The Sunnyvale Girls by Fiona Palmer Page A

Flick.
    â€˜Think you can handle it?’
    â€˜With Contractor and Fella, not a problem.’ Flick nudged Contractor and they headed off.
    â€˜How are the floors coming along?’ asked Toni as she relaxed her grip and sat upright.
    Flick paused for a moment then chose her words carefully. ‘You really want to talk about that? How about we talk about what happened in the kitchen?’
    Toni huffed, her mood drastically changing.
    â€˜You can’t avoid it, Mum. I know it must be a shock —’
    â€˜Of course it’s a bloody shock. What am I supposed to think? I’ve just found out my whole life was a lie. I just can’t believe my mother would do this. I’m so angry,’ she said through her teeth.
    Flick felt her body trembling and tried to understand what her mum was going through. ‘You know Nan was just trying to do what she thought best. Without Rocco coming back, maybe it was?’
    â€˜No, I don’t care. There are no excuses for not telling me. I’ve lived my whole life thinking Arthur was my father. I busted my arse to get him to appreciate my efforts and to get his approval, and for what? He wasn’t even my dad.’
    Tears prickled as Flick took offence to her words. ‘Mum, Grandad was a part of our lives. He was here, he loved us. Where was Rocco?’ Sure, her grandad could be hard to take sometimes but there were moments when he showered them with love, moments that Flick missed now he was gone.
    Toni sighed and Flick knew she’d given her something to think about.
    â€˜I don’t want to talk about it any more, Felicity. I just can’t handle it right now. We’re shearing soon so we have a lot to do.’
    Her stern tone was one Flick never messed with. Much the same with Nan. A change of conversation was needed. After a few minutes of silence Flick perked up.
    â€˜You should come and see the floors at the old house, Mum. They look great now that Jimmy showed me how to use the sander properly. That bloke has no end of talent.’
    â€˜I know. He should be putting them to use on the farm, not helping you play house.’
    Flick sighed. ‘You could just be happy for me. At least I’m here on the farm and not off doing drugs and having kids to lots of men.’
    â€˜Sorry, you’re right. And I am interested, really.’ Toni squeezed Flick’s arm. ‘I’m just worried it’s a waste of money. We already have a home.’
    â€˜Why don’t you come and see how it looks? Once the floors are polished up I want to move in. Maybe Jimmy should too, so he’s not stuck out in the old shearing quarters. He deserves better.’
    â€˜Yeah, you’re probably right there,’ said Toni quietly.
    Flick changed the subject again. ‘So are you coming out to the club with us tonight for some pool? It’ll take your mind off things.’
    â€˜No, Flick. I’m just not up to facing people at the moment.’
    Flick moved Contractor to the left behind the mob, which was wandering too far out. Fella was in a bit deep so she called him back.
    â€˜You know, you really should get out more, Mum. How are you supposed to meet a man and have some fun?’
    â€˜Oh, you are a funny girl. Why would I need a man? I have everything I need here,’ said Toni.
    â€˜Come on. I haven’t seen you with anyone in ages. If I wasn’t here I’d actually think you’d made up my dad too,’ she teased.
    Toni cleared her throat like something was stuck hard. ‘He may as well be made up. Sometimes I even struggle to remember what he looked like. But you have his eyes and if I really think hard, I can picture him from that starting point.’
    â€˜I wish you knew more about him. Fancy not even knowing his last name! And you thought
I
was reckless at school.’
    Toni sighed heavily. ‘What can I say? One night of recklessness brought me you. I don’t regret any of