Page 180 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Jed the ginger nut is a decent bloke. At least I’ll have someone to talk this shit through with. “Good.” I huff. “I just ask one thing, Finn.”

“Anything.”

I swallow hard. “Does Ma know you’re askin’ me to do this?”

“Not yet. Wanted to talk to you first.”

“Well, when you speak to her, tell her I want space. I don’t want her in my ear when I have a job to do.” He’ll find it hard explaining that to her, but it has to happen. I don’t have the headspace for her bullshit. Liv and I are in a good place, and I won’t let her cock it up.

“Don’t worry. I’ll sort it.”

“Tell Daynah to hang in there. Keep me updated.”

“Will do. Love ya.”

“Ditto.”

The call disconnects. I stare blankly at the floor.

I’m not a praying man, but Lord, give me fuckin’ strength.

Liv walks in and places a notepad and pen on the table. Measurements are scrawled beside a sketch of a tree with a star at the top. “I think we can make it work.”

My head swarms. I’m in a tug of war with what must be done around here and where I know I’m needed.

I glance at my watch. Four-twenty.

“Get your shoes on, babe. We better go get this tree.”

Her brows jump. “For real?” She clasps her hands in front of her in a praying motion and grits her teeth.

I blow out a breath. “Yeah, better do it now, because the next week or so is gonna be hectic.”

Delicate lines wrinkle her brow. “Why, what’s happened?”

On the way to Willow Creek Christmas Farm, I explain what’s happened with Daynah and the work I need to do at Banridge. Her eyes water as I explain the weaning process. Separating children from their mothers is not something a heavily pregnant woman needs to hear about.

After we’ve picked a tree and loaded it on the back of my Ute, knowing I won’t get to see Nan or Aunt Aggie anytime soon, we drive towards the nursing home, stopping for two bunches of flowers on the way. It’s already been a few weeks since our last visit and I don’t want to stretch it out any further.

As we enter reception, Jane blinks her long lashes and offers a sad smile. “Hey, Jerry.” She shakes her head and sighs.

Her tone breaks my heart. Nan was fine last visit, but this year she’s going downhill.Will she ever return to the woman she once was?

I swallow. “Not a good day?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Memories of smashed glass, vacant stares and angry words return. As much as I love Nan, I’m almost at the limit of what I can handle right now.

“How’s Aggie?” Liv asks.

Jane sighs. “She’s having physio. Sorry, we’re running behind today.”

My heart pangs. Aggie will be annoyed that she missed us.

We leave the flowers with Jane with a note to give to Nan at a better time. Whenever that might be.

By the time we arrive home, Liv has taken the reins and has come up with a solution to pruning the fields while I’m away. Every day there’s more to love about this giving woman.

Putting out a call to the Acting Principal at Logan Falls High School earlier, two students have since put their hands up to do a week’s work experience at the farm. Maybe they want a week out of the classroom, maybe it’s to gain experience to have a reference to apply for other jobs. Whatever their motives, I don’t care. I need help. Who knows, if things work out, they may want to stay on.

As I stuff a few things in a duffle bag, Banridge is on my mind.

And my meddling mother.

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