White Gum Creek

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  ‘Yeah, that’s fine. I mean, that’d be great.’

  ‘How about Friday night?’

  Any brain function he may have possessed had totally disappeared. He didn’t think he could actually string a sentence together.

  ‘Um…sure.’

  ‘Great, let’s go to The Black Sheep—seven-thirty? I’ll meet you there.’

  ‘I look forward to it.’

  Jules stepped away from the car and unlocked the door.

  ‘See you later, Jules,’ Nick said. He watched her reverse out the drive and head off towards town. Excitement bubbled through him and there was a lightness he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  As he headed back to the house, he spotted Matt leaning against the back door.

  ‘How did that go?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Yeah, right. Come on, spill and give me the details—did she say yes?’

  A smile tugged at Nick’s mouth which turned into a silly puppy-dog grin.

  ‘Yeah, she kind of did. We’re going for dinner on Friday.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’

  Chapter 9

  Tash smoothed down the skirt of her blue chambray sundress as she neared the pub. She was late, and even a brisk walk from her cottage wasn’t going to make up for it. The warm air was thick with the scents of jasmine and eucalyptus. The sun was still out even though it was evening. That’s what you get in summer with daylight saving.

  Tash pushed open the heavy front door and hurried into The Black Sheep, glancing at the old clock that hung over the bar. It was almost twenty past seven. She spied Sally and Bec at their favourite table by the window.

  ‘I know I’m late. Sorry! But stay where you are, Sally. No need to get up, especially in your condition.’

  Sally grinned.

  ‘I’m not exactly an invalid, Tash. I’m just pregnant.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I’m still going to come to you rather than the other way around,’ Tash said as she walked around the table and hugged her. ‘So, what have I missed?’

  ‘The only news that I’ve got is that I’m trying to work out the dates for my maternity leave. I want to give the school long enough to get another teacher in,’ Sally said.

  ‘And?’ Bec asked.

  ‘I still haven’t decided when I’m going to take it. At this point, I think I want to start the New Year and settle the kids down. The baby isn’t due until after the first term has started. I’m hoping that there will be a bit of crossover with whoever is taking over the position. That way the kids will ease into it.’

  ‘That sounds like a good plan,’ Tash said as she gave her friend a smile.

  ‘That’s what I’m aiming for, anyway. And how about you two?’

  ‘Well, I’m going up to get us a drink and then order our dinner,’ Bec said as she stood up.

  Sally turned to Tash when Bec had gone off to the counter.

  ‘So, have you made any movement towards asking Nick out?’

  Tash shook her head. ‘No, I guess I’m biding my time. I keep telling myself that I’m waiting for him to adjust to being in company again, but…’

  ‘But?’

  ‘I’ve been waiting for the right moment and it hasn’t come along yet…Okay, maybe that’s because I haven’t gone and looked for one.’ Tash admitted as she toyed with a menu. She gave a slight smile and shrugged.

  ‘You like him, why not just call him or drop around to his van. Nothing is going to happen until you do something about it.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Bec said as she returned carrying three glasses of lemon squash. ‘He may not even realise how you feel about him. And he’s been out of human circulation for so long that what seems obvious to us might not even be on his radar.’

  ‘But I don’t know how I feel about him.’

  Bec gave her a long look before she sat down.

  ‘Yeah, you do.’

  Tash was about to say that she didn’t when the words caught in her throat. Nick and Jules walked through the front door. Sally and Bec followed her gaze.

  ‘Oh Tash, I’m so sorry,’ Sally whispered.

  ‘I didn’t know anything about this,’ Bec said as she reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘Truly. Jules didn’t say anything to me.’

  ‘We’re jumping to conclusions,’ Sally said. ‘It could be innocent and just a couple of friends grabbing a bite to eat.’

  ‘Yeah, it might not be what you think,’ Bec said.

  Tash watched Nick usher Jules to a quiet table in the opposite corner. He was so focused on Jules he didn’t even look around the room. She let out a sigh.

  ‘No, it’s exactly what I think it is.’

