Beach Walk

by Annie Seaton

  She slumped back in the chair, exhausted by the emotion that had grabbed at her throat as she read the symbols. Never before had she had such an intense reading. Or such a physical response. Her heart was beating hard, and her face was burning.

  If Dave came back with a sarcastic response, she’d be disappointed. She honestly wouldn’t have the energy to retort; it was the strangest thing that had ever happened to her.

  Sally caught her eye across the table and nodded in support. Sonia took a deep breath as she waited for him to reply.

  ‘Thank you.’ His voice was calm. ‘That was very . . . um . . . shall I say . . . yes, interesting.’

  Sonia nodded, unable to meet his eye. There was some strange energy spinning around them. His aura was glowing so brightly, she had to look away. It was hot pink, and she shook her head.

  No, not going there. No way.

  Enticing and vivid, his sexual aura just about jumped out and literally grabbed her by the throat.

  The restaurant was full of chatting voices, the seagulls were squawking outside, and the waves were crashing onto the rocks. Theo and Lily were squealing, but it was as though she was in a world of her own.

  Locked into a world with Dave Walker.

  ‘Um, my pleasure,’ she managed to get out without looking at him.

  She swallowed, focused on Sally, who was holding her teacup out to her, and turned away from Dave who was sitting quietly on her right.

  Trying to make her voice brisk, she leaned over and held out her hand for Sally’s teacup. With a casual glance back at Dave, she added. ‘Oh, and just watch out for a temptation that seems too good to be true. An offer that’s not really what it seems.

  His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. ‘You’re covering all bases pretty much then.’

  Her temper fired and this time she welcomed the surge of feeling. ‘I don’t cover anything. I see what I see, and I say what I see. Honestly, Dave. I couldn’t give two hoots for what you think about me. You’re obviously not a believer.’

  As she tilted Sally’s cup and looked at the leaves, she flicked him a dismissive glance. ‘Your loss, your problem.’

  Dave folded his arms and the table was quiet as Sonia examined the leaves in Sally’s cup.

  HALF AN HOUR LATER, Sonia was shattered. Tiredness tugged at her limbs, and she took a deep breath, widening her eyes as she fought eyelids that wanted to close. She’d been reading tea leaves in the house on the hill for five years, and had had all manner of clients, but never before had she had such a close and personal encounter with one person through a reading. Trying to keep up a confident persona in front of Dave, dealing with what the leaves had said about Rosie and Sally, and then finding the energy to take Lily and Theo for the bike ride she’d promised had Sonia digging deep for some more oomph.

  Reading Rosie’s leaves had left her unsettled. Change was coming and she knew it was going to affect her.

  Reading Dave’s coffee dregs . . . well she wasn’t going back there.

  She had started his reading as a joke so she knew she deserved everything she’d got in return.

  Payback from the universe for being flippant.

  As the others prepared to leave and began to say their goodbyes, she caught Mitch’s eye. He came over and leaned down beside her and she was conscious of Dave watching. ‘Want another coffee, sweets?’

  ‘A double shot, large, please Mitch, to take away.’

  ‘Sure, sweetie, and this one’s on the house. I can see how hard you’ve worked.’ Mitch put his hand on her arm. ‘Who’s the good looking man,’ he whispered as he leaned closer. ‘We haven’t seen him here before.’

  ‘He’s Sol’s friend,’ Sonia whispered back.

  ‘If only I was single. . .’ Mitch fluttered his eyelashes at her.

  Sonia laughed. ‘You’re naughty. Now go and make me that coffee so I can stagger through the rest of the day.’

  As Mitch hurried off, she stood and smoothed her hands down the front of her caftan. ‘You kiddos ready for a bike ride?’

  Lily and Theo ran around the table to her. ‘Yes, please!’

  ‘Come on then, I have to go and get changed and then dig my bike out of the wood shed.’ She grinned at the kids. ‘Who wants to fight the spiders and the cobwebs?’

  Chapter 6

  Dave lingered on the walk above the beach after the others had left. The bank had called and postponed his eleven o’clock appointment. As he decided where to go next, he’d watched Sonia walk up the hill to the house with a child holding each of her hands.

