Race Girl (11 page)

‘So how's your dad going?' Judy said, glancing up at Tully from behind a goblet of red wine.

Tully glanced down at her plate.

‘Don't worry, love,' Judy said. ‘He'll come 'round. It's going to be a hard few weeks, I know it is for me . . .' She took a long sip from her glass and looked down at the table, fiddling with her napkin. ‘First Christmas without her.'

Tully swallowed down a lump in her throat, shifted on her chair. ‘It's really hard.'

‘Oh—I'm so sorry, sweets,' Judy said, raising a hand to her mouth. ‘
As if
you need any more of a reminder. Forgive me, doll, please? Tell me about everything that's been going on at Avalon?' Judy nodded encouragingly, then made herself busy dishing up sprigs of asparagus and spoonsful of fluffy mashed potatoes for each of the girls. It was just the three of them tonight, as Tam's stepdad was on night shift at the timber mill. Judy often worked double shifts as a nurse at the local hospital. Tamara, meanwhile, enjoyed sneaking out to meet boys in the Macca's car park – a scene Tully had never really found appealing, and had been able to avoid as she was usually the one serving them Cokes and cheeseburgers.

‘Any more visits from Pearce Weston?' Judy said.

Tully pulled a long stream of air into her lungs, shook her head. ‘He isn't going to get Avalon.'

‘I know he won't, love. Here, try some lamb—we need to get some meat on your bones!'

‘Yummo, thanks heaps,' Tully said, cutting a chunk off the succulent slice of meat. ‘Hey,' she said, chewing slowly. ‘Are the Westons really as bad as everyone reckons? I know my dad hates them, but . . .'

Judy snorted. ‘Oh, much worse, I'd imagine.' Her sparse, penciled-in eyebrows came together, and she dropped her knife and fork on the table, leaning forward. ‘I'm sure you've heard the stories; the doping, and the bleeding, and the horses who aren't performing just
disappearing
from Weston Park. And that's only the half of it. Much of what goes on gets covered up, because Weston's such a big player. He is a cruel man.'

‘And Brandon,' Tully blurted before she could stop herself, ‘Is he just like his dad?'

Tam raised a brow from across the table, but was apparently too absorbed with the roast lamb to say anything.

Tully squirmed in her seat, staring down hard at her plate.

‘Never saw much of the boy,' Judy said, sitting up a little straighter. ‘A few times with different nannies around town, but then that uppity snob of a woman packed him off to the city before he was even in school, poor thing. Nice looking young man though, isn't he? He's got a more down-to-earth, larrikin air about him than his dad. Must've gotten it from his grand-daddy.
He
was a legendary horseman.' She smiled.

‘
Mum!
' Tam said, shooting her mother a
how-dare-
you
-look-at-a-hot-guy-that-way
disgusted face.

Tully excused herself to use the loo – she was sure Tam would notice how red her cheeks had gotten. She splashed water on her face, told herself to get it together, and returned just as Judy was dropping frosted mugs brimming with raspberry lemonade on the table. ‘But that's enough talking shop,' Judy said, sitting down heavily. ‘I propose a toast—' She raised her glass— ‘To my two favourite girls, and their sweet sixteen summer . . .'

Tully and Tam looked at each other. Tam rolled her eyes, but they giggled and raised their glasses anyway. ‘May it be everything you've always dreamed of, and more . . .' Judy winked, and they all burst out laughing.

‘Hey, on that note,' Tam said. ‘What
are
we doing for your sweet sixteen?'

‘Not sure that's really a priority right now, Tim-Tam,' Tully said.

‘Mwah,' Judy cooed. ‘Such a cute name for my little princess.'

Tam halted her mother with the raise of a palm. ‘
Tully
is only allowed to call me that, and
never
in public. Now—' she looked back to Tully— ‘this is special. We've
got
to do something. We never go anywhere!'

‘I doubt anything'll happen, Tam. Besides, I really should work it—get the extra overtime and holiday pay to help out with all our bills.'

‘Bullcrap you'll work! Mum's been talking about heading to the coast.'

Judy nodded enthusiastically from behind her glass of wine.

Wow, the beach!
Tully thought, her heart skipping with excitement.
It's been ages since I've been . . .

‘Remember the last time the oldies took us to the beach, Tull?'

How could I forget?!
Her father had given her an earful about missing her shift at Macca's and the money she would've earned. ‘I'd love to go to Bribie, Tam, but—'

‘But nothing. Work, and horses, and everything else will be here when we get back. It's only one night! I'll get something organised . . . this New Year's is gonna be in-
sane!
'

‘Hopefully, Tim-Tam.'

‘You're gonna have the best sweet sixteen summer ever darlin', despite everything that's going on.'

Tully smiled gratefully and sipped at her raspberry lemonade. Her mother had always organised her parties. It wouldn't be the same without her, Tully hoped she could handle the pain.

The girls headed to Tam's room as soon as they'd polished off their mains and second helping of sticky date pudding for dessert. Tam jumped straight up on the huge queen-sized bed and started to bounce, scattering the purple cushions all over the place and laughing as Tully chucked them back at her. Tully had always admired Tam's room, with its white French-style furniture and bay window overlooking the garden and the horse paddocks and barn.

They changed into their pajamas and curled up on the lush bed with pillows, blankets, a bowl of popcorn and a pack of Tim-Tam's, to watch Phar Lap winning
that
race for about the 56th time. Tully hadn't worn her PJ's since the middle of winter, but she sure loved the feeling of being all snugly and warm inside the air-conditioned room. Her pink pony-heart PJ's were at least two sizes too small and only stretched about half way down her arms and legs. ‘We need to get you some sexier ones, Tull,' Tam said, snuggling in next to her.

