Outback Reunion (Bunyip Bay #6)

Chapter Seven

Mark’s phone buzzed in his back pocket as he hammered the last nail into the wood. He’d started on the chicken coop at the crack of dawn—deciding to use scraps from the shed after all—just after he and Rookie had done a drive through the paddocks checking the sheep had enough water for the day. And even though the sun had reached its peak in the sky a couple of hours ago and sweat was pouring off his skin, he hadn’t stopped until he was done. It was like he’d been possessed by something, but only when he kept busy did he manage to put Gabriela and last night’s mortification out of his mind.

He’d been a fool to ask her out when she’d already run away from him once. But why did she say yes if she was only going to stand him up?

He knew even before he looked at the screen that the caller would be his mother. Who else was going to ring him these days?

‘Hi, Mum.’ He bit down on the impulse to tell her she didn’t have to check in on him so regularly as he tossed the hammer on the ground. ‘What’s up?’

‘Dad and I just got back from Wise Wine for lunch—the food was amazing, and you should have seen the view over the ocean—and now he’s having a nap on a lounger by the pool and I’m reading my book. What are you up to?’

‘Building a chicken coop.’ The words were out before he remembered he’d planned to surprise her with it on their return. ‘I’m almost finished.’

‘A chicken coop?’

‘Yep. Ran out of eggs the other day and thought how handy it would be to have our own.’

‘Not a bad idea. We’re probably one of the only farms without our own chickens.’

He managed a laugh despite not being in a laughing mood. ‘Yes, but the rest of them don’t have pet magpies and joeys who like to eat roses.’

She gasped. ‘Oh dear, has Roo been into my garden again?’ Marian Morgan was never original with naming rescue animals. All her kangaroos had had the same name, unless she’d had more than one at a time. Then it was Roo 1 and Roo 2, just like the Bananas in Pyjamas.

He glanced back towards the pen where their current Roo was resting under the shade of a eucalypt tree. The joey was in much better shape than when he’d been found in his dead mother’s pouch on the side of the Brand Highway six months ago. In the branches just above sat Maggie, another rescue. ‘No. I’ve kept him well away.’

It was Rookie who was the problem, but thankfully she seemed to have forgotten him mentioning that the other day.

‘And is everything else okay?’

‘Peachy.’

‘Dad and I are so grateful. Knowing you’re there to take care of things takes a weight off. I’ve not seen your father look so relaxed in years.’

‘That’s great. And have you made any progress with the house hunting?’

‘We looked at a lovely little cottage in Dunsborough yesterday.’

Mark went inside to get a drink as he listened to his mum tell him all about the house that she was in love with. ‘Your father doesn’t think it’s the right fit.’ He secretly suspected she was fighting a losing battle trying to buy a retirement home that far away from Bunyip Bay and that eventually they’d end up in town, but at least they were enjoying their holiday.

‘Any progress on training Rookie?’ she asked.

He looked out the kitchen window and eyed the pup who was still madly running around the garden chasing invisible rabbits or something. Thankfully she was too small to jump into Roo’s pen or the two of them would cause chaos together.

‘No comment.’

Mum chuckled. ‘And have you seen anyone while we’ve been away?’

For once he could give her an answer that would please her.

‘Yeah, as a matter of fact I went into town last night for a few drinks with some old mates at the pub.’

He didn’t mention where he’d been beforehand or why he’d gone to The Palace. One whiff of him having a ‘lady friend’ and she’d probably drive all the way home to check her out herself. Not that he had a lady friend. His heart squeezed at the knowledge that Gabriela hadn’t even bothered to show up.

‘That’s splendid!’ From her tone you’d think he’d just announced he’d been chosen by NASA to fly to the moon. ‘Anyone I know?’

‘ Mum .’ He shook his head and let out a half-laugh. It was surprising word hadn’t got back to her about his night out. Even on holidays, he knew she’d be in constant contact via WhatsApp with her tennis friends and book club, the latter which Eileen Brady was a part of too. ‘You know everyone .’

They talked for a few more minutes and when he disconnected, Mark decided now was as good a time as any to go get some chooks. He shot off a text message to Adam:

Stella said you had some chooks you wouldn’t mind getting shot of. Is now a good time to come grab some?

Yeah. Now’s great. See you soon.

That sorted, he chased Rookie around the garden and then lured her into her crate with a treat. ‘Sorry, girl, you can’t come. Don’t wanna scare the new girls before they settle into their fancy new home.’

Adam and Stella were sitting out on their front verandah and Heidi was splashing about in a blue plastic paddling pool when Mark arrived. Trying to shake the sadness he felt at the sight of their happy little family, he parked under the shade of an old gum tree.

‘I was about to crack open a cold one,’ Adam said as he came down the stairs to greet him. They shook hands and patted each other on the back. ‘Want one?’

‘Kill for one,’ Mark replied. Drinking with Adam and Stella had to be better for his mental health than drinking alone.

‘Hello!’ Heidi waved from the pool as they stepped onto the verandah.

He waved back then nodded at Stella. ‘Hey.’

‘That was fast,’ she said with a smile.

