The Sunshine Potluck Society

Chapter 13

The grass was wet with dew as Emily tiptoed across it. The sun was low on the horizon, and birdsong rose in a chorus to welcome the new day. The cool air felt good on her bare skin. Goose pimples made bumps along her arms. She stood at the front door of her sister’s small single-story, three-bedroom home and knocked quietly.

Inside the house, she heard a squeal, followed by a thump and the thunder of little footsteps as they charged at the door. She smiled to herself, imagining the bedlam inside.

The door was flung open, and two sets of little eyes peered out at her followed by wide grins and shouts of delight.

“Shhh…” she said, stepping through the doorway.

She scooped Mia into her arms as Mason jumped up and down in protest. Planting kisses on Mia’s plump cheeks, she shut the door behind them, hoping the neighbours were already awake.

“Where’s Mum?” she asked Mason as she bent to set Mia back on her feet and to give Mason a hug.

He shrugged.

Just then, Wanda strode into the kitchen. “Oh, Em, you’re here. I didn’t hear the door.”

“The kids let me in.”

Wanda frowned. “You’re not supposed to answer the door. I’ve told you that.”

“It’s okay…” Emily began.

“No, it’s not. What if there was a bad person on the other side? Mason? Do you hear me?”

Mason had already run off with a shout and disappeared into the small formal dining room that Wanda had turned into a playroom.

Wanda sighed. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you. Tea?”

“I’d love one,” Emily said. “But you sit and put your feet up. I’ll make it.”

Emily exchanged places with Wanda, who sat at the kitchen table with a groan and rubbed one foot with both hands. “My feet are killing me. Ever since I was pregnant with Mia, I’ve had these terrible aches in my feet.”

“You should get that looked at.”

“After the million other things I have to do and pay for… Sure, I will get right onto that.” Wanda grimaced.

Emily filled the kettle with water and flicked on the switch. Then she began the search for two mugs.

“You said you had the morning off?” Wanda asked.

Emily nodded. “Joanna has an appointment with the physiotherapist, so she said I could take the morning. I thought it’d be nice to hang out with my favourite sister.”

“Your only sister,” Wanda replied.

Emily grinned. “True, but still my fave.”

Wanda laughed. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. Speaking of which, do you mind if I pop out in a few minutes? I’ve got to run some errands, and I’d really love to do it without the kids. They drive me crazy. I can hardly keep up with them these days. They both run in different directions as soon as I let them out of the car. It’s like they’ve got a pact or something. A pact to make me lose my mind.”

Emily swallowed her disappointment. She’d hoped to spend the morning catching up with Wanda. As much as she loved her niece and nephew, she missed spending time with her sister, just the two of them. It seemed every time she came over, Wanda found an excuse to leave her with the kids. And she understood—Wanda was tired, overwrought. She’d been a single mother now for twelve months, and it was hard. Her boyfriend had run off to the mines before Mia was born, leaving the three of them to cope alone.

“Have you heard from Brian?”

There was a glint in Wanda’s eyes. “No. I’m not going to. He left to make more money in the mines—that was his excuse. Said he wanted to take better care of us. But we haven’t heard from him since. I tried calling… His parents say he’s fine, but they won’t talk about him any more than that.” She looked down at her hands. “I don’t know what I did wrong.”

“You did nothing wrong,” Emily said as she dropped tea bags into the cups. “He’s the one who left his family behind.”

“I didn’t see it coming.”

“I know you didn’t,” Emily replied with a sigh. “But you can do this. You’re strong and capable. And you’ve done so well this past year. The kids are happy and healthy—that’s the main thing.”

“I guess. Although it’s lonely.”

Emily knew what she meant. Sometimes she wondered if she’d ever find a person to share her life with. She hadn’t been on a date in so long, it made her chest ache to think about it.

“It won’t always be like this. You’re in the trenches. At least your chemo is over.” Emily filled the mugs with boiling hot water and carried them to the table. She set one cup in front of Wanda, then sat across from her.

“Yes, at least I’m in remission. And I’m really grateful for that. I am. I don’t know what the kids would’ve done…” Her voice trailed off.

Emily reached out a hand to squeeze Wanda’s forearm.

Mia hummed and played in the corner with a set of blocks. In the playroom, Emily could hear Mason throwing something against the wall. She hoped it was a ball.

“It feels like it’ll be this way forever. And how will I find someone else when I have two…?” She dipped her head in Mia’s direction. “Two angels… But it makes it hard.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“There’s someone out there for you. Someone who won’t run off the moment things get hard.” Emily hoped with all her heart that was true. For herself and for Wanda. She didn’t want to go through life alone. All she’d ever wanted was a family—a husband, children to take care of. She knew her sister felt the same way. And she’d almost had the life she wanted. But Brian hadn’t wanted to get married, then he hadn’t wanted their second, unexpected pregnancy, and then he’d left without warning. Their simple dreams seemed impossible some days.

“Thanks, Em.” Wanda reached out to squeeze her hand.

Once the sun had risen, the day grew hot quickly. Emily decided to take the kids to a nearby playground by the beach. It was the best way to tucker them out and to keep them from trouble. Being in the house with them generally meant someone was up to mischief and someone else was crying. So, she packed a small bag with waters, snacks, wipes, nappies and anything else she could think of.

