‘It’s supposed to be funny … We deal with that crap all the time, Mr H, ignore it. Keep watching.’
He hated that the chauvinistic comments seemed like old news to them. ‘Go on.’
The camera panned to the youngest farmer, Jonah from Rockhampton.
The wannabe comedian put on a squeaky voice. ‘How about that hottie with the Akubra, I’d like to see her hog-tie a weaner and then turn the ropes on me. Love me a bit of bondage. Haha!’
The teenagers glanced up at him with an apologetic wince. ‘This is your bit.’
The shot moved to him, hands clasped behind his back as the show host introduced him to the ten ladies in his shortlist. After a high-pitched mockery of the host’s voice, the creative commentator, a teenage boy, from the sounds of it, made an attempt at Spencer’s deep voice. ‘Yep, I sure like ’em blonde and dumb. The blonder the better, least then they won’t realise I’m not even a farmer, just a grumpy old teacher. Roll up, roll up ladies, come on down to the arse-end of South Australia.’
The producers had made it clear they were going to gloss over his full-time job and feature South Giddi Giddi more often than the schoolyard, so the comments weren’t a surprise, but he felt peeved on behalf of his contestants.
His mind went straight to Clem, and her beautiful brown wavy hair, then Belle, with her darker locks. His attempt to veer away from dark hair looked glaringly obvious in retrospect.
It was less than a fortnight since camp, just days since their bodies had been entwined, yet somehow he couldn’t help fearing that the TV show, and all the memes and dubbed videos, posed a real threat to him and Clem.
16
Clem sneezed as she flipped through the cafe bookings, trying to concentrate on the week ahead, but the tickle in her throat and runny nose didn’t bode well.
‘It’s late November, for Pete’s sake. Too late for a winter cold, and I should be used to the spring pollen now we’re almost into summer,’ she mumbled, rummaging through the staff medical kit for a cold and flu tablet.
Clem normally looked forward to the theatre rehearsals, but after stewing over her conversation with Hazel, she wasn’t sure if she should tell Spencer she’d broken his confidence, or trust that what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Hazel had promised to keep her secret, but still …
She washed down the tablet with the dregs of her cold coffee, sighing as a brusque text message came in from Selina, querying her pay for the last fortnight.
‘It certainlyisthe right pay rate, you ungrateful little pain in the butt,’ Clem groaned, opening the emails to review the payslip.
‘You should fire her,’ said a voice.
Clem jumped and spun around. ‘You scared the heck out’ve me, I thought you’d left.’
Sebastian looked sheepish. ‘I had, but just as I was about drive off I spotted the guinea pig sunning itself on the driveway.’
‘Tell me you ran straight over it?’
Sebastian gave her a filthy look. ‘As if. I grew up at a wildlife shelter. Besides, that critter is the least of your problems. Should’ve heard Selina talking under her breath when you left with the coffee van yesterday. I told her to pull her head in and she gave me the finger, right in front of a customer.’
Clem’s shoulders sagged and she let out a resigned breath. Her plan to take the van to the Sunday markets had been dashed soon after arriving. ‘She had the last laugh, though, when I rolled back in half an hour later. I can’t believe there’sanotherfault in the coffee machine, and another flat tyre to boot. What are the chances of two flatties in as many months?’
Sebastian’s frown darkened. ‘About the same as two coffee machine faults in two outings. It was working fine at Friday’s run-through. And now that I think about it, shewaslaughing, the little brat. I think she’s got something to do with it, Clem.’
‘What? I know you don’t like her, but that’s a bit of a stretch.’
His frustrated groan was more like a growl. ‘You’re letting her get away with murder because you’re trying to keep the peace with your family. It’s not your fault Selina assumed she was getting the coffee van but didn’t say so until Jean had sold it to you. She doesn’t even have a driver’s licence.’
Clem knew he was right, but after the last few days of limited sleep, she found herself snapping. ‘Sometimes it’s more important to be diplomatic than right, Seb.’
And for the first time since she’d hired him, anger flashed across the young man’s face.
‘Yeah, well, let me know how you go with that.’
Clem flinched as the door slammed behind him.
Her head still ached when she collected the girls from school and daycare, and much to Harriet’s disappointment, Clem pulled the ‘sick’ card and skipped theatre rehearsals.
Fiona called as Clem was getting the girls through the bed, bath and book routine. ‘Hey, I hear there’s been a glitch with the pays this week? Selina’s a bit worked up about it.’
