by C. Fonseca
“You’re staring.”
Lili jumped as Alex stepped beside her. “I’m not.”
Tash appeared behind Alex. “You are,” she agreed, and the pair giggled.
Alex leaned back to rest her head against Tash’s shoulder. “Not that I blame you.”
“Don’t gang up on me.” Lili huffed.
“The woman is hot.” Alex poked Lili gently in the ribs.
She nudged her friend back. “Actually, most of the time she’s cool and distant. How does she manage to look so—”
“Scorching,” interrupted Alex.
“Alex, really. Aloof. That’s the word I was looking for.”
Tash leaned forward and whispered in Lili’s ear, “Don’t let that cool exterior fool you. I’ve only just met her, but I think there’s a lot going on behind the mask.”
“You think so?” Lili asked. She couldn’t take her gaze off Jess.
“I do,” Tash said.
“I caught Jess in her running gear on my way to work yesterday, and let me just say…” Alex fanned her face, as if overcome by heat. “Those Nike shorts and racerback crop top leave little to the imagination.” She whistled. “Rock-hard abs.”
Tash cleared her throat. “Well, even if you haven’t, Ru’s certainly taken to Jess.” Her gaze remained fixed in their direction.
“She’s totally besotted,” Lili said. “And that’s what worries me. What happens when Jess goes?”
On cue, Jess looked up and raised her eyebrows. It was obvious the three of them were staring. As Lili locked gazes with her, Jess appeared ready for flight, her body suddenly transformed into a well-tensioned bow.
Lili lifted her hand in a hesitant wave and smiled. With what appeared to be equal deliberation, Jess returned her greeting. Lili caught a hint of a smile.
“Come on, Alex, let’s get back to our bar duties.” Tash squeezed Lili’s shoulder. “It is cute seeing Jess and Aruishi together, Lili. Ben would be chuffed.”
“It’s as though he planned it this way,” Lili said.
“Eh?” Alex put her arm through Lili’s and pulled her close.
“I don’t know, just thinking out loud.”
“Ru has the Harris magnetism, and those remarkable chocolate eyes. But she’s so like you too. She has your determination and stubborn chin.” Alex grinned and rushed off after Tash before Lili had a chance to whack her on the arm.
“How about pouring some drinks for our thirsty guests?” Lili called.
The paper lanterns cast a mellow glow through the garden as soft, moody jazz piano chords merged with the rustle of leaves, night-bird calls, and the whisper of distant waves. The other guests had left, and everything was cleaned up. Lili, Alex, and Tash sat along a table near the warmth of the wood-fired oven.
Jess sat at the other end of the table, watching the glow of the dying embers. She was thousands of miles from familiar territory, but after her emotional week she welcomed the soft lighting and intimate music, and its sedative effect.
These people were strangers, but they were Ben’s colleagues and friends. Jess imagined him sitting here, sharing an ale and a yarn about his latest surfing adventure or entertaining them with a tune on his guitar. She’d been surprised and pleased to find the instrument, with a pile of sheet music, at the shack. When Jess had started piano lessons at age six, Ben showed no interest in playing anything at all. There was a lot she didn’t know about her brother. However, the more she sorted his belongings, the more she discovered.
She’d pored through albums and hundreds of loose photographs. Some had handwritten notes attached; some just had a date and location scribbled on the back in pencil. Her bedroom at Lili’s was strewn with files and pictures. Ben had collected a lot of family memorabilia, and slowly Jess had begun to piece together the fragments of their early life together. When the visual assault sent her emotions into a tailspin and it all got too much, she’d take off on her bicycle, sometimes pushing herself until eventually physical exhaustion cleared her mind and provided some inner peace.
A cool hand rested on her shoulder. Jess sat upright and turned. “Alex.” She blinked and combed her fingers through her hair.
Alex squeezed her shoulder. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. We’re taking requests. Would you like a cup of tea, coffee, or something else?” She smiled and stepped back. “You seemed miles away.”
