Page 80 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jerry

Frost blankets thefields outside Sugarloaf Ridge, the haze of smoke lingering in the air. On my way into town, toThe Songoffice, I tell myself this is a means to an end. I’m a proud man but can’t be proud about this. I gave myself a deadline of July 1st. If things didn’t improve, this was the next step. I need money, and if that means renting out half the house, it’s what needs to be done. Hopefully, I find someone quiet, who keeps to themselves.And keeps the hell out of my way.

Female voices echo in the old community hall, and as I approach the office the chattering grows louder. When I enter the room, Aunt Bernie and Daynah are sitting at a small table, sipping from dainty teacups, a plate of colourful cupcakes between them.

“Ladies.” I remove my hat and set it down with my car keys on Daynah’s desk.

Daynah stands and rushes towards me. I kiss her forehead as her small arms wrap tight around my waist. Her whisky-coloured eyes scale over my face, and I know what she’s searching for. The bloodshot eyes and tell-tale signs of little sleep.

She pouts, no doubt finding the evidence on my face.

I’ve tried to stay clear of the bottle. It’s been nearly two months since Liv called it off. It’d be fine if that was my only stress, but it’s not. Defaulting my mortgage is a very real possibility, and I’ll kill myself before I let that happen.Would I have the guts to go through with it? End it all?

I swallow around the lump in my throat and clench my fists to stop my fingers from trembling. “Need to talk to ya about the ad,” I choke out.

From her chair, Aunt Bernie leans towards me and grips my hand, pulling me to her. I step in and kiss her on the cheek, her long earrings swishing about as she kisses me back.

“You okay, love?” she asks, a wavering smile on her face.

I nod. She knows it’s a loaded question. The last time I was anything close to okay was when I had Liv.

After a few minutes, with Daynah taking down notes, we’ve nutted out the advert.

“I’ll get it in the next edition,” Daynah says. “I can ask around, too, if you want?”

My pride takes a hit with the hint of pity in her eyes. It doesn’t scream success for a man to have to rent out part of his house.

I shrug. “Sure. Thanks, sis.”

Daynah swings around and takes a cupcake from the nearby lunch table. She gazes at it in admiration before taking a bite. The light pink frosting sticks to her upper lip as she chews and moans in appreciation.

“What?” she says and finishes her mouthful. “I can’t help what I’m craving.”

Bernie freezes. Daynah’s gaze swings to my aunt and her eyes grow wide.

What’s up with these two? “What?”

Bernie laughs and rises from the chair. “Everyone has a cravin’ for my cakes. Don’t judge her.”

I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “No judgment ’ere.” I grab one of the sugary creations and take a mammoth bite.

Bernie grips my shoulders and rubs at the tight muscles there. “You barely come visit anymore.”

If only I had the time. The past month I’ve been working my arse off doing fencing jobs, but it’s not enough to break even. There are drainage problems at the farm and some of the crop is dying. I can’t fuckin’ catch a trick.

“Gotta give you a chance to miss my ugly mug,” I tease. “Hey, that reminds me. Someone doin’ a burn off around ’ere? Seems weird for smoke to come this far into town.”

“Warren just dropped in to check that his email for his Weather Wise report arrived.” Bernie rolls her eyes dramatically. “He said there was a fire in the old terraces on Grevillea Street up at the Falls.”

My world tilts. Saliva pools in my mouth as my stomach lurches.

“Jesus Christ,” I choke out and snatch up my hat and keys. “Liv.”

I run for the door as Bernie calls out my name, the echo of her heels on the timber floor following as I jump down the steps and scramble into my Ute.

If I shortcut through the Daniel’s sheep farm, I’ll get there in half the time.

---