“Don’t get up to any mischief, ladies.” He closed the door, enjoying that all three of them were grinning at him.
“Course not,” said Zoe. “I am preggers after all.”
“Well, since you’re not coming, we can do what we want,” said Kate as she got back into the driver’s seat and started the car.
“Take care.” He waved goodbye, watching the vehicle slowly drive away.
This was going to be a long day and night ahead without her.
Without meaning to, Zoe had fallen asleep in the car for most of the trip to Adelaide. The motion of the vehicle rocking her off to sleep. She woke as Kate slowed at the first set of traffic lights coming into Adelaide on the Port Wakefield highway.
“You should’ve woken me,” she mumbled sitting up and stretching her neck, her muscles stiff from the odd position she’d been sleeping in.
“You need as much rest as you can get,” Helen said her knitting needles clicking at a fast pace.
Zoe noticed the fine white yarn she was using. “Are you making something for the baby?”
“A little matinee jacket. It will be winter by the time the baby’s born, and it can get cold up at Burra.”
It was hard to imagine it being cold, the summer days were hot and sunny.
“It does, especially at night,” added Kate. She slowed down at another set of traffic lights. “I hate city driving.”
“I can drive if you like,” offered Zoe.
“I’ll be right.”
Zoe bit her tongue. She knew they were trying to be helpful, to let her rest, but it wasn’t as if she was sick or not capable. “How about I drive out of the city on the way home, it’s easy for me.”
“You’re not used to driving such a big car.”
Her little car was much smaller than Helen’s SVU, but she’d driven the ute a little, and she really did feel that she could adapt easily. “Well, the offer’s there. I can drive in the city.”
“Kind offer,” piped up Helen, as she finished a row, turned the growing length of knitted stitches, and started a new one. “Kate doesn’t even let me drive.” Helen glanced back at Zoe and rolled her eyes.
“I saw that,” said Kate, her voice thick with tension. “I saved hard to buy this car.”
“You did, and I’m proud of you. Zoe and I would drive it with due care.”
Kate ignored them, swearing under her breath as a car cut in front of her. “I’m trying to drive carefully, you know. We do have a pregnant woman on board.”
Zoe leaned back, there was no point arguing over this one. It wasn’t her car, and it was obvious that Kate was rather attached to it. She understood, it took her a while to save for her own car, but then she’d been on a high salary with her job as a legal secretary. That income was something she did miss, though with no shops at Burra, except for a coffee, gift store and a second-hand shop, the temptation to spend wasn’t there like it was when living in the city.
“You’re doing a fine job,” encouraged Helen.
“You are,” added Zoe, realizing that she wasn’t the only one on edge.
Zoe looked out, watching the landscape become more populated with houses, and apartment blocks. The traffic became busier. It surprised her how much the noise assaulted her senses. The sound from the vehicles on the road—cars, a few trucks, vans—caused her to feel more closed in, more claustrophobic without being able to see the wide-open spaces that had been her home for the last few weeks. Not being confined to an office for over eight hours a day was also something she didn’t miss. Part of her couldn’t wait to get back to the farm and feel the freedom of the space. And to see Max, of course.
“I think we might be a little late for lunch,” said Kate. “There’s too much traffic.”
Zoe didn’t think there were more cars on the road than normal. “I’ll text Mom, to say we will be a little late. She won’t mind.”
“Thanks,” said Kate.
Already things weren’t going to plan. Zoe wished she’d used the excuse of being pregnant to have stayed at home. Her belly roiled, and she rubbed it, as she got out her phone from her small handbag. But then as much as Max might like it, she couldn’t walk around the house naked, she needed maternity clothes.
Based on her knowledge of the streets of Adelaide, Zoe texted her mom saying they were going to be about half an hour late.
