Page 105 of Queenslander
“You could get educational services. Extra time on assignments. A tutor.”
Ron smiled, but not with her eyes. “Not right now. But I appreciate the offer.”
34
ONE HOUR
On Nev’s request, the lawyer arrived first, parking under the Moreton Bay fig tree in the gravel carpark between Stone House and the horse barn. Maude’s terms included a one-hour supervised workplace visit, for which Nev paid the lawyer, holding out a check-sized envelope the moment the woman from Mareeba stepped out of her Toyota Camry. The tweed skirt suit and high heels looked out of place on the farm.
“Make sure it’s enough.”
“I’m sure it is.” The lawyer shook Nev’s outstretched hand. She had a light grip, soft hands, and was over-dressed. “Ms. Bickerman, I presume. Call me Karen.”
“Nev.”
“What’s that short for?” the woman asked.
“Niamh.”Neeve.
“That’s a pretty name. Irish?” The lawyer surveyed the farmyard as she chatted, no doubt filing observations for later. “Are you Irish? You look like you could be. Is that a sunburn, or does your skin always look like that?”
Nev hated this already. Internally, she was debating with herself if there was an upper limit to what she was willing to do to help Ron get parental rights back. “I have barn boots you canborrow.” It was likely murder, the upper limit. She couldn’t see herself committing murder for this project. She still had morals. That felt good.
The woman smiled. “Brought my own, thanks.” She took muck boots out of the trunk of her Camry and changed. “My uncle has a farm out in Chillagoe.”
“Not much water there. Bit dry.” Closer to the Outback, dusty roads, desert. Red dirt.
“Your grandfather had a tin mine. What town?”
“Ravenshoe. Forty-five minutes south of here.” Nev jammed her hands in her jeans pockets. Had debated dressing up for this meeting, had decided not to. “Everyone’s coming?”
The woman nodded. “Except Ronnie, who wasn’t invited.”
Good. This would be harder if Ron were here. Without her, nothing could go wrong.
“Thanks for arranging this, Karen.”
“No worries.” The woman checked the contents of her purse before closing the Camry door. A custom pink Chevy Silverado turned off Boar Pocket Road and rolled up the long gravel drive towards them. Nev felt like she might throw up.Easy…She gentled herself in the same voice she reassured the horses she trained. She could do anything for one hour.
“That must be Maude,” the lawyer said.
Nev nodded. They watched the obnoxiously-bright truck approach.
The lawyer scribbled something on a legal pad. “You’ve never met her before.”
“Nope.”
Nev’s heart raced like before a gunfight. She would be the sound of one hand clapping. She could be the perfect host.
The lawyer turned to her with a frown. “Before she gets here, I want to say how much I respect you for doing this.”
Nev blinked. “Least I can do.” The gravel had worn thin in places, she realized. She scuffed the dirt with the sole of her boot.
The lawyer lowered her voice. “If she starts acting erratic, I’ll wrap things up early and get her out of here. If you can’t stand her, don’t say anything to her, catch my eye and tap the top of your head. I’ll make up an excuse to end the meeting early and she won’t know it was your idea.”
Nev was impressed. “You’ve done this before.”
Karen unbuttoned the top button of Nev’s shirt and fluffed up the front of her hair. “There, much better. Hands out of your pockets. Don’t slouch. Everything will be fine.”
