by Mel Teshco
It was information overload on his brain and he shook his head as if to clear it, before focusing on the windshield out front. Except the weather conditions made it almost impossible to register any landmarks. ‘Where are we?’ he croaked.
His sister turned. ‘You’re awake.’ She nodded to the right. ‘We’re here now, just trying to find the gateway into the private airstrip.’
Someone in a bright yellow raincoat came into sight ahead. A hand lifted, waving them down and into a narrow bitumen-sealed track that led to a wide, two-bar gate.
The driver slowed, peering hard through the rain-slicked windshield before indicating and then turning slowly where he’d been directed. Lolita wound her window down a few inches, so that the man outside could yell out some instructions.
‘Go right. Follow the road alongside the fence line. You’ll see a hangar and a plane just outside. The pilot will be waiting.’
Jessie’s mind lurched into more disquiet by the fact his phobia was about to be tested. He closed his eyes, the taxi trundling alongside the fence at a walking pace that was still way too fast. Was he ready to conquer his biggest fear?
He’d once thought he’d tap dance over hot coals for Tara, and that was exactly what he was prepared to do and more. Better to overcome his phobia—or not—than to lose Tara forever.
He sucked in a steadying breath, his arm that’d long ago fallen asleep under the weight of Tara moving around her and holding her tight. ‘We can do this,’ he whispered.
Giving the driver his fare along with a good tip, he handed Lolita the backpack before he hoisted Tara into his arms. A few minutes later, they climbed onto a single step near the fuselage and onto the wing of a small Cessna plane, its single engine already running.
The pilot folded the front seat forward and Jessie and Lolita ducked their heads to enter the cabin. Cream leather seats and polished wood veneer made him absently aware they were dripping all over the carpet, but the pilot who pushed between the cockpit’s twin seats and into the cabin had eyes only for Lolita.
She threw herself into his arms, albeit a touch awkwardly with little head clearance, and he looked down at her and said, ‘You said this was urgent. Is everything okay?’
Lolita turned towards Jessie and said, ‘We have to get my brother’s girlfriend back home.’
The pilot peered at Tara and frowned. ‘Jesus, what’s going on? I have a wife and kids at home—’
Lolita glowered. ‘She’s not contagious. She just needs … specialised care.’
The pilot nodded slowly, and then swept a hand to one of the six seats. ‘Make yourselves comfortable. You’ll find towels and blankets behind the seats.’
Jessie thanked him, before settling Tara carefully onto the front seat and belting her in. The blanket he’d wrapped around her had saved her from getting drenched, but he’d dry off her hair and wrap another blanket around her to keep her warm.
‘Will you be okay?’ asked Lolita as she leaned over the back seat and passed him a towel and blanket.
‘Thanks.’ He knew she was asking him if he’d be okay once they were in the air, but most of his mind was focused on looking after Tara. He dried her off as best he could with the towel, before nodding at his sister, ‘Yeah, I’ll be fine.’
Lolita smiled, and then pushed her way into the cockpit where the pilot was doing a final check of the instrument panel. He leaned over and latched the door before giving Lolita a brief nod as she belted herself into the co-pilot’s seat.
Jessie’s mouth suddenly went dry as the Cessna’s engine whined loudly. He tucked the dry blanket around Tara, then took the seat opposite her and clicked his seatbelt on with unsteady hands.
The plane taxied down the runway, then turned a sharp about-face. Sudden nausea swept through his belly, sweat beading his upper lip and dampening his palms as the engine roared.
Lolita looked back and yelled, ‘Apparently we’re not in controlled airspace so Kelvin doesn’t need to put in a call for clearance, although in this weather …’
He didn’t know whether to be relieved or even more terrified. He forced his throat to work as he yelled back, ‘So the authorities won’t track us down?’
She nodded. ‘That’s the idea.’ She tapped on the side window. ‘Though it might be an idea to look out for any aircraft once we’re in the sky.’
Oh she had to be shitting him. He yelled back. ‘We won’t get much visual in this storm.’
