by Jules Wake
Towards the end of the evening, I went out onto the veranda to cool down and watched as the barbecue embers gave off a final redundant glow.
It was then that a very chummy Mike arrived beside me, breathing beer fumes, obviously taking advantage of Tracey’s trip to the bar.
‘Olivia. Gotta talk to you. I hafta splain.’ With dusk falling, he couldn’t see my look of bored resignation. ‘Y’know I was goin’ out wi’ Tracey … then you came along. Shoulda told you after the first night but I couldn’t resist you … couldn’t stay away. Your fault.’
I might have had a bit more patience with his drunken rambling but he made the mistake of trying to blame me. Great. Nice to know I was irresistible to someone.
‘Never gave me chance to splain. You walked away. That wash you,’ he moaned.
What a day. My temper which is normally well hidden under layers and layers of ingrained politeness had been simmering all afternoon. I only needed the slightest excuse to light the touchpaper.
‘You bastard,’ I hissed at him, ready to let rip but Daniel materialised at my elbow. His timing stank.
‘Olivia, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’ The breath whistled out of me as Daniel firmly took my arm. ‘Excuse us,’ he said, before adding. ‘Mike, you’re a dickhead. Thank your lucky stars that she’s too nice to go and spill the beans to Tracey.’
Wheeling me away from Mike, we walked a few steps and now the moment was finally here. Sod’s law; I was desperate for the loo.
Would he hang around and wait for me or would I lose this window? ‘Sorry, I really need to go to …’ I indicated with my head and fled towards the ladies.
When I came out I almost tripped over him, leaning lazily against the wall. Was that a good sign? Was he was determined not to let me slip away? His arms were folded and a lazy amused smile was on his lips.
‘Fancy meeting you here,’ I said aiming for a flippant tone. ‘Looking for someone?’
‘Yes.’ He flashed me a smile. ‘A tall, gorgeous blonde.’
My heart did a little flutter. I missed a breath. It all went quiet.
‘Fancy a walk round the boundary?’
‘That would be nice,’ I responded suddenly lost for words. I winced. Nice. Where’s the witty repartee when you need it?
Was this when we were going to have our ‘talk’, here in the half-light, protecting us from curious eyes?
‘Good game,’ I said, after the silence of the first few paces.
‘Great,’ said Daniel enthusiastically. In the cover of the dusk evening, his fingers brushed mine. A warm tingle ran up my arm and I sneaked a glance at him as we walked on in silence.
‘Congratulations.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Gorgeous evening,’ I said inanely.
‘Mm lovely,’ said Daniel.
I could just make out him grinning. ‘You’re laughing at me,’ I accused him. ‘I can see your teeth; you look like the big bad wolf.’
‘Are you scared?’ he asked. For a second I didn’t dare answer. Should I keep things light? What would he say if I said yes, absolutely terrified? Terrified that I’d got it all wrong. I chickened out.
‘Nah, he gets outwitted by a little girl wearing a red hood. Pretty useless wolf, if you ask me.’
And at that point I was outwitted by the ring of my mobile. Conditioned by work, I had to see who was calling just in case it was urgent.
I shrugged at Daniel. ‘Sorry,’ I said, and digging it out of the back pocket of my linen trousers I checked the caller ID. Kate? Quickly I checked my watch. Two in the afternoon there – funny time for her to ring. Some sixth sense of foreboding made me answer.
‘Hi, Kate. Your timing is rubbish. Is it urgent?’ I said, with a quick glance at Daniel. I could see his teeth grin in the dark. I immediately regretted my words.
‘I’m bleeding. I … I … don’t know what to do.’ Her teeth were chattering.
‘My God.’ Immediately I went cold. ‘How badly?’
‘Really bad.’ She started to cry. ‘There’s loads. Gushing. I’m losing the baby. I don’t know what to do.’ Now she was sobbing in earnest, which frightened me. That wasn’t like her.
‘OK, Kate,’ I said slowly, trying to sound more grown up than I felt. ‘Calm down. Have you phoned for an ambulance?’
