by Lyn Denison
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Asha shrugged again. “I’m quite happy to be between dances, so to speak.”
“How long since you’ve been in a relationship?”
“About six months. Should have been a year,” she added ruefully.
“What did he do? Another woman?”
“Something like that.” It would be easy to be honest, but Asha always hesitated. You never really knew how other people would react, and because Joe moved in the epitome of blokey circles of football, she was doubly cautious. “I suppose you could say it was more like other women.”
“Bummer! He must have been nuts.” Joe paused. “Don’t suppose you’d care to, um, go for dinner or something sometime?”
“You mean, be your first older woman?” Asha asked lightly, noticing he’d gone a little pink about his ears again.
Joe laughed softly. “I guess something like that.”
“I, uh,” Asha tried to choose her words carefully.
“Thanks, but no thanks?” Joe suggested flatly.
“Joe, you’re a really nice person, and if I was looking for a guy—”
“You’d pick me. I know,” Joe finished self-derisively.
Asha smiled. “That’s it. But seriously, Joe, as I said, I don’t think I’m ready for another relationship. Breathing space is always good, I think. Maybe for you, too.”
“Yeah. I suppose you’re right,” Joe acknowledged. “Pity, though. I really like you, Asha. I can, you know, talk to you.”
“Thank you, Joe. Just give it time with Tammy. Who knows? She might not be the lost cause you seem to think she is.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure she is somehow. I know Aunt Margo wasn’t keen on her. Guess I’d better get back to it. My uncle’ll have my hide if I don’t keep this place up to his standards while he’s off work.” He stood up, held out his hand to Asha and pulled her to her feet. Keeping hold of her hand, he leaned forward and kissed her lightly.
Asha stilled, suddenly aware they were out in the open, that anyone could see them. “Joe, I—”
He winked at her and gave her a grin. “If you change your mind, decide you want to try a younger bloke, promise you’ll let me know.”
Asha couldn’t help laughing at him. “As in, if I want a toy boy I know where to come?”
Joe gave a throaty chuckle. “Exactly.” He sobered. “Thanks, Asha. For being so nice, you know, for listening.”
“Anytime,” she said and Joe walked off toward the garage. As Asha turned to continue around to the front of the house, she thought she heard a footfall on the veranda above. Pausing, she looked up. Had someone been eavesdropping? Not that it mattered. What could they have heard? An amateur counseling session? She shrugged it off and followed the path to the main entrance.
Asha was crossing the vestibule, heading toward the staircase, when she looked up to see Peri at the top of the stairs. Asha smiled. She jogged up the steps, joining the other woman. “Hello. I thought you were at work.”
“And that’s where I thought I’d find you,” Peri said, her voice devoid of expression, and Asha hesitated slightly.
Was Peri being critical of her work schedule? Asha knew her hours were her own, and Vivienne was fine with that arrangement. “I needed a new printer cartridge.” She held up her package. “And I was feeling a little square-eyed from the computer screen, so I took the opportunity to get out for some fresh air and a change of scene. Did you want to see me for anything special?”
A dull flush touched Peri’s cheeks. “No. Not really. I was just wondering how things were going. With the research.”
“Oh. It’s going magnificently. Did Vivienne tell you I found some old journals in the bottom of the chest?”
“I haven’t seen her since I got back. What sort of journals?” Peri asked, and Asha could see she was intrigued now.
Asha grinned. “Absolutely fabulous ones. Come on and I’ll show you.”
Turning and heading along the hallway to the study, Asha was very aware of Peri so close behind her. By the time she reached the desk, she felt as though her mouth was totally dry and her skin was damp and clammy. Not meeting Peri’s eyes, she handed her a pair of soft gloves and then donned a pair herself. “These will ensure we don’t damage the books. They’re over a hundred years old, although they’re in remarkable condition considering their age.”
She handed the first journal to Peri, and she carefully opened it, reading the first entry. “I remember my grandmother talking about her Grandpa Georgie. This is his account of his arrival in Australia?”
