The Sunburnt Country (26 page)

‘Cam will come around, just like you have. He’s just voicing the hurt that he’s carried all these years. I’m sure you understand.’

Yes, he did. If Cam needed time, so be it. But he wouldn’t let his brother down again. He would keep working to rekindle their relationship no matter how long it took, because Dan knew how much it meant to be wanted. ‘Is he a father?’ he asked tentatively.

‘You saw the old cot?’ she said. ‘Cam’s going great. He’s working hard as an electrician for a mob in Morley and, no, he’s not a dad . . .
yet
.’

Dan snapped his head up to meet his mother’s blue eyes, Cam’s blue eyes.

‘His girlfriend Myree is twelve weeks pregnant and I know for a fact he plans to propose on Valentine’s Day.’ Denise pulled a photo off the fridge and handed it to Dan.

‘This is Myree, gorgeous girl from a nice family down south near Margaret River. He met her while doing some work in the shop she ran. They’ve been together three years.’

Dan hardly noticed the girl. His eyes went straight to his brother. Cam had aged so much since he’d last seen him. Still the same Cam but such a man now. He looked like their grandad. But the thing he noticed most was how happy he seemed. A carefree man with his arm wrapped around the tall, dark-haired beauty beside him. They made a good couple.

‘Where do they live?’

‘Actually, quite close. They’re just north of Morley. I’ll give you their details, if you want to go and visit.’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Dan was a little scared. Would his brother even want to see him? ‘Actually, yes, that would be good,’ he said, determined.

Denise studied his face. ‘Would you rather see him here on familiar ground? How would you like to come back for a family dinner?’

His mum was actually holding her breath and he realised what a lousy son he’d been. ‘Sure, Mum. I’d love to.’

‘And Derek will be here . . .’ she said.

Dan smiled and touched his mum’s arm. ‘That’s okay. I want to meet him properly.’ He had some bridges to mend in that department. Being a rude teenager to Derek at one of his visits home to pick up his stuff was something he had to make amends for.

Relief washed across Denise’s face. ‘Oh, wonderful,’ she said with a rush. ‘This is the best Christmas present ever. We’ll make this new year one to remember.’

After taking a sip of tea, he asked, ‘So Cam’s happy, then?’

‘Yes, he’s very happy, Daniel. Derek has been wonderful and the two of them get on so well.’

‘I guess Dad never stayed in contact with Cam?’

Dan saw the panic flash across her eyes. ‘Um, no. Your dad kind of erased him from his life when he saw Derek and Cam playing in the backyard. I guess it must have been a real slap in the face for him, but the fact is he’s just never been there for you boys like Derek has been there for Cam. That’s how a father should be.’ She said the last sentence quietly. Even though Dan was a grown man, she was still shielding him from the brutal truth.

‘And Derek is how a husband should be too, right?’

Tears fell from his mum’s eyes as she nodded. ‘I’m sorry, Daniel. I couldn’t do it any longer. And then Derek came along and he was everything your father wouldn’t be. I’m so sorry.’ She hung her head.

Dan touched her hand. ‘Mum, I’m sorry. I was too young to understand. Even now it’s taken me this long to figure out Dad’s not going to change.’

Blinking away the tears, Denise touched Dan’s cheek. ‘You idolised him so much, wanted to be just like him. I didn’t have the heart to tell you any different.’

Dan looked out the back window. The black of night had descended. ‘I’ve been working so hard just to please him,’ he mumbled.

‘And has he noticed?’

‘Barely. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to be like him, to have him be proud of me and to actually want to spend time with me.’ Dan felt like a ten-year-old kid, upset for not being noticed.

‘Daniel. I’m so sorry. I wish I could have helped.’

He glanced back. ‘How could you, Mum, when I blamed you for everything? Dad would go on about how disloyal you were and all these other things. I believed him. Now I realise just how bad it was for you and I don’t blame you for wanting out. Look what you have with Derek. You’re happy.’

