Part Seven: Playing happy families

Of course, just when things were starting to get good, I was shipped of the Peter's for the weekend. Pooey. I made Aunty Tess promise to document every single thing that was said, and grudgingly I let Meg drive me into town.

I whined and winged the whole way there. Why couldn't I be Alex's daughter? Could solve a few problems in one hit. As much as I hated these fortnightly visits, the girls did their best to make me feel welcome. Julia and I get along quite well, considering. She has never once blamed me, or spoken down to me.

'So, Charlotte, what's the latest?' Natalie said, grabbing a banana and peeling it. She was seventeen, and nearly finished school.

'I've been working on getting Mum and Alex back together.' I said proudly. She smiled at me, but Peter gave me a funny look.

It's funny how I call him Peter. He is my biological father, but I have never once thought of calling him 'Dad'. The word had rolled off my tongue regularly when Alex was my stepfather.

'I see. That would be right, our little Charlotte bringing the together the worlds' two most stubborn soul mates.' Natalie knew the story of my mother and Alex well. She'd often been there for me when they were going through the divorce, and I really respected how she didn't censor what she said just because her dad was in the room, or just because it wasn't a normal situation.

Alana snorted. She'd always been on Peter's side, talking about Alex like he was the scum of the earth, and resenting me for where I came from. It was sad how tragedy had divided this family. I guess I had too, in a way.

Natalie played with my hair, braiding it into two neat plaits and tying ribbons around it for me. We often did silly girly things, which was kind of nice for a change, seeing that Marion would never be caught up in such a fuss.

Natalie and Alana don't seem like my sisters, though. Natalie is like a friend, and Alana is just an acquaintance. Marion, to me, is my real flesh and blood. Sure, we fight, we claw, we shout, but it's those things that make us real. The quiet Johnson house, to me, doesn't feel real.

The weekend passed slowly, and when the Drover's Ute drove up the drive at early on Sunday morning, I'd been waiting on the porch for nearly half an hour. Jodi was in the front; she had obviously just gotten back from her honeymoon.

'Charlotte!' She squealed, hugging me. We laughed and talked furiously for a couple of minutes, and then I dashed inside to say goodbye to Natalie. We hopped in the car and set off.

'How was Queensland?' I said. 'Come on, all the juicy details, please. Don't leave anything out.'

'It was great!' She giggled. 'Luke and I had the most amazing time!' She proceeded to describe it.

'And I hear you've been a busy little bee.' She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. I just smiled.

'So, need I ask where Mum is? Or is that just plain obvious?'

'She's been trying to keep it quiet, but she doesn't realise that the floorboards squeak. You should have been there this morning, Char; it was so funny! Tess came down and informed her rather loudly that she should be aware that the mattress squeaks too.'

'Ewwww!' I chorused, shuddering at the thought of my mother and Alex…well, never mind.

'Yeah.' Jodi agreed. 'If you want to move up to the Shearer's quarters with me, I totally understand.'

'Nice offer, but what about Luke?' I pointed out. Jodi blushed, obviously forgetting about her husband.

'Wow, I can't get used to it, Charlotte.' She commented, pulling the car into the drive. 'I'm married, can you believe it?!'

'Took you long enough!' I laughed. She whacked me over the head and the car spun a little. I got out and raced up the drive, wanting to say hello to Alex and Mum.

'Hey Aunty Tess!' I ran over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and stroked Bianca's forehead. 'Is Mum around?'

'She's still in bed.' Tess's face was amused.

'Oh.' I stopped. 'Uh, I see. Well, I'm just going up to dump my stuff.'

I could hear laughter from Mum's room even before I started climbing the stairs. I half shielded my eyes, not wanting to accidentally see something that might scar me for life. I made a dash for my room.

After I'd put my stuff away, I decided I was being silly and knocked on the door quietly.

'It's just me.' I said. 'Can I come in?'

I heard a quick swear word and the flustered rearranging of blankets. 'Sure!' Mum's voice was bright.

'Alright, slackers, up and at 'em!' I shouted, running and jumping on the bed. There was a muffled 'ouch' from Alex who was hiding under the covers. He peeked out at me and gave me a dirty look.

'Come on, it's nearly lunchtime! What are you still doing in bed? Actually, no, don't answer that.' I kept talking. 'Are we still going into town tonight, Mum?' On Sunday my mother usually took Marion and I into town for dinner. It was just a quirky tradition of ours, and one I didn't particularly want to break.

'Actually…' Mum hesitated. 'Aunty Tess is going to take you. I'm going over to Wilgul for the night.'

'Oh.' I stopped. Alex was grinning at her again, and I was starting to get the feeling they wanted me to leave. I sighed, gave Mum a quick hug and left. As soon as I closed the door I heard them both start laughing again.

I went downstairs, at a loss for something to do. Marion and Tess were in the study and Tess was explaining to Marion how to look after the baby. Being a mother really suited Tess, it obviously came very naturally to her.

'Sorry to interrupt, Tess, but is there anything I can do?'

'Well, we still have all of the regular chores to do, although you wouldn't think it by the way some people are lounging around upstairs.' Tess rolled her eyes. 'I'm about to take Marion over to the neighbour's house for the afternoon, so if you like you could bring up a couple of horses and you and Meg can bring up the mob from the south paddock. They're due for drenching and we might as well get it done while we've got an extra pair of hands here.' I nodded, and wandered off.

As I tacked up the horses and waited for Meg, Alex and Mum finally emerged from the house, looking very pleased with themselves. I waved happily, and went over to say hello.

'Are you two coming with us?' I asked hopefully. Of course it was really only a two-person job.

'You and Meg can manage, can't you?' Mum said. Alex tickled her from behind and she smacked his hand away. 'Get out of it, you!' She said, swatting him as he tried again. She laughed.

'Sorry Charlotte, your mum's all mine today.' Alex grinned, looking at her. Mum smiled back and they ended up kissing.

'Oh gross guys, not in front of the kids!' I said, jumping away. Both of them were too absorbed in the other to notice.

'Alright, well see you later then.' I called, as they started moving back to the house, their eyes never leaving the other.

'Maybe.' Mum muttered. Alex nodded. 'Before the end of the week, definitely.' They left. I shrugged, and went back to Phoenix.

Later Meg and I rode down to the south paddock, which was in the corner of Killarney, Wilgul and Drover's. Meg was telling me a story about when she was little, as she often did, but I wasn't really listening.

'Hey, Meg.' I started.

'Hmm?' She said, distracted at the sight of Terry coming down the hill opposite us.

'Did you ever wish-'

'Excuse me Charlotte, I'm just going to say hello to Terry. Do you want to start getting the mob going?'

'Uh, sure.' I said, disappointed. I whistled to old Roy, who gave me a hand.

Terry ended up coming back with us, and he rode with Meg the whole way. Neither of them were much use. It was late afternoon when we arrived back at the yards.

Alex and Mum had just been out to pick up Marion, and both of them were laughing at something she'd done. Soon they were sitting in a group hug, the three of them. They looked up and saw me, and said hello.

'Hey Charls, how was Peter's?' Marion asked. I shrugged. 'Charlotte, will you go inside and help Meg with the dinner? We'll be up soon.' Mum promised. I rolled my eyes, and stomped back up to the house. As I got to the door, I turned and looked back at them. Mum, Marion and Alex, sitting in their happy little circle, laughing together. Meg and Terry shooting glances at each other from the porch. Tess and Nick, proudly looking after Bianca.

And for the first time since I'd been at Drovers, I found myself feeling a little lonely.