by S R Silcox
Georgia’s head appeared from behind the island bench. “Everything okay?”
“Fine,” Zoe replied. “You’ve got things covered here, so I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got to finish cleaning the workshop before I hand back the keys.”
Georgia started walking across the room. “Are you sure? I can come and help if you like?”
“I said I’m fine,” Zoe snapped. The surprise on Georgia’s face made Zoe’s heart twinge. “You’ve still got plenty to do here. I’ll be fine.”
“We’ll catch up later then?” Georgia asked.
“I’ll see how I go,” Zoe grunted. And with that, she turned and left, determined not to think about Georgia for the rest of the afternoon.
FORTY-SEVEN
Something wasn’t right with Zoe, Georgia could feel it. She’d heard the terse tone in Zoe’s voice when she’d left the cottage earlier. Whatever it was, Georgia was determined to find out.
She’d managed to fob Ren off, leaving her with Rick to decide on photo locations so she could go into town and talk to Zoe. She drove past her house, but her car wasn’t in the driveway, so she drove to the workshop. Zoe’s car was parked at an odd angle in the car park. It looked like she’d parked and gotten out in a hurry.
Georgia parked her car and got out, poking her head around the door way. Zoe was up the back sweeping the floor. She looked up but didn’t even acknowledge Georgia. She just went back to sweeping.
“Is everything okay?” Georgia asked as she walked inside and stood nearby.
“You tell me,” Zoe replied, continuing her sweeping.
“Can you just stop and talk to me?” Georgia said.
Zoe stopped sweeping and looked up. Georgia could see the anger and pain written across Zoe’s face.
“What is going on?” Georgia asked. “You left the cottage in a hurry.”
“Why should you care? I’m just a fling,” Zoe said.
“No, you’re not,” Georgia replied, stepping forward.
Zoe stepped back. “That’s what you said at the cottage, isn’t it?”
“I never said that,” Georgia said.
“Bullshit, I heard you,” Zoe replied.
Georgia felt her face flush. The conversation she’d had with Ren. “What you heard wasn’t everything,” Georgia said. “I was trying to throw Ren off.”
“You’re a liar, Georgia,” Zoe said. “You lied about who you were, you lied about your job, why wouldn’t you lie about us?”
“Well, you were perfectly fine with me being the project manager when you were trying to get into my pants to help out with your brother’s business.” Georgia didn’t know why she’d said it, but as soon as the words were out, she regretted them instantly. She hadn’t come to argue with Zoe, and she certainly hadn’t come to hurt her. She took a step forward and reached out but Zoe pulled away.
“Look,” Zoe said, her jaw tightening. “You said yourself, you don’t want to give up your apartment. You’re obviously still very much in love with Amy, and I get that. I really do. But I can’t compete with her and I shouldn’t have to.”
“You’re not competing with her,” Georgia replied.
“Are you sure about that?” Zoe asked, cocking her head. “Amy’s dead, Georgia. She’s not coming back.”
Hurt bloomed in Georgia’s chest and tears pricked her eyes. “Don’t you think I know that?”
“Well stop acting like you owe her something,” Zoe said. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love, to feel like you can’t move on.”
Georgia snorted out a laugh. “You’re the last person to talk.”
Zoe crossed her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You get on your high horse about moving on and doing my own thing and here you are, eighteen years later, working in a business you never wanted to be in, being angry about not getting to do what you really want to do and never doing anything about it.”
“Don’t you throw this back on me,” Zoe spat back.
“Why not? If Jack’s business goes bankrupt, what are you going to do then?”
Zoe didn’t say anything for a long time. Finally, she took her broom and turned and walked away. When she got to the bottom of the stairs she said, “I think you need to go and do what you have to do, and I have to get this place clean.”
Georgia just stood and watched as Zoe walked up the stairs to the mezzanine floor. She had no more words and no more fight in her. How had this day that had started so well ended so badly? Her heart heavy, she turned and walked back out to her car. There was nothing left for her at Elizabeth Creek, now that the cottage was finished, and whatever it was she’d had with Zoe was done too.
She’d go back to her motel, pack her bags and head back to the city and leave Ren and Rick to deal with the cottage.
FORTY-EIGHT
Two days after Georgia’s departure, Zoe had been dragged out to Carramar by Jack so they could talk about the upcoming auction with Rick and Ren. Rick and Jack had been doing most of the talking about the market and potential buyers, and although Zoe was trying to pay attention, she was acutely aware of Ren’s eyes boring into her from across the table. It took all her strength to ignore it.
“So we’re good to go then,” Rick said, relaxing back into his chair. “I have to say, Jack, you’ve done an amazing job.”
“This is all Zoe,” Jack said, slapping Zoe on the back. “I know I’m biased, but she’s the best damn builder I know.”
Rick smiled and nodded. “Well, I’m sure we’ll have buyers climbing over themselves to grab this little piece of paradise. Right, Ren?”
Ren nodded and plastered on a smile. “Sure.”
“So I guess all that’s left to talk about,” Rick said, “is that business proposition you floated, Jack.”
“Sure,” Jack said.
