“Mom.” She pushed her mom’s hand away, and grinned. It was good to be with her parents again. Another wave of emotion washed over her. Zoe dabbed the corner of her eye with her finger.
“Oh, darling, it’s just the hormones. Being pregnant does that.” Her mom hugged her again.
“Does it?” Zoe couldn’t resist the sarcasm.
“It’s not for much longer.” Her mom handed her a handkerchief.
“It will be the longest six months of my life, I just know it.” Zoe pressed the material at the corners of her eyes, hoping she hadn’t smudged her makeup. It felt like ages since she’d taken the time to style her hair and to put on makeup. It was too easy to be casual on the farm, and Max certainly wasn’t complaining about her natural style.
Leanne smiled sympathetically at her daughter. “Enjoy it. It’s a special time.”
Zoe nodded, not trusting herself to talk without managing to cry.Is this what was ahead of her for the next six months?If so, she was going to be glad to hide away on the farm.
“Here, take a seat, and tell me what’s been going on.” Her mom pulled out the chair at the head of the table for Zoe to sit, then sat to her left, next to her dad, leaving the other side free for Kate and Helen once they’d checked in.
“Not a lot has been happening.” Her makeup more than likely smudged, she was wearing a dress that was something she would consider casual, and definitely not upmarket enough for here at this restaurant, Zoe felt uncomfortable and out of place. It was amusing at first that her jeans no longer fitted, but now, the realization of what that meant, and how her body was changing was a little scary.
“What you need is a hobby,” said Leanne. “Something that isn’t on your computer.”
“I don’t need a hobby, Mom,” answered Zoe, unsure why on earth her mom would suggest something like that. She’d always been a workaholic, and never had time for hobbies. There were the occasional times she spent going to the gym, burning off the frustration of a day’s work in the legal world, but there was no gym on the farm, or in Burra come to think of it. While some women went off to the gym when pregnant, she wasn’t one of them.
“It will help to keep your mind occupied.”
“I think my mind’s occupied enough,” she mused. There was the getting used to living with Max, being pregnant, getting to know his family and adjusting to farm life. There was more than enough to keep her thinking. Then there was the occasional work she was doing remotely for the firm she used to work for, and the worry of how long that would last.
“My point exactly. You’re dealing with so much… a hobby will help take your mind off of it all.”
Zoe wasn’t sure she needed anything else to consider in her life right now.
“Think about it, Zoe. You don’t have to.” Her mom picked up the bottle of water on the table and poured Zoe a glass. “It’s just a suggestion.”
Zoe knew damn well her mother never made a ‘suggestion.’ It was more like, this is what you should do, and I’ll keep on about it until you do.
“I just can’t imagine myself making a quilt, Mom. Can you?” Zoe was rather pleased with her response.That should shut her up.
“No, I can’t either. So, maybe don’t try that as a hobby right.” Her mom’s eyebrows arched, and Zoe felt herself squirming as if she hadn’t really shut her mom up at all.
Will I do this to my child?She decided she definitely wasn’t going to do the ‘guilt trip’ on them, no matter what.
“Now, why isn’t that man of yours down here with you?” asked her dad. He filled the glasses on the table with water and looked up for an answer.
“Like I said, he’s busy with cattle. Had to get it done before Christmas.” She wished he was here with her. But then a ripple of something went through her and her tears dried, and she felt a renewed strength take hold. This was more like her. Strong. Independent. Fearless.
“Couldn’t wait?”
“No.” She hoped that Max doing this job now would free him up for Christmas. Then they could spend the time to really get to know each other.
“You know, Zoe, if it’s not working out with him you can come back here. We will support you,” said Leanne, her forehead wrinkled with genuine concern.
Her mom’s comment made her uneasy. She loved Max. She wanted it to work out. This was part of being in a relationship with a farmer, and she was independent. Yet, the emotion burned through her. Here she was about to juggle both sides of the family meeting up without him, and she couldn’t help but resent him a little.
“I’d be happy for you to come back, too,” spoke her dad.
“It’s good to know you’re both here for me.” She wasn’t about to open up and tell them her doubts or say that everything was fine. Things weren’t bad. They weren’t even at a point where she thought about returning to Adelaide because she couldn’t tolerate living on a farm. But would she continue to meet the challenges of the isolation while pregnant, and not knowing many people where she was now living. For now, the big question was whether or not it would stay like that.
“Consider it an option, a sort of safety net,” said her mom.
“Thanks.” Zoe was sure her mom would be excited to see her grandchild as much as possible. And both her parents were doing what they considered was their duty of looking out for her.
