Time Will Tell (36 page)

Most of it she probably could. But the first thing she needed to do was start sorting out the finances. To do that, she needed to become signatory to all the accounts again. And to do
that
, she would have to front up at the bank in person with all the correct paperwork and ID. The thought of stepping back in there after her humiliation last time gave her goose bumps. But it had to be done, and soon, if she was to start getting on top of things.

At least Nathan would be a friendly face. Well, she hoped so. He hadn't seemed the sort to get offended too easily or hold a grudge. And all she'd done was turn down his request to rent a room from her.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps she'd hurt him with how abrupt she'd been on Christmas night. Was that another reason why the universe had had her turfed out? Bad karma? She wasn't sure she believed in it, but she was beginning to see how people could. No doubt about it, if you looked hard enough, you could see a reason for everything.

Emily sighed. She hoped Nathan was okay. She'd need a friendly ally in the months ahead – especially one who wasn't a true local. And she liked him, just not in the way their mothers had hoped.

Grace appeared beside her.

‘All finished checking everything out?' Emily said, and then got up and let the dog back inside.

Emily decided on a hearty cooked breakfast; she'd need all the help she could get later. While she stood at the stove in front of the sizzling pan, she ran through what she had to do in town other than buying the paper and sorting out everything with the bank. She'd see how that went before deciding whether to brave the supermarket as well. She could always pop over to Hope Springs for groceries if necessary.

Or I could just escape to Melbourne for a few days until things die down.

Gosh, where had that come from? Emily stared at the bacon which was about to turn from crispy to burnt. Could she just get on a plane and turn up at a huge city like Melbourne?

Could I be that spontaneous? All on my own? Eek!

Her attention was caught by Grace slurping water from her bowl nearby. Emily dragged the pan off the hotplate and looked down. She couldn't go anywhere. With Barbara out of the picture, there was nowhere to leave Grace. Her parents were out of the question. Enid would never allow Grace inside. And she couldn't subject her to her mother's sneers of distaste anyway. Des would be great with her, spoil her rotten, but Enid wouldn't have a bar of it. And she couldn't ask her dad to come and babysit her here. Emily's heart sank slightly. No, it looked like she would have to stay here and suffer through the gossip until someone else did something worthy of attention – a good old wife-swap scandal would be just the shot.

She smiled as she spread butter on her toast that had become cold, and then heaped a small mountain of food upon it.

Emily was a bundle of nerves when she walked into the bank later that morning. She looked around. Sam was standing at the counter, the same teller who had caused her so much embarrassment last time. At least he had the good grace to blush and avert his eyes.

‘Emily!'

She turned to see Nathan at the door of the glass-walled assistant manager's office on her right.

‘Shit. I was meant to get back to you with that information, wasn't I? I'm so sorry. I completely forgot.'

‘Hi Nathan,' she said, moving towards him. ‘It's okay; I…' In seconds he was embracing her and pecking her on the cheek.

‘Haven't by any chance changed your mind on having me move in?' he said jovially.

Emily cringed at his choice of words. Great! Three heads were visible behind the long counter. They would now most likely think she and Nathan were an item. ‘And so soon after her husband's death too.' She could almost feel the air crackling with gossip.

Nathan saw the emotions cross her face. He instantly became professional. ‘I take it this isn't a personal visit.'

‘Sorry, no. Actually I'm in need of… I'm my…'
estranged, now dead husband's? No,
‘…late husband's executor and I need to be added as a signatory to his accounts. I have all the paperwork here – well, hopefully everything I need.'

‘Gosh! I don't know what to say. What a strange situation to find yourself in. I heard that he'd died. Sorry for your loss, though I'm not sure in the circumstances… I didn't manage to get along to the funeral. How was it?'

‘Hard. Weird,' she said, shrugging.

‘Sorry, that was dumb of me to say. And I'm sorry for not calling. I should have…'

‘Don't be sorry. Seriously. What is there to say? As you rightly point out, I find myself in a very strange situation.'

