by Di Morrissey
‘Get away,’ laughed Sami.
‘It’s true. My mother’s family. Cold draughty pile of rock, but the loch is pretty. I only went there once. Give me this scrub any day.’
Dale was holding court around the fire, waving the barbecue tongs in the air, when Lily and the others arrived. Downing his beer he walked into the kitchen to greet them. He kissed Lily and shook Palmer’s hand. ‘Glad you could make it. Hi, Sami, where’s your dog? There are plenty of scraps for her.’
‘Thanks, Dale.’ Sami busied herself opening a bottle of wine.
‘Come and join the mob, Ted, meet the boys around the barbie.’
‘Ah, I’ll just help Sami with the wine. Then I’ll be right out,’ said Palmer affably.
Dale took Lily’s arm. ‘What’s my girl been up to? Come up with any more crazy schemes lately?’ Laughing, he led Lily outside.
‘What a jerk,’ muttered Sami.
Palmer gently took the bottle from her. ‘Easy does it. In all things. This is a very fine drop. Let’s have one before I’m forced to join the boys outside.’
‘Palmer, I told you this wasn’t your scene.’
‘And just what do you think is my scene?’ He half filled two glasses with the cabernet and handed one to Sami.
‘Cheers. I’m blowed if I know.’ She took a sip and looked at him. ‘Running into you around town doesn’t count. I’ve really only seen you at your best in the bush. And frankly, I can’t see you as laird of the castle.’
‘Nor can I. It disappointed me mum that I never went home. I’m the last of the tribe, well almost. Mind you, I do wear me kilt on special occasions.’
‘Oh, please, spare me.’
Lily reappeared at the doorway. ‘Hey, come on. We need some fresh conversation starters. It’s all football and fishing out there.’
Palmer scooped up the bottle of wine and took her arm. ‘I was just telling Sami about my Scottish heritage and how dashing I look in my kilt. Now lead on McDuff and introduce me as a long lost relative of Kenneth Mackellar. Maybe someone will ask me to sing a ballad or three.’
‘I’ll do no such thing,’ said Lily firmly. ‘Besides, I don’t know a lot of these people. They’re friends of Dale’s from various places.’
To Sami’s surprise Palmer blended in well with the group, although he was a bit lost when it came to in-depth analyses of the current football scene and the state of the beef market. However, as the men’s group became louder, Palmer edged away to talk with some of the women.
After they had eaten, Lily took Sami aside. ‘Honey, you can leave anytime. Don’t feel you have to stay on. Your Dr Palmer has been valiant.’
‘Oh, he’s having a good time. He’s very easygoing. But we might make a move. Are you staying or do you want to come with us? Looks like this mob are stayers.’
‘I’m afraid so. I can’t leave all the mess. Dale suggested we do brunch at the Cable Beach Club tomorrow. Join us if you’d like.’
‘Sorry, but I’m meeting with Bobby and Farouz to talk about the trip.’
‘Gosh, Sami, do you really have to go? It sounds like real never-never land.’
‘C’mon, Mum, Farouz is a desert man. I’ll be safe. Actually, I’m quite excited about it.’
Lily sighed. ‘So many strange things happen out there. That poor man Bobby was driving to the races nearly died just a short distance off the Kalumburu Road.’
‘Yeah, and he gets out of Broome hospital and is murdered!’
‘Why would anyone kill him? Bobby said he was a pretty ordinary guy,’ said Lily. ‘He worked for a university or something.’
Sami glanced over at where Palmer was waving his arms about telling a story to an enthralled audience. ‘Not all university people are ordinary.’
‘Well, Bobby is getting a hard time from his father. Now he’s mixed up in a murder case. I think it’s a good idea for him to get out of town for a bit,’ said Lily.
‘I’ll rescue Palmer, and we’ll hit the road.’ Sami stood up. ‘I’ll send him over to say goodnight while I get my bag. You really haven’t had much of a chance to talk with him.’
Lily sat on a lounge on the verandah and watched Palmer talking to her daughter. He was certainly a strange man, she thought. No, intriguing, that’s a better way of describing him. She tried to imagine him in a kilt striding around the ramparts of a Scottish castle. He’d probably look quite regal. She was smiling to herself about that image when his voice broke in. ‘A penny for them . . .’
