by Helen Goltz
“Um, then how can I put this ... it was a dream come true,” Peggy said.
I groaned. “Well I’m delighted for you but I can’t imagine my brother making that happen.”
“Aren’t twins supposed to be close?” she asked.
“Allegedly, but he was stealing my oxygen in the womb and he’s still stealing my music and my ... never mind,” I stopped. “But on the subject of my brother, if you want my advice, some of the girls in our class are more worried about losing their phones then their virginity...“ I heard Peggy gasp. “You’re so not like that I know, so if he doesn’t look after you, let me know! You looked great last night by the way.”
“Thanks,” she said. “And thanks for caring.” I could hear her blushing.
“Sure,” I said.
There was a moments silence while I opened the curtains and I waited for Peggy to talk. “Not that it’s not great to hear from you, but did you want to talk to me about something?” I eventually prompted.
“Oh yes, sorry, I got distracted thinking about Harry,” she said.
I shook my head. Really?
Peggy continued. “I’m wondering if you remember the name of Lia’s boyfriend?”
That question took me by surprise. I dropped back on the end of the bed and fell back into it. “Mm, Jack,” I said. “I think he snuck into the dance last night because she came back inside pretty happy.”
“Jack,” Peggy said. “Do you remember his last name?”
“Yes ... let me think,” I closed my eyes and thought hard. “It was something like Denim.”
“Denham?” Peggy asked.
“That sounds right,” I agreed. “Jack Denham. She only told me his full name once but I tried to remember it to see if Harry or Mum knew of him. Harry meets a lot of guys our age with cycling and sport stuff.”
I heard Peggy draw a deep breath. “Holly, I know what you’re thinking, well what you are going to be thinking, but ...” she hesitated.
“What am I going to be thinking?” I hesitantly asked Peggy.
“In a minute you are going to be thinking that I’m really strange.”
“Oh is that all,” I sighed with relief. “I already think that,” I told her.
“Do you?” she sounded really surprised.
“No! I’m joking,” I assured her. It was way too early for this conversation, I should be sleeping. “Go ahead, tell me.”
“Well, it’s just that ... promise this will stay between us?” she pleaded.
“Okay I promise.” I was now getting concerned. I sat upright. “What’s up?”
“Well it’s probably nothing but Lia sent me her assignment, we swapped to proof each other’s work, and well, it’s silly but she mentions a guy called Jack Denham.”
“So ...” I followed along.
“Jack Denham died on the La Bella in 1905.”
I stood and went to the window, looking out as I took in what Peggy was saying. The neighbour was about to start his mower and Harry was washing Dad’s car, probably to try and persuade him to take him out for some ‘L’ driving time. He still needed forty more hours of supervised learners’ driving practice time for his licence.
“Holly?” Peggy said, “are you there?”
“Sorry, yes I was thinking,” I answered. “There’s probably a thousand Jack Denham’s around, I told her. But it’s a weird coincidence I guess. I saw her Jack when he was in the grand stand during art class; she pointed him out to me.”
“There’s a picture of the 1905 Jack in her assignment,” Peggy said.
There was silence on the line.
“Do you want me to email it to you?” Peggy asked.
“Yes, please,” I said.
I heard the ping go off as I was talking on the phone. “I’ll open it on my laptop and email you back.”
“Thanks, I know what you’re thinking ... the idea is crazy,” Peggy said. “Talk soon then?”
“Absolutely,” I agreed with a chuckle that bordered a little on wary and hysterical. “Hey, don’t worry, I’m sure it’s just one of those weird coincidences. They might look alike cause they’re related ... if he’s an ancestor of Jack’s, you know...”
I hung up and went to my laptop, logging in. Opening my emails I clicked on the photo attached to Peggy’s and it took up the whole screen.
I stared at the photo, then I had to sit down.
OPHELIA
I stayed out as long as I could to give Adam some privacy. It wasn’t too difficult—the dogs and I were enjoying our morning watching the world go by on the beach and I was planning what I would wear tonight, and dreaming of kissing Jack again. Last night was so romantic, even if we only had fifteen minutes together. Speaking of last night, I looked over at the surfers but Chayse wasn’t amongst them at my end of the beach. I wondered how his night had ended.
After a good hour of watching the morning go by and texting friends, I was just about to rouse the dogs who lay beside me on the sand to head home when Adam appeared down near our entrance path to the beach. He went to the water’s edge but didn’t go in. He looked up and down the beach; I think he was looking for me. I called out and waved and he jogged over.
“Hey, great day,” he said dropping down beside us.
I agreed. He looked towards the surfers.
“You’re safe, I’m pretty sure Chayse isn’t here,” I told him.
He scoffed like he didn’t care. “I was checking out the wave size.”
“Oh right,” I said, only half convinced.
He turned to me. “You don’t have to stay out of our house just because someone drops in, but thanks for that anyway.”
I shrugged. “It’s all good. We were just enjoying it here, weren’t we kids? Time sort of gets away from you.”
He nodded and looked out to sea. I subtly studied him and I think it is fair to say he was cheesed off. His jaw was locked and he frowned and fidgeted.
“Vanessa’s quite beautiful,” I said.
