Page 36 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

Leah pulled an I-caught-you-out face before drawing the tea towel back to reveal the most delectable scones Rose had ever seen. ‘Tada.’

Rose peered into the basket. ‘Oh my god, they look … just, wow.’ Her belly growled in agreement.

‘So, where would you like to inhale these little golden beauties?’

‘At the breakfast bar.’ Rose suddenly remembered what a sight she must be. ‘Sorry if I look like a hobo. I haven’t really had time to brush my hair … or get changed, for that matter.’ She wandered to the kitchen window and opened the curtains, momentarily blinded as bright sunshine poured in.

‘All good, I do that even when I haven’t got an excuse.’ Leah placed the basket down on the kitchen bench and breathed a heavy breath. ‘You’re just lucky you get paid for it.’

‘Ha, true.’ Rose got out two plates and some cutlery, passed them to Leah and then padded over to the kettle. ‘Coffee, tea or chai latte?’

‘Oh, yummy, a woman after my own heart. Can I have a chai, please?’

‘Of course, you can. One chai latte coming up.’

After laying everything out, Leah pulled up a chair. ‘So, how do you and my lovely brother know each other?’

‘We haven’t really known each other long.’ Both cuppas made, Rose carried them over and placed one down in front of Leah. ‘I bumped into him at the Mareeba Christmas Eve Rodeo, then he spent Christmas Day with me and my family before heading back here.’

‘Oh, how lovely. He didn’t tell me that.’

Dragging a bar stool around to the other side of the breakfast bench, Rose got herself settled opposite Leah. ‘I felt bad for him, coming home to an empty house.’

‘Here you go.’ Leah passed Rose a scone piled high with jam and cream. ‘I hope he behaved himself around your family and friends?’

‘He was the perfect gentlemen. Everyone liked him.’ Rose took a bite and was instantly sent to foodie heaven. ‘Far out, Leah! Yum,’ she garbled through her delicious mouthful.

‘I know, right?’ Leah said right before taking a massive bite, leaving cream all over her lips.

Both scones were wolfed down in no time.

‘Would you like another?’ Leah asked.

‘Would I ever.’ Rose helped herself to one this time and piled the jam and cream just as high as Leah had. ‘I could be a total guts with these, they’re divine.’

‘The secret is roasting the pumpkin before you mash it. Makes for sweeter scones.’ A tiny meow had her looking to Wizard, now wrapped around the foot of the bar stool. ‘Oh my, what a cutie.’ She brought her delighted gaze back to Rose. ‘Can I have a cuddle?’

‘I’m sure Wizard would love that.’ She looked to Leah’s pregnant belly – it would make it hard to bend. ‘But you stay there. I’ll get him for you.’

Scooping Wizard up, she passed him over to Leah and watched her cuddle him to her, cooing.

‘I adore cats, they’re so calming, when they’re not trying to scratch your eyeballs out.’ Leah chuckled. She brought her nose to Wizard’s. ‘Not that you’d ever be so fierce, would you, little man?’

Rose looked to the few scratches his claws had left on her. ‘He’s accidentally got me a few times when we’ve been playing, and his little teeth, oh my god, they’re razor-sharp.’

Leah peered in at Wizard’s chompers. ‘They sure look it.’

Rose sat back on her stool. ‘Ty’s even taken a liking to him, and him to Ty, too.’

With the warmest of smiles, Leah cradled Wizard to her and reached across the table with her free hand, giving Rose’s a squeeze. ‘Thank you for giving my brother reasons to smile again.’

Taken aback by the poignancy behind Leah’s kind words, Rose momentarily found herself at a loss.

‘It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything,’ Leah said. ‘It’s just … he’s had such a hard couple of years. After Afghanistan, with the PTSD and losing Dad, then to come home to his marriage falling apart after Kelly’s infidelity with our bloody cousin, can you believe it? And now trying to stay afloat here because she’s taken him to the cleaners.’ She sniffed and tried to smile. ‘Anyway, it’s just so nice to see him with a spring in his step and a smile on his dial again.’

Rose had no idea how their father had died, nor a few other details, and she instantly felt heartache for Ty. ‘I didn’t know Kelly was doing that.’

Leah frowned. ‘Yup, and the cheek of her. She had nothing when she met him, and didn’t contribute anything, not even her time, to this place. She doesn’t deserve a damn thing.’