‘Oh, right . . . well . . . they’re worth much more than that.’
‘Then that’s too expensive for me,’ he said, recognising that he’d intruded on some slightly embarrassing thought. ‘An interesting and pleasant evening, apart from the mossies.’
‘Nothing’s perfect.’
‘Indeed. But fortunately we eventually learn to live with little imperfections. Sometimes they make things more attractive.’
‘Like a natural pearl.’
‘Beautifully put. Ah, here is my lovely partner for the evening,’ he said as Sami returned. ‘We must continue this discussion at another time.’
Lily was lost for words, except to say, ‘Goodnight. Drive carefully.’ Then hated herself for the driving instruction.
Sami bent down and kissed Lily. ‘See you tomorrow. Have you told Dale the good news?’
‘No chance. I’ll do it later.’
Lily lay in the king size bed beside Dale who had quickly fallen asleep after half heartedly making love. He’d had far too much to drink. Why was she dreading telling him that Star Two was going ahead?
In the morning she swam in the pool, tidied up the party debris and set the table for breakfast. She was on her second mug of tea when Dale surfaced.
‘Coffee. Hot, black, strong. Christ, can’t party like I used to. Where is everyone?’
‘Well you’re the first up, that’s something,’ said Lily, pouring coffee for him. ‘Have a swim, it’s lovely.’
‘What’s all this?’ he asked, looking at the table. ‘I thought we were going out for brunch.’
‘I figured the stay-overs would want something when they got up. We didn’t get a chance to talk much last night,’ began Lily.
‘True, but we can do that any time. It was great to catch up with some of my mates. They don’t get up this way too often.’
‘I wanted to fill you in on the latest with the farm deal –’
She was interrupted by a chorus of moans as three men staggered in mock agony out to the patio. Dale’s attention quickly switched to them and he leapt up and began making bloody marys.
As the morning dragged on it became obvious that Dale had forgotten or dismissed the brunch in town idea. And there was no opportunity for Lily to share her news. Hopefully the right time would soon present itself.
C h a p t e r T w e l v e
THE BLUE AND PINK FLUORO LIGHTS SWIRLED ACROSS the long catwalk, and the taped music threatened to lift the roof, as did the applause from the capacity audience in the Civic Centre. It was a fashion spectacular with a difference. Lily, Sami and Palmer were stunned by the fantasy and creativity on parade. The costumes in the Worn Art Show ranged over categories as diverse as Sea Warriors, Myths and Legends, Culture Clash, Baroque, Blues and Bohemia, Tropical Dreams, and Icons. The Broome locals of all sizes and ages, including children, parading their creations had been rehearsing the fast-moving, choreographed show for weeks.
It wasn’t until they looked closely that they realised almost everything the models were wearing was made from recycled materials and bits and pieces that might otherwise have been dumped in the local tip. A billowing ballgown was made from plastic shopping bags. A pompadour hairdo towered into a chandelier made from cardboard cores of toilet rolls. After the initial impact of the first fabulous outfits, it became a sport to identify the extraordinary variety of junk that had been worked into what was billed as ‘Worn Art’. The fashion and art statements used pieces of bamboo, coathangers, venetian blinds, mi
lk cartons, laminated bougainvillea flowers, tin cans, and magazines. One dazzling dress was made entirely from bottle tops. Lily leaned close to Sami to speak above the music composed for the parade. ‘This is good enough for the Sydney Opera House!’
‘Amazing! Baz Luhrmann meets Mardi Gras,’ agreed Sami. ‘If you tried to describe it, it would sound cheesy, but it looks fabulous. I wonder how they started out.’
Outside after the finale, Pauline explained that the parade had begun as a modest and novel opportunity for locals to showcase talents that had been starved of stage or occasion. The concept took off and now brought together scores of people of all ages and interests to produce a highly entertaining dance, music and costume extravaganza.
‘I think the Worn Art Show should become a national event, it’s an inspiration for other communities,’ said Lily. ‘I wish Dale had come along.’
