Queen of the Road

by Tricia Stringer

  Two sips and Angela relaxed again. She put her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand and leaned forward. ‘Jeremy,’ she said, ‘I’m the only truck driver you’ve ever met.’

  ‘Aha,’ he said. ‘Not true. Remember that I’ve made the acquaintance of one Clifford Berl Junior.’

  ‘Oh no.’ Angela moaned. ‘I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.’

  ‘Forgotten! That was the most entertaining evening I spent in that town. How long are you staying in the city? I could return the favour.’

  The waiter arrived with the platter of food. Angela had to admit that it did look appetising.

  ‘Only tonight,’ she replied, emptying her glass. She didn’t object when Jeremy ordered a refill – they were only little glasses, she told herself. ‘I’ll be loading up tomorrow and on my way home … back to Munirilla in the afternoon.’

  ‘When are you coming back next?’

  Angela frowned. ‘I’m not sure. There’s a small amount for this Friday but I can put it off till next week.’

  ‘Let me know. I’m having a few friends over next Friday night. If you’re in town, you should come.’

  ‘Sounds great.’ She took a sip of the fresh glass of sparkling.

  ‘Try this salmon,’ he said, reaching across the table to offer some on a fork. ‘It’s the best around.’

  Angela opened her mouth to accept the food. ‘Mmmm.’ She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had salmon, or prawns for that matter. She tried one of those as well. ‘This really is delicious,’ she said. ‘Good choice.’

  He raised his glass again and she did the same.

  ***

  Angela rang Shell from the taxi on the way back to the motel but all she got was the answering machine. She said she’d be in first thing and hung up. A taxi from the city was going to cost a bomb but she couldn’t face working out the bus timetable. After three glasses of bubbly, she’d finally convinced Jeremy she had to go. She sobered up quickly when she saw the bill though. Another hit on her credit card after the shops this morning – and now this taxi. No matter what she did, there was always something messing up her plans to save.

  She dropped her parcels inside the motel room door and flung herself onto the bed. Her head was still spinning a little and she groaned when her phone rang.

  ‘Where are you?’ Nigel’s tone was accusing.

  Angela sat up quickly and put a hand out to steady herself. ‘At the motel,’ she replied, her heart thumping. She’d told Nigel she’d meet him at the yard. How could she have forgotten?

  ‘You could have let me know you’d changed your plans.’

  ‘I had a few things to do in the city. Did you have a nice time? How’s Claudia?’

  ‘We did, but she’s wet and cold now. You should have sent her with a jacket.’

  Angela fumed. She’d dressed Claudia warmly enough. She hadn’t been the one dragging her about in the rain.

  ‘Where’s the motel?’ he asked.

  Angela gave him directions and looked at her watch. It would only take a short time for them to drive over from the yard. What she did with her time was her own business, but she’d rather Nigel didn’t discover she’d been out drinking at lunch. She washed her face and brushed her hair, pulling it back into a ponytail.

  In hardly any time she heard the car outside. She opened the motel door to see Nigel and Claudia, both bedraggled, their hair stuck to their heads. Claudia put her hand in Angela’s.

  ‘You’re like ice, Claud.’

  ‘I’m cold.’

  Angela rubbed her daughter’s hands between her own and drew her into the room.

  ‘It rained quite a bit at the fauna park but she was determined to see everything,’ said Nigel. ‘The heaters don’t work in my car.’

  ‘I’m hungry, Mummy. Nigel said we could have McDonald’s but we couldn’t find one.’

  Angela looked over Claudia’s head to Nigel standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. He often ate a big breakfast, then hardly anything for the rest of the day. Food wasn’t a priority for him.

  ‘Has she eaten anything?’

  ‘She had some chips at the park.’ He shifted his feet and brushed a hand lightly over Claudia’s head. ‘I thought I’d better get her back and warmed up.’

  ‘You don’t have a towel or a rug in your car?’ Angela spoke quietly but was secretly enjoying the opportunity to point out his lack of preparedness, especially after his attempt to shift some of the blame to her.

  Claudia reached her hands up and Angela lifted the damp child to her hip. Little cold lips brushed hers.

  ‘You smell like the pub at Money Real, Mummy,’ Claudia said.

