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‘It’s very quiet. It would be perfect if there was say, a movie theatre or shopping complex, a few more resources…’
Ah, there it was. You could never take the city out of the girl.
‘Our appeal lay in our community spirit, the townspeople, old traditions, the land, the outdoor and rural opportunities. We do not want to be like the city.’
How long would Ava last? Lots of city folk dreamed of the country, the romanticised version, not the real one. Would she last until the renovations were complete? Would the house be valued so high then, he wouldn’t be able to purchase it? The thought crashed down on him. If she did leave, he’d be in debt and have no money left. Probably no ability to get a loan, either.
‘Duke! Come and put some suncream on if you’ve finished your lunch.’
The kids obediently ran over, and Ava slathered Duke over his face and arms. What was he thinking? He needed to do the same for Emily. Playing silly buggers, she resisted but eventually succumbed. He couldn’t send her back to her mother sunburned.
Duke haphazardly applied cream to his mother’s bare shoulders before he raced off to play in the shallows of the creek.
On Ava’s back was a clump of unrubbed in cream. ‘Um, you’ve got a spot on your back.’ Noah pointed, but of course, Ava couldn’t see.
‘No, is it bird poo?’
‘No, it’s suncream. Here, let me.’ He wriggled across the rug and their knees connected. Shifting, he sat behind her and with only two fingers lightly touched the glob of lotion.
‘You’ll get burnt, there isn’t really enough cover, and it’s so hot today. Do have the tube?’
Ava offered it over her shoulder. The tube made on embarrassing spurt noise as he squeezed some onto his hands. Noah raised them ready for contact and they connected to her bare skin revealed in the thin-strapped, low back dress.
Ava stiffened at his touch.
‘Cold hands,’ she said by way of excuse. His hands weren’t cold.
Her skin sparkled in the sun and was warm to his touch. What started with two gentle fingers became two firm hands. The feel of her beneath his fingers tantalised him. Noah caressed across her shoulders, over her knobbly blades and back down into the dip of her back. One dress strap was in the way and he tugged it to the side where it slipped to her elbow. Her heard a small gasp. All of a sudden, he realised she wasn’t wearing a bra and he dropped his hands as if her skin burned him.
Ava’s chest rose in an exaggerated fashion and he followed her rhythm. He glanced across at the kids playing happily and wished his hands were still upon her soft and smooth skin. Instead, he lifted the thin cotton strap of her dress and placed it back onto her shoulder. It stuck there, the cream like glue.
His imagination went a little crazy then visualising his hands exploring other parts of her body …
Ava shifted and the spell was broken. His legs had cramped and he stood to stretch them out. Neither spoke and he refilled her glass and sat next to her, ensuring no part of him touched her. Noah wasn’t sure how long he could maintain his control.
Risking a glance at Ava, her features were locked with her lips in a thin straight line and her jaw clenched. Her focus was over his shoulder.
Glancing that way, he watched a family set up a picnic. There was a lot of noise coming from the group of fifteen or so.
Ava remained transfixed. He touched her arm and she zeroed in on him. ‘Do you know them?’
‘No.’
‘What is it, then?’
‘What do you notice when you look at that family?’
Huh? ‘They have a lot of children?’ Noah was confused.
‘No.’ She spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Look, the father and sons are on one blanket and the wife and daughters are serving up the food. See the husband is sitting back barking orders for his lunch.’
Noah sat back and took a better look. Yes, the family was segregated, they would not have fit on one blanket anyway, and the wife was serving her husband and the daughters were helping. The man wore a turban of Indian tradition, but Noah didn’t sense this was a cultural rebuke. Perhaps Ava was right, but … what did it matter?
‘And that bothers you, Ava?’
‘Yes. There are other women, too. Do you think they are aunts or his other wives?’
‘Wives?’ This was getting weird. ‘Isn’t polygamy against the law?’
