Chapter 2: Welcome To Tully

Tasmine’s POV

I feel someone shaking me, no I don’t want to wake up just yet, five more minutes. “Tassie wake up, it’s time to go.” My dad’s voice fills my ears as I groan, pulling the blankets over my head tighter, “No! Five more minutes!” I yelled out at him, he pulled back the covers, “Sorry we need to go.” He replied.

I groaned out, “Fine I’m up!” I snapped, he seemed to be happy with my response as I threw the blankets off me. “Good, go get cleaned up and pack up.” He said using his dad’s voice, I mumbled my reply, “Fine.” I head towards the bathroom and start getting cleaned up, once dressed I head out. I chose to wear comfortable clothing today I have my maroon Ramones t-shirt with short jeans and converse shoes, I find dad sitting down on the end of the bed waiting for me, he’s wearing a moss green tight-fitting plain t-shirt with ripped dark blue jeans, his tattoos all on show, I’m guessing he has a lot more under his clothes, so he must be a little relaxed on rules.

I quickly race around the room to make sure I have everything of mine packed in my bag, grabbing it as I follow him towards the car, loading my gear in the back while dad hands back the room key. I climb into the front seat waiting for him, getting my phone ready for the next book in the series.

“So, Dad, if I were to bring a boy home with tattoos would you approve?” I asked, I wonder if he would ever let me date, I know mum would. “What?! No boys miss! You are way too young!” He snapped, “Wow!” I replied, trying not to sound like a bitch. “What? That is reasonable? I was a sixteen-year-old boy once, I know what they are like.” He said, sounding so old right now.

He really is not getting it is he?

“You're acting like I have never had a boyfriend for all you know I could be on my tenth, but you have heaps of tattoos, so you cannot be judgmental on that.” I snapped. He looked like he wanted to yell at me and laugh at the same time. “Jesus, are you trying to give me a heart attack? Yes, tattoos do not bother me as long as it’s not covering the whole face.” He said, sounding odd like he doesn’t want to talk about this. I raised an eyebrow at him, like he would have a heart attack at his age and being fit, “Maybe?” I said.

“I know you have never had a boyfriend Tasmine, Jane wrote about it in the letter.” He said, I looked at him in shock. That is right, my mum's letter! “Oh, hey let me read that!” I snapped at him. “No, what have I said?” He said with his eyebrows up, I groaned that it's right to use my manners and blah blah blah rolling my eyes. “Dad, please can I read the letter from Mum,” I said, doing the good girl voice that I use in class.

He smiled and nodded his head, “You may Tassie.” He said, sounding smug, he handed me over the letter, I held the letter in my hands shaking. Do I want to know why she kept so much from me, what life would I have had if she had chosen to stay with my dad? I would have known my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins if I had any left that wants to get to know me.

My wish of having siblings could have happened, no way would I ever have only one child, I want at least two to three when I have married the man of my dreams, well and truly after finishing school, UNI or TAFE, travelled Australia, and the world, saved up enough money to buy our own house and get married before bringing children into the world.

**THE NOTE FROM MUM (JANE KELLY)**

Dear Lee,

God this is so hard to write, never thought I would be doing this nor need to. Ok first off, I am so sorry for leaving you. That fight was stupid, I should have listened to you and not taken off like that. No matter how many times I apologise to you, you will never get the time back with Tassie, for that, I am terribly sorry. The main reason for this letter is I have stage four breast cancer, trying to keep it together for her but I know I don’t have long.

I know I have best friends here to keep an eye on her however, I would rather you be her guardian. You are her father, you should spend time getting to know each other again. Along with our family, I was young, stupid, suffering from PND, and robbed everyone of time with our little angel. By the time I realised what I had truly done it was too late or maybe I felt it was too late, to try and fix us, fix what I had done to us.

She’s grown up to be such a beautiful young lady, she has the best bits of both of us. She loves books, the same type of movies as us, music, etc. Yes, she is a looker better get your gun ready to keep those boys at bay, more so if those boys that she used to be friends with are still around if you’re still friends with their parents.

As far as I know, she has never been kissed nor has she had a boyfriend, nothing like us, which is good. Although it won’t be long before she does find out what boys are like, I do hope you’re not as hard as our parents were on us towards her, let her date because if she is anything like us she will find a way around those rules, but do keep a close eye on her.

