by Lyn Denison
“You could say that. And I take it you haven’t seen this month’s Australian Women’s Weekly?”
“No.” Peri shook her head.
“There’s a story coinciding with the opening of another of Dad’s sports stores and the birth of the new baby. Their fifth.”
“They have five children?”
“Oh, yes. All boys. Andrew, the eldest, is eight.”
Peri raised her eyebrows and Asha grinned.
“Chelle calls them the alphabet kids. Let’s see. There’s Andrew, Brendan, Christopher, Devin and the baby’s Ethan. She’s even choosing names for the next one. I think Frederick and Fritz were the last possibilities. She also thinks Dad’s trying for his own cricket team.”
Peri laughed softly and the sound played over Asha’s skin, the feeling confusing and thoroughly disconcerting her. This attraction Asha had to Peri Moyland, no matter that she kept telling herself she didn’t even like her, was getting out of hand.
She also tried to convince herself again that it was purely physical, because Peri was so attractive. Along with that thought came the recognition that she was fairly susceptible at the moment. Her self-esteem had taken a beating when she’d realized that Tessa was tired of her. Having recently broken up with Tessa, Asha had to concede she could be vulnerable. And she could understand that Peri Moyland, after suffering a broken engagement, was probably in the very same position.
Still, by any standards, straight or gay, Peri Moyland was attractive in a cool, come-melt-my-ice sort of way. Tall, slim, great figure, self-assured, intelligent. Not to mention a strong, beautiful face.
Asha wondered about Peri’s ex-fiancé. What sort of man would Peri choose? And why would a man leave her for another woman? It was unbelievable. But regardless, Asha told herself, this purely physical attraction she felt to Peri wasn’t something Asha wanted or needed at this moment in time. Especially an attraction to an obviously oh-so-straight woman. There would be no future there.
“And your mother,” Peri said. “How does she feel about your father’s new family?”
Pulling her thoughts into some semblance of order, Asha made herself concentrate on Peri’s conversation. “She seems okay. She once told me she should never have married anyone, especially someone like my father.” Asha grimaced. “He’s very outgoing, the life of the party. Mum’s exactly the opposite.”
“Do you—? Are you like your father?”
Asha couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Hardly. The strange thing is I’m more like Mum. My stepmother, that is. I don’t remember much about my real mother. She died when I was four years old.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Asha nodded. “But my stepmother has been wonderful to me. I love her dearly. What about your parents?”
“Dad retired last year and they, Mum and Dad, have joined the Gray Nomads. They’re touring Australia in a motor home. Last we heard they were in Broome, having a wonderful time. My grandmother Grace is spending a few months with them, too.”
“And do you have a large family?”
“Just three of us. I have two older brothers, both lawyers. David’s in Sydney at the moment, married with two kids. Jack’s here in Brisbane. He’s something of a best friend as well as a brother.” A gentle, affectionate smile lit her face.
That same rush of temptation rippled through Asha and settled in the pit of her stomach. She had the sudden yearning for that smile to be for her. Asha’s gaze settled on the soft curve of Peri’s mouth, and her breath caught in her throat. She desperately wanted to feel its softness, the sweetness within.
“My young sister is like that,” Asha said, forcing those distracting thoughts aside.
“Michelle?”
“Yes.” Asha nodded. “She’s the family beauty. She’s really bright, kind-hearted and so self-confident for her age she blows me away.” Asha took her wallet out of the drawer and flipped it open to the photographs she had inside. She handed it to Peri. “That’s Michelle there.”
“She looks familiar, so she must be a little like you,” Peri said, examining the photo. “How old is she?”
“She’s seventeen, just started university, plans on getting her degree and then marrying her soccer-playing boyfriend, Danny.” Asha smiled. “She’ll probably succeed at all of the above.”
“So she has her life all mapped out for her?” Peri remarked without expression as she handed the wallet back to Asha.
Asha hesitated, sensing the change in Peri’s tone. Was she comparing her own plans for her life and how those plans had changed? “So it would seem.”
Peri seemed to gather herself. “What about you? Have you mapped out your life, too? Job? Marriage?”
