Coming Home (Williams Siblings) Read online

  "I hoped you would understand, Rooney. I've sung your praises to the new owner and I'm confident he will keep you on when he takes over next week."

  "Let me worry about that. You look after yourself and Julie, that’s what’s important right now. I'll pop over and see her on the weekend then, okay?"

  "She would love to see you, you know that." He stood and opened his arms wide. Rooney stepped into them, doing her best to keep her emotions under control.

  "If you need me, I'm here, okay?"

  "Thanks, Rooney you're a good girl."

  Pete gave her a sad smile and opened the door. With a small wave of his hand, he walked away back to the reception room.

  Rooney gripped the armrest of her chair and fell down into it. She dropped her head into her hands. Julie was the sweetest person she knew and to be knocked down with Alzheimers was a terrible blow. Her heart was breaking for them both. Pete and Julie had taken her in when she found herself with nowhere to live and helped her through so much. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for them.

  Not showing how gutted she was about not being able to buy the business would be one thing she could do. All during her uni days Pete had told her the business was hers when she could afford it. She had scrimped and saved her heart out to put money aside for that very reason. To own her own business was the dream that kept her going on the days when things got too much and the study, along with the wailing of her toddler, threatened to derail her.

  Now it was gone. Everything she had worked so hard for was being ripped away, leaving her with a pounding heart and an empty ache. What was she going to tell Tam? Having a secure future for her baby was the one thing that kept her focused.

  "Rooney, are you okay?" Tara leaned on the door, a frown on her forehead as she looked in. "Pete told me the news."

  "Um, yeah, I'll be fine."

  "But I know how much you had your heart set on this place. You've wanted it ever since I can remember."

  "I know, but what’s happening to Julie is so much more important right now. Let's focus on what we can do to help them and I can worry about my career after we meet the new owner next week." Rooney thought of the spring bulbs she’d planted at the front door last week and wondered if she would be here to see them burst into bloom.

  "Sure, but if you need me, I'm here. You know that."

  "Thanks. Now, what time is our next appointment? I might try and grab a quick break if I have time."

  "You do. Free time for around forty minutes, then the afternoon rush starts."

  "Great. I'm going for a walk to clear my head. I'll have my phone if you need me." She stood and took off her white coat, hanging it on the back of her office door before taking her running shoes from the closet. Rooney slipped them on, stood up and picked a cap from the collection she kept on the hook inside the closet. "Back in half an hour."

  She managed to get out the door and part way down the street before the tears overflowed. Walking was her saviour, it always had been. It had started as her way to distance herself from the real world when it all got too much. Now she was an adult, it allowed her time to herself to relax and think things through. It was Julie who’d convinced her to start walking to get her out of the house and give Rooney some time to herself.

  The flowers bloomed and the sweet fragrance of spring blossoms mingled with the smell of freshly cut grass. She let the smell soothe her nerves, breathing deeply to let the scents calm her nerves and smooth out the jagged edges of her hurt feelings. Her feet hit the pavement in a steady rhythm and eventually the pounding of her heart matched it. Funny how getting outside always sorts out the crap rolling around in my head. I just need to give Pete and Julie all the support they need and play nice with the new guy. There is plenty of work for both of us if he is planning on being hands-on. It should all work out fine. I need to remember that and it will be so. Keep telling yourself that, girl.

  By the time Rooney made it back to the practice, she was more relaxed and focused on what lay ahead. She would put all of her energies into helping Pete and Julie get through the turmoil that lay ahead.

  When she arrived back from her walk there was already a patient waiting for her. Rooney greeted the woman and her dog. "Just give me a minute to get changed and I'll be right with you, Rose."

  "Take your time, honey. We're early anyway."

  Tara stood and followed her into the office. "Listen, you had a phone call while you were out. It was Tory. I'm sorry, honey, you need to call him straight away. I'll deal with Rose."

  Her breathing sounded jagged to her ears. The pounding of her heart scared Rooney and she sank down in the chair behind her desk.

  God no! I can't take any more bad news today. She wiped her sweaty palms on the legs of her jeans and struggled to get her breathing under control. It's bad news, it has to be. Why else would the family solicitor and long-time friend call me?

  Chapter Four

  "You have to be kidding me."

  Cade glared at Tory and brushed off his brother’s restraining arm. Although they were roughly the same age, Tory was the calmest of the group. Cade had always been the show pony of the trio, intent on being in the spotlight while Tory and older brother Russ were happy to stay in his shadow. The only thing Russ and Cade shared was their height and blond colouring.

  "How dare that old bastard dictate to us from the grave. Didn't he do enough damage while he was alive?" He stood up, grabbed his crutches and tucking them under his arms, hobbled over to the window. He looked out into the sunshine as the traffic passed.

  "Your father made this will some time ago, Cade. I did suggest at the time that the conditions were a little harsh, but he wouldn't hear of changing them." He sat forward in his chair, running his hand over his short dark cropped hair. "Look, you only have to spend two thirds of the year at Petersham Homestead. That allows you time for holidays and in your case, games."

  "That's if you can play again and for the record, you still haven't told me what happened," Russ said looking down at the brace holding his brothers leg. "When did you say you find out?"