Before he could get started, Zoe pushed her chair back and stood up. “If you don’t need me, I’m going to head home.”
“This concerns you too,” Jack said.
“You’re the boss,” Zoe said. “Whatever it is you’re working on, I’ll be fine with.”
“Sorry, Rick, can you just give us a minute?” Jack said.
Rick nodded and he and Ren stood up and walked outside. When they were gone, Jack lowered his voice. “This is an important business decision, Zoe. It’s going to affect both our futures.”
“That’s why you should be dealing with it,” Zoe said. “You’re the one with the business brain, not me.”
“You’re a partner in this business. You should be having a say,” Jack said.
“Am I, Jack? That’s news to me.”
“Lower your voice,” Jack said. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Zoe leaned in and angry-whispered through gritted teeth. “You never ask me what I think about anything to do with the business, Jack. Why on earth would you start now?”
Jack sat back in his chair. “This is about Georgia, isn’t it?” He shook his head. “I told you getting involved with her was a bad idea.”
“It’s got nothing to do with Georgia,” Zoe replied, though she knew that wasn’t exactly the truth. All she could think about the last few days was Georgia bloody Ballantyne.
“It’s got everything to do with her,” Jack said. “You get all caught up in some girl who’s just going to walk away and then get all bloody upset about it when they leave.”
Anger rose up in Zoe’s chest and her hands balled into fists. They’d been teenagers the last time they’d come to blows, and it took all her strength to not want to hit him now. She took a step back and shook her head, willing herself not to say all the things that were running through her head. She turned and walked away. When she got to the back door, she stopped. “Maybe it’s me who should’ve left.”
Jack called after her but she ignored him as she stormed out to her ute, reefed open the door and got in. She closed her eyes and lay her head on the steering wheel. Georgia had really done a number on her.
FORTY-NINE
The noise in the cafe was giving Georgia a headache, and it took all of her concentration to listen to what Ren was saying. Apparently, Jack and Zoe were now working in conjunction with Rick’s company, which was exciting for them, she supposed, but she wasn’t sure how someone as laid back as Zoe would take working for someone like Rick. He was all business and pushed his employees hard. She couldn’t imagine Zoe not telling Rick where to shove it if he got on her nerves, but then again, she knew how loyal Zoe was to Jack so maybe she’d curb her temper.
Zoe’s loyalty and love for her brother and his family was a big reason Georgia fell for her. The way she genuinely cared about people, even if she wasn’t close to them, had softened the hard edges she portrayed to the world. Georgia loved that side of Zoe. She missed that Zoe.
Georgia turned her attention back to Ren, who was now detailing the ins and outs of the market research she and Rick had done. Her stomach turned into knots. It was all getting so real now. In just a few days, the cottage would no longer be hers and the burden it had been on her life would be gone. For some reason, she just couldn’t get excited about that.
A waitress arrived, asking to take their orders. Ren ordered a latte and a piece of custard slice. Georgia ordered the same. She told herself she just couldn’t decide on anything else, but she really knew it was because the custard slice reminded her of Elizabeth Creek.
“I doubt it’ll be as good as Molly’s,” Ren was saying. “But for some reason, custard slice is all I’ve been able to think about since I tried hers. I’ll have to remember to get her recipe when I’m out there this week.”
Georgia grunted a reply.
“Are you sure you don’t want to be there when the hammer goes down?” Ren asked. “You said you wanted closure.”
“The further away from that place I am on auction day, the better,” Georgia replied.
Ren put her hand over Georgia’s. “Are you absolutely sure you want to sell the place? We can hold off on the auction if you want more time to think about it.”
Georgia shook her head. “What’s done is done.”
“Nothing’s finalised yet, George. If you’re having second thoughts—“
“No second thoughts,” Georgia replied. “I just don’t need to be there to see it go, that’s all.”
“If you say so,” Ren said in that tone Georgia knew full well meant she didn’t believe a word Georgia was saying. She ignored it.
“So, how’s it going being back at work after all that time off?” Ren asked.
Georgia shrugged. “Same as always.” She didn’t have to look at Ren to know her eyes were boring right into her.
Finally, Ren said, “Look, George. We’ve been friends for a long time, and as your best friend, I feel it’s my duty to tell you when you’re being a total and utter idiot.”
Georgia snorted out a breath but didn’t reply.
“I know what’s going on, you know,” Ren continued.
“Nothing’s going on,” Georgia replied.
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Georgia could hear the sulkiness in her voice and she hated it.
“Ever since you got back from Elizabeth Creek, you’ve been moping around your apartment. This is the first time I’ve managed to get you out in public—“
“I go out in public,” Georgia retorted.
“Going to work is not going out in public,” Ren said. She paused while the waitress placed their food on the table, and when she was gone, she said, “You’re miserable, and I hate seeing you like this.” She took a sip of her coffee, pulled a face and stirred in two sugars. “It’s worse when it’s your own stupid fault.”
Georgia scoffed. “My fault, is it?”
Ren looked up. “Who’s do you think it is?”
