by Téa Cooper
Jack slid into a chair, drink in hand. His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes and he silently toasted her before resting back in the chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Her tummy gave a flutter that reflected in her voice. The words summed up everything she felt for Jack, everything that might be if Cynthia hadn’t got her claws into him.
In the break between songs Lawrence whispered, ‘You’re singing beautifully. You’ve got them in the palm of your hand. No more nerves tonight?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s just perfect. Am I doing all right?’
‘More than all right. There’s something in your voice tonight. You’re finding your feet — or else it’s love.’ He wriggled his eyebrows and shot a meaningful look across the room.
Dolly turned, willing away the tinge of red blooming on her cheeks. ‘Don’t be silly, Lawrence.’
‘I’m not being silly. I can tell when a woman is smitten and you haven’t taken your eyes off Jack all evening. You sorted out your little tiff last night, then?’
Frantic to change the subject, Dolly said, ‘Is it time to up the pace?’
‘I think it might be.’ Lawrence started to play and applause broke out, swelling Dolly’s heart and making her smile. The final confirmation: singing was her vocation. Jack’s eyes never left her. His very presence buoyed her and gave her a confidence she’d never imagined.
‘Time for dancing.’
As before the chairs were moved back and the small dance floor created. Jack stood close to the window, relaxing against the wall with an easy grace she remembered from the past.
‘We’ll start with Just a Girl That Men Forget. Though I don’t think they’ll be forgetting you,’ Lawrence said.
Dolly reached for the sheet music. Not over-familiar with the words she kept her eyes on the paper. Only when they reached the last chorus did she feel confident enough to look up. Jack hadn’t moved but he no longer watched her. He stared across the room his dark brows knotted, the colour draining from his face. On the other side of the room stood Cynthia, cigarette in hand, deep in conversation with a tall man in evening dress.
‘Dolly, what’s next?’ Lawrence tapped her arm with his fingers.
‘Oh, sorry.’ She moved closer to the piano and straightened the music. ‘Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out.’
‘Come and sit down here with me for a while.’ Lawrence patted the piano stool. ‘Give your legs a break. This is a slow number.’
Dolly smoothed the skirt of Alice’s velvet frock and settled on the end of the piano stool.
‘Ready?’
She nodded, her heart sinking when she glimpsed the empty space where Jack had stood. Peering past a couple in a clinch resembling one of the pictures in the hallway, she spotted him on the other side of the room. From the set of his shoulders she could see he was angry. Cynthia pointed to the man standing next to her with her cigarette holder. For a second Dolly’s breath caught. The tip of the man’s head and the tilt of his chin reminded her so much of Ted.
‘Dolly!’ Lawrence’s voice interrupted and she glanced down. ‘Are you ready? What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing. I was just watching Jack. He’s talking to Cynthia and another man,’ she said. No wonder Jack had pushed her away. From the anger emanating from his body he looked as though he would strike the man whose possessive arm rested on Cynthia’s shoulder. Cynthia’s words billowed in her brain. He’s my boyfriend.
Jack was jealous.
‘Don’t you worry about Cynthia.’ Lawrence had read her mind. ‘I can see where Jack’s loyalties lie and they aren’t with Cyn.’
From the look of Jack’s behaviour Dolly doubted Lawrence knew what he was talking about.
Chapter 16
Blood pounded in Jack’s ears, drowning out the music. Without a moment’s hesitation he cannoned across the room through the swaying crowd on the dance floor.
‘Watch what you’re doing old chap!’
‘Take it easy.’
Unless the drinks had gone to his head or he was hallucinating, Ted stood next to Cynthia on the opposite side of the room. Through the crush of people he couldn’t be certain. There was no mistaking Cynthia gesticulating with her ridiculous ivory cigarette holder. The man next to her was another matter. Dressed in an immaculate evening suit, he lounged against the wall half hidden by the crush of people.
Jack elbowed his way through the crowd and slithered to a halt. It was Ted…kitted out, by the look of it, in one of his own evening suits and sporting a shiny satin eye patch. With his shoulder propped against the wall Ted trickled the fingers of his right hand across Cynthia’s bare shoulder.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Jack placed a warning hand on Ted’s arm.
