Heart of the Cross

by Emily Madden

  Luigi appeared carrying a coat, scarf and gloves. They were the same colour as his beanie, but he was offering them to Rosie. When she showed hesitation he added, ‘Take. You cold, Miss.’

  They found nothing that showed any sign of Jimmy’s presence in the house, but Rosie would never forget Luigi’s kindness, nor would she forget his parting words before he pressed the cold key into the palm of her hand.

  ‘Una severa l’inverno sta arrivdano.’

  A harsh winter is coming.

  Twenty-four

  Brianna

  Airlie Beach, Queensland

  An eerie silence swirled. In comparison to the last few days, Brie should’ve welcomed it, but the gentle breeze and the lapping of waves seemed so misplaced. Brie lifted her camera and focused the lens on the carnage in front of her.

  Whirrrrrr.

  The sound filled her ears as she captured the image of pure desolation. What was once a thriving motel was completely flattened to a pile of water-logged debris. Severe tropical Cyclone Debbie had left her mark on the formerly thriving town of Airlie Beach, laying waste to houses and businesses—hitting residents at their very core—and was now slowly moving down the New South Wales coast. With a sense of hopelessness, she lowered the camera and surveyed her surroundings. Pure devastation as far as the eyes could see. It wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed such destruction, and she’d encountered far worse than this, but it was the first time she had observed it on home soil.

  Airlie Beach felt like a ghost town—blacked out with no traffic lights, boats turned upside down, trees torn apart, and parts of the once luscious tropics looked as if a fire not water had ravaged it. The supermarket was empty—mobbed by residents and businesses before the storm hit. At first light on Friday morning, the army had arrived with troops to help with the clean-up and brought with them much-needed fresh water. For the past few days, Brie had resorted to boiling drinking water, a task she was no stranger to and one she didn’t realise how much she hated until she had to do it—again.

  ‘Debbie certainly gave us a royal rooting.’ Graham, the owner of the now flattened motel she’d photographed, appeared by her side.

  ‘It’s a total mess,’ Brie agreed, not knowing what else to say. She lifted the camera again, focused and clicked.

  Next to her, Graham sniffed, and through her peripheral vision she could see him wiping the corners of his eyes. She felt her own eyelids prick but swallowed hard. Graham didn’t need her blubbering, nor did he need to know she was privy to his emotional moment. She had got to know Graham and his wife, Barbara, as well as some of the residents. Not only had they lost their prosperous business, but their house was beyond repair, too. With nowhere to live and no way of working, she knew Graham and Barbara were questioning their future in Airlie Beach.

  ‘I’ve worked in the Gulf of Carpentaria, I’m no stranger to storms, but Debbie, she took the cake. Far worse than anything else I’ve seen.’

  Brie wanted to say it was the worst she’d seen too, but it somehow felt like it would be rubbing salt in the wound, so instead she turned to something positive. ‘Barbara told me Zeus was found safe.’ Zeus was Graham and Barbara’s ten-year-old chocolate Labrador who had gone missing in the aftermath of the storm. He had been found wandering the streets a few kilometres from home, a little scared and dehydrated but otherwise fine.

  ‘He was a sight for sore eyes, I tell you. I don’t think I could’ve taken losing Zeus along with everything else.’

  ‘Well, it’s good that he’s home.’ The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She felt like an insensitive cow. Graham had lost his house. ‘I’m so sorry, Graham. I shouldn’t have said that.’

  ‘No worries, love. I know you were using it as a figure of speech, but you’re right—Zeus is home. Barb and I are his home.’

  Brie wanted to ask where home will be after the clean-up—would they stay and rebuild, or would they leave like she’d heard so many already declare they would. It seemed too raw, too fresh, too impersonal, so instead she lifted the camera and zoomed in on a row of upturned boats near the broken jetty. When she stopped to check the shot, the photo was shattering, but seeing it with her own eyes was far worse. The day she arrived, Brie had taken some ‘before’ photos of the town. She knew that would be the best way to convey the level of devastation. This morning, as she flicked through the comparison shots, even she found them hard to look at.

  ‘And you do this for a living? Chasing disasters all around the world, seeing misery after misery?’