“Yeah and she knows it,” he snapped back.
“Well, she seemed nice.”
“She’s a nutter.”
Right, I let that go.
He rubbed his hand over his eyes and then looked over at me.
“Sorry Lia, I shouldn’t take my frustration out on you. I wish she would just get on with her life and leave me out of it,” he looked back to sea.
I didn’t know if I was supposed to ask questions, nod sympathetically or say something consoling. I looked to Argo and Agnes who looked away—smart! I took a stab at it.
“You don’t want to be with her then?” I asked.
“I did once. She was two-timing me and I caught her out. Then she dropped him because she wanted to be with me, but what’s the point?” he shook his head. “I wasn’t enough for her the first time for whatever reason.”
“What was the reason, did she tell you?” I asked gently.
Adam dug his feet into the cold sand and moved the sand around as he spoke. “We had been going out since the start of year ten— about three years—but last year she said she didn’t want to settle down too early with a boyfriend when there’s so many fish in the sea,” he shrugged. “I understand that, there are other chicks I’d like to go out with too, but what do you do if you’re in love with someone even if you are young? If you give it up to try other things and realise it was right, then you may lose your way back to each other.”
I wrapped my arms around my legs and rested my chin on my knees. “That’s a sad thought,” I said. “But what if you got to thirty years old and all you’ve ever known is one love, is it enough? Would you feel like you were missing out?” I asked him.
“Maybe,” he agreed.
I continued: “But then again, some people never find a great love and what if you spent a decade looking for that person and you had it the first time and threw it away?”
“Exactly,” he said. “I’m not saying she was the one, but I didn’t think we’d run our course yet, that’s all. I di
dn’t see it coming and she could have called it off before she started seeing someone else.”
I thought about Jack—I couldn’t bear to lose him, not now, not in the future.
“So does she want to get back together?” I asked.
“Yeah, every now and then she drops in and wants to talk about it. Says she’s made a big mistake, whatever.”
“But you don’t want to try again?”
He shook his head. “I’ve been through all that drama—betrayal and break up. Why would I risk it again with Vanessa? Geez, she can’t be loyal for three years, what hope have we got long-term? Nuh, she was right the first time, it’s time to move on, for both of us.”
We sat in silence for a while. I silently prayed Jack would love me forever and never feel like that. I hoped his words to me about waiting for me for a century were true and not just words he said to win my heart.
“Well, you’re a good catch big brother, it’s her loss,” I said.
He smiled but didn’t look at me. “Thanks.”
“C’mon,” I nudged him, “I’ll make you my world famous scrambled eggs for breakfast. Argo and Agnes will love them too.”
Adam grinned. “Should I pick up a burger?”
“Shut up!” I hit his arm indignantly. “You wait, you’ll be asking for my recipe.”
He rose, extended his hand and pulled me up, and the four of us went home.
Chapter 24
OPHELIA
After breakfast which Adam said was really good, he moped around for the rest of the morning. He disappeared a couple of times in his car, came back and went for a surf. I was home the whole time—my books, laptop and pens sprawled over the large kitchen table as I caught up on school work. Argo and Agnes kept me company until another knock at the door just before two o’clock. I jumped up and opened it to find Holly and Peggy there.
“Hey you two,” I said really pleased to see them. “Come in.”
They were both in jeans and pullovers; we didn’t see each other out of school uniform much. Argo and Agnes were excited to meet Peggy and after they settled down, I led Holly and Peggy through the house.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
Peggy looked nervous and glanced at Holly. I frowned at them both.
“Okay, you’re worrying me,” I said.
“No, it’s just a social visit, sort of,” Holly said.
“I’m bringing back your assignment, I printed it out and just marked two changes,” Peggy said.
“Ah thanks, I’m almost done reading yours—so good,” I told her, and looked from one to the other; there was definitely something going on.
“Come through,” I invited them into the huge galley kitchen and offered them a drink. We sat around the wide bench—Holly took a Diet Coke and Peggy took up the offer of tea. I put the jug on and grabbed two cups to join her.
“Adam not in?” Holly looked around.
“No, he’s having a surf,” I smiled at her. “But stick around long enough and he’ll be back. I met Vanessa this morning.”
“Ooh,” Holly’s eyes widened. “What did you think?”
“She’s lovely—pretty and nice,” I said.
“I remember her,” Peggy said. “They were always a very attractive couple.”
“Hot,” Holly agreed. “Vanessa would be in senior at our school if she hadn’t talked her parents into letting her go to a school that focussed on the performing arts. Are they back on?”
I shook my head. “I think she broke Adam’s heart and he isn’t prepared to let her have two goes at it—well that’s my understanding of it.”
I finished adding milk to our teas, pushed one to Peggy and sat down with them.
“It’s so cosy in here,” Peggy looked at the dogs lying in the lounge room in a ray of sun as it streamed through the crystal shaped windows.
“So, what’s up?” I asked again, “not that you can’t just drop around without a reason.”
Peggy looked to Holly again. “It’s about Jack,” she started.
I bristled at the mention of Jack. He was mine and not up for discussion, yet.