  Somehow she’d found out about his business problems and he wanted to know how. If Sol had said he hadn’t shared the information, then he was speaking the truth. Dave would trust Sol with his life. He might be a bit vague, but he was a good and loyal friend, and they’d been through some good and bad times together over the years.

  So the first thing he needed to know was how she had known what had happened to him. He hadn’t seen it in any of the papers yet, or online, so he was perplexed as to how Sonia how heard about his dramas.

  Dave leaned back on the fence beneath the shade of a small tree. Perspiration ran down his neck and he ran a finger around the collar of his button-up shirt. He garnered a few looks; most of those walking by were in beach clothes and wet suits. The business crowd dressed in business clothes like his had downed their coffees quickly and run for the buses trundling down Campbell Street ready for their nine o’clock starts. For a few minutes he sat there and let relaxation fill him. Sol and Sally had left, and Rosie had run across to the road when her husband had pulled up in a bright red Jeep. Now that he didn’t have to rush to the city, he would enjoy the summer sunshine.

  And talk to Sonia, the tea leaf reader.

  Dave shook his head. He didn’t know how to take her any more. On Christmas Day when Sol had invited him to the beach house for lunch, she’d been rude and aloof. Today, when she’d looked into that stupid cup, her whole manner had softened and he’d found himself responding.

  And in front of a crowd too.

  Dave waited for half an hour, and wondered if she’d changed her mind about the bike ride. He looked at his watch, and considered whether to leave or grab another coffee. The coffee won out, but as he began to walk towards the café, a jangle of bike bells sounded behind him and he turned.

  Three bikes were heading along the path to the south. The children were in front, on small push bikes and Sonia was bringing up the rear. He stood and stared as they approached him. She was wearing purple lycra tights—the same colour as the earrings—and a huge loose over shirt in yet another myriad of stripes. The ensemble was completed by the hot pink converse sneakers on her feet that were currently pushing the pedals hard and fast.

  As they reached Dave he stepped to the side of the path. Sonia reached into the basket on the front of her bike and pulled out a small towel and wiped the perspiration that was already forming on her brow.

  Dave frowned. ‘A bit hot to be riding at this time of day, isn’t it?’

  ‘I promised the kids we’d ride to the playground.’ Even though Sonia looked hot she wasn’t out of breath.

  ‘And then we’re having an ice cream,’ Lily said.

  ‘And then we’ll be ready for our swim,’ the little boy added.

  ‘I was hoping to have a word with you,’ Dave asked.

  Her expression closed as her eyes narrowed. ‘About?’

  Dave glanced at the kids. ‘Probably not the right time now. Are you free for a coffee or a drink later this afternoon?’ He wasn’t sure what prompted his next words, but they came tumbling out. ‘Maybe even dinner?’

  This time the suspicion on her face was clear. Her lips pursed and her chin lifted. ‘Why?’

  He shrugged. ‘Seemed like a good idea.’

  She sat there high on the seat of her bicycle as her hand gripped the fence to keep her balance. ‘I was under the impression that you didn’t particularly like me—and the feeling was mutual—so why
would you want to have dinner with me?’

  Was mutual, she said. Dave sensed a sort of victory. ‘All the more reason to have dinner and discuss your capitulation,’ he said.

  ‘My what?’ But there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.

  ‘The feeling was mutual? From that I thought you might have softened your harsh opinion of me.’

  ‘That Carmen Miranda crack will take a lot of making up for,’ she said, but a smile was beginning to tilt her lips.

  Lily tugged at Sonia’s arm. ‘Who’s Carmen Miranda, Sonia? Is she coming to our place? It’s a pretty name.’

  The smile that lit up Sonia’s face as she leaned down to Lily’s bike sent a shimmer of warmth through Dave’s nerve endings. ‘She was a lady who always wore a basket of fruit on her head. A famous movie star.’

  ‘Can we go now?” Theo wasn’t at all interested in the conversation about fruit baskets and movie stars.