Jess glanced at her watch. It was after midnight. “Just a little tired. Thank you, but I think I’ll go back to the house.”
Lili appeared directly in front of her. “Stay,” she said. “The hot drinks won’t be long, and then I’ll walk back with you.” Her eyes flickered warily.
Walking across the field to Lili’s house on her own in the dark didn’t appeal at all. Jess nodded in agreement. It wouldn’t hurt to stay a little longer.
“That’s great,” Alex said. “What’ll it be then? Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate?”
Half an hour later, Lili and Jess walked along a path lit by moonlight. Jess inhaled deeply, savouring a hint of sweet spice from Lili’s perfume, carried on the night air. She’d avoided Lili for the last few days as she’d been sorting Ben’s stuff, and Lili had not sought her out either.
This was probably the reason, Jess thought, for the awkward silence between them.
“Lili,” she finally said when they’d reached home, not saying a word to each other. She said it perhaps louder than she’d intended.
“Yes?” Lili stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to face her.
“Amongst Ben’s belongings, I found several documents to do with his work. I wonder if you have time to go through them with me?” Jess asked. “I’m not sure what is important or not.”
Under the glow of the porch light, Lili’s face was a combination of irritation and weariness. “I can’t tomorrow. I have an appointment in Geelong.” She turned and unlocked the front door. “Can it wait?”
“Don’t worry, it can.” Jess knew her disappointment probably showed, but Lili had grown so distant, Jess figured she’d have to break the ice. “Have I said or done something to annoy you? You asked me to walk home with you, but you haven’t said a word.”
“I couldn’t let you walk home by yourself,” Lili said. “And I haven’t been avoiding you. You’re the one who’s been avoiding me. I’ve had a lot on my plate, and you’ve either been busy at the shack or kept to yourself, in your room.”
“I didn’t ask if you’d been avoiding me. Have you been?” She shot Lili a pointed glance.
“No,” Lili said. “As I’ve just said, I have not.” She turned her back on Jess and walked inside, cutting off any further chance of conversation.
Jess stood on the deck and looked up at the clear sky, full of stars. A low blanket of sea mist hung in the valley below the house, and the air had taken on quite a chill. She sighed, stepped inside, and made her way to her room.
Chapter 9
Lili unfastened the harness and lifted Aruishi out of her booster seat. She set her down on the paved driveway in front of her parents’ home. Aruishi charged up the path, climbed the stairs, and ran through the open screen door.
“Walk, don’t run,” Lili called, to no avail. She picked up Aruishi’s yellow backpack and the cake box from the back of the Subaru and followed her inside the house.
The home had been extensively renovated a few years ago, but her parents’ 1950s farmhouse still retained its retro charm. They’d kept the large bay window in the front sitting room, with its unrestricted views of green pastures and vineyards. This had been her favourite place to daydream, sitting on the old floral-fabric-covered sofa at the window. Lili felt herself grin, delighted by the happy memories the cottage evoked. The saggy couch had long been replaced by two leather recliners, but the view remained largely unchanged.
“Hello, darling. Up with the birds this morning,
were you?” Helen pointed to Lili’s running shorts. “Or should that be running with the birds?”
“Oh, Mum.” Her mother’s attempts at humour were better some days than others.
“Do you have time for a coffee?”
“Thanks, I’ve already had two today.” Lili bent to kiss her cheek. “Good morning. Where did Aruishi disappear to, so fast?”
Helen wriggled her eyebrows. “It’s Angelina Ballerina time.” She pointed her thumb in the direction of the sunroom.
Lili poked her head around the doorway and chuckled. Aruishi was in front of the screen, dancing and humming along with the television show. “Last week it was the Wiggles. She really loves singing along and takes any chance she can to plunk the keys on Grandmother’s piano at the restaurant.”
“Have you thought about starting those piano lessons yet?” Helen asked.