“Oh,” I tried to sound casual, “he dropped into the dance last night, you know, just for a while. I would have introduced you if you had come out.”
Holly nodded. “When are you seeing him again?”
“Tonight, why?” I asked surprised.
“It’s just that ... well I’m worried about how much you know about him,” Holly said.
“Enough,” I assured them. I wanted this discussion to be over.
Peggy stepped in again. “It’s just that I thought you told me his name was Jack Denham and in your assignment there’s a Jack Denham.” Peggy looked at my assignment on the table between us.
“Right,” I nodded. I knew where they were going with this but I wasn’t going to make it easy.
“And your Jack and that Jack who drowned out there,” Peggy nodded towards the ocean, “they look alike, a lot alike,” she nervously sipped her tea.
I looked from Holly to Peggy and said: “you know how insane you sound don’t you?”
They both nodded.
“So you think my Jack is the Jack from my assignment who died on the La Bella and would now be close to 130 years old?” I narrowed my eyes and looked at them.
Peggy giggled at how absurd it sounded.
Holly nodded. “Yeah, it does sound out there when you say it like that. But we just want to be sure you’re okay, Lia. There are girls who have died in this town because they’ve drowned and some say it is an accident and some say, well other things. I’m just saying if you’re not careful and don’t know your way around, well, you can’t trust everyone ...”
I nodded again. “Thanks. I really appreciate that you are worried about me.”
We sat in awkward silence. I had gotten away with it because neither Peggy nor Holly had directly asked me if my Jack was ... sounds weird, a ghost or dead ... so I didn’t have to answer.
“Did you come down from Warrnambool just to ask me that?” I said to Peggy.
She nodded. “It’s okay, I just took the bus.”
“You’re sweet,” I squeezed her hand. I was keen to change the subject in case they came back to it. I was saved by the bell as the phone began to ring. At the same time the front door opened and Adam yelled out “I’ll get it.”
I saw Holly brighten. I heard him answer and chat for a few moments before hanging up. He came into the kitchen in his board shorts, a towel around his shoulder and no shirt. His hair was mussed up and he looked fit and tanned—it didn’t go unnoticed.
“Hey Holly, and you must be Peggy,” he said.
“I am,” Peggy said shyly. “Thanks for offering to pick me up the other night but Mum, well she’s insanely strict.”
Adam shrugged. “No problem.”
“Speaking of insane,” I said to Adam, “aren’t you freezing? It’s officially winter after all.”
“You’re soft Lia,” he teased. “Makes you feel alive that cold water. I’m making a coffee, anyone?”
We all declined. Adam pulled the towel from around his shoulders and slipped on his hoodie that lay draped over a kitchen chair. He continued: “That was Sebastian on the phone. They’ve asked him to stay a few more days.”
On cue the house howled. Peggy and Holly both jumped; Adam, the dogs and I didn’t react.
“What was that?” Holly’s eyes were huge.
“Just the house,” I said.
“The wind ... the design of the house and our location makes it howl sometimes,” Adam explained stirring sugar into his coffee.
“That’s freaky,” Peggy said.
I looked up at the house and smiled. “And kind of cool too, I said.” Adam smiled at me, we were thinking the same thing—our house was missing Seb.
“Anyway, he should be home Tuesday but said he’d call you later, Lia, when you were alone.”
“Thanks,” I nodded. It was good Holly and Peggy were there, a nice
distraction, otherwise I would have been way too anxious waiting all day for my date tonight.
“So what are you three up to?” Adam asked.
I shrugged, “we’re just hanging out.” I looked at Holly and then to Peggy and they nodded their agreement.
“But I have to go; I’ve got study to do,” Peggy added.
Adam narrowed his eyes. “Mm, there’s some plotting going on, I can tell.”
“Us?” Holly asked with exaggerated innocence.
Adam grinned. “I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got to shower and head to Zach’s place.”
I brightened. “Zach who lives in Warrnambool?”
“Yeah, want a ride?” he asked.
“No but Peggy could use a lift if that’s okay?” I asked.
“Just to the train or city if that works for you, please?” Peggy asked. “I’ll get home from there. If you drop me home I’ll be grounded until I’m twenty.”
“I can do that,” Adam said. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you big brother,” I said sweetly.
“Yeah, yeah,” he rolled his eyes and left. Holly looked particularly disappointed that she lived just down the road.
JACK
Night was falling and my strength was growing. In one hour I would be with Ophelia, my beautiful Ophelia. Yet, I sensed she was falling for Adam ... she looks at him with great affection and calls him brother, they are getting closer. I can’t lose her to him and tonight I will re-establish our bond.
This week while she slept and schooled, I have been preparing for her—doing up the Captain’s quarters which are mine now as I am the only one who lives forever on the ship. You should see it; I know she will love it. I have replicated the room that she loves so much at her home—scrubbed and polished floors, filled with white furnishings and linens, highly-polished timber and of course, the view from each window is the blue-green waters of the port.
The lower and upper quarter decks are spotless; are as clean as they have ever been. The rigging and sails neatly hung and stored. I even buffed the bell on the main mast. The La Bella feels like a romantic escape at sea for two. I can’t wait to see her on it, to give her a tour and welcome her to her new home.
