The Saddler Boys (27 page)

THE
hot day carried a hint of eucalyptus and a mix of ladies' perfumes as hundreds of people gathered on the lawn by the primary school. Bright summer dresses added pizazz to the school that usually saw only blue uniforms. The whole community had turned up and then some. People had come from far and wide, back to the tiny school they'd all attended. All eyes were turned to the shire president, who stood by a lectern.

‘This school opened in 1917 and today we celebrate its last day, only a few years short of its one hundredth year. It is with sadness that we say goodbye but we will all look back with fond memories, and it will always be a part of Lake Biddy's history.'

Nat felt a lump rising in her throat. Looking around at others – some mopping at tears with wet tissues and others fighting the waterworks – made it even harder to keep a lid on her own emotions. She pressed into Drew's side, seeking his support even though it was almost too hot to make body contact. He kissed her forehead and tightened his grip around her shoulders. It was the end of an era for this tiny town. Who could know the lasting effects the school closure would have?

The president finished his speech and Lauren, as president of the P & C, got up with Ross to put the large time capsule into the ground. The plaque Nat had had made was on display, ready to be attached to the small brick wall that would mark the capsule's resting place. Everyone at the school had put bits in there: work, stories, photos and much more, to be opened up in twenty years' time.

After the official part was over, the crowd mingled around the building where old work was on display. They talked excitedly like kids on the first day of school. Drew was constantly introducing her to past members of the community who'd come back especially for this day.

‘Hey, look, this is one of the old stories I wrote in Miss Page's class,' he said, pointing to some old lined paper.

‘The Day I Ate a Pig,' read Billy. ‘Dad that looks so old,' he added with a giggle.

People laughed at the old work and the book of punishment. Deciding who had got the cane the most was a huge source of entertainment.

‘I don't want to change schools,' said Billy, sitting on the senior room bench.

‘Neither do I,' said Nat. She knew change was hard for Billy. ‘But we will do it together, hey? I'll still be your teacher,' she said, trying to tickle him.

‘Mallory is glad you're coming too,' said Lauren, joining them. ‘She's stressing about the hour-long bus ride to school already,' she whispered to Nat so Billy didn't hear. They didn't want him having anxiety about it too.

Luckily Nat had got a job at the Lake Grace school where most of the kids would be going. She'd take them in with her if they didn't settle on the bus, but Drew reassured her they'd get used to it eventually. Lake Grace had received extra government funding for the students transferring from Lake Biddy, a plus for them but not so much for Lake Biddy's problems. At least the school grounds were being taken under the shire's wing and would become the local community centre and playgroup.

‘Your folks still coming up on the weekend?' asked Lauren.

‘Yep. Mum
has
to help organise the engagement party. I told her I want a low-key country one.' Nat pulled a face. ‘I'm not really sure she understands what that means,' she added with a laugh.

‘Don't worry, we'll have her in flannel before you can shout Prada. Kent seems to have taken to the lifestyle. Matt said he's coming to drive the header at harvest?'

‘Well, he wants to try. He's besotted with all the big machinery. I think he's found a new love. I'm just glad he loves coming to visit. He dotes on Billy.' Nat smiled. ‘You know, it's so great to have my city world mixing with my country one, and I'm so relieved that Mum and Dad are being supportive. I feel like they finally see me.'

‘I'm happy for you, Nat,' said Lauren. ‘How are things with Gary's family?'

‘It's still strained between Dad and Tony, even though Tony is so angry with Gary. He's insisting that Gary seeks help. Plus he's given me his word that Gary won't get away with what he's done and won't be allowed to hurt anyone else. At this stage I won't press charges, I'm going to see how this pans out. And Dad has also promised that I never have to be near Gary again unless I want to. I don't think he'll be invited to any more family get-togethers.'

‘Are you sure, Nat? I would have reported him straight off.'

‘I'm giving Gary and his family the chance to work it out. For him to get better.' Nat was moving on with her life. She had a new home, a new family, a new son and a wonderful community to share it all with.

‘And Simone?' asked Lauren quietly while Billy was distracted with Mallory.

‘Well, Drew has sole custody but she still has visitation rights. She hasn't asked to see him yet, and Drew doesn't think we'll see much of her. Billy was more than she bargained for. But if she does want to make contact at least it's on our terms.' Nat liked saying ‘our terms'; Billy was as much hers as Drew was. They were both her Saddler boys.

Nat was delighted to be his new mum. Billy wanted to start calling her ‘mum'. Glancing at his cherubic face, she felt her emotions swell, remembering when he'd asked her. He was trying it out at home but in public ‘Natty' still came out first. It would take time but they had plenty of it.

‘Hi, Natalie. I just heard the news – congratulations,' said Ida, bustling up to them and giving out a warm hug.

Billy grabbed Nat's hand and held it out to Ida. ‘Here's the ring,' he said proudly. ‘I helped Dad pick it.'

Nat watched the small solitaire diamond sparkle in the sunlight that flooded into the school's corridor. It was the most exquisite thing she'd ever seen and it was never going to come off her finger.

