Читать книгу Palmerstone Ridge - Kim Allen - Страница 7

The next month went very slowly for Jeanette. She received letters from Richard that flight training was going well. He said there was also a shearing competition coming up in four weeks that he may be able to fly down to, if he can borrow a plane. If that doesn't work then he may be able to rally a group of local shearers together and share the drive in a van. He was still expecting to make it home late on the Friday night.

It was nine thirty before Jeanette heard an engine pull up at the front of her flat. Not wanting to appear anxious, she waited until she heard the car door close, and the car drive away. She waited silently behind the door for the knock before opening it. To her surprise, Richard was too fast. He dropped his two bags, grabbed her by her shoulders and planted a kiss square on her lips.

‘Sorry, I’m so late, Button. We got a flat and there was no jack.’ Jeanette looked into his eyes. He looked tired. ‘But that is the last time.’

‘It’s great to have you home, Ric. Come on in. I’ve made a roast,’ and Jeanette ushers Richard in. As he makes himself comfortable, washing his hands and face in the bathroom, Jeanette serves up the roast lamb with baked potato, carrots and fresh corn that had just ripened from her garden.

‘Oh, this looks amazing, Button!’ Richard said as he sauntered into the room, wrapped a hand around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Haven’t had roast corns for ages.’

‘They’ve come from out back, the garden is doing great.’ Jeanette settles herself down opposite, and eyes him off carefully. ‘How was the training?’

‘Oh, it was breathtaking,’ He starts as he shuffles food into his mouth, pausing while he chews and then continues. ‘There’s a lot of learning, but nothing really out there. It feels about as hard as getting the driving license.’ Another mouth full of lamb. ‘But once you get off the ground, it is breathtakingly beautiful. I’m looking forward to taking you up.’

Jeanette sat quietly, not touching her meal. Listening to his story but thinking about something else. ‘Richard,’ she said in as a matter of fact tone of voice that she could muster. ‘There is something that we need to talk about.’

Richard stops chewing mid mouthful and looks at Jeanette over his plate. He sits up straight and finished chewing as she continues. ‘I don’t want this to spoil your homecoming, but there is something that I need to tell you.’

Richard manoeuvres some potato into his mouth, and starts chewing on it, but does not take his gaze from Jeanette. ‘I’ve been not feeling well, lately. Debbie said I should go to the Doctors and have a check-up. I thought nothing of it but took her advice. I got the results back from the Doctors the other day.’

Although he was exhausted, Richard knew he was about to hear something that would change his life. Time had slowed. There was nothing else in his world. He had stopped chewing but could not swallow. His eyes locked on Jeanette.

Jeanette was struggling to get the next words out. She was very nervous about what Richard’s reaction will be. And the way he was looking at her now, she knew that he was taking everything in. Her mouth was dry, as she moistened her lips. She looked at the floor as she said, ‘I’m pregnant.’

There was a stunned silence. Richard had turned to stone. Jeanette glanced up at him then back to the ground, and just started blurting out, ‘You’ve been the only man I’ve been with. And you remember the nights we spent together? They were the best nights of my life. I’ve been really sick, and out of energy, and I’ve been really scared. It’s not something I wanted to put in a letter,’ Jeanette erupted and couldn’t hold it back. The tears began to come, as much as she didn’t want them too, but they did. ‘I didn’t plan it like this. I didn’t think this could ever happen to me. But it has, and I’ve got a little life growing in me, and it’s your little life too!’

She gathered her breath, and then looked up at Richard. The sparkle in his eye, and the radiance of his smile lit up her heart. ‘Oh Button!’ he cried as he sprung to his feet, knocking the table and chairs out of the way as he wrapped her in his strong arms. ‘I’m so happy!’

Jeanette managed to free her arms and return the embrace. She had been so wound up in worry about how Richard would react. What would he do? Would he be happy or angry? How would this change their blossoming relationship? There was such a well of emotions that had opened, and she had been falling headlong into the darkness keeping it all to herself. This one moment, while wrapped in his arms, made her feel that everything was right. She instantly breathed an overwhelming sigh.

‘How could you keep this from me?’ Richard eased his vice like embrace. ‘This is so exciting. What has been going on, are you ok?’ Richard released the hug and dragged his chair next to Jeanette, then took hold of her hand. Gripping it firmly, he looked expectantly into her eyes.

‘Well, I’d been sick a couple of mornings, but just put it down to being so worried about you. It wasn’t until I collapsed while at work and Debbie called the Doctor that I really found out what was going on.’

‘And what’s going on?’ Richard shuffles a little closer.

‘My body is not handling this little bundle of joy too well. The Doctor says that we are still in a very early stage, and that we have to get past three months before we are in the clear.’

‘Well, don’t worry, Button. I’m here and I’ll do everything I can for you’. With that, Richard gave Jeanette another hug. This time Jeanette could feel his tears on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around him, too. Everything was going to be alright.