Icefall

by Hallowes, Guy

  'She only makes conversation when she has something sensible to say,' said David afterwards. 'I like that.'

  Tanya was amazed by the opulence of the Bower household. It gave her hope that with her brains and a lot of hard work she would be able to have a similar life. She became a regular and welcome visitor and was soon familiar with the house Mark had grown up in. But when invited to stay over, she was always in a room far away from Mark.

  One Friday night, with the elder Bowers travelling overseas, she found she and Mark had the place to themselves.

  'Maybe we could stay in?' Mark said. 'I'll help you cook if that's okay; my cooking skills are rudimentary.'

  'No problem.' She looked at him speculatively, a little amused, with a frisson of desire unfurling in her stomach. He seems a bit inexperienced, she thought.

  Tanya was familiar with the well-appointed kitchen, having sometimes helped Chloe, and soon produced a delicious seafood pasta from the ingredients in the fridge and cupboards. Mark, sitting on a nearby kitchen stool, poured some wine. 'Should we stay here or do you want to sit at the dining room table like we always do with your parents?'

  'This is fine,' answered Mark. 'Mmm, what a great smell.'

  After they had cleaned up, Mark held her around the waist and kissed her on the cheek.

  It's time I took control, Tanya thought.

  Putting her arms around his neck, they kissed more deeply. She led him to the large settee in the living room. Mark continued to kiss her, while he clumsily tried to undo her bra strap. She quickly undid the clasp, releasing her breasts, her nipples standing erect. Mark continued to kiss her and shyly fondle her breasts, making no further moves.

  Tanya said gently, 'Here, help me off with these.'

  Putting his hand between her legs and onto her now damp panties, Mark became more animated and, with Tanya's help, removed them. She quietly started to undress him and then said, 'Bed—it will be more comfortable there.'

  Now both naked, Tanya ran to Mark's bedroom holding him by the hand. They leapt into bed, with Mark rushing back to fish a condom from his trouser pocket.

  'Here, let me help you with that,' said Tanya, expertly unwrapping it and rolling it down his impressive erection. 'Gently, gently,' coaxed Tanya. 'Here, hold me for a minute.' She placed his hand on her sex.

  Mark then rose up and clumsily entered her. A few quick thrusts and it was all over. He rolled off, knowing he had somehow disappointed her.

  She stroked his face, saying, 'Don't worry, it will be fine again in a few minutes. I'll help you. It'll be better for both of us then. Just relax.'

  Mark went to sleep. Tanya woke him an hour later. 'Come on lover boy, let's try again.' She had crawled out of bed, while he was asleep and found another condom in his trouser pocket. She held his hand, knowing she would have to take the lead. 'Hold me, please. Put your finger inside me. Yes, that's better, keep going. I'm going to get on top of you and take you inside me. Just take it easy, try to let me come first.' Tanya focussed on her own pleasure and with a few sharp cries was engulfed in ecstasy. 'That was wonderful,' she said. 'Now your turn.'

  Afterwards, he looked at her admiringly, saying nothing.

  They woke together in the early hours of the morning. This time Tanya encouraged Mark to take the lead. 'I don't have any more condoms,' he said sheepishly. Tanya leant over and found one in her handbag, kept there since her discussion with Cara.

  'Always better to be safe than sorry,' she said, handing it to him.

  From then on the sex was more satisfactory, with Tanya trying to leave it to Mark to take the lead. They spent most of the weekend in bed, with the occasional break for meals.

  Tanya decided to go home to her Aunt Cara's before the Bowers returned. The weekend had helped her feel more secure in her relationship with Mark and she began to see a long-term future for them. She sought Cara out in her tiny kitchen, kissing her fondly on the cheek before helping with dinner. Cara glanced at her, but as always did not question where or what she had been doing. If Tanya wanted to tell her anything she would do that in her own time. Over dinner, Tanya told her about the weekend with Mark, leaving nothing out. Mark had been to dinner at Cara's place, so she knew something of him.

