by C. Fonseca
There were two missed calls, and an e-mail from Jonathan. If she couldn’t sleep or ride, now was as good a time as any to return his call. She slipped on her hoodie, opened the balcony door, and stepped onto the deck. The air was crisp, and a sheen of dew covered the wooden handrail. Jess gripped the damp rail and stretched backwards, surprised her body was wonderfully fluid and free of tension. The thought of Lili naked in her bed made Jess want to sneak back to the room and start all over again. Lili was confident, sexually adventurous, and so responsive. She straightened her back, took her phone from her pocket, found Jonathan’s number, and pressed call.
Descending the stairs, she placed the headphone in one ear, then strolled along the path that led to the beach. She pulled up her hood and tucked the phone back into her pocket.
“Hello, stranger,” Jonathan said brightly.
“There you are. I wondered if you’d answer. Are you free to talk? I hope I’m not disturbing your Friday evening with the family.”
“Not at all. I always have time for you, Jess.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “I tried to ring you earlier.”
“Yes, I know. Sorry I didn’t get back to you.” A gentle background cooing noise came through the phone. “Are you trying to sing?”
“No, never. Maxine’s having a night out with the girls, and I’ve been left holding the baby. Literally.”
“How are Maxine and little Rupert?”
“We’re terrific, Jess. Rupert is growing in leaps and bounds. Sleeps pretty well, I’m happy to report.”
“I’m glad for you all.” Jess smiled.
“How are you?’
“I feel good, Jonathan. Getting stronger every day,” she said. “The warm weather is a bonus. Lili even had me out on a sea kayak. It was brilliant.”
“That’s great. I hope you didn’t see any sharks? Of course, we Brits think all Australian waters are shark infested.”
“That’s bollocks. Just like there are kangaroos on every street corner.”
“Aren’t there?” He laughed. “Any thought about coming home soon, or are you enjoying the Australian wildlife too much? We had a proper snow yesterday. The Heath is Christmassy white and bloody freezing.”
Stopped at the edge of the grassy embankment, Jess waved to a couple jogging past, their bodies casting long shadows in the soft morning light. “Must admit, even though it is magical and I enjoy the odd toboggan ride at Kite Hill, I don’t miss the cold at all.”
“I don’t blame you. Enjoy the warmth while you can,” he said. “So, have you read my e-mail?”
“I’ve just glanced at it. Did Ashley contact you?”
“Yes. She hasn’t heard from you in a while, and she’s anxious to know what’s going on—what your plans are. You should give your manager a call. Ashley would like an update.”
“Okay, I will. You said something in your e-mail about pictures,” Jess said. “What pictures?” She paced back and forth on the grass. “I haven’t done any interviews. I doubt anyone knows, or cares, that I’m here.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. There is a piece in the UK Today about you in Australia, and there are some”—he hesitated—“photographs.”
His tone said it all. Jess stopped pacing. The drone. She’d forgotten about the bloody drone. What if it had picked up images of her and Lili on the beach?
“What photographs?”
“Hang on a minute, I’ll send the screenshots,” he said. “I just have to put Rupert in his bassinet. He’s fast asleep in my arms.”
Jess could hear gentle rustling and then silence. She jumped off the embankment and sat cross-legged on a large rock, waiting for the images to arrive.
“You there?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m still here, waiting.” She adjusted her ear piece and stared at the screen.
“Okay, I’ve sent them,” he said. “They should come through to you any minute.”
A few seconds later, the Messenger app pinged. “I think they’re here.” Jess pressed on the first image and sighed with relief as it downloaded. It was taken at the fundraiser and revealed a clear picture of Simon, Haley, and herself on their bicycles under the finish line banner with their arms around each other’s shoulders. The caption read, Return Downunder: Aussie born elite Brit cyclist supports injured schoolgirl at local event.
“There’s nothing to be concerned about, Jonathan. It was just that. I took part in a local charity ride organised by an old family friend.”
