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I grinned, full of joy for this moment in a wombat burrow of all places. “Can’t wait to take you on a proper date. When you’re ready.”
“Ready now?” Ryan yelled.
Rosie bit her lip and then took hold of the rope, managing to get onto her haunches. “Ready,” she said, our stares locking.
The double meaning wasn’t lost on me at all.
I watched her half climb out with Ryan’s assistance hauling her up with the rope.
I didn’t give the arsonist any mental real estate during this moment. Or the wool clip, or bank repayments or anything.
Right now, the only thing on my mind was that the girl next door loved me.
29
TOM
#STAMwedding group chat:
Tom posted yesterday 10.31 p.m.:
I’m calling a family meeting for tomorrow night. Partners very welcome. I have the proposal ready and will give it to you in the morning. No more waiting.
Rosie held up a finger, indicating she’d be off the phone soon.
I glanced down at the stack of local newspapers on her work desk. One with photos of us and the brigade as we arrived at the vineyard with the fire brigade after the fire, and our female wombat joey, named Persephone in the tradition of Hades and Son of Hades.
The other had a double-page spread of Opera in the Vines photos. Guests dancing, the singers in costume, Angelo saluting the photographer with a glass of red wine. But in the centre of it all was Rosie, in a spectacular dress the colour of red wine, up on stage at a past opera event, welcoming the crowd.
I’d handed out a printed document at breakfast to my family, emailed my twin the document, and then fled the homestead, walking the paddocks and checking the sheep in the holding yards. Checking every pump, tap, wire and fence post. Every broom, stall and table in the shearing shed.
We were ready for the wool clip.
Lily had even texted, happy I was alive and not pleased she had to learn her twin had hidden down a wombat burrow to escape a bushfire via social media and national news sites, and then hinting she’d be home very soon with several emojis of yoga poses and sheep.
Hmmm, yoga for the shearers to stretch out at the start and end of the day would be great. But seeing my twin would be even better. Not that she’d be here for the clip.
“Okay, yes. Thank you. I’ll call back to confirm.” Rosie ended the call and pulled me in for a hug. “That was a new vendor who wants to stock our wines in their Brisbane restaurant.”
I grinned. “That’s fantastic news.”
“It is.” Rosie kissed me and I kissed her back, deepening what had started as a sweet peck into something that hinted at so much more.
Christ, I loved that we could just do this: kiss. Be affectionate. Touch.
A week ago that seemed impossible.
“Mmm, this was nice and unexpected, but I have to leave.” Rosie rested her head against mine. “I’m meeting the Faculty Dean today.”
“I know. I’m here to drive you. So you don’t have to go alone.”
“But you’ve got shearing prep. And you’re doing your proposal tonight.”
“We’ll be back in time. Everything’s done, to be honest and Ryan and Stacey were fine with handling any the last-minute issues. And I’d like you to join me for the proposal, if you can spare the time.”
“You don’t have to drive me.”
“You don’t have to meet them. At all. You can cancel if you want.”
