33. Star Ruby
33
STAR RUBY
Mitch came in from the orchard to find Tayla settled on the balcony in one of Norman’s old wicker chairs, a throw and wheat bag warming her stomach, and her copy of Jamaica Inn on the table. He bent down to kiss her. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Just a little time-of-the-month discomfort.”
His hand stroked her hair. After Ned’s interruption, the day had dragged as snippets of Tayla naked in the shower frequently flashed through his mind. “Do you need me to buy you tampons?”
Her lips twitched. “Um, no, but would you?”
“Course I would.” He sat in the chair beside hers. “That’s what husbands do, isn’t it? Oh, and before I forget, the guys are coming at the end of the week to remove the cherry trees at your parents’ place. I hope it won’t upset everyone too much.”
“Not at all. What have you decided to plant?”
“Star Ruby grapefruit. It’s a Californian variety.”
“Yum. I love grapefruit.” Tayla shifted in her chair, pulling the throw tighter around her. “I’m glad you’re turning it into a profitable unit. Dad will be pleased.”
“We’ll leave those two trees by the henhouse for us.” Mitch caught her smile. It was a little flirty, intimate. He kept seeing her like this—in varying shades of light—and when he thought about it, the adult Tayla wasn’t so different from the teenager who’d stolen his grandfather’s heart. Warm, kind, considerate to a fault. “Dinner smells good.”
She went to stand. “It’s all ready.”
“You stay there. I’ll dish up. Shall we eat out here?”
“Sounds good. And I picked up a bottle of wine on my way home. It’s in the fridge, and so is the salad.”
“Great.”
When Mitch returned with the chicken and spinach pie, Tayla was staring out over the orchard toward the river. Putting their plates on the table, he wondered what she thought about in these times of quiet reflection.
She took a seat across from him and inhaled. “Yum. I’m so hungry.”
“You start. I’ll grab the wine.”
They ate between sporadic conversation for the first half of the meal, but as the wine warmed his blood, Mitch asked, “How come you never had a boyfriend before Hayden?”
Tayla shrugged and finished chewing. “I was too shy to approach guys, and worse on the odd occasion one approached me. The longer I stayed single, the more it became the norm. Boys never sat next to me in class, or gave me their hoodie, or asked me out. I didn’t ride around in cars or live at the beach all summer. I read, worked at the supermarket, and hung out with Tim.” Tayla smiled at the recollection. “I guess you gave your hoodies to lots of girls.”
“Nope, I never even knew that was a thing.”
“Really? I had this friend, Ava. She was sweet and popular, but she lost her virginity to an older guy with a Harley when she was barely sixteen. She wore his hoodie to bed every night in the winter. He’d drop her off at school on his way to work. I was so envious. I went through a phase of wanting a boyfriend with a Harley too, even had a poster of a guy on a Harley on my bedroom wall.”
“And what happened to Ava?”
“They got married and moved to Western Australia after she fell pregnant at eighteen. I remember one day at school, she told me about their sex life. I spent the entire lunch hour with my eyes as wide open as my mouth.” Tayla chuckled. “Apparently he was quite the lover. We still keep in touch.”
“Do you ever feel you missed out?” Mitch served himself another slice of pie.
“Not really. I may have been painfully shy, but I was content. Some of my friends had no interests apart from boys and makeup and clothes. I found it rather shallow. But then, Lisa didn’t call me ‘Tayla Superior’ for nothing.”
Mitch chuckled. “Do you get on with your sisters?”
“Mostly. Ruby’s hilarious; she always makes me laugh. Lisa can be a tad judgmental. She told me I was mega-selfish for marrying you.”
“Yes, you said that.” He frowned. “Did it upset you?”
“No. It’s just the way she is. She doesn’t ask for details, just jumps to conclusions.”
“And would you tell her the reason if she asked?”
“Probably not.” Tayla reached for another helping of salad. “She loves to gossip. Not maliciously, but if she knew, so would everyone else on the planet.”
Mitch topped up her glass, and then his own. “I have a motorcycle.”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “You do not.”
“I do. A Ducati. It’s over in the shed by Ned’s place, currently in pieces while I wait for a part.”
“Will you take me for a ride when it’s back together? I’ve never been on a motorcycle. ”
Mitch leaned over the table and kissed her. “I’d love to.”
Dinner over, he picked up her book, removed the bookmark, and started to read aloud.