  ***

  The next week, Nick and Matt were watching a horror movie when Matt’s phone sounded off in his pocket making them both jump.

  ‘Shit, that scared the hell out of me,’ Matt said. ‘It’s Jules—sorry, I won’t be a minute.’

  ‘No worries,’ Nick said.

  Nick nabbed the remote off the table and paused the movie as Matt walked into the kitchen to talk to his sister. Nick thought about Jules and their dinner last night. It had been a good night, and he had enjoyed her company. He hoped that she had enjoyed it as well—enough for her to want to do it again.

  After a couple of minutes Matt came back in and sat down on the couch.

  ‘Jules has had a bit of news. Now that she’s qualified, she can apply for her first teaching job.’

  Nick glanced over.

  ‘Oh, has she got something?’

  ‘There’s a chance she could come here, to White Gum Creek. She’d be taking over Sally’s position while she’s on maternity leave. The position starts at the start of February and she’s in with a good chance.’

  ‘Wow, that’s great,’ Nick said as all the possibilities began to slowly form in his head. ‘And she’d live here, in the cottage?’ The news pleased him. If there was a possibility of Jules living in the same town, it might be easier to begin something with her.

  ‘Yeah, I guess. I mean, I’ll be moving out soon to Bluestone Ridge.’

  ‘Hey, what has been happening with the move? I thought you’d be there by now.’

  ‘There’s been a few delays. Sending the wrong tiles for the kitchen, the electrician being called away because of a family emergency, the marble from the bathroom sink being dropped and cracked…Hopefully everything will get back on track by the end of next month, but I’m not holding my breath.’

  ‘You must be looking forward to it, though?’

  ‘What, moving in with Bec? Hell yes! It’s just frustrating that we have to wait. We’re so close to taking things to the next level, but it’s out of our control.’

  ‘Well, let’s hope it gets sorted quickly,’ Nick said.

  Matt leaned over and picked up his glass.

  ‘I’ll drink to that.’

  ***

  ‘So, are you okay? I mean really?’

  Bec leaned over and touched Tash’s hand.

  ‘Of course I am.’

  Bec sat back in her chair and looked at her for a moment. ‘Yeah, somehow that’s not really coming across. I’m your oldest friend and I know when you’re lying. You’ve always sucked at it, you know.’

  ‘I’m not sure if I should be offended or not. I’m fine and don’t even think you can start bossing me about,’ Tash said with a laugh. ‘You were always so bossy. Remember that time that you dragged me along to give Davey Blackwell an earful after he said girls weren’t any good at football? We were seven and I don’t think poor Davey ever got over it.’

  Bec grinned at the memory. ‘I just pointed out the obvious and set him on the right path to being a decent human—that’s all. And don’t think I don’t know what you tried to do just then.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Changing the subject. It may work on other people but as I said I’ve known you too long to get sucked in by it.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.�
�

  ‘Yeah right. You’ve been half in love with Nick Langtree for years. So now that he’s showing an interest in Jules, it must be eating you up.’

  Tash shook her head. ‘No, of course not. I’m just relieved that he’s finally found the strength to move on. I was worried about him mouldering up on Winters Hill, that’s all.’

  Bec tilted her head to one side. ‘As I said, you’re so bad at lying.’

  ‘I’m not—I mean…’

  Bec cut in before Tash could pull something together. Damn it. It was true that Bec could see through her, she’d always been able to do it. Some people get all the good superpowers.

  ‘The truth, Tash—spill.’

  Tash sighed. ‘I didn’t really lie, well not all of me at least. I did mean it when I said I’m glad he’s moving on. He’s been too much on his own, dwelling on and reliving the past—and that can’t be healthy. I do like him, I always have. So, am I sad that he’s turned to Jules and not me? You bet I am and probably if I’m being honest, annoyed and a little hurt. I thought we had a connection, a small one, admittedly, but a connection nonetheless. It appears I was wrong.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Tash shrugged. ‘Not your fault—it’s not anyone’s. I suppose it would be easier if Jules was an awful person. A childish thought, I know, but she’s not terrible, she’s awesome. I can’t fault him on his taste. Jules is clever and funny and just to top it all off, manages to light up any room she walks in.’

