A Remarkable Woman by Jules Van Mil

Author:Jules Van Mil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2022-05-20T01:07:44+00:00

Chapter 10

Just as Tim had predicted, life at Monaghan Station went on without so much as a raised eyebrow after they arrived back from their three-day camp. The only thing different about Avril was the precious gold bangle she constantly wore on her wrist. Anna and Henry had gone to Melbourne, where, Henry had assured Tim, he would tell Anna about his financial predicament, once and for all.

Avril returned to the school, having thought up a variety of inside and outdoor learning activities her five little students would enjoy. Tim, Jordy and the stockmen came and went on horseback or ute for one task or another. Cattle and sheep were moved, fences repaired, and windmills checked. When Tim wasn’t on his horse, he could be found in his office, which was as well appointed as Henry’s, with a Chesterfield sofa, oak desk, swivel chair and telephone. The telephone was the lifeline to the station, with incoming calls starting early each day then peaking again late afternoon. Anna had taken on a new housemaid, Katie, and while Sandra still did some domestic work, her main role was office support, which she excelled at. Col and his boys were now having dinner each night with Sandra and her twins, at the cottage she called home. In the evening, Avril would often see the two of them sitting on Sandra’s veranda, talking as the five children played around the house.

Tim’s decision to move into the self-contained set of rooms at the northern end of the grand old house, affectionately known as ‘The Aviary’, gave Tim and Avril the space and privacy they needed and was also close to Avril’s bedroom and sewing room. The suite had all the amenities of a small house and was once occupied by Henry’s parents. It had been redecorated after both Mr and Mrs Meredith senior had passed away, and all its rooms were now bathed in soft tones of blues and creams. Most of the time it stood empty, only used for house guests. Its corner rooms on the ground floor overlooked a vine-covered large wire enclosure, built to house injured birds while they recovered, hence its name.

‘I can’t believe I didn’t move in here ages ago,’ Tim said, as he dropped down next to Avril on the sofa one evening. With an entire section of the house to themselves, Avril delighted in using the little kitchen to cook for the two of them as often as she could. The days were longer since October blurred into November and they would often end up on the secluded corner of the veranda, idly talking about whatever was on their minds. The matter of Avril returning to Melbourne was the only subject they avoided.

*

Avril stood at the top of the airstrip and waved Tim off once again. Unlike his father, Tim rarely enjoyed his business trips and even though he was only away for three days on this occasion, he couldn’t wait to get back to Monaghan, and to Avril.

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