"Daddy did it tough for a while," she said. "But now Daddy's got you, things will be right again."
Guilt trickled through Jemima as she wondered what they'd done. How would the kids cope when she left? They really hadn't thought this scenario through.
…
Ned held Gwennie steady as she stood on the bottom fence railing. They'd fed the chickens, and then she'd decided it was only fair to give Monty a carrot. He still felt guilty for walking out when she'd had Cath's veil on, but he hadn't known what to say. He stared out over Gwennie's head as she held the carrot out to the old horse. Jemima had handled it perfectly. The more he watched the way she was with the kids, the more he was certain that they'd made a good decision.
It was going to help him financially and make the farm viable, but having Jemima leave when the year was up was going to be rough. They would have to plan this better than they had. Ned knew he could be gruff with the kids. He'd been so damn busy trying to be the breadwinner, the housekeeper, and Mummy and Daddy when they'd lived in Sydney, he knew time for cuddles and affection and one-on-one time with each of them had been short.
Jemima was a natural with them. For someone who'd been in a high-profile international career and had little experience with children, she was unbelievably patient and kind. She had a knack for knowing what to say at the right time. He'd seen her be firm with Ryan when he'd needed it; she was establishing a wonderful rapport with Kelsey through the horses, and Gwennie, sweet little Gwennie, adored Jemmy already. She would make a fabulous teacher when the time came, and he was really lucky that she'd put it on hold and agreed to his plan.
He'd think about it and then talk to her. Maybe he could ramp up the affection with the kids and she could be more the disciplinarian? More aloof, maybe?
No, that was a stupid idea. The kids were responding to the person she was, and anything else would be put on. There was enough subterfuge already.
"Come on, bub. I have to get back to work." He hoisted Gwennie onto his shoulders, and her giggles made him feel better as he jogged back to the house.
They really needed an exit plan.
…
As soon as Ned checked his email and discovered the drench had arrived at the Cartwright's store, Jemima loaded the kids into the Audi and drove to town. They left the produce store and then called into the grocery store to get bread. A sign on Con's milk bar said, Gone to Sydney to pick up Isabella. There were three smiley emoticons after the words.
"Who's Isabella?" Gwennie asked as the three children stood at the door, disappointment on their faces.
"I don't know, but someone's happy about it. How about we buy some ice cream and flavouring so we can make milkshakes at home?"
The car was full of laughter and chatter on the way home, and she even let the kids share a bag of crisps in the backseat. The Audi could always be cleaned. The kids loved travelling in the sports car, and when she'd mentioned she was thinking of selling it, their cries had howled her down. Maybe she'd keep it for a while longer.
When they got home, there was no sign of Ned or his ute, so they unpacked in the kitchen, and Jemima made milkshakes that Ryan declared were the best ever. Now the three children were outside playing with Willow. Liam had asked them to babysit the spaniel for the weekend while he and Angie visited the Hunter Valley vineyards.
Jemima's immediate problem was dinner. She opened the small freezer at the top of the fridge, but there was nothing in there that looked familiar or easy. There were always the frozen precooked chicken nuggets and chips-she knew how to heat them up, but it couldn't be called a meal. With a sigh, she turned into the hallway heading for the large laundry room where she knew there were meat packs in the deep freeze. She pulled up short. The hall that had been corded with packing boxes when they left only three hours ago was now empty, and the floor had been swept.
Jemima frowned, wondering what Ned had done with the contents of the boxes. Hopefully, he'd left out the things that the girls had been looking for this morning-Kelsey's pencils and Gwennie's toys. As far as the wedding veil and the wedding dress that had been in the other parcel, it was none of her business where he'd put them. He'd seemed upset, and the fact that he'd cleared the boxes away confirmed that.
Having to tiptoe around someone's feelings was new for Jemima. In the modelling world, she'd seen many tantrums, and the people she'd worked with-both men and women-had been difficult. Models, photographers, agents, stage managers-most had been good, but some had been hard to deal with. She'd learned to remain professional and aloof, so having to contain her feelings here and not get upset about some old boxes and their impact on a family was a totally different world for her. Her chest was tight, and an ache in her throat wouldn't go away.
And then there was dinner. She stood in front of the huge deep freeze in the laundry, staring at the packets of meat. That feeling was now compounded by the dread she held about cooking her first dinner for the family. The tightness in her chest turned into a stone as she stared into the depths of the freezer.
T-Bone, eye fillet, brisket, porterhouse, topside, round, and chuck? The labels on the meat packets meant nothing to her.
Closing the door, she headed back into the kitchen and picked up her phone to call Lucy, but she remembered Lucy had mentioned that she and Garth were going into town to visit some friends this afternoon. She didn't want to bother her.
"You're all on your lonesome, kid," she muttered under her breath as she headed back to the freezer. Reaching in, she pulled out the packet that was labeled round steak.
That sounds familiar.
Carrying it into the kitchen, she looked down at the frozen packet. How long was that going to take to thaw out? Even if she cooked some vegetables or made a salad, and Ned cooked the steak on the barbeque, the meat would have to be thawed first. So far everything had worked out okay, but the thought of putting a meal on the table terrified Jemima. Liam hadn't been joking when he'd teased her about her culinary skills. The only thing she'd ever learned how to cook in Gran's kitchen was pickled onions for the show. The smell of the onions and spices had turned her off cooking for life. After being on the road and living in hotels, room service had been her favourite way to eat.
But there's no room service out here. And no pizza delivery or takeaway shop in the Outback.
Jemima folded her arms as she stood in the kitchen and surveyed the equipment. She smiled as she spotted the microwave oven. She knew how to use one of them. She'd thaw the meat and then partially fry it up, maybe with some garlic or something, and then Ned could take it over to the gas barbeque. If he was late, she'd cook it on the stove, but that would be her last resort. She swallowed and looked at the huge gas contraption that filled one whole wall at the back of the kitchen. When she was bottling onions with Gran one Christmas, she'd heard a bang and turned around to see Gran with singed eyebrows and eyelashes. The gas had backfired. Jemima had been wary of gas stoves ever since.
But the microwave wasn't going to blow up on her. She opened the door and placed the hunk of frozen meat on the glass tray and shut the door, peering at the digital controls.
Defrost! That's what she needed. She set it for twenty minutes and pressed the power button before going to the small walk-in pantry for some potatoes.
Chapter Thirteen
"Come on, kids. It's past dinner time. Jemmy will be wondering where we are. I thought you'd be starving by now. I am!" Ned walked over to the kids as he came out of the hay shed. He was later finishing than he'd intended-there was always another job to do, but he was enjoying the farm work now that he didn't have to do it all himself. Billy was a godsend, and Ned had learned more about cattle in a week than he'd learned the whole time he'd spent growing up on the property.
"We're still full from our milkshakes," Kelsey said as she scooped the spaniel under her arm, and Gwennie held out her hand to Ryan-a very grubby Ryan, and they walked across the yard together. The smell of garlic and roasting meat came from the kitchen, and Ned's nose twitched in appreciation.
"Good, all the more for me to eat." Ned tickled Ryan as he lagged in front of him. Apart from everything else, having Jemima there to cook was going to save him at least an hour every day.
"Come on, buddy, you can come and have a shower with Daddy. I don't know how you manage to get so dirty." Ned wanted to tidy up for dinner. It was the least he could do to show his appreciation. He was getting way more out of this deal than Jemima was. "Girls, you have a wash, too. It smells like dinner's ready."