  "I'll play again, you can be sure of that. I still have a few years left in the top grade, so don't go burying me in the country too soon, brother." He turned and sat on the window ledge, leaning his crutches against the wall. "So, apart from the old man insisting we all live back at Petersham, what else does he have in store for us?"

  "If one of you fails to fulfil the terms of the will, the property will be gifted to the people of the Hunter Valley and held under the management of the Agriculture Department. Your father had plans for the property for years. He felt there was too much history for the family home to be sold off and not preserved for future generations."

  "I get that, but hell, to have to live there. That just doesn't do it for me, Tory." Cade crossed his arms and sighed.

  "What about you, Russ? Is there any possibility you could move home?" Tory asked.

  "Funnily enough, yes. My divorce is going through and I was looking for a change of pace." He gave a bitter laugh. "The big city never really suited me but for obvious reasons I couldn't move back here. Anyway, since I was only a locum where I was working, I applied for a country hospital position and got it, not knowing it was in Singleton until they gave me the contract."

  "You are kidding, right?" Cade slapped his hands on his good leg and roared with laughter. "The big city doctor, divorced and locked in to the one place he couldn't wait to leave."

  "You left just after I did, Cade. Just remember that. At least I'm happy to come back to the farm. If the old man hadn't tied the place up like he did, I could imagine us selling it off and going our own way. Give him credit for thinking ahead at least. It would have been a shame to look back and see it in overseas hands turned into a damned hotel or similar. Mother would have had a fit." He looked at the solicitor. "You said Rooney was coming later. How is she?"

  Tory looked down at the paperwork in front of him and fiddled with the pages. "Your sister is fine.
That's about all I can say at the moment. She will fill you in on what’s happened but I have to say, she wasn't thrilled to be coming back either."

  "I don't blame her one bit. The old man worked her over when he caught her with Stevie. Poor kid had welts on her butt for days." Cade shook his head, a smirk on his face, and Russ wanted to hit him. If he’d stood up for his sister, they might have kept contact with her. She’d avoided them and Russ was sure it was because Cade didn't defend her.

  "Perhaps if you’d supported her a bit more instead of thinking the sun rose and set on your football career, she might want to have some contact with the family. As it is, she could have been through hell with no one to help her."

  "Stop your bleeding heart. For God's sake, Russ, she knew what she was doing when she jumped in the sack with that no good boy. It's her fault Father found them out. Rooney always thought she could get away with anything being the baby of the family. Besides I gave her a bed for a few days after she left home. Not like you did anything for her yourself."

  "Could we continue with the will here, guys? You can have your family domestic on your own time. Now, the funeral." Tory picked up the papers in front of him. "I know you said you wanted him to rest beside your mother and I've made the arrangements. Tomorrow afternoon at three. The minister will be in touch sometime this afternoon to work out the service."

  "Thanks."

  "Now, there were a few small bequests to other people as well. Estelle Green has been left a small sum of money and the promise she will have a home as long as she lives. The servants’ quarters are hers until she dies or chooses to move on."

  "She deserves it for all she’s done over the years." Russ thought about the woman who let him sit in the kitchen and lick the bowl when she baked cookies. The same woman who cleaned up his scrapes and bruises when he came in crying from a fight with Cade and some of the other kids on the farm. If his mother wasn't always around for the children, Essie was. "I'm looking forward to seeing her again."

  "The farm has had a new manager for the last few years too. Kate Robins has taken over the everyday running of the farm and is doing very well."

  "What, little Katie is the farm manager?" Cade shook his head. "I don't believe it. Was the old man sane when he gave her the job?"

  "Why do you doubt it, Cade?" Tory asked, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes.

  "Because she was always talking about leaving as soon as she could and heading to Sydney, getting away from the farm. I can't see her hanging around unless there was something in it for her."

  "I've known Kate as long as I've known you guys and I don't like what you’re insinuating. Kate has shown how capable she is at the job and there isn't any reason to change that." He picked up the will and continued to read. "Kate Robins is to be kept on as manager until my legal representative, Tory Daniels, sees fit to make changes." Tory looked up. "Along with the manager’s cottage, Kate is to receive the same wage she is on now, subject to CPI, with an added bonus each year, after the yearling sales, if she makes a ten percentage of profit and keeps the stock sales in the black."

  "Fair enough," Russ said. "I sure as hell can't run the farm and Cade doesn't want to."

  Cade snorted in reply.

  "Shall we continue?" Tory put his glasses back on and looked over the black frames at the two brothers.

  Cade shrugged and Russ nodded his head. He wanted this over and done with so he could go and see how much had changed since he’d left.

  "To my children. Russ, Cade and Rooney, I leave the farm known as Petersham Homestead and all it entails. Land holdings, stock and adjoining small holdings will remain in joint ownership provided the attached provisions are met." Tory looked up again. "I've told you those." He looked back at the papers in his hands. "In the event of a death among them, the shares will be passed to the remaining siblings. After the death, the siblings and children will inherit the property." Tory paused and looked over at his clients before reading further.

