Page 123 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

She nods and squares her shoulders. “I could take care of him.”

I choke on my next breath. “Nan!”

She winks and draws an invisible line across her throat with her index finger. “Pretty sure I could make it look like an accident.” Her thin lips pull into a devilish grin. “What could they do to me, really? I’m already trapped in this nursing home. They’d give me a cell with a bed, a chair, and books, and I’d be just peachy. I’d get to eat different food for a change, and there’d be no fighting Shirley for the sunny easy chair in the dining hall. It’s the natural solution to both our problems.”

I laugh. “Yeah, maybe. I’ll keep you posted.”

“I’m not getting any younger, son, so hurry up and make up your mind.”

I stand in front of Nan and offer my hands. She slips her frail fingers in mine, and I help her to her feet. Holding her close, we hug, neither of us seeming to want to let go.If only this version of Nan was here to stay.

“What’s up with you?” She curls her wrinkled hands over my shoulders and scans my face.

“I missed you, is all.”

“You look like crap, you know.”

I laugh. “I can always rely on you to tell me how it is.”

She grins and raises one brow. “Would you want it any other way?”

“Nope.”

“While we’re at it, maybe you should give the bottle a rest.”

My stomach churns.

“Don’t think I can’t smell it, boy. It’s comin’ out your pores. You can’t mask that with aftershave. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“Can I ask for some advice?”

Her slim shoulders bounce up and down. “Sure. I’ll tell ya anything for free. You know me.”

I suck in a deep breath and force it out my mouth. “How do I tell Mum about all this. She’s already dirty with Liv for breaking up with me, so when I tell her we’re back on and that we’re having a baby...” I comb my fingers through my hair and settle my fists on my hips. “She’ll lose it. I know it.”

She tugs on the collar of my shirt and stares intently into my eyes. “Do you love her?”

“Yep.”

“You want to have a family with her? Bring up her child as if it was your own?”

“Ah-huh.”

“Then it doesn’t matter what your mother thinks. This is your life. If anything, she should understand better than anyone what it’s like to rear a child that wasn’t her own.”

I swallow as the hangover lingers, acid at the back of my throat. “I brought her a heap of trouble. It nearly cost Mick’s life, and—”

“Not your fault, son, and it’s about time you got over that. Leave the past in the past. You’re not doin’ yourself any favours draggin’ it into the present.” She smirks and pats the side of my face. “Right?”

I kiss her cheek. “Right.”

***

“Imet with my Nan againtoday,” I say as we finish the meal I cooked for Liv. It may only be a simple meal of steak, mash, and vegetables, but I made it to impress. To apologise.

She chews around a mouthful of food then swallows. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about her. You said something last night and then... got off topic.”

What a polite way of saying I dribbled nonsense and passed out. Who knows what rubbish I carried on with after downing that much grog?

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