  ‘Yes, come on, Lily.” She flicked a glance at Dave. ‘I’ll think about dinner. Call in this afternoon, but only if you’re back this way.’

  With that, she rode off, head held high, the two children pedalling furiously to keep up with her. Dave couldn’t help the smile that stayed on his face until they’d rounded the next bend and were out of sight. He was thoughtful as he walked to the car park, and the prospect of the meetings ahead was tempered by the unusual interactions and feelings that the morning had brought.

  SONIA BLINKED IN THE fierce brilliance of the January sun as they rode along the beach walk; the water beneath the cliffs was dazzling. By the time they reached the playground, she was reconsidering her decision not to appear on Bondi Beach in a swimming costume. The way she was feeling she could probably fling off the lycra pants and the T-shirt and jump into the surf in her undies. Her pants were sticking to her legs and the T-shirt was plastered to her back. A ring of perspiration had almost glued the bike helmet to her head. Of course, the two kids were as fresh as daisies and after putting their little helmets carefully on their bikes they ran to the swings.

  She stood on the dizzily high cliff staring down at the water. The sight of the ocean, the soft shushing sound of the waves as they rolled into the base of the cliff, and the fresh salty air all combined to soothe her. Since Christmas Day, Sonia’s self confidence had hit an all time low, and a persistent feeling of misery and a horrid premonition that something was about to happen, wouldn’t leave her.

  ‘Come and push me, Aunty Son,’ Lily yelled as she jumped onto the swing next to the climbing frame. Sonia drew a quick breath and went to call out but Theo was already at the top. As she watched heart-in-mouth, he swung from the top bar and dragged himself along to the other side by his hands. He jumped down and ran over to the swings. Perspiration was still trickling down Sonia’s back. If she’d known it was going to be this hot out here, she would have suggested something else.

  ‘I’ll come over in a minute, Lily.’ Checking that the twins were both occupied in a safe activity, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through to Sally’s number, and sent a quick text.

  Can u talk?

  The response was instant.

  ‘Yep. What’s up?

  Okay to call?

  A thumbs up emoticon confirmed Sally’s availability, and Sonia pressed the call button.

  ‘What’s wrong, Son? Kids okay?’ Sally sounded worried.

  ‘Yep, all good. We’re at the playground. Are you at the in-laws yet?

  ‘No, we’re just about to pull up.’

  ‘I just wanted to ask you about Dave.’ Sonia stared past the playground equipment out across Bondi Beach. The heat shimmered over the flat silvery water and the heat haze tinted the sky with a muted glow. From here, she could see Aunt Aggie’s house on the hill, the elegant old mansion stood out amongst all of the modern high rise apartments.

  ‘Dave? Ask what?’ Sally asked.

  ‘I just wanted to know a bit about him.’

  Sally’s voice was cautious. ‘He went to school with Sol. They’ve been friends for years, and he inherited a farm up at Peat’s Ridge. I stayed there when you were in Hawaii.’ Sally’s laugh tinkled over the phone. ‘And he has a car-eating dog from hell called Otis.’

  ‘Yeah, I know all that. But what’s he like? Really like.’

  ‘He’s a nice guy. A bit intense sometimes, but a good person. I know that because Sol thinks the world of him.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks.’

  ‘Why are you asking this all of a sudden?’ Sally asked. ‘Did he upset you this morning after you read his leaves? You seemed a bit . . . um . . . preoccupied, for want of a better word.’

  ‘No, no. I’m fine.’ Sonia wasn’t going to share with anyone how much Dave had actually ruffled her usual composure. ‘Just curious. You have a good day, and don’t let Sol’s mother lord it over you.’ She knew how nervous Sally was going to her prospective mother-in-law’s fancy mansion. She’d talked about nothing else since they’d been invited over earlier in the week. Sol’s mother had been to a few yoga classes, but going to the family home had daunted Sally.

  ‘Okay. I’ll see you when we get home. Enjoy the kidlets.’

