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“Kristy, was this house cut in half and then put back together when it got here?”
“Yes, it’s had quite the journey.”
Kristy stood at the top of the hallway, her arms crossed. She studied him for a long moment, her big dark eyes roaming his face to his chest and down his body. What was she looking for?
“Josh, this is my private domain. I never invite anyone in.”
“Sorry, I don’t mean to overstep the mark, I’m just curious, you know?” He cursed himself as he stumbled over his words.
“You mean nosey?”
He walked down the hall to join her. During those half a dozen steps he vacillitated between apologising and blending in with her world, or forcing her to think another way. She was sacrificing so much.
Kristy hadn’t moved so much as a muscle, her eyes never leaving his face.
He stood a few inches away from her. “What do you mean you never invite anybody in?”
As soon as the words were out he regretted them. Her eyes quivered and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.
“It isn’t obvious?” she whispered.
He shook his head. Over the years he’d had some hard conversations with clients, especially those facing certain bankruptcy, and right now this conversation was topping them. But he was paid good money to go for the jugular – now was that time.
“Not yet. Unless you think by coming in here I’m seeing your poverty on display? Is that it?”
She gasped, but he held his ground. His stomach started to churn when he noticed her face flushing and her eyes misting over. She blinked a couple of times and he could see her body stiffen.
“This is not where I spend my money.” Her softly spoken words confirmed his suspicions.
He reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. Her skin felt soft and warm against his hand. “So the horses get the best of the best, eh? Not enough for a coat of paint in here, or a few rugs, or appliances, or…”
Kristy slapped his hand away. “Stop it. Stop right there. I choose to live like this. I choose it because I want a future, one that I want with no half-measures. To me, it’s worth the sacrifice. I started this with my eyes wide open. Now, if you don’t like it, you can leave. You know where the door is.”
He stared at her in wonder.
She backed herself.
It took him a full minute to compute what she’d just said. If only he could bottle her conviction. People would buy it in droves, but very few understood it. Every year his firm took in thirty university graduates and none ever spoke with true conviction. Her fearless expression came from a good place. Never had he ever heard anything so courageous or honest in his life. Words failed him, but his thoughts didn’t. Despite her bravery she needed help, comfort and support.
Kristy cocked her head and a challenge shone in her eyes.
He walked past her, down the darkened hallway and opened the door that led to the kitchen. “If I’m going through this door it’s with you. We need to chat.”
She raised an eyebrow but walked through the door.
“You put away your papers, I’ll put the kettle on and over a cup of tea we’ll talk about your plans for this place.”
While he waited for the kettle to boil he heard Kristy talking on the phone. He took the opportunity and walked down the hall again to the front door and checked out the rooms that ran off the hallway. There were two bedrooms at the front of the house, completely empty. He briefly saw Kristy’s bedroom and shut that and then spied the small bathroom opposite.
She needed help. Everything was clean and tidy, but it needed sprucing up and it could be made to be much more comfortable. He didn’t quite understand where this need came from, but if he and the boys could return to Sydney with Kristy in a better home life situation he’d be happy. It wasn’t enough to say kind words.
He knew the signs…Kristy showing him and telling him in so many ways that she was more than capable of doing just that, but she didn’t have the time, and he did.
Outside, Kristy was still on the phone. She shut down her call as soon as she spied him. She grinned at him. “Come on, bring the teas, I’ll take some food, let’s sit in the courtyard.”
They walked across the paddock to the stables.
Josh noticed the floors were still damp after their regular hose-down and the horses were looking out at them. A grey-coloured cat sat on one of the dividing walls between the horses.