“Yeah, I agree. No problem with that one. Have a look at the others. I’m a little curious about them.”
“Damn,” she whispered. There was no doubt about the voyeuristic image appearing on her screen, now. A little grainy, probably snapped with someone’s phone at the nightclub—the moment Haley Emmett lunged at her on the dance floor, plastering her lips over hers. Jess had disentangled herself soon after, but the image didn’t show that. “It’s not how it looks,” she said flatly.
“Really? I’m glad you’re having a bit of fun.” He laughed softly, then cleared his throat. “It’s the other photographs that might—”
“What the fuck.” She double tapped the screen to zoom in, using her finger to move the image around.
“Yes. I didn’t think you’d be pleased.”
Clenching her jaw, she scanned the title, “Ready-made family?” Nausea coiled like a twisted bike chain in her stomach. Her eyes focused on the photographs, complete with captions.
“How? Why? Damn it, Jonathan.” She pounded her fist into the sand.
“I know. I am sorry,” he said. “I would have expected better from that newspaper, but they haven’t got anything on you lately and they’re fishing.”
“The picture in the nightclub was in Melbourne, and the woman should be okay with it, but the others are personal. Someone is paying for me to be followed,” Jess said. “The next photo was snapped the day I gave Aruishi a bicycle and we went to Queenscliff with Lili’s friends.” They were standing on the wharf on either side of Aruishi, swinging her in the air. Alex and Tash were blurry figures in the background. “Lili’s going to be furious they’ve published a photo of her daughter. How dare they?”
“I understand, Jess, but it’s not your fault.”
“Lili won’t see it that way.”
“Lili is an attractive woman,” he said. “What about the next picture, of you and her—is that in Melbourne? I recognise the building in the background. Where is that?”
“Federation Square. How on earth did they even find us there? It was packed with people like Piccadilly Circus.”
“You know how these outfits work. They comb social media and YouTube looking for anything. They pay scouts. You know the deal.”
Jess dropped the phone in her lap and put her head in her hands.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“So I guess the way Lili’s looking at you gives reason for the caption ‘Aussie chef supplies star athlete with all the right ingredients’.” He laughed.
“How can you make light of the situation?”
“It’s not the first time you and your companions have been featured in social media.”
“This is different.”
“Well, I have to say you look happy. I mean, is there any truth in this? Lili looks like she’s about to kiss you.”
Jess closed her eyes. “She is special.”
“Ah, and there you go,” Jonathan said, a hint of resolve in his voice. “I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me more, but I do urge you to warn Lili soon. There is a chance she will come upon the pictures.”
“I will as soon as I can.” Jess wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. She had already upset Lili by not telling her about Simon’s invitation to dinner at Ailie, tonight. “Lili has a really busy day ahead of her. She told me the r
estaurant is fully booked for lunch and dinner. She’s got a lot on her plate.”
“In that case, it’s not likely she’ll see anything today. Is this thing with Lili going to change your plans about coming home? What are you going to do?”
“I promise you when I know what I’m doing, I’ll tell you.”
“Okay. But just remember, I’m here for you.”
“Yes. Thank you.” Jess pushed herself up from the hard, cold rock and climbed back up the embankment. “I’ll call you. Soon.”
“You’d better. I don’t want to read about it in the tabloids first,” he said. “Good luck.”
The call ended, and Jess stared at the picture of Lili and herself at Fed Square. They’d stopped under a sculpture of a huge metal bird, and Lili had pulled her under a wing. She was on the verge of kissing her. Jess shivered, recalling all that had happened since that kiss.
A gust of wind blew hair into her face, and she pushed it back over her shoulders. She closed her eyes and licked her lips. She could still taste her.
Chapter 26
“How do you feel about Jess dining with Haley tonight?” Alex asked Lili, as she peered through the small hatch that gave her a view across the bar into the dining room. “Did Owen seat them at table two so you can keep an eye on what they’re up to?”