In an abrupt burst of speed the Cessna powered down the runway. Lolita grinned manically and shouted, ‘That’s what I’m worried about!’
The aircraft drew upwards into the sky and Jessie’s belly dropped from beneath him. He closed his eyes, praying for divine intervention, anything that would stop the aircraft from falling apart in the sky.
But even with the Cessna bucking and lurching through the wind and rain, at some point Jessie’s heart rate slowed and his nausea subsided. With adrenaline fading, weariness again took over.
His head nodded forward a number of times before he jerked awake, incoherent for a second or two before his groggy memory resurfaced and he stole a glance at Tara, ensuring she was still okay.
Lolita glanced back and yelled, ‘Get some sleep while you can, you look totally wrecked. I’ll wake you before we land.’
He smiled his thanks, then let oblivion fall over him …
Jessie scanned yet another résumé from the pile on his desk, having a quick read of the next prospective employee who’d applied to work at his latest restaurant that opened early the following month.
He should really get his PA to take over this part of the business, but he was reluctant to employ anyone without his getting to know them even just a little bit first. Staff could make or break a business. A sloppy chef or a rude waitress wasn’t on his wish list, and he was pretty good at spotting staff who weren’t passionate about the food industry.
He rubbed a hand over his eyes. Bloody hell. He really needed to get over his fear of flying. Driving all the way up the coastal road from Sydney to Brisbane, with the endless delays of roadworks and traffic, had really taken its toll. He’d only driven up to do the interviews before he left early in the morning again to return home. Then he’d be doing the trip all over again to attend the Brisbane restaurant’s grand opening.
Maybe he’d try the inland route next time …
A knock sounded, then the door swung open and a woman in a navy skirt, a white blouse and serviceable heels entered the room. Her packet-dyed red hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, which did nothing to soften a face that looked as if her joy for life had been sucked right out.
He inwardly sighed. The woman’s CV had given him hope that she’d be perfect for one of the many positions he wanted to fill, but she wouldn’t be any good to him. He wanted happy, positive and passionate staff.
He got to his feet and reached over his desk to shake her slender, work-roughened hand, going through the motions. ‘Hi, I’m Jessie.’
She smiled, though uncertainty glimmered in her eyes. ‘Hi Jessie, I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’m Vera. Vera Mayfair.’
He let go of her hand with a frown. Something tugged at his subconscious. Had he met this lady before? He was almost positive he had … somewhere. Jesus, he was usually great putting faces to names. He cleared his throat, ‘Please, take a seat.’
She did as he asked, then stared at him and gushed, ‘I can’t believe I’m here. You were my daughter’s biggest idol …’ Her voice trailed away and she put a fluttering hand to her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry. Sometimes when I’m nervous, I talk too much.’
He smiled, trying to put her mind at ease, though anxiety gnawed at his belly. ‘Don’t be sorry. It’s wonderful for my ego to hear that your daughter has me on a pedestal.’
Vera’s eyes glimmered wetly. ‘You really were. But my daughter is dead now. She died in a house fire.’ She lifted a hand. ‘That’s … that’s why I’m here. I need a job … a new start.’
Compass
ion touched at his soul but he quashed the emotion. He was a businessman first and foremost, not a charity filling out positions to those with the worst sob stories.
He leaned back in his chair, mentally distancing himself as much as physically. ‘So tell me about your experience in the food industry?’
She bit into her bottom lip, as though trying to stop the trembling. She nodded. ‘I owned a restaurant in a small town. People would come for miles to sample my pies. A different one each week.’ A smile edged her lips. ‘When my daughter began to work on different pie fillings and dough recipes, we got even more bookings.’
Something about this woman caught him off guard, made him want to reach out and hold her. He brushed a hand over his jaw instead and asked, ‘So what would you say was the biggest compliment for one of your pies?’
She blinked, a frown marring her face and her lips pressing tight together. ‘Oh, I, um …’ she visibly swallowed, then said in a small voice, ‘I’m sorry. My memory hasn’t been the same since my daughter’s death. The doctor said it was all the stress, a kind of coping mechanism.’
