Bottlebrush Creek Read online

  He pulled on a pair of shorts and snuck out of the caravan. It’s time to get this great day underway.

  The shower was running when Angie slipped back into the shed. Setting the pool down by the Christmas tree, she nestled Rob’s gift among the others and spun around as the bathroom door creaked open.

  Her eyes traced the snail trail from Rob’s belly button to where it disappeared into the waistband of his shorts. It was a sight she never failed to enjoy.

  Rob wound his arms around her and she laid her cheek against his damp chest.

  ‘Merry Christmas, beautiful,’ he whispered into her ear.

  ‘Merry Christmas.’ She held him tight, tracing a trail along his smooth back. He pulled away, his green eyes twinkling as he studied her face.

  ‘Your present won’t fit under the tree, I’m afraid. But I’ll have it for you after lunch,’ he said.

  ‘Thought we weren’t doing presents?’

  He pointed to the gift she had placed under the tree. Even with the wrapping and a gaudy bow, there was little disguising the fact it was a claw-hammer.

  ‘You can’t talk, Miss McIntyre.’ Rob leaned closer. Angie kissed him, her hand cupping his freshly shaven jaw. The smell of his shaving cream and the lazy circles he was tracing on her neck were hypnotic.

  It took all her resolve to step away. ‘We’ll have a deliriously excited three-year-old bursting out of the caravan door any second now. But I’ll take a raincheck for tonight.’

  ‘Deal,’ said Rob, folding his arms behind his head and admiring the satin nightgown peeking out from underneath her bathrobe. ‘A bloke could get used to this view, though.’

  Angie smiled, pulling the robe back around her like a curtain. The exercise had started stripping the baby weight, but she still wasn’t comfortable enough to parade around in a skimpy nighty in broad daylight. She kissed him chastely before padding across to the kettle.

  ‘Time for coffee, Romeo. Then you can help me get those sides of beef in the slow cooker for lunch.’ She smiled. Rob’s right. This is going to be our best Christmas yet.

  Rosa tucked the branch of gum leaves through the curtain rod and nodded to John.

  ‘Up a little higher. More, more. Yep, stick the pin in,’ she said.

  He lifted the branch higher and fixed it in place, before climbing down from the stepladder and sinking into his recliner. ‘Those the last of the decorations?’

  Rosa looked around the farmhouse kitchen, her eyes critical as she assessed the red, white and green balloons in the corners of the room, the silver and burgundy wall-hanging she’d spent all November sewing, and the swags of eucalyptus over every curtain rod. She wanted it to be perfect for this evening, but it was still missing something.

  ‘Needs a little pizzazz,’ she said, tapping a finger to her lips.

  John picked up the Sudoku puzzle book she’d given him that morning. ‘Nobody cares about all the frills and fuss, Rosa. They’re only coming for a light dinner and dessert. Sit down and do a puzzle with me,’ he said.

  Rosa lifted her chin. ‘I care, John. I want it to be perfect.’

  She stalked outside. Fairy lights would be just the thing, she thought. The sound of laughter floated through the air and Rosa craned her neck towards the cottage.

  She spotted Rob and a bearded man setting up gazebos and trestle tables, while Angie and one of the older sisters unloaded chairs from the back of a four-wheel drive. Lara or Diana, she wasn’t quite sure which one. Rosa hummed as she continued to the shed—she was delighted to be joining their lunch celebrations. It would be their first combined Christmas function with the McIntyre family. She’d met them all briefly at Claudia’s christening, but it was hard to keep track of which sister was which, let alone the names of their husbands and children.

  Rosa stretched up on tiptoe to grab the neatly labelled box of fairy lights from the shed shelf. It’ll be lovely getting to know Angie’s family better, she thought, carrying the lights inside. No matter how much she’d tried to welcome Angie into the fold, things remained stilted between them. Still, she reminded herself, they’re home now and that’s the main thing. And hopefully tonight’s little surprise will be a turning point for us all.

  Twenty

  The smile didn’t slip from Angie’s face all morning, her excitement peaking as her family spilled from the convoy of cars. It felt like ages since she’d been home to McIntyre Park, and she hadn’t realised just how much she’d missed Diana, Lara and Penny until they were all standing in her driveway, fussing over Claudia and gushing over the cottage.

