Amy's Rest

by S R Silcox

  “Oh,” Georgia replied. “Are you sure?”

  Nick nodded and as he opened his mouth to reply, Tara spoke first.

  “Thank you for being Nick’s partner, but I’m okay now.”

  “Okay then,” Georgia said. If she detected the hint of jealousy coming from Tara, she didn’t say anything. Instead she said to Zoe, “I guess we can go and have a look around, if you haven’t got any other plans?”

  “Nope. I’m all yours,” Zoe said.

  “Right, well, good luck with the dance,” Georgia said, hugging Nick and nodding at Tara.

  Zoe gave Nick a cursory slap on the shoulder. “Let me know how you go.”

  Nick saluted and then turned and walked back into the crowd with Tara.

  As Zoe and Georgia headed back outside, Georgia said, “Was it just me or was Tara claiming her territory?”

  “I thought so too,” Zoe replied. “Can’t blame her really.”

  Georgia glanced sideways at Zoe, her eyes glinting.

  “That dress was pretty spectacular,” Zoe admitted. “So what do you want to do first?”

  “Eat,” Georgia replied. “I’m starving.”

  “Deep fried show food coming up,” Zoe said, and when Georgia linked her arm into hers, Zoe couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.

  After consuming the customary Dagwood Dog and wandering around Side Show Alley, Georgia suggested they have a go on the Dodgem Cars.

  “Are you sure?” Zoe asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Yes, why?” Georgia asked.

  “You don’t seem to be the Dodgems type.”

  Georgia crossed her arms. “And what type is that?”

  “Too nice,” Zoe said with a shrug.

  “You don’t think I’ll be happy to smash you in a Dodgem car?” Georgia scoffed.

  “You’ll have to catch me first,” Zoe joked.

  “You’re on,” Georgia replied, pulling Zoe over to the ticket counter.

  Zoe climbed into her car, waggling her eyes at Georgia, who poked out her tongue in return. She clicked on her seat belt and looked across at her competition. There were a couple of kids getting into cars, who Zoe resolved to go easy on, and as she glanced back across to say something to Georgia, she saw Frank Dickson climbing into a car across the other side of the arena. She took a deep breath and told herself not to even think about him and to focus only on Georgia and having fun.

  Georgia got in the first two hits since she started behind Zoe, and Zoe tried to avoid the tangle of kids in the corner to chase Georgia down. In her peripheral vision, Zoe saw a car coming fast directly across the arena. As she turned the corner, she giggled when Georgia got herself stuck between two kids, but then Frank came hurtling in from behind, hitting Georgia’s car, causing her head to snap back.

  Zoe narrowed her eyes and as she waited for the jam to clear, Frank glanced around and when his eyes settled on Zoe, his face turned from laughing to horror and as soon as he was free, he took off, with Zoe in pursuit. She zoomed past Georgia, who was giggling as a little girl t-boned her, narrowly avoided a collision with a boy who had managed to get himself spinning backwards, and closed in on Frank.

  As she cut a corner at the end of the arena, Frank turned at the other end and Zoe saw her chance. She spun the steering wheel hard and took off through the middle, her eyes focused only on Frank. He turned another corner and Zoe turned with him. Just as he straightened up, Zoe ploughed into him, hard, lifting the back of the car and jerking his head sideways.

  He put his foot down and his car shot forward, straight into the path of another car. He turned and scowled at Zoe. She gave him the finger and spun her steering wheel to back away from the wall and get back on track.

  When the ride was over, Georgia grabbed Zoe’s hand. “What was that all about?”

  “What?” Zoe asked.

  “You know what,” Georgia replied. “I saw you arguing with that same man at the pub a few weeks ago, and I saw your reaction to him in the pavilion.”

  “That was Frank Dickson,” Zoe replied.

  “The Frank Dickson that sold the workshop on you?” Georgia asked.

  Zoe nodded. She let out a breath, realising how childish she must have looked in front of Georgia. “Sorry. I saw him hit you and I just saw red.”

  “The only thing I’m sorry about is that you didn’t tell me about him. I would’ve hit him too if I’d known.” Georgia smiled.