But be warned she has your smart mouth mixed with my wit you will have your hands full. I know she will not like being uprooted to Tully, but she needs it. The small-town community, being able to make long-term friends, good ones, as she will need them, like the ones she had thanks to our childhood friendships.

She is an A-grade student, loves art, music, anything to do with her hands she loves and can play hockey just as well as your sister Danielle, she plays for Brisbane under sixteens and QLD’s under sixteens teams hopefully she’ll want to continue when she moves with you.

I am sorry Lee. I have been writing this letter for days. I need to finish it so it can get to you before I go. I did love you, you were the best man I have been with and I have never regretted marrying you. I have regretted leaving you, I do hope that you have moved on with someone, had more children with them, if not please you are one hot man you deserve to be loved and loved well, cause I know you, that you will pass this onto Tassie so I am keeping it PG for her.

I do wish that Tasmine finds a man that loves her as much as you used to love me, you know that saying girls marry a man like their father's. I hope it’s true that she marries a man like you when she is old enough and ready.

I will always love you, please be your fun, kind, and friendly but strict self with our little Tasmine, she will be doing her best to look strong on the outside but deep down she will be breaking apart.

Please look after her the best you can for me, I love you both very much.

Goodbye your Jane always xo

*********

As I finished reading, I did not realise I was crying, some answers but wow!

Why didn’t she tell me anything?

Why did she keep us away? 

She knew what she had done was wrong. Why didn’t she just go back?

Why couldn’t I be able to get to know my family?

I had a group of friends here?

So I could have had childhood friends like every other student at all those schools had, I could have had that?

WHY MUM?!

FUCKING COW FOR DOING THIS TO ME!

TO HIM!

I start to ball the letter up.

“Hey, you ok?” Dad asked, noticing that I was upset. “NO! WHY! WHY DID SHE LEAVE?! WHY DIDN’T SHE JUST TAKE ME BACK WHY KEEP RUNNING? WHY WHERE WE ALWAYS RUNNING?! WHY!” I was yelling so loudly while crying.

“Oh, sweetie I really do not know, I knew she was in a dark patch at the time and I was trying to help her out of it, but her new friends kept on saying other things she seemed to have believed them more than me, I wished I had the answers for you, I am sorry I just don’t,” Dad said sounding so shattered.

“I know you don’t dad, but that’s all I keep thinking is why all of the dam time.” I let out a loud sigh as I wiped my eyes. “Hopefully one day it will make sense to both of us. Do you want some food?” He asked.

“Yes, I am hungry! Dad?” I asked, each time I said his name his face lit up, “Yeah, Tas?” He asked softly. I look down at my hands, I wonder if I should ask him, I need to know. “Have you moved on?” I asked quietly hoping that he has so I have half-siblings. He quickly looked at me while keeping an eye on the road, “In what way? As in dating or remarried?” He asked, I shrug my shoulders, “Both.” I said.

He chuckles, “Yes, I have dated, it's a bit hard to get married when they find out I’m still married to my missing wife.” He sounded angry, so clearly he had found love again but they weren’t happy about the missing wife part. Oh, my mum has really fucked the both of us. “Oh, do you have someone now?” I asked softly.

If so, why wouldn’t he bring her with him?

“No, if I had I would have bought them along with me, so they could get some time with you too.” He sounded genuine about that. I smiled, that is good to know, “So” I said, sounding so lame. “Oh, look a servo let’s eat!” He said, pointing to a servo a few hundred yards down the highway. “Yes, I need to pee too,” I said, sounding way too happy after what had happened, he pulled off into the driveway only stopping at a fuel pumping station.

“Ok you go pee, baby needs some fuel too. I will meet you inside, here is some money to get whatever you want inside for us both.” He said, and he pulled out his wallet and handed me a hundred-dollar note. I look up at him in shock, wow he’s trusting me with this much money? I have never seen a hundred-dollar note before.

“This is too much dad,” I said, sounding scared, he waved his hand at me, “I need to break it anyways, also make sure you get a copy of the receipt.” He yelled out at me. I nod my head, “Ok.” I replied. I go use the loos, once done and cleaned up I go and see what food they have. I ordered dad the all-day breakfast baguette, myself a bacon baguette a bottle of juice as well, along with some lollies, chocolates, chips, and soft drinks for the road, I didn’t get him a drink as I have no idea if he wanted a coffee or something else, I grabbed the food and head towards an open, clean table.