  Like Angie’s sisters, Angus had loved the pre-lunch property tour and update on the renovations. They’d all oohed and ahhed, as if they too could see the potential in the old cottage. Having them all here was treat enough, but it seemed the neglected garden had given its own nod to the occasion. The pony-trimmed rose bushes had managed a few blooms, while the exuberant wisteria and jasmine perfumed their outdoor dining area.

  Angus leaned back in his deckchair, loosened his belt and placed his Akubra back on his head. ‘Best Christmas lunch I’ve had all year,’ he said. His classic dad humour elicited groans around the table.

  ‘It’s the only Christmas lunch you’ve had all year, Dad,’ said Angie, glowing under his praise nevertheless.

  ‘And I mean it every year too, love. Top notch. But this one’s been extra special,’ he said, nodding at John and Rosa before gesturing to Rob and Angie’s cottage. A mix of pride and delight washed over Angie.

  ‘They’ve done us proud, haven’t they, John,’ Angus said.

  All eyes turned to John, who took another sip of his beer and simply lifted his chin with a small smile. No wonder Rob resents him. Even with an opener like that, getting a tiny morsel of praise from John is like getting blood from a stone, Angie thought.

  Rosa leaped in. ‘They’ve done a marvellous job. We’re extremely impressed,’ she said.

  ‘Who would have thought, after all those years sitting inside and eating a hot lunch on a sweltering summer’s day, we could have been feasting on barbecued prawns and roast-beef rolls under a gazebo?’ said Pete, wiping his beard with a green-and-red napkin.

  The McIntyre sisters laughed as Diana elbowed her husband in the ribs. ‘You sure you don’t want to rephrase that, Pete?’

  Pete grabbed his wife’s hand and kissed it. ‘Your Christmas lunch is always spectacular, darling. But you’ve got to admit, the cooler coastal temps make it a little more pleasant. Hard to believe the weather is this moderate, when just two hours north it’s like a hot box.’

  ‘The jury’s in: I think we should do all future Chrissy lunches with a slow cooker and barbecue. The kids loved it,’ Lara said, nodding to the collection of cousins, who were now taking turns to run through the sprinkler.

  ‘Ditto,’ said Penny, rising from her chair. Her dress stretched across her pregnant belly. ‘Think I need to make some room before dessert, though,’ she said, reaching for the empty plates. She cleared her throat. ‘Tim? You guys can get all the presents ready while we clean up here, right?’

  Tim leaped to his feet, soon joined by Rob, Pete and Angus.

  Angie hid a grin. So, they bought Claud a new swing set for Christmas. No wonder Angus and Lara had parked out on the road, hidden behind the thick stand of bottlebrush shrubs. She feigned obliviousness and busied herself collecting plates and cutlery from the trestle table.

  Rosa also got up, gathering dishes from the table. Angie ducked her head to hide a tinge of disappointment. She knew it was selfish, but she’d been looking forward to five minutes alone with her sisters.

  Diana gently ushered Rosa back to the deckchair. ‘I’ll take that, Rosa,’ Diana said, easing the platter from Rosa’s hand. ‘You just put your feet up for a minute. No, no, we insist,’ she said on her way to the kitchen, talking over Rosa’s objections.

  The four sisters worked like a well-oiled team: Angie washing, Penny and Diana drying and Lara handling leftovers. ‘Go sit down, P
enny, you’re about to pop,’ said Diana, swatting her away.

  ‘I’ve got to stand or I’ll never fit any dessert in,’ said Penny. ‘This baby loves the look of your croquembouche, Diana. Although it’s not the same without your pav this year, Angie. I still don’t know how you’re coping without an oven. At least someone else will get a chance to win a ribbon in the show baking this year.’

  Angie pulled another plate from the sudsy water. ‘It’s not too bad. I don’t have much time for baking anyway, with these renovations. It’s like a boot-camp weight-loss challenge, with a house as the main prize. And my friend Bobbi runs a tight ship. She knows when I’m slacking off on our runs and eating the wrong stuff,’ she laughed. ‘She’s amazing. You’d love her, Lara.’