‘Listening to my baby sister sing. You omitted to tell me how she’d grown.’
‘Jack, what is this ridiculous display?’ Cynthia elbowed her way between them. ‘Ted’s here with me. I invited him.’
‘What if Dolly spots you?’ Jack heaved a sigh. ‘You promised not to say anything.’ Just when everything appeared to be on an even keel…if Dolly saw her brother, here, out of the blue, the shock would be crippling.
Ted shrugged. ‘I thought it was a pretty good idea of Cyn’s. You wanted me to see Dolly and this is as good a way as any.’
‘She thinks you’re dead.’
‘Oh, come on Jack, settle down.’ Cynthia laid a placating hand on his arm and he shrugged it off. ‘Ted is feeling much more himself now and I thought it was an excellent idea. All this nonsense he spouts about no one wanting to look at his face. I want to look at it and well — you look at him. He’s thoroughly debonair. Rakish even — I like rakish.’ She drawled the final words, wrapped a possessive arm around Ted’s neck and deposited a smudge of lipstick on his cheek.
Gritting his teeth and constraining his impulse to bundle Ted out of the room, Jack indicated to the door, ‘Let’s go and discuss this where there’s a bit more space. I’m sure Dolly will be thrilled to see you, Ted, although I do think it will be a bit of a shock, especially while she’s singing.’
He might as well have been a juggler trying to keep ten plates in the air at once. He didn’t want to stamp on Ted’s newfound confidence or stop Dolly from seeing her brother, yet Cynthia’s involvement sent alarm bells clanging in his head. She never did anything unless she had something to gain. And Dolly — what about Dolly? She deserved her moment of glory and after his display last night she didn’t need to be disrupted tonight by the unexpected appearance of her long-lost brother.
Jack ushered Ted and Cynthia through the door as unobtrusively as he could, glancing back to check on Dolly. The sight of her naked shoulder close to Lawrence’s lips was a blatant reminder of all he stood to lose when she discovered he’d lied to her.
He threw open the door to the Red Room and escorted Cynthia and Ted inside.
‘Can I get anyone a drink?’ Cynthia unpeeled her Chinoise wrap and threw it across the back of the sofa. ‘Teddy, whisky?’
Ted nodded and stood by the window, his back to the room and his arms folded.
Unable to wait a moment longer, Jack said, ‘This was your idea wasn’t it? Cynthia?’
‘So what if it was?’ A belligerent tone laced Ted’s voice.
‘What made you decide this would be a good idea?’ Jack drummed his foot on the thick carpet.
‘Why, darling, it is a good idea and you convinced me this morning at your apartment when I met Teddy.’ She handed Ted his drink and led him to the sofa. ‘You said Dolly had a right to know her brother was alive and by golly she does — especially when he’s such a lovely brother.’ As she dropped a kiss onto Ted’s cheek a glint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
Irritation flared and licked through Jack. ‘Cynthia, I am sick of your manipulating interference.’
‘Stop right there!’ Ted fronted Jack, his body rippling with aggression. ‘I’ve had enough of this, Jack Dalton. You think you’re running the blood
y show, the same way you thought you were running the squadron. We flew as individuals then and I’m an individual now and if it has taken Cynthia to bring me to my senses, then all well and good. Dolly is my sister and I will make the decision when I see her and when I don’t.’ Ted’s face wore an all-too-familiar aggressive look.
Tempted to shout Ted down, Jack sucked in a deep breath. Ted’s temper was as erratic as a sawn-off shotgun. The time was long overdue for a discussion about the war. Right now Dolly was more important. He could bundle Ted and Cynthia out of Number Fifty-Four and postpone the inevitable for a bit longer. Was there any point?
As Ted said, Dolly had every right to know her brother was alive and it was Ted’s decision to make. What would it do to Dolly? She’d come to Sydney to find a new life and just when it was about to happen Ted reappeared. She would want to look after him, provide a home for him or worse return to Wollombi. If Ted agreed, Dolly would be thrown back in the same position she’d endured when her father was alive and she deserved better.
