by Jennie Jones
‘A rehearsal for what?’ Mr Morelly asked.
‘For the band, mainly. Ted said he doesn’t trust the musicians to get it right without a rehearsal.’
‘He’s not going to be singing, is he?’ Mr Morelly said a disparaging tone.
‘Well, he’s bound to pick up the microphone later in the evening.’
‘I’ll be leaving early then.’
‘You’ll be there for the rehearsal, Lily?’ Mrs Tam asked. ‘Quite a lot of folk are coming, helping Ted with the decorations, you know. He’s got 400 balloons to blow up.’
‘You’ll be able to smooch around the dance floor with your beau.’ Mr Morelly winked at Lily.
‘My beau?’
‘Nick.’
‘Oh, I bet it’s thrilling being in that man’s arms,’ Mrs Tam said.
It was. But what were they talking about? Her children, her love life, her shop…
Lily stepped from behind the counter and crossed her arms. ‘What did you overhear, Mr Morelly? What did my children say about their father?’
‘Andy was asking Janie-Louise if she ever thought about him.’
Lily’s heart clutched. ‘What did she say?’
‘She said never. She said she was going to have four children and didn’t mind if they didn’t have a dad because she had experience in that. But it got me thinking.’ He winked again, obviously well-pleased with himself. ‘So I had a word with Mrs Tam here — being as she has a lot to do with you and the kids, over at the library and the museum.’
Lily attempted to rationalise the events in order. ‘So you started matchmaking on my behalf.’
‘Not without putting a lot of thought into it,’ Mrs Tam offered, smiling broadly. ‘We’d never match you to an unsuitable life partner.’
‘Thanks,’ Lily said, her brow furrowing and her heartbeat picking up the pace. ‘Were Charlotte and Dan in on it?’
‘I did have a little word in few birds’ ears.’
‘And Sammy too?’
‘Nothing passes through town without Sammy knowing. She is, after all, our self-appointed matchmaker. She and Charlotte were a mine of information on how we should proceed.’
Proceed? It might have been mildly amusing at first, but it felt like interference now, and it felt like there was more to be told. Much more. And Lily knew what it was. ‘So you instigated the need for heavy lifting at the library. And what about your store, Mr Morelly? I take it you’re not in need of a cleaner after all.’
‘Likely I’ll get one of the youngsters around town to do that now that you’re opening the shop.’ He nodded at Mrs Tam. ‘Take a leaf out of Nick’s book — you know — give the kids a chance to make some pocket money.’
‘Oh, he’s generosity itself,’ Mrs Tam said. ‘Why-Fie in the library, offering to support the cost of the school bus and now — you know. This.’
Mr Morelly nodded, chewing on his dentures in thought. ‘Good man. Putting his money in like he has.’
‘Trustworthy,’ Mrs Tam pronounced.
‘Dependable.’
‘Quite magnanimous, really.’
‘A stayer.’
Lily interrupted their list of Nick Barton’s merits. ‘Where else has he put his money?’
Mrs Tam coloured and looked down at the birdbath in her hands. Mr Morelly turned to the treasures on the floor.
They didn’t have to answer. There was no need to question them further on how their little plan to get her a beau had developed. Or where else Nick Barton had put his money. Lily knew. It was Nick who had put up the money for the lease — not the Support to Survive program.
She turned and sat on a stool the twins had brought in for the shop, clutching at the seat with sweat-ridden hands. Why? Why did this have to be true?
Chapter 11
Lily wrangled with her thoughts but they were haywire. She picked up the still-packaged lingerie set she’d been planning on wearing tonight, and stuffed it back in her underwear drawer.
She’d been reasoning with herself all the way home but she still couldn’t shift her dented pride. Couldn’t resign herself to the matchmaking mischief that had suddenly turned her world upside down. She couldn’t swallow the sense of betrayal balled in her throat.
And her children. She hadn’t given them enough thought. They’d been discussing their father, for God’s sake. Andy was the one with the problem on that score. He’d been maturing. She’d missed the clues. She’d missed so many damned clues.