  ‘We wouldn’t fit a pav in here anyway,’ said Lara, peering into the open refrigerator. ‘If only Rob collected vintage fridges instead of motorbikes, we’d have a hope of fitting both the leftovers and the desserts. Some will have to go back in the eskies.’ Lara reached down and opened the cooler boxes, restacking drinks to make way for the remaining salads.

  ‘Can’t hang fairy lights on fridges, though,’ replied Angie, with a laugh. ‘It’s his thing. I can’t stand in the way of a man and his motorcycles. And I have to admit, it is kind of fun riding in that one.’ She pointed to the Harley-Davidson with the black-and-gold sidecar attached. ‘Claudia loves it too.’

  ‘Hmmm, it looks about as comfortable as living in a caravan.’ Penny rocked her hips from side to side, one hand on top of her belly, the other underneath.

  Even through the red fabric of Penny’s dress, Angie could see the bulges as the baby kicked. Surprised by a sudden maternal urge, she dried her hands and cupped Penny’s bump to feel the movements.

  ‘It’s an active little squirt. Won’t be long till you’re all in the birthing suite watching this little one make its grand debut,’ said Penny.

  ‘God, do you seriously still want us all in there, Pen? We won’t be offended if you’ve changed your mind,’ said Diana.

  The dishwashing paused and Angie and Lara exchanged a look while they waited for her response. Penny didn’t have an inkling of what she was in for, and as lovely as the invitation was, all three of them knew they’d be surplus to requirements—or, worse, they’d make Tim feel like he wasn’t needed.

  ‘Of course I want you all there. Mum’s not here, so you three are the next best thing.’

  Angie’s sad smile was a mirror of her sisters’. Annabel had loved Christmas.

  ‘Wherever she is, I bet she’s looking down on us today and smiling,’ said Diana.

  Another thud fluttered through Penny’s skin. ‘Oh, I felt it move!’ said Angie.

  Diana and Lara stepped in and added their hands to the mix. The sombre mood vanished as the baby kicked again.

  ‘You’ll have another one of these on the way soon,’ laughed Penny, rubbing her bump.

  ‘Another baby? I’ve got enough trouble with a puppy and a three-year-old.’ Angie smiled, studying the red peep-toe wedges she’d bought for her beauty salon opening a decade ago. ‘Maybe when we’ve settled into the cottage.’

  Lara snorted. ‘You’ve changed your tune. Rosa will be sewing more baby blankets before you know it.’

  Angie shot a look towards the door. The last thing she wanted was Rosa walking in and discovering herself the topic of conversation.

  ‘Let’s not get too carried away,’ laughed Angie, returning to the sink. But as she scrubbed the knives and forks, she realised the idea of another baby wasn’t half as terrifying as it had been three or four months ago.

  Rob dried his palms on the seat of his khaki shorts, knowing they’d be sweaty again before he reached the end of the driveway. Violet danced around his legs and he wished he’d followed Angie’s advice about chaining the puppy up during lunch. He was already nervous enough to fall over his own feet without any assistance.

  ‘Relax, Jonesy,’ said Tim, punching him lightly on the arm. ‘What’s not to love about a trailer load of polka-dotted calves? Angie will be rapt. Plus, they’re a gift. She can’t turn away a present, right?’

  Diana’s husband Pete nodded. ‘Hope she likes cows more than she likes chickens, Rob. Three pure-bred calves must have cost a packet. You got a back-up plan?’

  Tim and Pete burst into laughter.

  ‘Give the guy a break,’ said Angus, clapping Rob on the shoulder. ‘He’s already sweating like a pig.’

  Rob followed his future brothers-in-law and father-in-law down the driveway. The calves he’d bought were one thing, but it was the pearl-and-diamond ring he planned to tie to the ribbon around the smallest calf’s neck that was making him sweat.

  He slipped a hand into his right pocket, toying with the loose ring as they walked along Enderby Lane. He’d spent the last two hours making sure it hadn’t fallen out, distractedly answering questions as he showed their guests around the property and through the cottage. Perhaps a box-shaped bulge in his shorts would have been more comfortable than the fear of dropping it in between the rotten floorboards or into long grass. Get to the trailer, secure the ribbon to the calf, secure the ring to the ribbon, and then hope like hell Ange says yes. He picked up his pace. God, I hope she likes it.

