“Call me on the mobile. I’m hardly ever there anyway.”
Which was true. No one had asked her if she was actually sleeping down there, so she had never actually lied. They wouldn’t understand, and she certainly didn’t want to have to try to explain it. It was just too hard. If she had to stay at Circle’s End, she couldn’t stay here in the Highlands, it was as simple as that.
So Ally rolled up her sleeping bag and mattress each morning and packed them into the boot of her car, usually just as the tradesmen were arriving. She ate cereal for breakfast and had stocked up on packet snack-food to keep her going through the day. She tried to get out in the late afternoon to buy dinner, but it didn’t always work out. Cup-a-soup had become her staple.
The worst part was showering. There was a functioning bathroom, but there was no hot water, and as she had to take showers when nobody was around, it was usually at the coldest part of the day, very early morning or at night. Her head was blocked up, and she was starting to feel weary, but adrenalin kept her going. This was only temporary, until she had time to look for somewhere to live.
* * *
“Preparation is the most important part of any painting job,” Ally had insisted repeatedly to Nic.
“And the most boring,” Nic had grumbled.
They’d hired a steamer to remove the wallpaper, and once Nic had got the hang of using it, she stuck to that. It was much easier than stripping the walls of paint, so that was largely left to Ally. She wore a mask most of the time, but the fine dust still got up her nose, through her hair and into just about every bodily crevice it could find. What with the brief cold showers she was forced to have, Ally hadn’t felt really clean since she left Birchgrove.
She looked at her watch. Nic had left about a half an hour ago. Cup-a-soup did not appeal tonight. She could do with a proper meal, something hot and filling. She’d felt hungry for a week now, especially as the weather had turned wintry. And she was cold during the nights. She was thinking about treating herself to a hotel, just for one night, maybe two. The thought of slipping under warm blankets onto a soft mattress, after a hot shower, was becoming irresistible. She only worried that she might never come back.
She took off her mask and the elastic that held back her hair and shook it out, vigorously rubbing her scalp to release a shower of paint dust.
“Ally?”
She poked her head around the door. “Oh, hello.”
It was Matt. Ally had been trying to keep their relationship strictly business since the evening at his place. Every time she saw him now, she could only think of Rebecca, and his wife, after he left them. Alone. Maybe wondering what they had done to make him leave like that. Ally could relate to them more than she cared to.
“How’s it going?” Matt said, peering into the room. “Jeez, you’re getting a lot done.”
Ally shrugged, stifling a yawn.
“You look tired.”
“Thanks.”
“How much sleep are you getting?”
“Enough.”
“Does it bother you, being down there on your own?”
“Not at all,” Ally dismissed, hoping that wasn’t a lie. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve got a job for you.”
She frowned.
“All the doors are getting picked up for stripping the day after tomorrow. So you and Nic are going to have to take them off their hinges.”
Ally looked at him, dumbfounded.
“I’ll leave you one of my drills.” He noticed Ally’s mystified expression. “What is it?”
“I don’t know how to use a drill.”
“You don’t?”
“What made you think I would?”
“Well, I’ve seen you handle power tools.”
“Only a belt sander.”
“Okay, I’ll show you then, you’ll be right.” He picked up the case he had brought in with him and laid it on the bench Ally had set up. He released the catches and opened the lid.
“Now, this is a standard cordless drill, but it’s a tradesman’s model, so you might find it a bit heavy. You’ll mostly use a medium flat-blade screwdriver bit, but the screws might vary on different doors, you might need a Phillip’s head. Anyway, it’s a keyless chuck, so it’s easy to change.” He glanced over his shoulder at Ally, still standing in the doorway. “You’ll see better from over here.”
“Can’t we get one of the builders to do this?”
Matt put down the drill and turned around to face her. “Well, Ally Tasker, I’m surprised. I thought you’d try anything.”
She shrugged. “They make holes in walls! I don’t want to end up with one through my hand or something.”
Matt laughed out loud. “You won’t put one through your hand! It hasn’t got a mind of its own. It’s like anything, if you use it safely.”
Ally frowned dubiously.
“Come on, give it a go. I bet you’ll enjoy it once you get started.”
Matt showed Ally how to choose the right size screwdriver bit, and then how to fit it into the drill. He removed one hinge and then steadied the door while Ally tried the next. She held the drill in place, but when she pressed her finger down on the trigger, the force of the motor startled her, and she closed her eyes.
“Ally!”
She released the trigger, looking at Matt.
“It’s a good idea to keep your eyes open.”
She smiled sheepishly and started again. Ally could feel the screw releasing from the hinge, and she squealed.
“Are you alright?” Matt asked.
She nodded. “This is fun. Can I try another one?”
“Sure.”
By the time they had removed all four doors from the two adjoining rooms, Ally felt like an old hand.
“So how do you make a hole?” she asked Matt.
“What?”
“You know, drill into something.”
“Oh. Just take it off reverse.”
“But how do you know where to drill?” Ally said, examining the wall.
“Well, these are double brick and plaster walls, so you have to use a masonry bit, and special screws, with a plug.”