  Zoe kissed Georgia on the forehead. “Thanks.”

  “We should go find a seat somewhere,” Georgia said. “Won’t the fireworks be on soon?”

  “I’ve got a better idea,” Zoe said. “Come on.”

  FORTY-FOUR

  As they drove the now familiar roads out to Carramar, Georgia turned to look at Zoe, confused. “We’re going to the cottage?”

  “Best place to see the fireworks, I reckon,” Zoe replied. “There’s a clear view from your yard, and no-one will spill drinks down your back.”

  The creek was still running when they drove over it, even though they hadn’t had a storm in a few days, but it had gone down enough to be running under the new causeway. When they arrived at the cottage, Zoe backed the ute up so they were facing the house.

  While Zoe set the swag and sleeping bag out in back of the ute, Georgia took in the view. The predicted storms had moved further north, leaving the full moon just visible behind some lingering clouds. The sounds of the show were muted across the valley but the lights were colourful and bright. Georgia had to admit, it was pretty spectacular from where she was standing.

  “Okay. You’re all set,” Zoe said, climbing into the tray of the ute and helping Georgia up.

  Georgia propped herself up and got comfortable. “This is amazing.”

  “Told you,” Zoe replied, grinning. She shuffled down onto the swag and leaned in so their shoulders were touching. She checked her watch. “I reckon we’ve got about a half hour before they start.”

  Georgia laced her fingers into Zoe’s. “I wonder how Nick went?”

  “If he wins, we’re sure to find out about it pretty quick,” Zoe replied with a laugh.

  “He looks up to you, you know,” Georgia said.

  “So he should. I am his boss,” Zoe replied.

  “No, I mean, I think he sees you as his big sister,” Georgia said.

  “Yeah, well, he and Dallas have had a bit of a rough life. It’s good seeing him do so well.”

  “You seem to be so good with kids. Did you ever think about having any of your own?” She felt Zoe’s chest rise and then fall as she let out a breath.

  “Never found the right person to have them with, I guess,” Zoe said. “What about you?”

  It was Georgia’s turn to let out a breath. “Amy had a daughter. Harper. She’s fifteen now.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Amy’s biggest regret was not fighting for her,” Georgia said, the sadness of that memory bubbling up again. “She, we, hadn’t seen Harper since she was four. Amy’s ex-husband moved interstate and wasn’t overly supportive of her relationship with me.”

  “Do you have any contact with her now?”

  Georgia shook her head. “The last time I saw her was at the funeral. I gave her a quick hug but with her father hanging around, we didn’t get a chance to talk.” She shifted so she could lay her head on Zoe’s chest. “Harper is part of the reason I have to sell the cottage.”

  Zoe shifted her weight under Georgia’s head. “Oh?”

  “Amy’s family, they fought me for the estate.” Georgia blew out a breath. “I need to sell the cottage to pay my legal fees.”

  Georgia felt Zoe’s arms tighten around her. She closed her eyes and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

  Georgia felt Zoe’s lips brush her forehead. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Georgia snuggled in tighter. “Thanks.”

  Zoe was silent for a long while. “You didn’t think you might want to keep it?”

  Georgia shook her head.
“It just reminded me of all the promises Amy and I made to each other before she died. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it anymore, now that I’m here.”

  “Fair enough,” Zoe replied. She squeezed Georgia’s hand. “I get it.”

  Georgia relaxed again. “Thank you.” She was glad Zoe had understood. When she’d arrived in Elizabeth Creek, the history she had with the cottage didn’t matter, but the closer she got to Zoe, the more she wanted to be completely honest with her.

  “Look,” Zoe said, nodding towards town. “The lights are dimming. The fireworks must be about to start.”

  Georgia snuggled back into Zoe’s chest and watched as the lights went out on the Ferris Wheel and the first of the fireworks shot into the sky. It exploded in a shower of pink sparks, and was quickly followed by more.

  Zoe ran her fingers up and down Georgia’s arm, making Georgia shiver.

  “Cold?” Zoe asked.

  “No,” Georgia replied. She glanced up and realised that Zoe wasn’t watching the fireworks. She had her eyes fixed firmly on Georgia. “Hi,” Georgia said.