He nodded, trying not to let sympathy cloud his judgement even while the damn niggling memory persisted. ‘Just take your time, there’s no hurry.’
She shook her head, visibly upset. The chair scraped back loudly as she abruptly got to her feet. ‘I thought I could do this … but I can’t. I simply can’t remember things.’ Her face was pale and drawn. ‘I should go. But thank you all the same.’
He pushed to his feet too. ‘I think a chef’s position would be perfect for you.’
Bloody hell, where had that come from? He’d been prepared to eliminate her from the list the moment he’d clapped eyes on her.
A tear leaked down her cheek, her emotions barely in check. ‘That’s more than generous of you, but I’m sorry, I can’t accept.’ She managed a wobbly smile, swiping away the wetness. ‘I was told you were a hard-arsed bastard, but you’re not, not underneath it all. I can understand now why my daughter had a thing for you.’
He stared, uncomprehending. He could have sworn she meant that in a literal sense. But there was no time to press for answers. Vera turned on her heel and walked out the door, leaving him with a sick, empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Resting his elbows on the desk, he put his head into his hands and closed his eyes, experiencing a bone-deep despair he couldn’t explain.
A sudden shuddering bang had him jerk upright and his eyes wide open. He blinked, uncomprehending. His sister grinned back at him from the cockpit. ‘Sorry bro, you were so out to it I didn’t bother waking you. We’ve just landed at Mirraway.’
Chapter Nineteen
He jerked his focus Tara’s way. Her breathing was steady, though her head was tilted a little awkwardly one way. But she was alive and they were so damn close to her dimension he could almost taste it!
The plane rumbled along the ground, bouncing and jarring. He looked out the side window. His eyes widened. They’d landed in a goddamn paddock!
Lolita giggled at his expression. ‘There was no airport close by and luckily for us our talented pilot is also into extreme sports.’
Jessie swiped a hand over his face. Little wonder they hadn’t woken him. But at least they were on the ground now and the weather was calm, with the storm well and truly behind them. The big dry was in evidence everywhere he looked. Even in the growing shadows of dusk the ground looked thirsty, the trees stunted and on the knife edge of survival.
Going by the beginnings of a burnt orange sunset on the horizon, the flight must have taken a good four hours or more.
The pilot coasted close to the highway and Jessie unclipped his seatbelt before doing the same for Tara.
She mumbled something he couldn’t quite catch, her eyelashes fluttering, before she slipped back into deep sleep. He wouldn’t think about how much longer she could go on like that. How long since she’d last had a drink? Since she’d last eaten?
The pilot turned to Jessie. ‘This is as far as I can take you. The rest is up to you guys now.’
Jessie nodded. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’
But the pilot, Kelvin, if Jessie’s memory served him correct, had already turned to Lolita. ‘Are you sure I can’t persuade you to come back with me?’
She reached out a hand, clasping his chin gently and staring into his besotted gaze. ‘You’re married, remember?’
Jessie gritted his teeth. Yet another married man his sister had been seeing? Bloody hell, his concern for her had been warranted, if only he’d known and acted on it sooner.
Kelvin leaned forward, but Lolita turned her face and his lips brushed across her cheek instead. She smiled at the pilot, softening the blow. ‘I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve done for us today.’
She unsnapped her seatbelt and turned to Jessie, her nose scrunching as she contemplated him and then Tara. ‘Time’s a-wasting bro.’
Kelvin rubbed the back of his neck, then with a resigned sigh he moved out of the cockpit to open the cabin door and step out onto the wing.
Jessie lifted Tara carefully and followed the pilot. He nodded silent acknowledgement to Kelvin, then stepped down onto the step and finally to the ground, his knees going weak with relief. If it wasn’t for the precious cargo in his arms he’d be on his hands and knees kissing the earth.
He took a deep, shuddering breath, the clean, still hot air filling his lungs. But it was the silence he truly noticed. Compared to the city, this was the wilderness.
Lolita murmured her gratitude once more to Kelvin, before she too stepped to the ground. She peered around. ‘Holy crap. This is where you had to be so urgently?’