Jack exhaled loudly and sat down. ‘Look, Ted, you’re right. It’s your call to decide when you see Dolly and I’m thrilled you want to. Can you wait an hour or two until she’s finished singing? This is a big night for her.’ He cocked his eyebrow, praying Ted would see things his way.
After a tense moment the lines bracketing Ted’s mouth relaxed and his shoulders dropped. ‘You’re right. I’m operating on a pretty short fuse these days.’ He adjusted the patch over his eye. ‘When Cyn talked me into coming over here it seemed as though there was some light at the end of the tunnel. First time that’s happened.’
‘Good man. Cynthia, can you pour me one of those, please?’ Jack pointed to the decanter on the table. The clock on the mantelpiece read ten thirty. ‘Suppose we give it until midnight then I’ll go and see if Dolly’s ready for a break.’
Jack took the glass Cynthia offered and leant back, wondering how he would tell Dolly. He couldn’t just let her walk in. Not only would the shock of discovering Ted alive knock her for six, there was also his face. It had overwhelmed him the first time he’d seen it. Although, with Ted better dressed and wearing an eye patch he didn’t feel the raw horror that had gripped him then. He did look almost debonair — rakish — Cynthia was right, but Dolly wouldn’t see it like that.
‘Nice suit you’ve got on there.’ Jack grinned across the room at Ted who had the grace to look somewhat sheepish.
‘You told me to help myself.’ The corner of Ted’s mouth quirked. ‘And let’s face it you’ve got enough of them. You’ve done all right for yourself.’ He gestured around the lavishly appointed room. ‘Are you going to fill me in?’
Swirling the whisky in the crystal tumbler Jack tried to make up his mind where to start. He’d already got on the wrong side of Ted so many times since he’d found him. He wanted to maintain the fragile truce and keep the conversation bland until he could go and get Dolly and leap the next hurdle. ‘I met a couple of guys in England and they’d got this mad idea about coming back here and setting up an air service. With the huge distances we’ve got the plan sounded more than logical. Once Ross and Keith Smith had flown from England to Australia commercial flights became more than just a possibility. I went over to Western Australia and we started a freight service, and then I sank all the money I had into the business and a couple of years ago the Queensland Northern Territory Air Service came into being. They opened an airport at Mascot.’ Jack shut his mouth, remembering his ridiculous gaff about flying jobs. This time Ted didn’t react.
‘So where did you find the money to get involved in this place?’ Ted scrutinised the room. ‘It’s pretty flash. A far cry from Susie’s.’
Jack took a slug of his drink. ‘I…err…I…’
Cynthia refilled Ted’s glass and settled back down next to him on the sofa, resting a possessive hand on his thigh.
‘You had a big win on the horses, didn’t you?’ Ted said. ‘Thought you’d have given up after your disaster at the Derby in England.’
Jack laughed. ‘Can’t keep much from you, can I? You’re right. I had some good wins once I got home. It wasn’t just on the horses. I made a few investments on the Sydney Stock Exchange and the timing was great. As far as this place is concerned it seemed like a good idea, too. After the riots they called a state of emergency and closed Sydney’s pubs and the six o’clock swill started.’
‘I remember hearing about it.’
Jack remembered when they’d both heard about it, while they were in Point Cook for flight training. Every topic had the potential to set Ted off, yet this evening he took everything in his stride. Whatever Cynthia had done or said she’d managed to change the man’s attitude in a matter of hours. Maybe a woman could do that for you.
His thoughts drifted back to Dolly. God! What he wouldn’t give… He swallowed a mouthful of whisky and turned back to Ted. ‘With the six o’clock swill anybody thirsty after dark had to look elsewhere. All it did was drive everyone into the back streets. That’s when the sly-grog shops took off. The politicians and toffs didn’t want to give up their entertainment either. Millie came up with the idea of an up-market club and she needed some backing. I had a run of luck and so we decided to give it a go.’
‘And it paid off.’
‘Oh yeah. It paid off all right.’ More than all right, especially now Dolly had landed on the doorstep. He owed Alf and Father George big-time.
‘Number Fifty-Four has quite a name for itself,’ Cynthia said, sidling closer to Ted.
‘It’s not just booze, song and dance. We have some pretty important patrons.’