She understood why Nick had made this generous offer but he’d done it behind her back. Even her friends had been in on it. Dan and Charlotte had lied — she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths — she wasn’t blaming anyone for this, not her friends and not Nick — but damn it! It felt as though she’d lost all her worth. She’d been manoeuvred and coaxed like a puppet. Like a hesitating damsel in distress.
She slammed the drawer closed. Wasn’t she exactly that? She’d put everything on hold — she hadn’t been brave enough to test the waters. Hadn’t even realised that courage was needed. What an idiot!
Well. No more.
***
Nick hefted the wrought-iron sign he’d salvaged six months ago and placed it on his workbench. He’d intended to use it for his knife-making business, if he ever turned his workshop — currently still looking like the stables it used to be — into a forge and brushed up on his blacksmithing skills. Something he’d been wanting to do for a long time. The sign was perfect. He had a different use for it now.
He’d already polished up the bracket. Beneath an old sheet on the other side of the workshop, the wrought iron bracket and chain gleamed.
He got to work on the black-painted ornamental moulded oval of the sign. He had time, before Lily came over. He’d got rid of the remaining painted text — something to do with a bicycle-making business. He’d need to find someone to re-paint the text he planned to use, but the sign should be ready to hang in a few days. He could easily take it down once he found a good sign-writer.
He drenched a rag in a solution of household soap and water, wrung it out and wiped the sign in small, circular motions. Lily would likely have done this many times, with some of the pieces she’d salvaged and renewed.
It’d need priming next, then painting to seal the metal, since it would be subject to the elements. Maybe Andy would like to help him do that.
He’d put a lot of thought into Lily’s kids today. He and Lily would have to take it easy. She’d need to talk to them about Nick. They’d likely have questions. He hoped they’d come to him with any concerns too, and not just Lily.
Tonight, after he’d fed her, romanced her and made love to her, he’d tell her again how much he loved her. If her feelings for him weren’t as deep as his were for her, then he’d deal with it. He’d slow down, but he wouldn’t back off. He didn’t think he’d have need to. Her eyes, as she’d gazed up at him in bed last night, and this morning, had been hazy with pleasure and with love. The way she touched him, held him and kissed him was enough to tell him that she felt something true and wondrous for him.
As he washed the sign with clean water, then patted it dry with an old towel, he had visions of tagging along with Lily and her kids. Tramping over the countryside, going on a picnic. Maybe a trip to the cinema in Cooma. Janie-Louise would like that. Maybe he and Andy could bond on a fishing trip or something. He could get a bicycle and they could ride together at weekends, a family.
A car engine spluttered and Nick smiled, recognising the sound of the Orange Bullet. He pulled an old sheet across the sign and put his equipment back where it belonged.
‘I’m in the workshop!’ he called.
Her footsteps sounded on the gravel outside the old stables and he turned as she came through the door.
He knew there was something wrong straight away. ‘The children?’ he asked, crossing to her.
She shook her head. ‘They’re fine.’
Nick paused. She wore her jeans and walking boots. She looke
d stunning, but not exactly ready for an evening of passion with him. She’d tied her hair in a ponytail. No pencil. She stood with her hands at her sides and a slightly hesitant look of determination on her face.
Shit. Nick sighed deeply. ‘Who told you?’
‘No-one.’
So she’d guessed. ‘And?’
She took a breath and caught her hands together in front of her body, as though readying herself for some rehearsed speech. ‘I realise it was a genuinely kind offer on your part.’
‘But you’re not taking it.’
‘No. I’m not.’
‘So that’s it? You’re giving up the shop?’
‘On the contrary. I don’t care for what you did, Nick, but I do have to thank you for opening my eyes.’
‘To what?’
‘To take up a challenge I should have pounced on months ago.’
Nick’s brain was working like a steam-hammer. He could see she’d found courage of some sort. Something she obviously hadn’t thought she had before now. But he was more concerned about her heart. Not to mention his own.
