by Grace York
Layla came running out the door with her handbag held high. "Found it!" she said, jumping into the Rav. "Sorry about that. I'd lose my head if it wasn't screwed on." She clicked her seatbelt locked. "Let's get out of here."
5
The pub was gorgeous. It was in the style of an English pub, and having been to England with Rob and the children a couple of times to visit her mother's family, Addison absolutely adored English pubs. It was called the Red Lion, and inside it looked just like one from her mother's home village in Lancashire.
Outside, however, it had more of an Australian feel. There was a large beer garden, and with it being Friday and a beautiful summer's evening, it was very busy. They got a table out there, and Layla went to the bar for drinks.
"This is pretty cool," said Olivia. "I can imagine myself hanging out here on uni breaks."
"So can I," said Addison. "I think we're going to like Getaway Bay."
"That sounds like something we should drink to," said Layla, returning with two glasses of wine and a lemonade. She handed them out and they all toasted the future.
"Now," said Addison to Layla. "Tell us what's happening with Uncle Dennis. All of it."
Layla's smile faded. "He's almost totally bedridden now. He's been getting infections. They're telling me it's close to the end."
Addison reached for Layla's hand. "I'm so sorry."
"It's hard, watching him go through this. Some days I go in there, and honestly, Addison, I just want it to be over for him. But then other days he's a bit brighter, and we can have a conversation of sorts. Those days I don't feel like giving up."
"Has Jenna been any help at all?"
Layla shook her head. "She'll never change. She's my sister, and I love her, but you know what she's like. She's only interested in herself. Even so, it's been good to have her here. For me, at least."
"What do you mean by that?" Addison took a sip of her drink. She felt a little self-conscious having such a deep conversation in front of her daughter, but Olivia was an adult now. She had a right to participate in adult conversations. Especially when they were about family.
"Jenna's been here for almost two months now. I won't sugar-coat it – she's just waiting for Dad to die."
Addison opened her mouth to speak, but Layla held up a hand to stop her. "No, don't defend her. You know her as well as I do. I don't care anymore. She's his daughter too, she's entitled to half of his estate. I don't care about that. I just wish she'd leave everyone else out of it."
"Everyone else?" Olivia asked.
"The rest of the town," said Layla, glancing around the beer garden. "Sorry, Olivia. I should explain. Jenna gets bored easily. She likes to stir up trouble. Has done all her life. She's been gracious enough to leave me out of it this time. I'm too busy caring for Dad to worry about her little games. But she's got a few of the folk around here into quite a bit of a flap."
Addison's eyes widened. "Tell us more."
Layla went on to explain how Jenna had managed to create a turf war between Hazel, maker of such wonderful coffee and terrible scones, and Edward, the owner of the local bakery. Edward served coffee and light refreshments at his bakery, apparently, so the two businesses were competitors of sorts. But there was plenty of business to go around, Layla explained, especially in the summer months when tourists outnumbered locals almost two to one.
"The cafe and the bakery have co-existed quite peacefully for decades," said Layla. "But then Hazel lost her baker. Carol retired and moved back to Brisbane to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Hazel didn't blame her, of course. But she hasn't hired a replacement, and it's hard to get career people to move to little seaside towns."
Addison sipped her wine. "Go on."
"Jenna took a liking to Hazel, or so she says. I don't believe it for a minute. I think she just saw an opportunity to play her little games. Anyway, Jenna saw that Hazel was losing business to Edward, and she didn't like it. More to the point, she didn't like Edward."
"Edward's the bakery owner?" asked Olivia.
"Yes. Anyway, first Jenna tried to get Edward's baker to leave and come work for Hazel. She didn't realise that Edward's baker is also Edward's niece, so she came out a bit red-faced on that one. Ever since she's been playing her games to get under Edward's skin."
"What sort of games?" Olivia was riveted by now. Addison smiled; she was well used to stories of Jenna's games.