  ‘Got the bow, Pete?’

  Pete nodded, lifting a carry bag. Although Rob had enlisted their help to deliver the trio of calves for Christmas, he hadn’t told them about the proposal.

  Rob’s fingers trembled. He undid the latch on the trailer and climbed into the crate with the skittish animals. He wasn’t sure who was more nervous, him or them, but he’d been around enough calves to know he needed to be calm and quiet or else they’d scatter. An expensive Canadian Speckle Park calf with a broken leg would not be a good omen.

  He slipped a hand towards the biggest one’s mouth, murmuring gently and crouching low. The calf sniffed him warily. Within moments, its little black-and-white mouth enveloped his hand, trying to suck milk from Rob’s fingers. Tim slipped the red satin ribbon around the calf’s neck and tied it in a bow.

  ‘All good, Jonesy.’

  Rob took a deep breath and reached into his pocket, trying to extract the ring while still crouching. ‘Bugger, I can’t get it. Can you reach into my pocket, mate? Right side.’

  Tim gave him a puzzled look, but reached into his pocket as Rob straightened as much as he could without scaring the calf.

  ‘Geez, that’s a ring and a half,’ Tim laughed, examining the pearl and diamonds. ‘You’re a dark horse, Rob. Explains why you burned the hell out of those prawns on the barbecue.’

  Rob nodded tensely, swivelling around to face Pete and Angus behind him. ‘You all right with me marrying Ange, Angus?’

  A warm smile crossed Angus’s tanned face. He gave a quick nod. ‘Thought you’d never ask, son.’

  Rob let out the breath he felt like he’d been holding for hours. ‘Tie it onto the ribbon for me, eh, Tim?’

  ‘Make it a double knot. Jonesy will have your guts for garters if that beauty slips off into the grass, never to be seen again. Or worse, if the other calves eat the ribbon,’ joked Pete.

  Rob’s stomach lurched. He couldn’t fathom the idea of losing the ring at this late stage, or sifting through piles of runny green calf poo to retrieve a ring worth more than a dozen purebred calves.

  ‘Maybe you should bring Mohammed to the mountain, instead of us leading the calves into the yard,’ said Angus.

  Rob nodded gratefully. This was where Ange’s practicality came from. The red-ribboned calf mooed, stamping its foot in frustration at the lack of milk.

  ‘Make it quick, mate. These guys are getting cranky,’ said Tim, using both hands like bottle stoppers to keep the bigger calves occupied. Pete jogged off, loping down the driveway. Rob felt the skin on the top of his knuckles rubbing painfully on the calf’s bottom gum and swapped hands. He stroked its soft speckled fur. This one will have to be called Pearly, he decided, watching the ring bob up and down on the ribbon.
Before long the children emerged from the driveway, whooping with delight at the sight on the trailer. No going back now, Jonesy. Sweat trickled down his chest. What if she says no? Where the hell do we go from there?

  Angie hummed as she reset the trestle table for dessert, feeling content, with a belly full of food and her sisters, niece and nephews bustling around her.

  ‘Aunty Angie, Aunty Angie! Come and see this!’ Lara’s daughter Evie called from the top of the driveway.

  Angie set down the spoons and skirted around the pile of presents sitting in the shade, her curiosity piqued as another delighted cry came from the roadside.

  ‘Ready for a surprise, love?’ asked Angus, walking towards her and offering his hand. She took in his wide smile and allowed herself to be led towards the lane. Do they need a hand dragging the swing set off the ute?

  They rounded the bottlebrush hedge to see a small crowd gathered around Angus’s ute. Angie’s breath caught in her throat.

  A trio of the prettiest calves she’d ever seen were huddled on a trailer crate behind the ute, one with a red ribbon around its neck. She scooped Claudia up into her arms.

  ‘Has Daddy got us some calves for Christmas?’ she whispered, her ambivalence growing with each step. She wasn’t sure they had the time or the money for such an expensive—albeit gorgeous—gift.

  Her family stepped back, creating a path to the trailer. Rosa held out her arms for Claudia and Angie noticed a glistening in Rosa’s eyes. She’s pretty excited about the new calves, considering she’s surrounded by black-and-white cattle all day long. Was this Rosa’s idea?