Lili untied her leather apron straps and retied the knot securely at her waist. “Jess is not dining with Haley. There is nothing going on between them,” she said. “Simon invited Jess as his guest. I’m glad she is here, finally having a proper meal at Ailie. And we always seat VIPs at table two.”
“Who are the other three women at the table?” Alex asked, still peeping through the hatch.
“Owen said they’re pro cyclists, part of a group raising the profile of women’s cycling in Australia,” Lili answered. “Simon organised it.”
“The cute woman with the short, dark hair sitting next to Jess looks familiar.” Alex smirked. “I’ve seen her on TV.”
Lili nudged Alex aside so she could check the other guests at Simon’s table. “I don’t recognise any of them.”
“Well she definitely looks like she’s on our team. I notice Haley managed to seat herself between the two most attractive women.” Alex nudged Lili back. “How did things go last night after Tash and I left? How was the rest of your evening?”
“Good, thanks,” Lili answered dismissively. Last night had been, well, incredible. But she wasn’t going to discuss it at work, even with her best friend.
Alex turned around and scowled at Lili. “Good, thanks? That’s it? You two looked ready to—”
Lili couldn’t escape Alex’s razor-sharp gaze. She starred back, unblinking, willing her to shut up about it.
“You did, didn’t you? You really have slept with her.” Alex reached out and squeezed her forearm. “I thought there was something different about you this morning. You came in all sparky.”
Lili pressed her lips together, looking around to be sure they couldn’t be overheard. Then she smiled. She couldn’t help it. “Ah-ha.”
Alex grinned. “I knew it. I’m happy for you, sweetheart,” she said, in a low voice, giving Lili’s arm a playful punch. “Just wow.”
“Okay, okay.” Lili gripped Alex’s shoulder and steered her back to their workstations. “We can’t talk now. Come on, they’ve nearly cleared first course. Get back on the line, woman.”
Alex laughed, saluted, and play-marched to her station, right across from Lili. She stood with her back to the range, waiting for the next order. “Hey, it was inevitable. Attraction is an unstoppable force,” she said over Lili’s shoulder. “If you want to join Simon’s party after we plate dessert, I can finish up.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
The service door swung open with a whoosh as Drew, the casual server, strode into the kitchen, his tray stacked with dirty dishes.
“How’s it going, Drew?”
“All good, Chef.”
“I didn’t have time earlier to thank you for coming in on such short notice.”
“No problem, I’m glad to have the hours.” He set the tray of empties on the returns bench. “Owen and Mei are looking after table two. Sort of strange having Haley out there as a guest, sitting with Jessica Harris, Simon and those pro cyclists. I’m glad I’m not serving them. I used to follow Simon when he was competing, and Jessica is just awesome. I hope she gets back to racing soon.”
If another person pointed out that Jess was dining with Haley, Lili would scream. She fixed her eyes on the row of orders clipped in front of her and steadied her breathing. Naturally, Simon would include his sister, a wannabe cyclist herself. But what was the reason for the gathering tonight at Ailie?” She shrugged. Competitive cycling was Jess’s world, one completely foreign to Lili.
Owen stuck his head through the bar hatch. “We’ll be ready once Drew’s finished clearing.”
“On it, Owen.” Drew straightened his jacket, picked up a clean tray, and headed through the doors.
“Ordering,” Lili called. “Table two. Four scallops. Two ravioli.”
“Heard that. Two ravioli, Chef,” Nora confirmed from her station, next to Alex.
It would take Nora two minutes to poach the delicate goat’s cheese dumplings and toss them with a smidgen of extra virgin olive oil. Lili was confident Nora had the experience to cook them to perfection. An extra thirty seconds would render the pasta stodgy and unacceptable.
“Heard. Four scallops,” Alex called.
Lili watched Alex pull out the tray of plump sea scallops, pat them dry, season with pepper and sea salt, and place them into two pans sizzling with butter and a dash of olive oil.
