Page 132 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Chapter Forty-Two

Jerry

Ihelp Finn with thelast bolt on the change table. Their nursery is starting to get that cosy feel with baskets filled with stuffed toys, brightly coloured baby books on a small shelf, and a feeding chair in the corner. “Like I said, it’s not rocket science.” Half the instructions were missing, but it’s just common sense. Try shit until it fits.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles.

Finn tries too hard to get things perfect. It’s why I only ever asked him to help me with fencing when I was desperate. There’s perfect, and then there’s efficiency. Finn takes ten times as long and gets near the same result. And when you’re putting up a fence that stretches for miles, shit needs to get done to keep animals where they need to be.

Standing back and admiring my handiwork, pride balloons in my chest as thoughts of Liv and her swollen belly come to mind. “Guess I’ll have to do the same thing before too long.”

“How’s it goin’ with you and Liv?”

“Good.”

“You chat about the big stuff?”

I open my mouth to speak but baulk.How do I tell him I’ve spilt our family’s biggest secret?I’ll let him take the lead. See how far he wants to push.

“Yeah, we did.”

“Oh yeah? You talk about the father?”

Ah, just where I thought he’d go.

“Liv contacted a friend back in Canberra last weekend. She’s waiting for her to give Liv a number or something.”

“Huh. If it’s been a week, sounds like the guy doesn’t wanna be found.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

Silence grows between us, and Finn narrows his gaze. “Talk about anythin’ else? Like your childhood?”

“Yup. I told her about the bakery. About Skylah.”

A nervous laugh escapes him. “You did? Holy fuck.”

Heat burns up my throat. “You were the one who said I should!”

“Yeah, I know, but when Ma finds out you told her, she’ll throttle you.”

“I don’t plan on tellin’ her just yet.”

Redness spreads across Finn’s cheeks as he huffs out a breath. “Did you tell Liv what happened to Mick? About the shooting?”

I hold up a hand and shoosh him. “Whoa. Settle petal. I didn’t go that far.” I collect the plastic packaging strewn on the floor. “I still have to tell Ma I’m gonna be a dad.”

“Jesus H. Christ!” Finn scales a hand down his face. “You need to get onto that, because if she hears the news coming out of any mouth other than yours, she’ll string you up by the balls. You know how she is about town gossip and bein’ the last to know.”

He doesn’t need to tell me. My stomach’s been in knots whenever I think about telling her my plans for the future. I hope she’ll be happy for us, but deep down I know she’ll have issues with it. Call it a hunch.

“Yeah, I know. I figured the family dinner tonight at Banridge was as good a time as any. Liv’s comin’ along. We’re gonna tell everyone together.”

His dark orbs bore into me.

“Whaddya reckon?”

His lips part as he huffs.

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