The Saddler Boys (26 page)

Drew stepped forward and reached for the scarf around Nat's neck. He had to know for sure. But her hand quickly clutched at his, stopping him from removing it.

‘I told Kent. I'm sorry, but I'm worried about you,' he whispered to her.

Nat's gaze went straight through to his core. He could see her pain and yet there was a flicker of something stronger too.

‘It's okay, Drew. I'll do it. It's why I made Gary bring me here,' she said, squaring her shoulders. ‘It's time to tell my parents.'

‘Tell us what?' said Jennifer.

He saw her determination to stand up for herself and it melted his heart. After taking a beating, here she stood, facing her parents, facing all her fears. Truly, she had guts.

With a careful hand she unravelled the scarf. ‘I'm here to tell you that I'm not marrying Gary,' she said, turning to her parents. ‘He hurts me,' she added in a shaky whisper.

Drew didn't even have to move closer to see the bruising that had started to colour already, and he noticed the split lip under the thick layer of makeup.

‘You bastard,' he said, turning to Gary. Everything seemed to glow red, like an alarm was going off in a nuclear plant.

‘What on earth?' said Jennifer.

‘See, Kent? Your proof,' said Drew, ‘although Nat's word should be enough for all of us.'

‘I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Uncle Kent. I felt so ashamed,' said Nat. ‘But I refuse to let it continue.' She slipped the ring off her finger.

‘Oh my lord,' whispered Kent, stepping closer.

‘Gary, I don't want to marry you any more,' Nat said firmly as a tear slipped down her face. ‘I trusted you and you hurt me, more than once. I can't marry someone I don't trust or even like any more. It's over.'

Her words were like a thousand cuts to Drew's heart, each one more painful than the last. Gary had hurt her. He wished he could have prevented it. Wished he could inflict the same pain on Gary, plus more for good measure.

Gary gripped Nat's arm and pulled her towards him, her heels clattering along the floor in protest. ‘No, we'll talk about this at home, princess.'

‘Get your hands off her,' said Drew, pulling Gary's arm away. He would never let him lay a finger on her ever again.

‘Piss off, she's my fiancée.'

‘Not any more, she's not.' Drew snapped. Pulling his fist back, he punched Gary hard in the face, sending him crumpling to the floor. ‘You prick.'

‘Oh my god,' said Jennifer, horrified.

‘What is going on?' roared Vincent. ‘Natalie?'

‘I'm not going to apologise,' said Drew, shaking his fist out. He shot a hate-filled look at Gary, whose mouth was bleeding. He stayed on the floor like the weak man he was. He faced Vincent. ‘I won't see Natalie harmed, I won't let this prick lay another hand on her. I love her too much for that.'

He heard Nat's gasp before Gary said, ‘I knew it.'

Drew stepped towards Gary and pointed to him. ‘You touch her again and I swear to god, I'll come back. I don't care who you are.'

He stepped around the congregation and Gary's blood, which looked so vibrant against the white floor. Drew's hand hurt but it was so worth it. He didn't want to look at Nat, to see the disappointment in her eyes, the hurt caused by his broken promise, so he kept his eyes down. ‘I'm sorry, Natty. I really am,' he whispered on his way past her. ‘I had to tell Kent.'

He got to the door and called out, ‘Billy, it's time to go.' His son came jumping down the stairs, oblivious to all that had happened.

‘Dad, they have so many stairs,' he said, taking Drew's hand. He stopped and looked up. ‘But we didn't get to see Natty?'

‘She's busy. We'll catch her later. Come on.' He gave him a gentle tug.

Billy struggled to keep up with Drew's pace once they were outside in the crisp air as they headed out into the street. He pulled out his phone to call for a taxi.

‘How about we go to Macca's for dinner and then drive home?' said Drew, finally able to breathe.

Billy smiled and nodded.

It was going to take all his effort not to stomp around to the end of the street while he waited for a taxi. He may have just lost one of his best friends, the woman he loved. But he'd be damned if he was going to let her suffer any more at the hands of that monster. God knew what else he'd done to her. Drew felt ill at the thought. He just needed to get home. Back to the farm, back to normal, simple life, back to just him and Billy, taking on the world.

NAT
felt like she was watching a movie, but it seemed she had the starring role.

‘What in god's name is going on?' said Vincent. ‘Natalie? Is this true? Gary? Would someone please explain?'

He helped Gary up while Jennifer ran off, no doubt to get a towel to clean the floor.

