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Phew. "Great to meet you, Polly."
She gives me a big, warm hug, surprisingly strong for a woman her size. Maybe it's not just country boys who have a stronger grip.
"Hope you boys are hungry."
"Always," I reply, then add before Wilby can say anything, "Fast food doesn't count."
He laughs, and Polly waves us in. As I enter, I hear from behind me, "Fuck me dead, you weren't wrong about the eyes."
Note to self: I won't have to watch my language around her.
"Where are the kids?" Wilby asks, stepping into the entryway.
He kicks off his boots, so I take off my shoes, too.
"Bridge is in her room. She's finished her homework and is reading."
"And Kolby?"
"Also in his room. Itriedto get him to do his homework." She smiles regretfully. "He's in a mood."
Wilby nods. "Gimme a sec," he says as he brushes past me. "I'll be back soon."
"Of course."
"You thirsty, hon?" Polly asks. "I made some iced tea today."
"That sounds amazing."
I follow her into the kitchen, and she pours me a glass, then we make our way to the living room.
"This is delicious," I say after taking my first sip. "Perfect after a long hot day."
"That's most days 'round here." She smiles warmly. "So, you're staying a few days?"
"I am. If that's okay with you?"
She lifts a hand. "This isn't my house. I just help out when I can. Wilby's free to do whatever he pleases…" A silver brow shoots up. "Withwhoeverhe pleases."
"Right." I down the rest of the iced tea in one long gulp.
Polly starts telling me about the drought. "Ironic to think that one-third of Australia used to be an inland island, and now we haven't seen a drop of rain in three fucking years."
"An island? Wow, I never knew that." I look out the window at the clear dusk sky. Stars are starting to come out. "Is there any rain forecast?"
"Not at the moment, no. There is a big system starting to form over in Western Australia, but who knows what it'll be by the time it gets all the way out here. Massive rain dumps in the west piddle down to nothing by the time they reach us… Wilby sang at karaoke last night, didn't he?"
"Yes. He did."
She grins. "Attaboy. He skipped last month, so…fingers crossed. The omen and all."
"I don't understand?"
Before she can answer, Wilby's back, flanked by a slightly shy, sweet-faced girl with curly auburn hair and freckles on his left and a miniaturized doppelganger sporting a frown on his right.
"Hi, I'm Bridgette. Nice to meet you."
I stand up. "Nice to meet you, too, Bridgette."