Asha nodded and grinned. “His firsthand account. And it continues through his time in Brisbane, then in Charters Towers, and it finishes when they return to Brisbane in 1897. It’s amazing.”
“Can I read it? Without damaging it, I mean,” Peri asked.
“I’m transcribing it. Vivienne has the first part I’ve printed, so you can read it when she’s finished. I was about to finish printing out the rest of the first section, which I would have done if my printer hadn’t gone on strike. Hence the new cartridge. If you like I can print you out your own copy. Vivienne also wants me to do a copy to send to your grandmother.”
Reluctantly Peri handed the book back to Asha, who returned it to the desk. She then passed Peri the photograph of Georgie and Margaret and their wedding day.
Peri read the inscription on the back. “This is Georgie and Margaret? I’ve never seen this. And I don’t recall Vivienne ever showing it to us.”
“She hadn’t seen it either. It was hidden under a false bottom in the box, along with the journals and some certificates.” Asha showed Peri where she’d found the books. “It’s just fantastic.”
Peri studied the photo. “They look nice. And in love.”
“They were, according to the journal. Vivienne remembers them. Georgie was ninety-eight when he died in 1950, and Margaret, who was younger, died a few months later.”
“You’re right. It’s amazing.” Peri returned the photo. “Who do think would have hidden the books and photos in the box, and why would they have done that? I mean, is there a family secret in the journals?”
“Not that I can tell.” Asha frowned. “Although Georgie hints at something that happened before they left London. I’ll get onto some more research as soon as I’ve finished the transcription. And as for who hid it all in the box, we don’t know that either. Vivienne and I were trying to piece together a timeline for the box, and as far as I can tell, it was a music box Richard Chaseley gave to his wife, Susannah. After his death, Vivienne says Susannah eventually moved in with one of her daughters. We surmise Georgie would have kept his own journals, so maybe Susannah gave the box to Georgie and Margaret. Either he put them in the box before he died, or Margaret did after his death.” Asha shrugged. “Or one of the family hid them after Margaret died. There are lots of possibilities.”
“I guess so.” Peri frowned. “But for them to be hidden you’d think there would be something in them someone didn’t want the family to know about, wouldn’t you?”
“Maybe originally it was just for safekeeping.” Asha grinned. “But a family secret is far more exciting, don’t you think?”
Peri smiled, too. “I think that might depend on the secret.”
Asha swallowed, wondering if Peri felt the change in the atmosphere around them. Or was she simply imagining it? Wanting something to be there when it wasn’t. “I think most family historians hope for an interesting secret or two,” she said as evenly as she could.
“And you have no idea what our family secret might be?”
“Not at this stage. And we might never know why the journals were hidden. But, as Vivienne said, we’ll be doing our darnedest to unravel the mystery.”
“Yes. I can imagine how excited Viv is about it. Thanks for showing it to me.” Peri indicated the books on the desk. She looked as though she’d say more, but she gave a soft cough and turned away. “My curiosity’s definitely sparked, so I think I’ll
go and see how much of the journal Viv’s read and what she thinks about it. But I’d like my own copy, too.” With that, she left Asha alone in the study, gazing at the empty doorway.
“Asha? It’s Dad.”
Asha was surprised. Her father usually left phone calls to Karen. “Hi, Dad. How are you?”
“Fine, love.”
“And Karen and the boys?”
“Fighting fit. Quite literally sometimes.” He chuckled. “But I’m ringing up about Wednesday night.”
“Wednesday night?” Asha tried to sort out her obviously failing memory.
“Yes. The Awards Dinner. Karen said she told you about it a couple of months ago.”
“Oh. Yes. I vaguely remember that.” Asha frowned.
“So? You’ve kept it free, haven’t you?”
“Well, I guess I am free.”
“Fantastic, because you’re going with your old dad. So get out your best bib and tucker, maybe that little black dress you wore the night we went out for my birthday. Now, that looked great.”
“What’s it all about, Dad? Where are we going?” Asha asked, prepared to cry off.
