Page 16

Joe

As Joe walked around to the back of the sedan, Georgia started squealing and held her arms out to him, pushing away from her father.

“Happy Christmas, kiddo,” Joe said, taking his little niece and pressing his face against her sweet-smelling cheeks. “How’s my little girl?”

“Jo Jo,” she said, followed by a gurgle of sounds that could have meant anything.

“You smell like strawberries, Georgie-girl.”

“That’s why we were late, Joe,” Jaclyn said. “We would have been here half an hour ago, but I made the mistake of giving Georgia her Sippy cup after I put her in the Christmas dress I bought specially for her to wear today.”

“A very pretty dress,” Joe said.

“It was, before she tipped the drink all down the front. I had to take it off, sponge it down, and throw it in the clothes dryer for fifteen minutes. She’s probably still got strawberry milk on her skin.”

“Thus, our late, but sweet-smelling arrival.” His brother grinned. “Wait until you get married, Joe; you’ve got all of this ahead of you.”

Joe pulled a face. “I have to find someone to marry first; you got the best girl in Bindarra Creek.”

“And I got the best brother-in-law in town.” Jac patted Joe playfully on the shoulder as she walked around to the back of the car. “Can you unhook the car trailer and open the boot, please, love?” she said to Ryan.

Joe quickly unhooked the trailer and the boot popped open, and Ryan leaned in, taking out a couple of green Woolies bags.

“I’ll take this in first, and then I’ll come back for the stuff that’s in the esky,” he said.

“I’ll get the pavlova,” Jaclyn said.

“I’ve got a spare hand.” Joe sat Georgia on his hip. “I can bring the esky if you like.”

“Sure?” Ryan asked as he reached for a third green grocery bag.

Joe rolled his eyes. “Not a very heavy esky; not a problem at all.”

Once the boot was empty, the convoy of the three adults and one child made their way to the back of Joe’s house.

Ryan looked around as they crossed the yard. “You’ve done a lot of work since we were last here.”

“Yep, weekends are for working on the place. Wait until we’re inside and you see the house. I’ve picked up a lot about renos and landscaping since I gave away shearing.”

“It’s the good teacher you’ve had.” Ryan chuckled.

Violet wasn’t at the door as Joe put the esky down and held the screen door opened for Ryan and Jaclyn to walk in and put the bags on the kitchen bench. He handed Georgia over and turned back for the esky.

As he came back into the kitchen, Jaclyn and Violet were shaking hands. He put the esky down as they introduced themselves.

“Hello,” Jaclyn was saying. “You must be Violet.”

“Yes, I am, and you must be Jaclyn,” Violet said with a smile. She sent Joe a tentative glance, seeking reassurance.

Joe smiled back and walked to stand beside her. “Violet, meet Georgia, my very clever niece who obviously takes after her uncle. She’s been calling me Jo Jo ever since she started talking last month. And this is my big brother, Ryan.”

“Hello, Ryan.” Violet turned back to Jaclyn after shaking Ryan’s hand. “Thanks so much for inviting me today. I really feel as though I’ve gate-crashed a family do.”

‘Not at all, Violet. We wouldn’t have asked you if we hadn’t wanted to.”

“Thank you. Now tell me how I can help in the kitchen. I believe you’re cooking, Jaclyn?”

“Once we get this stuff in the fridge, I’ll put the meat in the oven to heat it through. It’s already cooked and sliced. Then I just have to make the gravy and put the baked vegies in the air fryer to warm them up.” She turned to Ryan. “You did put the air fryer in, didn’t you, Ryan?”