‘Where does this leave us, Lily?’
She raised a hand as though to ward him off, even though he hadn’t moved a muscle.
‘Thank you for your honest efforts to help me. I appreciate it.’
‘I don’t care about that—’ Now he did step towards her.
‘But I’m going it alone. I’m opening the shop. With my money. On my own.’
Nick studied her features; set and determined. ‘Going it alone on all fronts?’
She nodded, although a slight crease on her brow and a pained expression around her eyes made it look as though she was torn, as though her decisions hadn’t been totally made yet. A chance, then.
‘Can I apologise?’ he asked. Explanations could come later, when he’d rationalised what he’d done and why he hadn’t told her. For now, he needed to get her onside and close to him. If she’d let him hold her, he’d be able to explain the rest.
‘There’s no need for apologies. Honestly.’
‘Stop worrying about where the money came from, Lily. The shop was meant to be yours. It’s me on the receiving end. Not you.’
‘I don’t know how. You’d have been out of pocket big-time.’
‘That’s not what it’s about.’
‘Well, the shop is mine now. So you don’t need to worry about me.’
‘And us?’
She averted her gaze. ‘I don’t… That is, I’m not sure.’
Not an outright brush-off. Hope rose in Nick’s heart, but not enough to keep him buoyant. ‘Not sure whether there’s going to be any more of us? Not sure if you like me anymore?’
‘I don’t think we should have…got together the way we did. We should have thought it through.’ She tapped her chest. ‘I should have thought it through.’
He ignored that and got back to the main point. ‘I didn’t offer you anything you haven’t already got.’
‘I’m afraid I don’t understand that.’
‘Let me explain.’
‘I don’t want you to.’
‘You’re angry?’
‘No. Just disappointed.’
‘In me.’
She looked up quickly. ‘No, Nick. In me.’ She turned, and left.
Nick rubbed his face with his hands. It stung, no doubt about it. The hero and commander had messed up. He couldn’t blame Lily. He’d done the same thing with his wife — he’d paid her off because he didn’t love her, like an apology. Giving her money to shop, to take trips with her girlfriends, to dress in designer clothes and pamper herself at the best salons. The only difference here — and it was the crux of his problem — was that in helping Lily he hadn’t thought of the consequences for her. To Lily it looked like a hand-out. A second-hand hand-out.
He let his hands drop to his thighs and stared out of the stable doors into the evening. He hadn’t been trained for this. He’d suffered pain all right. Physical pain, but never heartache. Christ. Her smile alone could take him places he’d never been. What if he never saw it again?
He walked to the doorway and caught sight of the tail lights on her car as she drove away. She needed time. She needed to think things through. Okay, he’d give her that. But he wasn’t giving up.
Chapter 12
Out of sight, but not out of mind.
Nick hadn’t been into town since last week and he hadn’t seen Lily since she’d walked out of his workshop on Saturday, but he’d been for a run with Dan, who’d pumped him for information. Not one to talk about that sort of stuff, Nick had mostly brushed his friend off but not before he’d found himself spurting out something about having lost her. Missed his chance — that kind of thing. Dan had been a true guy, and had shrugged a shoulder in sympathy. But he’d also pressed information on Nick, for which Nick had been grateful.
Lily was opening the shop next Tuesday, after the Easter weekend. The kids were due back Monday, so they’d be in time for the grand opening of Turnaround Treasures.
Fuelled by pride, a work ethic, and a need to keep occupied, Nick had finished the sign. He’d even driven to Canberra and coerced a sign-writer to do the work for him, there and then. Watching over the guy as he painted the words on the wrought-iron.
He wasn’t giving up.
So why was he dithering about tonight? Dan had asked if Nick would help set up the sound system at the Town Hall. It was rehearsal night for the Ball.
It’s not that he was scared of seeing Lily — he was more frightened at the thought of not seeing her. But had the last few days been enough time for her to gather herself and her thoughts? Had there been time enough, between Saturday and today, Wednesday, for her to have settled a little and maybe be open to listening to what Nick had to say.