Asha shook her head, setting her wallet on the desk. “Not really. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I sort of slotted into librarianship. I mean, I didn’t see being a librarian as my lifelong goal, but I guess you could say I’ve found my niche. And this”— Asha indicated the piles of certificates—“my research, is just the icing on the cake for me. I love it.” Asha leaned forward, her elbows on the desk, chin resting on her hand. “So how did you come to own a temp agency?”
“Something similar to you,” Peri said. “It just kind of happened. After I finished my business degree I wanted to take a break to decide what I wanted to do with my qualifications. I took a job with the Mitchell Agency and found myself really enjoying it. So when the owner decided to retire, I bought the business. That was three years ago.”
“So you own the agency? Now, that’s impressive.”
“Well, the bank and I own it.” Peri gave a quick smile. “Although I, too, can’t say I saw myself doing this when I was younger.”
“All those many years ago,” Asha teased and was rewarded with one of Peri Moyland’s rare husky laughs.
“I’m twenty-eight, and please don’t say I don’t look it, because at the moment I know I do. Every year of it.”
“I cannot tell a lie.” Asha grinned. “You really don’t look your age. I thought you were more my age.”
Peri raised an eyebrow.
“I’m twenty-five. Nearly twenty-six.”
Peri regarded Asha. “You look about eighteen,” she said softly, and her clear gray eyes met Asha’s.
Chapter Three
They regarded each other for immeasurable moments, and Asha was the first to look away. She coughed slightly to cover the way her breath caught in her throat. When she looked up, Peri was again studying the glass paperweight.
Asha tried for a light laugh. “So when I’m forty I should get away with early thirties? I’ll live in hope about that.”
Peri also laughed softly and then an uncomfortable silence fell between them. As Asha sought a comment that might lighten the heavy tension that began to grow, a noise in the doorway had Asha looking up and Peri turning around.
“Oh, Vivienne. Hi!” Asha said brightly as Vivienne entered the study.
“So how are you two girls getting along with my project?”
Peri gave a slight wry grin. “Asha’s getting along fine, without my help it seems.” She stood up. “All I’m doing is holding her up.”
Asha started to protest, but Peri help up her hand.
“I have to go anyway. I have a few things to catch up on at work so I’ll leave you both to get on with it.”
“You seem to be doing a lot of work lately,” Vivienne said with a frown of concern. “Are you sure you’re not overdoing it? You know the doctor said—”
“I’m sure I’m not, Viv. And I have to get back into it sooner rather than later. Oh, and don’t forget,” Peri paused as she went to leave, “I’m having dinner with Jack tonight. He’s picking me up after work. We thought we’d share a meal, so I won’t be home for dinner.” She glanced at Asha. “I enjoyed chatting,” she said quickly, and then she was gone.
Vivienne Chaseley sat slowly in the chair Peri had vacated. “My old bones are tired this morning.”
“I’m more than happy to work o
n this alone if you want to rest,” Asha said quickly.
“No. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s far too interesting.” She smiled conspiratorially. “And I knew Peri would be intrigued as well if she got involved.”
Asha wasn’t sure she’d stretch it that far, but Peri’s obvious mistrust had abated somewhat.
“Although I’m still concerned that Peri might be returning to work too soon, I’m so pleased she’s going out with Jack. He’ll cheer her up. She needs to get out and start mixing with people again. And Jack’s such a tonic, such fun to have around. I must introduce you to him. I’m sure you’ll like him.”
Asha murmured noncommittally and Vivienne sighed.
“I always thought Lance, that’s Peri’s ex-fiancé, was overly possessive of Peri,” she said sadly. “You know, he wanted her to drop all her friends and only mix with his circle. I don’t understand why some men feel the need to do that, do you? Some bizarre form of control, I suppose.”
Asha knew she shouldn’t be discussing Peri behind her back, but curiosity overcame her reticence. “How long were they engaged?” she asked.
“Oh, about a year or so. But they knew each other for a while before that. In the beginning, Grace and I liked Lance, but oh, I don’t know, it wasn’t long before we decided we had reservations about him. Too smooth, if you know what I mean.”