"Oh, all sorts," said Layla. "For example, a couple of tourists were sat outside the bakery having coffee and croissants, apparently, when the woman screamed. She'd found a cockroach in the croissant. Jenna was at the table next to them, and Edward swears there was no cockroach in the croissant when it left his kitchen. He'd prepared that one himself. Now, Edward can be a pain in the backside around this town, as you'll soon learn, Addison, but he doesn't strike me as a liar."
"So you think Jenna put the cockroach in the croissant when the tourist couple weren't looking?" Olivia asked.
"I would believe that before I'd believe Edward a liar," said Layla. "That's just one example. Edward says she's been making his life a misery, and I don't doubt it. When Jenna gets fixated on a target, there's not much gets in her way. That young lad you've got working for you needs his head read."
"Jason?" said Addison. "What's he got to do with it?"
"Oh, didn't he tell you? They've been dating. He's smitten, apparently."
"With Jenna? He's only a kid. She's got to have at least twenty years on him."
"He's older than he looks. Twenty-nine, Jenna tells me. But yes, she is technically old enough to be his mother. Which I've pointed out."
"What on Earth does the poor boy see in her?" Addison asked.
"Beats me," said Layla, finishing off her wine. "He's going to get his heart broken, though. As soon as Dad is no longer with us and Jenna's got her half of his money, she'll be off. I'm not sure Jason realises that."
"Shouldn't you tell him?" asked Olivia.
"I've tried. He won't listen. No doubt she's been stringing him along. He'll be just a plaything to her."
They heard sirens in the distance, coming closer. A moment later a fire engine raced past, its flashing lights and ladder visible over the top of the beer garden's fence.
Addison tried to wrap her head around Jason dating Jenna. Nope. She couldn't see it. She went back to the alleged feud between Jenna and Edward.
"What does Hazel think about what Jenna's been doing to Edward, supposedly on her behalf?"
"I don't know, to be honest. Like I said, I've stayed out of it as much as possible. I'm at the nursing home most days with Dad." Layla looked towards the bar. "There you go," she said, pointing to a woman at the bar with long, wavy brown hair and wearing a purple shirt. "That's Hazel. You can ask her yourself while you're getting us another drink."
Hazel turned out to be a lovely woman. She joined them at their table and explained how she couldn't really care less about Jenna and Edward's feuding.
"I just wish they'd leave me out of it," she said, sipping on a beer. "I have nothing against either of them. I just want to find myself a baker and get on with running my business."
"Sounds like your sister is a real piece of work," said Olivia to Layla, once Hazel had left.
Addison nodded. "She always has been. Anyway, enough of that. Let's check out the menu. I'm starving."
Olivia got them three menus from the bar, but before they'd finished choosing their meals Hazel came running back to their table. She grabbed Layla by the arm.
"You've got to come quick!" She said, pulling Layla out of her seat. Conversations stopped around them.
"What's happened?" asked Addison, frightened by the look on Hazel's face.
"There's a fire at the art gallery."
Addison, Layla, Olivia, and Hazel raced out into the street, followed it seemed by half of the occupants of the pub. The art gallery was only two streets away, and they were halfway there on foot before Addison even remembered the car.
Olivia raced ou
t in front, but the others were close on her heels. The smell of smoke hit them on the way. As they rounded the corner Olivia came to a sudden stop, and Addison almost collected her. The art gallery was well alight, the fire engine parked out the front. Firefighters raced around getting their hoses ready. Addison turned to grab hold of Layla, but her cousin was already ahead of her.
"Jenna!" Layla cried, scanning the crowd that had formed across the street from the fire. "Jenna! Where are you?"
The crowd from the pub added to the people on the street, and combined with the smoke it became difficult to see much at all. Addison scanned the crowd, looking for Jenna. She couldn't see her. She caught Layla's eye, and they both shook their heads. Then Layla looked to the fire.
Addison caught her in time.
"You can't go in there. It's too far gone. The firemen are handling it."
"They need to know she could be still in there."
