Rhythm
by
John Terry Moore
CHAPTER 12
It was a few days before Christmas, down on the farm. Adam and Patrick had been given a week off provided they ran their ‘hill’ at the farm at least twice a day. They had won every race by increasing margins as the rowing season progressed. So, Michael rewarded them with time to relax and recharge their batteries. Melanie, Patrick’s mum had been invited for Christmas, and the Church ‘clan’ had all decided to attend this year; David and Libby with Angela and Madeline, and Megan and Ted with Jimmy. And of course what Christmas lunch would be complete without Will and Maurie, who had been preparing his ‘one-liners’ for Patrick all week.
It was just after 5.30am Christmas morning and barely daylight when they set off, Patrick riding Hector and Adam on Prince. Jack yapped excitedly as he and Barney ran alongside. The warm summer air was redolent with eucalyptus and smoke from distant bush fires. They were on their way to Pearson’s Ridge, the highest part of the property, where there was a barn full of hay and a spring with beautiful sweet water. Tom Church had shut a big mob of sheep in around the barn to eat down the surplus wild grass and vegetation so if bushfires threatened, the fuel load would be reduced and there would be little to burn. That was his way of protecting the property from the worst ravages of the summer fires that could decimate this part of the country, given the right conditions. He’d asked if the boys could ride out, open the gate and drive the sheep into the nearby run. Adam suggested, whilst it was only about a one hour ride, that they leave really early before the heat of the day, and perhaps be back in time for a late breakfast. Despite the early hour, the horses were sweating profusely, but they made good progress and were at Pearson’s Ridge just after 6.30am. They unsaddled the horses and watered them, then opened the gate and walked the sheep out. “Let’s go to the lookout,” said Adam, taking Patrick’s hand. They walked around the other side of the shed, and the vista almost took Patrick’s breath away. The sun had just come up and was still low on the horizon, but despite a light smoky haze, the Grampians stood in the background like a rocky sentinel, with a patchwork quilt of paddocks around their feet, sprinkled with bushland and a few farmhouses. Adam sat down and patted the rocky ledge in front of him, opening his legs so Patrick could scoot between them. Immediately, Barney sat on one side of Patrick and Jack on the other, and the boys laughed at them. Everyone had been amazed at how well Jack and Barney had got along together. When no one was looking they were the closest of mates and even slept together. But when Patrick or Adam were present, the dogs grew possessive of them, particularly Patrick!
Patrick gave a contented sigh and leaned back against Adam’s chest. ‘Life couldn’t get any better than this,’ he thought. In his wildest dreams he had never expected to be a few weeks short of his twenty-first birthday and to have met his life partner. And they were doing so well, he realised; they seemed to achieve things without effort. Importantly, they both felt a deep sense of ‘us’ ----- understanding that in a few months they had improved each other as individuals, but that those gains were simply re-invested in their partnership. He draped his arms around Adam’s legs and looked out across the beautiful countryside. He knew where he wanted to be and it was right here. He loved the farm with a passion; Adam and his family all recognised that fact. And he loved Adam. He snuggled further into Adam’s legs and murmured, “I love you Ads.”
Adam’s arms encircled him and his response was whispered in his ear, “Enough to marry me?” he asked. There it was. Pure and simple. Getting down to the nitty-gritty without all the hype and bullshit, but done in the most meaningful way because it was the only way Adam Church knew how to operate. This is what he wanted for the rest of his life, with Patrick. And here he was, with eyebrows raised, the question still on his lips. His smile started to fade because Patrick simply couldn’t get the words started. Finally he grabbed Adam’s hands. “Is that what I think it is?” he smiled. Adam nodded, with the freckles smeared with some dampness.
“Then of course the answer is yes,” said Patrick. “Maurie always said the Church guys were romantic, and I must admit you haven’t let the side down,” he laughed. Patrick grew pensive for a moment. “You set this up, didn’t you? The ride out here, the sheep; ----- your dad could easily have done that! So who else knows about this?” he laughed, not unhappy with his other half, but fascinated with the effort Adam had invested in this little exercise.
“Well dad of course, we set that up during the week. And your mum.”
“Mum?” blinked Patrick. “Why?”
“Darls,” said Adam. “I know I get a bit carried away at times, but I thought I’d only get one chance at this and I wanted to do it properly. And as we’ve discussed before, we don’t need to ape hetero marriage, right?”
Patrick nodded and smiled. “But you thought you’d pinch one of the nice things the heteros do and asked mum if you could marry me? Asked for my hand in marriage!”
Adam nodded his head glumly, feeling stupid. Patrick grabbed him and kissed him. “Please don’t get upset because you’ve been romantic. Your dad and Uncle Will are the same, and I actually love you even more for it! So who else knows?”
“Maurie,” said Adam. “Go and look in Prince’s saddlebag, the left-hand side.” Patrick came striding back with a slim parcel, oblong in shape, about the size of an old fashioned pencil case. Patrick undid the paper carefully to reveal a beautiful polished timber case.
“Open it,” said Adam. “This is our present to each other, Christmas, birthdays, the lot.” Patrick opened the case to reveal two beautiful signet rings, a pair, obviously very old; one with a blue stone, the other green.