  'Are you in love with him?' asked Cara.

  'I think so,' Tanya shrugged.

  'You need to be certain of a man like him. He'll expect to be in charge, but you are the stronger person, so it might lead to difficulties. If he was struggling to lead during sex, where else would he fall short? I think he is a good man, and probably clever, but if this relationship goes any further you'll have to take care.'

  Tanya nodded. She thought her aunt, as always, had hit the nail on the head.

  Two weeks later, after the senior Bowers had returned home, Tanya was again invited for the weekend. She wondered what the sleeping arrangements would be. Had Mark told his mother she would be sharing his bed? On arrival she could see that nothing had changed and Chloe assumed she would still be using the spare room.

  Helping Chloe prepare the dinner, Tanya said, 'I've put my bag in Mark's room, I hope you don't mind.'

  Chloe hesitated for a split second, then gave Tanya a big hug, saying, 'Bless you, you are a brave girl.' They continued their task in companionable silence, until Chloe added, 'I appreciate the honesty. I'm glad you didn't feel it necessary to creep about in the night pretending nothing had happened.'

  From then on, a relationship of trust continued to develop with the Bowers, firstly with David and Chloe and then with Mark's siblings. She even persuaded him to share her bed in Aunt Cara's little flat.

  After graduating with high results, Tanya was much sought after by a number of Sydney's leading law practices. She settled on one firm after a number of interviews.

  Before she was made a formal offer she said to the junior partner dealing with the matter, 'I would like to speak to the senior partner please. It has to be one-on-one.'

  'This is very irregular. I can deal with any queries you may have.'

  'You have answered all my questions,' said Tanya, 'most impressively. There is something I have to tell your senior partner in confidence; I am not prepared to speak to anyone else about it.'

  The man looked at her across the table and, after some thought, left the room. He returned twenty minutes later.

  'He'll see you now, please come this way.'

  Tanya was ushered into a well-furnished but workmanlike office. A man in his fifties was sitting at a round conference table looking at Tanya's personal file. He stood up and introduced himself as John Chambers, senior partner.

  'You wanted to tell me something,' he said, once they were alone.

  'Yes,' said Tanya, with her heart in her mouth, 'It's about my background … '

  'We know all that, it's one of the reasons we would like you to join us. Most of our new recruits have grown up with a silver spoon in their mouths. You have had to fight for what you have and I think that will be valuable to us.'

  'There's more to it than that … ' said Tanya, looking directly at Chambers as she interrupted him.

  'You mean the inconsistency between the name on your birth certificate and the surname on your degree?'

  'Yes, if I could just explain ...'

  'You don't need to. We run background checks, and I have good contacts with the police. An old friend of yours, with permission from his seniors, George, now with the police … ' Tanya's eyes widened, 'has told me the full story.'

  'Could you tell me what he told you please? I'm not here to justify anything; I just need you to know the truth.'

  Tanya listened while Chambers gave her chapter and verse about her relationship with Demetriou, his drug dealing, and her move to live with her aunt. He also mentioned the references the school and university had provided. He even knew of her relationship with Mark.

  'Well yes, that covers it. I don't have anything further to add,' said Tanya. 'I didn't want to come here under false pretences.' Rising to leave, she sai
d, 'I'm sorry if I wasted your time.'

  'Sit down for a minute. You most certainly have not wasted my time. I wondered how you would deal with the issue.' Chambers looked at her admiringly. 'Frankly, you could not have dealt with it in a more honest way; it must have been difficult for you.'

  Tanya looked at him gratefully.

  'The police have also informed me they no longer have any interest in you. None at all,' he emphasised.

  'Thank you. I'm happy to know that,' she responded. George had already told her what the situation was with the police, but she felt no need to mention her ongoing contact with him. She was certain George would be a very useful asset in her new position.

  'Enjoy working here,' said Chambers as he escorted her out of his office. 'We are looking forward to having you. By the way, everything I have told you remains between us.'

