A Love Like This

by Maria Duffy

  They stopped off at a little convenience store on the way back to their campsite to stock up on provisions. They’d cook a dinner over Will’s little stove tonight and then, early in the morning, they’d drive the short distance to Darwin. It filled Will with excitement to think that he’d travelled right up the west coast of Australia and he couldn’t wait to start heading south towards Sydney. He just hoped his banger of a car would take them the distance, but for such an old car, it was holding up pretty well.

  They set up their cooking area outside the tent and Will placed two turkey breasts on the pan. He smiled to himself as he thought of his mother and what she’d think of his living arrangements. He could just hear her say: ‘William, is this any way to live?’ And he’d reply that, yes, it was the best way he could ever imagine to live. He was still annoyed at her for the cruel trick she’d played on him when his father was sick but it was true what they said – absence makes the heart grow fonder. If he’d stayed in Ireland at that time, he would have ended up really resenting her but now that he was away from her again she didn’t seem so bad.

  ‘Can I leave you to the cooking while I go and take a shower?’ Silvia said, appearing from the tent with her wash bag and towel. ‘My skin is crawling from those flies around the water earlier.’

  Will nodded. ‘You go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on things here and I have to make that phone call. It’s long overdue.’

  ‘Good luck with that.’

  Will checked the pan before sitting down on the grass and calling up numbers on his mobile. He hated being at odds with anyone and he felt really bad for abandoning his friend the way he had. He dialled a number and felt his heart beating as it began to ring.

  ‘Well, if it isn’t the long-lost Will. So you remembered finally where we were, then?’

  ‘Hi, Brendan. Listen, I’m really sorry about not being in touch. It was just—’

  ‘I know, I know. You needed to see the world and not get too caught up in our boring little lives here in Perth.’ There was real venom in his voice.

  ‘Don’t be like that, mate. You know what happened. I’d have stayed longer if I hadn’t got that call to go home.’

  ‘That’s not the point, Will. You could have let us know what was happening. You said you were coming back. I kept your job open – got myself into a bit of bother with the owner over that too.’

  ‘Shit. Sorry about that. I just knew that—’

  ‘And then after ringing you God knows how many times, I get a text to say you’re half way up to Darwin. That wasn’t cool, mate.’

  ‘Look, Brendan. I only had a few months left on my visa and I knew that if I told you I was back in Perth I’d have ended up going back to the job, the caravan, the life. And I really loved the life. You know that. It was just time to move on.’

  ‘I get that,’ said Brendan, his voice a little softer. ‘But it was just the way you did it. But look, forget about it. What’s done is done. Where are you now?’

  Will let out a sigh of relief. ‘I’m up in Darwin. It’s been an unbelievable few weeks. How are things there? How’s Lexie?’

  ‘As annoying as ever.’

  Will tried to gauge whether he was serious or not but there was definitely an edge to his voice. ‘Are you two okay? We never did get to finish that conversation we had on the night of my birthday.’

  There was a moment’s silence before Brendan answered. ‘We’re fine. We muddle through.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound great.’

  ‘Look, put it this way – Lexie is great company and I love her and all that …’

  ‘But?’

  ‘But there isn’t a lot of excitement there. It’s nice to play house with her but when it comes to other stuff – let’s just say it’s better coming from elsewhere.’

  Will gasped. ‘Jesus, Brendan. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’

  ‘If you mean other women, then yes. And don’t judge me – it works for us.’

  ‘So, does Lexie know about these women?’

  ‘God no. She’d cut my manhood up into shreds! What I mean is that I can get that side of things sorted elsewhere and then I can be the sort of husband she wants me to be at home. Then everyone’s happy.’

  ‘I see.’ Will didn’t see. Poor Lexie. He couldn’t believe Brendan was being so cruel. He’d really misjudged him. He’d thought he was a good guy. He’d also envied their relationship and was feeling pretty gutted that it wasn’t as idealistic as he’d thought.