Pauline sensed that Lily probably felt a little lonely as more of the younger set had gathered around them and decided the night still had potential. She insisted that Lily and Palmer come along as well.
‘It’s encouraging that we’re so generously included,’ observed Palmer to Lily as he fell in beside her for the short walk to the pub. ‘You’re obviously happy to soldier on with the young troops.’
Lily felt comfortable beside him. ‘Every minute with Sami is worthwhile for me, even if I am sharing it with others. And somehow I think that just being around them on occasions like this is like taking a big dose of vitamin pills. I feel it doing me good.’
‘Ah, that’s one of the joys of university life, when one is fortunate enough to have the right group of enthusiastic students. The tricky part is recognising just when to step back a little.’
‘True enough, I suppose. I haven’t had much experience with things like this lately, so I’m making the most of the moment,’ Lily said.
As they approached the Roebuck Hotel, Tim Hudson dropped back from chatting with Pauline to join them. ‘I’m surprised Dale isn’t with you tonight, Lily. I was hoping to get some idea from him as to how he feels about you taking the plunge.’
‘I haven’t told him yet,’ she replied with some embarrassment. ‘He just hasn’t had the time to absorb the details I want to give him. He was out of town for a few days looking at a possible building project on a mine site. Anyway, Dale isn’t that keen on the Worn Art thing, he says he’s seen enough of them.’
‘No worries, I know he’ll get across it all in the next couple of days before you take off for Perth,’ said Tim as they walked inside. ‘What are you going to have to drink?’
‘I insist on buying some champers for our corner,’ said Palmer as they settled around a table. ‘This is my first opportunity to toast you both and the venture,’ and he headed for the bar.
Lily made an attempt to join the light conversation, but she was coming to terms with the phone call she’d made to Dale inviting him to go with her to the show. She’d hoped it would give them a chance to talk about the pearl farm. But he said he was too busy working on a quote for the mine job, and his rejection had hurt.
‘Blow him,’ Sami exclaimed when Lily told her. ‘It’s your deal. Forget about what he thinks.’
Lily dropped it. She knew better than to expect Sami to give Dale a sympathetic hearing, but she did feel badly and she did want his opinion. He had made a success out of a local business and he had useful local knowledge and contacts. Working with Tim was a bonus though, Lily decided. She liked his energy and lateral thinking. Despite her trepidation when she stood back and thought about what she was plunging into, Lily hadn’t felt so full of energy and enthusiasm, and yes, youthful excitement, for years.
Palmer poured the champagne and lifted his glass. ‘A toast. As some of us are setting off on various trips, it might be a while before we gather again. So here’s to the Star Two pearl farm – may you have fair weather, full sails and fat pearls.’
Glasses were raised to a chorus of ‘Star Two!’ and Lily gave Palmer a grateful smile.
‘What are all these trips you’re referring to, Palmer?’ Pauline asked after the toast.
‘I’m going to Perth to look up some old mates in the corporate world and at the uni and do some research; Lily is going to see a legal eagle there about the project; Bobby and Sami, I understand, are doing something with camels on the fringe of the Great Sandy Desert. And Tim, I assume, will go north to Star Two.’
Tim, sitting beside Pauline, whispered, ‘I think you’ll be heading off soon, too. They’ll want you in California once they see your collection.’
She dug an elbow in his ribs. ‘Guess what? I’ve got a photo shoot arranged for a fashion supplement for a Perth paper. They heard about what I’m doing, liked the snaps I emailed them and, bingo, a colour spread coming up.’
‘Congrats. More champagne is definitely in order,’ declared Tim.
Bobby Ching with a Japanese woman beside him came up to their tables. ‘Hi. Meet Mika everyone.’ There were friendly waves and Mika smiled at those she knew. ‘Mika’s been out east for a few weeks. She decided to come back to Broome and take a camel ride at sunset,’ said Bobby. ‘We’re going to see a band. Anyone want to come?’
There was immediate support for the idea. While drinks were being finished, Bobby brought Mika over to Lily. ‘I’ve been telling Mika about your interest in pearl farming, Lily, and she’s really keen to see Star Two one day.’
