea how to tell if someone is alright or a complete nutter.’
‘We’ll know by the photo. Slide it over.’ She reached for the laptop, forcing Levi to come and sit next to her, something he’d been avoiding.
She tucked her hair behind her ears and squinted at the screen. He held his tongue. Nothing he said would convince her she needed her eyes tested; he had the bruises to prove it.
Maddie began to open and read the messages.
‘Don’t like the look of this one. Her eyes are too close together.’
Levi couldn’t tell. The woman in question looked like a regular woman to him.
‘Not sure this one would last out here in the country. She’s as skinny as a stick insect and likes Vietnamese food. Good luck with that.’ She laughed. The only takeaway places in town were Chinese, pizza or the roadhouse. Every year rumours about a McDonald’s opening up flew into town like a flock of migrating birds, but they always amounted to nothing.
‘No. No. No.’ Maddie deleted the messages with cruel vigour, amazing Levi with her cold-blooded, businesslike approach.
‘This one I like,’ she said, sliding the laptop around so he could get a better view.
The woman in the photo had hair the colour of dark chocolate falling in a soft wave across her face. Her dark brown eyes looked out of a face that even Levi had to admit was pretty. It was the sort of face that welcomed you in with its warmth. She looked nice, kind.
‘I’m getting a good vibe off her and look what she wrote. It feels authentic.’ Maddie said the word as if it were the holy grail of dating site requirements. Levi skimmed her message.
‘Wow.’ He sat back, blinking. ‘Intense.’
‘Love at first sight,’ said Maddie, crossing her arms over her chest. ‘This is what we’ve been waiting for.’
‘Really?’ Levi had no idea about such things. He stared at the words on the screen, struggling to draw the same correlations.
‘Of course. It’s like in Sleepless in Seattle, when Meg Ryan hears Tom Hanks’ voice and knows he’s the one for her.’
‘Can it work like that?’ He had to get a handle on these things. Had it been like that for his parents?
‘That’s the whole point. You walk into a room and boom! There’s your soulmate.’
Levi swallowed hard. What if Maddie walked into a room and found her soulmate? The thought sent a cold shiver through him. If that happened, then they probably wouldn’t be best friends anymore and he didn’t think he was up for losing her yet. They had plans to move to the city and go to university and be something together.
‘What if my mum was my dad’s soulmate? Do you get more than one soulmate in a lifetime?’
‘In Sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks thought his wife was his soulmate and he was willing to settle for second best, until he met Meg Ryan—who, by the way, already knew they were destined to be together.’ Maddie took control of the keyboard. ‘I say we message her back.’
‘I don’t know.’ Levi had begun to get a queasy sensation in his stomach. ‘What if she’s a psychopath or something?’
‘Does she look like a psycho to you? She’s a journalist. We can check her out online. There should be plenty of stuff.’ Maddie had that lit-up thing going on, a pretty flush along her cheeks and a sparkle in her eye, making it hard for Levi to say no.
‘What’s her name?’
‘Solitary in Sydney. Super cute, she named herself like your dad.’
‘We’re not going to be able to find her without a real name.’ Finally, a way to end the madness.
‘Watch.’ Maddie gave him a Cheshire cat grin as she copied Solitary in Sydney’s photo and dumped it into a Google search which returned an alarming number of matches. ‘See,’ she said, turning to him in triumph. ‘All links to her articles.’
‘Still could be a psycho,’ he muttered. This was getting too real.
‘Lighten up, Levi.’ She punched him in the arm hard enough to make his teeth rattle. ‘If your dad falls for this woman then you’re off the hook and we can go away guilt free. Keep your eye on the endgame.’
The endgame.
If this crazy scheme meant he could go away with Maddie, then he didn’t need to think twice. He was in. He just hoped his dad would understand when a strange woman turned up acting like she knew him. And that Solitary in Sydney would be understanding when she found out all her messages were to a couple of teenagers and not to a lonely farmer looking for love.
If the truth got out he’d be grounded until he turned thirty.