Which took longer than I thought as they seem to be a popular pit stop for many people here. I saw dad had gone to pay for his fuel. He came over, I managed to stop him before he sat down. “I didn’t get you a drink dad, I didn’t know what you wanted to drink,” I said softly, he smiled, “That is ok, I will go get myself some strong coffee.” He replied, I start eating, mmm bacon! I love bacon. It's like a girl’s best friend.

I see dad is on his way with his coffee, he sits and takes a sip of his drink. “Argh, damn that is one bad cup of coffee.” He grumbles, grabbing three packets of sugar, and pours them into his coffee, gives it a good stir then takes another sip. “Tad better it will do, wow did you think I was really hungry?” He asked, sounding shocked.

Oh, yeah should I say it’s because I don’t fucking know you? No, that is too harsh. “It looked like something a man would eat, also got some more road trip food, here is your chance,” I said as he looked at me shocked, he starts laughing, “Good thinking on the snack food, you might have to have half of this if I cannot eat it all, also good job on the money was expecting not much changed back.” He said, sounding proud.

I looked at him shocked with my mouth wide open, “Wow so little trust their dad!” I said, sounding upset. I laughed, “Well it was more like handing a big note to a teenager, I knew what I would have done when I was your age, I mean it in a good way.” He mumbles around his mouth full of food.

I nodded my head while I continued to eat. “Now we are going to have to stop in Townsville and order or buy you some new bedroom items.” He said matter of factly.

I looked at him oddly while I took a sip of my drink, “Why?” I was confused. He finished his mouth full before answering, “Well your room I had left it the way you had it when you were four, you have outgrown it all.”

“Ok cool, does that mean I can paint the room too?” I asked excitedly. Oh, I do love this idea. “Depends.” He said it looked like he doesn’t want to open this type of can of worms. I looked at him in question, “On what?” I asked, he had a big grin on his face, “On the colour.” He replied, I like the sound of this, “Was thinking either grey or charcoal with a pop of purple or teal.” I said with a smile on my face.

He looks like he’s thinking for a bit and nods his head, “Cool, we can get the paint when we get back to Tully, I have already repainted the house inside and out apart from your room a year ago so we won’t need to do much in preparing the room.” He said. “Ok, so I have a budget?” I asked, hoping he doesn’t, but won’t kill me if he does.

He squints his eyes at me like I just asked a stupid question. “Yes,” He dragged me out and I smiled, “Good.” I smiled at him, he was taken aback by that comment, “I get the final say though.” He said pointing a finger at me.

I can work with that, it is his money after all. “Sure, I am ok with that,” I mumble. We finished our food and headed towards his car. We got in and headed towards Townsville while listening to the book, around four hours later we arrived in Townsville. Heading towards Fantastic Furniture, we pulled up into the car park, got out, and headed towards the door.

“Hey, dad, am I allowed a double bed?” I asked, he looked like I asked him if I could have a boy in my bed. “No, either a single or king single only miss, nice try though.” He replied, I groaned. “Ok,” I mumbled.

Damn he is good, I found a king single that I like that has heaps of storage drawers underneath but also has a bookcase at the top of the bedhead, a matching bedside table, a set of draws, a desk, chair, bookcase, mattress, pillows. The rest he said I can order online and get them to deliver, this lot he puts what he can in the car as they are in flat packs the rest he has gotten them to deliver at a cheaper cost than normal as the delivery driver wanted a photo with the car.

I chose to do all white so all the other items that I will be adding into the room will pop, plus he would not let me get the ones I really wanted as the white ones were cheaper, now that I had a chance to really think I actually like what I have chosen. I cannot wait to get to his place to see how they will fit into this room, hopefully, it’s big enough for it all.

“Well, that was weird.” I said, I started laughing as I looked through the photos I had taken of the pair of them, “You’re telling me.” Dad grumbles. “Now please order the rest of your items that you need online but let me look at the order before you process it.” He ordered, “Ok” I mumbled.