“I’ve got tickets to the Sports Awards dinner at the Sheraton for all of us.”
“All of us?”
“Karen and I, Michelle and Danny and you and your boyfriend.”
Boyfriend? Asha’s heart sank. “Oh, Dad, I don’t know. I’m not all that into sports.”
“Rubbish. You came to all my matches when I was playing.”
Asha made a face at the telephone. Only when he wanted the three of them there. Asha knew her stepmother hadn’t enjoyed it any more than Asha and Michelle had.
“Now, no excuses,” her father continued. “Michelle and Danny are coming. And, Asha, Laura’s okay about you both coming along. I know how loyal you are and that’s fine, but this is a special night because it seems your good old dad has been nominated for an award this year. I haven’t had a nomination in years.” He laughed, obviously very pleased. “It’ll be like old times.”
“What sort of award have you been nominated for?” Asha asked, curious, too.
“No idea. But they want me there and I have tickets for family and friends. So Karen and I, Michelle and Danny and you and your boyfriend will be sitting at a table with some other sporting greats.” He reeled off names that included another cricketer and a well-known swimmer.
Asha sighed. “Okay. But I’ll come on my own.”
“Don’t be silly, love. It’ll give me a chance to look over your latest boyfriend.”
Asha almost laughed. The only time she’d ever brought a boy home, she was thirteen years old, and Neil was a friend who had begged her to introduce him to her famous father. It had cost Neil the best hamburger on the menu at the local café, and she’d made him pay up, too. “What makes you think I have a boyfriend, Dad?”
“What? My beautiful daughter! If you don’t then guys these days aren’t up to scratch.”
“I’d feel better coming on my own,” Asha said, but her father continued.
“Anyway, I thought Karen said you told her you had a boyfriend down the coast.”
That had been ages ago and only after Karen had cross-examined her mercilessly. In a weak moment Asha had hinted at a special friend simply to appease Karen at the time. “That was last year and we’re not together anymore.”
“Oh. The guy’s a fool and you’re well rid of him. But look, love, if you come alone it’ll make the table look lopsided.”
“Lopsided?” Asha burst out laughing. “Since when have you been into balance and related stuff, Dad?”
Sean West laughed, too. “You know me so well, don’t you, love. No, it’s orders from Karen. She said to tell you if you haven’t got anyone to come with you she knows this nice guy who cleans her sister’s pool.”
“A pool boy?”
“Nothing wrong with a pool boy, love,” her father said with mock seriousness. “It’s an honest job. And I can tell you, in the looks department even I can see he’s a ten. Now, intellectually, I’m not sure, but how bad can he be for one night? What do you say, Asha?”
“I say thanks, but no thanks to the pool boy. I’ll find someone for myself.” Asha thought of Peri. Peri said she didn’t mind cricket as a sport, and she knew who Sean West was. Maybe she’d like to go. Would she accept Asha’s invitation? Would Asha have the nerve to ask her? “I’ll see what I can do, Dad,” she said finally. “What time?”
“We’re all meeting at six. Here at our place. They’re sending a stretch limo, apparently.”
“Dad, what about Mum? Are you sure?”
“You know Laura never liked these dos.” There was a commotion in the background. “Look, love, I’ve got to go. I’m taking the boys down to the park for a game of soccer. I’ll see you on Wednesday night. Oh, and Asha, please come along. I feel like I never see you these days.”
After murmuring good-bye Asha sat for a while trying to decide what to do. She loved her father, but she recognized he had a new life and had for nine years. But being nominated for this award obviously meant a lot to him. He’d phoned himself instead of deputizing Karen. Then she thought about her stepmother and picked up the phone.
“Hi, Mum. It’s Asha.”
“Hello, love. You just caught me. I’m off to dinner with some friends.”
“That’s great. Um, how are you?”
“I’m fine, and before you get all maternal, I know about your father’s award and the dinner and no, I really don’t want to go.”
Asha laughed ruefully. “Am I that transparent?”