  Brendan was still talking. ‘… so I might even think about flying across and joining you for a few weeks. I could do with getting out of this place for a holiday. You’ve put the thoughts of travel into my head.’

  ‘Em, yes, that would be good. Right, I’d better fly. We’ll catch up again soon.’

  Will turned his attention to the pieces of meat cooking on the pan and flipped them over to brown the other side. Jesus. He couldn’t believe how casual Brendan had been about sleeping with other women. Asshole. If he had a woman like Lexie, who was funny and bright and adorable, he’d never turn his attention elsewhere.

  ‘I’m back. How’s dinner coming on?’

  ‘Almost done.’ Will watched as Silvia disappeared into the tent and paused for a moment to figure out what he really thought about her. She was funny and bright and adorable – just like Lexie was – but was that enough? Well, it was enough for now. He wasn’t going to look too far into the future because it was too difficult to predict. It was enough to think about the next few days. They’d seen an advertisement in a local paper today for a campsite in Darwin called the Coconut Club. It looked magnificent and far superior to the ones they’d stayed in so far. They’d decided to splash out a little and book a hut for three nights, just to give them a break from the camping, and he was really looking forward to it.

  In just a few weeks’ time he’d be leaving Australia for New Zealand and he’d yet to broach the subject with Silvia. He secretly hoped she’d join him but he was almost afraid to ask the question. He’d gotten used to having company and didn’t relish the thought of being on his own again. He gave himself a mental shake as Silvia emerged from the tent looking beautiful in a long, flowing white dress, her wet hair dripping onto her tanned shoulders. He needed to focus on the here and now, and that was him and Silvia and three luxurious nights in the Coconut Club.

  * * *

  Donna almost fell off the sun lounger in an effort to grab her ringing mobile.

  ‘Hello.’ Shit. She’d missed the call. And now she’d got suncream all over the display. She grabbed the corner of the towel she was lying on and wiped it clean. Jan! She’d hoped it would be her. It seemed like ages since they’d spoken and Donna was really beginning to miss her. It was more than three months since she’d left home and although she spoke to Jan almost every week, it just wasn’t the same.

  The phone rang again but this time she was ready.

  ‘Hi, Jan.’

  ‘Ah, hello, love. I’m glad I caught you. I was just going to leave a message this time if you hadn’t answered.’

  ‘It’s really good to hear your voice, Jan. How are things?’

  ‘All good here. No change. But more importantly, how are you? Where are you now?’

  ‘I’m in a gorgeous place in Darwin called the Coconut Club. It’s a hostel but has loads of facilities. I’m actually sitting beside the pool as we speak.’

  ‘Ah, you lucky thing. It’s lashing rain and miserable here. What I wouldn’t give to trade places with you right now.’

  Donna felt a pang of homesickness. ‘You could come over – you and Chris. Come over for a holiday for a few weeks. You could even come for Christmas.’

  ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’

  ‘But why not? The hostels are dirt cheap and, to be honest, some of them are more like hotels. Go on – live a little.’

  Jan chuckled. ‘Donna, there’s nothing I’d like more but I can’t. You know I can’t. Who’d mind the bakery, for start
ers? You’re the only person I’d entrust it to and you’re not here.’

  ‘I know.’ Donna sighed. ‘It was just a thought. And anyway, I’m going to be moving on today to Sydney, before leaving Australia for good.’

  ‘I’ll be counting down the weeks until you’re back then, love.’

  ‘Me too, Jan. So tell me all the news from home. I want to know everything.’

  Donna closed her eyes and lay back on her sun lounger as she listened to Jan’s voice, imagining she was right there beside her. She could picture the other woman, sleeves rolled up ready to start the day’s baking. It was Donna’s favourite time of the day in the bakery – the early morning when the world was just waking up and they were making magic happen in the kitchen. If her travelling had taught her one thing, it was that she was a home bird. Despite the tragedies in her life, there was nowhere Donna would rather be than back in Dublin.