  “Hi,” Zoe replied, leaning closer. For a moment they both sat looking into each others’ eyes until Zoe finally closed the distance between them, her lips warm and soft on Georgia’s. As the fireworks went off in the distance, Georgia and Zoe made fireworks of their own.

  Zoe wondered if Georgia could feel the electricity zapping between them as they lay side-by-side in the darkness. They’d missed most of the fireworks, and Zoe didn’t regret a second of it. She reached up and pushed a stray hair off of Georgia’s face and tucked it behind her ear.

  “Are you ready to go back yet?” Zoe asked.

  Georgia shook her head.

  Zoe smiled. “Me neither.”

  When Georgia reached up and cupped Zoe’s cheek with her hand, Zoe thought she might combust. Georgia lifted her face closer and it was all the invitation Zoe needed. She closed the space between them, pressing her lips to Georgia’s, and when she felt Georgia’s hands grip hers tighter, she knew that whatever she’d been feeling about them, together, the last few days, Georgia was feeling it too.

  Georgia snaked her arm around until her hand was touching the small of Zoe’s back, pulling her closer. Zoe obliged, shuffling over until she could slip a leg between Georgia’s, their bodies touching at the hip.

  They kissed, long and slow, sensual, turning Zoe inside out with pleasure. She pulled away to catch her breath.

  “Are you sure about this?” she asked.

  Georgia nodded in reply.

  “I’m okay if you want to go slow,” Zoe said. Her body was aching to get close to Georgia but after what she’d shared about her last partner tonight, she didn’t want to push Georgia too far too fast.

  “Stop talking and kiss me,” Georgia whispered, tugging at Zoe’s shirt.

  Zoe didn’t need to be asked twice. She reached back and pulled her shirt over her head, and as Georgia’s hands slid over her back and unclipped her bra, Zoe lowered herself down and lost herself in the warmth of Georgia’s embrace.

  FORTY-FIVE

  It had been years since Georgia had woken in someone’s arms, and although the back of the ute wasn’t the most comfortable place she’d ever been, Zoe’s chest made up for it. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling Zoe shift underneath her. She lifted her face to look at Zoe, who was smiling down at her, a lot more awake than Georgia was.

  “How long have you been awake?” Georgia asked, rolling onto her back and stretching her arms over her head.

  “A little while. I didn’t want to wake you up,” Zoe replied. She lifted herself up onto one elbow and rested her head on her hand. “Sleep okay?”

  Georgia closed her eyes and sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. “Better than I have in a long time.”

  Zoe raised an eyebrow and grinned at her. Then she kissed Georgia on the forehead and sat up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m dying for a coffee.”

  “Should we get one at the cafe?” Georgia asked.

  “Won’t be open yet,” Zoe replied. “But my place is.”

  Georgia grinned. “Are you hoping for a repeat performance?”

  Zoe grinned. “That wasn’t my intention, but my bed’s a bit more comfortable than the swag.”

  “I could use some sleep,” Georgia said. “Since we didn’t get a lot last night.”

  As they drove back into town, Georgia thought about last night, the memory of Zoe’s lips on hers, Zoe’s hands on her bare back, sending a wave of butterflies from her head to her toes. She reached across and lay her hand on Zoe’s knee.

  Zoe glanced at Georgia. “What’s that look?”

  “I just had a great night last night,” Georgia replied.

  Zoe laced her fingers into Georgia’s. “Me too.”

  Georgia never thought she could be with anyone after Amy, but she’d realised last night when she was telling Zoe about Amy and the plans they’d had for the cottage, the cancer and the aftermath, that she didn’t feel sad anymore. She’d felt unburdened for the first time in years and Zoe had been a big part of that.

  It had been an emotional night, for the both of them. She’d just felt so connected to Zoe last night, that sleeping with her seemed the most natural thing in the world. It felt like she’d released the tension that had been building since Amy had died. Everything that Georgia had been dealing with, Amy’s death and the fall out with her family, the fight over Amy’s estate and then deciding what to do with the cottage had all melted away last night.

  Georgia thought about what Zoe had said last night about selling the cottage. Was she selling it for the right reasons? She wasn’t sure anymore.