“Don’t you have to tap the wall, to find the right spot? I’ve seen people do that.”
“That’s on a timber-framed wall. You have to find the stud behind the plaster board, so you have an anchor.”
“And how do you do that?”
Matt checked his watch. “Ally, I’d love to go on with the lesson, but I have to get home. I’ve got two hungry dogs to feed.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” He paused. “Why don’t you come for dinner? It’s on your way home.”
“No, that’s alright, I want to keep going with this.”
“You really should have someone to support the door, especially when you get to the last hinge. You’ll have plenty of time to get through it tomorrow with Nic.”
“Couldn’t I just take off the middle hinge, and maybe one or two screws off the outer hinges?”
Matt frowned at her. “What time do you knock off usually?”
“Whenever,” Ally said evasively.
“And you drive down the valley in the dark?”
“It’s dark down there from about five anyway.”
He looked puzzled. “You’re mad you know. You’ll make yourself sick working at this pace. You already sound like you’re getting a cold.”
“I’m fine,” Ally dismissed. “Now, is it alright just to remove the middle hinge?”
Two days later
Ally thought that maybe it was lifting all those heavy doors that had made her aches and pains worse last night. But now as she lay shivering inside her sleeping bag, she realized it was probably more than that. She struggled to sit up, keeping the sleeping bag around her. The air in the room was biting cold, and as she leaned against the wall, she could feel the chill coming through the thick, padded layer of the sleeping bag, boring into her back. Her skin was sore. Al
ly felt tears spring into her eyes. Stop being a baby, she told herself.
She checked her watch. Four A.M. She had to be up at six. Gingerly she brought her arm up out of the sleeping bag and reached for her backpack, dragging it closer. She prayed that she still had some Panadol, she didn’t remember finishing the packet. She found the box and pulled out the foil sheet. One left. She sighed, it wasn’t enough, but it would have to do. She swallowed it down and slid back onto the mattress. Some time later, she drifted off.
* * *
“Ally! Ally!”
She opened one eye, but the light was too bright, and it stung. She closed it again, pulling the pillow over her head.
“Ally! What the hell are you doing here?”
That was Matt’s voice. What was he doing here? Where was she anyway? She sighed, rolling over onto her back. Every muscle and joint of her body was screaming with pain. She felt Matt’s hand on her forehead. It was icy. She tried to pull it away.
“Stop it, Ally! You’re burning up. Have you taken anything?”
He sounded annoyed. What was his problem?
“Leave me alone, I don’t feel very well.”
He stood up. “I think I’ve got some Panadol in the truck. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He’d left the room, Ally realized. She opened her eyes, squinting. Shit. She must have slept through the alarm. She wasn’t even sure if she’d set it, she was so tired last night. She tried to sit up, but her arms hurt, everything hurt. She slumped against the wall and closed her eyes.
Matt strode back into the room. He kneeled down in front of her, and she felt him propping her up into a sitting position.
“Here, take these.”
She tried to focus on his hand, but her eyes were still stinging.
“Open,” he said gently, his thumb on her lips. She did as he said and he pushed one tablet into her mouth. Then she felt a glass against her lips.
“Take a sip, it’s only water.”
He did the same with a second tablet.
“I’ll be fine now,” Ally murmured. “I just have to get some sleep.”
“No, Ally, don’t lie down.” Matt kept his arm around her, holding her upright. “This mattress is damp, the whole floor’s damp. It’ll be a bloody miracle if you don’t end up with pneumonia.”
She thought she sensed irritation in his voice again.
“I just want to sleep.”
“Okay! Just let me spread this blanket out.” A moment later, she felt him easing her down until her head rested on the soft blanket. He brought it back over her, wrapping it round her.
Matt said something else, about someone arriving, and that he’d be back in a little while. She wasn’t sure. She felt his hand on her forehead, then smoothing back her hair. A moment later, she fell asleep.
Ally woke up with a start. She could hear building noises. She looked at her watch. Nine-thirty!
She sat bolt upright. What was going on? There were voices outside the room. She strained to listen to what they were saying.
“Surely she hasn’t been sleeping here all along?”
That was Nic.
“Well, it didn’t look like it was the first time. She’s all set up with a mattress and a sleeping bag. I don’t know if she’s even been down to the valley at all.”
Matt. She remembered now. He’d been here earlier, fussing and frowning at her. Great.
“And she’s sick as a dog. I wondered if I shouldn’t be taking her to casualty.”
Oh, for crying out loud! She was feeling fine now. She stood up, a little unsteadily. Okay, maybe she wasn’t a hundred percent, but she wasn’t sick. She was just overdoing it, she needed to knock off a little earlier in the day, book into that hotel.
Ally decided to get dressed and look presentable before they came in to check on her. Trouble was, she had nothing very presentable to wear. She hadn’t been to the laundromat all week, and her clothes were covered in paint, dust and grime. She picked up a sweater and shook it out. A cloud of dust billowed into the air, and before Ally could help it she let out a loud sneeze.
A moment later there was a tentative knock on the door.
“Are you awake, Ally?” It was Nic.