“She’s too young,” Lili said. “I don’t think she’d be able to concentrate.” She didn’t have the time or skill to teach Aruishi, and lessons with a piano teacher weren’t in the current budget.
“You started piano lessons with your grandmother when you were four. If it’s the cost, your father and I can help.”
“You’re doing more than enough already.” As far as she was concerned, the subject was closed. But Helen had been on at her about piano lessons for months. “Lessons can wait till next year.”
“Here, let me help you with that.” Helen tossed a tea towel over her shoulder and lifted the box from Lili’s arms. She inhaled deeply. “If it tastes as good as it smells, it will be delicious.”
“I whipped it up before my run this morning. It’s not long out of the oven.”
“You were up early, then.” She peered at Lili. “You look tired. What’s up?”
“Just a few things rattling around in my head.”
“How are things going with Jess?”
“Not now, Mum. Can we talk about it later, please?” Lili sighed.
Lili had had a horrible couple of nights. The evening of the staff party, her anxiety about meeting with the bank manager the next day had made her bitchy with Jess. She hated that. Last night, after the depressing meeting, she’d totally avoided her and tossed around in bed all night. Eventually, she’d given up any thought of sleep, crawled out of bed at dawn, scribbled down an idea for a new dessert, threw together the ingredients, and baked a cake.
Now she followed her mother into the bright yellow kitchen and deposited Aruishi’s bag on the dining chair. The kitchen often smelt of baked bread or scones. Its enamel wood-burning stove provided the house with warmth in winter, and Helen produced jams and relishes for Ailie’s kitchen throughout the year, using the slow, cast-iron hotplate. This morning, the combined aroma of fresh bread and espresso from the copper stovetop coffee maker was mouth-watering.
“What have you been baking?” Lili asked.
“Mixed seed and honey loaf. Ru’s favourite, spread with avocado.”
“Lucky girl.” Lili smiled. With a little added crumbled feta cheese or vegemite, it was one of her favourites too.
“If you can wait ten minutes, the bread will be out of the oven.”
“I’d love to, Mum, but I really can’t stay.” Lili lifted the cake out of the box. “I don’t think running with Ru in the stroller is going to be an option much longer. She’s getting more fidgety and impatient.”
Helen chuckled. “Well, that’s understandable. You can always drop her here. Or give me a bell, and I’ll be over. As you know, I’m awake early myself.”
“I’ll figure something out. You’ll have your hands full three days a week when Ailie reopens and I’m working in the kitchen, plus other times when I must be in the office. Ru needs me around as much as I can be. Once she starts school, we can reassess things.” Lili didn’t mean to be short with her mother, but lack of sleep had made her cranky this morning.
“Well, just remember your team at that restaurant is a solid bunch, and trustworthy. In the first year, Ben was a huge help. But it’s you. For the last couple of years, you’ve put in the long hours and trained the staff.” Helen walked over to Lili and embraced her. “Your father and I are flexible. Take advantage of us now, while you can.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Lili returned her mother’s hug.
“Will this cake be on the menu?” Helen asked when Lili let go.
Lili scratched her forehead. “Maybe, for the high-tea trolley. It’s a brown-butter almond torte—gluten-free and sweetened with our luscious dark-pink quinces.”
“And what’s this?” Helen asked, and opened the first lid to reveal a soft-pink syrup.
“Bramble berry drizzle. Slightly tart. It cuts the sweetness of the caramelised quince.”
“Sounds divine.”
Lili removed the lid off the second jar. “Vanilla bean custard,” she said. “I need your opinion. Would you and Dad try it tonight and let me know what you think?”
“We will, with pleasure.”
She walked towards the sunroom and found Aruishi springing up and down on the chesterfield. “No bouncing on the furniture, Aruishi McAllister.” She picked her up, twirled her in the air, and sat her on the sofa. “I’d better get going, Mum,” she called.
“Mama, you are perspired,” Aruishi said, pulling Lili’s damp T-shirt.
