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He nods. ‘But I should’ve done it anyway.’ He steps up and pulls me into a hug, the first since Mum’s funeral when I was twelve years old. ‘Thank you for stepping up when I failed,’ he says. ‘And I’m sorry for all of it.’
I’m not prepared for this, so I’m frozen in place with no words.
He claps me on the back before letting go. ‘But like I said earlier, I’ll manage everything myself now.’
I swallow and nod. ‘Okay.’
‘You called Annie yet? Made plans to go see her?’
This part of the speech I was most definitely not prepared for. ‘No.’
‘Why not?’
I throw my hands up. ‘Because I didn’t know how all this would turn out.’
‘Well, it’s turned out pretty good, don’t you think? Might be time to give her a call.’
My mouth is open, but the words are sticking. ‘I haven’t spoken to her in months. Haven’t heard from her in months. I have no idea if she even wants to hear from me.’
‘Only one way to find out.’
I chew my lip. ‘You get why I’m hesitant to leave, right? If you start drinking again—’
Dad takes a firm hold of my shoulders. ‘I’m gonna stop you right there. That’s between me and my parole officer. I don’t need a babysitter. I have people for support and meetings I can go to. I’m good.’ He releases his hold on me. ‘You’ve taken care of the farm, managed the debt. You’ve done everything you said you’d do while I was in there. Now I’m out, and that means we’re both free.’
His words begin to penetrate.
It’s been close to a year since our last text exchange. She’s likely moved on from the drama of us, got herself some safe boyfriend who says ‘I love you’ after they finish their bland lovemaking. And I’m the guy who broke her heart and let some random girl blow me behind the gas bottles at the RSL two towns over in an attempt to move on.
‘I’m going to get back in that car, and you’re going to call her right now,’ Dad says, sounding more like a father with each passing second.
‘Because that’s not awkward.’
He waves a hand. ‘I won’t look.’
I watch him walk away and climb into the ute. He makes a point of looking away.
I can’t just call her. I need to think about what I’d say.
The horn sounds, and I jump a foot in the air. I glare in Dad’s direction. He brings his hand to his ear in a phone gesture. Shaking my head, I turn my back to him and fetch out my phone.
Annie
My head is buzzing and heart thudding from adrenaline as I exit the building where the Mother Bling offices are located. The purchasing director has just confirmed that my jewellery will soon be available in every one of their stores in Australia.
I did it. I thought he was going to laugh me out of the building, but I’m leaving with a contract instead. All I need now is for my lawyers to look over it. And to hire some lawyers. And hope that the good people at Mother Bling don’t discover that I’m a giant fraud figuring all this stuff out on the go.
Opening my bag, I retrieve my phone and text Bridget.
Me: Success! Mojitos for dinner?
Me: Mojitos are basically a meal, right?
Me: Fruit, greens, etc.
My phone rings, and I bring it to my ear without bothering to check the screen. It’ll be Bridget saying she’s going to be a few minutes late, which is code for half an hour late.
‘I’m literally across the road from the pizza shop, so don’t worry. Actual food is coming.’
