Ned was as good looking as any of the male models that she'd worked with over the years. Broad shouldered with a strong face, he had the most gorgeous cheekbones, and his hair was dark, in need of a trim. He looked tired, and she guessed the shadows beneath his eyes were from late nights while he tried to be both mother and father, as well as running a farm and worrying about finances. She didn't think she'd seen him smile yet, but even with his serious expression, he was a handsome guy. A shimmy of warmth settled in her tummy as he held her gaze, and she pulled a face. "I guess you haven't read the local paper this week then."
He shook his head. "No. I was going to buy it on the way home."
She pushed her chair back and went over to the rack where the café owner provided newspapers and magazines for the customers. The local paper was on top, and she gulped as she looked at the photo that took up three quarters of the front page. It was the last fashion show she'd done at the Sydney Opera House. At least it was a decent photo. She picked it up and took it across to the table and put it in front of Ned.
"My life in one photo and a paragraph. You can read it. I hate talking about myself. But please take it with a grain of salt. It's exaggerated, and I suspect that report had a bit to do with me not getting the job at the school."
Ned scanned the paper, and Jemima smiled up at Con as he put their coffee on the table. She pulled out a twenty-dollar note and paid for the coffee and milkshakes as Ned read.
"Wow, New York," he said when he finally looked up and put the paper on the table. "You've got a great job. Or you had a great job. But you said you've moved back to the farm?"
"No." She shook her head. "No, it wasn't ‘wow,' I mean. Hard work in an artificial world. But it did leave me comfortable financially."
"So why did you come back to Spring Downs?"
"Last summer, Pop had a knee operation. Gran called us all home to take a turn on the farm to see if we wanted to keep it in the family."
"And?"
"We all came home and did our stint, except for Sebastian. He says he's coming, but I'll believe it when he actually arrives. Liam and Lucy have settled here to stay, but I'll let Liam catch you up on that. If I can get a job here-doing what I love-I'll stay, too. I did my teaching degree while I was working and travelling. And being home near family is important to me."
"Family is the most important thing there is, and we often don't realise that until it's too late." Ned's voice was low, and his eyes were bleak as they held hers. Jemima could almost feel his sadness. "We need to talk about this. Are you sure-?"
"Ryan, stop it!" A loud cry came from the back of the shop, and Ryan came running down between the tables.
"Go home, Daddy?" The little boy tugged at Ned's hand to try to get him to stand up.
"In a little while. What have you been up to, you little larrikin? Tormenting your sisters again?" Ned picked him up onto his knee and held the little boy firm with one hand while he drank his coffee. "Soon, mate." He smiled at Jemima for the first time, and she was pleased to see the sadness disappear from his expression. It was hard to look away from those soulful, dark eyes, but she forced herself to look down.
"Jemmy, it's not the right time to talk with these kids around. I'll certainly think about what you said, but I feel like I'd be taking advantage of you. If I do accept your kind offer, we'd come to some sort of arrangement."
"Please think about it. I'm serious. And I'd love to help out." Jemima pulled one of the blank cards from her bag and wrote her mobile number and the Prickle Creek Farm number on it. "When you want to talk some more, give me a call."
She stood, and Ned lifted Ryan off his lap. "Go and tell your sisters it's time to go."
Ned took Jemima's hand. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy, and she raised her eyes to meet his. He held her gaze for a long moment before he spoke. "I'll give you a call in a day or two."
Those butterflies went crazy as he kept hold of her hand until Gwennie pushed between them.
"Come on, Daddy."
Even though she should be feeling upset about not getting the school job, Jemima couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips as she walked back to the car.
Chapter Six
As Ned drove back out to the farm, an open-top silver sports car overtook them on a long, clear straight, a wild tangle of blond hair flying in the wind as the car zoomed past.
"Look, Daddy." Gwennie's voice was a high-pitched squeal. "It's our new mum."
"Stop it, Gwennie," Kelsey said curtly. "You're being stupid. We haven't got a new mum. And we don't need one."
