Goodbye for Now

Tayler stood on the porch at Wilgul and stared across the land she had called home for almost two years. Beyond the paddocks she could see the gentle rolling hills of Drovers Run, the place that had given her the start she needed. In two days this would all be a memory. In two days she would be standing on the plains of Africa.

Noisy pressed her cold nose into Tayler's hand and Tayler sank onto her haunches to pet the dog. She was going to miss Noisy but Africa was no place for a working dog.

"Rose is going to take care of you, girl." Tayler stroked the head of her dog and kissed her nose. "I'll miss you."

She wrapped her arms around Noisy and sat on the top step.

"Tay, you ready?" Patrick stepped out of the house. "Are you okay?"

Tayler nodded and wiped away the tear that had trickled down her cheek. "I'm just scared. We're leaving everything we've ever known."

Patrick sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her tight. "But we'll have each other. I'll miss this place though. It's made me a better man. It brought me to you."

Tayler smiled and reached up to kiss him. He reached up with one hand and held her head, pressing closer into her. Tayler moved her hands across his back, reveling in the feel of this man that fate had given her.

"Oi, you two, enough of that," Dave called from the edge of the yard. "We have a party to get too."

"Go do something with your girl," Patrick called.

Dave laughed and went back to the car to wait with Kate.

Patrick turned back to Tayler and framed her face with his hands. "If you don't want to do this, we can call the whole thing off."

"Would you really do that for me?" Tayler asked.

"Tay, I'd do anything for you. You know that's the only reason I'm going to Africa with you."

"Is that the only reason?" Tayler sighed. She didn't want him doing something he didn't want to.

Patrick shook his head. "No, I'm going for the experience, to spend time with my brother, so see something new and to spend time with my beautiful wife. Because where you are, there I am."

Tayler smiled and kissed her husband soundly. "Let's go. We have a party to attend."

"Africa, here we come." Patrick scooped her up in his arms and stepped down onto the yard. "Dave, we're coming."

"The guests of honour are finally here," Moira laughed as she scurried past with a platter of food. "Everyone's in the garden."

Tayler took Patrick's hand and pulled him around the corner of the house. Drovers' garden was full of people. Marcus and Russ played tennis on the court while Ingrid and Stevie laughed at them from the fence.

"Look who's here!"

At Moira's words everyone turned and cheered. Kate laughed from beside Tayler and Dave shook his head. Tayler smiled at Patrick and hurried forward to greet their friends.

Rose jumped off the veranda and hugged Tayler. "Are you ready for this?"

Tayler shrugged and linked arms with her friend. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Tayler, how's it going?" Gabe leaned down to kiss Rose's cheek and then squeezed Tayler's shoulder. "Want a beer?"

"It's going pretty good." Tayler took the offered drink.

"Are you excited?" Gabe asked.

Tayler nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"Tayler, over here." One of the local girls waved from the other side of the yard. "Come over here and tell us about this Africa adventure."

"Go," Rose said. "Spend some time with them. We'll be here when you're ready to leave."

Hours later the guests had left and only those belonging to Drovers and Killarney where left.

Tayler leaned back into Patrick's embrace. "That was fun."

"I think I had one too many beers," Patrick murmured.

Marcus laughed. "That's what happens at goodbye parties. Everyone wants to have a drink with you."

"You should do what I do," Dave said.

"Probably you shouldn't," Regan said.

"Are you telling my little brother not to listen to my sound advice?" Dave peered at Regan, a smiling twitching in the corner of his mouth.

Patrick laughed. "Regan, I learned long ago that my brother's advice wasn't always the best."

"I'll say," Jodi muttered. "He told me to get naked to get Nick's attention."

Matt frowned. "When was this?"

"When I was young and impressionable," Jodi said, kissing his cheek. "Don't worry. I only want your attention these days."

Tayler sighed in contentment as her friends continued to banter amongst themselves. This was what she would miss the most. The companionship at the end of a long day, the knowledge that you were not alone.

"Anyway, Dave, what is your good advice about drinking at goodbye parties?" Patrick said.

"Keep a drink with you at all times and sip on it as required." Dave nodded sagely.

"And do you actually follow that mantra?" Regan asked.

Tayler caught her friend's eye and shook her head. The woman was beginning to sound bitter. Dave may not have been the most astute man, but he wasn't stupid. If Regan wasn't careful, he would know something was up.

"As a matter of fact, Regan, I have, once. It was boring."

Matt and Nat burst out in loud laughter and the rest soon joined in. Tayler found herself giggling but when Regan stood up and abruptly left she followed the older woman.

Regan was nearly running as she headed towards the cottage. Tayler caught up to her and reached out to stop her friend.

"Regan, what's wrong?"

Regan shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't do this."

"Do what? Here, sit." Tayler guided Regan to a chair.

"I don't think I can go through with not telling Dave about his baby," Regan whispered. "I promised Kate I wouldn't say anything but I need him to know what he did to me."

"Do you still love him?" Tayler asked.

Regan shook her head. "No, and I don't think I ever did. But he's left me with something that will ensure I will never forget him. How will I ever love another man with his child beside me all the time?"

Tayler shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. At least he won't be here to see you and the baby."

"That is a relief," Regan said, wiping her face. "Oh, Tayler, this isn't something you need to deal with now. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"Regan, you're the closest person I have to a sister. Of course I worry about you. I'll come back when the baby's born."

"No, stay in Africa, there's no need."

"There's every need. Friends stick together and so do sisters."

Regan smiled and laid her head on Tayler's shoulder. "So this is just goodbye for now?"

"Yes, for now." Tayler leaned against her friend and they stared up at the moon riding low in the sky.

Yes, she would miss this place, but Tayler knew it would always be there to welcome her back with opened arms. It was only goodbye for awhile.