Page 15 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Ty reappeared, a huge bunch of sunflowers in one hand and a whopping bag of prawns in the other. ‘Merry Christmas, Rose’s mum.’ He handed the flowers over to Molly as Rose appreciatively took the prawns. ‘Sorry it’s not anything much.’

‘Oh, Ty, they’re beautiful.’ Molly grinned over the top of them. ‘Sunflowers are my favourite.’

Ty looked mighty chuffed. ‘Really?’

‘Yes, really,’ Rose answered as she popped the prawns into a bowl, ready to go into the fridge for later. The room fell a little silent as the three women shared meaningful glances.

‘Right. Well, I’m going to head outside and have a beer with the fellas, if that’s okay,’ Ty said in Rose’s direction. ‘I’ll go get the carton from my Esky, and share them around.’

‘Of course. Yes, go be a man with the men.’ She grinned playfully, enticing a chuckle from Ty.

An hour later, the breakfast banquet had been prepared and demolished, and Rose followed her mum and Aunt Cheryl back into the kitchen with empty bowls and platters in hand. Chattering and laughing, they got back to work like a well-oiled machine as they prepped for lunch.

‘It feels really weird without Great-Grandma in here, ordering us around like she did,’ Rose said softly, while peeling potatoes.

Molly came to her side and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. ‘I know it does, sweetheart, but we have to remember that she’d want us to carry on the tradition of this being a happy place.’

Rose nodded ‘Yeah, you’re right.’

A kerfuffle sounded at the back door and Jade and her wife, Melanie, exploded into the homestead, singing ‘Jingle Bells’. Faces lit up and hugs were shared as the mood of the room became even brighter. Then they got back to work. Rose chuckled at how they were all pros with swatting the pesky flies with their tea towels while bopping and grooving their way around the kitchen. The chatter was nonstop and the hearty laughter was contagious.

Aunty Jade grabbed her at one stage, enticing her to sing into a saltshaker to the tune of the Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’. Melanie chimed in at the chorus, as did Rose’s mum. The group of men huddled at the barbecue shot them amused glances through the kitchen window as they all sang ‘la-dah-dah-dah’ at the tops of their lungs.

By midday, full festivities were underway beneath an endless stretch of azure blue sky. Cars and four-wheel drives, some new and shiny, others weathered and dust-covered, most with enough aerials and spotlights to make contact with outer space, were parked around the outskirts of the homestead. The men, as always, clustered in groups with cold beers in hand while the women ran around like chooks with their heads cut off, prepping food and reprimanding young children now sky-high on sugar. The numbers were a little down this year, with Covid halting travel for many, but there were still close to fifty people, all locals. Some of the older kids were playing under the sprinklers, as were a few of the adults, including Kenny – he never missed the chance to be a big kid. Trev was busy setting up the makeshift cricket pitch – it would be on for young and old after they’d eaten and had a bit of time to let their bellies settle.

Christmas at Jacaranda Farm was part and parcel of the tight-knit community, and Rose loved it. She was glad to see Ty had fitted right on in, his face a picture of joy each time she tossed a glimpse his way. With the buffet set to go, her mum, with tears in her eyes, rang the cowbell to call everyone to line up and help themselves, the part Great-Grandma had always played. Rose was so glad that she, Heath, GG and Jade were here to give her beautiful mum the support and love that Molly Jones always gave to everyone close to her.

By the time they’d all tucked in, caught up, and let their food settle, it was nearing three o’clock and time for the annual Christmas cricket match. It was a game handed down through the generations and now it was Rose’s generation who ran about while the older mob sat back on their fold-out chairs, clapping and cheering from the sidelines. Rose and Ty’s team won and were rewarded with the ceremonial trophy – a toilet seat decorated with corks and tin cans. By six o’clock, everyone had pitched in on the clean-up and most people were on their way to heading home as sober friends and family loaded their inebriated loved ones and grumpy overtired children into their cars.

As Rose sank down onto the top step to rest her weary legs, as if on cue, black clouds starting to roll in, signifying the end to another wonderful Christmas Day. As glorious as the day had been, though, Rose couldn’t help but wish her great-grandmother had been there to share it.

Plucking a rum ball from the bowl in her lap, she looked to Ty, sat beside her. ‘You want to try one?’

‘Don’t mind if I do.’ Ty helped himself, his brows rising in appreciation as he lobbed one into his mouth and chewed. ‘Wow, a man could get drunk off these little beauties.’

‘Tell me about it. I reckon Aunt Cheryl uses an entire bottle of rum.’

‘Oi, I heard that!’ Aunt Cheryl hollered from where she was concealed in the depths of the hammock.

Jumping, Rose brought a hand to her chest. ‘Holy crap! I didn’t know you were hiding in there, Aunt Cheryl.’

‘Thought I’d have myself a little kip.’ Cheryl’s voice travelled from the confines. ‘And FYI, I do use almost an entire bottle of rum, and with the last of it, I have a little tipple while I’m rolling the balls.’ Popping her head out, she grinned, her pink lipstick flecked with traces of coconut and her wild hair flat on one side.

Uncle Rob mumbled in agreement from the back lawn where he and Heath were lazing on camp chairs. A resounding snore echoed from the daybed, where GG was having an afternoon nap. Ty and Rose shared a glance and grinned.

‘Now, this right here is Christmas done well.’ Resting back against the banister, Ty crossed his feet at the ankles. ‘So what’s on the agenda for you, Rose, now that you’ve moved back here?’

‘I’ve got four weeks off until my riding school opens up again, not that I have that sorted out yet, as it won’t be in Mareeba. So, to be honest …’ Rose heaved an almighty sigh. ‘I kinda wish I could run away for a little while. You know, take time out to get my head, and heart, straight, before getting back to the nitty-gritty of sorting out my life.’ She breathed a sigh. ‘And I also have some structural edits coming in after new year for my next book, so quiet time with a clear head is going to be needed.’

‘Is that so?’ Ty regarded her with sharpened eyes. ‘Well, in that case, I have a proposition.’

‘Don’t keep me in suspense.’ She popped another rum ball in her mouth and it pushed out one side of her cheek as she tried to chew.

‘You could come and stay at the station for your time off, if you like. There’s plenty of space there to get your head and heart straight, and lots of quiet to get edits done in peace.’

Rose’s curiosity was piqued. ‘Really?’ She tipped her head. ‘Do you have enough room for me, though?’

‘Sure do.’ Ty sat forward and folded his hands together, taking on a more serious posture. ‘I have a little cottage going to waste. It’d be nice to see someone making use of it.’