interested. You’ve come a bloody long way for nothing. Does Alice know you’re here?’ Her hands were now set firmly on her hips.
Will was listening intently. The other two were so involved in their conversation they’d forgotten he was there. He was uncomfortable on the bike but he didn’t dare move in case he made a noise and reminded them of his presence. He was enjoying this little show. It was nice to see Izzy fuming at someone other than himself for a change. But who was this guy, he wondered.
‘Of course she knows I came to see you,’ said Rob rather sheepishly. ‘Look, you left without your pay, and besides, I want you back – I mean, we all do. The kids miss you, Izzy. Chris is following me everywhere like a lost lamb.’
‘There is no way I’m going back. Besides, it’d do you and Chris a world of good to spend some more time together.’ At the mention of Chris, Izzy felt a pang of sadness in her heart as his cheeky boyish smile came to mind.
‘But the farm – I can’t run it without you. Look, I’ll pay you more. I’ll do anything. It will take me forever to find someone I can trust to do your job. I’m so sorry about what happened, but can’t we move on? Please, Izzy. It’s nearly harvest.’
Izzy shook her head. ‘Well, you’d better start looking around because I can’t come back, Rob. It just wouldn’t be the same. I don’t know if I could trust you again.’
Will was about to pipe up and tell the bloke he didn’t have a hope in hell of getting a Simpson to change their mind, but he figured it wouldn’t go down too well.
With a start Izzy remembered Will was behind her and she really didn’t need him listening to this. She grabbed Rob’s elbow and led him back around to the other side of his ute. Just seeing the Hilux brought back vivid memories of the hours she’d spent driving it around Rob’s farm.
‘Who’s he?’ He jerked his thumb towards Will.
‘Our neighbour, that’s all. Rob, you must understand that there was nothing between us. What you felt was just lust or attraction, but nothing worth leaving Alice and the kids over. I did you a favour by leaving. Now you can get back to your family and your farm.’
The look on her face confirmed her words; Rob looked dejected. ‘Part of me knows you’re right, but the other part misses you like crazy. Hell, Izzy, we had some great times.’
‘Yes, but it was innocent fun. I care about you a lot, Rob, but as a great friend, nothing more. I’d never ruin what you and Alice have. I know you still love her and you’ll soon see that what you felt for me was misguided.’
It was killing Izzy to talk to Rob this way. If only she could turn back the clock. She had been so comfortable at Cliffviews, and Emma and Chris had been like her younger siblings. Every Friday they’d have their movie nights with her at the cottage where they’d share popcorn and copious amounts of chocolate and soft drink. There had been times, too, when Izzy had got together with Alice and a few of her friends and they’d had wild girls’ nights with plenty of wine and dancing. The more she thought about all the things they’d done together, the more she missed them all. As she looked at Rob, Emma and Chris came to her mind so easily. Especially Chris, who was Rob all over – same eyes and black hair.
Now Rob pulled a packet from his back pocket and held it out to her.
Izzy took it slowly from his outstretched hand. ‘What’s this?’
‘Your pay, plus a bonus. I didn’t want to give this to you; I was hoping you’d change your mind and come back. But I guess you’re right. Maybe I’m being foolish. We did spend so much time together. Anyway, please take it, Izzy. It’s only small in comparison to what you’ve done for us. Alice also wanted me to give you this, and to tell you that she misses you heaps.’ Rob handed her a tightly sealed envelope, then shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. ‘I … um … really ruined
Will was listening intently. The other two were so involved in their conversation they’d forgotten he was there. He was uncomfortable on the bike but he didn’t dare move in case he made a noise and reminded them of his presence. He was enjoying this little show. It was nice to see Izzy fuming at someone other than himself for a change. But who was this guy, he wondered.
‘Of course she knows I came to see you,’ said Rob rather sheepishly. ‘Look, you left without your pay, and besides, I want you back – I mean, we all do. The kids miss you, Izzy. Chris is following me everywhere like a lost lamb.’
‘There is no way I’m going back. Besides, it’d do you and Chris a world of good to spend some more time together.’ At the mention of Chris, Izzy felt a pang of sadness in her heart as his cheeky boyish smile came to mind.
‘But the farm – I can’t run it without you. Look, I’ll pay you more. I’ll do anything. It will take me forever to find someone I can trust to do your job. I’m so sorry about what happened, but can’t we move on? Please, Izzy. It’s nearly harvest.’
Izzy shook her head. ‘Well, you’d better start looking around because I can’t come back, Rob. It just wouldn’t be the same. I don’t know if I could trust you again.’
Will was about to pipe up and tell the bloke he didn’t have a hope in hell of getting a Simpson to change their mind, but he figured it wouldn’t go down too well.
With a start Izzy remembered Will was behind her and she really didn’t need him listening to this. She grabbed Rob’s elbow and led him back around to the other side of his ute. Just seeing the Hilux brought back vivid memories of the hours she’d spent driving it around Rob’s farm.
‘Who’s he?’ He jerked his thumb towards Will.
‘Our neighbour, that’s all. Rob, you must understand that there was nothing between us. What you felt was just lust or attraction, but nothing worth leaving Alice and the kids over. I did you a favour by leaving. Now you can get back to your family and your farm.’
The look on her face confirmed her words; Rob looked dejected. ‘Part of me knows you’re right, but the other part misses you like crazy. Hell, Izzy, we had some great times.’
‘Yes, but it was innocent fun. I care about you a lot, Rob, but as a great friend, nothing more. I’d never ruin what you and Alice have. I know you still love her and you’ll soon see that what you felt for me was misguided.’
It was killing Izzy to talk to Rob this way. If only she could turn back the clock. She had been so comfortable at Cliffviews, and Emma and Chris had been like her younger siblings. Every Friday they’d have their movie nights with her at the cottage where they’d share popcorn and copious amounts of chocolate and soft drink. There had been times, too, when Izzy had got together with Alice and a few of her friends and they’d had wild girls’ nights with plenty of wine and dancing. The more she thought about all the things they’d done together, the more she missed them all. As she looked at Rob, Emma and Chris came to her mind so easily. Especially Chris, who was Rob all over – same eyes and black hair.
Now Rob pulled a packet from his back pocket and held it out to her.
Izzy took it slowly from his outstretched hand. ‘What’s this?’
‘Your pay, plus a bonus. I didn’t want to give this to you; I was hoping you’d change your mind and come back. But I guess you’re right. Maybe I’m being foolish. We did spend so much time together. Anyway, please take it, Izzy. It’s only small in comparison to what you’ve done for us. Alice also wanted me to give you this, and to tell you that she misses you heaps.’ Rob handed her a tightly sealed envelope, then shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. ‘I … um … really ruined
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