"I'll tell them," said Olivia, and she crossed the street towards the fireman who seemed to be in charge. They watched as she spoke to him, then came running back to them. "They'll do their best," she said.
They watched and waited while the firefighters battled the blaze. Tears were streaming down Layla's face by the time the firefighter in charge finally came over to talk to her.
He pulled the helmet off his head. "This is your place?" he asked her.
"Yes. Did you find my sister?"
His eyes fell to the ground. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could. But I'm afraid there's a body inside."
6
Once the flames were finally extinguished, the police moved in. Detective Sergeant Issac Wilcox introduced himself to Layla and Addison, who were still huddled together across the street. Olivia had gone back to the pub to get their bags and the car.
"I'm so sorry," said Detective Wilcox to Layla. He towered over Layla, and even Addison was half a head shorter than him. He was solidly built and quite imposing, but his manner was soft and kind. "We'll get a formal identification on the remains as soon as possible, but it is looking likely at this stage that the body inside is that of your sister."
Fresh tears rolled down Layla's cheeks. It was dark now, and despite the fire and it being the middle of summer, Addison felt a chill. She didn't want Layla to have to sit here much longer.
"Is it okay if I take my cousin home to my place?" she asked the detective.
"Of course," he replied. "You're the new occupants of the beach house on Seaview, right?"
"That's right. I'm Addison Lake. I just moved there with my daughter, Olivia. Although she's off to uni in a couple of weeks."
"Okay. If you can take Ms Dallimore there, I'll be over to speak to you both again sometime tomorrow."
Olivia arrived with the Rav 4, and Addison helped Layla into the front seat. She climbed in the back and Olivia drove them back to the beach house.
Once inside, Addison guided Layla to the kitchen and sat with her at the table while Olivia put the kettle on and set about making tea.
"Are you okay, honey?" Addison asked.
Layla shook her head. "I feel numb. I can't believe it. How could a fire have taken over the gallery so quickly? There was nothing left. How could it have even started?"
"I'm sure the police will investigate." It was all Addison could think to say. "That Detective Wilcox seemed competent."
Layla nodded. "He's all right, I suppose. I haven't had much to do with him since I arrived back in town. Seen him around, that's all."
Olivia placed mugs of tea in front of each of them. "Between him and the firefighters, they'll figure it out," she said, joining them at the table.
"I'll make up one of the rooms for you," said Addison.
Layla wrapped her hands around her mug of tea. "Thank you." She looked down at what she was wearing, and burst into tears again. "It's all gone. Everything. And Jenna…"
Addison put an arm around her cousin and held her close. She had no idea what to say, so she didn't say anything. She exchanged an anxious glance with Olivia, who was quietly wiping away her own tears. Only hours ago they were celebrating their new beginning. Now one cousin was dead, and the other had lost everything she owned.
Layla pulled herself together enough to take a small sip of her tea. "Thank you," she said to both of them. "What would I have done if you two weren't here?"
"Well we are here," said Addison. "So you don't need to worry about that. Do you feel like going to bed?"
Layla nodded. "I doubt I'll sleep, but yes, I'd like to go to bed."
"I'll make up the room next to mine. You stay here with Olivia for a minute while I get it ready for you."
Addison pulled away from her cousin and went upstairs to make the bed. She hunted through her own cupboards and found a pair of pyjamas and some clothes. They weren't quite Layla's bright style, but they would do. Luckily she and Layla were roughly the same size, except for the height difference.
She put the pyjamas on the bed and the clothes on the dresser. Then she gathered a few toiletry items from her own bathroom and put them in Layla's. They could go shopping tomorrow for more supplies, but that would do to get Layla by for tonight.
Back downstairs Olivia was loading their mugs into the dishwasher. Addison took Layla up and got her settled in the room.
"Can I get you anything else? Would you like something to help you sleep?" Addison had a packet of over-the-counter sleeping pills she used on the nights when memories of her life with Rob kept her awake.
