Page 32 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

I extend my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs McAllister.”

She stares at my offering for a few seconds before huffing out a breath. As she grips my hand, calloused and as firm a grip as any man, her piercing glare inspects my face. “Penny’ll do.”

“It was a lovely service.” I smile.

She pushes a brief smile to her lips and waves at an older man that limps until he settles beside her.

The old man re-adjusts his worn black Akubra hat, tufts of salt and pepper hair teasing around his ears. “Who’s this?” He looks between Jerry and I and raises an overgrown brow, mischief in his tired eyes.

“Dad, this is Liv,” Jerry says and puffs his chest out.

I offer my hand. He takes it in his warm, leathery hands and gives it a gentle squeeze. “How do ya do? I’m Mick. Pleasure to meet ya, darlin’.”

Isn’t he the polar opposite of his wife?“Same here. Nice to see the whole family getting together for today.”

He nods. “Tradition. Come rain, hail, or shine, we always march. You got family here?”

I swallow. “No, it’s just me. Moved here at the beginning of the school year.”

He scratches at his temple. “Ah, yeah. That’s right. I heard Audrey talkin’ a few months back ’bout a new teacher.”

The name is familiar. “Audrey from the Country Women’s Association? She helps out the school with the bake sale.”

He chuckles. “Wherever there’s cakes and scones you can be rest assured Audrey isn’t far away.”

“Come on, Mick,” Penny says. “We’ve gotta pick up Bernie on the way.” She waves him towards the direction he came from.

The old man’s shoulders drop. He winks at me and re-adjusts his hat. “Guess I’d best be on my way, then. You take care.”

“You too.”

Penny strides off with not so much as a goodbye. Mick reminds Jerry not to be late to lunch and ambles after her.

Jerry’s arm wraps around me and he positions his mouth to my ear. “The ice queen will defrost, I promise you.”

“So it’s not just me?” I whisper.

He presses his lips to my cheek. “Any girl after one of her sons is in the firing line. Ask Daynah what kind of reception she got.”

That should be some kind of comfort, but it’s not.

I tilt my head and take Jerry’s hand in mine. “Oh, so I’m after you, huh? Gonna steal you away from Mumma bear?”

Jerry beams. “I’d say by that kiss before, she definitely has somethin’ to worry ’bout.”

I roll my eyes. “Ha ha.”

“You wanna come to lunch?”

“I can’t, sorry. I’m going to Nat’s for a barbeque.”

“All good. How ’bout we go grab a coffee?”

“Sure.”

Jerry wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me towards Emily’s. “Sorry, there’s no gettin’ out of a McAllister get together today. We’ll have to make the most of the time we’ve got.”

Family is important and I admire him for making them a priority. Although after meeting his mum, now I understand what he means by there being no way of getting out of it. I doubt Penny would allow it. Mick seems to be on a leash of sorts.

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