‘Whatevs,' Tully said, elbowing Tam in the side. They polished off the chocolate first, before hooking into the popcorn and should have been safely engrossed in the movie when Tam turned to Tully and said, ‘So, have you seen
the boy
since your race?'

‘Huh?' Tully said, fumbling not to spill the popcorn into her lap.

Tam turned to face her. ‘You heard me, darlin'.'

‘Um, no.' Tully glanced away. She knew her red hot face and reluctant smile were giving her away, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.

‘Tully!' Tam sat straight up, her eyes burning through Tully's skull. ‘What's going on?'

‘
Nothing!
'

‘
Who
is he?'

‘I dunno.'

‘You are such a liar!'

How does she know?!

‘Tell me.'

Tully rolled her eyes and pushed her hands into her lap, rocking back and forth. She considered keeping up the lie, but the name was literally on the tip of her tongue, begging to be said. ‘I'm pretty sure,' Tully said, taking a quick breath. ‘I'm pretty sure it was Brandon Weston.'

‘
What?!
' Tam screeched, her hands wrapping over her mouth. ‘Holy heck, that's seriously major!' She hopped up and clapped, before pausing, a finger to her chin. ‘I saw him the other night at Macca's, actually,' she said, tilting her head to the side. ‘Hey – d'ya reckon he was lookin' for you?'

Tully choked on a piece of popcorn. ‘As
if!
'

‘Coulda been. So, do you like him?'

‘
How
could I like Brandon Weston?!' Tully's heart was racing and she sat bolt upright, crossing her arms across her chest. ‘Our families have despised each other for over a hundred years, they operate to a
totally
different belief system to us . . . not to mention his father most likely let all of our horses out, and he is trying to take over our farm!'

‘OMIGOD,' Tam said, , leaning in with excitement, ignoring the decades of family conflict and focusing on the romance of it all. ‘You totally
do
like him! Oh, Chance is going to be
so
disappointed.'

‘
Chance?!
He doesn't even like me.'

‘You've always been clueless of your effect on guys.'

‘Oh, yeah—' Tully scoffed, rolling her eyes. ‘They're just
lining up
to mack on chicks with knobbly knees, pointy elbows and no chest at all.'

Tam snorted. ‘Dude, you're wispy and gorgeous! I'd kill for a bod like yours. And I know
you
know it, so stop talking smack.'

‘Totally not. And, whatever—' Tully smiled warmly at Tam— ‘You're hot as.'

Tam shook her head. ‘Hey—' she said. ‘Let's poke him on Facebook.'

‘How tragic would that be?!'

‘I'm already friends with him,
Brandon's
friends with all the girls.'

‘I bet he is . . .' Tully said. It wasn't hard to imagine Brandon Weston being quite the player. ‘But, Tam— aren't you friends with
like
every hot guy in a two hundred kilometre radius?' Tully grinned.

‘Ouch.'

‘It's only an insult if it isn't true.'

‘Fair point,' Tam said. ‘Can we comment on his Instagram, at least?'

Tully narrowed her eyes.

‘Wow,' Tam said, beaming with excitement. ‘I can't believe you like
Brandon Weston
. Your old man's gonna have a coronary.'

‘He'll
never
know anything about this!' Tully gave her another death stare.

‘Fine, fine,' Tam said, raising her hands in surrender. She smiled and shook her head. ‘Here
I
was, thinking you still thought boys had cooties. This is so exciting.'

‘Can we not talk about it anymore, please?' Tully's cheeks lit from intense embarrassment as she hid her face in a pillow.

‘It's okay!' Tam said, shoving her on the shoulder. ‘I won't tell anyone. And don't worry, I've brought home plenty of dudes my dad's tried to shush out with the broom. Hasn't killed him.'

‘
As if
anything will ever happen with Brandon!'

‘
We'll see
. . .' Tam said, wringing her hands together.

‘You'd better not do anything stupid, Tamara!' Tully jumped up, whacked Tam hard with her pillow.

‘Oi!' Tam grabbed Tully around the waist, easily tackling her down. Both girls squealed and laughed as they wrestled off the bed, hit the floor with a jolt. When they'd managed to catch their breath, they leant back against the bed, still chucking the odd sneaky punch at one another.

Tully chewed her bottom lip and hugged her pillow. Her mind had been flitting to Brandon more every day and suddenly her whole body was buzzing with giddiness and nerves.

‘Quick—' Tam grabbed her iPhone off her night side table and flipped the camera in reverse to check her hair, then slung an arm around Tully, pulling her close—‘Let's take a selfie.'

Tully cringed and struggled away. She loved her bestie to bits, but was never comfortable with Tam posting pics of them together. Tam was always getting into online catfights with girls from school and she was friends with a lot of older guys Tully didn't know. Tully only had a private Instagram account and mainly followed other horsey girls. She only posted pics of Avalon, Greg, Frangi and the other horses – certainly not a pic in her too-small pajamas next to the ever-glam Tam, still in her full face of makeup and fluffed up hair.

‘C'
mon
, Tulls,' Tam begged. ‘It's been
ages
since you posted anything, and we definitely need to mark this monumentous occasion.'

‘
Tam!
' Tully cried. ‘You're not gonna tell anybody about this.'

‘As if.' Tam flared her eyes, like she was really offended. ‘Just a pic, Tull!'

‘
Fine,
Tam—but only for Insta.'

Tam moved her face against Tully's, pushed her lips into a duck-bill pose and snapped a shot in the cast-off light from her flat-screen telly. She was still staring at her phone, obviously hash-tagging the crap out of it, when she asked, ‘What's with you two, anyway?'