Page 73 of The Winning Ticket

“Sure. It would be good to meet him. I don’t really remember him from when we were kids.”

Jake nods, heads to their table, and returns with his father and stepmother a minute later. “Dad, Donna, this is Brianna. Bri, this is my father, Jack, and his wife, Donna.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, standing up to shake both their hands.

We all sit back down, Jake moving to the seat beside me.

Donna smiles at me. “Jake tells us you’re visiting from Brisbane? How do you like it so far?”

“So far, it’s been great. I mean, it’s hot, but it’s so beautiful out here. I dragged Jake out to Queen Mary Falls this morning, and then we just checked out a few wineries.”

“Oh lovely, which ones?”

Donna and I chat back and forth about the area while the two men quietly watch us. Jack is watching me closely; I can tell he’s sizing me up.

“So, how do you two know each other?” Donna asks.

“I’ve known Brianna her whole life. Mum and her mother were in baby classes together when they were pregnant with me and Bri’s older sister Morgan,” Jake pipes up, and I nod while I take another sip of wine.

“Oh, wow. You know, you’re the first of Jake’s friends that I’ve met – from Brisbane, I mean.”

“That’s because Jake doesn’t consider this his home,” Jack says, and I stiffen a little at his tone.

“Dad.” Jake glares at his father, and Jack shrugs.

“It’s the truth. Why else do you use any excuse to head back to Brisbane?”

“Because I have friends there, and Mum and my other family. And I only go a few weekends a month - I’m here the rest of the time. I own a home here, for fuck’s sake,” Jake snaps, and Donna jumps a little.

I try not to stare at Jake in shock, unused to seeing anything rattle him, but I can tell this is a well-worn argument between the two men.

Jack regards his son for a few moments before shaking his head. “Let’s drop it. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m glad you’ve come to visit, Bri.”

“Thank you, Jack. I’m glad I’m here too,” I say, reaching under the table to take Jake’s hand.

He grips my hand and strokes the back of my hand with his thumb.

The rest of the meal passes without further incidents, but I’m grateful once it’s time to leave. Jake has been on edge since his outburst, and I want to get him alone to talk to him about it.

Jake pulls me in for a hug as soon as we're outside.

“Sorry,” he says, his words muffled while he buries his face in my hair.

“It’s okay. I knew things with you and your father were tense, but I hadn’t expected him to fire up in front of me.” I wrap my arms around Jake and rub a hand up and down his back.

“Neither was I. But I shouldn’t have been surprised. He is starting to hate my ties to Brisbane more and more. Since I won the apartment, actually.”

“Why? Does he think you’re going to leave Stanthorpe?”

“Probably.” He steps back and takes my hand while we walk towards his ute.

“Do you want to leave Stanthorpe?” I ask quietly, and he shrugs while opening the passenger door for me.

“I don’t know… I know I should be grateful to have the opportunity to take over a business one day, but… I miss everything back in Brisbane. Everyone I care about most is there.”

“True. But you’ve got ties here, too. I watched how many people tried to engage with you tonight, Jake. You have a life here as well.”

“Yeah…” He holds the door open for me while looking me in the eye.

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