Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Cabarita Beach
It was good to return to the Waratah Inn.
Kate looked around the office with a contented expression on her face.
The piles of paperwork on the desk, the framed photographs on the walls, the printer that had driven her to the brink of insanity on more than one occasion—she was grateful to see it all again.
Grateful to get out of the house, away from the monotony of her daily life with a newborn, even if only for a few hours.
Baby Noah was nestled in a carrier against her chest, fast asleep. Kate hung her purse and nappy bag on a hook fastened to the back of the office door and then headed into the kitchen. It was buzzing with morning activity for the end of the breakfast service.
Everyone greeted her enthusiastically as they hurried to carry plates of food out to the restaurant for inn guests and diners.
It was a beautiful summer’s day. The bright sun was already hot in the sky.
Kate had been woken by Noah with the sunrise at four thirty am.
There’d been a flock of particularly noisy corellas in the Norfolk Island pine trees that lined the other side of the street across from their house.
They’d descended on the trees to pick apart seed pods, hanging upside down or trotting across the ground looking for delicious things to eat, while chattering at the top of their small lungs to one another. And Noah had woken up crying.
Despite all of that, Kate felt good. She’d already fed Noah and then snuck in a cup of strong coffee before driving to the inn.
She figured by the time he next fed, the caffeine would’ve left her system.
And if not, he’d just have to develop a tolerance like she had because she wouldn’t last the day without at least two cups of coffee, given her lack of sleep.
“What are you doing here?” Bindi asked as she set a checklist down on the kitchen bench. “I wasn’t expecting you.” She gave Kate a hug and peeked at Noah’s sleeping face. “He’s growing more adorable every day.”
“I know, right?” Kate grinned. “How are things around here?”
“It’s going well. Business is steady. We’re not fully booked every day, but we’re close to it. It’s a decent occupancy rate for summer. And the restaurant is full most nights.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Are guests enjoying the summer menu?”
“They love it. Especially the BBQ spare ribs with lemon myrtle salad.”
“Great. I hoped they would,” Kate replied. She missed her restaurant and loved connecting with the guests. Seeing people enjoy her food brought her so much satisfaction, and she hadn’t had that in weeks. It’d been a long time since she’d spent so many days away from the inn.
“The intrepid chef is back on deck,” Jack said as he stepped through the kitchen door. His lips pulled into a broad smile, as he took off his hat and hung it on the rack, then kicked off his muddy boots. “How are you feeling, love?”
She went to kiss his cheek. “I’m feeling a little better. I don’t know if I’m getting more sleep or just used to being deprived of it. But I still feel like I’m in some kind of daze most of the time.”
“He’s sleeping?” Jack asked. “How old is he now?”
“Two weeks. And yes, right now he’s sleeping. Probably not for long, though. I hoped to look over some of the bills and paperwork, then I’ll head back home before the crying starts.”
“I remember those days. I want to say I miss it, but I really don’t,” Jack quipped.
“Thanks a lot,” Kate replied. “Since you’re the grandfather, I might just let you deal with him, so I can get a break.”
“Where’s that no-good husband of yours?” Jack sat at the kitchen table with a grunt.
“He’d booked himself into a life-saving course over the summer. So, that’s where he is today. He says it will help him with surfing, but also at school. He’s done it before, but wanted a refresher.”
“Great timing,” Bindi said.
Kate shrugged. “His life hasn’t changed much.
Not the way mine has. No one tells you that when you have a baby, suddenly your marriage will no longer be a fifty-fifty division of responsibilities.
We used to share everything. Now it all lands on me.
The modern woman who shares the load with her modern husband is a myth—and no one warned me! ”
Jack shook his head. “Sorry, honey. It might be the nineties, but there’s still not much Dad can do for the first few months. It will get easier, I promise you. Although I have to admit, my wife did most of the domestic stuff. I was too busy building houses and making money to support our family.”
Bindi shook her head. “You’re not making it sound very appealing.”
Kate laughed. “It’s hard, but wouldn’t change it for a thing. I love being a mum. But I guess I didn’t realise how all-consuming it would be, and how little Alex would share the load with me. I should’ve known, of course. I don’t know how I missed that. But I thought times had changed.”
“I guess they haven’t changed as much as we believed.” Bindi’s brow furrowed. “On another note, I need you to look at the orders for next month and make sure we have everything covered.”
Kate carried a large glass of iced tea to the office, ready to help Bindi with the paperwork.
While they worked she thought about the things she’d said.
It was true. Motherhood had taken her somewhat by surprise—the intensity of it, the demands on her body and mind, the way she never had a spare moment to herself.
She hadn’t expected it to be like this—everyone always said it was hard work but she’d imagined something different.
She felt like a woman drowning who could only emerge from the water every now and then to gasp for air before being submerged all over again.
After they were done with the orders, she and Bindi met Reeda on the back verandah for another glass of sweetened iced tea and a slice of apple cinnamon tea cake.
Reeda leaned back in her rocking chair, chewing slowly with her eyes shut. “This is delicious. Who made it?”
“Mima brought it over this morning,” Bindi replied.
“Mima’s here?” Kate asked as she got ready to nurse the grumbling Noah.
“She didn’t stay. Hey, do you think something’s going on with her? She usually comes to the inn every day and helps out. But lately, I’ve hardly seen her.”
Reeda gulped down a mouthful of tea. “I know what you mean. I asked her how she was doing, and she mumbled something about being late to meet Betty and rushed off.”
“I wonder if her diabetes is playing up,” Kate asked.
Bindi shrugged. “I hope not. But she seems okay health-wise.”
“Maybe we should ask her about it,” Reeda suggested.
“Or we could let her come to us when she’s ready,” Bindi replied.
Kate rolled her eyes. “You’re always so thoughtful. It’s sickening.”
Bindi sniffed. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Stop acting more mature than me. You’re the youngest sister,” Reeda said with a disgusted shake of her head.
They all laughed.
Kate buttoned up her shirt. “Well, I’d better get home. This one needs to be changed and have a nap in his cot, and I need a shower.”
“I was gonna say . . .” Reeda sniffed.
Kate playfully slapped her arm. “Thank you for a relatively normal morning. I can’t tell you how much I needed it. And I’ll see you both soon.”
She air-kissed them each goodbye and carried her things back to the car, with Noah again safely strapped to her body. She felt deeply grateful for the inn, her sisters, and the way they always helped her to feel grounded and at peace with her place in the world, even when nothing else did.