  "All profits from the sale of stock will be reinvested in the property for maintenance and running costs. Bonds, term investments and bank accounts will be divided equally between my remaining children. My late wife's jewellery is to be given to my daughter, Rooney. Artwork is to remain part of Petersham Homestead to be gifted along with the property if that is what comes to pass."

  "Geez, I get it already. We can't sell the damn place." Cade brushed a lock of blond hair from his forehead. "Don't know how the hell I'm going to live there though."

  "As I say, you may not have to stay in the city if your leg is too badly busted." Russ hated to be cruel but it was time Cade thought of someone other than himself.

  "Whatever. Is that it, Tory?" He grabbed his crutches and tucked them under his arms.

  "Yes, for now. All of the accounts will still come to me for payment. If you could give me your bank accounts details, I can arrange the transfer of funds when the bonds and term deposits mature at the end of the financial year. Or, if you wish, you can reinvest the money."

  "So, is there any money in the bank that isn't tied up?" Cade asked.

  "A few thousand. The wages and expenses account is separate from your father’s spending money."

  "Don't need it anyway, just asking. Thanks, Tory. You coming?" He looked down at Russ.

  "Yes." Russ stood up and reached across the desk to shake hands with Tory. "Thanks for everything."

  "I'll be out for the funeral tomorrow. If you have anything else you need to know, give me a call."

  "No worries, thanks. When are you expecting Rooney?"

  "Hopefully later today or in the morning. I've let her know about the funeral. The will she can hear later if it comes to that."

  "Can you tell her I can't wait to see her. Give her my number and tell her to call me if she isn't coming straight out to the house."

  "Sure, Russ. Thanks for coming in guys. I'll see you tomorrow."

  They shook hands. Russ walked out of the solicitor’s office and held the door for Cade as he hobbled out on his crutches.

  "Where's your car?" Russ asked, shielding his eyes from the bright sunshine.

  Cade nodded to the bright yellow Ferrari sitting at the kerbside.

  "Really? Geez, that must have set you back a bit." He walked over and squatted down to look in through the passenger window.

  "Yeah but it's worth it. Best chick magnet on the planet." Cade took the key from his pocket and unlocked the door, pulling it open. "Have a seat."

  Russ slid his long legs into the car and relaxed against the black leather seats.

  "Want me to take you for a spin?"

  "Another time maybe. I want to go out and see Essie. Are you coming out or staying in town?"

  "May as well stay at the house. At least that won't cost me anything." Cade gave him a winning smile. "Be good to have a home-cooked feed for a change too."

  Russ looked over and wondered why he and his brother were so different. All Cade wanted was a good time and no responsibilities. It didn't look like much had changed since he’d become a football star. If anything, it probably made him worse.

  He got out and shut the door. Standing with his hand on the car, he looked in. "See you there then. Drive carefully."

  "Always. Stop being so damned fuddy duddy and worry about something that needs it. I don't."

  Russ walked back to his BMW sedan and sat going over the terms of his father's will. It really didn't impact greatly on him, as things had turned out. It would be a shame if Rooney and Cade didn't agree to live there. To see the home and all its contents go to strangers gave him a sense of loneliness that surprised him.

  In all the years he’d been away from home, he hadn't missed the property, only his mother. She’d visited often enough before he married. His ex hadn't liked his mother as much as he’d hoped she would, and the fact they couldn't stay at the house annoyed her even more. No chance to live it up and impress his father, getting her toes in the door.

  Why couldn't see throu
gh her? Everyone else could. Am I so damned gullible, so soft in the head?

  He shook off his thoughts. Russ was glad Essie was taken care of at least. She deserved a home and retirement after all the love and care she’d showered on their family. The thought of seeing her again after all these years made him smile.

  It was time to go home.

  ***

  Russ drove along the familiar roads toward Petersham Homestead. Down the New England Highway and turning at Maitland, he cruised through the tiny but popular town of Lorn. The closer he got to the family property, the tighter his chest became.

  The final sweeping curve of the road rose ahead of him and he slowed the car as he crested the hill. Sweeping paddocks led down to a large lagoon that fronted the property. Memories of days lazing on tyre tubes rushed in to remind him of his childhood.

  Russ pulled over to the side of the road and gazed at the property. Large fig trees surrounded the main house as it lifted tall chimneys to the sun. The slate roof glowed in the late afternoon light. It looked as though nothing had changed in the ten years he’d gone.

  Horses grazed peacefully in the front paddocks and ducks floated on the water where he’d gotten sunburned more times than he could remember. The weeping willows that lined the lagoon and followed up the driveway were taller but otherwise the picture in his memory was the same.

  A tractor rolled over paddocks on one side, down past the old convicts’ barracks, cutting hay and he wondered if it was Kate. He smiled to himself. Fancy his brother's shadow all grown up and running the place. Things really had gone full circle. Little Kate had adored Cade, following him everywhere, at every chance she could.

  How his brother couldn't see that she'd worn her heart on her sleeve was beyond him. But then all the girls had adored his brother. The blond-haired, blue-eyed sporting hero always had someone running after him. It was a shame that none of them had managed to tame him.