  FORTY-SIX

  Zoe moved the armchair a little to the right. “Better?” she asked.

  Georgia cocked her head and then finally, nodded. “Perfect.”

  Zoe wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. “Fantastic. Just the beds to go.” She walked up the hallway with Georgia in tow and turned into the first spare bedroom.

  She pulled a shifter from her tool belt and got to work setting up the cast iron bed frame. With Georgia’s help over the last two days, they’d almost finished setting up the house ready for Ren and Rick’s arrival later that day.

  They pulled the plastic off the mattress and lifted it onto the bed. Georgia flopped down onto it. “Comfy,” she said. “Want to see?” She waggled her eyebrows and Zoe shook her head and laughed.

  Georgia beckoned Zoe with her finger and blew a kiss.

  Zoe shook her head. “You’re irresistible, you know that?”

  Georgia smiled seductively. “So I’ve been told.”

  Zoe climbed onto the bed and leaned up on one elbow, pushing Georgia onto her back. She lowered her face to Georgia’s hovering just close enough for their lips to brush before Georgia grabbed the back of Zoe’s neck and pulled her down. Zoe grinned as they kissed, her hand slipping under Georgia’s shirt, up over her side and cupping her breast.

  Georgia pulled back. “You look hot.”

  “Why thank you,” Zoe replied.

  “I think you should take off your shirt,” Georgia said, her voice low and husky.

  Zoe sat up and pulled off her shirt, tossed it to the floor, and lowered herself back down onto Georgia.

  Georgia’s hands were hot on Zoe’s back and just as she undid the clasp on her bra, a car door slammed outside.

  “Shit!” Zoe jumped off the bed, snatching her shirt from the floor.

  “They weren’t supposed to be here for hours yet,” Georgia replied, fixing her hair and adjusting her clothes. “Stay here.”

  Zoe did as she was told. She fastened her bra and tugged her shirt over her head and ran her fingers through her hair. She cast her eyes around the room and settled on the box of bed linen in the corner. She needed to look busy. As she tossed pillows and a doona onto the bed, she heard voices in the hallway.

  “Zoe? You remember Ren?” Georgia said. />
  Zoe spun around and plastered on a smile. “Sure. Hi. How was the trip out?”

  “Great, thanks,” Ren replied.

  Rick stepped forward and thrust out his hand. “Rick.”

  For some reason, Zoe felt like she had to wipe her hands on her jeans before she shook hands with him. “Nice to meet you, Rick.”

  Rick cast his eyes around the room. “Nice job you’ve done,” he said.

  “Wait until you see the kitchen,” Georgia said, ushering Ren and Rick out. As she left, she gave Zoe a quick wink.

  Zoe grinned, feeling like a teenager again, getting caught making out by her Mum. She switched her focus back to the bed linen, vowing to finish what Georgia had started as soon as they got the chance.

  Later, as Zoe was ferrying rubbish to the skip bin outside, she overheard Georgia and Ren talking in one of the bedrooms. She wouldn’t have paid too much attention, but she heard her name mentioned. She lingered near the window.

  “I told you a fling with Zoe would be good for you,” Ren said.

  Georgia didn’t say anything. Instead, she laughed.

  “Didn’t I tell you that?” Ren asked.

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Are you glad to get it out of your system?”

  “I mean—” Georgia said and then Rick’s voice interrupted.

  “Get what out of your system?”

  “Nothing,” Georgia replied.

  “Right,” Rick said. “Women’s business. I get it.”

  There was a silence for a moment and then Ren’s voice again. “You can tell me about it later.”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” Georgia replied.

  “Whatever,” Ren said. “I just hope it’s gotten you out of your Amy funk.”

  “Can we just get the house finished?” Georgia said.

  Zoe set her jaw. A fling. That was what Georgia had thought of their… whatever it was they had. Zoe had just been a way for Georgia to forget her dead partner. Well, that was fine with her. Georgia would be going back to the city anyway at the end of the week, so it was just as well Zoe found out now.

  She tossed the rubbish into the skip bin and stomped back to the cottage. “I’m heading off,” she called from the back door, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.