Lily remembered that she’d seen Mika before at the Historical Society. Val had been helping her with some research. ‘You’re welcome to come up to the farm, but just give us a couple of weeks to get things sorted out.’
Mika gave a little bow. ‘Thank you very much, Mrs Barton, I’d really like to see the bay and the farm. There’s no hurry, I’ve got a temporary job out at the shopping centre.’
The group broke up, the young people calling goodnight to Lily and Palmer. ‘Looks like we’re not included this time. It’s not my musical taste anyway,’ said Palmer. ‘I’ll walk you home.’
‘Because there are no bagpipes, eh?’
‘I do like other types of music,’ he said with a hint of defensiveness.
‘Let me guess, Scottish ballads?’
‘I’m only half Scottish. My father is a dinky di, true blue. I can sing anything by the Beatles, the Stones and Queen, plus recite Will Ogilvy.’
‘That’s my campfire party piece!’ laughed Lily. ‘The poetry, not the singing.’
Lily picked up an apple, examined it then put it back. It was, she decided, in a batch that had not travelled well. She had talked to Serena, the cook, and had a list of tinned and packaged food, as well as fresh fruit and veg to send up to the pearl farm. She was checking the shopping list when a trolley banged into hers. She looked up and there was Dale, pushing an empty cart and giving her an over-bright smile. ‘They say if you hang around the supermarket long enough, you’ll see everyone you know. Haven’t we met before?’
Lily felt instantly guilty. ‘Hi, Dale. At least we’re both away from calculators and computers at the same time, and that’s almost a miracle these days. I was going to give you another call once I got this stuff for the farm.’
‘So what’s happening with the project?’
‘In a nutshell, we’ve got the money if we want it.’
‘Bully for Tim. So you’ve just gone ahead. Done deal, no consultation.’ He sounded bitter.
Lily glanced around and lowered her voice. ‘Can we please discuss this somewhere else?’
‘The carpark?’
‘Dale, don’t be like that. I really would appreciate your advice. Let me get the shopping home and we can go for lunch. A nice lunch. At Matso’s.’
He looked slightly mollified. ‘Here, let me help you with all those things.’
‘That’s okay, Blossom is going to help me unload and store them in the tool shed. One of the boys is driving back to the farm and he’ll take it all for me. I’ll see you in, say, an hour? Come by the apartment and I’ll show you some papers
for the farm, then we can walk to the restaurant.’
‘Right. I’ll clear the afternoon.’
‘Great.’ Lily smiled but she had rather hoped for an afternoon around the pool with Sami.
They were seated on the verandah of what was once Matsumoto’s trading store, which had started life as the Union Bank in Sheba Lane in 1910. The classical Broome building with its heavy wooden shutters, tin roof, corrugated-iron walls and wide sleep-out verandah, had been moved down the hill to a site across from Buccaneer Park. Now it was one of the landmarks in the town. Lily liked to think of the restaurant and boutique brewery as her ‘local’.
Dale ordered one of the house beers, Lily sat with the Madfish white wine. ‘When I first came here this was an art gallery,’ she said.
‘This town has too many art galleries. And too many pearl shops,’ he added, studying the menu.
‘Nonsense. There’s so much talent here. What are you having?’
He snapped the menu closed. ‘Chicken karaage. I like the soy and ginger sauce on the pickled chook.’
‘It’s marinated chicken,’ said Lily. ‘I’ll have the threadfin salmon.’ She sipped her wine. ‘So what do you think?’
‘I like this beer.’
She gritted her teeth. ‘You know what I mean.’ They’d had a session of studying documents and assessing options before coming to Matso’s.
‘Well, I’ve listened to what you’ve said, I’ve looked at some of the figures, and read the report on potential. All interesting.’ He paused for a long drink of his beer.
‘And?’ said Lily after holding out for as long as her patience permitted. ‘Come on, Dale, I hoped you’d have some advice. About how I structure the deal or something.’
‘Make sure you have control, veto rights. People change, their enthusiasm can wane. A partner can slack off, cream off the top, or not pull their weight. You want to be able to take control if that happens, and work out who gets paid first and when. Meaning look after your own interests. Who are the shareholders going to be?’