Nat stood there in a fog, trying to put the whole puzzle together. ‘That was Drew. He's a friend from Lake Biddy.' A friend who'd said he loved her. Drew's words kept running through her mind, over and over.

‘Have you been sleeping with him?' said Gary, wiping his mouth with the hand towel Jennifer offered to him. ‘Tell me,' he growled.

‘How about you just back off or I'll slap some legal jargon on your arse,' said Kent, coming to stand beside Nat protectively. Then he turned around and inspected her neck. ‘Has he hurt you anywhere else?' he demanded, his brow creasing as he looked at her bruising flesh.

Nat couldn't bring herself to mention the pain in her ribs, or the fear of reaching the point of passing out. Maybe she'd be able to speak up eventually but it was still too soon, too raw. So she just nodded and dropped her eyes to the floor.

Uncle Kent lifted her chin with his finger so she'd look at him. ‘Don't you do that! You are not at fault here – that bastard is.' His voice softened as he pushed back a strand of her hair. ‘Oh, Natty, why didn't you come to us? No one should ever have to put up with this. No one.'

Her dad sucked in a breath as he inspected her bruises. Her mum joined him, her mouth open, as if she couldn't believe this was happening in her house.

Nat looked at Gary. She felt repulsed by him, couldn't see the man she'd once thought she loved. Had she ever loved him? She looked down at the ridiculous ring in her hand. There was no sadness at no longer wearing it, just a sense of finally being free.

‘Gary, we're over. I gave you a second chance and you blew it. Never again will I put myself in danger. I never want to see you again. You need help.'

‘Are you just going to let her?' Gary posed the question to her parents.

‘Dad, I will not marry him, no matter what you guys want.' Nat lifted up her blouse to show the bruising to her ribs.

‘Oh my,' said Jennifer. Nat had never seen her mum so shaken or shocked. ‘He did this to you? Oh, my baby girl.' She touched her daughter's face, her eyes brimming with tears.

‘Gary? How could you?' said Vincent, turning to Gary. ‘Get out of our house.'

‘She deserved it,' said Gary as he swiped the ring from Nat's hand. ‘She was all over that guy, making a fool of herself.' He took his jacket and left, slamming the door as loudly as Drew had.

‘Who is he?' Jennifer said staring at the closed door. She looked confused and torn. It was how Nat had been feeling since the first time Gary had hurt her.

Nat turned to her parents. ‘I do care for Drew, maybe a little too much, but I was trying to give Gary a proper chance. I really was trying —'

‘It doesn't matter what you did, darling,' Jennifer cut in. ‘You didn't deserve this. No one does.'

Nat nodded slowly. ‘I need to live my own life, and that means doing what's right for me. I know Gary's like family to you but I will not marry someone like him. I want to continue teaching and I want you to be happy that I'm happy.'

‘Honey, we do want you to be happy,' said Vincent. He gently touched her neck, then pulled her into his arms. ‘I can't believe it. My poor darling, you should have said something sooner. I'm so sorry.'

Jennifer brushed her hair back. ‘Oh, Natalie. No man who does that is worth it, no matter who he is.' She stroked her daughter's hair like she used to when Nat was little.

After a moment, Nat pulled back. ‘I'm sorry. I just need some time. I'll be at Uncle Kent's. I'm sorry, Dad. I know this will be hard on you with Tony.' She wondered what Gary's dad would think when he heard the news. The business would be in for some serious fallout.

‘Stay and talk, sweetheart,' Vincent begged.

‘No, I need some time to think. I will come back, but right now I'm not quite sure I can talk about anything.'

Vincent nodded, tears glistening. He hugged his wife tightly. ‘We'll be here, waiting.'

‘Thanks.'

‘Come on, possum. Let's get a strong coffee,' said Kent, wrapping his arm around her.

She knew Kent would have a million questions for her, and he'd want her to take legal action against Gary for what he'd done to her. Nat wasn't sure how she felt about that yet. Did she really want the news all over the city?

‘I'm sorry,' she whispered again as she walked away from her parents, who stood, dazed, with a bloody, red mess by their feet. It was such a far cry from the perfect family picture they liked to display.

‘DAD
, Natty wasn't at school today,' said Billy as he came into the house and threw his schoolbag on the floor.

‘Billy, don't do that. Get out your lunchbox and homework if you have any, please.' Billy grunted but did as he was told while Drew finished making some Saos with Vegemite, tomato and cheese. ‘So who was teaching then?'

It was the first day back at school after term break and Drew had been waiting for this day to find out how Nat was. He hadn't counted on her not coming back. His chest ached as if his heart was tearing away, threatening to fall into the black cavity below and shrivel up.