  Tanya thought about telling Mark of her conversation with Chambers, but decided not to. She had explained some of her background to the Bowers but she did not want them to know anything about Demetriou and the drug dealing.

  The relationship continued and, as most who knew the couple had expected, they were married in a tasteful but low-key ceremony at the Bowers' North Shore home. Mark had thought that Tanya would want a large fancy wedding.

  'No,' she said. 'Could we make it as simple as possible? My parents will come, of course, and Aunt Cara, and a few old friends from Cabramatta, but I want them to feel comfortable.'

  Finally about one hundred people attended, mostly friends and colleagues of the Bowers, but including some of Tanya's university friends. Tanya persuaded George to come. He was an old friend, now hidden away in a secret police department, as well as two from her ex-Cabramatta gang with whom she had kept in touch.

  Tanya's father insisted on making a speech after the ceremony, along with David, and the best man. Despite his poor command of English, Tanya's dad succeeded in amusing the gathering with his wit and sincerity.

  Prior to the wedding, Mark had produced some very elaborate looking brochures with a view to an extensive six week honeymoon trip. After looking at them unenthusiastically, Tanya sat next to him on the sofa in the Bower home. She kissed him gently on the mouth and hugged him. 'Do you know what would give me more pleasure than anything you can think of?' she whispered.

  He looked at her curiously.

  'It's my parents, they've given me everything, but they are still poor. I would love to pay off their mortgage. It would cost only a little more than this honeymoon. I would be happy with a weekend away, somewhere local.'

  She handed him a mortgage statement, knowing the amount reflected was considerably more than the cost of anything Mark had planned. Mark looked at her wonderingly, but after talking and making love, he agreed.

  As Tanya's parents left the wedding ceremony, Tanya's mother whispered to her, 'They fired him today, because he said he wanted to attend his daughter's wedding and couldn't do his shift. Don't tell him I told you.'

  As she and Mark disappeared for a weekend in a resort in Pokolbin, Tanya's father's employers received a very forceful letter from a well-known Sydney law firm threatening massive legal action unless Tanya's father was reinstated, which he was a few days later.

  'Bastards,' said Tanya as she heatedly told Mark the story on the one hour drive to Pokolbin and the Hunter Valley vineyards. 'It's just a fucking cleaning job. If I ever come across them again, I will cut their bloody bollocks off.' Mark smiled at the language; she might have meant every word.

  Chapter Three

  Bombshell

  A few years later, 2010

  Tanya bounced energetically into the room. She had, unusually for her in the middle of the week, arrived home early to the mansion she and Mark had recently purchased in the smart Sydney suburb of Mosman. She dumped her laptop and a sheaf of files untidily on a nearby coffee table. Normally, she would have been engrossed in one of many complicated legal cases. This time she had set aside the afternoon to try to summarise some research she had completed on global warming and the potential devastating conclusions. Her initiative was based on a conversation from a dinner party she and Mark had attended some three months earlier.

  Soon after they were married, Tanya had become accustomed to being invited to what she thought of as "posh" dinner parties, mainly hosted by clients of the merchant bank where Mark was employed. Tanya believed the invitations aided their mutual ambition to rise to the very top of Sydney society.

  Tanya, by now, had gathered a tasteful wardrobe, suited to occasions such as the anticipated dinner party. She asked, like an excited school kid, as she and Mark were dressing, 'Who's the host this time? I just love these parties. A chance to dress up and show off. And, if we are lucky, a conversation worth listening to.'

  Mark looked at her admiringly, knowing she would turn many male heads at the party. 'You always look beautiful,' he said, 'but tonight there is a touch of elegance.' Tanya ignored the last pointed barb.

  'It's a major client of the bank. The boss will be there and one of my senior colleagues. Don't be too disappointed though, we are well down the totem on this one.'

  Tanya exclaimed, 'I'm rapt to be there at all; I don't care how far down. Anyway, many of the more interesting people are in the same boat as we are. Senior people seem too conscious of their positions. The most interesting question I heard asked at the last party was, "Where do your children go to school?" For God's sake!'