On Lili’s bench, four heated oblong dishes were lined up ready. She dropped three dollops of creamy fennel puree evenly spaced along each plate. When Alex transferred the seared scallops to Lili, the briny, buttery, sweet aroma tickled her nose. She pressed a scallop lightly with one finger. It was slightly translucent, crispy on the outside, but still tender to her touch. She set each golden morsel onto a puree circle with a sliver of grilled pancetta and trickled truffle butter over them. As Lili positioned the four dishes under heat lamps, Nora delivered the shallow bowls with ravioli and asparagus. Lili spooned red currant jelly cubes next to the slender asparagus stems, and as Owen stepped up to the kitchen pass, she criss-crossed lines of lemon vinaigrette cream over the small pasta envelopes.
“Table two. Good to go,” Lili called, wiping a tiny dribble of sauce from the rim of a dish.
Owen expertly collected three plates in his right hand before picking up the fourth in his left. Mei stepped up beside him, lifted the ravioli bowls, and followed Owen into the dining room.
Wiping her hands on a tea towel, Lili read out the next order, “Ordering. Table four. Six scallops. Hold the truffle butter on one.” The last bit of information was for herself, but she always read the whole order out aloud.
Lili remained focused and fully engaged during service, but after nearly three hours of plating, expediting, and helping with clean-up, she was flagging. There were moments when she’d allowed herself to remember last night. She hummed quietly and tapped rhythmically on the top of the bench with her fingers. It was tough having Jess so close and yet out of reach. There’d been no time tonight for her usual meet and greet, which was lucky because it would have been awkward. It had nothing to do with the hint of jealousy that shadowed her when she saw Jess and Haley together, despite what Jess had told her. At least that was what she told herself.
Lili’s shoulders burned, her feet were sore, and her lower back cramped—not unusual after a hectic workday. Her thighs ached in an entirely different way, and that didn’t surprise her, reminding her how long it had been since she’d spent the night with a woman. She yearned for another night with Jess. She ached to touch her and ached for her touch.
P
erched on a stool at the end of the bench, Lili could just see Jess at table two, engaged in earnest conversation with the attractive woman beside her. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Alex tapped her knee.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Alex said. “Whatcha doin’?”
“Just going through numbers with the new menu. The changes we made are producing minimal wastage.” Lili reshuffled the already neat pile of order slips.
“Really? That’s what you’re doing? Looks to me like you are staring at Jess again.” Alex placed a cup of black tea beside Lili, and, balancing a plate in her hand, hoisted herself up onto the kitchen bench. “You must be stuffed. I bet you didn’t get much sleep last night.” She waved a spoon of chocolate tart in front of Lili. “Want some of this?”
She opened wide, and Alex placed a spoonful of bitter tart into her mouth—a dense, creamy burst of energy.
“You need nourishment. It’s been a long day,” Alex said. “Your chocolate tart creation was popular at lunch. It went down a treat with the mandarin sorbet and honeycomb popcorn. I like it on its own—bitter and squidgy and so decadent.” Alex lifted the remains of the tart with two fingers and popped it into her mouth. “Yum.” She ducked her head and peered through the hatch. “Are you keeping tabs on her?”
Lili clipped the order slips together. She saved the open spreadsheet document with tonight’s entries and closed her laptop. “They’re the last table. Looks like Owen’s in for a late finish. He’s just served more coffee and port.” Lili glanced around the empty kitchen. “Everyone else done?”
Alex nodded. “Apart from Owen and Mei out front, just Eddie out the back sorting the garbage.”
Owen walked through the swing doors. “Here’s a treat,” he said, loosening his tie. He placed a half-empty bottle of red, three glasses, and his iPad on the bench near Alex. “Mei is giving you a lift home, isn’t she, Alex? So you’re okay to drink? How about you Lili?” He picked up the bottle and waved it in front of her. “It’s a good one, shame to waste it.”
