She picked herself up off the sand. ‘I’m off to work. I’ll need a shower before I start my shift for your mum.’
‘Oh you can stay another half an hour. Mum won’t mind if you are a bit late – I always was,’ Tom said, smiling lazily up at her.
‘That is you - her son. She might not be as understanding with me. Also, I am not you – I believe in respecting others, and fulfilling my obligations,’ Anna said pointedly, then poked her tongue out at him.
‘You’re probably right. I am not the most reliable person, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t make it worth your while to linger a little longer,’ he said teasingly. Anna’s body reacted immediately to the insinuation. She was grateful that she was wearing a sweater, so he wouldn’t see her nipples harden and the goose-bumps that had erupted all over her. She snapped her mind back to reality, quickly over-riding her body’s betrayal.
‘I’m off. See you later in the bar, I’m sure.’ He tried to look heartbroken, but Anna noticed that, as soon as she was on her way, he turned his attention to Melanie - a very pretty, willowy girl who hung on his every word.
Anna headed up to the cramped little flat above the bar, and went straight into the shower. She felt her body begin to relax, as the warmth of the water cascaded over her, and relished the sensation of release. Trying to keep control of herself over the next few months was not going to be easy, and keeping herself from betraying Jim with the enigmatic Tom was getting harder by the day.
********
Christmas Eve arrived, and Anna was lonely - despite being surrounded by people. The whole town was in the little bar, and despite Tom’s continuing attentions, Anna missed Castle Cluny and the traditions that she once used to laugh at. Christmas Eve should mean a drunken evening in the pub with her friends and family all around her, toasting each other’s health and happiness, before the bells sounded and the entire village made its way, by candlelight, to midnight mass at the church.
Instead, she was on the other side of the world, and though the locals, here in Wallaby Creek, had taken her to their hearts, she still felt on the outside of everything. In many ways, this tiny place reminded her of her home; everyone knew everyone, and cared about what happened to them. She had been welcomed as if she was a native, and she was grateful for that, but it did make her realise just how much she missed her family and friends.
She still wanted to return home feeling that she had learnt something from the last three years, but right now, she’d settle just for being in her frilly, pink bedroom overlooking the village green, getting ready to go to the pub with the girls. She couldn’t think of anything that she would love more: to stop and feed the ducks on the pond on the way over, and then to be amongst all the people she loved the most.
Reluctantly, Anna pulled her thoughts back to the present, and stepped out of the shower, towelled herself dry, pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a vest top, and headed down to start her shift in the bar. Even that was wrong. She should be pulling on a silly Christmas sweater, a warm winter coat and a bobble hat to keep her ears warm.
Daphne gave her a quick squeeze as she entered the bar. ‘There is a parcel arrived for you today, Anna. Looks like there isn’t anywhere it hasn’t already been to first! I left it in the office.’
‘Thanks Daphne, may I go now? Probably be my Christmas presents from home. They’ve made it here on time this year; they didn’t find me until February last year!’ Daphne nodded, smiling indulgently at her.
‘Of course, sweetheart. Use the phone to call them if you want to. Christmas is a time for family.’
‘I think if I actually called and spoke to them I’d never stop crying and would be no use to you in the bar tonight. I sent everyone cards and long letters. But thank you for the offer. You have been so kind to me, made me feel so welcome.’
‘Not difficult, love. You’re a gem. Take all the time you need,’ Daphne said, giving Anna a quick hug.
The office was cluttered, but the battered box sat proudly on the desk. It appeared to have chased her around the world for months, judging by the amount of re-postings it seemed to have enjoyed – clearly Mum had been determined that it would be with her in time this year. The range of stamps was quite impressive, and finding even a millimetre of clear paper would be a challenge. It wasn’t much, but at least she would have a little bit of the people who truly loved her with her this Christmas.
Anna rushed to it, and began to eagerly unwrap presents, tears pouring down her cheeks as she read greeting card messages. She wiped her eyes as she unwrapped the last item in the box. Anna couldn’t believe it. She blinked a few times, trying to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her, but they definitely weren’t. Jim’s mum, a woman who had known her since before she was born, had sent her a china speckled goose for Christmas.
In a way she could kind of make out the loving woman’s thoughts; maybe she thought it would remind her of the geese on the pond at home or maybe give her a bit of home away from home. But, for God’s sake, she was backpacking round the world! Everyone else had sent practical things like money, or mossie spray - even a jar of her beloved Marmite - yet Margaret had sent a young woman, in her early twenties, the most ugly and pointless trinket?
She shoved the panda wrapping paper aside roughly, holding back tears. She knew she was being ungrateful, but just seeing the handwriting, and opening these gifts, from everyone she loved, reminded her of just how much she missed everyone. That damn goose was just a step too far, making her think of carols on the green, and eggnog in the pub, and being surrounded by love. She placed the goose on the desk and sighed as a call from the bar dragged her back to her work.
The bar was busy. She and Daphne cheerfully served everyone whilst Tom presided over the barbeque outside. There would be no succulent goose and crispy potatoes this year, no pud and custard. But Anna knew that once the party was over, she would be all alone in her tiny flat-cum-storeroom, with no-one she truly loved to keep her company. She wanted to go home. She was so lonely and miserable.
