“If you’re old, that means I’m old, too,” I called after her.
“If the shoe fits…”
“I’ll remember that.”
She giggled.
I smiled. How long did it take people to be comfortable enough to talk about urinating with their new partners? Was it because we were older and more mature, or because that sort of awkwardness didn’t exist between us? It never had.
I went to the fire and added some wood to it. It was still warm inside the cabin even though the fire had died down to small flames and embers. If we didn’t keep it stoked, that could change very quickly. Then I glanced out the window. It was a white wonderland out there. I could just make out the main resort in the distance. There was no way we were going there any time soon.
Lorraine came out wearing my shirt and put the kettle on. She rummaged in the fridge. “Eggs and bacon for breakfast?”
“Sounds great. I need to keep my energy up seeing we’re snowed in.”
She rolled her eyes as I made my way past her to the bathroom. Truth be told, my old man bladder needed emptying, too. When I came out, I asked if she needed help, and she pointed to the coffee machine.
“So, what do you plan to do with yourself, once Curtis takes over the equine hospital?” she asked.
“Other than remaining on as a consultant, I’d love to travel.”
“Where to?”
“Anywhere. Everywhere.” I took our mugs of coffee to the table.
“I think I’d start with South America,” she said.
I nodded. “Yeah, like Peru.”
She brought the plates of food over and sat opposite me. “It has it all—ancient ruins, rainforest, Spanish coastal towns.”
“You retired a couple of years ago, why haven’t you travelled?” I asked.
“It didn’t seem right, with the farm and the drought. Taylor and Ciaron have been struggling to balance it all, and I didn’t want to leave them.”
“You’re a good mum.”
“Not that good. I didn’t realise their relationship was struggling as well. If I had, I could have helped them before they separated.”
“Lucky, that didn’t last long.”
“It could have. And I never would have forgiven myself.”
I reached over and took her hand. “Lorraine, it’s OK. They found their way through. You helped them with that.”
She squeezed my hand and took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“Perhaps when the drought is over, we can travel together.”
She smiled. It lit up her whole face and my heart. “I’d like that.”
My phone rang. I went to the bench to check who was calling. Curtis.
“Sorry, I have to take this.”
She nodded. Her smile dimmed.
CHAPTER 8