‘Yes, but it doesn’t work,’ she cried.
‘What doesn’t work? Your phone?’
Daniel had moved closer, touching my arm as he mouthed, ‘Is she OK?’
I shook my head and listened hard to Kate.
‘No, the number. 999. It doesn’t work.’ I could hear the panic in her voice.
‘Slow down, Kate,’ I said frowning. ‘You didn’t misdial?’
‘No,’ she wailed. ‘I tried lots of times. It’s not working. Bloody, shitty country. Even 999 doesn’t work.’
Maybe it was different there. I put my hand over the mouthpiece and whispered to Daniel. ‘Kate needs the Australian emergency services. 999 isn’t the right number. Do you know it?’
‘What’s wrong with her?’ he asked, his face creased with concern.
Without thinking I blurted it out. ‘She’s having a miscarriage. She needs help now.’
His mouth was a perfect surprised ‘O’ for a moment before he said, ‘What about 911? America?’ which I immediately relayed to Kate.
‘Have you tried 911?’
Her voice lifted. ‘I could try that … wait there … never thought.’
The line went quiet for a second before I heard a howl of disappointment.
‘No joy,’ I whispered to Daniel.
‘Wait,’ he grabbed my arm, ‘the Aussie bowler.’
‘Good idea, but for God’s sake be discreet.’
‘’Kay,’ and with that he sped off back to the pavilion.
‘Kate. Hang on, sweetie. We’re just going to ask an Australian player at the club.’ I started running after Daniel.
She didn’t even query the ‘we’, all I heard was a low moan on the other end of the phone.
‘Kate,’ I said urgently, slowing my pace so that I could hear properly. ‘Kate. Are you still there?’
‘It … hurts,’ she moaned again, weeping down the phone.
I felt so helpless. I stopped just outside the veranda waiting for Daniel. There was no point going inside, it would be noisy and full of people. Looking up at the stars in the midnight blue sky, stars she couldn’t see, my heart ached for her. She was so alone.
Daniel reappeared in the doorway with Bill behind him.
Shit just what I didn’t need.
‘000,’ he called, coming towards me. Thank God, he’d asked. I’d never have thought of that in a million years.
‘Kate,’ I said urgently. She was still crying. ‘Kate, it’s 000. Can you hear me?’
‘Yes,’ she sniffed. ‘000, let …’ she broke off with a long groan. ‘… me try it.’
There was a muffled hiss and bang as she put down the phone and then I could hear her talking, breathless between sobs giving her address to someone.
‘They’re on their way.’ She was calmer but her voice was dull and lifeless. ‘I’d better go.’
‘Wait, Kate? Do you want me to come over? I can fly out.’
‘It’s too bloody far. You can’t get here in …’ she cried, anguished and started to sob again.
‘Please, Kate, there must be …’ We were both crying now. I was aware of Bill and Daniel standing together on the top step of the veranda, looking down at me with concern on their faces. I focussed on Kate.
‘There’s nothing. You can’t do anything.’ She was getting angry now.
‘I can stay on the line ’til they get there.’ Mentally I was flipping through the rami
fications of getting the next possible flight. Passport. Airlines. Work.
As I sank down onto the step, Daniel slipped in beside me putting his arm round me, rubbing my shoulder. Bill stood awkwardly to one side, shifting from one foot to the other as I carried on talking to Kate. We talked of everything and nothing until I could hear a siren in the background.
‘They’re here. Olivia, I don’t know what I’d have done … I’ll call … Don’t tell anyone.’
‘Of course not,’ I lied blithely, glancing behind me. ‘Call me as soon as you can. Promise.’
I cut the call and stared wearily at the phone in my hand.
‘What’s going on Olivia? What’s wrong with Kate? Why does she need the emergency services?’ Bill was practically jumping up and down.
Shit. What was I going to say?
I didn’t get the chance to think of something plausible. Daniel answered the question for me.
‘She’s having a miscarriage.’ The words hung in the silence.