  Sonia chewed her lip as she put the phone back in the basket. Dave asking her out for dinner had thrown her. She hadn’t been out on any sort of date for over two years; her confidence had been shattered by the last guy she’d gone home with. She’d always been self conscious about her size, but his ‘Whoa, big Mama,’ remark when he’d unbuttoned her shirt had Sonia picking up her bag and walking out. Up until that comment, they’d been getting on well. They’d exchanged a few kisses in the pub, and she’d found him attractive. The stunned look when she’d headed for the door had soon turned to nastiness, and a few mutterings about “a tease” had rung in her ears for hours after she’d driven herself home.

  From that day on, her image of herself had deteriorated in an ever increasing spiral. She’d always been big boned, and tall, but playing hockey at high school had kept her toned and fit. These days she tried to walk, and ride her bike, but time or the weather, or an appointment always got in the way.

  She hadn’t gained weight, she just felt huge.

  Hiding her size as best she could behind her multi-coloured caftans, and creating a crazy, ditzy persona to hide behind might have hidden how she was really feeling from the rest of the world, including those closest to her, but she couldn’t pull the wool over her own eyes.

  She was big. She was unattractive, and if Dave Walker wanted to have dinner with her, he must have an ulterior motive.

  But the memory of his leaves wouldn’t go away, and she worried that if she said no, he would take it personally. Despite the loud, sassy image she presented to the world, Sonia knew she had a soft heart, and she hated hurting anyone’s feelings.

  Just one screwed up mess, she thought.

  Sonia smoothed back her damp hair, and walked over to the swings.

  She’d decide about dinner later.

  Chapter 7

  By the time Dave had listened to his financial advisers, spoken to his agent and endured a grilling at the head branch of the bank, his confidence—what little there had been left—was in tatters. All he wanted to do was go back to the farm—and that alone was an indication of the state he was in—and crawl into bed and pull the blankets over his head.

  The fact that Mitzi had caused the whole bloody schmozzle seemed to bypass everyone’s attention.

  He felt like saying, ‘Hello, I’m the one who’s been shafted here. How about a break here, guys?’

  But no one was interested.

  The bottom line was he had no money behind him to fund another show, his contracts had been wiped, and he had a warehouse full of designs that couldn’t be sold unless he could have a show.

  He was going round and round in circles.

  If he sold the clothes he could afford a show, but he couldn’t have a show unless he sold them and got some cold hard cash to get it organised.

  Venue, catering, pub
licity. It all cost, and at the moment, he didn’t have a spare cent to his name. He’d maxed out his credit card getting back to Australia. The only avenue open to him was to take out a loan against the farm, but at the moment, the orange trees were not in any condition to bear good fruit, and the house was in need of a great deal of renovation love. There’d be a bit of rent coming in from Sol soon, but he felt bad taking that.

  Maybe he could take out a loan against the land? Dave frowned as he stepped off the bus. He’d decided to leave his car at Bondi and take public transport into town.

  It was bullshit. Two months ago he’d thought nothing of paying two hundred dollars for a bottle of champagne. Now he was catching buses to save a few dollars. And he’d invited Sonia out for dinner.

  Maybe a hamburger on the beach would suit her? She didn’t look the sort to expect a fancy restaurant.

  He walked along the street from the bus stop towards the beach. And why the hell had he invited her out anyway. He stopped by the car park and got a pair of board shorts and a T-shirt from the car. An hour in the surf might clear his head.

  But before he did that, he had one more stop to make.

  BY THE TIME THEY RODE from the park back along the length of the path at Bondi Beach to the house on the hill on the north side of the beach, and stopped for ice cream on the way, Sonia was dripping with perspiration. Running her hand through her damp hair as they put the bikes in the shed, she came to a decision. She didn’t care about what she looked like now, all she could think of was sinking into the cool ocean.

  ‘Come on, kids. Grab your swimmers and beach towels. We’re going for a swim.’ She looked at Theo, and shrugged. There was no one else to see the chocolate ice cream all over his chin; it would wash off in the water. ‘Wait in the living room when you’re ready, guys.’

  ‘Yay.’ The kids ran up the stairs with a whoop, both ignoring the loud banging coming from the attic on the top floor.