He shook his head. ‘No, but we’re getting close.’ He adjusted Tara’s weight, and then set off towards the highway. ‘C’mon, I’ll show you soon enough.’
The Cessna had turned around and was roaring back along the paddock and pulling into the air when Jessie, with Tara in his arms, and Lolita stepped onto the roadside. A sedan slowed, then accelerated past, followed by another.
When Lolita stepped out on the road with a thumb hooked out, Jessie continued across the road. ‘We don’t have time for that.’
She caught up to him as he ploughed through knee-high yellowed grass. ‘You have a better idea?’
Trying not to think on the fact that a service station occupied this bare allotment of land in another dimension, he answered, ‘I hope so, yeah.’
Lolita stumbled in her heeled sandals, and it was as though her calmness snapped too. Her voice edged with hysteria. ‘Fucking hell, Jessie, where are you taking us? Do you even comprehend that you killed a man?’
His shoulders stiffened, his muscles all but screaming. ‘In case you didn’t notice, Dawson held the gun when it went off.’
‘So … you didn’t shoot him?’ she asked, her words coming out much more slowly.
‘No, I didn’t.’
At least not in this dimension.
Lolita released a heavy breath. ‘Thank god.’ And just like that she reverted back to the sister he knew. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked again, pushing through the waist-high grass that was more dead than alive. ‘And just how many brown snakes do you think we’ve stepped on already?’
A big dog barked from behind a rusted, corrugated iron fence that appeared to be someone’s backyard. Jessie ignored the dog. And he didn’t particularly care about snakes either. Any reptile halfway smart would have slithered away with all the noise headed their way.
No, he was more concerned about the woman in his arms and the fact the muscles in his arms and shoulders were burning and knotting with fatigue. Thank god his keeping up to his physical fitness meant he could carry Tara to where they needed to go.
He turned down a narrow alleyway and jerked his head to the left, where Harrison’s hotel stood a couple of buildings away in all its dull glory. He wouldn’t think about the burnt-out shell across the road from it. ‘That’s where we’re headed,’ he answered.
Lolita adjusted the backpack and shaded her eyes. ‘Well, I’m guessing that isn’t the building that takes you into another dimension.’
The way she chose her words told him loud and clear she didn’t believe in the possibility of another dimension. He was too weary to argue his case, and knew if he was in her shoes he’d probably feel the same way. He was only glad she respected him enough as a sibling to hope she’d be proven wrong.
‘No, it’s a hotel. I believe the owner will help us get to the house so we can enter Tara’s dimension.’
Lolita stayed silent the final five or ten minutes’ walk and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was mulling over her rash decision to help him get away from what was potentially a murder scene. Then again, from what he could tell, she’d been making a lot of rash decisions recently, and this wouldn’t be the first time she was guilty by association.
The hotel car park was empty of all but a too familiar Kombi van with its swirling colours and peace signs. Jessie didn’t have the time or energy to try and work out what the chances were of seeing the hippies yet again.
His only priority was to get Tara back home and well again.
He pushed through the front door, Lolita close behind. Yeast and old sweat filled his nostrils, a Suzi Quatro song filling his ears from the jukebox in the main room of the bar. A fully inked Harrison was drying some glasses when he looked up with a welcoming smile, which died quickly on seeing them.
Jessie paused, sizing up the other man who’d lost weight and a whole load of sleep, going by the shadows under his eyes. Had Harrison met another one of Jessie’s selves in this dimension?
But then, all Harrison’s attention was diverted to the woman in his arms. ‘What the fuck?’ he muttered. ‘Tara?’ At Jessie’s nod, the other man said hoarsely, ‘That’s not possible.’
Lolita glanced at Jessie with a whole lot more speculation in her stare. She opened the door into the main bar area and Jessie strode through. The freeloading hippies were flicking through songs on the jukebox. But it was the empty couch against a far wall that beckoned to him, and he placed Tara carefully onto it before adjusting the blanket around her that he’d taken from the Cessna.