The three of them headed out with both kids in an enormous, unwieldy pram. But it was better than having Mason run wild in every direction. At least with the pram, she could strap him in and be certain he wouldn’t dart into traffic. He hadn’t wanted to get into the pram. He said three years old was a big boy and he didn’t need to be in the baby carriage. But she’d insisted, and thankfully he’d complied without too much trouble.

At eighteen months of age, Mia was easier to manage, although she would often hurt herself. She hadn’t been walking long and would bump into things or fall. It was a relief to be striding down the footpath that paralleled the beach, the breeze in her hair, and both kids happily chattering away in their respective seats.

The playground was nestled in the shade of an enormous fig tree. Emily slathered the kids in sunscreen anyway and then set them down in the sand. Mason immediately ran towards the slide, while Mia trundled towards a plastic wall with moving parts. Emily followed close behind her and watched her play.

A surfer jogged down the footpath towards them. He turned to head along the walkway to the beach, then stopped and looked at Emily. She recognised him with a jolt. It was Aaron.

“Oh, hi,” she said, giving him a wave.

He jogged over to her and set his surfboard down on the grass. His wetsuit was zipped up but dry. He must have only just arrived.

“I didn’t realise you were down here,” he said. “I thought you were at your sister’s this morning.”

“I thought you were at work,” she replied with a laugh.

“I’m working from home today.”

“That sounds nice.”

“We’re giving it a try. My boss is big on flexible work arrangements.” He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end. It was longer than it had been, and it suited him.

“Well, I’m watching Wanda’s kids for her while she runs some errands.” She looked at Mia, who had plopped onto her bottom and was pushing sand into a pile.

“That’s good of you.”

She shrugged. “I love the kids. They’re a lot of fun. Although I would like to spend time with my sister too. I know she finds it difficult to get things done, since she’s on her own.”

Aaron climbed over the low pole fencing and joined her in the sand. He crouched down in front of Mia and helped scoop sand. She grinned at him and asked him a hundred questions, which he answered patiently. Emily watched with interest.

Soon Mason came careening over to them begging for help on the swing. Aaron immediately volunteered to push, and the two of them headed off. Emily helped Mia with her sandcastle while watching out of the corner of her eye as Aaron pushed Mason higher and higher, much to his delight.

Before long, both kids were chasing Aaron around the playground, squealing. He feigned tripping over and landed in the sand with a grunt. Both kids piled on top of him, laughing and pummelling him at the same time. He was a natural with them. And they liked him immediately. This was a side of him that Emily had never seen before. He usually seemed so serious, and in high school had been downright brooding. But this lighthearted, fun side of him was appealing. He’d be a good dad one day. A quality she found extremely attractive.

When he finally rose to his feet, his wetsuit was covered with sand. As Emily strapped the kids into their pram and handed them a drink and a snack, he brushed himself off.

“Thanks for helping with the kids. They had a ball,” Emily said.

He smiled. “I love kids. They make everything fun.”

She laughed. “I don’t think my sister would agree with you on the word choice, but I know what you mean.”

“It’s difficult doing it on your own, I’m sure.”

“She’s struggling,” Emily admitted. “But I help her out as much as I can.”

“You’re a good sister.” He stared at her with intensity in his gaze, a slight smile on his face. She felt her heart rate accelerate.

“I try.”

“Have you heard from Tristan lately?” he asked.

Aaron and her brother had been best friends in high school. “Yes, he’s doing well down in Melbourne. He’s married now. Did you know that?”

“I heard,” he replied. “I couldn’t make it to the wedding. I was overseas.”

“I remember you being away,” she said.

“Tristan and I had a bit of a falling out,” he said. “We haven’t spoken in years.”

She didn’t want to pry. “Oh, I thought something must’ve happened. You two used to be inseparable.”

“Yeah, it was silly, really. But then again, I suppose most fights are.”

“What was it? If you don’t mind me asking… You don’t have to say.”

He looked down at his hands. “He was supposed to sign up with me. He backed out at the last minute and left me to join on my own. I was angry.” He shrugged. “I’m over it.”

“I didn’t realise that,” Emily replied. “He never told me he was going to join the military.”

“It was our plan, both of us. We were going to do it together. I couldn’t believe he backed out and didn’t tell me until I’d already joined. I was angry with him for a long time.”

“I can understand that, I guess.” It wasn’t out of character for Tristan. He was always changing his mind and flaking out on things.

“It’s all in the past. I was thinking of giving him a call.” He looked up at her, his eyes searching her face for answers.

“I think he’d like that,” she said. “It was a long time ago, and I’m sure you’ve both put it behind you. You were so close—there has to be a way to reconcile.”

He smiled. “You’re always the optimist.”

“You should give him a call.”

“Thanks. I will,” he said. He picked up his surfboard and settled it beneath his arm. “I’ll see you later, back at the house.”

She nodded and watched him jog away. Then she pushed the kids back home, unable to get the picture of him looking into her eyes with that earnest gaze out of her mind.