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I nodded, then finally looked up in time to watch Rosie and her mother walk around the corner of the chapel, out of sight.
I sighed, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose. After counting to twenty, I found a pair of polished brogues in front of me, attached to grey slacks.
“Hey, Grandad.”
“What’s up with you? Why’re you countin’?”
I sniffed. “Nothing.”
“Doesn’t look nothin’.”
“I’m fine.”
Grandad snorted. “That girl has always had you tied up in knots.”
“No, she didn’t,” I said too quickly. “Hasn’t. Whatever.” The old man had caught me red-handed.
“That’s what women do; tie us men up in knots. And why do we bother? Because we bloody well love it.”
“That’s all very interesting, Grandad.” I cleared my throat. “It’s just you and me. Stacey’s left with Dr Harry.”
“Heh. Another Turner tied up in knots. ’Bout time that girl had a fella.”
“They are just getting food, Grandad.”
“Is that what young people call it now?” He stared up at the peach tree. “They need to spray this with sulphur before spring.”
I let out a noise, part groan, part cry. “I’m done. Are you done? I’d like to get home. Doubt Rusty is doing my assignment for me.”
Grandad stared at the peach tree for several beats. Thinking he hadn’t heard me, I was about to repeat myself when he spoke.
“Seriously, Tom.” He caught my gaze. “I’m not blind. I’ve seen how you are around Rosie. You should court her.”
I barked a laugh. “I haven’t seen Rosie in years. Until today.”
“Yeah, why is that?”
I inhaled a sharp breath. “Her mum just announced she’s engaged, Grandad. She’s found someone else.”
Grandad Cec’s bushy grey eyebrows hit his hairline.
“And no one says ‘court her’.” I scrubbed my face. “Let’s just drop it, okay? Let’s go.”
He followed me to the ute without another word.
My phone pinged again as I unlocked the passenger door and held it open for my grandfather.
Ainslee: Hey babe, been a while since we last had fun *kiss face emoji*
I’d also missed a call earlier from her. Ainslee and I had a friends-with-benefits arrangement at uni. We weren’t exclusive, let alone in a relationship. We hooked up when it was mutually convenient to do so, and both felt very satisfied after we did. I hadn’t seen or heard from Ainslee since the start of semester. Being tied up with the farm and uni assessment had me distracted.
Maybe a friend with bennies like Ainslee was exactly what I needed to get Rosie out of my mind.
Me: it has. We should do something about that *winky face emoji*
Ainslee: And I have a new thong I’d like to show you too
Ainslee: *image of hip and butt with a hint of a lacey G-string*