‘Oh, yes, very much so.’

They shared a smile, similar smiles. His mum was still beautiful, her skin glowed and her smile lines spoke of the happiness she’d shared.

‘So why now? What made you finally come home?’ she asked.

Her words brought Jonelle’s face to mind and he couldn’t help the smile that escaped.

‘Ah, a girl, perhaps? That smile says a lot.’ She laughed. Her laugh was so familiar to Dan, like the gentle tunes of his most cherished childhood memories.

Dan pulled out his phone, found Jonelle’s picture and showed his mum.

‘That’s Jonelle Baxter. She’s a mechanic in this tiny town out bush and she has very strong connections to her family and her home.’

‘She’s beautiful. A mechanic?’

‘That’s just the start. She truly is amazing and different, but in a good way.’ Then he went on and showed her all the pictures he’d taken in Bundara. Of Zac, of the racetrack. His dad wouldn’t have been interested in any of it. After he finished he stared at the tablecloth, picking at the lace.

‘Then why do you look so glum?’

‘Because I’ve just said goodbye to them all. That was the end of my stint. Now it’s back to my real life. I’ve just got a job promotion. I moved into my new office this week,’ he said.

‘And that makes you happy?’

‘Yes, I guess. This is my life.’ He wasn’t sure what his mum was getting at.

‘Are you sure?’ she repeated. ‘Do you really want to work in that bank just like your father? Choose your own path, Daniel. Do you know who you are? If you want to go back to this town, then do it. Just by looking at you I can tell that Jonelle means a lot more to you than you are willing to let on. Don’t do what you think you’re supposed to do. If I had done that I’d still be miserable and married to your father. Have you ever thought of doing something else?’

Dan almost laughed. The thought of telling his father scared him to death. How couldn’t hurt his dad like that, he’d put so much effort into Dan’s career and he was the only remaining family John had left. ‘It has been on my mind.’ More so since he missed Jonelle like crazy. ‘But I can’t do that to Dad.’

‘You are not responsible for your father’s feelings, Daniel. You can’t sacrifice your life to please him. He is a grown man and he needs to understand that your happiness is important and if he doesn’t then he’s the one who needs to deal with that, not you.’

Dan had been the only one there for his dad; he had helped John through the divorce and supported him. Maybe it was time to make himself happy.

‘Well, that’s definitely food for thought, Mum.’

He finished his tea while his mum got up, bringing back some photo albums.

‘Just a few years to catch up on,’ she said, handing them over. ‘Now, while you look through them, tell me how soon we can have this dinner?’

Dan glanced at the first few photos of Cam and thought to himself,
Not soon enough.

JONNY’S Workshop is closed due to unforeseen circumstances. Hopefully opening next year. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Jonny read her notice again. She’d read it ten times so far: each time she’d printed one out and again when she stuck them up in the windows out the front. Every time she read the first line, she pressed her lips firmly together. Hardest thing she had ever done, closing down her treasured business. But it had to be done.

Of course, she had kept her doors open right up until the last day before she left for her new job. This way she was able to spread the news about her closure. But really it hadn’t taken long to get around – all she had to do was tell Gabby and Carlos.

Hot wind whirled around her body, the dust whipping her skin with a sting. She took a few steps back to the edge of the road so she could take in the whole workshop while shielding her eyes from the dust. The big blue shed with the old fuel pump and her flowerpots with their big metal flowers. She could picture Coot, leaning against the doorframe, rollie hanging out the corner of his mouth as he wiped the grease from his hands. The rag would be just as dirty and he’d be wearing his overalls, telling her a yarn about the good ol’ days.

Pulling out her phone she took a photo, something to remind her of what she was working for, something to keep her going when she was feeling lonely and homesick. Despite having Ryan for company at the mines, there was still so much she was going to miss.