‘I think I’d like to be one of your patrons.’ Ted ran his hand up the bare skin on Cynthia’s arm.
She giggled and dropped a kiss on his hand as it rested on her shoulder. ‘We might be able to come to an arrangement.’
Lulled by his drink and relief at the turn in the conversation, Jack sat back and allowed Cynthia and Ted’s banter to waft over him. A bit of fun with Cynthia would do Ted the world of good. He’d slip her some cash and she’d be happy. The clock on the mantelpiece struck eleven and he could no longer hear the music from the Blue Room. Putting his empty glass on the table he stood up. ‘I’ll go and see what Dolly is up to and…’
Before Jack could finish the door flew open and Dolly stood framed in the doorway, her face flushed with success and her glorious blue eyes sparkling. ‘I’ve found you!’ she announced with a twirl, ‘and I’ve come to see what you are up to.’
With his arms outstretched Jack stepped in front of her, intending to shield her from the shock of seeing the brother she presumed dead. He was too late. Her smile faded and her eyes grew wide. The colour drained from her face and Jack caught her as she swayed. Cradling her head in his palm he pressed her face to his shoulder.
Dolly wrenched herself free. ‘Ted?’ Her voice wavered.
‘Don’t you love surprises?’
‘Cynthia, button it,’ Jack snapped. Dolly’s breath rasped in his ears and the dampness of her skin moistened his palms.
‘Leave me alone.’ She shrugged him away and took two faltering steps. ‘Ted, is it really you?’
‘Come on, Dolly-girl.’ Ted stood up and spread his arms wide and Dolly fell against him, her shoulders shaking.
Not daring to move Jack let out a long slow breath as Ted sat Dolly down on the sofa next to Cynthia.
‘I thought you were dead.’
‘Well I’m not. I’m here.’
‘Your face…your eye.’ She raised her hand and fluttered a lingering caress above his cheek. ‘When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t anyone notify us?’ Words poured out of Dolly’s mouth as rapidly as the tears cascaded down her cheeks until she buried her face in her hands.
Jack gestured to the door and Cynthia rose from the sofa leaving a space for Ted to sit down.
‘Let’s leave them alone, shall we?’ As Jack closed the door behind Cynthia he grinned, his concerns of the last few
days lifting. ‘That was a lot easier than I thought it would be.’
‘Who wouldn’t be pleased to see their long-lost brother, especially one as luscious as Ted?’
She licked her lips and her topaz eyes glinted like some sort of jungle predator.
‘I think he’s totally gorgeous and I haven’t even seen him in his jacket and goggles yet.’ She winked. ‘Probably not quite as enamoured as you are with Dolly.’
‘I’m not the man for Dolly. She deserves someone better. I’ve just been looking after her. She’s like a sister to me and I owe it to Ted.’
‘Baloney.’ Cynthia’s sharp fingernail prodded his chest. ‘You’re smitten.’
Chapter 17
Dolly’s fingers hovered above the scar on Ted’s cheek. The jagged red line severed his face, running through his left eye and out over his cheekbone finishing somewhere under his chin. She itched to touch it yet she feared she’d hurt him or he’d shy away. To look in the mirror every day and know how close he’d come to death, to have a permanent reminder of such terror filled her with awe. There were so many questions she wanted to ask. For a moment though it was enough to sit next to him, feel his warmth and know he’d come home.
He tilted his head to one side and grinned, sparking the single dimple in his right cheek. ‘Well?’ he asked.
‘I can’t believe you are here,’ she whispered, emotion stealing her voice. ‘I thought…we…Pa and I thought you were dead.’ She reached out and squeezed his arm to prove he sat there next to her, not a figment of her imagination. She barely shed a tear when Father George had buried her Pa. Now the tears burned in her throat as she remembered the old man sitting every day on the verandah, staring down the dusty road leading to Sydney. ‘Why did you take so long to come home?’
‘I’ve been back for a while. It’s taken me time to come to terms with this.’ He turned his head and the lamplight fell on his cheek. For the first time the full extent of the angry jagged line carving her brother’s face registered and it made her stomach plummet. She struggled and failed to contain her horrified cry.