  ‘She does, doesn’t she?’

  ‘Every damn time,’ Tash said as she slumped back against the back of her chair. ‘She’s everything I’m not.’

  ‘That’s not true and, besides, stop with the comparisons. Jules is Jules and you are you—and you know what…you’re both great.’

  ‘Ah, spoken like a true diplomat.’ Tash reached over and picked up her coffee and took a sip. ‘I’m not looking to blame anyone. It is what it is and that’s that. Besides, it wasn’t as if there was anything between us. We talked every time he came into the bakery and that’s it.’

  ‘I’ve seen the two of you together, there was something there.’

  ‘Well, obviously not enough.’

  ***

  Nick stared at the old photograph in the silver frame. He knew every inch of it, and if he closed his eyes he could almost feel Sophie’s hand resting against his as they cut through the wedding cake. He could smell her perfume as it wound around him like the silk ribbons around the cake. She smelt of roses but there was also a darker element than just the floral. Perhaps it was pepper or sandalwood, Nick wasn’t sure but whatever it was he wanted to hold her closer. Her warm body pressed up against his as they brought the knife down amid cheers from their friends. Yes, the photograph conjured all those sweet, painful memories, but what he couldn’t explain was how the photo was now sitting in the caravan. He had packed it away in the big box out in the shed with all the rest of Sophie’s stuff because he couldn’t bear to look at it anymore. Nick picked up the frame. He had put it away, hadn’t he?

  God, they looked so young.

  Nick put the photo face down. Maybe he’d missed this when he’d packed up everything. He looked at the messy narrow shelf. Perhaps that’s what happened. The picture had been mixed up with that stack of papers he hadn’t looked at in years. No doubt Tabitha knocked it down and it just happened to end up propped against the shelf. Tabs was always poking around and getting into places she shouldn’t. That’ll be it. It had to be because otherwise Nick couldn’t find an explanation for how the hell it got there.

  Nick walked over to the nearest drawer and stuffed the frame inside. He didn’t want to think about it anymore—he’d spent too much time on that already. The whole picture thing had managed to throw him. He thought of Sophie often, probably too often for his own good and mental health, but his thoughts had begun to turn from guilt and self-loathing to the occasional recollection of the happy times. Sometimes, when he was just hovering between waking and sleeping, he could almost hear the sound of her laughter. It was light and full of joy. He missed that; he missed what it was like to have that easy companionship, that…love.

  He shook the melancholy off by walking outside into the light and heading down to the bottom paddock. As he walked along the dirt track that ran along the fence line, a splash of bright red caught his attention.

  ‘Not again,’ Nick muttered. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

  Murderer was scrawled in large letters all over his newly painted shed. This time Nick pulled out his phone and called the police.

  ***

  Senior Sergeant Jake Wilkins stared at the shed. He’d taken off his hat and ran a hand through his short, cropped, sandy-coloured hair. Jake had a muscular build and penetrating grey eyes. He gave the impression of a man who you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of. But once you got past that, it was soon clear that Jake Wilkins was a teddy bear.

  Nick had first met him just after the fire had ripped through Winters Hill. Jake had been kind and compassionate and had sat next to Nick in the courtroom when the arsonist responsible was sent away for twenty-five years. Since then, Jake would drop by the farm every now and again just to see how Nick was going.

  ‘You’re telling me this isn’t the first time this has happened?’

  Nick shook his head.

  ‘It happens every now and again.’

  ‘Why haven’t you reported it?’

  ‘I don’t know, Jake. I figured it was just some kids with too much time on their hands. I was hoping that they’d get sick of it.’

  ‘So when did it start and how many times has it happened?’ Jake asked, pulling out his notebook.

  ‘Maybe a couple of years ago. It happens every six months or so. The last time was about three months ago. I’m not exactly sure of the date—I haven’t been paying that much attention.’

