AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you regret not going overseas after high school?” Mum asked.
“No. Figured I’d travel one day, but I just wanted to get my degree.”
A die-cut image of a ticket fell out and a few other decorations. “Oh, the glue is failing.”
I handed Mum the scrapbooking embellishments, and several more pages fell from the back of the scrapbook. A4 printouts scattered over the floor. One was an airline booking and check-in procedures, and another was a typed itinerary from an email.
Mum tsked. “I always meant to do something with these as part of the scrapbook, like a double-page spread of Amanda’s itinerary and flight details. Guess I still could, and I could add her return flight home to get married. Can you believe it? First marriage in the family.”
She opened the second album, and the first photo was of Amanda and Rosie, grinning for the camera in their formal dresses.
“How beautiful they looked that night.” Mum shuffled the printouts into the back of the scrapbook again.
“Mum?”
“Yes?”
“I need to tell you something.” I glanced at my laptop and swallowed hard. “Two things, actually.”
Mum peered over her glasses and waited.
“About Ainslee. Pete had heard something about Ainslee angling to marry me, and she admitted today.”
Mum blinked. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“She’s an acre chaser, Mum. Thought she’d snag a rich farmer at uni.”
Mum blinked again.
“She thought she was pregnant and her period was late.” Mum’s mouth fell open. “I always use protection, to reassure you. Ainslee regularly does these severe diets. Dr Harry believes that her current diet could’ve delayed her period. But in short she’s not pregnant.”
“God, Tom. Would you have—?”
“No. I wouldn’t have married her. But I would’ve been an active father. Ryan has been amazing with Em in raising Charlotte, and they didn’t marry because she fell pregnant. I’m not in love with Ainslee. I can’t say that enough. We’d be miserable together.” I let out a harsh laugh. “Of all the guys she had her sights on, she chose the one who stands to lose the farm after seven generations.”
“It’s not lost yet, Tom,” Mum said softly. “So you think it’s true? That she was after you to marry rich?”
I shrugged. “It’s nothing new. It’s known that there are always a few women enrolled at uni with the goal of snagging a husband while they study. Ainslee was one. I tested the rumour that Pete had heard. Told her I was facing bankruptcy and would lose the farm in a year. Things went cold with Ainslee very quickly. But I think the recent ads for the ABC TV special about the bushfire brought her back for party planning. I don’t think she’s scheming or evil or anything like that. Pete thinks something is going on in her family that’s driving her to get married as soon as she can but Ainslee hasn’t told me anything.”
“Acre chasers …” Mum shook her head. “Well, I’ve learnt a new thing. Back in my day, I guess the single teachers used to joke about snagging a rich farmer, but most moved back to the city after their regional service time was up. As for me, I was married and pregnant before my regional service had been completed, and here we are.”
“I almost faced being a father-to-be before I graduated.”
Mum and I stared into our tea cups for a long moment.
“And there’s a second thing.”
My eyes strayed to the formal photo of Amanda and Rosie, smiling and happy for the camera in their special dresses.
“You have a thing for Rosie,” Mum murmured, pulling out another photo of Amanda and Rosie sitting on a granite boulder, laughing.
I let out a harsh laugh.If only it was just a thing.“How—”
“I have long thought you were sweet on her when you were younger. But I think you’re saying that those feelings never went away.”
“No, not even close,” I said without hesitation.
“Oh Tom. Just how much do you like Rosie?”
