She managed to get out the door and part way down the street before the tears overflowed. Walking was her saviour, it always had been. It had started as her way to distance herself from the real world when it all got too much. Now she was an adult, it allowed her time to herself to relax and think things through. It was Julie who’d convinced her to start walking to get her out of the house and give Rooney some time to herself.
The flowers bloomed and the sweet fragrance of spring blossoms mingled with the smell of freshly cut grass. She let the smell soothe her nerves, breathing deeply to let the scents calm her nerves and smooth out the jagged edges of her hurt feelings. Her feet hit the pavement in a steady rhythm and eventually the pounding of her heart matched it. Funny how getting outside always sorts out the crap rolling around in my head. I just need to give Pete and Julie all the support they need and play nice with the new guy. There is plenty of work for both of us if he is planning on being hands-on. It should all work out fine. I need to remember that and it will be so. Keep telling yourself that, girl.
By the time Rooney made it back to the practice, she was more relaxed and focused on what lay ahead. She would put all of her energies into helping Pete and Julie get through the turmoil that lay ahead.
When she arrived back from her walk there was already a patient waiting for her. Rooney greeted the woman and her dog. "Just give me a minute to get changed and I'll be right with you, Rose."
"Take your time, honey. We're early anyway."
Tara stood and followed her into the office. "Listen, you had a phone call while you were out. It was Tory. I'm sorry, honey, you need to call him straight away. I'll deal with Rose."
Her breathing sounded jagged to her ears. The pounding of her heart scared Rooney and she sank down in the chair behind her desk.
God no! I can't take any more bad news today. She wiped her sweaty palms on the legs of her jeans and struggled to get her breathing under control. It's bad news, it has to be. Why else would the family solicitor and long-time friend call me?
Chapter 4
"You have to be kidding me."
Cade glared at Tory and brushed off his brother’s restraining arm. Although they were roughly the same age, Tory was the calmest of the group. Cade had always been the show pony of the trio, intent on being in the spotlight while Tory and older brother Russ were happy to stay in his shadow. The only thing Russ and Cade shared was their height and blond colouring.
"How dare that old bastard dictate to us from the grave. Didn't he do enough damage while he was alive?" He stood up, grabbed his crutches and tucking them under his arms, hobbled over to the window. He looked out into the sunshine as the traffic passed.
"Your father made this will some time ago, Cade. I did suggest at the time that the conditions were a little harsh, but he wouldn't hear of changing them." He sat forward in his chair, running his hand over his short dark cropped hair. "Look, you only have to spend two thirds of the year at Petersham Homestead. That allows you time for holidays and in your case, games."
"That's if you can play again and for the record, you still haven't told me what happened," Russ said looking down at the brace holding his brothers leg. "When did you say you find out?"
"I'll play again, you can be sure of that. I still have a few years left in the top grade, so don't go burying me in the country too soon, brother." He turned and sat on the window ledge, leaning his crutches against the wall. "So, apart from the old man insisting we all live back at Petersham, what else does he have in store for us?"
"If one of you fails to fulfil the terms of the will, the property will be gifted to the people of the Hunter Valley and held under the management of the Agriculture Department. Your father had plans for the property for years. He felt there was too much history for the family home to be sold off and not preserved for future generations."
"I get that, but hell, to have to live there. That just doesn't do it for me, Tory." Cade crossed his arms and sighed.
"What about you, Russ? Is there any possibility you could move home?" Tory asked.
"Funnily enough, yes. My divorce is going through and I was looking for a change of pace." He gave a bitter laugh. "The big city never really suited me but for obvious reasons I couldn't move back here. Anyway, since I was only a locum where I was working, I applied for a country hospital position and got it, not knowing it was in Singleton until they gave me the contract."
"You are kidding, right?" Cade slapped his hands on his good leg and roared with laughter. "The big city doctor, divorced and locked in to the one place he couldn't wait to leave."
"You left just after I did, Cade. Just remember that. At least I'm happy to come back to the farm. If the old man hadn't tied the place up like he did, I could imagine us selling it off and going our own way. Give him credit for thinking ahead at least. It would have