  ‘What kind of things do they write?’

  Nick shrugged.

  ‘Freak, monster, get out…You know, that sort of thing.’

  ‘I don’t suppose you’ve taken any pictures?’

  ‘Nah. Look, I didn’t want to bother you with something so small. I figured you’d have enough to do without chasing a few kids with spraycans around the town.’

  ‘That’s who you think it is?’

  ‘Yep, it’s harmless. I reckon it’s a dare. We’re all guilty of doing dumb stuff when we’re kids.’

  ‘Well, you’ve got that right. I was always a pain in the arse for my parents,’ Jake said with a widening smile as he remembered his childhood. ‘I got in all sorts of trouble. My dad couldn’t believe it when I said I was joining the police force. I think he always thought I’d end up on the other side of the law.’

  Nick chuckled.

  ‘Glad you didn’t.’

  ‘So is my dad. Getting back to the artwork, why are you reporting it now? I mean what’s changed?’

  ‘I guess I’m pissed off because I’ve only just repainted the shed. Maybe if I leave it, they’ll get sick of it and stop?’ Nick said. It was true, he was annoyed that he just repainted the shed but there was something else as well. Somewhere along the way, he realised that he cared and he was tired of being inactive. He’d been a bystander to life over the years and maybe it was time to stand up and say enough. And reporting the vandalism might be a step towards that.

  ‘Doubtful. Probably go after your shearing shed or caravan next,’ Jake said. ‘I’ll look into it and see what turns up.’

  Chapter 10

  After several more conversations with Peter, Nick felt compelled to visit the Telfords’ farm. The truth was he had been sort of guilted into it. Peter had always been supportive, before and after the fire, and Nick couldn’t keep refusing. So he’d bitten the bullet and gone to visit Sophie’s mother, Lana.

  But as soon as Nick pulled up outside Peter’s farm he realised it was a bad idea. He hadn’t been back since Sophie had died. At first, this was because he’d been so wrapped up in his own mou
rning and guilt that there hadn’t been room for anyone else, and more recently, because he just couldn’t face them after so much time had passed. He knew that wasn’t fair, but it was just how he felt.

  Nick forced himself out of the car, took a breath and grabbed the bunch of flowers he’d picked up at the servo. It didn’t help, he still felt the rising panic in his stomach. The old farmhouse hadn’t changed. The Telfords had been on this land for a few generations and the farmhouse was a testament to that. It was a sprawling house with a modern extension at the back.

  Nick walked towards the house, his boots scrunching on the gravel with each step. The family was expecting him, but the place was silent. He glanced over to the large garage just past the lemon trees and saw Peter’s green ute alongside Lana’s little red number. There was also a bright blue SUV. It was new and he wondered if it belonged to Peter’s wife, Heather. The bonnet of a white van poked out by the door—at least he thought it was a van, but it was a bit hard to see from there.

  He glanced up at the door, the rising panic still there. He knew that he was being stupid and made himself walk up the steps and ring the bell. He wanted to run away, but he managed to hold his ground. He tried not to think about Sophie—how she’d sprint down the hall and fling open the door every time he knocked. He looked out across the paddocks and saw that the old tyre swing still hung from the oak tree by the shed. He squeezed his eyes shut as the image of him pushing Sophie on the swing crept into his mind. Dear God, he knew that he should never have agreed to come here. He wanted to turn, to run away from this place and never look back, but as he began to turn, the front door was yanked open.

  ‘Hello, Nick,’ said Peter. ‘It’s great that you’ve come. It really means a lot.’

  Peter was a little shorter than Nick, with short chestnut brown hair and a wiry frame. There was a family resemblance between Peter, Sophie and their mother Lana—it had something to do with the cheekbones and the hazel eyes. It was the eyes that were the most disconcerting because sometimes Nick felt it was almost like Sophie was looking back at him.

  All Nick could think about was getting the hell out of there but it was too late. He looked at Peter and groped for something to say. Nick gestured in the general direction of the garage.