***
Lily brushed the hair out of her eyes, gathered it, knotted it and re-stuck her pencil in it. It had been falling out all evening.
The Town Hall was starting to look like a party arena and not a department store on sale day. Ted was sprawled on an old velveteen sofa, spent from blowing up balloons. He’d done more than his fair share. The twins had helped, and Lily had helped but there were only three balloon-pumps so Ted had used his not inconsiderable breath to personally blow up over 100 yellow party balloons. Now he was taking a rest while the band played on.
They weren’t bad. Two guitarists, a pianist, a saxophonist and a drummer.
Mrs Tam was busy sorting 100 Easter eggs into size. Biggest for the children, smallest for the dads and middle-sized for the mums. The mums in town would also be getting a little pink basket filled with hand-made soaps, generously donated, after some persuasion from Ted, by a wholesalers in Cooma. He wasn’t all bad, Ted.
Nick was here too, helping Dan with the sound system.
Lily turned her attention to the yellow and white crepe paper she was winding together, creating streamers to hang from the ceiling joists. She tore a piece of clear tape from a dispenser and sealed the ends of the streamer. She hadn’t seen Nick since… Well, since then. He hadn’t sought her out, which she’d half-expected him to do and was grateful he hadn’t done. She had no idea what he might be feeling, or thinking. The break was good for both of them, she told herself. Time to evaluate what had happened, and calm down — if there was any calming to be done. Lily was fine. Busy, and getting on with life. She presumed Nick must be too.
She’d called her mother and the children. Everyone was excited about the shop and the future. Everyone. Including Lily. Totally happy.
She handed the finished decoration to a woman who was assisting her and glanced around the room — not in Nick’s direction. She’d managed not to catch his eye all evening, although she was aware that he’d tried to get her attention. She was thoroughly aware of him. Everything about him. Not only did he look the same — tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in his usual uniform of dark green cargo pants and black T-shirt — he looked as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Happily chatting
and laughing with all the people hanging the balloons, getting the musicians’ electrics sorted out and sharing a joke with anyone who wanted his attention.
Charlotte crossed the room in front of Lily and took hold of her husband, pulling him onto the dance floor where others had also made use of the chance to dance while the musicians struck up some slow numbers.
The evening was nearly over. Another streamer or two and she’d be able to leave quietly. She’d slip out without saying goodnight to anyone.
‘Did you see Dad?’ Jessica Tillman asked, coming up behind Lily and throwing an arm around her shoulders.
Jillian Tillman wasn’t far behind her twin. She said, ‘He got into the bunny costume after all. He said he’d had water retention trouble all last week.’
‘What he doesn’t know,’ Jessica continued, ‘is that Mum unpicked the side seams and let it out.’
‘Best not tell him then,’ Lily said, smiling. ‘Not before Saturday anyway. Don’t want him blowing a gasket.’
‘I’m going to dance with Mrs Tam,’ Jillian said. ‘She looks like she could do with a soft-shoe shuffle. You grab Mr Morelly,’ she said to her sister.
‘See ya later!’ Jessica said to Lily.
She smiled at the twins’ retreating backs, and caught Nick’s eye. Her smile faded. Not because she didn’t want to him to be a beneficiary of it, but out of shock. She’d managed to avoid his attention all night and just as she was about to leave, his leaf-green eyes were piercing into her.
He left the stage area and headed her way.
Lily stayed put. There was no way she could ignore him, and there was no way she’d be rude. And if she thought about it reasonably, this was a chance to get on an even footing with him. Get back to what they’d been before. Two people who hardly talked to each other. A man and a woman who smiled politely over a dining table in Kookaburra’s restaurant, or who made polite noises about the weather if they happened to meet up on Main Street.
When he reached her side, he held his hand out to her. Lily stared at it.
‘You won’t dance with me?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think we ought to. We haven’t spoken all week.’