Asha nodded.
“He was a good-looking man, I’ll give him that,” Vivienne went on. “And he came from a wealthy and well-known family.” She shook her head. “I know I shouldn’t gossip,” she said, voicing Asha’s thoughts, “but I don’t do it maliciously. I just love people. They’re so interesting, aren’t they?”
Asha laughed. “Some of them. Others not so much.”
“Now! Now!” Vivienne wagged her finger. “As I’m always telling Peri, you shouldn’t be cynical at your age. Cynicism is supposed to be reserved for those of us who have been regarding the world about us for a lot longer. To stay un-cynical at my age is a definite achievement.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Asha said.
“So, what about you, dear?”
“Oh, I guess I’m just intermittently cynical.”
Vivienne chuckled. “No, I mean boyfriends. Do you have a young man?”
“Oh. No. I—” Asha flushed. “No, I don’t,” she finished, not sure her relationship with Vivienne Chaseley warranted a ‘tell all.’ As much as Asha admired her, she had no way of knowing how Vivienne would feel if Asha admitted she preferred women.
Vivienne frowned. “You look so sad, my dear. Now, don’t tell me you’ve had a bad experience like Peri,” she said, concerned.
“Not exactly,” Asha replied vaguely. “But something like that.”
“Oh, my dear. I’m so sorry. When was this?”
“Last year. But anyway, it’s over and done with.” Asha gave a derogatory half smile. “Time to move on, as they say.”
Vivienne nodded sympathetically. “That’s right. It doesn’t pay to dwell on it, which was exactly what I told Peri. But she, I don’t know, she’s just not back to her old self.”
Would Peri ever be? Asha wondered, thinking of the cool, in-command-of-herself Peri Moyland. And knowing how devastated she herself had been when her relationship with Tessa failed, Asha could empathize with Peri. “Maybe Peri just needs more time to put it all behind her,” Asha suggested softly.
“I suppose so.” Vivienne nodded and sighed. “And betrayal of any kind is the unkindest cut of all. It’s so deeply wounding.”
Thoughts of Tessa surfaced in Asha’s mind, and a wave of sadness washed over her.
“Especially when you love someone,” Vivienne said.
“Even if love gets such bad press these days?”
“Oh, I believe in true love,” Vivienne said with conviction. “Everyone should experience true love at least once in their life. Even if it doesn’t work out.”
“You don’t think we have just one soul mate then?” Asha asked. “That we can love more than once?”
Vivienne shrugged. “There are so many different kinds of love. Your first love, of course, is special, but sometimes …” She sighed again. “My husband Dickie was a wonderful man, and as I said, we were comfortable together.” She looked across at the portrait on the wall. “Dickie and I were always friends and we learned to love each other.
“You see, when we were young we were part of a group of friends. There was my best friend, Grace.” She looked at Asha and explained. “That’s Peri’s grandmother. And there was Grace’s future husband Joe Moyland, and Grace’s bother, Bobby, and I, and Dickie and his first wife, Vera. We did everything together. Then the Second World War broke out, and all our lives were changed forever.
“All the young men went off to fight in various corners of the world. Dickie and Bobby both came home wounded. Dickie had shrapnel in his leg until the day he died. He came home first, and not long after he returned, Dickie and Vera became engaged. Bobby also had shrapnel wounds that became infected, so he came home, too, in time for Dickie and Vera’s wedding.” Her expression softened at the memory. “It was a lovely wedding.”
“You were there?” Asha asked, surprised.
“Oh, yes.” Vivienne smiled. “Bobby was Dickie’s best man, and I was Vera’s bridesmaid. That night Bobby danced me onto the veranda and asked me to marry him.” Her expression softened. “I was so in love with Bobby. He was so handsome, so dashing. And such fun to be with.