  She tried to give a nonchalant shrug. ‘It’s my job.’

  ‘Why?’ he asked simply. It was a fair question.

  ‘I know it’s going to sound warped, but in all the misery, there’s hope. There are communities pulling together, helping each other. When Mother Nature delivers her worst, humankind is at its best. Sometimes I think it’s sad that it takes something so bad to see it.’

  ‘Yes, I guess that’s one upside to it all. Dr Field did well to go through all that he did and with little rest.’ Graham was referring to the local GP working tirelessly after setting up a triage in her surgery, which thankfully had withheld Debbie’s wrath.

  ‘In fact, I’d like to think we’re all playing our part. I think the real test will come when the clean-up is done, or done as best as it can be, and all the troops, volunteers, tourists and people like yourself go home.’

  ‘I’m staying as long as I need to,’ Brie said.

  ‘What about your family? Won’t they want you back in Sydney? They must be worried sick about you being here.’

  ‘I’m only in Sydney temporarily. I came for my grandmother’s funeral two weeks ago. I need to stay to sort out some issues with the estate, but then I’ll go.’ She didn’t add that there was no one worried sick. Not that she would know, anyway, as her phone died within hours of landing and she’d forgotten to pack a charger. And she hadn’t had time to look for a replacement when the priority was to get fresh water and somewhere to charge her camera and laptop. For days she had tried to forget Josh’s kiss and concentrate on the task at hand, but the memory of his lips on hers was ingrained in her mind. She’d almost texted him when she landed—almost. She had typed a message.

  Landed in Proserpine. Talk to you when I can.

  Although her finger had hovered over the ‘send’ button, she had deleted the message before she could change her mind.

  ‘Where will you go?’ Graham asked, returning her to the here and now.

  Brie shrugged again. ‘I’m not sure. I’m a citizen of the world. I have been for a while now. I was based out of Japan, but now I feel like I don’t belong there either.’ She hadn’t realised how true the words were until they were spoken.

  ‘Why can’t you just stay in Sydney? You grew up there—it’s where you belong.’

  Brie shook her head. ‘I don’t belong anywhere, Graham.’

  He paused, a look of disbelief flashing across his face. ‘Everyone belongs somewhere, Brianna Hart. Even you.’

  Brie wanted to tell Graham that he was wrong. She wanted to tell Graham that in order to belong somewhere you needed to belong to someone and she had no one. She once had belonged to her mother, but she was taken from her life too soon. Then she’d had Rosie, but now her gran was gone too.

  Despite the kiss, she knew she didn’t belong to or with Josh. His mother was right—he would be a temporary thing, just like one of her assignments.

  * * *

  Brie ended up staying four more days, until she was told her photos were enough and media attention on the cyclone waned and people began moving on to the next big thing. In the last few days, droves of tourists who had been stuck had left, as well as hordes of media. The clean-up was still very much underway and the Red Cross had arrived to help. The recovery was a marathon, not a sprint.

  Before leaving, she made sure she visited Graham and Barbara, who were still in the throes of the clean-up. Zeus greeted her first, tail wagging, lo
oking a whole lot more animated than when she had seen him last.

  ‘You off, love?’ Barbara asked, wiping her brow with the back of her gloved hand, her bright-pink lips forming a friendly smile. It amazed Brie that despite everything, she was not only still smiling, but was sporting her trademark lipstick.

  ‘I am.’ Brie patted her laden camera bag. ‘Just came to say goodbye.’

  Barbara pulled her into the tightest of bear hugs. ‘Aww, you are a sweet girl. You stay in touch, you hear me?’

  ‘I will,’ Brie promised as she disentangled herself from Barbara and proffered her hand to Graham.

  ‘Bugger that,’ he muttered before he too pulled her into an even tighter hug.

  As the news stories started to pour in, showing how widespread Cyclone Debbie was, they also showed how communities were rallying together, their courage unyielding in the face of their time of need. Messages of defiance on walls and shopfronts proved that when disaster struck, these Queenslanders refused to be beaten. Perhaps the most powerful image was the one that had been plastered in news stories worldwide, retweeted, and shared on Facebook: an image of Graham’s final message to Debbie written in spray-paint on the only remaining wall of his motel.

