Page 64 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Chapter Nineteen

Jerry

“What a bloody way tostart the week, huh? I didn’t raise a drunk.” The trademark Penelope McAllister scowl appears. She places her hands on her hips and shakes her head. “You stink. Reminds me of your father.”

Which one?She’s talking about Mick because we don’t speak of the man who claimed to be my flesh and blood. Mick has had his battles over the years, but it was only when I discovered the truth to his debilitating injury that I understood why he struggled with depression.

“If you ask me, the man deserves a drink.”

She scoffs. “Oh yeah?”

“Bloody oath. Gettin’ shot and left to bleed out would mess anyone up.”

Mum chews the inside of her cheek as her weathered face deepens in colour.I’ve hit a nerve.

“No child of mine is going to be a slave to the bottle.” She waves her index finger at me as if it’s a weapon. “Booze has drowned more men than the sea. Remember that.”

Jesus. The number of times she ranted to Mick with words like that.

“I’m fine. Fuck.”Leave me the hell alone.

Her jaw ticks. “Language, Jericho.”

She turns on her heel and storms towards the porch. When the door slams against the timber frame, the pounding in my head intensifies with the echo reverberating in my brain. I’m too hungover for this shit.

Finn steps inside. He takes off his hat and rakes his fingers through his light hair. “Sorry—”

“Fuckin’ hell, mate. A heads up woulda been nice.” I grunt.

He shrugs. “Like I said, I’m sorry. Truck wouldn’t kick over this mornin’, so Ma gave me a lift.” As much as I want to give him shit about his truck, Bessie, being a hunk of junk, I bite my tongue. After all, he’s here to help because I swallowed my pride and asked him to.

“Last thing I need is Ma givin’ me shit.” I snatch the empty beer bottles from the kitchen table. They land in the bin with a crash.

“You have a party last night?”

“Nope,” I say, popping the ‘p’.

“Ah, okay. A party for one, huh? How are ya still walkin’? Enough grog here to kill a cow.”

The muscles in my jaw tick. “Not your concern, brother.”

He strides towards me then places his hand on my shoulder. “I’m makin’ it my concern. Talk to me.”

I opened up to the possibility of being with someone despite a lifetime of shutting people out. But it didn’t make a difference. She’s gone.

I shrug from his grip. “I’m not in the mood.”

He grunts. “What happened with Liv?” His voice is calm, polar opposite to the storm raging inside of me.

“Be fucked if I know.” My eyes widen as realisation dawns. “How the hell did you find out?”Fuckin’ small towns, is how. Can’t fart without someone two properties over catchin’ wind of it.

“Daynah saw her at the festival, invited her to family dinner.”

Ouch.

“Liv told Daynah you guys weren’t seein’ each other anymore.”

“Hey.” Daynah walks in and sets a plate of scones on the table. “Yeah, the poor girl was as white as a sheet. She seemed tired.”

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