Layla considered it. "No, thank you," she finally said. "Those things make me too drowsy in the morning. I want to be alert when Detective Wilcox comes."
Addison nodded. She gave her cousin one last hug. "I'll be right next door if you need me."
"Thanks."
Back down in the kitchen Addison pulled her daughter in close.
"Wow," said Olivia. "What a welcome to the neighbourhood."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. No. I don't know, Mum. That was rough. I can't believe someone I just met a few hours ago is dead now. And that beautiful gallery, all those paintings…"
"I know. I can't believe it either. Poor Jenna. I feel awful. We just spent the better part of the evening talking about her, and now she's…" Addison couldn't bring herself to say the word. "She didn't deserve that."
"I guess we should go to bed too," said Olivia.
"Yes. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day. Oh, we didn't get to have dinner. Do you want me to fix something?"
"No, that's okay. I'm not in the least bit hungry, Mum. I'm just going to go to bed."
"Fair enough." Addison hugged her daughter, holding the embrace longer than normal. "I'll be up shortly," she added when she finally let go.
Addison re-boiled the kettle and poured herself a second mug of tea. She knew she wouldn't get much sleep tonight, but she wouldn't take a sleeping tablet. She should stay alert in case Layla needed her. It was going to be a long night.
She pulled a notebook out of a kitchen drawer. Writing might help calm her nerves. She had written a lot before Rob was diagnosed, and a lot more after, but nothing since he died. It felt good to have the pen in her hand again.
She started by making a list of everything she could remember of the evening, from when they'd arrived at the gallery. She wrote notes about her conversation with Jenna, and the later conversations about Jenna with Layla and Hazel. She had no idea why, but it felt good to get that stuff out of her head.
Once that was done, Addison made a list of everything they would need to buy at the shops for Layla tomorrow. She wasn't really one for possessions herself, but still, she couldn't imagine being left with only your handbag and the clothes you were wearing. How awful.
Addison tried to remember all the paintings she'd seen that afternoon. Treasures she'd never see again. Layla could rebuild the gallery, of course. She could replace clothes and household items. But her artworks were all one-of-a-kind. Those were lost forever.
A sudden thought upset Addison's
recollections. Was the art gallery insured? Surely it must be. Layla had always been a bit scatter-brained, but she wasn't stupid. She would have insured the building she put all of her savings into, wouldn't she?
7
Addison was the first one in the kitchen the next morning. She put the coffee machine on, and looked out the back window to see if she could see Jason anywhere.
She suddenly remembered what Layla had said last night about Jason and Jenna. She wondered if the poor boy knew what had happened. She went outside and looked around the whole house, but he wasn't there. Maybe he knew.
Layla was in the kitchen when Addison went back inside, and Olivia appeared as well. Olivia made coffee for all of them.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Addison asked her cousin.
"Still numb. Thanks for the clothes. I had to get out of mine. The only clothes I have left and they stink of smoke."
Addison had noticed her own clothes had had the tell-tale smell of being close to a fire. She'd thrown them in the wash basket last night. "I'll put a load of washing on after breakfast," she said. "Get them clean again."
Olivia had her head in the fridge. "What's for breakfast?" she asked, hunger obviously catching up with her. Addison was starving, too.
"Get the eggs and bacon out," she said. "I'll get started on it." Addison didn't ask Layla if she was hungry. It was one thing she remembered from the days after Rob had passed. People kept asking you if you wanted things, and all you wanted was for people to stop asking you if you wanted things. She'd put a plate of food in front of Layla – if she was hungry, she'd eat. If not, no problem.
Addison put a pot of water on the stove to poach the eggs then set about preparing the bacon. "You're in charge of toast," she said to Olivia.
When they'd finished cooking and the plates of food were in front of them, Olivia was the only one who ate with any kind of gusto. Addison picked at her plate, and Layla managed to nibble on a piece of bacon.
Addison didn't know what to do. She asked Layla about Jason. "Do you think we should call him?"
