Loved But Broken

Chapter 15

When we get to Townsville, we would order a scan and get doctors sorted out for the duration of my pregnancy.

‘I'm ok babe, thank you.’ I replied to his query. Walking out of the bathroom a short time later after washing my face and fixing my hair back. I leaned into his embrace while he was sitting on the bed against the wall. One arm around me and one on my belly. Picture perfect moment.

We were going to be a family. I would have to finish school somehow but I have time to figure that out. In this moment I only needed him and our growing bumblebee. Nothing else mattered. Just William and our baby. We still had about a day’s drive to get to Townsville and then to the farm where we would be living while William worked up here. I’d have to get my driver’s licence as soon as I could. I’d need a way to get around to get supplies and to my appointments when I get them organised for check-ups.

Looking over at my god while he drives concentrating hard on the roads. This journey was almost over but our journey together was only just beginning. Placing a hand on my loves lap while he drives, he turns slightly smiling at me. We were at peace the three of us. Tilting my head back on the seat I closed my eyes and fell asleep the wind blowing through my hair from the window that was down slightly letting air flow into the car. My nausea was still there but I was able to contain it with dry biscuits and some ginger beer. We didn’t stop unless we had, we drove on for the day stopping a few hours from Townsville in Port Douglas, the view of the ocean was amazing the vast blue as far as the eye can see it was a nice change from the sugar cane, we had driven through hours earlier.

The smell of the sugar cane was making me extremely nauseous this baby wasn’t having any of it. Thankfully, the dry biscuits and ginger beer got me through it, seeing the ocean now I just wanted to dip my toes in it and splash William too. The Great Barrier Reef, full of exotic fish and sea animals was something you could only read about in books back home in the school library.

I remember seeing it years ago and swimming in it when Pa brought us to Queensland a couple of times the first time, we seen it, Mark and I were only young kids still and Billie was still home with us the first time we came here. It was the year Nan died and Pa wanted us to have some fun so he brought us to Queensland where we spent most of the time around the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. We spent time with Pa’s oldest friends Sally and Gavin. They took us to see the big Pineapple, Underwater World, Ettamogah Pub and a honey place that was designed in honey bees and had all different honey samples. We swam in the beach at Maroochydore ate fish and chips on a rug in the sand while the seagulls tried to steal them. I’m sure our faces were very much like mine was now full of awe. William wanted me to explore this country and I was pleased I got to explore this part of this beautiful country with him. We were making memories together. Nothing else mattered to either us. As long as we were happy and our baby was healthy, we were content. But being content sometimes just isn’t enough.

After stopping along the water like requested we had some lunch refuelled the car at the Caltex Service Station, bought a few more snacks for the rest of the journey and William let me dip my toes in the salty water. The rushing water over my feet felt so relaxing even though the sand felt grainy under my bare feet and stuck to them now like mud on a rainy day. It was a joy to a few moments to forget the last few months and my argument and not talking to my family because Billie once again came in and ruined our lives. Looking up at William that familiar gleam in his golden eyes was magnificent I could feel myself getting lost in his gaze. If some asked me a year ago if I knew what it was like to love someone, I wouldn’t have been able to answer them. William had truly come into my life like a whirlwind except when things got crazy, he didn’t leave. He stayed by my side and we grew into the couple that we are today. To allow us to take the time to stop and play in the crystal blue waters and golden grains of sand along the beach in this mini city.

“Soph, sweetheart we need to get back on the road if we are going to make it to the farm tonight before it gets too late.” William called to me from the top of the sand bank. Careful not to stand on any stray blue bottle jelly fish that find themselves on the shore along here, I made my way back to William. He looked at my feet and just smiled that glamourous grin he gets when he is speechless. He could see the sand caked all over my feet, shoes in my hand, we found a shower away from the shore to wash away the fun I just had. Until the next time I was able to get to the beach.

“Babe, you know I can’t wait until we get there, we both could do with a rest before you start work in a few days.” I tiredly said to him, reaching him and standing on my tippy toes slightly to bring his lips to mine to kiss. What started a started as a simple peck on the lips turned into a full on pash on the shores above the beach. If we had a camera it would have made a marvellous picture to see the love that we both had towards each other. I thought back to my assignment at the start of the year and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself in my thoughts that was so worried on what to write and it turned out perfect even earning me an award in a poetry competition. My stomach chose that moment to growl and we broke from our kiss. William just smiling even wider at me. “Better get you some food my loves,” he said while placing a hand on my small bump. “What do you feel like sweetheart?”

“Babe, can we get some seafood?” I asked him sweetly he knew I didn’t eat seafood he looked a little taken aback that I’d requested it but his smile reappeared and he laughed a little.

“Of course, my sweet you can have anything you desire.” Kissing me again softly we headed back to the car to go find a take away store and get a big seafood basket, he loved his seafood almost as much as I usually despised it. Having had a bad experience when I was younger of being given undercooked fish, I was extremely cautious of ever eating it again. William knew the story of my not liking seafood very much but I have this sudden want to have some. Looking down at my little bump I couldn’t help but form a smile.

We found a take away shop and were now eating our seafood mix while driving down the road to our final destination. Townsville and farm life, I couldn’t help but be happy. My life was finally starting to make sense and be enjoyable. I was looking forward to my new life with the love of my life and my newborn baby. Even though I was only roughly eight weeks along I was ready to start this new journey and the closer we got I knew it was just the beginning for us.

Finally, after driving for another three or so hours we turned off the main road down a long windy gravel road leading to the homestead off the “Kinphadanarbo Meadows” the driveway felt like it was never going to end until just within view came what appeared to be turret or steeples like you would find on an old church or castle just behind a hill. As we reached the peak of the hill the most spectacular building appeared it was a mansion with a wraparound white veranda and a porch swing seemed to be hanging from the ceiling to the right of the main door. The windows sparkled like newfound gold freshly sleuthed from a river bank, the grounds were a luscious green that made you want to run barefoot though it all day and night. My eyes were wide in amazement that this is what we would be calling home for the next several months. Standing on the front steps were an elderly couple the lady had dark ebony hair pulled back loosely in a bun, her dress was covered in flowers with a lovely white and blue apron wrapped around her. The gentleman had ivory hair combed back softly with a messy just ran my fingers through it style, he was wearing worn overalls and they were covered in grease and oil from working on so many of the machinery that could been seen tucked away to far side of the house in a well organised barn styled garage. Looking out I was reminded of our quaint little agriculture area at the back of our school and marvelled at this size of this place. You could fit easily thirty of our agriculture yards at once in the barn where the machinery was now sitting and that was just from what I could see from where I was sitting in the passenger seat of Williams car before pulling up. Once the engine was off William stepped out of the car first and came around to my side and opened the door holding his hand out for me to take before walking up the small garden path lined with tulips, and gardenias along the front yard it was a wonderful view, I was taking a mental photograph of it while we walked along the path to the awaiting couple.

Mrs Bethany Wilderflower and Mr Bobby Wilderflower.