  We’re still here. You’re gone. We win.

  It was hailed as the ultimate symbol of defiance and catapulted Graham and Barbara Pearce into fame as the unofficial faces of Cyclone Debbie.

  Once the plane took off, Brie saw the impact that Debbie had from the air, the sight akin to a war zone, and in many ways, it had been a battlefield. The days and weeks ahead were bound to be a rollercoaster of emotions with a lot of unknowns, but Brie knew one thing—Airlie Beach, and so many tiny towns just like it, would be okay. Maybe not in the next week or month, but these people had grit and determination, and above all larrikin humour to carry them through.

  Twenty-five

  Brianna

  Upon arriving home, she plugged in her phone to charge and headed straight for the shower, hearing ping after ping as she walked away. She figured whoever had sent messages or called could wait another ten minutes or so.

  As she towel-dried her hair she ordered a pizza then scrolled through her phone. Ten missed calls—most of them from Tam, one from Seb, but to her dismay, none from Josh. She played message bank on speaker as she poured a glass of wine. Why was she so sure he would’ve at least texted?

  Tam’s calls were all to check on her safety. Her texts were the same. She called Tam, letting her know all was well and she was back home. Tam tried to convince her to come to the next Sloane-Kelly family dinner.

  ‘You won’t want to miss this one,’ she said. ‘Gran and her new husband will be there. We’re having it on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday.’

  ‘Does that mean your mum is coming round to the whole elopement?’

  ‘Hmm. So-so. I think Mum’s a little jealous that Gran has found someone who seemingly makes her happy. After my parents’ divorce, Mum was a bit bitter on the whole love thing. Anyways, come for the fireworks, but I’m sure Gran would love you.’

  She wound up the call, promising to let Tam know about dinner.

  ‘The only excuse I’ll accept is if you have a better offer, and by better offer I mean a date with Josh.’

  Brie felt her cheeks burn. ‘I doubt that will happen, even after we—’ She stopped, but it was too late. Tam hadn’t come down in the last shower.

  ‘Even after what?’

  Brie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘Even after we kissed.’

  ‘What?’ Tam shrieked. ‘When did this happen and why am I only finding out about it now?’

  Brie relayed the story.

  ‘So he came past to tell you he wants you.’

  ‘He didn’t say that, Tam.’

  ‘But he said he asked you as his date and then he came by to kiss you.’

  ‘He came by to give me the key to Rosie’s apartment.’ A visit that was first on her agenda tomorrow morning.

  ‘Have you told him you’re back?’

  ‘No.’ She didn’t add that she’d been disappointed that he hadn’t contacted her. It confused the hell out of her. Why had he kissed her?

  ‘Well, perhaps you should pay him a visit before you head up to Rosie’s apartment?’

  ‘Yeah, maybe.’ Brie was already hoping she could slip in and out without being noticed.

  Next she called Seb.

  ‘I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from you and then I saw one of your photos on the cyclone.’

  ‘Yeah, I just got back,’ she said, stifling a yawn.

  ‘You sound exhausted.’

  ‘That’s an understatement. It’s been a long few weeks. First Gran, then the whole thing with the will and then the cyclone, it’s drained me.’

  ‘Roger was in last night. He asked about you.’

  ‘Oh yeah? What’s new?’ She chuckled. Despite being married, Roger hadn’t given up hitting on Brie every time he was in town. It drove Seb crazy.

  ‘I told him you were in Sydney and he said he’d look you up.’

  ‘Please don’t tell me you gave him my number.’

  ‘Not a chance.’ Seb laughed. ‘You know how I feel about him when it comes to you.’

  They chatted for a while, Seb filling her in with all the shenanigans and news from around the traps.

  ‘The Cage was at capacity the other night.’

  ‘Really? I would’ve thought the weather wasn’t warm enough.’ The Cage was an infamous Karaoke bar not far from Seb’s place.

  ‘Yeah, it was a little strange. A couple of Aussies sang our song.’

  Brie wasn’t much of a singer, but Seb always made her sing the Simple Minds song ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, if they were both at The Cage. ‘Wow. Do I need to come back to defend our title?’ she joked.

