Harriet waved when she spotted her son in the helicopter cockpit as it came in to land on the now not-so-dusty runway. Beside her, Hannah bounced on her toes, just as eager as her grandmother to greet their visitors.
Riley powered down the Robinson R44 before giving Noah the okay to take off his headset and climb down. She followed right behind him.
Harriet threw her arms around her youngest son and breathed in the familiar scent of his deodorant mixed with avgas. “How are you? I missed you.”
He kissed her cheek. “I missed you too, and I’m good.”
She let Noah go so he could hug and greet the rest of the McGuire family who were eagerly crowding around, waiting patiently.
“Riley.” The women hugged. “How was Grant?” she asked, referring to Riley’s cousin in Longreach.
“He’s doing great. Better than I would be in his condition,” Riley said. Grant had become a paraplegic after crashing his helicopter on a mustering job almost two years ago. Poor Riley had witnessed the event and saved his life. But she had been suffering PTSD ever since.
Riley waved at the helicopter. “We’ll drop this back off there on our way to the Pilbara.”
Beside them, Lachie tilted his hat. “How is business going?”
“Busy busy. The new pilot is working out really well and taking great care of this machine. It’s kind of weird flying the bigger one again after my little R22.”
“Lucky you brought the four-seater to the rodeo.” Harriet reminisced. “You were booked solid all day.”
Riley smiled at the memory. The rodeo had been held earlier in the year to raise funds for Maddie Sears and her family after her husband had taken his own life.
“I heard their old property has a new owner,” Noah said, re-joining the conversation. “Have you met them yet?”
Lachie grinned his Cheshire cat grin. “Oh, yes. We’ve met him. Mum’s gotten to know him very well.”
Abbie smacked her fiancé on the arm. “Don’t tease. We all adore Tom; he’s a lovely man.”
“So he’s single?” Riley said, trying to hide a smile.
“Not for long I don’t think,” Lachie said behind his hand.
Harriet’s cheeks heated but she knew they were just being cheeky. If they weren’t jesting, she would be worried that they didn’t like Tom. But she knew Riley and Noah would like him just as much as the others did.
“It’s hot out here. Should we get back to the house?” Harriet suggested.
Hannah gripped her Uncle Noah’s hand tightly. “Can I ride with you?”
He lifted the girl onto his hip. “Only if you tell me how your riding lessons are going. Has Uncle Darcy taught you how to cut a calf yet?”
Harriet smiled.
Her children were home for Christmas and it would be a true outback celebration.
Harriet spent the rest of the day baking treats and desserts with Hannah while the adults decorated the living room with tinsel and twinkle lights. The Christmas tree took pride of place, reaching the ceiling and surrounded by brightly wrapped presents of all shaped and sizes.
“That smells amazing,” Abbie said as she peeked over Harriet’s shoulder.
She was busily stirring the caramel-flavoured fudge as it bubbled gently on the stove.
“It’s not Christmas without fudge.” Harriet smiled. “I’ve made this every year since I was a little girl and my mother showed me how.”
Abbie smiled. “You’re going to turn me into a sweet tooth.” The nurse was very health conscious and although she allowed Hannah the odd special treat, she rarely ate them herself.
“How’s Hannah going with that icing?” Harriet glanced to the opposite bench where Hannah was hunched over in concentration.
Abbie joined her daughter. “Wow. Those are some pretty interesting clothes your gingerbread people are wearing.”
Hannah pointed to her colourful pieces of art. “This is Uncle Noah, and Riley, Gran, Dad, you, and Tom.”
At the mention of Tom’s name, Harriet paused. “You made one Tom?”
Hannah nodded. “The whole family is here. Mum, can you take a photo on your phone?”
Abbie did as her daughter asked, snapping photos from different angles before helping Hannah clean up the mess she had made.
Once the fudge was cooling and the dinner was simmering away, Harriet found the special present she had been keeping for tonight. She held the little package behind her back as she joined everyone on the verandah.
“I can’t believe how quickly it’s greening up out there,” Noah said, his gaze on the rolling paddocks with their young shoots starting to sprout. Harriet’s flower beds were also thriving after the rain. New shoots were appearing and the grass under it was turning emerald.
“I can’t wait to see it green,” Abbie murmured from her perched position on Lachie’s armrest.
“This has been a tough year.” Harriet spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear her and waited as they all turned. “But that’s behind us now and we can all look forward to a new year with new beginnings. This is our first Christmas together as a family. The first time we will have three generations under one roof.” She looked at each face, memorising their smiles and loving glances. “Hannah, as the first grandchild, I have something special for you—an early Christmas present.”
