Page 48 of Rough Stock

‘No, we’re doing this, right here and now. All of it. No running away. No interruptions and no more half-truths. No one can hear us. It’s just you and me, Izzy. We always promised to tell each other the truth, so it’s your turn.’

He was right.

Pulling her hand free, she faced him. She’d never been afraid of Craig, or their arguments, but she was afraid of what he was going to say when she told him everything. ‘I was flying to Bali.’

‘Why?’ His brow shifted as he stared at the ground. He then looked up at her. ‘Are you on the run? That’s why you have no job.’

She awkwardly shrugged.

His face twisted between confusion and irritation, as if she’d betrayed him. ‘Are you here to hide out?’

Again, another awkward shrug.

‘Izzy, use your words.’

‘I don’t want to.’ She knew if she did, he’d hate her.

‘C’mere.’ Craig pulled her into his chest with his arms wrapping around her, and for that one sweet moment in time the world was safe again. ‘I need to know what’s going on, Izzy.’

‘I’ll tell you, but you might want a drink. I know I do…’ She turned away.

But he pulled her back to slide an arm over her shoulders. ‘Wait for me. I’m not letting you leave me behind again.’

But you might just kick me out.

Fifteen

They dragged their kitchen chairs outside, where Craig rested his leg on his beer cooler. He’d always liked this spot on the back verandah, because it gave him the best view of the land behind the house. Izzy’s presence just made it perfect, as she joined him, carrying her wineglass.

He had hoped to be celebrating his new job, not dealing with whatever this was. ‘So, are you ready to spill?’

‘Not really. But I can see you won’t let this go.’

Not for all the rodeo championships in the world would he give her up. Craig had accepted that their marriage was never perfect, but it worked for them because there was only one woman who was perfect for him, and it had always been Izzy.

The day he’d first seen Izzy, she was struggling to open the fuel cap of her work car, while they stood on opposite sides of a fuel bowser at an outback roadhouse. Craig was on his way to do a muster near Matakana. Izzy was going the other way, back to Darwin.

After helping her, she’d been so appreciative that she’d bought him lunch. Hours later Craig bought her dinner, and then they’d talked all night at the back of the roadhouse, eventually watching the sunrise over the outback.

He’d driven hours to visit her in Darwin for their second date, where he got to kiss her. And what a kiss. It had rendered them both speechless, that they’d smiled at each other, only to lean in and kiss some more.

Izzy had been special. She was the first women Craig truly respected, and he’d been more than happy to take things at Izzy’s pace, never rushing her. He’d been quite content to just be near her, to hear her voice, or feel her small hand squirrel under the edge of his T-shirt to rest across his flat stomach. He liked that. It was like she was taking possession of him, and he was fine with that.

He knew, from that very first date, watching the outback sky change from day to night, then from night to light again, that Izzy was the woman for him.

They’d been dating for a few months when Izzy begged him to sleep with her. He’d wanted it to be special for her, in fact he’d been quite happy to wait until they were married. Yes, he’d proposed to her after the first month—but it took eleven months before Izzy finally said yes.

It was Izzy who held back in their relationship, until she finally explained her disorders.

To Craig, Izzy’s quirks and her habits were what made her so unique. Without hesitation, he’d proudly stood beside her, helping her overcome those challenges. Such as the many times he sat patiently outside the specialist’s office waiting for her, because it had been a privilege for him to be there in the first place.

And when she’d allowed him to go inside the office and meet her specialist, who explained some new trick, some new routine to help her cope, it was the beginning of a journey they’d shared to finally get her off her medication and to see her true radiant smile. It was the greatest reward he could ever want from her. It was like she’d truly blossomed to spread her wings and fly.

How could he not love her more when every single day with her was a gift.

Sure, he understood relationships were something that you worked on, that grew and adapted over time. Yet, Izzy’s changes may have seemed miraculous to others, but it had always been Izzy and who she was underneath. All she did was learn to shine brighter, and he was the lucky guy who had the privilege of standing beside her, holding her hand.

It’s why he’d never hold her back, encouraging her to take that job in Sydney.

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