“Then Dickie and Bobby had orders to report back for duty. They went to New Guinea, and Bobby was one of the brave boys who were lost on the Kokoda Trail. He died in Dickie’s arms, and I don’t think Dickie ever got over it. So many young lives lost.” She took out a lace-edged handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. “War is horrific enough when considered as a whole, but when you bring it down to the loss of one fine young man who had his life before him, and who was so loved by his family and friends, then it’s unconscionable. Every single young person lost in war leaves behind a toll of pain and lives torn apart.
“When Bobby was killed I lost my fiancé, but Bobby’s mother lost her son just as she’d lost her husband, Bobby’s father, in the Great War, and Grace lost her twin brother. It was a dark time for us all. For years, I just went on living, feeling as though part of me had died with Bobby. I needed to get away, so I went down to Sydney with my mother and stayed there. I couldn’t seem to face the places I’d been with Bobby. My mother and I came back to Brisbane a year or so after Dickie’s wife, Vera, died. I could see a matching loss in Dickie and, I guess we each sought comfort in someone who could empathize. We’d both lost our first loves, but we built a good life together. We were friends and came to genuinely love each other. We had Dickie’s son, Richard, and then Nicolas and Rosemary came along.” Vivienne shrugged again. “Life went on. And it was a good life.”
“I think there’s a photo here.” Asha carefully moved some of the old photographs and picked out one of a handsome young man, looking little more than a boy, in his army uniform. She realized with a shock that he bore a strong resemblance to Peri. “He looks—”
“Like Peri’s brother Jack,” Vivienne finished and smiled sadly. “And Peri and Jack are very much alike. They take after their grandmother, Grace. Grace and Bobby were twins, born after their father was killed in World War One.”
Asha turned the photo over, and on the back someone had written, “Robert George Gaines 1917–1942.” She passed it to Vivienne and Vivienne nodded.
“That’s dear Bobby. Taken before he left for Europe. Such a waste.”
“He is really handsome,” Asha said inanely, knowing nothing she said could make up for Vivienne’s loss.
“But let’s not wallow anymore.” As Vivienne put the sepia photo on the desk, she accidentally knocked Asha’s wallet to the floor. Asha stood up and retrieved it and Vivienne apologized.
“That’s okay,” Asha said. “I shouldn’t have left it there. I was showing Peri a photograph of my y
oung sister.” She held it out for Vivienne to see.
Vivienne took the wallet and turned slightly, holding it to the light, studying the smallish photograph. She stilled, and her other hand fluttered to her throat.
Asha frowned. “It’s Michelle. She’s my half sister actually. And the other photo is of my stepmother.”
Vivienne seemed to gather herself as she handed the wallet back to Asha. “Your sister’s a very attractive young woman,” she said.
Asha looked at the photograph. “Yes. She’s so like my stepmother, and she has a great personality.”
“You obviously have a very nice family,” Vivienne said as Asha sat down again, then returned her wallet to the drawer. “How are you progressing?” Vivienne indicated the work on the desk in front of Asha.
“Actually, I’ve just found some papers referring to Richard’s passage out of Australia in eighteen seventy,” Asha said, showing Vivienne a copy of some paperwork. “It seems his younger brother came out here with him.”
“Good gracious. I’d forgotten about that. Georgie Chaseley. We called him Uncle Georgie. That’s how Grace’s family and the Chaseleys became involved. Georgie married Bobby’s widowed grandmother, Margaret Gaines. Margaret’s son, Robert, was Bobby and Grace’s father. And as I said, Grace is Peri’s grandmother. It’s such a pity Grace is away with Peri’s parents just now, or you could have met her, too.” Vivienne chuckled. “A little complicated, isn’t it? Our lives, our families, the Chaseleys and the Moylands, are all intertwined.”
“So I’m finding out.” Asha grinned. “I’m not surprised, though. It happened fairly often in those days. My mother’s great-grandparents lived in Victoria Street, Kelvin Grove, and they had six daughters who married young men living in Victoria and nearby streets. Then one of their granddaughters married the grandson of another family living in Victoria Street. So I consider Victoria Street to be the living center of that branch of my family.”
Asha then shifted the subject back to the Chaseley family in general, encouraging Vivienne to reminisce while Asha took notes.
