“Come on, babe, we better go,” Oscar says, his arm wrapped around Hunter. We walk up the stairs to the jet and take our seats while Oscar sets Hunter up in an area by himself. Stacey looks at her brother nervously as she bites her nail.
“He’s going to be okay, Stace, he’ll sleep the entire way.”
Her brows pull together. “I’m worried about what is going to happen when we arrive home.”
“One moment at a time, babe, that is all you’re going to be able to do.”
She nods as Oscar joins us. He pulls her into his side and wraps his strong arms around her. I know he hopes to shield her from the outside world. He gives us both a sad smile as he gently kisses Stacey’s hair. Sienna and I hold hands as the jet gets ready to take off.
It’s the middle of summer, and the heat really hits you. Oh, how I’ve missed these Australian summer days. We landed in Sydney, but the jet is too big for the country airport, so we swap plans to a small jet and head out west to Mudgee.
Charlie has been texting me the entire flight, and his thoughtful and calming words during the flight have been great.
Once we arrive in Mudgee, it’s a dusty thirty-minute drive out to Stacey’s family’s farm from the airport. There’s red dirt blowing around us, a far cry from the grey cement of LA. The once green grass is now a horrible brown color, and in most places, nonexistent. The dirt road leads us to a white homestead, with verandas that wrap around the entire house and a rusty tin roof. There’s a gorgeous house garden at the front, and I realize how pathetic my garden looks at home. I attempted to grow vegetables, but they sadly died. I may have forgotten to water them.
The front screen door swings open as the car pulls to a stop. Stacey’s three nieces run out—Amelia, Jennifer, and Rebecca. Hunter perks up in the car and is the first one out as soon as it stops, heavy sobs falling from his lips and the same from his sisters as they all hug each other. Fuck. Tears fall down my cheeks. I reach out and squeeze Sienna’s hand. This is utterly heartbreaking.
“Aunt Stacey,” Jennifer screams as she rushes into Stacey’s arms. The others follow, and the look of relief on the kids’ faces when they embrace her nearly breaks me. The creaking of the screen door catches our attention, and little Lockie is there, and my heart breaks all over again because this little guy is going togrow up and not know his parents or grandparents because he is only three.
“Hunnie,” Lockie calls for his brother. He kicks and whines in an older woman’s arms until she puts him down, and they run to each other. Obviously, she was a close friend of the family because her eyes are red raw from crying. Stacey rushes over to her and they embrace.
“It’s not fair, Stace. It’s not fair.” The woman cries.
“Thank you for being here. Thank you for looking after them for me,” Stacey tells the woman.
“You’re family, girl. It’s what we do.”
“Shacey …” Lockie realizes his aunt is there and launches himself out of Hunter’s arms into hers, which makes him giggle, and it’s the sweetest sound in the world.
“Hey, little man. You have grown so big.” Stacey’s words hitch in her throat.
“No sad. Happy,” he tells her, not understanding what is happening.
And this breaks me as I try to hold my shit together.
“Come inside, I’ve popped the kettle on,” the older lady says, opening the door for us. “You’re probably exhausted after your long journey.”
“Wasn’t too bad … the joys of a private jet,” Stacey cracks a joke.
“Ah, yes. That does make traveling very comfortable. Your mum didn’t stop talking about her trip on it over Christmas. She showed me the photos,” the woman says.
Oh, that’s right, I’ve met this woman before. I think she’s Stacey’s mum’s best friend, but I can’t remember her name. Is it Hailey? Or Harriette?
“You’re probably hungry then. Let me make you all a sandwich or something.” We move through the home, and Stacey wanders off to her parents’ bedroom with Oscar following.
“I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name,” I ask the woman.
“It’s Hilda. I’m not so good with names either.”
“I’m Derrick, and this is Sienna.” Reintroducing ourselves to her.
“That’s right. You’re Stacey’s friends from Sydney, and now you live in America,” she states.
“That’s us. Sienna is married to Oscar’s bandmate.”
Hilda nods. “The one who got married up in Byron Bay. I remember Stacey showing me the photos when she was here. It looked beautiful. And you have kids, too?”
“Two boys, Ryder and Levi.” Sienna smiles.