A week ago she'd gone out to the farm for dinner, and Billy had rushed up to her and made her put on a blindfold. He'd helped her to the house, but she'd nearly tripped up the steps as Billy had been so keen to get her inside. ‘You can take off the blindfold now,' he'd said while still holding her hand. The house was clean, the lights were off and candles were glowing from the table and benches. A heady aroma filled her nose from the flowers arranged around the room.

Then Drew had appeared, dressed in black slacks and a black dress shirt. He was delicious. He produced a bunch of red roses before kissing her.

‘Dad, can we do it now?' Billy had asked.

‘I thought we were going to wait until after dinner?'

‘But I can't wait,' Billy had said, fidgeting.

‘You know what? I can't either.'

Nat had smiled, watching the two of them and wondering what they were up to, when Billy had held up a little red box. He knelt down on one knee, then Drew followed suit.

‘Natalie Wright, you are the love of our lives. Will you marry us?'

‘Please,' Billy had added. ‘Dad, you need to use your manners,' he'd whispered.

Through her tears and laughter Nat had managed to get out her ‘yes'.

She pulled herself back to the school and found herself smiling at the memory. It was still so fresh in her mind. Her Saddler boys, proposing together. She couldn't imagine one without the other.

Nat glanced around the corridor. People from the district milled around them, some hovering near the food table with plates, talking and catching up with locals they hadn't seen in ages. The sausage rolls were long gone and one lone chocolate cake remained.

But it was the figure of her future husband, leaning against the wall and watching her with vibrant sapphire eyes, that held her focus. His crooked-toothed smile that she loved so much was suggesting what he wanted to do with her later and it sent tingles of anticipation through her body. Her farmer, who looked so delectable in a flannel shirt and nothing else. So bad was her addiction that anytime Drew wore a flannel checked shirt she found him ten times more irresistible. She was madly in love with this farmer. She didn't think it was possible to get enough of Drew and the amazing thing was that she had her whole life to put the theory to the test.

And then there was Billy, the coolest kid, who had stolen her heart first. Maybe the community had won her over next. Uncle Kent had said it was worth its weight in gold. It was like an extended family, where everyone cared about their town and the people in it. You couldn't buy love like that.

‘Come on, Natty, it's time to let the balloons go,' said Drew, holding out his hand.

She took it and gripped tightly just as Billy reached for her other hand. Together they headed outside into the afternoon sun, so bright and pure. As they walked across the lawn towards Frank, who was passing out the helium balloons in the school's colours, Billy tugged her arm so she'd look at him.

‘Yes, Billy?'

‘I told Dad I wanted you to be my mum,' he said, showing all his teeth. ‘And now you are.'

‘Really?' she said, caressing his sweet, angelic face.

‘And I wanted you to be my wife,' said Drew. ‘And soon you will be.' He winked and shot her that smile she'd instantly adored.

Her chest felt like it was bursting with all the love. Pulling them close, she wrapped her arms around them. ‘I love you both, very much.'

People ambled past them, some commenting on how sweet a picture they made, others smiling or making happy sounds. Yet to Nat it felt like the three of them were in a world of their own.

The Family Farm

Heart of Gold

The Road Home

The Sunburnt Country

The Outback Heart

The Sunnyvale Girls

This story was close to my heart, because my community lost our small primary school in 1998. Soon after that, the nearby school of Karlgarin where I was working as a teacher's aid closed. Thanks to Jim Stewart and Rosie Argent for sharing the nitty gritty part of what they went through then. Also, thanks to the Honourable Terry ‘Tuck' Waldron MLA for the chat. All those little details you supplied help. Writing this brought back memories of Aunty Kate (Kath White) and her work at our little school over many years. And thanks, Aunty Lorna, for the poem, it is one of my favourites.

To Ali Watts and Jo Rosenberg, where would I be without you both? Thanks for polishing this so it could shine. Thank you, Maria Matina, for being a wonderful publicist who always seems to make the time. Also thanks to Louise, Fay, Clem, Julia, Kym and the many other Penguins who have helped me out. You are all invaluable.

Thanks to my friends and family for the support, help, guidance, coffee, stories, laughs . . . all of it is needed and greatly appreciated. Tooey, I just had to put your ute in there! It was gold, as were all the other little stories that make it into the book from real life. (Karl and Nic, your dog with the chooks – classic.) And if you're wondering, yes: people probably are too afraid to talk to me. Who knows what could end up in my next book?

A big thank you to the readers who make this possible. You guys are fantastic. Please feel free to follow my author page on Facebook, my many sunset photos on Instagram or my random Tweets.

@fiona_palmer

fionapalmer.com

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First published by Penguin Australia Pty Ltd, 2015

Text copyright © Fiona Palmer 2015

Poem page 98 copyright © Lorna Madson

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Cover & text design by Laura Thomas © Penguin Australia Pty Ltd

Photograph on pp i–iii © Fiona Palmer

Background credit: Peter Walton Photography/Getty Images;

Man: Sam Edwards/Getty Images; Woman: PeopleImages.com/Getty Images

penguin.com.au

ISBN: 978-1-76014-030-4