‘Better hurry up,’ he said. ‘Dad will be home in a minute. We’ve got parent-teacher interviews, remember?’
‘Dear Solitary in Sydney,’ Maddie spoke as she wrote. ‘I’m totally open to getting to know you better. I found your photo mesmerising too …’
Levi rolled his eyes and put his head in his hands. What had he got himself into?
From: Lonely_In_Longreach
To: Solitary_In_Sydney
Subject: Hello back
Dear Solitary in Sydney,
I’m totally open to getting to know you better. I found your photo mesmerising too. To be truthful, I’m not really experienced with finding love online. This is the first time I’ve done it and you’re the first woman I’ve spoken with. I’m not sure I’d make great interview material. Like I said, I would like to get to know you better. Longreach feels like the middle of nowhere sometimes and there’s not much chance to meet new people. Perhaps we could meet if you’re willing to travel out to the country. Not a huge fan of big cities. What do you think?
Let me tell you a little bit about me.
Farming is in my blood. I was born and bred in Longreach, one of three generations to live on our farm. My son will hopefully be the fourth.
I farm merino sheep and a few years ago I started farming sunshine. Yes, I’m a solar farmer. Not always a popular decision for a farmer to make but it’s been good to us.
I like cricket and rugby (no surprises there), fishing, the odd game of pool and, when I was younger, a bit of dirt-bike riding, something I’ve passed on to my son Levi. He’s fifteen with big plans. He wants to go to university in a couple of years so it’s time for me to think about my own future. I’ve learned the hard way that life is short, and you must take your chances where you find them.
I like good coffee, Mission Impossible movies, Italian food and hot chips. I’m not sure what else to tell you. I love wide, open spaces, and while the distances can get to you sometimes, our town is small and sweet. Everyone grew up together. Mostly that’s a good thing. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Tell me some more about yourself. Oh, before I forget. My name is Sam. What’s yours?
Cheers,
Sam
The P&C committee had set up a refreshment table in the school hall, offering tea, coffee and fruit punch. They also had a cake stall right next to the coffee cart, tempting parents in an effort to raise funds. Sam got himself a free coffee and forked out five dollars for a great looking carrot cake with its icing sticking firmly to the clear-wrap covering.
Levi sat in a plastic chair waiting for him, a jumble of too-long arms and legs.
‘Here you go.’ Sam passed him a cup of punch.
Levi took a sip. ‘That is disgusting. I’d rather have a coffee.’
‘You’re fifteen years old. I am not caffeinating you at this time of night.’
‘Geez, Dad, I’m not a baby anymore.’ The sullen mask fell over Levi’s face, something Sam recognised more and more. He made a note to call his mother and apologise for his own teenage years.
‘I know.’ Sam took a sip of his coffee to stem the flow of words threatening to trip off his tongue. One thing he’d learned was that a little space in a conversation with a hormonal teenager went a long way towards limiting the possible damage. ‘How about you plug into that iPhone of yours and kick back while I go talk to your homeroom teacher?’
That earned him a grunt of acknowledgement. Levi had his earphones in before Sam had a chance to stand up. Steve Jobs had delivered both a curse and a blessing to parents across the world.
‘Maddie coming tonight?’ He’d come home to find the two of them hunched over the laptop on the kitchen bench. Some kind of assignment they’d said, before they’d scurried off to Levi’s room. Sam had pondered the merits of leaving them alone and unsupervised at their age. At what point did he say no girls in the bedroom? Had they passed it when he wasn’t looking?
Levi shrugged. He knew the answer alright, he simply didn’t want to share the information. Sam sighed and placed the carrot cake on the seat he’d vacated.
‘Make sure this is still here when I get back,’ he said.
He ambled out of the hall, nodding to other parents he knew as he made his way across the courtyard towards the designated classroom.
The sun had begun to set, leaving streaks of vibrant orange and pink lingering in the sky. In a few moments the thick, velvety blanket of night would begin to draw up from the east, bringing with it a myriad of stars. Very little light pollution from the town meant the sky zinged with the brilliance of the Milky Way, something Sam never grew tired of despite the hardships and challenges of farming.
