‘We’ve been trying out what name she’d like to use for me,’ Vera said, looking a little sheepish. ‘I hope that’s okay?’
‘Of course,’ Kenzie said after only a hint of hesitation. ‘That’s fine.’
‘I already have a nan,’ Poppy pointed out to her mother logically. ‘My best friend, Ocean, she callshernan Oma, and Berkley calls his pop Gim-Gim,’ she informed them. ‘But I think you look like a granny.’
‘Granny,’ Ewan repeated, biting back a grin.
‘If that’s what Poppy feels comfortable calling me, then that’s perfectly fine.’
‘What do Floss’s boys call you?’ Kenzie asked, curiously.
‘Nanny Campbell. They have Joe’s mother and a great-grandmother who are also Nannies, so it helps tell us apart.’
‘Granny Campbell.’ Poppy nodded decisively. ‘I think it’s a good name.’
‘Me too,’ Vera agreed.
‘After the chores, Daddy’s going to take me to show me where he used to play when he was a little boy, aren’t you, Daddy?’ Poppy said, turning her big eyes and smile towards Ewan.
Hearing the name on her daughter’s lips still somehow felt strange, while at the same time tugged at her heartstrings.
‘If that’s okay with Mum?’ he asked, looking her way.
‘Of course,’ she said, stumbling slightly over the words.
‘If you wanted to come, we could wait till after your meeting,’ he added.
‘No, no,’ she said, summoning a smile. ‘That’s fine. I have plenty of work I can do.’ This was all part of letting go of the reins, just a little, and letting Poppy and him find their way. ‘That sounds like a busy day you’ve got planned.’
‘We better get started, then,’ Vera said, standing from the table and waiting for Poppy to climb down off her chair.
‘I’ll show you where the library is, and help you set up,’ Ewan said.
‘Okay, thanks.’ Kenzie smiled gratefully. She kissed Poppy’s cheek as she came over to say goodbye before running off to follow Vera.
Ewan gave a small chuckle. ‘That isnotthe same woman who raised me,’ he said. ‘There was none of that gooey, sweet behaviour back then.’
Kenzie laughed. She had to agree that, at first glance, Vera didn’t come across as the patient, malleable, grandmotherly woman she was around her grandchildren. She had a sternness about her—a definite I-don’t-suffer-fools-lightly kind of vibe—that Kenzie assumed she’d needed, with the steely Callum as her husband. Not to mention the hard work and sacrifices it would have taken, building up a cattle station like this one.
Thinking of which, she’d been meaning to ask Ewan about his father.
‘What does your dad do all day?’ she asked, realising she never really saw him except for evening meals, when he usually sat at the head of the table and read a journal or silently ate, contributing little to the dinner-time conversation, before heading for his office or bed.
‘He’s involved in a lot of cattle organisations and farming advisory groups. He travels a fair bit, drives to meetings out of town, and he works out of the local Primary Producers office. Keeps him busy and out of Mum’s hair. Plus, this place is a massive undertaking, although, there’s a whole team employed nowadays to handle most of the admin and day-to-day office side of things.’
She understood now why he’d been so impressed by her mother and Jack’s relationship—it was very different from his own parents’. She hadn’t noticed any physical contact betweenthem at all, not even a peck on the cheek when one of them left the house.
Each to their own, she supposed, but she was glad to see Ewan didn’t seem inclined to follow in their footsteps. She liked the small gestures he made without seeming to realise he did them—a touch of her hand, always selecting the closest seat to her, walking close whenever they were out. Little things that made her feel special.
Twenty-nine
The library was a cosy room with shelving on three sides and a huge window overlooking the side rose garden. In front of the window was a comfy-looking window seat and Kenzie considered setting up her call there—she could stretch out and soak up the warm morning sun—but then remembered it was abusinesscall and she was supposed to be working.
There was a small desk in the middle of the room that looked antique. She thought back to Callum’s massive mahogany desk and realised the two rooms were decorated for two very different personalities. Whereas Callum’s office screamed masculine energy, this one was feminine, with sleek, almost dainty furniture and light colours.
Ewan tugged her hand and pulled her close, lowering his head to kiss her. She should have jumped back and reminded him they weren’t supposed to be doing this out in plain view,but he could so very easily make her change her mind without even trying.
‘Can I change your mind about work and take you back to bed instead?’ he asked against her lips. The lazy, sultry tone sent goosebumps along her arms and she leaned into his warm body, briefly, before common sense prevailed.