Ned glanced back at the girls in the rear vision mirror after the Audi TT had surged ahead of them. Kelsey's face was like thunder, and he swallowed. While Jemima's offer was generous and would certainly solve a lot of his problems, there was more to consider than bank loans, keeping the washing up to date, and the house in order. He had the kids to think about, too. But if he didn't consider it, he wouldn't be able to afford the farm help, and they might not be able to stay.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place. It didn't matter that Jemmy was a Spring Downs girl. Look at her now. She was an international model, for goodness sake.
But while the three kids were all here in the car and a captive audience-Kelsey was one to run away and hide when she didn't want to talk about something-it was probably a good time to broach it. He had to.
Softly, softly.
"Did you know that I've known Jemmy forever? Her brother and I were best friends. Their farm is just across from ours now. But they used to live in town, and when I was your age, I used to go there for sleepovers. Jemima was just a little girl then."
"I forgot you went to school here." Kelsey sat up, and Ned was pleased to see she looked a bit more interested.
"And you know what else I remember? Jemima used to be a champion rider at pony club."
Now he had Kelsey's full interest. He felt a little bit dishonest playing the horse card, but if it was going to help …
"In Spring Downs?" she asked.
"Yes, Liam said she was very good."
"Does she still have horses?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask her. I'll ask her to come over one afternoon. She's offered to give us a bit of a hand. Or better still, we could go over and visit their farm. I'd like to catch up with Liam." Ned glanced in the mirror again. Suspicion warred with interest on Kelsey's face.
"Maybe we could. Do you think she probably does have a horse? Would she let me ride it?"
"Probably." In for a penny, in for a pound. "If we get Jemmy to come over and help with your school work and babysit Ryan, I can do more work through the day. What would you think about that?"
Gwennie squealed, and Ned winced as her excited screams echoed around the car.
"That would be awesome, awesome sauce, Daddy."
"Keep it quieter, Gwennie."
"Yeah, put a lid on it, Gwennie. Daddy needs to think," Kelsey added.
Ned smothered a smile when Kelsey nodded. She was a smart kid, and she knew that her chances of getting her own horse depended on him making a success of the farm.
"Sounds like a plan," she said.
Ned was thoughtful as he turned onto the dirt road that led to their farms. One big advantage was that Prickle Creek Farm was only a kilometre or so from their front gate, so Jemmy could come over with little notice if he did accept her offer.
All in all, maybe it hadn't been such a bad day.
…
After he waved the girls off on the school bus the next morning, Ned called Jemima's mobile.
"Hi, it's Ned. Are you free to come over this afternoon?"
"I am. What time?" she replied, and Ned smiled.
"About two."
"Okay, sounds good. See you then."
That would give them time to talk before the girls got home from school. Ned had lain awake most of the night doing the PMIs. That had been a Cath thing. She'd been so logical. Whenever they'd had a decision to make, she'd pulled out a large piece of paper and drawn three columns.
"PMI time," she'd say, her brown eyes twinkling. The feeling that hit Ned as he thought about it was as real as a kick in the stomach.
Pluses, minuses, and interestings of Jemima's suggestion. What were they? The one he thought of last night had gone when he'd woken up this morning. He'd sit down before she came and make a list.
But as usual, Ned's plans for the day went awry. As soon as he waved the girls off on the bus-pleased to see they had already made some friends-he began to make his list and had started on the pluses when he remembered he had to get the washing on before it was too late to hang it out. The girls' school clothes from yesterday were still in the linen basket; they only had a couple of the blue school shirts each. When he went to put the first load of washing on, the washing machine groaned and came to a stop. There was no water coming into it, and the power cut when it tried to start the wash cycle with no water in the drum. Further investigation revealed that there was no water anywhere in the house, and he grabbed Ryan and drove down to the pump at the bore. Three hours later, they were still there. Luckily, he'd thought to throw a box of cars and a couple of apples in the ute when they'd left the house.