She glanced down at the old tracksuit she was wearing. She supposed it was no worse than her grotty work clothes.
“Come in.”
Nic opened the door a little, and stuck her head in. “You’re up!”
“Yes, hi. Sorry I overslept!” Ally tried to sound bright.
Nic pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Matt stood behind her in the doorway.
“How are you feeling, Ally?” he asked, frowning.
“Fine, right as rain.”
Nic looked at her. “You don’t look very well.”
Ally touched her hand to her face. “I mean I’m tired. Naturally. Who wouldn’t be?”
“Ally, where have you been staying?”
She glanced nervously at the sleeping bag. “I’ve stayed here a few times, when I’ve finished too late. You know, that road’s dangerous in the dark, down to the valley.”
She avoided looking at Matt.
“Ally, have you been down to Circle’s End at all since you moved out of Birchgrove?” he asked bluntly.
“Of course I’ve been down there!”
“Have you stayed the night?”
Ally felt flustered. “You know, where I stay and what I do is really nobody’s business but my own.”
“Ally.” Nic touched her arm gently. “You can’t stay here. Look how damp everything is, and there’s gaps under the doors. The place isn’t sealed against the weather. You’ll freeze, and you’re not well.”
“I’m fine,” Ally insisted. “I might have been coming down with something during the night, but I feel great now.”
“That’s just the effect of the Panadol.”
Oh shut up, Matt. She didn’t like all this fuss. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
“Look, if it will make everyone happy, I’ll take the day off today. Okay?”
“I think you’re going to need more than a day off, Ally,” said Matt.
“And you can’t stay here. We have to find you somewhere else. Why don’t you go down to Circle’s End?” Nic asked.
Ally looked at her. The pain was returning to the base of her neck, moving up the back of her head. She started to feel a bit woozy, and a hot flush broke out across her skin. She glanced quickly around the room. There was no chair, and she knew she was not going to be able to keep standing. There was nothing she could do but sink down to the floor.
“Ally!” Nic shrieked, dropping to her knees.
“I’m fine,” Ally said calmly. “I just needed to sit down.”
“You’re sick. We have to get you to a doctor.”
“No—”
“Do you have a doctor here in Bowral, Nic?” Matt asked.
She nodded.
“Okay, we’ll take her there. Should we phone ahead?”
Nic looked at Ally. “Maybe you’d like to get changed first, have a shower? You look pretty wretched.”
“I don’t want to go to a doctor.”
They ignored her.
“Where are all your clothes, Ally? Are they here, or in your car, where?” Matt sounded impatient.
Ally was starting to feel hot again. “Most of my stuff is down at Circle’s End. But don’t make me go there, Nic,” she whimpered, grabbing her arm. “I really don’t want to go there.” A sob caught in her throat, and she felt tears stinging behind her eyes.
Nic patted her arm. “What’s so bad about it? I think it’s charming—”
“It’s not fucking charming!” Ally almost screamed. “It’s a fucking prison! It’s cold and drafty, and I can’t get warm no matter how many clothes I put on! I’m not allowed to go anywhere, and no one comes to see us, ever, and he never talks to me, and—”
Her voice dried up. Matt and Nic were just staring at her. She covered her face with her han
ds. What did she just say? God, she must be having a breakdown.
Nic put her arm around Ally’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Ally, no one’s going to make you go there.”
She couldn’t speak, she was too humiliated.
“I’ll drive down and get her things,” Matt was saying.
“She can have a shower at my place in the meantime,” said Nic. “But where is she going to stay? There’s no room in our little bedsit.”
“Then she’ll have to stay with me.”
Ally tried to protest but they talked over the top of her.
“Have you got the room?”
“She can have Beck’s room.”
“Okay, well, what say we meet you back at my place? She’ll need to change her clothes before she sees the doctor.”
* * *
Ally sat quietly defeated in the front seat of Matt’s truck. He was in the pharmacy having her prescription filled. The doctor diagnosed her with the flu and was concerned the infection had traveled to her lungs. Ally was sure it wasn’t that bad. She felt much better since she’d had a shower and put on some fresh clothes. Though her temperature had started to spike again and the doctor did not hesitate to give her a stronger dose of paracetamol.
Ally hated all the fuss. But it was more than that. She was mortified about the way she’d behaved. She wished she could just slink away quietly down to Circle’s End where no one would bother her. But that was the whole problem. She couldn’t stay there, and now Nic and Matt knew it. No doubt they also thought she had a screw loose. There was something in their eyes when they looked at her now. She was pretty sure it was pity and she couldn’t stand it.
Matt jumped back in the car and started the engine.
“You have to take one capsule, three times a day, before food,” he said, pulling out into the traffic. “Don’t worry, I’ll remind you. And I bought some more Panadol. You have to keep that up four-hourly.”
Ally didn’t say anything. She didn’t trust herself. She could feel Matt looking at her, but she just stared at the road ahead.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He sighed loudly. “Why do women always say that? Ally, let’s not play games. What’s the matter?”
She had to restore her dignity somehow. “I just don’t appreciate people taking over my life and treating me like I’m a child.”
Call Waiting Page 25