Leaning over pulling my tablet out of my backpack, I started looking online for sheets, etc. I found a lovely bedding set. I bought everything that I had seen on the bed too as I loved it, I didn’t tell dad as I have used my own money for this one. It’s all light blues and purples with cool flower patterns, I know the picture that I had found was for a double bed but I believe with the king single the two European size pillows will fit, can never have too many pillows on the bed makes it comfortable to watch tv or work on your computer.

“Do I need a rug and blinds?” I asked, he chuckled, “Maybe a rug, but I wouldn’t worry about that right now, you don’t need blinds, you already have them. But if your old room is on the small side, I do have two other rooms you can pick from.” He replied, wow how big is his house? “Ok, cool. So how many grandparents do I have?” I asked, he smiled that I am finally asking about our family, well seeing as I’m going to be staying I should know who shares the same blood as me right?

“Well I only have my mum left, Grandad had passed away a year ago, your mum only has a dad left her mum had died when your mum was nineteen, she was never close to him at all they used to fight all the time, your Grandma cannot wait to see you, she missed you so much her little friend she used to call you.” He sounded sad.

“Oh...” I mumbled. Wow, thanks mum, someone else who never got the chance to get to know me. “Does my mum have any siblings?” I asked hopefully, I might have cousins. Dad looked sad that my mum didn’t tell me any of this, “Yes, a brother is pretty angry at her for what she has done, he is married and has four boys the oldest is a year older than you.” He said, sounding like he feels the same way as my Uncle.

Wow, that is a lot of family that I had missed out on, “Names?” I asked hopefully, he looked over at me shocked while he took a sip of water. “Will you remember them all?” He asked, sounding surprised. I shake my head, “Probably not.” I said if I am being honest, I want to cry again, “Don’t worry your Uncle Jimmy will be in Tully the minute I call to tell him you’re living with me again.” He said, sounding happy.

I smiled at that knowledge, “Does he not live in Tully?” I asked as he shook his head, “No, he lives in Cairns.” He replies, so many questions are going through my head right now, and I hate the fact that I have no information on my own family.

“Ok, do you have any siblings?” I asked, I remembered in my mum’s note she had mentioned a sister. “Yes, I have a twin brother and a little sister.” He replied, sounding sad that I don’t know this. 

Oh, I am shocked, “Cool as in identical?” I asked hopeful that would be so fucking cool, he laughs, “No, my brother’s name is James he was married but Joanne had passed away giving birth to his youngest daughter ten years ago. It’s just him and his three daughters, the oldest is eighteen this year she’s in year twelve, then the next is your age and the other is ten years old and giving him the most grief. They live in Tully, my sister lives in Sydney, she plays for the Australian women’s hockey team, her name is Danielle, not married yet and no kids.” He replied, sounding happy talking about his siblings.

I just want to go play with her now, and pick her brains, “What really?! Will she be coming up soon? Can she teach me a few things?” I was so excited that I have someone so high up in the sport that I love so much, he starts laughing, “Now you sound like her, I will ask her when she’s free next. Here we are welcome to Tully Miss Tasmine Rose Kelly, the wettest town in Australia, and your family hometown.” He said, sounding so proud and happy to bring me home.

Wow, this is a lot smaller than I thought it was, we drive past a giant gumboot with a green tree frog on it, I thought that was cute and funny at the same time, I want to ask him to stop so I can take a photo in front of it, but I get the feeling only if your visiting you do that not if your moving here.

One small street that has most of everything major on it, the size alone is going to take some time to get used to. A few minutes later we pulled up to a driveway. I wonder how big the school is and if they are friendly because it’s a small town on all of those TV shows small-town people are so kind and friendly. “This is home sweetheart,” Dad said, drawing me out of my thoughts. 

Dad looked happy to finally have me home. The house looks bigger than I thought it would be so that is a bonus. It is a two-story house, with a small front patio, under the house I cannot see too good but looks like he has turned it into another living area, cane fields on two sides of the property, unsure if he owns that part, I can see heaps of old smashed up in need of love cars on one side of the property. Nice flower beds around the front and on one side along with a veggie patch to by the looks of it, it’s a very neat and tidy type of house and I can tell dad has looked after this old Queenslander, now I cannot wait to see what this house looks like on the inside.