  Nigel’s eyes snapped to Angela’s, his previous uncertainty gone. ‘You’ve made the most of your time, then.’

  ‘It’s time for Nigel to go,’ Angela said, using his name, just as Claudia had, and putting her hand on the door to close it. This man was a father by right of blood alone and Angela would be damned if she was going to let him make her feel guilty for having an afternoon off. ‘Say goodbye and thank you.’

  Claudia clung to Angela but turned her head and murmured a thankyou.

  Nigel reached forward and brushed the top of her head again. ‘We had fun looking at the animals, didn’t we? I’ll see you in Melbourne soon. We can go to the big zoo there.’

  Claudia nestled her wet hair into Angela’s neck and gave a small wave.

  ‘Goodbye Nigel,’ Angela said and shut the door.

  By the time the pizza delivery guy arrived, Claudia was showered, in her pyjamas and snuggled up to Angela on the bed. After one bite Claudia dropped her piece back in the box.

  ‘You make better pizza, Mummy.’

  Angela was torn between pride that Claudia liked her home-cooked pizza better than this and the need to get the little girl to eat.

  ‘Homemade’s always better but we’re not home and we have to eat.’ Angela didn’t feel hungry after her long lunch with Jeremy but she took a bite to coax Claudia. ‘Just a little bit.’

  Claudia picked up her slice and nibbled at the edge. ‘Can I go to kindy tomorrow?’

  ‘We won’t be back in time for pre-school.’

  Claudia pouted, taking another nibble and staring at the little DVD screen.

  Angela took another bite of her own piece and forced herself to swallow. Pizza hadn’t been the original plan, but she thought it was better than taking Claudia back out into the cold. Now they were propped up in bed watching a Disney DVD.

  She thought again of her credit cards. One of today’s purchases was the portable DVD player they were now watching. She’d felt selfish only spending money on herself and had reasoned that the player would be useful for Claudia in the truck and at the depot. Even back in Melbourne it wouldn’t hurt to have a second player. She pushed the guilt away and concentrated on the animated characters on the small screen.

  Beside her, Claudia’s head drooped back onto the pillow and her eyes closed. A different kind of remorse flooded through Angela as she slipped the slice of pizza from her daughter’s hand and tucked the blankets around her. Claudia should never have come on this trip. She would have been much better off at Leanne’s, going to pre-school, eating proper food and getting a good night’s sleep. Once again, Angela had been manipulated by Nigel.

  The mobile in her pocket rang and she snatched it out quickly with one eye on Claudia. The little girl didn’t move.

  ‘Hello,’ Angela whispered as she eased herself from the bed.

  ‘Angel,’ her father’s voice boomed in her ear. ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

  ‘I thought you’d be loaded up, ready for an early start.’

  ‘How do you know I’m not?’ She frowned at her reflection in the mirror.

  ‘You didn’t go back after the tyre check.’

  Angela’s neck prickled. Surely her father wasn’t checking up on her. Had Shell rung him to say Angela wasn’t c
oming back today? ‘I decided to have a day off. It won’t take long to collect tomorrow’s load and we should be on our way by mid-morning. I am capable of working out the schedule, Dad.’

  ‘Of course.’ His voice softened. ‘You’re entitled to take a break.

  I work you too hard. You should take some time for yourself when you can get it. Catch up with friends, have a drink …’

  Claudia murmured but her eyes remained closed. Angela flicked a worried eye over her daughter. Her cheeks were flushed but the rest of her face was white.

  ‘Dad, I have to go. Claudia’s been out in the rain all day with Nigel. I don’t think she’s well.’

  ‘Should you take her to a doctor?’ Now there was alarm in his voice.

  ‘No, Dad. She just doesn’t seem herself. I’m sure she’ll be okay. She’ll be back in Munirilla tomorrow night, in her own bed.’

  ‘I worry about you both. Not too much longer and you can come home.’

  Angela sank into a chair. She found no comfort in her father’s words. It struck her that Munirilla now felt more like home than her flat in Melbourne. Claudia moaned and tossed over on her side.

  Angela clicked her tongue. ‘I’d better go, Dad.’

