Read Online The Islands by Di Morrissey - Free Book Online Page B

airport. Look, you can’t tell her your big news over the phone. Give her a call and say you’re jet lagged and want to stay here for a day or so and see old friends before going home,’ said Mollie.
    â€˜That’s a good idea. Otherwise she’ll be jumping in the car and coming down to get me.’ Catherine reached for the phone.
    Her mother was excited. ‘I can’t wait to see you. You’re going to love your room, Dad painted . . . oh dear, he wanted it to be a surprise, don’t let on. We thought we’d have a party on the weekend to welcome you home. So many people we haven’t seen since the races . . .’
    â€˜Mum, that’s all lovely. But let’s hold off a bit. A party sounds great . . .’ Catherine rolled her eyes at Mollie and wagged her ring finger. ‘I just want to enjoy being at home again. On my own. Go for a ride, maybe a picnic, just us.’
    â€˜Of course, dear. Lovely. Though so many friends keep asking after you.’
    â€˜Sure, Mum, we’ll work out something. Anyway, I want to stay here with Mollie for a day or so. I’ll come up on the Saturday morning flight. Love you.’
    It was cloudy when the small plane took off from Sydney but within minutes they were in sunshine and had left the coast behind. Catherine kept looking out the window trying to recognise the country below.
    Once they started to descend she felt a lump come to her throat and she had to blink quickly, surprised at the sudden tears in her eyes as she recognised the gorge country from where the Home River flowed onto the plains around Peel. The wheat paddocks were brown stubble, cattle clustered in blotchy brown and black groups, tin roofs shimmered in the bright light and the miles of fences below delineated the borders of family properties. She was pretty sure she recognised the ribbon of road that headed towards the north-west and Heatherbrae.
    They flew over the compact township of Peel and came in to land at the airstrip. As she got up from her seat she could see her parents among the group standing in front of the glass doors of the airport building, waving madly at the plane.
    On the drive back to their property, her mother chattered from the front seat to bring Catherine up to date with all the local news. ‘And Rob’s got engaged to that nice girl, Barbara, but I’m not sure that she’s all that keen on living in the country.’ Her father occasionally glanced at Catherine in the rear-vision mirror, giving her a small smile and a ‘be patient’ look.
    Catherine exclaimed in delight at her freshly painted room and admired her mother’s garden.
    â€˜How’s Parker doing? And your cattle, Dad?’
    â€˜They’re great. Feed was a bit of a worry for a bit, but I handled a case for a client who paid me in feed,’ he replied. ‘I rode Parker a few times and so did Rob when he came over to tell us about his engagement.’ He shook his head. ‘Not sure how that girl is going to settle down out here. City girl, like your friend Mollie.’
    â€˜Now then, Keith, you don’t know how girls can adapt to please their man. How about a cup of tea, dear, and Dad will take you round the paddocks, up to the knoll? Or we could take lunch up there, like we used to. What would you like to do, pet?’ asked her mother.
    â€˜Er, sure, Mum, whatever you’d like.’
    â€˜Don’t rush her, love. Let her adjust to being back here. Must seem quiet after the big cities you’ve seen, eh?’ said her father.
    Catherine saw a chance to raise the subject of her engagement. ‘Well, London was great, but I really loved Hawaii . . .’
    â€˜Certainly must have,’ interjected her mother. ‘Extending your stay like you did . . .’
    Her father interrupted his wife. ‘You throw that picnic together and I’ll take Catherine down to see her