‘What do you mean?’

She chuckled. ‘Last night you said you were thinking of building a chicken coop, and today... here you are, ready to fill it.’

Before he could reply the baby started crying from inside the house.

‘I’ll get her,’ Adam offered, but Stella shook her head. ‘You get the drinks. I’ll get Lily; she’s due for a feed anyway.’

Adam nodded then looked to Mark. ‘Take a seat, mate, I’ll be back in a sec.’

As he and Stella disappeared inside, Heidi assessed Mark from the paddling pool. ‘Do you want to swim with me?’

He laughed as he dropped into one of the outdoor chairs on the verandah. ‘There’ll be no room for you if I get in there as well.’

‘No, silly.’ She giggled. ‘The big pool round the back.’

‘Oh right. Didn’t bring my boardies, sorry.’

‘Daddy can lend you some.’

Hell, the kid had an answer for everything. ‘Um...’

Thankfully, Adam returned with the beers, saving him. ‘Leave Mark alone, Heids. He’s come to get some chickens, not swim, but I’ll take you in the big pool before dinner, okay?’

In reply, Heidi kicked her legs in the shallow water and pinned her gaze on Mark as Adam handed him a bottle of Coopers Pale Ale. ‘What are you going to name your chickens?’

He scratched the back of his head. ‘I hadn’t given it much thought to be honest. What would you suggest?’

Adam took a sip of his beer, stretching his legs out in front of him. ‘You might regret asking that.’

‘What about Squishy or Furby?’

‘But chickens have feathers, not fur.’

Heidi shrugged and continued, ‘Cake? Fairy? Rainbow?’ She was still rattling off names when her mum re-emerged.

Stella passed the baby to Adam, then went over to sit with her oldest daughter by the wannabee pool.

‘Think that’s enough ideas for now, Heids,’ Adam said.

Something squeezed inside Mark at the sight of his childhood friend positioning the tiny bundle in the crook of his arm. He still wanted that so badly himself, yet the thought of putting his heart on the line again left him cold.

‘By the way,’ added Adam, ‘on the beach this morning, I met someone who thinks she might know you.’

‘Me?’ Mark’s heart stilled, and he almost choked on his mouthful. ‘Who?’ he asked, even though he already guessed the answer.

His friend seemed oblivious to his shock. ‘A woman from the circus. Think she said her name was Gabi.’

Mark blinked—surprised and slightly annoyed. She couldn’t talk to him, but she could talk to complete strangers about him?

‘Is she the woman you were supposed to meet last night?’ Stella asked, leaning back on her hands. ‘How do you actually know her?’

‘We met at a pub years ago.’

Adam looked confused. ‘Didn’t sound like this woman was sure she knew you. Maybe it’s someone else.’

It was definitely not anyone else.

‘What exactly did she say?’

‘Nothing much. Just that you met in Melbourne years ago. I asked if she wanted your number and she said “yes”, but I’d left my phone in the car, so in the end I couldn’t give it to her.’

What the?

Mark had never felt more confused in his life. He’d assumed Gabriela hadn’t showed up at the pub because she’d changed her mind, but then why would she want his phone number if that were the case?

‘You couldn’t have told her where I lived?’

Adam held up a hand at Mark’s harsh tone. ‘Sorry. I didn’t think to.’

‘Maybe she didn’t stand you up after all,’ said Stella with a smile as Heidi splashed her with water. ‘Hey, missy! You’re gonna regret that.’

As Stella started tickling Heidi and the girl burst into excited giggles, Mark disappeared into his head.

Perhaps Stella was right. The only possible reason for Gabriela’s no-show had to be that something had come up preventing her from meeting him. His pulse pounded at the thought and the woe he’d been languishing in since last night lifted as he contemplated heading back into town and seeking her out again.

He glanced at his watch—it was almost four o’clock—maybe he could catch her before tonight’s show.

‘How many chicks would you like?’ Adam said, jolting Mark from his thoughts.

‘Huh?’

Adam raised an eyebrow. ‘The chooks? How many do you want?’

‘Oh, right.’ Mark shrugged a shoulder. ‘I dunno. Three or four?’ He couldn’t care less about the chickens.

Adam nodded and the conversation moved on to farming and football. He and Stella were trying some different crops between their main harvests, including radishes and legumes, to keep the soil covered all year round and prevent erosion. This was similar to what Mark was hoping to do on his farm, but he could barely concentrate on his side of the exchange, downing his beer in a few quick gulps. All he wanted was to go home, shower off the day’s grime and head back into town to try and catch Gabriela before the show.

Finally, Adam put his empty bottle on the ground. ‘Heids, shall we go help Mark choose some chickens?’

‘Yes!’ She burst out of the pool, splashing water all over Stella, and Mark stood up almost as quickly. Stella wrapped a towel around Heidi and then took Lily from Adam.

‘I’m going to go give her a bath. Nice to see you again, Mark. Good luck with your... ah...’ She smirked. ‘ Friend .’

‘Thanks,’ he replied, desperate to get to the chickens.

Now that he knew Gabriela had been asking about him, he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.