‘Can you nip up and get the cricket gear?’ Bert Grinch, the local mechanic, asked her, leaning over the bar a little to ensure she could hear him over the noisy crowd of people. She nodded, and ran upstairs. Anna grabbed the cricket bats, the stumps and ball from the pile of Daphne’s personal bits in the corner, and marvelled at the array of strange and peculiar things that had ended up on the shelves of the small apartment. Anna’s share of it was really no more than her bed, but at least it didn’t cost her a penny so she could save all of her earnings.
Downstairs, Daphne had herded everyone out of the bar and onto the beach. A barbeque wasn’t quite the same as a big family dinner at home, but at least Anna wouldn’t be entirely alone. But, even the beaches here weren’t right, she thought sulkily, as she headed towards the large crowd of happy people. Yes, they had glistening sand, clear blue, warm water and amazing sunrises and sunsets - but they didn’t have donkeys and candy floss, or a battered old playground with swings, a seesaw, a slide and a roundabout.
Oh, what Anna wouldn’t give to be eating fish and chips from paper, watching the grey waves crashing, huddled up in a furry parka on Lowestoft seafront!
Chapter Four
Jim jolted awake as the Captain was telling them to remain in their seats until the plane had come to a complete stop. His flight had been pretty good. The cute stewardess had fussed over him until he fell asleep. He looked at his watch, surprised to see that he had been out for the count for about five hours. He waited while everyone around him hustled around grabbing bags, coats and duty free goods. He chuckled inwardly at their haste to be off the plane.
He had always been laid back, simply didn’t see the point in rushing about – it never seemed to get you anywhere quicker, and he could see no reason to treat this situation any differently. The bus transport to the terminal wouldn’t leave without him, and those that had hurried off would still be waiting around the baggage carousel with him, no matter how quickly they mad
e it off the plane now. If you’d already booked your rental car, or organised your onwards transport in whatever way that suited you, there was no need to rush. Nothing would make the airport move any quicker, so take your time, relax, make it part of the trip – rather than something that just has to be endured.
Mind you, he thought ruefully, there was no point in him rushing, as he had absolutely no idea how, or where, he was going to find Anna, so rushing around wouldn’t help him much. His first stop was going to be at the first telephone he found, to call home and check his mum was holding up ok, that young Dean was pulling his weight, and then to Anna’s mum to see if there was any further news.
Jim realised, with a heavy heart, what a fruitless, and possibly futile, exercise this may turn out to be. He had travelled halfway around the world, to find a girl in a country that was absolutely vast - and he had no idea where to even start looking for clues. If he found her, it really would be the proverbial finding a needle in a haystack – a very, very small needle in a very, very big haystack.
Once in the baggage hall, Jim was proved right. The carousel display told of a thirty minute wait until their bags made it that far. He spied a payphone on the wall, and was pleased to find it took credit cards, as he had no Australian change on him. He never could understand why you could only ever change notes – surely the most important thing you would need on arriving in a strange country would be a few coins? He quickly dialled the number for the pub and was pleased to hear his mum’s voice sounding all perky and happy.
‘How’s things then?’ he asked.
‘Oh thank the Lord you’ve arrived safe, love,’ she replied. ‘Everything is fine here, how about you? Was the flight okay?’ Jim smothered a smile. It was nice to know that even when he was on the other side of the world, she would still fuss over him like a mother hen.
“Great, I got an upgrade, and I think the attendant thought I was cute – I got pretty good treatment the whole way!’
‘That’s good news. I was ever so worried about you getting a DVT or something with those long legs of yours all cramped up in economy. So is business class all it’s cracked up to be?’
‘And then some, Mum! I’m just waiting for my bags and then I’ll be in Australia proper. Now I’m here it suddenly seems a much more daunting task. She could be anywhere!’
I know love, but keep your chin up – you’ll find Anna, and then you can both come home again. You know where I am if you need me, and don’t ever worry about what time of the day it is if you need to get in touch!’
‘Thanks Mum. Take care and keep on Dean’s tail – don’t let him slack off!’
‘Oh he’s doing fine, we’re all good. Look after yourself, love.’
The baggage carousel suddenly whirred into life as Jim hung up, and he headed across the hall to wait beside it, as the parade of suitcases and rucksacks, in every colour of the rainbow and every pattern imaginable, began. It entertained him to try and guess who belonged with what – and on many occasions he got it spot on. The owner of a leopard print hold-all, however, Jim simply could not have guessed. It turned out to belong to a great, burly guy like himself, who looked like he’d be more at home on a rugby pitch than anywhere else - and there he was with the ultimate girly accessory. Jim tried to stifle a grin, as his own utilitarian army surplus rucksack appeared. He hauled it up onto his back, headed out through customs, and went in search of the tourist information office.
The first flight that Jim had been able to get a seat on had brought him to Melbourne. The entire trip having been so last minute, he had been lucky he had even managed to get a visa sorted so fast - and that meant he hadn’t stopped to think about the insanity of the task ahead of him. It struck him now, full force. He felt completely crazy as he tried to explain to the kind woman behind the glass of the small information office what he was doing, and asked for her help.
