Cade smiled, hiding the jolt of terror spearing his gut. "Thanks, but I'm sure it will all work out." He met Rooney's gaze. "So you got the old dump then?"
She walked over and placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of him before taking a stool opposite. Her pale blue eyes were hard and determined as she gazed at him. "Yes, I did and since I have little or no money and the place is a filthy hole, I'm roping you into help me clean it up so I can set up shop and start work."
"Seriously? You want me to clean for you?" Cade roared with laughter.
A small fist thumped him on his sore leg. "Don't laugh at my mother."
He looked down at the child so like her father. "Sorry about that, Squirt. I can't see myself with a bucket and mop in my hand though."
Essie spoke up. "Wouldn't hurt you to get out of your room and away from the bottle for a while. Do you good to think about someone else for a change."
Cade gripped the edge of the island counter. "For your information Essie, I do think about others." He looked back at Rooney. "Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do what I can."
Tam looked at him with one eyebrow raised as if she was still deciding whether or not he was telling the truth.
"Tomorrow we’ll go and make a start then," Rooney said. "I need to get you booked into school too, Tam." She laughed when that comment was met with a glare. "I've already told you, honey, you have to go to school. You'll make friends easily. It's only a small country school and they’re mostly farm kids."
"When do I have to start?"
Cade's heart melted at the lost look in her eyes. The girl had spunk and he liked that. She also had a soft side and he hoped the spunk won out more. Despite the face he showed to the public, girly girls didn’t appeal to him and considering who her mother was, he doubted she would be too frilly.
"How about Monday? That way you can spend the next couple of days with me cleaning and getting sorted. Over the weekend you can find your way around the farm." Rooney spoke with a firm tone that left Cade in no doubt she was in control of her child.
"Yes, Mum."
"So, how bad is this place? Has Tory seen it?" Cade sipped the coffee and waited for an answer.
"He was the one who told me about it. It’s pretty feral. It smells disgusting and I doubt if anyone’s inside and opened a window for years." She laughed, the sound filling the kitchen. "I don't have a choice, Cade and that's okay. I'm used to hard work. It's how I've managed all these years."
"I can come over and give you a couple of hours. If I get my work done here in the morning, I’ll come over with lunch and spend a bit of time before I have to come back and get dinner ready." Essie stopped chopping vegetables and looked at Cade. "I know you’ll help her because it's what you should do."
"Yes, Essie. You know I will." Cade gave a conspiratorial wink to his sister. "How are you going to drum up business? Do you have a marketing plan or anything?"
"Uh, not yet. I’m going to clean up first and put a notice in the paper when I’m ready. I still have to buy some equipment when I can afford it. Tory is going to transfer money into our accounts next week. It won't be much, but something to work with for a start."
"Great, I can do with some cash."
Rooney looked at him with a frown on her face. "You earn heaps, Cade. Don't tell me you spend it as fast as you earn it?"
He dropped his head and traced a pattern on the counter top with his finger. His inability to save money was one of the things his manager constantly harped on. "You know how it is, I have a standard to uphold and I'm still young. Plenty of time to save money."
"You are so irresponsible. I thought you would know better than that. Always save half of what you earn, Dad always said that. Even when he dished out pocket money, he told us to save half."
"Yeah well, moving on to the next subject. I'll meet you there tomorrow, about nine. I'm enjoying my sleep-ins while I can."
Rooney shook her head and walked away in disgust, leaving him with a sick feeling creeping up his gut to stick in his throat. He didn't care what anyone else thought of him but Rooney was different. She had always looked up to him, her hero. Now he saw that hero-worship fading away.
Chapter 15
Russ scrubbed his hands. It was late and the emergency room was finally quiet. The evening shift had taken over and he needed to get his paperwork done so he could head for home, and a much needed meal and sleep. A major car accident had kept them all rushed off their feet for most of the day. They’d stabilised the driver and injured passenger before they were airlifted to Maitland Hospital where a surgeon was on standby, ready to operate.
He dried his hands and headed to his office, taking off his white coat as he walked. When Russ dropped into his chair, he rubbed his hands over his face.
"Ready for home?" One of the younger nurses leaned against the door frame, watching him. She ran her hand down the neck of her uniform top, popping open the top button.
"Yes, Diane. I certainly am. It's been a big day all round. Shouldn't you be off duty too?" He smiled.
"I just wanted to check on you and make sure there was nothing else you needed Doctor Williams." The suggestive way she pouted her lips made Russ' stomach clench. Nurse Stanley's words