Climbing the handful of stairs, he made his way along the veranda looking for the right room. Each one he passed contained teachers and parents, some in serious discussion, others laughing and talking like old mates. Which would he be tonight?
Finding the right room, he took off his ever-present akubra and stepped over the threshold. The teacher sitting behind the desk at the front of the room stood up and came to meet him. Slim, pretty, and young. The teacher Big Mike had been talking about.
‘Hello, I’m Kylie Kempton.’ She held out her hand. The light gleamed on her blonde locks, piled on top of her head in a twisty style, and her smile carried an infectious quality that drew him in. She wore a floral dress that made him think of the flowers his mother used to grow in pots on the front veranda when he’d been a kid.
‘Miss Kempton.’ He took her hand, so small in his that he was careful not to squeeze too hard. ‘I’m Sam Costello, Levi’s dad.’
‘Lovely to meet you. Call me Kylie, please.’ She sparkled like sun on water. ‘Shall we sit?’
He followed her, taking a seat and stretching his long legs out. The chairs weren’t built to take a full-grown man.
She watched him get settled, a smile on her face. ‘Let’s start with any concerns you might have about Levi’s education.’
Sam didn’t bother to hide his surprise. ‘Should I have some?’
Kylie laughed. ‘No, not necessarily. Sometimes parents worry their children aren’t performing well in certain subjects. Do you have any of those concerns?’
Sam shook his head. ‘He seems fine to me. Usual gripes about homework and assignments. Long sullen silences. Some smart-aleck remarks from time to time. I’d say he’s typical for his age. What do you think?’
‘I think you’ve summed up most of the student body, male and female,’ she said. ‘As for Levi, he’s tracking well. While he’s not a stand-out student in the sports department, he has an above average performance across most of his subjects.’
‘I’m reassured.’ Having satisfied himself that Levi wasn’t in any danger of going off the rails, Sam wondered if he ought to leap in and ask Kylie out for a drink. She looked like fun and a drink didn’t mean anything more than a friendly interest.
‘I understand you’re a widower.’
Her statement took him by surprise. ‘Seven years now.’
‘I don’t mean to pry, only sometimes kids can act out when they’re missing one parent.’
‘I hope that doesn’t apply to Levi.’ A tick of worry beat time in Sam’s heart and he sat up a little straighter.
‘Oh, no. Please don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mean to alarm you. Levi is great. Like you said, a sullen patch here and there, but on the whole he’s a good kid.’ She flushed pink along her cheekbones, lending her heart-shaped face a compelling appeal. It seemed that her interest in his marital status might not be connected to his son’s welfare.
Sam smiled. ‘Glad to hear it. If that ever changes, feel free to call me and let me know. Whatever I can do to support you from my end, I’m happy to do.’
‘Glad to hear that.’ She beamed with pleasure. ‘Many parents are not that interested, to be frank.’
‘Oh, I’m interested alright,’ he said, hoping she’d pick up his double entendre. Her renewed blush told him she had.
‘I’ll be sure to make a note of that.’ She recovered her equilibrium with grace.
‘Right then,’ he said into the eddy of silence building between them as they sat either side of the desk and looked at each other. It had been a long time since he’d flirted with anyone. He’d forgotten how, unsure if this was the moment he ought to ask her out or not. ‘I’ll … um … go.’
He stood awkwardly, and she rose too. He nodded and put his hat back on. Kylie held out her hand.
‘I hope to see you around town, Mr Costello.’
‘I’m sure you will,’ he said, grinning as he took her hand and held it for a moment longer than strictly necessary. ‘And call me Sam.’
As he walked to the door, he argued the for and against of turning around and asking her out. Too soon versus the perfect time. Hell, he wished Big Mike or Craig were here to give him some advice.
Sam reached the door and paused, looking back over his shoulder to where Kylie stood looking super cute in her dress, those strappy sandals showing off shapely legs. He could be said to be too old for her. She could make up her own mind about that.