“On the odd occasion. But this time your father rang and told me all about it. It’s very prestigious apparently, and I think it would be lovely if you two girls went with him.”
“That’s pretty generous, Mum,” Asha said and her mother chuckled.
“No, it’s not. You have to admit having his wife and his ex-wife at the same table would be way too avant-garde, even for your father.”
“I guess it would.” Asha laughed with her stepmother. “How does Michelle feel about going?”
“She’s fine. She rang Danny and they’re both going. Do you want to speak to her?”
“No. It’s okay, Mum. If you’re okay with it.”
“I am. And I’m sure you should go too. Apart from that, Wednesday is my choir night. Now, I really have to go, Asha, or I’ll be late.”
“Okay. Tell Chelle I’ll see her tomorrow night. Bye, Mum.”
Asha had barely hung up when Vivienne joined her.
“How’s the typing on the second journal going?” she asked. “I’ve just finished reading the first one for the second time, and I can scarcely contain myself thinking about the next episode in Uncle Georgie’s life, especially now that he’s met Margaret.”
“I know. I keep stopping and thinking about all their lives. It’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen.” Asha picked up the typed pages. “This is it, the end of the first one and all of Georgie’s second journal.”
“Oh, my dear. That’s wonderful,” Vivienne said, and then smiled broadly. “It’s all far too exciting for words.”
Asha took a spring clip from the desk drawer and clipped the pile of typed pages together. “Ah, Vivienne, before you go,” she said quickly as Vivienne stood up to leave. “I was wondering if Peri was home?”
“She was, dear, but she’s gone off up to Townsville to address some conference or other. She was anxious to read Uncle Georgie’s journal too, so she’s taken the first part with her because she wasn’t sure when she’d be back. Probably not until Thursday she seemed to think.”
“Oh. I see.”
“Can I help you with anything?”
“No, not really. Unless you’d like to go to a very dressy awards dinner at the Sheraton tomorrow night?” Asha explained her father’s invitation. “And as I haven’t caught up with many people here in Brisbane, apart from my family, since I came home. I was going to ask Peri if she’d like to go with me
.”
“Now that’s disappointing. I’m sure Peri would have loved to have gone along. And I’d go with you myself except I find going out at night a little too much for me these days. What about young Joe?”
Asha hadn’t thought about Joe Deneen, but she was sure he would be attending the sporting night of nights anyway. The Broncos were leading the rugby league competition, so Joe and his teammates would have been invited as a matter of course. Apart from that, the elusive Tammy may be back in the picture. “I think Joe has a girlfriend, so I wouldn’t feel right about asking him.”
“Mmm.” Vivienne nodded. “That would be the little brunette I see hanging around him. No, it wouldn’t be right to ask him in that case. Such a pity. Joe would look magnificent in a tuxedo.”
Asha laughed. “I can’t dispute that.”
“Now, let me see.” Vivienne put her finger to her cheek. “Who else could we get to accompany you?”
“It’s no big deal. I’ll think of someone.” Asha stopped at the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
Jack Moyland appeared in the doorway and cheerfully tapped on the open door. “Afternoon, ladies. May I join you?” He crossed to kiss Vivienne on the cheek. “Margo told me you were up here. I called in to drop off this book for Peri.” He indicated the book in his hand. “But it seems she’s jetted off again.”
“Yes. Townsville, this time. I worry she’ll overdo it.”
“She’ll be fine, Viv. She knows she can’t push herself the way she was doing. I’m pretty sure she’s learned a lesson where that’s concerned.” Jack sat on the corner of the desk. “And how are you, Asha? Finished transcribing great-great-grandfather Georgie’s journals? Peri told me all about them, and I’m dying to read them.”
“Just printed out the second one for Vivienne.” She picked up Georgie’s first journal and opened it to show Jack. He came around the desk and looked at the open page without touching it. She was amazed again by his resemblance to Peri. Yet on Peri the effect of fair hair, gray eyes, high cheekbones and firm jaw were so very feminine, while Jack, although taller and broader and with slightly darker hair, was the epitome of the handsome male.
