Page 72 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Forcing a smile that she was far from feeling, she cocked her head to the side. ‘I’ll be okay, Dad. Eventually.’

‘Yeah, right.’ His mouth tightened as he huffed through his nose. ‘Pull the other one, love.’

She gave him a resigned sigh. ‘Okay, yes, I feel like crap, but I will get past this.’

‘If you say so. But tell me this.’ He fell into step beside her as they headed for the shade of the front verandah. ‘What if you don’t get past it?’

Shoving her hands into her pockets, she shrugged. ‘I did with Finley.’

Mark half snorted, half grinned. ‘Finley was a dick.’

‘Ha, righto. Don’t go sugar-coating anything, will you, Dad?’ She pointed to the bar fridge. ‘Would you like a can of Coke or a beer?’

‘I’d love a Coke, thanks.’ He sank down on the settee.

Returning with two cans, Rose passed one to him, slumping down beside him.

‘You know this is very different from Finley, don’t you?’ Concern edged his every word.

Rose shook her head. ‘How do you mean?’

Her dad took her hands in his. ‘Finley was a weak man, and men like him like to place the blame on the woman for their relationship failing, but the truth of it is, he didn’t know what to do with your strength and your beautiful inner fire.’

‘Wow, Dad. That’s such a beautiful thing to say.’ Rose sucked a breath past the ball of emotion that had just lodged in her throat.

‘Heath and I have had a man-to-man chat about it all, and Ty sounds like a strong man to me, one who appreciates you for who you are and loves you for it. And that, my girl, is real love.’

Nodding, heavy tears streaming down her cheeks, Rose let out the breath she felt like she’d been holding all day. The tangle of knots in her stomach didn’t ease, but something in her heart shifted enough to allow her a small reprieve.

Her mum wandered out of the homestead and, spotting them together, smiled tenderly. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’

Mark smiled. ‘Of course not, Molly. Come and sit.’

Molly’s footfalls were as soft as her precious heart as she closed the distance. She sat in the single chair opposite. ‘Talk to us, and not the watered-down version. I want you to tell us everything, my darling Rose.’

Looking from her father to her mother and appreciating how they were both always there for her, Rose’s hand fluttered over her aching heart. ‘I know I’ve fallen in love with him.’ She cleared her throat. ‘But the thing I’m struggling with is how is that even possible, after such little time?’

‘Love cannot be measured, or put into a neat little box.’ Molly paused, as if giving Rose time to let this sink in. ‘It is what it is. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do with it.’

‘Your mum is right on the money there.’ Mark sat back and slung a booted foot over his knee. ‘Why don’t you tell us some things you love about Ty Parker?’

‘Well …’ Rose didn’t need long to consider this. ‘When he asks a question, he actually listens when I answer. He’s kind and thoughtful, attentive and charming, always putting everyone before himself, and oh lord he can make me laugh until my sides ache.’ She bit her lip as sweet memories demanded her attention. ‘And when he kissed me, I felt like everything else melted away.’

Molly nodded, her gaze perceptive. ‘That’s really beautiful, sweetheart.’

Mark regarded her through fatherly eyes. ‘Did you ever feel any of that with Finley?’

‘No, never,’ she said definitively.

‘Hmm. That says a lot.’ Mark looked to Molly. ‘Wouldn’t you agree, Mol?’

‘Damn straight I do.’ Molly looked to Rose, a fierceness in her eyes now. ‘I think, Miss Rose, that you need to stop dillydallying, and go and get your man.’

Eyes widening, Rose sat up straight. ‘You do?’

‘Hell, yes, we all do.’ Heading up the front stairs, Heath answered for all of them.

* * *