He cleared his throat. ‘Miss Kempton … Kylie … If you’re free Friday night, would you join me for a drink at the Royal Arms Hotel? It’s not the flashiest place you’ve ever been to, but it’s friendly and nearly the whole town passes through.’
Her face lit up. ‘I’d love to.’
Sam felt his own smile stretch its way across his face in return. ‘Great. Meet you there at seven.’ He raised a hand in farewell and walked away as quickly as he could before she noticed the fine sweat that had broken out across his face.
He found Levi where he’d left him.
‘Hey,’ he said, nudging the boy’s foot with his boot.
Startled, Levi surfaced from his reverie, pulling his earphones out. ‘How’d it go?’
‘You’ve got a clean slate as far as Miss Kempton is concerned but that comes as no news to me. You do much better at school than I ever did. Keep it up.’
Levi stood and stretched. Sam noted it wouldn’t be long before he was eye to eye with him.
‘Can we go home now?’
‘Sure thing.’
Levi fell into line next to him as they made their way out of the hall, across the quadrangle and to the carpark where Sam’s old battered farm ute waited for them.
Sam hooked his son into a friendly headlock. ‘Think you should know I asked your teacher out for a drink.’
‘What?’ came the muffled response. ‘Dad!’ Levi wriggled free with surprising strength. ‘You can’t do that,’ he said once he’d regained his breath. ‘That is so embarrassing.’
Sam shrugged as he fished his car keys out of his pocket. ‘Don’t know why. Nothing to do with you. I’m only telling you so you hear it from me first and not someone at school.’ He opened the door and slid in.
Levi wrenched his door open and threw himself inside the car. ‘You cannot do this to me.’
‘Why not? What do you care?’ Sam backed out of the carpark and pointed the ute in the direction of home.
Levi looked out the window in broody silence for several kilometres, ignoring his father’s question.
Finally, he spoke. ‘Was it love at first sight?’
‘What?’ Levi’s question rocketing out of the quiet caused him to swerve a little.
‘Miss Kempton. When you walked in the room, was it love at first sight?’
‘You don’t believe in that stuff, do you?’ He looked over at Levi, trying to get a read on his expression in the gloomy light.
‘Was it like that with Mum?’
Sam returned his eyes to the road. ‘Fair question.’ He had to expect Levi to act out when faced with the prospect of a new woman in Sam’s life. ‘Yes, it was like that when I met your mother. We were thirteen when we met at high school. Her family moved here and took up the local haberdashery store.’
Levi frowned. ‘We don’t have a local haberdashery store in town. I don’t even know what that is.’
‘Material for sewing and stuff. Closed a long time ago. I can still remember the day your mum walked into class. She looked so scared that I wanted to take care of her then and forever. Silly, right?’ He wound down the window a crack to let some fresh air in.
‘Maddie says everyone has a true love, that one day you meet them and boom! You know right away it’s them.’
‘Maybe.’ Sam nodded. ‘Perhaps not for everyone though. Only the lucky ones.’
‘About Miss Kempton then …’
‘Miss Kempton seems like a really nice person. She’s pretty and friendly and I haven’t been on a date with a woman since your mother died. And besides, I think you only get one love at first sight in a lifetime.’
‘Maddie says there’s more than one person for you, more than one love at first sight.’ Levi turned his face away, staring at the passing darkness.
Sam let the silence lengthen while he considered his response. He should have known he’d find Maddie McRae at the bottom of this. Whether Levi realised it or not, he was in love with Maddie. His boy had grown up and there was nothing he could do to protect him from the inevitable heartache to come.
‘You worried Maddie is going to fall in love with someone before she notices you?’ he asked gently.
‘Dad! Geez. What’s wrong with you? You know we’re best mates and nothing more. Focus on getting us home in one piece, would you.’ Levi crossed his arms over his chest and pulled his ever-present baseball cap down low, signalling an end to this particular father-son conversation.
Sam smiled and shook his head. Love at first sight. He hadn’t seen that coming. He returned his attention to watching the car lights slice up the night, wishing Michelle were here to help him navigate Levi’s first big crush … and inevitable heartbreak.