Ben didn’t reply.
‘Are you going to ask how she is? Or what we talked about?’
‘No.’
Ben sounded like a petulant child and Justin wanted to shake some sense into him. ‘Fine.’
They kept walking. When they arrived at the fire station, Ben vanished into the bathroom. He didn’t come back to the common room where Justin was watching TV. A few minutes later, he heard snoring coming from Ben’s bunk room.
Ben might not want to reconnect with their mother, but as Justin watched a footy replay, he thought about what he wanted. He’d never really expected or even looked for a reconciliation. If asked, he probably would have said he didn’t care. Or that he assumed they would meet again some day. Eventually. But now? Now that he’d spoken to his mother, memories were pouring back into his head. Memories of a small boy who had loved his mother. Before times got tough, when Carol was able to spend more time with her sons, the memories were good. The sound of her voice as she read the twins stories at bedtime. Playing Monopoly. He was pretty sure she always let one of the twins win. He remembered fighting with Ben to get the mixing bowl scrapings when their mother cooked a cake. He could almost still taste the finished cakes. Chocolate with plum jam between the layers had always been his favourite.
Then things changed. She’d had to work two jobs just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. She was too tired to talk to her sons at the end of the day. That’s when Justin had learned how to make a cheese toastie for dinner and tend to a scraped knee.
But not all the memories were bad.
Of course, Ben’s issues were different. He’d had to shake off a lie that had lasted for seventeen years. Fifteen years later, almost half their lifetime, Ben still hadn’t been able to forgive that lie. If Justin were in Ben’s shoes, he might feel the same. But he wasn’t in Ben’s shoes. And he didn’t feel the same.
He wanted to see their mother again.
***
Rather predictably, Ben had a hangover next morning. He was monosyllabic and sullen as they breakfasted on cereal and coffee. Justin wasn’t about to help out. If Ben needed bacon and eggs to cure him, he was going to have to make them himself.
By the time they reached the first of their day’s appointments, Ben’s face had returned from green back to something resembling his normal colour. They spent the day advising three stud managers on fire prevention, showing where to build firebreaks and how to do a controlled burn if one was needed. The big studs, for the most part, were bushfire ready. Most had sufficient funds to put the right precautions in place. It was the smaller properties Justin was most worried about. The retirement properties and hobby farms, where there was neither a lot of staff nor a lot of money.
Despite his hangover, Ben was, as always, totally professional in his work. He encouraged a few stud workers to sign up for their forthcoming RFS training session. A few more volunteers were always welcome. By the end of the day, any animosity between the brothers had given way to their usual relaxed and easy manner. In order to keep Ben away from the pub, especially this close to their photo shoot, Justin stopped by the shop on their way back to get supplies for dinner. Their kitchen wasn’t designed for full-time residents, it was more about feeding hungry firefighters in the middle of a bushfire. But Justin managed to rustle up some lamb chops and vegies. About time, too. They’d been eating at the pub far too often. The pub food was good, but there had been too many chips and too many burgers. If they were going to have to take their shirts off for the shoot, a bit of healthy food wouldn’t go astray. Nor would keeping Ben away from the beer.
CHAPTER
13
Anna pulled up amid the familiar buildings and yards of The Gums, Bree Johnson’s alpaca stud. She was barely out of the car before a short bundle of joyful energy ran over to greet her.
‘We’re having a photo shoot today,’ Vicki said. ‘Isn’t it exciting?’
Vicki was the daughter of Bree’s husband, Matt. Her mother had died some years ago, but she had very much settled into her new family, which included Bree’s alpacas.
‘I know all about the photos,’ Anna said.
‘Anna’s here to officially make sure nothing happens to our girls during the shoot.’ Bree appeared from the direction of the yards.
‘The RFS wants to make sure there are no animal welfare issues,’ Anna told the little girl. ‘Not that there will be, with you and Bree here, but it’s just a precaution. And,’ she added, ‘they’re paying me to be here. It’s the easiest call-out I’ve had for weeks.’
‘Grandma Rose is making tea and biscuits for everyone,’ Vicki said. ‘I helped make the biscuits. Do you want some?’
‘When they’re ready, I would love some.’
‘Why don’t you go and see how Grandma Rose is getting on? She might need more help.’
‘All right.’ Vicki scampered off.
‘Have the others arrived yet?’ Anna asked.
‘The firefighters are here. They’re over by the yards, meeting the alpacas. And I’m guessing that must be the photographer.’ Bree’s nod indicated a car approaching down her driveway. ‘Why don’t you go talk to the firefighters and I’ll bring the photographer over.’
That idea suited Anna just fine. Her heart had done a little back flip when she’d caught a glimpse of an RFS uniform near the stables. Not that there was any reason for it, of course. There was nothing between her and Justin, but it would be nice to see him again.
He had his back turned as she approached. ‘Hey, you,’ she said. The words came out in an unexpectedly flirtatious way. Unexpected, but not entirely unwarranted.