  ‘You’re a good daughter, Angel. I haven’t thanked you enough for doing this job. It looks like being a real boon for the business, and I can tell you, we needed something. There’ll be a bonus for you when you finish.’

  ‘There’s no need …’

  ‘Yes there is. This run could become a good strong arm of our business thanks to your hard work. No reason why you can’t take a break and have a few drinks with friends.’ He was cheerful now. ‘You get a good night’s sleep and give Claudia a kiss from us.’

  Angela sat and stared at the phone in her hand long after her father rang off. The business seemed to be doing okay from her point of view, but she never saw any of the final facts and figures. Her father’s praise was unexpected, leaving her with mixed feelings: happy that the business was doing well, regret that she’d soon be leaving it to someone else to take over.

  Claudia moaned again and twisted in the bed. Angela put away the phone and climbed in beside her. Claudia’s forehead was warm but not excessively so. Angela lay on her side watching her beautiful little girl breathe and realised that if it wasn’t for Claudia, she would stay on in Munirilla. There was little to attract her back to Melbourne. Kate and John were most likely moving to the country. Her father was the only person she’d miss – certainly not Janice, who was getting weirder by the day, and Nigel’s parents had never been interested in keeping in touch. They hardly saw Claudia and didn’t send birthday cards or Christmas greetings.

  Nigel was the youngest of four boys. He was spoilt by his mother and manipulated by his father’s wallet. Angela sat up. Nigel was weak. Why hadn’t she realised this about him before? He didn’t deserve Claudia, but Angela still felt compelled to give them a chance at a relationship. She didn’t want Claudia to ever accuse her of keeping Nigel away. He’d done that himself. Maybe one day Claud would understand.

  Angela turned off the light and lay listening to the traffic outside. If she didn’t stay in Munirilla, maybe she could work for her father in Melbourne and still give her office job the flick. Her spirits lifted at the thought. If Janice and Nigel were so keen to see Claudia, they could babysit while Angela drove. And her father had mentioned a bonus. She hadn’t expected one, but maybe this would be the start of her cutting back her debt. Nigel could pay some support for Claudia and Angela would finally make some headway with her finances.

  She thought some more about her father’s call. It was strange that he’d rung tonight – they’d only spoken this morning. He’d obviously rung Shell at the office to know that Angela hadn’t come back for the truck. She frowned. Twice he’d mentioned she should relax and have a few drinks, as if he’d known that she had. But all Angela said in her message to Shell was that she wouldn’t be back till the morning. She hadn’t mentioned lunch with Jeremy, much less the wine.

  Claudia groaned and sat up. ‘Mummy, my throat hurts.’

  Angela flicked on the light and looked at her daughter’s glowing cheeks and bleary eyes. Claudia wrapped two warm arms around her mother.

  Damn, thought Angela. Her first aid kit, complete with painkillers, was in the truck. Why do kids always get sick in the middle of the night?

  Chapter 37

  Angela hugged Claudia close, shielding her from the cold wind as they hurried from the taxi to the truck. There was no sign of anyone in the yard but the gate was unlocked. Maybe Terry was inside, in a shed somewhere, but it wasn’t like Shell not to be here by now. Angela climbed into the cab and started the motor to get the heater going. Behind her, the taxi driver tooted his horn. His wheels spun up some gravel as he roared out the gate. He hadn’t been pleased to take such a short job and he wanted to be out on the road again.

  ‘Have a nice day,’ Angela muttered, jumping down and hurrying over to collect their bags. When she climbed back into the truck, Claudia was rummaging in the fridge. ‘Do you want something to eat?’ she asked. Angela had plucked the child from her bed at the motel and bundled her straight into the taxi.

  ‘Can I have this? My throat hurts.’ Claudia pulled a small bottle of lemonade from the fridge and waved it at her mother.

  ‘Don’t shake it. Wouldn’t you rather have cereal?’ Angela knew she had a stock of little boxes and that the milk was fresh.

  Claudia tipped her head to one side and pouted her lips. ‘I just feel like lemonade.’

  A vehicle turned into the yard behind them. Angela looked out the window to see Shell emerge from it and give a beckoning wave.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Awwww!’ Claudia whined. ‘I just want lemonade.’