  ‘I’d better let you go, love. You have a flight to catch and I have a whole heap of cakes to make.’

  Donna checked the time display on her phone and couldn’t believe they’d been chatting for almost half an hour. ‘Okay, Jan. And thanks … you know … for everything.’

  Her taxi was due at two and there was one more thing she wanted to do before she left. She’d been chatting to the chef in the little café on site and he’d promised to give her his recipe for his golden syrup dumplings. She’d never tasted anything like them and wanted to add the recipe to her ever-growing collection. Once she wasn’t setting up in competition to him, he’d said, wagging a finger at her, then he was happy to share his baking secrets.

  She stood up, smoothing down her flowing mint-green skirt, and hauled her rucksack over her back. It had been a good idea to get organised early and enjoy the sun before she was stuck on a flight for the afternoon. Next stop Sydney. It was one of the places Tina had most wanted to see and Donna was going to make sure she enjoyed it.

  Twenty minutes later she was sitting in the back of the taxi, armed with the precious recipe and catching a last glimpse of the place that had been home for the last week. She’d enjoyed her time there but was looking forward to the next part of her adventure.

  Chapter 16

  25 December 2010

  ‘Come on. I promise you, you’ll love it.’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ said Donna warily, as her new-found friend tried to pull her up off her deck chair.

  ‘Honestly, it’s going to be such a buzz. Bert and Leo have the car packed up already and you know Leo will be devastated if you say no.’

  ‘Go on then. Just give me ten minutes to change and I’ll be right down.’

  Marlee hugged her excitedly. ‘It’s going to be the best day ever. Wait till I tell the boys you’re coming. They’ll be made up.’

  Donna watched the other girl zip off to share the apparently great news that she’d be joining them on their outing. She’d been feeling desperately homesick these last few days and really hadn’t felt like celebrating Christmas but her friend’s excitement was infectious and she found herself almost looking forward to the day ahead.

  She headed up the stairs to the room where she’d been staying for the last few weeks. It was small and a bit shabby but the hostel was right in the heart of Sydney and it had proven to be a great base for all the touristy things she’d lined up to do. She quickly stepped out of her sun dress and applied another layer of factor fifty suncream. It would take a few minutes to dry so she sat herself down on the edge of the bed and allowed her thoughts to wander to Ireland.

  Christmas Day. Everyone would still be in bed back home because it was just the early hours of the morning, but they’d soon be waking up to presents under the tree and a lovely Christmas dinner to look forward to. It was silly, really. Donna had never really been into Christmas in the past but now all she could seem to think of was sitting around a log fire, singing ‘Deck the Halls’ and eating toasted marshmallows. It just didn’t seem right to be celebrating the festive season in the sun.

  Her cream was dry so she pulled a pair of denim shorts and a T-shirt out of her rucksack, gave them a quick sniff and stuck them on. She secured her mop of red hair on the top of her head with the help of an extra-large bobbin and threw a few things into a canvas bag. A quick dollop of protector on her lips and she was ready to go. She smiled to herself as she thought about Jan and what she’d say later when Donna told her she’d spent Christmas Day on Bondi Beach.

  She’d met her new friends on the very first day she’d come to the hostel. Marlee and Bert were an English couple in their early twenties. They were planning to get married in a couple of years but had decided to spend a year travelling around the world first. ‘There won’t be much travelling when the kiddies come along,’ Marlee had said, holding firm to Bert’s hand. He’d nodded in agreement and Donna had thought how wonderful it was to be so sure. To be clear in your mind about where you were going and what you wanted from life.

  Leo was also from England – twenty-eight and gorgeous, with white blond hair and startling blue eyes. Marlee and Bert had met him in a hostel in Cairns and he’d travelled with them to Sydney. Apparently he’d taken a six-month leave of absence from his banking job to escape the humdrum of life in the UK. But reading between the lines, Donna reckoned he was running from a broken heart. Despite his good looks, she didn’t fancy him but she knew that if Marlee had anything to do with it, they’d be hooked up together before the end of the day.

