The Things I Know(71)

‘How does he do that, love?’ Her mum stopped scrubbing and leaned on the range, giving her daughter her full attention.

She looked at her parents and she whispered the word still shameful on her tongue. ‘Since I was six, he has called me rabbitmouth and other things . . .’

Her dad made a small sound, as if he’d been winded, and again there were a few seconds before he spoke. ‘Oh, love. Why – why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you say something?’

Thomasina looked back into her lap and her voice was soft. ‘Because, as you say, he’s kin, and I know things are hard enough. I know you need the extra pair of hands and—’

‘Extra pair of hands?’ Her dad’s voice had gone up an octave. ‘I’d rather let the whole bloody place go to rot than let anyone treat you badly. Your mum and I have done all in our power to protect you, to look after you, and he comes into our home and is horrible to you? I feel so stupid – I did think it was just affectionate ribbing between the two of you. I mean, I know you used to bicker, but . . .’

He looked at his wife, who shook her head, as if lost for words.

‘Me too,’ admitted Thomasina’s mum. ‘The way you moaned about him, I thought it was the way you always told a tale on Jonathan. Of course I would have listened if I’d known it was anything more! You should have said something.’

‘I did say something. I told Grayson.’ Thomasina spoke plainly.

‘Yes, you did.’ Her dad sat back in the chair. ‘And here we are.’

‘I love her,’ Grayson announced, reaching for her hand across the table. ‘I think she’s pretty perfect.’

‘Is that right?’ Her dad smiled at them both briefly before rising slowly from his chair.

Thomasina watched as he walked around the table to place his hand on Grayson’s shoulder. It was a moment of tenderness she would never forget, a shoot of something good growing up through the dark soil of new beginnings.

‘You know what, Mr Potts?’

‘What?’ Grayson asked a little sheepishly, looking up at the older man.

‘I like the way you care for my daughter and, for the record, I happen to agree with you. I think she’s pretty perfect too.’



She slept fitfully in his arms. Adrenaline from the previous day and a jump of joy in her limbs meant she watched the sun rise through the window she’d cleaned countless times while Grayson ran his fingers through her hair. She knew that this was the most perfect way to spend any night: by his side and in his arms while the tall cedar tree tapped its nosy spikes on the windowpane and the sun filtered through its wide branches.

‘I’m in this bed with you.’ She spoke dreamily, her head on his chest and her arms about his waist.

‘You are.’

‘I think it would be nice to wake up like this every day.’

‘Me too.’

She felt the inevitable bolt of joy at hearing him echo her own thoughts and marvelled at how easy it was to be in this other world, where life felt kinder and every thought was tinted rose with optimism.

‘How are you feeling today?’ she said with a yawn.

‘Surprisingly good. A little embarrassed by the scene we caused, but I think your parents have forgiven me.’

‘They have.’ She kissed him. ‘And I’ve been thinking about what you said, about maybe it being the right time for me to think about education.’

‘What would you like to do?’ he asked, with such solemnity it only reinforced her thoughts that this could actually be possible.

‘I don’t know exactly, but I was thinking of something to do with chickens.’

‘Chickens?’ This time there was a hint of levity in his tone.

‘Yes! What do I love the most? Chickens! Who do I spend most of my time with? Chickens! I’m a bit of an expert.’

Grayson twisted free of her grip and lay facing her now, with his head propped up on his arm. ‘Of course, there’s another way of looking at things.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, you’re right in what you say – you are an expert, so instead of learning more about chickens, how about you teach other people about chickens?’

‘Me? A teacher!’ She laughed, partly at the absurdity of the suggestion, but also with joy at the very idea. ‘Who would I teach?’

‘I don’t know.’ He seemed to consider this. ‘But you have a love of them and a lot of knowledge to pass on. There’ll be a way . . .’

She lifted her head and looked at him. His words were so simple and yet so heavy with the possibility of a new and different life that could be hers. She just needed to figure out how . . .

‘Did Emery come back to the farm last night?’ His voice was now not quite so assured.

‘I didn’t hear him, but even if he did, I feel as if I can stand up to him now and so I don’t really care.’

‘That’s right. We won’t let him get away with anything.’

‘We . . .’ she smiled. ‘I am part of a “we”!’ She rolled on top of him, kissing him on the face and burying her head in the space beneath his chin. ‘You’re going to get in trouble again, Grayson, aren’t you, missing work because of me?’