Page 87 of Cut up
“Great choice of music,” I smile.
We both start singing along to the lyrics.
As we drive, the town fades into open fields. The sun sets over rolling hills and tall gum trees, casting everything in gold.
Even though you see the same scenery on nearly every Australian highway, I never get tired of watching kangaroos hopping through paddocks or cows and horses grazing by the roadside.
Lucas turns onto a dirt road lined with gumtrees. A rusted metal plate at the entrance reads,The Emersons.
In the distance, I can see the house surrounded by grapevines, fruit trees, gumtrees and sun-drenched fields. It’s stunning.
“How come you don’t live out here too?”
“I loved growing up here, and I still love visiting,” his fingers move to wrap around mine. “But I like being a bit closer to town. My block’s still big, but easier to maintain. This place takes a full-time commitment.Plus, with my business, it’s just more practical. Driving that long every day for work wasn’t for me. I still come back a lot to help out, especially with the animals or any handy man jobs my brother can’t do. Mum’s kept a room for me, and Nicole still lives here. She works on the farms around here, looking after the cattle and horses. She’s a vet.” He gestures toward another house farther out on the property. “That’s where Patrick lives. He likes to keep to himself, especially since what happened to him… I’m grateful he wanted the farm life. It means Dad’s dream for the place lives on. I feel for Rick sometimes though. It’s a lot of responsibility, but he’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t want to share the load anyway.”
We pull up in front of the house—a beautiful, big Queenslander with a wraparound veranda.
“Wow… It’s gorgeous.”
Lucas beams. “Welcome to the Emerson home.” He climbs out of the ute and comes around to open my door, offering his hand to help me out. He always does this, and it still catches me off guard every time—in the best way. The front door swings open, and out comes Nicole and an older woman who looks so much like her except, her hair is filled with grey streaks and her eyes are just like Lucas’s, that beautiful greeny-blue with flecks of yellow.
“You made it!” Nicole calls warmly, wrapping Lucas in a big hug before turning to me.
She pulls me into a hug too. “Hey,” I greet her with a smile.
“Mum, this is Camille,” Lucas says. “Camille, this is my mum, Jill.” Jill pulls me into a warm embrace, just like her daughter. A family of huggers, I love it. I really soak in her hug.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Camille. I’ve heard so much about you. How was the drive?” she smiles warmly at me.
“So lovely to meet you too. The drivewas great—I’ve never been this far inland from Coevey Bay. It’s beautiful out here.”
“Well, come on inside, Darling,” Jill ushers us toward the porch. “Lucas can give you a tour of the house.”
“I’d love that,” I follow her up the steps.
Lucas falls in step behind me and wraps his arm around my waist.
We’re not officially anything, and part of me worries about coming off too forward in front of his family, but it just feels so natural, so right and if he’s comfortable showing affection around his family, then I’m okay with it too.
Just before we reach the door, he stops me for a second, leans in, and gives me a quick kiss. He smiles at me, and I can’t help but smile back.
I’msodone for this man.
45
This is my room
Having Camille here in the home I grew up in does something to my heart. It means more than I expected. Seeing her in this space that shaped who I am, it anchors something I didn’t know was floating. I just want to kiss her and hold her, and tell everyone how I feel about her.
How much I love her.
Part of me knows it’s probably too soon for that yet.
I don’t even know if she feels the same yet.
But I do. God,I love her.
I don’t know when it happened exactly. Maybe since she started to finally let me in, or maybe it’s been since I first met her, buried under the knowledge that I couldn’t have her.