  It didn’t take them long to get to the beach and by the time they walked onto the golden sand, Donna’s mood had lifted. What was there not to be happy about at that moment? The sun was shining and she was spending time with friends. And Bondi Beach was on her sister’s list of must-see places so it was all part of the plan.

  ‘Right,’ said Leo, stopping at a spot that wasn’t too overcrowded. ‘Will we settle here for now? If we move on, we might not get another spot.’

  ‘Here is perfect.’ Marlee plonked her towel down on the sand straight away and whipped her dress over her head. ‘So who’s coming for a swim?’

  ‘Thought you’d never ask,’ said Bert, taking off his T-shirt and lifting Marlee up in the air.

  ‘Stop! Let me down.’

  Donna grinned as Bert took off with Marlee over his shoulder, heading for the sea. ‘They’re a great couple, aren’t they?’

  Leo nodded, spreading his towel out on the sand. ‘They’re fantastic. I’ve never seen them argue even once since I met them.’

  ‘I know,’ said Donna, putting her towel beside his and sitting down. ‘They’re real soulmates.’

  ‘Do you believe in all that mumbo jumbo, then?’

  Donna stared at him. ‘Of course. And it’s not mumbo jumbo. Don’t you believe that there’s someone for everyone in this world?’

  ‘Can’t say I do. At least it hasn’t been my experience.’ His face turned dark and Donna realised she must have touched a nerve.

  She continued. ‘I truly believe that if something doesn’t work out, it just wasn’t meant to be and there’ll be something better around the corner.’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Leo, looking at her with his big blue eyes. ‘And how come you’re so positive about stuff? I mean, considering all you’ve been through.’

  Donna smiled then. ‘I suppose it’s because of what I’ve been through that I’m so positive. I’ve learned that we have to have hope and trust in destiny – otherwise, what’s the point?’

  ‘Oh my God, you have to come into the water. It’s freezing but fabulous!’ Marlee and Bert were back already, spraying droplets of cold water over them and interrupting the conversation.

  ‘Maybe later,’ said Donna, standing up. ‘But I think I’ll go for a little walk first.’

  Leo jumped up. ‘I’ll join you. We’ll leave you two lovebirds in peace.’

  They walked in silence for a bit, weaving their way through the groups of people sprawled around the beach. Donna couldn’t believe how busy it was. There were all sorts of things goi
ng on. Some people were having picnics, some playing beach games and there was even one group of guys dressed as Santa Claus. Donna laughed when she saw them and wondered how they could stand the heat of the suits. It was a weird and wonderful experience to be there and she wanted to take in every last moment of it so she could relay it all when she got home.

  ‘You know what you were saying about there being someone for everyone?’ Leo broke into her thoughts.

  ‘Yes. I really believe that.’

  ‘And have you ever found your somebody?’

  Donna didn’t hesitate. ‘No. Not even close. But I live in hope. You?’

  ‘I thought I had,’ he said, kicking a ball back to a group of kids playing dodgeball. ‘A couple of years ago. But turned out she wasn’t the one.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Donna genuinely was. He was a really nice guy and deserved a bit of happiness. ‘I’m sure you’ll find the right girl some day.’

  He stopped then and pulled her to him. ‘Maybe I already have.’

  He leaned in for a kiss and Donna froze for a moment. But as soon as she felt his lips on hers, she went with the flow and she began to relax. He tasted of toothpaste and coconut and as his mouth became more urgent, his tongue more probing, she wanted to give herself to him completely. She’d only ever slept with one man before and that had been a few years ago but suddenly all she wanted was Leo. Was this what that special moment of serendipity felt like? That moment that she’d always felt would happen to her. They say that it can strike like lightning when you’re not expecting it and she certainly hadn’t been expecting that. Well, she wasn’t going to analyse it. She was just going to take it for what it was and see where it would lead. Marlee would be one happy lady!

  * * *