Falling Down Under by Errin Krystal

Author:Errin Krystal [Krystal, Errin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-946137-13-5
Publisher: Trash Dogs Media LLC
Published: 2021-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

The clock had just ticked past five when Jared, Linda, Glen, and Anna left after helping with the dishes. Miranda and Casey had joined Allegra and Ruby on the Slip’n Slide. Georgia was unsure who was having more fun, the seven year old or the three fully grown adults.

“Lets go, Ruby. We gotta get moving.”

“Oh, really, Dad?”

Ben sat beside Georgia on the porch swing, the two of them busy finishing off the last of the Pavlova that sat on the chair between them. He shovelled another bit in before standing and waited for Georgia to finish the last bite before taking the plate into the kitchen.

He passed Joe who had been asleep on his porch chair for the last half hour and didn’t seem likely to wake anytime soon.

“Yeah, come on. You’ll be getting tired soon.”

Marjorie appeared on the porch with a large towel. “You heard your dad. Time to come in now, little miss.”

“No, I won’t get tired,” the child called back, but she did as she was told, allowing Marjorie to envelop her in the towel. “Can’t I stay and play with Allegra?”

“We can play another time, Ruby, if it’s okay with your dad. But he makes the rules.” The young woman feigned a yawn. “I’m pretty tired myself, aren’t you?”

“I guess so.”

Georgia watched her cousin smile his thanks and marveled, not for the first time, at Allegra’s way with children.

Allegra gave Ben a tight hug as he bundled his exhausted daughter into the car, and she waved goodbye to Ruby. She flounced back toward the porch, past where Miranda and Casey were rolling up the Slip’n Slide. They gathered up several discarded plates and took them into the house. Georgia couldn’t help but sympathize with her poor cousin who had somehow gotten swept up in the whirlwind that was Allegra Van Doren.

Georgia shooed her grandmother out of the kitchen, insisting that she’d finish cleaning up.

A red-wrapped box sat in the front of the fridge with a bright green card taped to the top. The card itself had a silly picture of Rudolph driving a sleigh while Santa pulled it.

She put the plate of Christmas cake back down on the bench and reached for the box. Inside, the card had only two simple lines of text.

Merry Christmas, Georgia.

Xoxo Jared.

Carefully, she opened the present, trying not to squash the soft packaging as she peeled away the wrapping paper.

Her heart sped up as she stared down at the cake box in her hand. Behind the clear plastic panelling sat six exquisitely decorated cupcakes.

Red velvet cupcakes.

“He still cares, you know.”

She spun, almost dropping the cupcakes. She had been sure she was alone.

Casey stood looking at her from across the kitchen, one of Marjorie’s bright purple towels wrapped around his head. He looked ridiculous, but no laughter lit his usually jovial face.

“I know.”

He took a step closer, resting his hand gently on her shoulder. “Give him time, okay? He needs to be sure.”

“Casey.”

“Yeah?”

She glanced down at the box in her hands, biting down on her lip before speaking quietly.

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