‘Well, I can certainly help you with sorting out some banking details. Come on in.'

‘Thanks.'

‘Take a seat.'

Emily was both relieved and disappointed when he closed the glass door behind them. What would everyone think now? But at least their conversation would be private. Well, unless Sam or one of the other two could read lips.

‘Right, what paperwork do you have?'

Thankfully Nathan had access to everything they needed on the computer screen at his desk. Soon she was signing the forms he printed from the small printer nearby. He stepped out to take a copy of the law firm's correspondence for their records.

While he was gone, Emily glanced around his office. There were no personal items, nothing to tell her more about him, but she wasn't surprised. He wouldn't have had much of a chance to settle in with all the recent public holidays.

‘Right. That's all done. Is there anything else I can help you with today?' Nathan said, as he re-entered, closed the door, handed her back her paperwork, and sat down behind his desk.

‘No, I think that's all. Thanks very much. Now I can start getting some bills paid and some order into the…'
Shut up Emily, you're rambling.
‘Oh, never mind,' she muttered as she gathered her things and stood up.

‘Hang on, before you go.'

Emily sat back down on the edge of the chair with her papers and handbag on her lap. ‘Yes?'

‘What, no friendly chitchat? Just business?'

‘Oh, well, I'm sure you're very busy,' she said lamely.

‘Do I look busy?' he said, sweeping an arm across his desk, which had almost nothing on its polished faux-wood surface. And the stack of aluminium document trays weren't exactly overflowing.

She settled back into her chair a little. ‘So, how are you settling in?'

‘How do you think? Thanks to you not wanting me, I'm back living with my parents.' He paused, and Emily tried to read his face. Then he smiled. ‘I'm only teasing. Lighten up.'

She tried to keep her expression neutral.

My husband has died – the husband I left – and now my landlords are dead as well, and I've just been turfed out of my new house, only to end up back at the farm I… Excuse me if I'm a little serious, but my life's not
exactly a barrel of laughs at the moment.
She opened her mouth to say as much, but Nathan got in first.

‘Okay, that wasn't fair,' he said, holding up his hands in surrender. Sorry. You've clearly got a lot going on. Speaking of which… What are you going to do with your husband's place? Are you looking for a tenant?'

Emily only just managed to stop herself laughing out loud, but couldn't stop the wry smile that quickly spread across her face.

‘What. What's so funny?'

Emily rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly.

‘You haven't heard? I've had to move back there. The brothers who owned the house died…'

‘God, people are dropping like flies around here. But hang on, weren't you meant to be buying that place? Don't you have an agreement?'

‘Apparently not worth the paper it's written on. The old brothers didn't change their wills, and I was an idiot and didn't get proper paperwork drawn up. I was waiting until the subdivision was done. Their cousin, who also happens to be their executor and beneficiary, turned up and turfed me out. She's putting the whole farm on the market. I moved yesterday.'

‘Oh, I'm so sorry.'

‘Yeah, well, apparently it wasn't meant to be. She doesn't like me.'

‘Are you going to try and fight her? At least look into where you stand legally?'

‘Honestly, I don't have the energy. And, really, it's my own fault it all fell apart.'

‘Don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe you're right and it just wasn't meant to be. So why do you think the niece doesn't like you.'

‘Because she told me.'

‘But what's not to like?'

Emily rolled her eyes at him, but blushed despite her best efforts.

‘Seriously, why?'

‘No idea.'

Nathan gave up. ‘Well, I really am sorry to hear about your husband. Sounds like he's left you in a bit of a mess.'

‘Thanks. I'm sure it'll be fine.'

‘If you need any help, you know where I am,' he said, smiling warmly.

‘And I'll keep my ear out for accommodation,' she said, getting up.

‘Thanks, I'd appreciate it. This living with the parents isn't quite, well, you know.'

‘When I get settled I'll have you out for dinner – get you away from them for a night.'

‘That sounds great,' he said, his whole face lighting up.

‘Just friends,' she added, feeling the need to keep things clear.

