Chapter 58
With the big announcement finished, everyone settled in to eat and chat.
"So, Kate, Wilgul and the old Kinsella property share a big stretch of border. The current owner put up an electrified fence with barbed wire. They are never there, and as far as I know, haven't been there for a long time. It would be wonderful to have a neighbor like you. I'd love for us to become better friends. Also, Kelly will only be a few years older than your twins. I hope they'll be friends too!" said Jaz.
"That sounds really nice, Jaz. I just hope Kinsella's Station will work for the university. We tried to drive up to the main house this afternoon, just to see what we could, but they have a crazy security gate. It's unlike anything I've seen before. I couldn't get an official viewing appointment for nearly four weeks. The real estate agent who it's listed with is from New South Wales and they said the owner is in Asia somewhere. There are definitely some things that don't add up there and I intend to investigate," said Kate.
"Well, be careful. As far as I know, the electrified fence runs the entire perimeter of the property. Man, I really hope it works for you to take it over. I'd love to have you right next door," said Jaz.
"Me too. It's been a long time since I left this place, but it always stayed with me and it still feels like home. I needed to go away when I did. I had just been through too much here at the time, and I needed to go somewhere else to heal and to grow as a person and to accomplish my goals, but now I'm ready to return. I'm lucky that Russell can work remotely, so he has no problem continuing the work that's important to him. I do feel badly because Russell is a guitarist, and he has a regular jam session with some blokes in Adelaide, and he will have to give that up. I hope he can find some people around here to play with. I do feel badly about him losing that," confessed Kate.
"Ben mentioned to me that Bobby, the Killarney farmhand, has a drum set in one of the Killarney sheds. Maybe they can start a band or something."
"That's great to hear. Thanks. By the way, I noticed the ring on your finger. How long have you been engaged?" ased Kate.
"You haven't talked much to the girls yet, have you? This ring has a pretty good story attached to it. You should ask Jodi or Stevie about it. It'll be a good laugh. Ben actually just proposed last night." Jaz smiled as she said that.
"Wow! That's wonderful. Oh! Did I accidentally steal your thunder? Oh. I suck. I'm sorry. This should have been an engagement party of sorts." said Kate.
"I'll probably plan a proper engagement party a bit later, when my sisters can be here. They'll be thrilled that you're back here. You became pretty close with Regan, didn't you?" aske Jaz.
Kate laughed thinking about the first time she met Regan, "Yeah, we had a real rocky start, but we figured it out in the end. I'd love to see her again, it's been a while. I got to know Grace pretty well too. How are they doing?"
"Well, Regan is coming for a visit in a few days for Charlotte's eighteenth birthday. Grace said she was stuck on some project at work, so unfortunately, she and Gavin can't make it, I'm sure Regan would want to catch up. Are you planning on staying for that?" asked Jaz.
"Yes! Wow, I'd almost forgotten. I was so wrapped up with all the big life changes this week, I hadn't even thought about the party. We had plans to come here then, but I couldn't wait to see Kinsella's, so I booked an earlier flight. Yes! I will be here. I'm happy to hear Regan will be as well. I've missed her," said Kate.