She nodded and was about to ask if there was room for her in one of the cars when someone came up behind her.
“I’ll take you.” It was Mitch and there was nothing she could say without giving others more reason to gossip.
Mutely she agreed and followed him out to his car.
“You’re a hard girl to catch up with,” he commented as he turned the key in the ignition.
She ignored him and looked out the window. He began to reverse out of the car park and then stopped and turned off the ignition. She looked at him in surprise.
“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
She reached for the door handle, but he locked it from his side.
“You’re going to hold up cars,” she informed him.
“I don’t care. I’ve been trying to see you all week with no success and today you’re acting all cold and superior and I want to know what the problem is.”
“I’m not all cold and superior.”
“No? Then why are you right over that side of the car as if you think I’m going to attack you? What was that earlier about pretending to write notes so that I’d let go of your hand when you already had a copy of the sermon outline? Why did you freeze up when I put my arm around you? Why did you hide in the bathroom hoping for me to go? I know you, Jaena, and when I say you’re acting all cold and superior, then that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“Why you –” Jaena spluttered, but had nothing else to say. She folded her arms and stared at him. “I have my reasons.”
“Well, I wish you’d share them with me because, frankly, I’m confused. I thought we were getting along fine and now you go acting all strange.”
Jaena said nothing, but continued to stare at him. It was not a friendly stare, but Mitch was obviously resolved to sort this out and refused to be intimidated.
“Is it because I kissed you? Is that why you’re avoiding me? Are you angry with me because of that?”
Jaena dropped her eyes. It wasn’t that – not really – but it had made her hope, for however short a time, that he was serious about her. She hated being wrong.
Mitch broke the silence. “I wonder what you would do if I kissed you right here in the middle of the car park?”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Already several families were looking at them curiously as they made their way to their cars. Mitchell gave them a cheery wave indicating that he didn’t need help with his car and none came any closer.
“Oh, wouldn’t I?”
He started to lean closer and she pulled away as far as she could. “I saw you. In the cafeteria. With that blonde girl.”
He looked confused for a moment, and then his face cleared. “You mean Debbie?”
“I don’t know who it was, but you were getting all cosy with her.”
“Well, why didn’t you come over and meet her?”
“I didn’t want to spoil your fun!”
Mitch laughed. “You’re jealous.”
“I’m no such thing.”
“Yes you are and there’s no reason to be. Deb’s my best friend’s younger sister. We’ve grown up together. She was passing through town and I invited her for lunch. I was hoping to introduce you. So see, there’s nothing to be upset about. Besides, she’s already taken.”
“What a shame for you, then.”
To her relief, he leaned back into his seat and started up the car again and it began to move. “Not at all. I’ve never been interested in her in that way.”
Jaena wanted to believe him, but the pain she’d suffered this past week was still gnawing at her insides. It wasn’t going to go away as quickly as that.
“Look, I don’t think this picnic is a good idea. I think I’ll just go home. Do you mind dropping me off?’
“If you don’t want to go to the picnic we could do something else. Go for a drive in the country?’
“No. Perhaps another time. I’ve got work to do.”
They both knew she never worked on Sunday, but Mitch didn’t push it. “Okay.”
He dropped her off outside her house and drove off. She felt miserable when he left, but she told herself it was for the best. The sooner she got over him the better.
*********
Mitchell’s attempts to talk with Jaena were all firmly rebuffed. Exams were fast approaching and in the end he picked up his books and tried firmly to put Jaena out of his mind. He wasn’t successful – and he didn’t try to kid himself that he was – but he found that he could keep half a mind on his study while at the same time going over every conversation he’d ever had with Jaena over the past university year.
It left him depressed. They didn’t exactly have a superb record as far as communication went. The thought caused him to smile sadly. Wasn’t communication what Jaena was hoping to make a career in? Not that it was all her fault – he was to blame, too – but it didn’t auger well for her future. Hopefully she wouldn’t come across too many people like him.
The day of his last exam dawned and instead of last minute swatting, he made plans to talk to Jaena. Whatever it took, he was going to get this sorted out between them.
As soon as he had handed in his exam paper he was out of the lecture room and into his car and driving as fast as the speed limit allowed over to the house Jaena had lived in for the last nine months. Her landlady opened the door and he asked to see Jaena.
“She’s not here.”
“Oh. Has she an exam or something? When will she be back?” He kicked himself for not keeping a copy of all the students’ exam timetables that had been printed in the church newsletter so that the congregation could pray. He had no idea when she had her exams.
“She’s already gone.”
“Gone?” His heart dropped. She’d gone without even saying goodbye. Did she hate him that much?
“But you might be able to catch her. They only left a few minutes ago. They said something about picking up some things from Shari’s house.” It was the longest speech he’d ever heard her make. He had no idea who “they” were, but didn’t care.
“Do you know where Shari lives?”
He’d met Shari on several occasions, but had never been to her house. He shook his head.
“Next to the community church. Do you know where that is?”
