Lucy had shaken her head. "And wiping runny noses, and putting Band-Aids on cut knees, separating fighting children. Not for me."
"You've got your own little boy to love." Jemima's voice was soft. "I want someone to need me, Luce."
Lucy had married Garth McKenzie from the farm next door, and their baby, James, was now three months old.
Lucy reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, love. I'm so happy. I get caught up in my little world with Garth and James, and I don't think of others. I so hope it works out for you."
"Oh, Lucy. I'm going to love it. It means so much more to me than being a clothes horse. Going from city to city, having makeup plastered all over my face became so hard towards the end. I hated it. Even in New York, where everyone wants to work. I'm so happy to be home in Spring Downs. But I need to make my own way and find somewhere else to live."
"What did Liam say about you teaching?"
To everyone's astonishment, once his six months had been up, Liam had decided to stay at the farm. He was also involved with an alliance that was fighting the introduction of coal seam gas and doing some casual reporting for the local Spring Downs paper. Liam had also reunited with his former lover, Angie, the local veterinarian in town.
Jemima was now living with Liam, and he'd done nothing but complain about her cooking since she'd arrived.
"I haven't told him or Angie yet. I didn't want to jinx my chances, telling too many others. But you know, that's the reason I need to do something. I'm happy for them, but I feel like a third wheel here. Once their house is built, it'll be better, but I know when they head off into town some nights, it's because they want some privacy. Once I get the job at the school-and I'm trying to be positive-I'll find somewhere to live in town." She'd giggled. "Liam certainly won't miss my cooking."
"That's for sure, love." Lucy had laughed along with her. "You certainly missed out on Gran's cooking gene."
When Jemima was almost back to the farmhouse, she glanced at the newspaper, and her buoyant mood deflated in an instant.
"Oh no." She groaned as she read the lead article on the front page. Who the heck talked to the paper?
As she scanned the text below, her mood worsened. Not only was the content incorrect, they had spelled her name wrong.
Jennina Smythe! She walked heavily up the front steps as she read. From the New York Catwalk to the Country.
Everyone in Spring Downs would know her business by nightfall. Just what I don't need. She hoped the principal of the primary school didn't read the paper this week.
Liam didn't look impressed when Jemima fronted him with the newspaper as soon as he walked in from the paddock.
"Are you responsible for this?" She knew her voice was shrill, but damn it, she was still angry.
He raised his hands and stared back at her. "At least let a man have a shower and clean up before you're into him. And I have no idea what you're on about."
"This." She shook the paper at him, and he took it from her. He held it up and read the headline, and a smile tipped her brother's lips. At least Jemima was sure she saw one before he answered.
"Don't go blaming me. I didn't tell them a thing."
"You work there." Her voice was full of accusation.
"I am a casual journalist, on staff, submitting occasional political articles about coal seam gas mining in the district. Why the heck would I want to write an article about you?" Liam chuckled and held up the paper. "And the proof is there. I think I can spell my little sister's name properly."
"I'm cross." Jemima pouted.
"I can see that." Liam crossed to the window and looked up the driveway. "I hope Garth and Lucy aren't too much longer. I'm starving."
Jemima went into the kitchen, turned the oven on for the pizzas, and bit her lip. She was still angry about the stupid article. She opened the dresser and took out a tablecloth, ready to set the table.
"So what's so bad about being in the local paper?" Liam asked.
"I was going to tell you tonight when Lucy and Garth were here, but I might as well tell you now."
"So spill," Liam said with a curious glance at her.
"I've got a job interview." Jemima shook the tablecloth and spread it over the old wooden table in the centre of the kitchen. "The farm's under control. You and Angie need some space. You've hired a cook to look after the contractors this year, which means I'm certainly not needed here."
"So where's the job? Back in Sydney?" Liam asked.
"No. At the primary school in town."
"You finished your teaching degree?" Liam ran his hand through his hair.
"I did. And now I'm worried about this stupid article." Jemima crossed to the sink. She watched as Garth drove through the gate and brought the SUV to a stop. Lucy spotted her at the window and waved.
"Why?" Liam frowned. "Surely that won't affect your chances of getting the job?"
"I guess it's a confidence thing. I wanted to slip into the school quietly, get the job, and just be Miss Smythe, the new teacher." She held out her hand for the newspaper, and Liam passed it back to her, and she read it again. "What credibility is a ‘famous international catwalk glider'"-she shuddered-"going to have in the classroom or with the parents at Spring Downs Public School?"
"You're a local girl made good, Jem. The kids-and parents-will love you."
She grimaced. "I am. This is where I grew up, and this is where I want to be. But the first step is getting the job before I can show them anything. And then I can focus on showing them I'm a hometown girl."
"I wonder who gave the information to the local paper?" Liam crossed to the door and held it open for Garth as he came in loaded with pizzas on one arm and a drinks cooler in the other. Lucy was close behind him, with baby James on her hip. "It wasn't me."
"I saw the front page of the paper when I was in town this morning," Lucy said. "Everyone was talking about it in the grocery store. I was surprised to see it, Jemmy." Lucy put the baby on the soft rug on the floor, and he gurgled contentedly. "Did the paper interview you?"
"No. I've got no idea who gave all that guff to the paper. A catwalk glider, for goodness sake!" Jemima shook her head. "And listen to this. They make me sound as though I've been living the high life. ‘New York, Monte Carlo, Paris … our local town has a celebrity in its midst.' And I've never even been to Paris!"
Lucy walked over to the oven. "So who else knew you were in the fashion industry?"
"One of the librarians at the town library asked me what I'd done in Sydney the other day, but-"
"Well, there's your answer then. Maisey Sykes is the biggest gossip in town." Lucy unwrapped the pizzas that Garth had carried in and put them into the large gas oven.
"I suppose it'll be a ten-minute wonder, but I so wish it hadn't been before my interview on Monday."
"Oh, cool! You got an interview?" Lucy walked over and hugged Jemima as the guys headed out to the verandah. "You'll be fine, Jemmy. A whole new career for you. I'm so happy you've moved back home for good. All we need now is for Seb to return-and stay!"
"Whoever would have thought?" Jemima smiled and nodded to the driveway. "Speaking of love, here's Angie." They both watched as Liam hurried out to greet her. He swooped her in a hug, and Lucy smiled. "Ain't love grand!"
"If that's what you want out of life." Jemima kept her voice light; just because her love life was nonexistent didn't mean she couldn't be happy for her brother.
Lucy pulled a bottle of champagne from the cooler that Garth had carried in as Liam held the screen door open for Angie. "Hi, Angie. Perfect timing. Let's toast a new career. Miss Smythe, soon to be the best school teacher in Spring Downs. Good luck, Jemmy!"
Jemima and Lucy giggled at the surprised look on Angie's face.
Chapter Two
Ned McCormack tripped over the two school bags sitting plum bang in the middle of the hallway as he raced towards the kitchen. The smell of burning toast filled the old farmhouse, and smoke billowed from the toaster to the ceiling. Four-year-old Ryan was sitting at the table banging his car on the tabletop. Next to him, an iPad was churning out nursery rhymes at full volume.
"Kelsey? Gwennie? Who's watching the toast?" Ned yelled as he stopped at the kitchen door. As he spoke, the smoke alarm in the kitchen came on, and the high-pitched squealing covered his son's muffled reply.
"What?" Ned grabbed a tea towel and flicked it at the alarm until it finally stopped.
Ryan stopped banging his car on the table just long enough to answer his father. "Kelsey put the toast in, and then she ran outside. 'Cause Gwennie's in the shed, and she screamed for us to come see."