Page 75 of The Reality of Us
“Is there somewhere I can put these?” Lulu held up a cupcake box. “They’re from a box mix because I wanted to make sure they were totally gluten free, but Wilbur tried one and said he couldn’t tell the difference.”
“I’ll make space.” Alice reached for the Tupperware container.
“Now, how can we help?” Eloise asked.
“You ladies don’t have to do anything.”
“Nonsense. Drink this and then put us to work.” Lulu thrust a plastic cup of white wine into Alice’s hand.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to make candles,” Joan said, looking up from where she was assembling a cheese platter. Alice’s mouth watered at the array of hard and soft cheeses, salami and prosciutto.
“Everything I bought said gluten free on the packaging. Nothing from the deli, so there shouldn’t be any cross contamination,” Joan added, answering the question Alice was about to ask. Constantly having to be vigilant about her diet could be exhausting but little extra acts of care like this? It helped her not feel so different from everyone else.
“Seriously, what can we do?” Lulu asked.
“Well, I guess these need to be boxed up so I can sort them into their orders tomorrow.” Alice pointed at the wool sorting table. That would make space for the next round of candles she needed to make.
“On it.” Lulu dragged a stool over to the table and started assembling the pretty candle boxes covered in wattle flowers.
“And we could get a head start on pouring tomorrow’s candles. If you’re sure you wouldn’t rather sit and relax. Have some of the food you all brought?”
“Please.” Joan tossed her a wink. “We’re women. We can multi-task, especially when wine and carbs are involved. Let’s make some candles! And Lulu can tell you all about the time she ordered five thousand shopping bags instead of five hundred.”
“I still maintain that extra zero was a glitch in their system.”
“Was this when you were in denial about needing new glasses?” Joan teased and Alice giggled. The easy friendship and warmth the women had brought into her cold, little shearers’ shed chased away some of the disappointment in herself that she’d been unable to let go of.
“Possibly.” Lulu winked at Alice.
“See,” Eloise whispered, nudging Alice. “These things happen. It’s not a big deal.”
Now all she had to do was make things right with Owen. Explain to him why she’d twisted herself into knots in front of him and hope he would understand.
“This is a surprise,” Wyatt said when Owen pushed through the front doors of the Wattle Junction Hotel. “You never come to drinks after training.”
“Felt like a beer tonight.” Owen slid onto a bar stool next to Nate. Teddy was sitting on his other side checking his footy tips. Owen nodded at his teammates who were playing pool.
“What’ll it be?” Wyatt flicked the rag he’d been wiping the bar down with over his shoulder.
“Whatever’s going.”
Nate passed Wyatt a couple of notes. “Give us three of the new red ales. Owen will like it.”
Wyatt placed an icy pint glass under the beer tap, and Teddy looked up when the drink was placed in front of him. “He does seem to have a thing for reds at the moment, doesn’t he?”
Owen ignored the joke, swallowing a long mouthful of beer. When he looked back up, both his brothers were watching him closely. In his peripheral vision, Owen noticed Wyatt quietly drift down to the other end of the bar, giving the brothers privacy.
“Alright, O. That was a subtle opener. We can be more direct. Want to talk about your lady problems?” Teddy leant forward, resting his elbows on the mahogany bar.
“I don’t have a lady. I had a long day at court. That’s all,” Owen grumbled, trying to deflect.
“But hypothetically, if you did have lady problems”—Nate smirked and did air quotes—“would that explain why you tackled Jack so hard tonight he’s still limping?”
Owen tapped the side of his glass, his gaze sliding over to where Jack was walking around the pool table. He was favouring his right side. “I’ll pay that it wasn’t my best tackle.”
“We’re not surprised,” Teddy said. “About you and Alice.”
Owen pushed his drink away, his thirst evaporating. He lowered his voice. “Jesus, Ted. She’s my client and keep it down, would you?”