Seeing as it had taken a bit longer to get her paperwork done, she was heading to the mine a week after Ryan. But that was okay, he’d have it scoped out by now and could show her around. She hoped they’d have dongas close to each other. She wasn’t worried about living in a small donga. Her room out the back of the shed was close enough to one.

Back in her hot room she packed her bag. She didn’t need much, just toiletries and a few clothes. There was a brand-new uniform waiting for her at the end of the journey. She picked up her old workshop overalls, holding them tenderly. ‘I’m gonna miss you guys. I haven’t replaced you, just letting you take a breather.’

She laughed at her own silliness.

With her bag slung on her shoulder, she walked past her racing car, which had been packed away into the corner of the workshop along with its crumpled parts. ‘I’ll finish working on you when I get back, okay?’ She tapped the roof of the car, headed outside, locked up for the final time and chucked her bag in her ute.

On the drive out to her family’s farm she passed the cemetery. She knew exactly where Rick had been laid to rest as two large flags, Bundaberg Rum and Holden, fluttered in the wind. Oh, how things had changed these last few months.

Out at the farm her folks were on the verandah, awaiting her arrival.

‘Hello, love,’ said her father, hugging her. His beard had been trimmed and the big bandage was gone from his hand, only a smaller one remained. Sandra still had to unwrap it and treat the wounds, check they were healing okay and make sure there was no sign of infection.

‘Come inside, darling. It’s a scorcher today.’ Her mum wrapped her arm around her waist and guided her inside.

Her mum’s soft cuddle felt like home. Sandra even smelt like choc-chip cookies.

Inside the cool dining room her brothers were waiting for her, minus JB, who’d gone back to the mine up north.

‘Hey, sis!’ said Zac, looking up from their card game. He had day-old stubble and bed hair. ‘Fancy a quick round of Presidents and Arseholes?’

Jonny smiled as Ted groaned. ‘No, she’s a tin-arse, don’t let her play. At least with you gone I might be able to win a few hands,’ he teased. Ted scratched his crew cut. Monique must have trimmed it with the clippers last night. His eyes had dark circles – Xavier was still not sleeping through.

‘Well, I’d love to but I’d better hit the road. Don’t wanna get there late. I still need time to check the place out.’

Her father touched her shoulder. ‘We’re gonna miss you around here. It’s bad enough having JB in and out, now you as well.’

‘You’ll be all right, old man. As long as you don’t go doing anything stupid. Same goes for you two,’ she said pointing to her brothers. ‘I won’t be around to rescue your arses.’

‘No, but I will be,’ said Zac. Jonny looked at him strangely. ‘Hey, someone had to take your place on the team. You’re looking at the new rescue boy.’ Zac dusted off his shoulder.

‘What? Did you do this to impress Renae? You don’t need to, believe me. For some reason she thinks you’re all right. I reminded her that you used to pull her hair . . . a lot.’

Sandra bustled back in from the kitchen carrying a bundle of containers. ‘Now, didn’t you know that was Zac’s way of saying he liked her? Even back then he had a little thing for Renae.’

‘Oh, Mum, I did not.’ Zac stood up and pinched a container from her pile. Opening it, he pulled out a cookie and started eating it.

Sandra slapped him on the hand. ‘They are for Jonelle.’

‘What? Where are ours?’ asked Ted, glancing up after sneaking a look at Zac’s cards.

‘I left you a few in the kitchen.’ No sooner had she said it than both brothers raced to the kitchen like children.

‘Men and their stomachs,’ Sandra said, laughing.

Jonny had peered into the containers. There were the choc-chip cookies, her favourite, a chocolate cake, a date loaf and some Anzac biscuits. ‘Oh, Mum, you didn’t have to.’

‘I know, but I wanted to. I can’t have my baby girl starving out there.’ Sandra brushed back her short fringe.

Jonny carried the containers back out to her ute. Zac and Ted had returned, their mouths munching and extra cookies in their hands.