The motherly-looking lady took one look at the names on the postmarks from Anna’s last letters to him and her parents, and declared excitedly, ‘These are from Western Australia, Mr Cavendish - the Coral Coast Route.’
Jim sighed. He had a clue as to where to start.
‘Now, the quickest way to get started is to take a flight to Perth, and then to hire a car and head down through Geraldton, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, and Kalbari,’ the kindly lady said, scribbling everything down for him as she spoke. ‘Your Anna must have been following the coast road to maybe find work? The Coral Coast is beautiful; a lot of backpackers head down that way, and just crash out on the beach as they find their way along.’
Jim recognised Geraldton as one of the places on the postmarks and agreed with her, but started to get quite worried that Anna might have been sleeping rough on the beach alone. The information desk lady smiled, as she arranged for him to catch a flight that left in just 2 hours, clearly amused by his romantic dash to the other side of the world to find the woman he loved.
‘Good luck, Mr Cavendish. She is a lucky girl to have such a lovely guy come out to surprise her. Head for Gate 7; you will be on her trail in no time.’
Lucky enough to secure a place on the flight he needed, and making it to the gate in plenty of time, Jim hunted around the lounge for another phone. Popping in his card, and dialling the number for Anna’s home, he couldn’t help thinking how lucky he was to have something to go on, and even more importantly, something he could tell her mum and dad. The phone rang a few times, and was then answered by a clipped sounding answer phone message.
‘Hi Lydia, great news,’ he gushed happily. ‘I have a place to start! I am off to Perth in a bit, thought I would check in with you and let you know the haystack isn’t quite as big as we might have once thought. I will give you a call when I land.’
Jim hung up the phone, and hoped the message left on the answer-phone would put Lydia’s mind at rest. He decided he would wait until he got to Perth to ring his own mum again to let her know what he had found out, and where he was now headed, as the call for boarding began. He felt strangely optimistic about his search now, and picked up his bag and headed to the doors. He was almost looking forward to the long drive at the other end. He could show her photo and ask everyone along the route if they recognised her. Nobody who met Anna could possibly have forgotten her.
Chapter Five
Jim’s eyes finally started to adjust to the dust and heat, and after miles and miles of sea on one side of the road, and orangey, flat earth on the other, he could pick out structures that may, or may not be, houses up ahead. He rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren’t a figment of his imagination, and reassured that they were real, breathed a sigh of relief. He had stopped at every town along the way, and had been lucky to find a few people who thought they remembered a blonde girl passing through. But, with each town he came to, the amount of people who recognised the girl in his now dog-eared picture were becoming fewer. Jim couldn’t help being worried that maybe she had left the area completely, and that he may never find her.
The dilapidated old truck was in desperate need of petrol, he could kill for a shower and a cold drink, and he longed to hear something more than his own thoughts. The radio had lost signal over 150 kilometres ago. As he drew nearer he realised that this was a small village, with only a small cluster of houses. Similar size to Castle Cluny, he thought, with a pang of homesickness.
Jim shook himself a little, and was highly relieved to see a petrol pump outside a building that looked like it might be a bar as well. He had no idea how many more kilometres he would have to travel before he found Anna, so was pleased he’d be able to fill up not just the truck, but the eight ten-gallon drums the guy he’d bought it from had thrown in to seal the deal, along with his ominous warning to keep them topped up whenever he could. Gas stations were few and far between out here. It had been cheaper to buy the clapped out old banger than to rent anything, and he didn’t know how long he would need it, after all. He pulled up by the pump and looked around, realising there didn’t seem to
be anyone about, but he heard voices coming from behind the small bar, so he headed in that direction.
********
‘Tom, get your hands off me,’ Anna said, as playfully as she could manage. ‘For a guy on crutches you seem to be far too unconcerned about whether you stay upright. It wouldn’t take much even for me to knock you down as you are.’ She hoped she was masking the anxiety that was bubbling up inside her. After all, crutches or not he was far stronger than her, and she didn’t trust herself to push him away either, the way she knew, for her own sanity, that she should. Tom was simply dangerous, and she still hadn’t made up her mind if she liked him – let alone whether she trusted him or not.
‘Are you trying to tell me you aren’t interested?’ Tom drawled, cocksure and clearly relishing her discomfort like a cat toying with a mouse.
He continued to invade her personal space that bit more than was comfortable, making her back up against the wall of the outside storehouse. She didn’t like the feeling of being cornered, and was worried that he may just push his luck too far this time. ‘I don’t believe that you don’t fancy me for a moment, no matter how much you deny it. You wanted me to follow you out here, otherwise why the looks, the come-ons you’ve been feeding me ever since you got here?’ he asked, lasciviously.
Anna knew he wasn’t expecting an answer, knew most girls would already have succumbed long before this point. A few may have managed to continue to deny him what he wanted this far, but now pressed into it, would no doubt admit their lust for him. She doubted there was a girl in Wallaby Creek that wouldn’t have given in.
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