Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 – Christmas Eve
Blaise couldn’t believe that he managed to keep Claire’s secret of moving out. During the last few days, they had made trip after trip into Wilkton to drop off the things she wanted to have with her. It was made a lot easier with Dusty hell-bent on finishing the harvest.
She had, yesterday. This morning she was taking the last truckload to the silos. She looked exhausted but happy that she’d done it.
Now, he was strolling along the eucalyptus trees around the fence line on the side paddock next to the house, looking for ideas for a gift for Dusty. He had a few ideas, and with Claire cooking up desserts after desserts in the house, he had a bit of time to himself.
He’d closed the books for the holiday season, and it felt good to be looking forward to Christmas with Dusty, spending more time with her, and seeing where that would lead them as a couple.
Blaise spied something that he thought would help make the perfect gift for Dusty. Bending down, he picked it up. He needed to add a few things, and he knew just what to do.
With Ted and Molly racing around him as he walked across the paddock back to the house, he headed back inside. Dusty had promised she would be back before dinner tonight. He was very much looking forward to that actually happening. Things seemed to take longer on the farm, so he’d already decided that if she were late, he wouldn’t hold it against her.
First things first, he needed to finish her gift.
Dusty had been true to her word. She was proud of her efforts to get the harvest finished, the grain delivered, and the machinery cleaned and back in the shed for another year. It was satisfying.
Showered, in clean jeans and shirt, she sat at the table with Blaise and her mom, eating a light meal of chops and mashed potatoes with carrots and beans. Tomorrow she planned to overeat and enjoy her mom’s cooking, then chill with Blaise.
On Boxing Day, she’d agreed to go with him to visit his parents. Spend a few days there. They were starting to do more things which showed they were a couple. The fear that had previously fluttered in her belly about this was gone. She was confident in her decision. And what she was going to announce to Blaise tonight.
Her mom was coming with them, and she was going to stay with her sister, Jody. Jody had decided to stay in Adelaide with her boyfriend on Christmas Day, much to her mom’s disappointment. So, she had decided to invite herself to stay with Jody.
“At this rate, I won’t be hungry tomorrow,” said Blaise as he finished his meal. “No dessert for me.”
“Are you sure?” asked Dusty.
Blaise always had dessert.
“Yep.” He leaned back and patted his stomach.
“I’ve made an apple crumble pie,” said Claire.
“A small piece then,” said Blaise.
“That’s more like you.” Dusty smiled. To think she was nearly going to be too scared to have a future with him, and that she’d been running the risk of losing him. But not now.
“Before dessert, I have an announcement,” said Claire.
Blaise looked a little sly.
“What?” asked Dusty. She had a sneaky suspicion they had both been up to something.
“I’m moving out.”
“No.” Dusty’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t. This is your home. You don’t have anywhere to go.”
“I do. I had a little nest egg of my own, and I’ve now got a room in the retirement home at Wilkton.” Claire looked at her daughter. “You don’t need me around now. You’re going to start your own family.”
“I can do that with you still living here.”
“Maybe, but you two need your space to get adjusted to each other.”
“When did this all happen?” She turned to Blaise. “Did you enable her?”
“I had no choice.”
Dusty rolled her eyes. “Sure, you didn’t.”