He nodded and thanked the woman before running down the steps and jumping into his car. The church in question was clear across the other side of town and he prayed that he’d get there in time.
He thought that God must have heard his prayer because he had green lights all the way. When he pulled up in front of the modest house, Jaena and Shari were just shutting the front door. Shari had what looked like an overnight bag in one hand and Jaena was laughing at something that had just been said. When she saw him, she stopped immediately.
He got out of the car and almost ran up the front path. “Jaena. We have to talk.”
“Ah, I think I might have left something inside.” Shari turned and unlocked the front door and let herself back into the house.
Jaena refused to look at him.
“Can we walk or something? Sit in my car?”
Jaena shook her head. “Say what you need to, then go.”
He felt as if she had just thrown a bucket of water over him and all of the speeches he’d composed in his head for this moment fled. He tried to think of something to say.
“Were you really going to leave without saying goodbye?”
“I was leaving, yes.”
“Why?”
“The year is over. I’m going back home.” It wasn’t what he had meant when he asked the question and he suspected she knew that.
He kicked at one of the rocks that lined the path. “What has happened to us? I thought we had an understanding – I thought we were beginning to care for each other. We were getting on so well and now this.” He spread his arms wide. “Can’t we make it right?”
Jaena shook her head and he saw tears form in her eyes.
&nb
sp; “I didn’t mean to hurt you and I’m sorry if I did.” Jaena turned and walked to the front door and he felt desperate. “Please believe me. Jaena?”
She shook her head. “I can’t.” She opened the door and called out. “Shari, I’m ready when you are.” She turned back to Mitch. “It won’t work. I’m sorry.”
She walked past him and climbed into Shari’s car that was parked in the driveway. Shari came out and locked the front door. She gave him a sympathetic smile as she walked past him. Clenching his fists he watched Jaena drive off and out of his life.
*********
“Did you sort it out with Mitch?” Shari wisely waited until they were out of town and heading north towards Jaena’s hometown. Jaena looked awful and Shari was afraid of the answer.
“It’s over.”
“I’m sorry. I know you really liked him.”
“Me and a hundred other girls.”
“Well, yes. Mitch is that kind of guy. He’s attractive and friendly and people like being around him. But he’s not a flirt if that’s what you mean.”
Jaena shrugged and looked out of the window. She knew she was being stubborn, but she had felt so much pain the day she’d seen Mitch with Debbie. He had explained about that time, but what about all the other times when other girls flocked to his side? True, he gave them no attention, but the fact that he always had some girl trying to win his attention annoyed her and left her feeling vulnerable and insecure. She had finally admitted to herself that she was in love with Mitchell Gallagher and it had frightened her to realise how much power he had over her. She’d seen what her mother had suffered and she wasn’t about to endure the same thing. Better to say goodbye now than live with years of pain.
“I think he’s in love with you.” Shari tried again.
“He’ll get over it.”
“Maybe. But will you?” If Shari was anything she was persistent.
Jaena was quiet as Shari sped up to overtake a slow car that had been travelling in front of them. She pondered Shari’s question. Would she get over Mitch? She wanted to say “yes”, but she suspected otherwise.
“Just drop it, okay Shari. It’s over – if there was ever anything to be over. Mitch and I were all wrong for each other.”
“So, he’s available then?” Shari was too generous a person to deliberately compound a friend’s sorrow or to take advantage of another’s pain. Her aim was to shock Jaena into realising what she was giving up, but she wasn’t prepared for Jaena’s answer.
“Yes, he’s available. That would suit you, wouldn’t it?” Bitterness was evident in every word.
“Jaena.” Shari paid attention to the traffic for a few moments before saying anything more. “Jaena, I’m not after Mitch. Sure, he’s good looking and all, and I was interested in the beginning, but Mitchell has never been interested in me. From the first it was always you and I realise that.”
“Well, he’s free for the taking now.”
“No, he’s not. You can deny it all you want, but Mitchell loves you. He’s never looked at anyone else and I’m certainly not going to try and make him look at me. I don’t make a habit of stealing my friends’ boyfriends.”
“As I said, he’s free now. It wouldn’t be stealing.”
Shari shook her head in frustration. “I have no idea what crazy mixed up thoughts are going through your head, but you’re wrong. Mitch isn’t free. No matter what you say or what lies you tell yourself, he isn’t free and neither are you. Now.” Shari pulled into a petrol station and turned to face her friend. “Why don’t you tell me what this is really about?”
A few minutes later they pulled out of the petrol station. Shari had filled the petrol tank and paid and had finally broken through Jaena’s resistance to hear the whole story.
“Let me get this straight: you saw Mitch with a girl and got jealous. He explained that she’s just a friend and nothing more. You believe him, but you’re still pushing him away. Why?”
Jaena drew a pattern on the window. “Because of what happened to my mother. My father broke her heart. I don’t want that to happen to me.”
“But hasn’t your mother married again? Isn’t she happy this time around?”
