AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Will you do long distance for a bit or move to Brisbane and work at the hospital?”
I baulked. Leaving Ballydoon had never been an option. “I hadn’t—”
“Working with Steve is great. I mean, you’re already working with Harry here.”
“I guess. We’ve only started dating though.”
Mel kept charging ahead. “Hospitals can be great for your career.” She paused, thinking about something. “Nursing has many great options if you want to specialise.”
Something snapped inside me. “I willneverwork in a hospital. Ever.” I felt hot and prickly all over.
“You said that last night. I’m sorry.” Mel coughed. “Do you know about Simon, and um—?”
“Yeah. A bit.” The cold panic subsided. “But I decided a long time ago I’d never work in a hospital. There’s so much more I want to do in this world than that. I’d sooner give up the farm than work in a hospital.”
Mel stared, her jaw hanging open.
“Everything okay, ladies?” Harry looked between us, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah.” I mumbled, shoving the chicken feed scoop into a bucket. “Eggs are done.”
“They didn’t eat me,” Mel laughed, covering our sudden awkwardness. “Came close but I survived.”
Tom called out behind us. “Right, animals are fed. Let’s clean up and eat.”
Wine helped to shift my mood at dinner. Mum and Tom exchanged looks as they both studied Harry’s arm around my chair, and then his hand wrapped around my thigh.
As plates were collected after dinner, Mum announced toasting marshmallows over a fire, music and more wine.
“And Stacey, I think you should lead the way to the parlour,” Mum added coyly.
I blushed, eyes all on me.
Saying nothing, I pushed back my chair and the group followed me down the hall. I opened the French doors into the parlour—no more builder’s plastic cordoned off the room now. For a second, I gazed around the room with a secret smile. Someone had already lit a fire, and one floor lamp was on, making the gold, port wine and cream palette and the dark timber of the antique furniture glow. Tom shuffled past me with a basket of firewood, and whistled.
“Wow, Stace. It’s beautiful.”
Everyone filed in, oohing and aahing in admiration. I sucked in a deep breath, barely able to contain my joy of seeing the room look not just ‘done’, but complete.
“You really did all this?” Harry murmured in my ear.
I nodded, unable to talk.
He brushed my hair from my shoulder and our eyes locked. “Stunning,” he whispered.
I shivered and not from the cold.
The group was settled around the fireplace, sitting on floor cushions or the settee. Tom stacked the wood, leaving Harry and I by the antique chaise, upholstered in red velvet. He ran his fingers over the velvet arm.
“Did you have your photo shoot in here this morning?”
I nodded again.
“On this chair?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “I was bent over the arm, leaning down.”
Harry swore under his breath. “I need to hear about this later, Anastasia. In graphic detail.” He looked over my shoulder and his face lit up. “Is that a record player?”
