her fingers gripped the pendant around her neck, almost afraid she was going to get a reply. But of course, there was none. She suddenly felt stupid for even asking. The mind was a powerful thing, so it was very possible she had imagined it. Being back in the homestead was obviously triggering memories sheâd long ago buried. That made a heck of a lot more sense than believing Scarletâs spirit was still floating around.
Shaking off the weird sensation, Renee turned her attention to the doorway, where there were different coloured pencil marks with either her or Scarletâs names up one side of the doorjamb. Her dad had started the height chart when they were only two years old, and her pa had continued the tradition after their parents had passed away, etching the progress of their growth from toddlers to young women into the homesteadâs history forever. It was a beautiful thing.
Reneeâs heart pinched with the memories of her and Scarlet standing up against the wall, most of the time the pair of them giggling madly as either their dad or pa begged them to stand still.
You may technically be the eldest, Reni, but Iâm the tallest.
You are not, sis. Youâre standing on your tippy-toes!
No Iâm not, thatâs just a figment of your imagination.
But you donât reckon I have an imagination, so how could that be?
Ha ha, always the serious one, Reni, thatâs why I love you.
I love you too, sis. Even when youâre standing on your tippy-toes.
Renee sighed despairingly. She wasnât going to allow herself to feel weighed down with the anguish. For if she did, she would send herself spiralling down that awful pain-filled path once again and possibly bring on a return of the debilitating panic attacks sheâd experienced all those years ago. As her therapist had told her over and over, she needed to focus on the positives, remember the good times, and rejoice in the lives of those she loved and had lost. She was now home with the two people she loved most in this world, back where she had longed to return to for years, so she was going to try her hardest to focus on that.
Checking the time on her watch, a wisp of a smile tugged at her lips. It was just before six in the morningâalmost daybreak. Pa would already be out at work on the station with his six-year-old trusty border collie, Henry, beside himâRenee had met the dog last night and had adored him instantly. Pa had mentioned that he had to fix one of the windmills in the bottom paddock. She had offered to help but he had told her to take some time today to settle in, so sheâd organised to join him for smoko. She was delighted she had a few hours to herself to potter around the house and venture outside for a good squiz around.
Four generations of Wildwoods had lived under this roof and made a living off the land and there were so many memories of her own precious time here. A buzz of excitement rushed through her. Having got home in the dark, sheâd only caught fleeting glimpses of Wildwood Acres in the headlights of Paâs dependable old Land Cruiser. She couldnât wait for dawn to break so she could finally lay her eyes on the countryside that had stolen her heart all those years ago.
Jumping from the bed, Renee tugged her robe over her pyjamas. Back in the city, sheâd hated early mornings, but out here in the country, it was a whole different story. With no traffic noise, pollution or loud neighbours to dull her into being blasé about the undeniable beauty of a sunrise, she got to witness the birth of a brand new day. Padding down the hallway, the old timber floorboards creaking beneath her bare feet, she admired the family photographs hanging on the walls, some colour, and some black and white. She would take time to look at them in more depth later, but for now, she longed to feel the grass and dew between her toes while enjoying her morning cuppa.
Stopping off at the heart of
Shaking off the weird sensation, Renee turned her attention to the doorway, where there were different coloured pencil marks with either her or Scarletâs names up one side of the doorjamb. Her dad had started the height chart when they were only two years old, and her pa had continued the tradition after their parents had passed away, etching the progress of their growth from toddlers to young women into the homesteadâs history forever. It was a beautiful thing.
Reneeâs heart pinched with the memories of her and Scarlet standing up against the wall, most of the time the pair of them giggling madly as either their dad or pa begged them to stand still.
You may technically be the eldest, Reni, but Iâm the tallest.
You are not, sis. Youâre standing on your tippy-toes!
No Iâm not, thatâs just a figment of your imagination.
But you donât reckon I have an imagination, so how could that be?
Ha ha, always the serious one, Reni, thatâs why I love you.
I love you too, sis. Even when youâre standing on your tippy-toes.
Renee sighed despairingly. She wasnât going to allow herself to feel weighed down with the anguish. For if she did, she would send herself spiralling down that awful pain-filled path once again and possibly bring on a return of the debilitating panic attacks sheâd experienced all those years ago. As her therapist had told her over and over, she needed to focus on the positives, remember the good times, and rejoice in the lives of those she loved and had lost. She was now home with the two people she loved most in this world, back where she had longed to return to for years, so she was going to try her hardest to focus on that.
Checking the time on her watch, a wisp of a smile tugged at her lips. It was just before six in the morningâalmost daybreak. Pa would already be out at work on the station with his six-year-old trusty border collie, Henry, beside himâRenee had met the dog last night and had adored him instantly. Pa had mentioned that he had to fix one of the windmills in the bottom paddock. She had offered to help but he had told her to take some time today to settle in, so sheâd organised to join him for smoko. She was delighted she had a few hours to herself to potter around the house and venture outside for a good squiz around.
Four generations of Wildwoods had lived under this roof and made a living off the land and there were so many memories of her own precious time here. A buzz of excitement rushed through her. Having got home in the dark, sheâd only caught fleeting glimpses of Wildwood Acres in the headlights of Paâs dependable old Land Cruiser. She couldnât wait for dawn to break so she could finally lay her eyes on the countryside that had stolen her heart all those years ago.
Jumping from the bed, Renee tugged her robe over her pyjamas. Back in the city, sheâd hated early mornings, but out here in the country, it was a whole different story. With no traffic noise, pollution or loud neighbours to dull her into being blasé about the undeniable beauty of a sunrise, she got to witness the birth of a brand new day. Padding down the hallway, the old timber floorboards creaking beneath her bare feet, she admired the family photographs hanging on the walls, some colour, and some black and white. She would take time to look at them in more depth later, but for now, she longed to feel the grass and dew between her toes while enjoying her morning cuppa.
Stopping off at the heart of
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