“Yes, I have been perspiring, and I need a shower. Be a good girl for your gran.”
“Yucky.” Aruishi parked at the edge of the sofa, nodded distractedly, and went back to singing to the television.
Helen walked Lili to the car. “How did you get on at the bank yesterday?”
“Okay.” Lili climbed into the wagon and opened the window.
“Just okay?” Helen asked.
“I’m really sorry, can we talk about this later? I’m going to be late.” Lili blew her a kiss and turned the key in the ignition.
Helen put her hand through the window and squeezed Lili’s shoulder. “You’re not alone. You know your father and I will help any way we can.”
“I know, Mum. I’ll ring you later.”
Lili put the car into reverse and backed down the driveway. She glanced at the dashboard clock. She only had twenty minutes to shower and dress before she met up with Jess.
The bank manager was not the guy she’d dealt with previously. Angelica Costa was new. The third bank manager in three years. She’d been kind, but all the same, Lili was put out by the change. Angelica explained that even though her business was successful and had enough revenue to cover operating expenses, as things stood, the bank couldn’t increase her home loan. Did she have another source—her parents, for example? Lili wouldn’t ask her parents for more money. They dreamed of an overseas trip—a barge cruise through the Canal du Midi, from Marseilles to Paris and then on to Scotland to visit family. She would not take a cent of their holiday fund.
Angelica Costa suggested the executor of the estate may accept a long-term payment option, or a part share in the business. Yeah, right; and pigs might fly! There was no way she was handing over any part of her restaurant to someone with little food knowledge and no experience in the hospitality industry. But she had to face reality. How could she convince Jess to accept the long-term payment option?
Lili had planned to do more with the kitchen garden in the future, to use the restaurant and garden as a learning centre one day a week. She’d mapped a programme that included gardening workshops and cooking-skill classes to build an awareness for the environment and healthy eating. She didn’t expect it to be a huge money earner at the beginning, but any increase in revenue would help pay back the loan. She just hoped Jess would agree to longer terms than she might be expecting.
Water lapped against the old pylons under the wooden pier as Jess sat sipping her espresso at a café table at the edge of the jetty, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. She’d met with a real estate ag
ent in Barwon Heads who’d organised a market appraisal on Ben’s property. Jess left his office with data on its investment potential, median house prices, and expected rental income for the area. She reflected that none of the supplied information made her decision whether to sell or not any easier.
She could return to the UK and let the lawyers here tie up the loose ends of Ben’s estate. They could handle the sale of the property and his car. But for both her and Lili’s sakes, Jess wanted the loan settled before she returned to London.
“Can I get you another coffee?” the waiter asked with a hopeful smile. “Or perhaps something to eat?”
Declining both offers, she gathered her belongings before setting off to wander along the boardwalk that flanked the white sandy beach and wide river estuary. Jess couldn’t recall being brought to Barwon Heads as a child. When her father had returned to England after the divorce, her mother worked even longer hours, and family trips to the coastline had been rare.
Jess did remember the appealing coastal town as it was portrayed in the television show Sea Change. She and her friends had watched it at boarding school in England. The series was partly filmed at the very café on the Barwon Heads jetty where she’d just been sitting. Jess grinned, recalling how the other girls had drooled over David Wenham’s character, Diver Dan, while Jess favoured the sultry Laura, a beautiful city lawyer who became the magistrate of the fictitious town, Pearl Bay. It had been compulsive viewing for Jess and helped her stay connected to Australian popular culture and the landscape.
Her phone buzzed with incoming mail. Jess took it out of her pocket to check the sender. It was the Wylie Medical Centre, in reply to her query about the whereabouts of Doctor Usha Joshi, her mother’s childhood friend from a Christian-run orphanage in Pune, India. It seemed she no longer practised medicine in Wylie, Jess’s birthplace, but the telephone number with a Victorian prefix they’d supplied should get her in contact.