It had all been made worse by the lack of contact. No simple text to say she was okay. Not that he'd sent any either. He knew she would still be angry with him for spilling the beans, but he couldn't take it back now and, quite frankly, he didn't want to. No one should endure abuse of any sort.

‘Mr Penith did. It wasn't too bad, I guess,' Billy said, dropping his empty lunchbox in the sink and reaching for a Sao. ‘Is Natty coming back, Dad?' Billy asked, putting his biscuit down. He didn't look that hungry any more.

‘I don't know, mate. Maybe.'

Billy put his little hand on top of Drew's. Drew stared at one big, callused hand and one small one. They actually had the same hands; he could see it plain as day. The same shape, the same knuckles and nails. It was the most perfect thing to see. He put his other hand on top of Billy's and then Billy put his other hand on Drew's and soon they were playing a game and laughing. It felt good to laugh. He hadn't done it much since arriving home. It was hard to get back into the swing of life without Nat. He saw her in his mind so clearly. Would that eventually fade? Would he stop seeing her by the shed, or sitting on the back verandah, or playing with Billy?

Turbo began barking. ‘Someone's here,' said Billy, cocking his head to the side.

‘Might be Kimmy.' Drew went outside, eager to see Kim's smile and to have her company.

It was cool outside, raising the hairs on his arms, but the smell was so crisp and fresh from recent rains. He would leave footprints in the gravel until the next shower came through – which wouldn't be far away, judging by the deep blue of the sky.

‘Hi, Drew.'

That voice. He dropped his eyes from the sky to see Natalie walking towards him. Her hair was out, blowing in the gentle breeze, and she wore jeans that hugged her so perfectly. He stopped and stared. The dark blue of the sky made her hair bright like a halo, and the green of the freshly washed trees made a vibrant border together with the rusty red of the gravel where she stood.
Just breathe
, he told himself.
Just breathe.

‘You weren't at school today.' It was the first thing that came to mind.

‘I had some things to sort in Perth that couldn't be put off.'

‘So you haven't quit?'

She shook her head. ‘I have the year to finish out.'

He took one step closer. He needed to explain, to say his bit. ‘I've thought about it a lot, Nat, and I'm not sorry about what I said and what I did. I'd do it all again, even though I broke my promise.'

Nat stepped closer and put her hand on his chest. His eyes dropped to her hand, pressing against his heart. He could hear it beating, over their breathing, over the birds squawking in the trees, and over the rustling of the breeze around them, which swept her hair to one side.

‘Did you mean it?'

‘What?' He was having trouble keeping up. Her touch alone was driving him insane, not to mention her scent. She was intoxicating and he was feeling drunk.

‘Did you mean it when you said you loved me?' Her green eyes were intense, but he saw no evidence that she hated him.

‘Aren't you angry with me? For telling —'

‘Drew, answer me. Yes or no.'

Her words were so forceful he replied automatically, like a child in trouble. ‘Yes, yes, I did mean it. I love you. Crazy in love with you.'

The strangest thing happened. Natalie smiled and reached for his face, caressing him with both hands. ‘I was hoping that's what you meant.'

And then she kissed him. Soft lips melted against his and then there was an explosion of flavour as she deepened the kiss. Drew felt like he was in the deep end, struggling to stay afloat.

‘I don't get it,' he said when they stopped for air.

Nat gave him a little smile that made his knees threaten to give way.

‘I love you too, Drew. I think I have for a while but I was fighting it. I don't know why. I can't imagine life without you or Billy.'

‘You want me?' he whispered.

‘Like there's no tomorrow. I've made a few changes in my life. It's time to make myself happy and that means being with you and Billy.' She ran a finger across his lips then down his jaw before plunging her hand into his hair at the base of his neck.

‘You've just made me the happiest farmer in the world,' he said. He knew he was probably grinning like a fool. She made him feel things worth feeling. Pulling her against him, her curves nestling in tightly, he shifted her hair so he could kiss her neck. The bruises had gone but he was gentle. No one would ever hurt her again. He kissed up towards her ear, then along her jaw until he reached her lips. By now she was pressing against him harder and breathing heavily. He kissed her like he'd been dying to since that night at the hall, but this time it was better; this time she was his to kiss.

‘Dad? What are you doing?'

Drew stopped and smiled. ‘Hold that thought,' he whispered before turning around to Billy. ‘Guess who's back?' He stepped sideways so his son could see his favourite teacher.

‘Natty!'

Billy ran towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. It may have just been the best day of Drew's life.