‘Zac, can you grab my pillow from my bedroom, please?’ He nodded and started to head off. ‘And don’t get any chocolate on it.’

Outside in the heat she put the food in the ute, shoved in her pillow and shut the door before turning around to her family. They stood out on the gravel, faces sad, with the rammed-earth house as a backdrop.

‘You will take care out there, won’t you?’

‘Of course, Mum.’

Sandra blinked away some tears and Jonny’s heart melted. She threw herself into her mum’s arms. ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’

Next was her dad, trying to be strong but the amount of swallowing and coughing he was doing gave him away. ‘Love ya, Dad.’

Her brothers were next. Ted smelt like Monique’s perfume and freshly laundered clothes. ‘Give the kids a hug from me,’ she said, before moving on to Zac.

He hugged her the tightest. They saw each other all the time, socialised together as well as working on the farm side by side, so she knew she’d miss his cheeky face the most.

‘Call me and tell me what’s happening, okay?’

He shrugged. ‘Nah, that’s what Nae’s for,’ he said, joking.

She whacked his arm but then held him tight again. ‘You’ll watch over my workshop, yeah?’

‘Always,’ he said with a wink. ‘Go on, piss off. It’s too hot out here. And if you’re waiting for waterworks, it ain’t gonna happen.’

‘You know you love me,’ she said, laughing.

Starting her ute, she waved goodbye and then headed away from the farm, watching her family in the rear-vision mirror until the dust engulfed their figures.

Now she had just one last stop to make.

Pulling up outside Renae’s house, she honked her horn. It would probably upset old Mr Woodland but Mrs Albertson, on the other side, was as deaf as a doorknob.

Renae appeared on her little front verandah wearing a yellow dress and a forlorn expression. Leaving her ute running to keep the air-con going, Jonny ran up the steps to her best friend.

‘Hey ya, mate. I wish I didn’t have to say goodbye.’

Renae attempted a grin. ‘Me too. Now who will I have to talk to?’ She played with a bit of her hair, trying to keep her smile in place instead of surrendering to the looming tears.

‘Come on, you’ll be so busy with Zac. You two lovebirds haven’t been apart all week.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Renae. ‘I should have spent more time with you.’

‘It’s all good, Nae Nae. But shit, I’m gonna miss you. Thank God for phones.’ She reached over and hugged her best friend.

‘Look after yourself, keep an eye on Ryan, watch out for all those guys, don’t eat anything that looks suss, make sure you wear proper PJs in case you get caught out.’

Jonny pulled back but kept a hand on her shoulder. ‘Anything else, Mum?’

Renae bit her lower lip. ‘No, just call me . . . lots.’ Nae pulled Jonny close with a big sigh.

‘All right. I better get going. Miss you already.’

‘Give Coop a big kiss from me,’ Renae yelled as Jonny headed back to her ute at a jog. She honked the horn a few more times for good measure. If she was going to upset Mr Woodland, she may as well do it properly.

Even Renae’s garden was wilting in this heat. The leaves on her shrubs looked crispy on the ends and her small patch of lawn was yellow, which was saying a lot considering her lawn was normally lush.

Jonny seemed to notice everything as she drove out of town. The bank with its ‘Open’ sign, but no Daniel. Gabby sweeping out the front of her shop, the butcher’s shop back in full swing with Jean stepping out of it, her arms full of goods wrapped in butcher’s paper.

All too soon the buildings and homes had gone, replaced by dry open paddocks without any sheep in view. She glanced in the rear-vision mirror as Bundara disappeared from view. With a deep breath, she told herself to get a grip. She’d be back before she knew it.

It only took her around three hours to get to the mine, which was near the larger town of Katanning. She was impressed with the wide road entry and the set-up that looked like it had been there for years. Driving her ute along the road she felt like she didn’t belong and wasn’t supposed to be here. Her pulse soared as her anxiety about the unknown increased. Yes, she was totally out of her comfort zone. Big white buildings lined the side of the road, only they weren’t really buildings, they were cheap, transportable dongas. One had an ‘Office’ sign out the front. This must be the one Ryan was talking about. She slowed and parked out the front next to some mining utes with yellow stripes and big aerials on them.