Georgia didn’t answer. As far as she was concerned, it was no-one’s fault. She and Zoe just weren’t made for each other. “It was never going to work.” Georgia prodded at the froth on her coffee.
“You never gave it a chance to,” Ren said.
“She was the one who ended it,” Georgia replied.
“And you let her,” Ren said. Her face softened. “Look, George, I know you miss Amy terribly, and it’s obvious how much you like Zoe.”
Georgia opened her mouth to say something but Ren put her hand up to silence her.
“You can still love Amy, and fall in love with Zoe, you do realise that, don’t you?”
“I don’t love Zoe,” Georgia said, her voice almost a whisper.
“Maybe not yet,” Ren said. “But I have no doubt that’s where you were heading before you walked away.”
“I didn’t walk away, Zoe ended it,” Georgia said, her voice defiant now. If Zoe hadn’t told Georgia to leave, she would have stayed. She was sure of it.
“You have to fight for these things,” Ren went on. “You fought for Amy when you first started dating, remember that? Her husband gave you so much grief those first few years, and you fought because you knew Amy was worth it.”
“That’s not fair,” Georgia said.
“What’s not fair is you giving Zoe up without a fight. What’s not fair is you walking away from a good person, a good life, because for some reason you think you needed Amy in it for it to work. Well, guess what, George? Amy’s not here and she won’t ever be, and it’s not fair on her to keep making excuses for why you can’t move on with your life and find someone to share it with.”
And there it was. The truth bomb that Ren had delivered hit Georgia right where it hurt. Amy wasn’t coming back. Not ever, and Georgia knew she couldn’t change that. And no matter where she lived, Amy would never be there.
Georgia took a bite of her custard slice. It was nowhere near as good as Molly’s. She pushed her plate away. She’d never be able to eat a custard slice again.
FIFTY
Zoe stood in the empty workshop and looked around. She’d never seen it empty before and for the first time, she realised how big it must have felt to her when she was little. She tossed the keys up in her hand and caught them. She’d been holding off handing them over to Frank, but there was no more putting it off.
She pulled the barn doors closed and as she locked them up, a car pulled in to the car park behind her. She turned to see Ren emerge from a red SUV.
Zoe started walking to her ute. “I’ve got stuff to do.”
“So have I,” Ren said. “Like setting the record straight and finding out why you’d let Georgia just walk away. She’s been moping around her bloody apartment for weeks.”
Zoe hadn’t spoken to Georgia since she’d left. The fact that she was moping was news to her. As far as she knew, Georgia was much happier back at home in the city. Zoe opened the door. “Don’t you come here playing the protective best friend when it’s partly your fault.”
“How’s it my fault?” Ren said.
“You told her to have a fling with me to make her get over Amy,” Zoe said.
“That is true, I admit that,” Ren replied.
Zoe huffed out a breath. At least Ren was willing to admit that. “Great. Did you even think how I’d feel about it? Being treated like some throw-away relationship that got Georgia over whatever bloody depression she was feeling?”
“But that’s not what happened,” Ren said. “Obviously it was more than that, judging by the way Georgia’s been acting.”
“Look, Georgia’s obviously better off in the city, and that’s fine with me.”
“Didn’t you just hear what I said?” Ren asked. “I said Georgia’s not fine.”
“What am I supposed to be doing about that?” Zoe asked. “We had a fling, your words, and that was it. Now we’re both getting on with our lives.”
Ren shook her head. “Are you that stupid?”
Zoe pulled a face.
Ren rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to tell you that she’s fallen for you,” Ren said. “I haven’t seen her like this in a long time. Not since she fell for Amy.”
Zoe didn’t want to hear any more of this. Georgia was back in the city, and that was her choice.
“I have to go,” Zoe said.
As she slid into the seat, Ren called, “You’ve made a huge bloody mistake, Zoe. And if you don’t fix it, you’re going to regret it.”
She and Georgia would never have worked. Even if Georgia had stayed, at some point, she would’ve gotten bored with life in Elizabeth Creek, just like all the others, and then Zoe would’ve been left to pick up the pieces again. No. It was better they ended things when they did before it had gotten too serious.
She double-parked out the front of Frank’s office, reefed open the door and stormed in past Nellie Roebuck at reception. She ignored the looks from Frank’s work colleagues and when she got to Frank’s desk, she threw the workshop keys at him.
“Happy now?” she said and turned on her heels and walked out.
Zoe was finishing up her third beer when she heard a noise at the bottom of the caller’s box. She pulled the cord for the light and peered down the hole. She was surprised to see Molly half way up the ladder.
“What are you doing here?” Zoe asked.
“I know this is where you hide out when you’re sad,” Molly said as she climbed into the room and dusted off her hands. “And on the anniversary.”
“How did you—?”
“You can be stupid sometimes,” Molly said, but her voice was filled with affection.
“You’re the second person to tell me that today,” Zoe said. She handed Molly a beer and took one for herself.
Molly sat down on the seat beside Zoe and uncapped the bottle. “What on earth are you doing?”
“Drinking,” Zoe replied.
“You know what I mean,” Molly said. “I’ve been talking to Ren and apparently Georgia’s a mess.”