  Angela took the bottle and cautiously twisted the top until she heard the gas release. She handed it back, not wanting to think about the trouble that lemonade for breakfast was going to cause. ‘Sit in your seat and drink it carefully while I go and see Shell. Don’t get out. We have to leave as soon as I’m back.’

  Claudia nodded as she tried to tighten her lips around the mouth of the bottle.

  The phone in Angela’s pocket rang. She pulled it out and Nigel’s name appeared on the screen. She looked from it back to Claudia. Damn Nigel. She tossed the phone onto the console. He could leave a message.

  Back on the ground Angela shut the door, shaking her head at the ongoing complications of her life. It would be better if Nigel just went away again. At least when he was overseas he didn’t make any demands.

  Out of the blue, Angela had a longing for her mother, for someone who could share the load and offer advice. Kate often told her she was lucky not to have a mother to boss her around and interfere. But Angela had grown up listening to Kate’s mum, a woman who always had her kids’ best interests at heart. Angela knew Kate’s slagging off was just a cover so that she wouldn’t miss having a mother of her own.

  In the office, Shell was huddled behind the desk. She had her coat on and a small blow heater was working flat out at her feet.

  ‘Sorry I wasn’t here yesterday arvo,’ she said. Her voice was husky and she was bleary-eyed. ‘I felt lousy and had to go home.’

  ‘Doesn’t look like you should be here now,’ Angela said.

  ‘I’ll see how I go. Someone’s got to keep an eye on things.’

  ‘What about Terry?’

  ‘Hmph!’ Shell snorted. ‘He’s not even here yet.’

  ‘The gate was unlocked when I got in.’

  ‘Maybe he drove round the back. He usually leaves his bomb of a car down the side there. How did the service go on Big Red?’

  ‘I don’t know. I didn’t come back yesterday either.’

  ‘I told them to leave the report in the cab.’

  ‘I didn’t see it but I’ll have another look. Should have been fine. Just a tyre change and I can see they did that.’

  The door swung open and they both jumped. Ter
ry stuck his head in. ‘You want me to start loading?’

  ‘Yes thanks,’ Angela said. ‘I’ll get going as soon as possible.’

  Shell stood up. ‘Why wasn’t it done yesterday, Terry?’

  ‘Those mechanic fellas were fiddling around till after lunch. Said they’d be a while so I went home. Nothing else to do.’ He pulled the door shut behind him.

  ‘Except keep an eye on the place.’ Shell shook her head. ‘I knew he wasn’t in earlier. That’s his car there now. He’s only just arrived.’ She pointed out the window. Angela could see an old ute parked between the fence and the shed. ‘I don’t know why they took so long on the truck,’ Shell continued, shaking her head again. ‘And the yard would have been unlocked all night.’

  Angela felt a pang of guilt. She wasn’t that taken with Terry but she had said she’d return in the afternoon. ‘Terry probably thought I’d be back before the service crew left.’

  ‘No excuse for him to leave the place unlocked though. He knew I wasn’t coming back. He’s never one for doing more than he has to.’

  Angela didn’t want to get caught up in any yard politics so she held her tongue. Shell was the manager and there was only one chief needed in this section of Ranger Transport.

  ‘I’d better get going,’ she said. ‘You should go home if you’re not feeling well.’

  Shell’s only reply was a loud blow of her nose.

  Angela hurried back over to the truck where Claudia had taken a few more sips of lemonade and was now sitting on the bunk with an assortment of toys. She turned her attention to the slow-moving Terry. She wanted this load aboard fast so she could pick up the rest and head for Munirilla.

  ***

  By the time they left Port Augusta, Angela was feeling more positive they’d get back to Munirilla by early evening. Terry had been relatively efficient and the additional freight she’d collected had been quick and easy to load.

  She rolled her shoulders and glanced at Claudia. The little girl had dozed away in the front seat before asking to go to bed. She’d climbed into the bunk after their last stop. Now, even though she was stripped down to her undies, her cheeks were glowing. Angela had given her a dose of fever relief, but there was no doubt she was coming down with something. Once again, Angela found herself wishing she’d left her daughter in Leanne’s care for this trip.