A Visit with Sarah McGee

Toni stepped out on the front veranda of the house at Glenridge, it was a glorious day and Cole was sleeping under the watchful eye of Lee. It felt so good to be outside and she walked around the gardens and set off down the road toward Sarah and Bill’s house. Travis had reluctantly gone to Sydney on business. It was hard for him to leave his family afraid of missing anything Cole might do and right now he wasn’t doing much more than sleeping and eating. Toni assured him he wasn’t going to miss anything.

"Mornin’ Toni, how’s that boy?" Jimmy Kelp pushed his hat back.

"He’s doing just fine," she smiled shading her eyes, "how are you doing?"

"Can’t complain, headin’ out to round up some yearlings, you need anything let me know."

"Thanks, I will." She watched him ride off joined by Josh and Ian. She was surrounded by people here who only wished her good will. She didn’t know when she’d felt so safe and protected by people who were like family to her without all the bickering and walking on eggs she’d experienced with her mother. However, that was going to be tested and soon. Her mother and brother were coming over and would be staying at Glenridge. Jude she didn’t mind but her mother and Sarah together…well she didn’t know how that was going to work. Two strong minded women.

She found Sarah working in her vegetable garden, "Morning, Sarah."

"Toni, I thought that was you walking down the road how are you, getting your strength back?"

"I feel good great actually it’s so good to be outside."

"What did you do with Cole?" she walked over to the edge of the fence and took off her straw hat and wiped her brow.

"Lee’s watching him Cole is the prince of the house now. Travis left this morning for a few days."

"I heard he was going to Sydney, I bet it was hard for him to go."

"It was, poor baby and I’m talking about him not Cole." She laughed.

Sarah smiled, "He’ll be a good Daddy. Do you want some tomatoes?"

"Sure I’ll take some," Toni came through the gate. "You know Mum is coming over for two weeks."

"When is she arriving?"

"Next Sunday…I should warn you she’s a little…oh how should I put it…she’s likely to be the Queen Bee while she’s here. Sorry but I thought I should warn you."

"No worries, Toni. I’m sure she wants to see her grandson as much as I did."

"Yes, she’d be happier if Travis and I were married, though."

"It won’t be long dear I know he’s counting the days." Sarah put some tomatoes in the basket Toni carried.

"Let me know if that feels heavy, you shouldn’t be carrying anything heaver than Cole.

"I’m impatient with myself I want nothing more than to run from here to the house and back. You have no idea how hard it was for me to lie in bed for three months."

"Oh but look what you have to show for it." Sarah straightened up putting the last tomato in the basket and took it feeling the weight, "not that I don’t trust you," she smiled and handed it back.

Toni grinned, "Where’s Bill?"

"They’re turning on the power to the butcher shop this morning and he had to be there to make sure everything was working correctly."

"When’s the big opening?"

"Sometime this week, come inside for a drink." Sarah led the way into her cool neat little kitchen.

"Oh I meant to tell you, Lucy’s gone into hospital just this morning."

"Has she, oh great I hope there are no complications, it seems like all the babies are coming at once. Liana’s had hers and quite a time of it too and then Ashley and Lachlan." Sarah poured her a glass of lemonade.

"I’ve so much to catch up on," Toni took a sip. "I can start driving my car this week and I’m going visiting," she smiled.

"You know somebody would take you anywhere you want to go, Toni."

"I know but it’s the idea that I can get in my car and go by myself, you know if I want to stop in Barrett’s or Nonnie’s or one of the galleries. I’ve been so confined and besides I want to show off Cole."

"Ah now I see. I’d be careful about taking him around a lot of people right now babies are so susceptible to catching things."

"I know that, I wouldn’t be taking any chances with Travis McGee’s son you can bet on that."

"You know, Toni nothing in the world can compare with what you’ve given Travis, the most precious gift in the world and you can bet he’s going to be overprotective where Cole’s concerned."

Toni looked at Sarah for a moment, "So am I, don’t think I’ll be taking any chances with him but he’s mine too and I don’t expect him to live in an ivory tower all his life. Travis has already told me Kyle is bringing in someone to shadow me, not that I like that idea but it’s necessary. There were photographers at the hospital when we left. Travis is high profile in Australia as much as he hates that it’s a fact. He’s told me I can’t be running all over the countryside alone, but I can go into The Glen. We know people there and they’re not that impressed with his notoriety."

Toni stood up, "I think I’ll be going, I don’t like to leave him for too long, thanks for the tomatoes, Sarah," She gave her a hug and a kiss.

"I’ll be up later today to see Cole, dear…don’t overdo now that you’re up and around. In my day one stayed in bed for awhile after giving birth."

"Not anymore and besides, I’ve been in bed." She grinned and carried the basket out of the door.