  They drove east over the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards Vaucluse, one of the long-established suburbs developed in the early days of European settlement before the bridge was built.

  'Try not to swear, if you can help it,' Mark said, as he gingerly found his way into the driveway of a large waterfront mansion with well-manicured lawns and, from what Tanya could see in the half-light, well-established flower beds and shrubs. There were several fancy limousines parked, one with a uniformed chauffeur.

  Tanya's shoulders slumped a little at this second slight, reflecting, she supposed, Mark's anxiety about her upbringing. She wasn't going to take this one lying down though. 'You know as well as I do, Mark,' hiding her anger, 'that I come accross as well as anyone, including you, in the kind of company we are about to enjoy. I've never let you down in the past.'

  They were introduced to the other dozen or so diners already present, standing around in a large, beautifully-appointed reception area. Two more couples arrived after the Bowers. Their host made a point of welcoming the stunning looking Tanya, introducing her to all those present. The men were especially effusive in their greetings, the host knowing Mark, who had wandered off to talk to colleagues, from his dealings with the bank.

  'Congratulations are in order, I understand,' said the host in a quiet moment.

  Tanya looked surprised, 'Oh yes, the partnership,' she muttered, looking embarrassed. 'Thank you. I am, of course, delighted and overwhelmed. I didn't know many people knew.'

  'The youngest ever, I hear, and a woman at that.'

  Tanya nodded, not wishing to continue the conversation or to draw any further attention to herself.

  As Mark had predicted, they were placed towards the bottom of a long table seating sixteen people. The dinner, with a fish entrée, a main course of lamb, and an elaborate sweet, was beautifully served by two liveried servants. Tanya sipped sparingly at the several wines placed in front of her. She had become used to the confusing array of cutlery displayed at these affairs, but still watched carefully to ensure she used the right cutlery in the correct order. She briefly compared it to the sort of dinner she knew her parents would be enjoying at home in Cabramatta, probably parked uncomfortably on the old couch watching television.

  That is, she thought, unless they are slaving away at one of their jobs.

  Although she had learnt not to judge people by their appearance, she found herself sitting next to a thin, rather nerdy young man, much the same age as she was. He introduced himself as Theo, the only son of the host. Expecting a very dull conversation from a spoilt
child, she soon realised that although the son had not inherited his father's evident charm and looks, he certainly had brains and intelligence and an independent viewpoint, probably in conflict with those of his parents. He regaled her with the science of climate change and the consequences of the probable collapse of the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic.

  Tanya started to enjoy the conversation and the intellectual challenge it presented. 'Where is this Ice Shelf? Nobody has ever heard of the bloody place.'

  Theo drew a rough map of Antarctica and the Ross Ice Shelf, using a ballpoint pen, on his pristine, starched, linen table napkin. Tanya was a little shocked at the desecration.

  'Don't worry,' said Theo, grinning. 'Keep it if you like.' He handed the napkin to Tanya and she, unnoticed, tucked the offending item into her handbag. 'He can afford another one.' He waved dismissively at his father sitting at the other end of the table, talking uninterestedly to an elderly woman seated next to him. The servant replaced the napkin without a word. His mother frowned at her son.

  They had a very animated conversation, lasting most of the meal, with Tanya questioning and challenging his every assertion. 'You mean this,' she waved her hand around, indicating the opulent room and the surrounding suburbs, 'this whole f … place will be swamped and disappear? What does your father think?'

  Theo laughed, appreciating the fact that Tanya was able to be herself, despite the rather formal setting. 'This and many other places around the world. If you don't believe me, I can give you a few pointers.' She fished a post-it note from her handbag and he wrote a half dozen references on it. After a moment's hesitation he added his phone number and e-mail address.

  As the dinner finished, Theo's mother announced, 'The ladies will withdraw to the drawing room.'

  Tanya looked surprised, wondering what was expected of her.