“See,” he said softly, “they match our eyes. The blue stone is yours,” he indicated as he slipped the ring on Patrick’s finger, “and the green is mine,” he explained as Patrick pushed the other one on Adam’s ring finger. “Maurie came across these at an auction just after we became a couple and probably paid a fortune for them. They’re about a hundred and fifty years old, and belonged to two English gentlemen who came to live in Victoria, and settled only a short distance from here. They were pioneers in this district and just wonderful farmers. But they obviously loved each other,” smiled Adam, “just like you and I do, and we’re also going to be excellent farmers, aren’t we? So Maurie thought we had so much in common with the old guys, and thought we might need these one day. I knew your ring finger is the same size as mine, and when I tried them on, they fitted perfectly. I thought we could wear them on our left hand for now and transfer them to the right hand when we put our wedding bands on. Whaddya think?”
“I think you’re quite amazing,” smiled Patrick. “That’s what I think.”
It was just before 9.00am when the little convoy rode into the yard. Tom Church noted the broad smile across Adam’s features and relaxed. He thought he had never seen the baby of the family so happy; even the weekend after they had become a couple was nothing on this. Adam positively glowed. The boys had dismounted and Barney was trying to remind Jack who was boss, but no one took much notice anyway, and the dogs headed toward the water dish. Suddenly a figure shot out the kitchen door with a roar. Prince shied but Adam quietened him. It was Moaning Megan, who ran across the yard with a shout. Magnificent Megan who took one look at her brother’s face and then made a bee line for Patrick.
“You bloody beauty guys!” she roared. “Fancy getting a brother-in-law as good as you, Pat! Adam is the luckiest prick this side of the Black Stump! Welcome to the bloody Church family,” she said, as she threw her arms around Patrick and embraced him. “You’re the greatest, Pat,” she said in a more normal tone of voice. “Blind Freddy can see you guys are just getting better all the time. And you;” she said, pointing at Patrick‘s chest, “bring a touch of class to this lot.” She turned, grabbed her brother, and held him in a bear hug that would have done justice to a sumo wrestler. “Pity you’re in strict training,” she smiled, “would have given us an excuse to get properly pissed.” Mary watched her daughter and laughed, even though the language bordered on the profane. Megan had approved of Patrick from day one; but she had her own way of working people out. Megan could be moody and belligerent, but when she finally decided she liked someone, she was their friend for life. Thus she was highly protective of a small cadre of people, and if they happened to be family as well, like Patrick, then all the better. And Megan was smart. She had quietly worked out what was going on, watching her father pacing around the kitchen like a caged lion. Fancy going up to Pearson’s Ridge on Christmas Day! Mary, who was calmly enjoying a coffee with Melanie, Patrick’s mother, had also recognised the sudden change in the farm’s routine and Adam’s facial expression told all. The remainder of the family, having driven up the night before, wandered out to the back yard, mystified with the continuing noise that Megan was making. The old red Mercedes rumbled into the yard and Maurie jumped out even before the car had stopped. A few seconds later he threw his arms around Adam, then Patrick. “Congratulations,” he said, and the remainder of the family caught up. “Trust you to be such a drama queen,” he sniped at Patrick, unable to wipe the delight from his face.
“But I’ve had such a good teacher,” said Patrick. “Knowledge like yours only comes from many, many years of experience.” The family roared; it was going to be a lively Christmas Day. And somehow, the day flew away. Mary and Melanie watched with a degree of amusement as the grandchildren, in turn, sat, lay, jumped on and generally competed for Adam and Patrick’s attention. The dogs were allowed inside and they also shadowed them. Everyone relaxed. Boxing Day dawned even warmer; a smart day to stay indoors after the chores were done and the boys had run their ‘hill’ a few times.
Tom had called a family conference for 11.00am. They all sat around the dining room table as Tom and Will, Mary and Maurie, outlined the future of the family property as they saw it. Adam and Patrick had both decided they would switch to a Bachelor of Agriculture degree with the Dean’s support. Several subjects in their first year could be counted towards their eventual degree, but they would need special coaching because they were changing disciplines and because their training for the Australian titles and possibly the Olympics would be so demanding. After finishing university, they would move back to the farm, and spend their first year with Tom and Mary, as they all made a transition to the future; Tom and Mary to part retirement in a house and five acres near town, and Adam and Patrick as the principals of the family business.
Will and Tom would leave most of their funds in the farm; David would draw up a document to create a family company which would allow Adam and Patrick to purchase a majority shareholding after a qualifying period. Tom looked around the room. There were smiles everywhere. Not one person dissented. To them, it was a natural and normal decision, given the level of trust and respect accorded the boys. Tom smiled with satisfaction. The trust accorded Patrick, in particular, as a newcomer to the family circle was paramount. Maurie and Mary were great judges of character and they knew a winner when they saw one. Patrick and Adam were obviously improving each other as individuals, but their sense of integrity, teamwork and communication was so good, any concerns or objections had already been dealt with long ago. The die was cast; after consultation with the family they decided to have the wedding in the second week of September, at the International Centre for Human Partnerships chapel in the university grounds.