Mary Holder - Second Chance Mom

They got out of the car and stood in the dusty driveway. The homestead wasn’t a mansion, just a place to call home. It was a solid structure of white weather-board and dark green trim. The veranda ran the entirety of the house. The house was nestled in a grove of native Australian trees, some of them still quite young, some a little more firmly rooted in the soil.

He wondered how Annie saw it. Would she be taken by the beautiful wattle tree with its prominent yellow blooms, the eucalyptus with their strong scent?

“Most people see the isolation before they see the beauty.”

“They must be blind.”

“Come on inside.”

“The children?”

“At my parents’ house.”

Part of her was grateful for the reprieve and part of her was anxious to see Toby.

As they walked to the house, Annie caught a movement out the corner of her eye. The dog was obviously old, and it didn’t move very well.

“That’s Murphy.”

She crouched down as the dog, not at all wary of her, approached. “What breed is he?”

“Good question…and one we’ve been asking since we found him curled in the shearing shed as a puppy. He looks like he’s got Australian kelpie in him.”

His deep black coat shone with health and his eyes were pale gray. He nuzzled the hand she held out and then moved a little closer to her and allowed her to pet him.

“How long have you had him?”

Jared crouched down beside her and Murphy instantly went to him, their body language speaking of a long, close friendship.

“Sara and I found him about thirteen years ago. She kept him when I went away to the city. He became the family pet when they got the kids.”

They walked toward the house, Murphy following them. “Any other animals I should try to win over?” she asked cheerfully.

They climbed the steps and Jared held the screen door open with his foot while he unlocked the front door. “We have numerous guinea pigs and rabbits out the back. We also claim one very irritable old cat and two young mousers we keep in the shed.”

Annie nodded. “The house is lovely.”

In the living room the furniture looked well-used but lovingly cared for, the floors a shiny wood. The kitchen was a sunny room with yellow-and-white spotted curtains and the same motif on everything—from the potholders to the water glass sitting on the sink.

“Sara liked sunflowers.”

Jared moved behind her. “Yeah.”

“They are such happy flowers, don’t you think?”

Jared shrugged. “I’ve never thought of a flower being happy but I guess they are.”

“You have a huge vegetable garden out there. And so many other flowers.”

If there was such a thing as heaven on earth, Annie was sure she’d found it. Back in the entryway, Annie noticed the family tree chronicled on the wall as she made her way slowly up the stairs.

It was a progression of photographs and portraits, some with an old sepia tone, some more modern black-and-whites and eventually color.

She took the stairs slowly, one at a time, meeting one generation after another. There were pictures of Sara in her youth—her smiling face and bright eyes, the blond hair and cheerful tilt to her head as she looked at the camera.

James, very tall, a little quieter looking and a serious teen. Pictures of them together, from high school graduation to weddings made a part of Annie both happy and sad.

Happy that they had found each other, sad because they had built the foundations of a good life and would not see any of the seeds they had planted grow to fruition.

“The family portraits are cute.” Jared came up behind her. “I often find myself looking at these here.”

Annie moved down the steps. Her heart clenched and her throat became tight as she looked at the portrait of them all together dated just one year ago.

Sara and James sat in the middle, Caroline beside her mother, hugging close. Anyone who didn’t know would take them for biological mother and daughter. Luke sat by his father, holding his hand and looking just a little shy. On Sara’s knee sat Toby, looking straight at the camera with eyes Annie would have known anywhere.

Her son was happy in this photograph, content. He was smiling and his life stretched before him was secure and full of promise.

“The world was lucky to have had your sister and her husband, if only for a little while.”

Jared remained silent and Annie understood. She made no more comments. She turned, leaving him to gaze at the photographs, caught up in his own memories.

He discovered her in the laundry room moments later. “We have a clothes dryer and a line outside. I don’t know which you prefer.”

Annie smiled. “I hated doing my laundry in the city. Those dryers do their job but that crisp, new scent of outside is missing.”

Jared nodded though he didn’t reply. To him, dry clothes were dry clothes. As long as they were clean and accessible he was happy.

“This is where the kids play.” He led the way outside. “The trampoline is Caroline’s favorite.”

Annie had asked Santa for a trampoline for many Christmases growing up. Then at age nine, her mother had given up all pretense of there even being a bearded gift giver. After that little bombshell, Annie had stopped wishing.

There was a large swing set that combined aspects of a jungle gym, as well. “You put sand around the bottom of the play set.”

“James did. I swear they were the most safety-conscious parents of all time.” Annie heard the pride in his statement.

“The chicken coop is past the vegetable garden. We let them roam free every day and they get housed at night.”

Annie smiled. “Free range eggs.”

“They’re the best.” He walked a few more steps. “That row of coops over there houses what my mother calls ‘the critters.’”

“Should I ask?”

“Remember the rabbits and guinea pigs I mentioned before?” She nodded. “James put a lot of work into their living quarters.”

“I’ll bet the boys love their guinea pigs.”

“Actually the boys have the rabbits. The guinea pigs belong to Caroline. Now she’s bugging me for a ferret.”

Annie stopped. “Aren’t they dangerous?”

“They are if they get near the rabbits.”

“Is she getting one?”

“I might be able to divert her. She wants a scarecrow now…and she mentioned ducks a few weeks ago.” He walked a little farther. “The flower beds need to be replanted in places and the seasonal vegetables are going to be ready in a month of so.”

In twenty minutes, Annie’s life had changed. This was where she was meant to be. It didn’t matter what reasons had brought her here, what events had transpired to bring her into Jared’s life.

“I could make a home here,” she said honestly, taking in a deep breath of clean country air.

Jared turned and looked at her, a satisfied expression on his face. “I’m glad you think so.”

Annie wasn’t about to rush over any bridges only to have them burn behind her. “We’ll see how things go in the next few days.”

Jared nodded. “Come on. We don’t want to be late for dinner.”

The ride to his parents’ farm took her past stretches of road and landmarks she remembered.

“You look nervous.”

She nodded reluctantly. “I am a little…okay, a lot.”

“You know my parents already.”

“Do they know you’re thinking of marrying me…to keep the children together?”

“Yes.”

Annie felt even more nervous now. His parents were good, kind people who in recent years had been through their share of struggles. But for them to know their son was marrying and not for love…

“Annie, they will support me in any decision I make if it’s what I want.” He slowed the vehicle and smiled. “Besides, it’s too late to back out now. We’re here.”