Hannah scrambled from her seat and put out her hands for the gift. Harriet placed the box on her palm. “This is a very special heirloom. My grandmother made it herself.”
Hannah peeled off the wrapping paper and lifted the cardboard lid to reveal the hand-stitched Christmas fairy. Hannah’s finger traced the delicate embroidery of its features. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Your grandmother made it?”
Harriet nodded. “Back when you made things yourself and couldn’t buy everything from the shops. She made this for the first Christmas she spent with her husband.” She looked at Meghan. “She was pregnant with my mother that Christmas.”
Meghan smiled softly and absently rubbed her belly.
Hannah lifted the ribbon on top of the fairy’s head. “Can I put it on the tree?”
“That would be lovely.”
Lachie rose from his seat. Were those tears in his eyes?
“I’ll help you, Squirt.”
Harriet stood aside as Lachie helped his daughter find the perfect position on the colourful, crowded tree.
When they were finally satisfied, Hannah slipped the ribbon over a pine branch and stood back to admire it.
“Perfect,” she said, before turning to Harriet and hugging her tightly. “Thank you, Gran.”
“I love you, sweetheart.” Emotion swelled in her chest.
“I love you too,” the little girl replied.
The following morning, everyone woke with the dawn as country people were inclined to do. And, after completing the morning chores and feeding the animals, they all gathered around the Christmas tree to open the rest of the presents.
Wrapping paper was torn and left in growing piles. Everyone had felt the need to give extra gifts to Hannah and Abbie to make up for the six years they had missed. Among her granddaughter’s presents, Harriet spotted Barbie dolls, a horse-shaped cushion, an art set, and a growing tower of picture books.
“This is for the baby.” Hannah handed Meghan a parcel with a silver ribbon on top. “He shouldn’t miss out on gifts too.”
Meghan grinned. “He?”
“Uh-huh. It’s a boy,” she replied matter-of-factly.
Meghan carefully unwrapped the package and lifted out a white baby-sized jumpsuit.
“Are those little cowboy boots and hats on it?” Darcy leaned closer to his wife.
“How lovely.” Harriet turned to Abbie and Lachie, who beamed with pleasure.
There was a knock on the door and Harriet rose to answer it. Being Christmas in the country meant visitors would drop by to extend they best wishes on their way to visiting family and friends. Cups of tea and baking would be shared as well as stories and memories of the past. It was a lovely time of the year that Harriet always looked forward to.
But when she opened the door and found Tom Carmody standing on her doorstep, she halted in surprise.
“Merry Christmas.” Tom reached for his hat and pulled it from his head, leaving his silver-streaked hair looking tousled in a bed-sexy way.
“I thought you were going back to Hughenden.” Was all she could utter.
He toyed with the seam of his Akubra as he spoke. “I thought about what you said and you’re right. So I figured out how to set up one of those video chat things and we spoke that way. Poor bloke is just doubting himself and needed to talk his plans out. They’re great actually—really modern and forward-thinking.” Pride softened his eyes and voice. “We had a good chat and I told him how proud I was of him. I think that’s all he really wanted.”
“You hadn’t told him that before?” Harriet asked.
“You know us old blokes. We weren’t raised to show affection and shower our kids with praise. But I felt it and wanted him to know.” He looked at her like he was seeking his own approval. Harriet swallowed hard over the fist-sized lump forming in her throat.
“I told him I was only ever a phone call away. Or video call if I can remember how to do it.” He chuckled. “But my life is out here now. Life is short and I’m already on the pointy end of mine. I want to spend what time I have left out here, with the woman I love.” He reached for her hands and she let him pull her towards him. When their bodies were touching ever so slightly and he was gazing lovingly at her, his breath warming her nose, she knew she felt the same.
“I’ve loved you since I was a teenager.” Tom’s voice was low and husky. “You were the first girl I ever wanted and I want you to be the last.”
Speechless, she reached out and curled her fingers around his neck before tugging him down to meet her lips.
Their kiss was needy and desperate, clingy and raw. Their bodies melded together as desire burned hot in her blood. When she finally pulled away, panting heavily, she knew she wanted Tom by her side for the rest of her life. They would be equal partners; neither would dominate or belittle the other. Theirs would be a relationship based on mutual respect and love.
She pressed her lips against his again before speaking. “I love you too, Tom. I always have. You’re the man I’ve been waiting for all my life.”
He smiled wide. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
They shared another kiss before Harriet took his hand in hers. “The whole family are inside and I’m sure they’re all wondering where I am. Will you spend the holiday with us?”
He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”