‘Of course.'

‘Well, I'd better get going.'

Emily stepped out of his office into a bank full of people. All three tellers were serving and three people stood behind each counter waiting to be served. And of course they all turned and looked just as Nathan embraced her and kissed her on the cheek.
Brilliant, just bloody brilliant!

She blushed another shade darker when he called out to her as she moved towards the door.

‘See you soon.'

Emily noticed raised eyebrows being exchanged and heard an ‘ooh, did you hear that' stage whisper and a few other muttered comments as she fled.

Next she braved the newsagent. Thankfully those who usually congregated out front to chat had already left and she only had Bev behind the counter to contend with. She had picked up the paper and was looking through the public notices at the announcement of the Bakers' funeral – Saturday morning – when the news-agent cleared her throat loudly.

‘I hear you're living back at the Stratten place,' she said.

Emily nodded, then looked up, held her gaze and said, ‘Yes, that's right,' her steely look offering the unspoken question, ‘And what of it?'

‘Such a tragedy. Sorry for your loss,' she replied, her words becoming quieter and quieter.

‘Thank you,' Emily said as she handed over some coins and tucked the paper under her arm. ‘Have a great day,' she said cheerily and turned around to leave.

Three people had come in after her and she heard one of them hiss, ‘She got
everything
, you know.' Emily heard more whispering behind her as she left.

She collapsed into the driver's seat of her car. The groceries would have to wait. There was long-life milk in the cupboard if necessary and there was plenty of food for Grace. She'd deal with the supermarket another day.

Chapter Forty-one

It took Emily the rest of Thursday afternoon and late into the night to get everything unpacked and into position. On Friday she woke with a sense of enthusiasm. She was aching all over but pleased that she'd got it all done. And sorting out the bank stuff was a huge weight off her mind. It meant that the day was her own, to do with as she wished. She'd start with getting some fresh air and stretching her legs. Last night's forecast had been for a pleasant twenty-five degrees. Perfect.

She got up and pulled the curtains back, and stood there in her light summer pyjamas. She frowned at the pile of rubble from the cottage and the ugly steel structure in front of it – a blight on the gorgeous landscape.

She folded her arms on the top of the oak tallboy and moved her gaze back inside to the button jar beside her with its kaleidoscope of colour.

She took a deep breath. Thankfully she no longer had the cloud of financial worry hanging over her – the pressure of having to make decisions quickly. Once everything was sorted out, it looked like she'd be set for life if she was careful. That was a huge relief. And, she reluctantly conceded, all thanks to John. But idleness just wasn't in her make-up. Gran used to live by the saying, ‘I'd rather wear out than rust out.' Emily was the same way; couldn't do nothing for too long. She had to do something. But what?

She picked up the jar and rattled it, smiling at the comforting sound. She looked hard for one of the diamonds, but none were to be seen. Thank God she hadn't had to part with them. Just knowing they were there had been a source of comfort. Is that what had got Gran through all the droughts, loss of crops, through frosts, flooding, and locusts? Had Grandpa ever known?

Feeling the frustration growing, Emily put the jar back down. She'd never know the answers; she should just stop wondering.

‘Come on Gracie, let's go for a walk.'

She got dressed and left the house. They paused before crossing the road, Emily smiling at Grace sitting and looking both ways before bounding off and disappearing from sight. She followed the dog towards the steel monstrosity and the ruin beyond it. The pain of seeing the remains of the stone cottage had eased. It had started to the day she'd shown Jake and he'd said it could be rebuilt. She doubted she would ever do it, but it did provide a bit of comfort knowing it was possible.

Oh Jake.
It had been almost a week and her heart still pulled every time she thought about him. But the feeling obviously wasn't reciprocated. He still hadn't called.

‘Oh well, they say time heals all wounds,' she said aloud with a deep sigh as she opened the steel gate and stepped through. She really would have to at least phone his company sometime and let them know the project was off. No, she corrected, she'd have to phone
him
. As hard as it would be, the closure would probably be a good thing.