“Yes. Uncle Marcus is wonderful.”
“So, what makes you think Mitch will be like your father and not like your Uncle Marcus?”
Jaena turned and looked at Shari. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “Scared, I guess.”
“Well, kid, life is scary. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes you have to take risks. But isn’t Mitch worth the risk of having your heart broken?”
“Yes,” Jaena’s voice was a whisper, but she spoke without hesitation.
“Well then, I’d say you’ve got some things to put right.” Shari pointed to Jaena’s handbag that was by her feet. “Ring him now.”
Jaena was about to shake her head when she stopped. Reaching down into her handbag she unzipped it and pulled out her phone. Then she looked helplessly at her friend.
“I can’t. I deleted his number when I was so mad at him.”
Shari gave her an incredulous look. “I can’t believe you!”
“I was an idiot, okay? We’ve already established that.”
“Someone else will have his number. Ring them and get it.”
Jaena slipped the cell phone back into her bag. “I’ll do it when I get home.” She didn’t tell Shari that she was too scared to ring in case Mitch had decided that he was better off without her. No, she’d give herself a few days to think it over. Surely that couldn’t do any harm – or could it?
Chapter Fourteen
It was the sight of his parents and his uncles and aunts all piling into their cars to go off to the Christmas Eve service that was too much for Mitch. He got in his own car as if to follow them, but instead he drove right on past the church. He had no plan in mind. He just had to drive … as far away as he could. He didn’t care if he drove all night … as long as he could get away from his pain.
*********
“I wonder who that could be?” Marcus asked as he heard a car pull into the driveway. They had just returned from singing Christmas carols at church and Jaena had already taken herself off to bed. Both he and Madi were concerned about their daughter since she’d retuned home at the end of the university year, but Jaena had continued to assure them that she was fine. However, they suspected otherwise.
“It’s late.” Madi glanced at the clock.
“You go on up to bed. I’ll see to it.”
Marcus opened the front door and was surprised to see Mitchell sitting in his car in their front driveway. He walked over and tapped on the window.
Mitch glanced up, almost guiltily, and then wound down the window.
“Hello,” Marcus greeted him and then stopped. Mitch looked awful.
“I love her.” He sounded even worse than he looked.
“I gather you’re not talking about Madi.” Marcus tried to make light of it.
“What? No. Jaena. I love her. I want to marry her.”
“Have you told her?”
“No.”
Marcus waited.
“She’s ignored me since that day I came here. I thought she was jealous, but I must’ve been wrong. She hates the very sight of me.”
“I doubt that.”
“Well, she won’t have anything to do with me. She won’t talk to me. Won’t answer my calls. She even changed churches at the end of semester so that she wouldn’t have to see me. I tell you, she hates me.” He thumped the steering wheel. “And I love her. I love her!” He put his head down. “What am I going to do now?”
“I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to come inside and spend the night – you’re in no state to drive – and tomorrow morning you’re going to tell Jaena how you feel.”
“She won’t listen to me.”
“She’ll listen.”
“I shouldn’t have come.”
“Too late for that.” Marcus opened the door. “
Got any luggage? No? Well, I’m sure we can find you something to sleep in.”
“I should just drive home again.”
“As a police officer I can’t let you do that. You’re a danger to yourself and other road users. I’ll impound your car if I have to,” he added when Mitch seemed reluctant to move.
“I don’t want to put anyone out.”
Marcus laughed. “You’re not putting anyone out. In fact, I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out. Oh, don’t worry. I have a feeling that by this time tomorrow you’re going to be feeling a whole lot better than you do now.”
*********
“Who was that?” Madi asked as Marcus slid into bed beside her.
“Mitchell. I’ve put him in the spare room.”
“Mitchell? Jaena’s friend? What does he want?”
“He wants our Jaena. What else?”
“At this time of night?”
Marcus laughed softly and slid his arms around his wife. “I suspect he has no idea what time it is. He looked to be in a total daze.”
Madi tried to sit up. “Is he all right? Perhaps he’s drunk or on drugs? Maybe he’s sick?”
Gently Marcus drew her back down into the bed. “No, he’s not drunk or drugged – unless love is a drug. He just doesn’t know how Jaena feels.”
“Why doesn’t he just ask her?”
“I gather from what he said that they had an argument – a falling out – some time before the semester ended. Seems they didn’t sort it out then – and still haven’t sorted it out.”
“So that’s why she’s not been herself since she came home.”
“I suspect so. And now, my darling wife, go to sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a big day – in more ways than one.”
*********
Jaena was up early Christmas morning preparing breakfast as she had done every Christmas morning since she had turned thirteen years old. It was something she looked forward to every year, but this year Christmas held none of its usual magic for her. Perhaps I’ve finally grown up, she reflected sadly.
She had just removed the eggs from the refrigerator when she heard someone coming down the stairs. “Not fair,” she said as she rummaged for the bacon. “You’re not meant to come down until it’s cooked.”
The Scent of Rain Page 18