The guilty look on my face said everything as I closed my eyes and wished I was somewhere else.
Bill’s face went white and then he grabbed me, hauled me to my feet and said, ‘Is that true?’
Daniel intercepted pulling him off me. ‘Oy. Leave her alone!’
‘It’s OK, Daniel,’ I said, squeezing his arm gratefully. Turning to Bill, I nodded miserably, barely able to meet his eyes.
‘Is it mine?’ he asked heatedly.
Daniel’s eyes widened and he swivelled sharply to look at Bill.
I couldn’t lie so I nodded again.
‘Bloody hell,’ said Bill, sinking onto the step, rubbing his head distractedly.
‘Bloody hell,’ echoed Daniel.
‘Sorry, Bill. I couldn’t …’ I muttered, anxious to get away.
‘Shit. Pregnant. Kate. Bloody hell.’
‘Look. I have to go. Kate’s all on her own. I need to try and get a flight tonight or tomorrow morning.’ My mind was racing with the practicalities of getting home to get my passport.
At this point Bill jumped up. ‘I’ll go. I’ve got to see her.’
‘Bill, you can’t …’ but as his words sank in, part of me thought that might be a very good idea. Kate had admitted she’d made a mistake. If he flew to her rescue she could hardly turn him away. She’d forgive me eventually. Wouldn’t she?
‘Daniel, can you get me to the airport?’ asked Bill, decision made.
‘I will,’ I said firmly.
‘You can’t,’ interrupted Daniel gently. ‘Your folks will wonder why you’ve dashed off. They’ll know it’s Kate. Presumably she doesn’t want them to know. Besides, you’re in no fit state to drive.’
True.
‘Ring me when you know about your flight?’ I said to Bill as I wished him luck. ‘Do you want me to tell Kate—’
‘No, don’t. If she has time to think she might refuse to see me. I’ll call with my flight details. Let me know where she is. Don’t worry, Olivia, as soon as I get there, I’ll be able to look after her.’
‘Thanks.’ I sniffed as he gave me a big bear hug, my face only reaching his shoulder. He strode off leaving me with Daniel who turned to me and touched my cheek. ‘You OK?’
My eyes met his and my heart did a little flip. I nodded shyly.
‘Are you around tomorrow?’
I nodded again. ‘I, uh, was planning to, uh, come over to get something from Miriam,’ I stuttered. ‘She’s got a videotape I need.’
‘Fine, why don’t you pick me up on the way up to the house? Toot at the gatehouse. I’ll be there. We still need to talk.’ Still facing me he took a few paces back and then without warning, took two strides forward, gave me a brief hard kiss on the lips and then turned away and walked off to the car park without looking back once. There was a catch in my throat as I missed a breath, my lungs stuttering in surprise.
I could see Bill waiting by the car, his phone glued once more to his ear. There was nothing sleepy or slow about him tonight. Pacing up and down, he looked alert and ready to take on the world.
As Bill dashed into his house to collect his passport and overnight gear, Daniel drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Tension lifted his shoulders and he wriggled uncomfortably in the driving seat. The temptation to call Emily was strong but to be honest he wasn’t sure the words would be coherent. How could she lie so blatantly to him? He wanted to punch something. Was there any way she could have genuinely made a mistake? His neck clicked as he tipped his head back against the headrest. Who was he kidding? Christ, he was a fucking idiot.
Of course Emily had lied. It seemed so bloody obvious now. Sitting in the dark car he shook his head and let out a half-laugh of disgust. How had he managed to get it so wrong with Olivia? Again.
Would she forgive him? He’d done her one hell of an injustice. How the hell would he feel? Tried and found guilty without an ounce of proof. It seemed obvious now: he’d acted out of hurt pride that night. Not that that deserved to cut any ice with Olivia. She had every right to be furious with him.
He’d been so convinced that Olivia must have been leading him on, instead of talking to her about it, he’d got his own back by responding to Emily’s unashamed come-on. What a dickhead. He’d blown it so badly and now when he appreciated just how badly, he realised how he felt about Olivia.
