Eternal Love

The More the Merrier

The two weeks flew and before I knew it, we had had so much fun, with no weight of anything on our shoulders, we were a free happy newly married couple, and frankly it was a beautiful thing, but as nice as it was I was ready to go home.

The drive home seemed to drag and full of Brooks picking on the fact that I looked good in a bikini and that I should wear it more often, which proceeded with me punching Brooks in the shoulders until he shut up.

The Wolfe Brothers came on the radio and nostalgia flooded my mind of the first time Brooks and I had met, "My girl she likes the orange but me I like the green," I sung and I knew by the way that Brooks looked at that he knew what I was thinking. We both sung along to the radio for the rest of the way home.

I had told Brooks about Joe and Sarah's plans and he readily agreed, turns out they had already started working on the old homestead, where Brooks was pulling all this money from had me stunned.

It took me at least 2 weeks to get back into the swing of things, like work, I had also started to work with Eohippus and things were going great until I got a call from Hayley. She had asked me to meet her in town around 12ish at the small café.

I announced my leave to Joe, Sarah and Brooks as they were all working hard on the homestead, promising to bring home something for tea.

It took me the usual hour to get into town. I parked my ute in the 45* parking and walked to the café. I saw her before she saw me. She would be going on 3-4 months in her pregnancy so she has a noticeable bump. I sat down at her table as she looked up with a sad smile.

"I've done a bad thing," she said with sad smile, I could see the tear stained cheeks and red puffy eyes she had tried to cover with makeup, "it's so bad that Dustin kicked me out," she spoke again looking down at her hands.

By the look of her eyes she didn't want to be pressed, "I'm not going to ask about it but you can tell me whenever you are ready cause I'm here for you, but if you need a place to crash you can stay at my place, there is no one in my old bedroom and you are very welcome."

"Thank you so much Aud, I will make it up to you, I won't get in yours and Brooks way I promise and-"

I cut off her rambling.

"It's all good, you are my best friend I am always here for you," I said.

We spent the rest of the afternoon just chatting, care free. It reminded me of when we were younger, when life was easy and the only thing I had to worry about was the fact that I left had to leave at the end of the summer.

"I think we should head home before it gets too late and I have to get something for tea," I said breaking the fun care free conversation.

"Sure thing lets go."

We walked down to the woollies and picked up 3 dozen bread roles and 2 hot roast chickens. As we were walking towards the cash registers we bumped into the one and only Nathan.

"G'day Miss Audrey West," he said tipping his peaked cap. He turned to do the same to Hayley but faltered and quickly muttered a hello before he walked away. I turned to Hayley to see her looking nervously at the ground. Well that's strange.

"Let's get home," I said grabbing the bags and walking to the car.

She just nods. She stays quiet the whole way home.

We pull through the gate and speed down to the house. I had got a text from Brooks saying they were back at the house.

I parked my car in the machinery shed before jumping out. Hayley grabbed her overnight bag and we walked to the house keeping up small talk. We talked about the rodeo and I told her all about the honey moon and the amazing place we went.

I kicked my boots off at the door and carried the bags in side.

"DINNER!" I shouted as I made it to the kitchen. I dumped the bags on the counter and lead Hayley to my old room.

"You can stay in here. I haven't slept in her for years now, ha ha, so just make your-self at home. Come down when your done unpacking," I instructed, I could tell by the size of her bag that it wouldn't take long for her to unpack, but I can't help but wonder what she could have done that was so bad for Dustin to kick her out of the house, so I leave her in silence and walk down to the kitchen where Brooks, Joe and Sarah were making bread roles.

I walked up to Brooks and lightly tugged on the sleeve of his shirt signalling that I wanted to talk to him. He looked down at me and I noticed white dust through his hair and a smudge of paint across his fore head, "can I talk to you please," I whisper and he nodded lightly looking at me worriedly. I lead him into the lounge room, "Hayley and Dustin have had a falling out so she is goin to stay here until she works out what she is goin to do."

Brooks looked at me, "Aud, when will we ever get time to ourselves?" he asked a little strained running his hands through his hair.

"This isn't goin to be a permanent thing Brooks, it's just until she finds another place to stay," I said looking to the ground.

Intently his face softened and he brought his right hand up to cup my cheek and I leant into his touch.

"Aud you are too much of a good person,as my dad use to say, the more the merrier" and he lent down to kiss me on the forehead, "Let's go back and eat tea," I nodded and we headed back into the kitchen.

Hayley joined us a few minutes later and we all talked away and ate. No one bringing up Hayley's unexpected presence, but they embraced it without question.

After tea Hayley and I walked to her room and we sat down on the bed. We sat in silence until Hayley spoke, "I will tell you what happened but you have to keep an open mind," she said and I nodded so she continued, "This," she said pointing to her bloated stomach, "started when the boys went rodeoing, but it all started a lot earlier."