  ‘You really are like the sakura, aren’t you?’

  Seb was right. He had picked it even before she’d left. And while she didn’t know where she would end up after Sydney, she knew that it wasn’t going to be Narita.

  ‘I guess I am, Seb.’

  ‘Good luck, Brie. I hope you find happiness.’ There was only good will in his tone and it made Brie smile.

  ‘You too, Seb.’

  ‘And if you’re ever in Narita, make sure you come and say hi, okay?’

  ‘You can count on that.’

  She was about to refill her glass when her phone rang again. When she saw Harry’s name on display she answered right away. He would only be calling for one reason.

  ‘Harry?’

  ‘Brie, I’m a dad! Sylvie had the baby. It’s a boy!’

  ‘Oh, Harry, congratulations! How’s Sylvie doing?’

  ‘She’s good but exhausted. She and the baby were asleep when I left. I wanted to stay the night, but she kicked me out.’

  Brie chuckled. ‘Sounds like Sylvie.’

  ‘I’ve got some of the guys coming for a few drinks. Come over if you’ve got nothing on.’

  Some of the guys were sure to include Josh, and Brie wasn’t sure she was ready to face him.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Harry. I just got home and I’m—’

  ‘Come on, Brianna.’ Harry’s voice slurred slightly and she stifled a giggle. Harry wasn’t one to drink, but Brie guessed the birth of his first child would do it. ‘You’re not going to be around for much longer, just come and hang with us.’

  Harry’s words took her back a decade. It was virtually the same thing he’d said to her when she’d announced she was moving overseas. Of course it had made for some tense ‘hanging out’ with Josh. Now Harry and Sylvie were parents, Max was married to Avery, and she and Josh … well she and Josh …

  ‘So you’ll come?’ Harry asked.

  ‘I’ve already had a glass of wine. I can’t drive.’

  ‘I’ll order an Uber for you. Here, I’m doing it now.’

  ‘Harry, I don’t think—’

  ‘Done. It’ll be at yours in … five minutes. See
you soon.’ The line clicked and Harry was gone.

  Shit.

  Her hair was still wet, she had no makeup on and she was dressed in the only clean clothes she had. A frantic dash upstairs saw her twist her still-wet mop of hair into a French knot, whack on some tinted moisturiser and a coat of lip gloss. She found an old pair of jeans that luckily fit and a peasant top that was decades old but somehow seemed not too shabby. It was a bit tight around the bust. It wasn’t perfect, but it was just her old friends so it would do.

  A moment later the Uber was in front and she was jumping in, heading to Harry and Sylvie’s. On the way, she called the pizza place and cancelled her order.

  ‘Brie!’ Harry greeted her with arms wide open and a cigar hanging precariously off his bottom lip. ‘Come in.’ He rescued it before it fell and then hugged her.

  ‘Congratulations, Dad!’ Brie said, pecking him on the cheek.

  ‘Dad.’ Harry grinned goofily. ‘I like the sound of that.’

  ‘Brie!’ Avery appeared, holding a bottle of Moët and a champagne flute. ‘Have a drink!’ She poured her a glass of bubbly and thrust it in her hands before she had a chance to step inside.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said.

  ‘Now that we’re all here, the celebration can really begin.’

  She followed Harry and Avery to the balcony outside, where Max and Josh were sitting on two opposite lounges smoking cigars. Avery promptly nestled herself next to her husband, leaving Brie no choice but to sit next to Josh.

  Harry pulled a seat from the nearby outdoor setting. ‘Just like old times,’ he mused nostalgically as he handed a cigar to Brie. ‘Just like old times.’

  ‘Yeah, except you guys can’t call me baby anymore and chase me away.’ Avery giggled, swiping Max’s cigar and taking a deep drag.

  ‘No one puts baby in the corner,’ Max said dramatically as he pulled Avery in for a kiss that made Brie squirm. Next to her Josh’s expression said he too could’ve done without his best mate kissing his little sister, even if he was now her husband.

  ‘Sickening, isn’t it?’ he mumbled quietly enough for only her to hear while keeping his gaze firmly forward.