With a heavy sigh he sank lower into his seat, regret pulsing through him. Arse. Arse. Arse.
‘Let’s move,’ said Bill jumping into the car, a small bag on his lap.
‘Any idea which terminal?’
‘Three.’
Bill’s expression was grim and neither of them said anything as Daniel concentrated on navigating through the village roads until they hit the bypass to take them up to the M4.
Once they hit seventy, he saw Bill’s grip on his travel bag relax slightly.
‘So … Kate?’ he ventured the question. ‘When did that … er, happen? Not that you have to tell me if you don’t want to. I had no idea, the two of … you …’ His voice petered out.
Bill groaned. ‘It’s always been Kate. Bet you never thought I stood a chance. Let’s face it. No one did, least of all me. Stupid thing was, we got on so well. She just wouldn’t give it a go.’
‘So how did it happen?’
Bill laughed. ‘You mean you don’t know?’
‘Well, I wasn’t thinking it was the Immaculate Conception.’
‘When I went to Oz on tour. Looked Kate up. Bloody fool that I am. Couldn’t stay away from her. Except this time, she actually seemed pleased to see me. We had a great time. Met up for dinner … and,’ Bill groaned again, ‘things went from there.’
Bill shook his head vehemently before he spoke again.
‘Shit, I should have realised it was too good to be true. The next morning she made it quite clear it had been a mistake and I buggered off sharpish.’
Daniel absorbed all this wondering if he should voice his thoughts and then decided to risk it. ‘So why the knight to the rescue act now?’
Bill thrust his hand out and hit the dashboard. ‘Because I can’t believe that night didn’t meant anything to her. I won’t believe it.’ Bill turned his face toward him, misery etching twin furrows on either side of his mouth. ‘And what have I got to lose? I love her. Always have done. Besides she’s alone out there. She needs someone. I can’t stand the thought that she’s lying in some hospital ward without anyone.’ Bill’s voice cracked, making Daniel think of how he’d feel if that were Olivia.
Instinctively he pressed the accelerator. He needed to get Bill on the next available flight.
Chapter Sixteen
Thank goodness I had an excuse to get out of the house the next morning. There was only so much time I could spend in my room. I was terrified of giving somethin
g away to Mum or Dad by constantly checking for messages on my mobile.
The last contact I’d had with Bill was a hasty text from Heathrow the previous evening, which was nothing more than ‘11.10 flight 2 Sydney. Text when u hr frm K.’
I still hadn’t heard from her. I’d tried her mobile a couple of times but nothing. Was she in hospital? Was she OK? As well as the worry, I was consumed with guilt. Mum would kill me if she found out. I tried to tell myself it was better this way. No point in worrying her until there was any real news. As if! That was rubbish. As far as she was concerned, worry was part of her job spec.
Slipping my mobile into my pocket I headed downstairs where I found Mum and Dad absorbed in their Sunday papers. Dad was very chipper. He didn’t seem too upset by yesterday’s defeat.
‘There’s always next year,’ he said, wincing as he turned the pages.
Mum tutted unsympathetically. ‘If you will go diving about thinking you’re still twenty, no wonder your shoulder hurts. You should let me put some Arnica on that bruise.’
‘Yes, dear,’ he murmured, winking at me.
Pursing her mouth she shook her head. ‘Men,’ she huffed. ‘What time are you going to Daniel’s this morning? Will you be back for lunch?’
‘Not sure,’ I said, putting down my mug of tea, forcing myself to take another bite of toast as I surreptitiously slipped my phone onto my lap.
‘Not to worry. Only soup and sandwiches. What time’s your train this afternoon? Are you staying for dinner? I could do it early.’
I hesitated. ‘Thought I might go for a four o’clock train. Don’t worry I’ll eat when I get in.’ My eyes slid down to my mobile.
‘You’ve got to eat something. You’ve barely touched that toast.’
‘Too worried about her teeth, I should imagine,’ quipped Dad, looking with amusement at the solid home-made wholemeal loaf on the table.