Inside the office there were lots of little rooms off from the main one where a big long desk was set up.

‘Um, hi, I’m new here,’ Jonny said to the girl behind the desk. The girl was wearing long and long, which seemed odd for an office job. But when your work was in the middle of not much, with dust and flies for company, it probably didn’t matter.

‘Yes, you’re Jonelle, right?’

Jonny nodded.

‘Okay, follow me.’

The girl took her out the door behind her desk. It led to a storage room, a big one. There were hardhats, glasses, uniforms, safety stickers and signs, workboots and forms.

‘Here you go. These are yours in the size you ordered.’

Jonny took the bundle of blue and orange clothes and the new hardhat, balanced them with one arm and grabbed the box of new boots with the other.

‘You’re in twenty-eight, follow the road on your right and you’ll come to the camp. The canteen’s to the left, the biggest building, and your room is nearby. You’ll find it,’ she said, as if she’d repeated those exact words ten times today already.

‘Um, okay, thanks.’

‘In the morning you need to go to induction. All personnel catch the bus from camp to the mine and you’ll need to get off at the first stop before the mine. You’ll spend a few days there learning site rules and regulations. You’ll also get your security swipe card and photo ID done. On your last day of induction you will go on the guided tour of the pit and to the workshops and you’ll meet your maintenance foreman and team leader. Be ready for the bus tomorrow by five-fifteen as it leaves at five-thirty.’

Jonny felt like she’d been dismissed as the girl went back to her chair and started flicking through the papers on her desk.

‘Bye,’ Jonny said, stumbling out the door with her parcels.

After shoving all the stuff into her already crowded ute, she headed down the road, veering to the right and following the smaller road to the camp site. She passed a big dusty bus, the one she might have to catch tomorrow.

It was hard to miss the portable dongas, which stood out in the patchy scrub. Nearby was the main building, which she guessed was the mess area. She parked her ute and got out to find her donga. There was a miner in the standard blue and orange longs with reflective stripes on his way to the mess hall. It wasn’t until he lifted his sunglasses that she realised it was Ryan.

‘Coop,’ she squealed, throwing her arms around him.

Ryan laughed. ‘I can’t believe you’re really here.’

‘Gotta do what you gotta do, right?’

Ryan showed Jonny to her room while they tried to catch up on any news they might have missed.

‘Have you heard from Dan at all?’ he asked.

Jonny shrugged. ‘I don’t expect to.’

‘Good. You did the right thing.’

She gave Ryan a contemplative look. ‘I just wish things could be different,’ she said, as she opened the door to her new digs.

‘Hey, I’m the king of wishing things could be different.’

‘Oh, yeah, sorry.’ Jonny reminded herself that she didn’t have it bad, things could always be worse. ‘Hey, this place isn’t so bad,’ she said. Her room was small but it was clean and she had her own ensuite, which was better than she’d expected.

‘They’re all new. Not many people been in ’em yet.’

Ryan helped her unload the rest of her stuff then sat in her room and watched her pack it all away.

‘Oi, don’t eat all of them,’ Jonny said sternly, after Ryan had reached for another biscuit. ‘At this rate we’ll have none left tomorrow.’

Ryan offered the cookie to her, making her smile.

‘I’m real glad we can do this together, Coop. Don’t know how I would have gone on my own.’ Jonny sat down on the bed next to him. Her eyes came to rest on her new boots. She picked them up; they were heavy with steel caps.

‘You would have coped just fine. You’re stronger than you think.’

She sure hoped so. She had a feeling she was going to need all the strength she had if she was going to get through the first few months in this place – and the first few months without Daniel.