“Please tell Mum to phone me.” Turning, she stormed out of the room.
Chapter 3
Jonathan walked towards his car. Shame consumed him. He’d lied to Margaret again last night and gone out to meet Judy. It had to stop. He was drowning in deception. With Mia back home he wanted the chance to make things right with her. If Margaret or Mia found out about Judy he’d lose everything.
Arriving at his car, he unlocked the door and was startled when someone touched his arm.
Judy. He hadn’t heard her approach.
Annoyed, he jerked away, his jaw tightened and he clenched his fist. The car keys dug into his hand. What had he ever seen in her?
“Jonathan what are you doing here?”
“Business, I didn’t expect to see you.” Angling his body away from her he scanned the car park. The last thing he needed was someone seeing him with her. “Do you need a lift home?”
“Yes please. It’ll save me catching the bus. I get my car back tomorrow.”
“Hop in, I’ll drive you. Hurry up, will you?” Jonathan got in the car and turned on the engine.
As he backed out of the parking space the car door flung open and Judy struggled to pull it closed.
“For goodness sakes, Jonathan, I wasn’t even in the car. What’s the matter with you?”
“I was thinking what a fool I’ve been for putting my marriage at risk and then you materialize beside me. Great timing, Judy,” he stormed.
“Your marriage! Don’t make me laugh. Your marriage is nothing and you know it,” Judy snapped.
“I have to consider Mia.” He kept his eyes on the road and waited to see what she’d say. A slight smile lifted at the corner of his mouth and he felt pleased with the way things were going. He would end it with Judy and concentrate on Margaret.
The silence began to feel heavy and he glanced at her. Jonathan felt a moment of disquiet as he waited for her reaction.
They arrived at her house and Judy sat looking down at her hands. Jonathan wanted her out of the car.
“Look, I’m sorry for the way it’s worked out. I would have enjoyed spending more time with you, but the risk is too high. I’m sorry, it’s over.”
“Please don’t do this; you don’t realize how much I love you. She can’t mean as much to you as I do.”
Reaching over, she grabbed his arm and started to pull. Her action startled him and he lunged towards her.
Judy kissed him.
Instinctively Jonathan moved into the kiss. Seconds elapsed before his mind cleared. His eyes hardened and he pushed her away.
He glared at her. “Get out of the car! Either you get out now or I’ll throw you out. I don’t want to see you again. It’s over.” His face felt on fire and heat torched his neck.
Judy smiled and moved her hand up his arm. “I’ll get out now, darling, but don’t think you’ve seen the last of me. I don’t let go of what’s mine. Your wife is a minor problem, that’s all, but we can sort it out.”
Jonathan looked at her and thought she seemed deranged. Her eyes were fixated on his face and she seemed not to blink. It was like looking into the eye of a storm.
“What do you mean, a minor problem? She’s my wife! You are the problem!”
He flung her arm off and scrambled out of the car. He was going to make her understand. “Don’t you ever threaten my wife. I want nothing more to do with you.”
Jonathan grabbed Judy’s arms and brought his face close to hers. Looking into her eyes, he sneered. “Do you understand?”
“Darling, you don’t mean that. I know you’re upset and I’ll let you go now. I love you. It’s going to be okay.”
Reaching up, she ran her fingers over his cheek and turned in his arms, causing his hands to drop away.
As she reached the front of her house she turned and blew him a kiss.
~~~
The peace in the room warranted silence. Prayer had become a sanctuary to Margaret, breaking through the unknown and bringing relief. Glancing up she saw others preparing to leave.
Closing her eyes, she longed to extend her time here.
“Maggie what have you got on today? Have you time for coffee?” Klara’s voice beckoned her. Her friend’s smile was contagious.
Smiling back she nodded. “Coffee sounds good.” Standing, Margaret took her friends arm. “Let’s go.”
Walking arm in arm they entered the Café and found a table.
“Prayer and coffee, what a nice way to start the day,” Margaret exclaimed. “I miss you at the prayer meetings, Klara. Why have you stopped coming?”
Klara shrugged and muttered something about having difficulty getting out of bed and saluted Margaret. “Will Jonathan still be home?”
“No. I told him I wouldn’t be home before he left for work.” Margaret gave an easy smile, her eyes warm as she looked at her friend’s face.
“How’s he coping with Mia moving back home?” Klara enquired.
“He’s home more. Seems like he’s hoping to spend time with her.” Margaret lowered her eyes and a slight frown touched her brow.
“Goodness. What’s her reaction to that?”
“I don’t think she realizes. She barely tolerates him, answering him if he talks to her but nothing more. I long for them to talk.” Shrugging she sighed.
“Does he talk to you about how he feels?”
“No, but I can see he has regrets.” Margaret’s eyes misted.
“Give it time. They’ll work it out.”
“Mia’s like a pot ready to boil over. I let her down, Klara. I should have protected her from his anger.” Regret tore at her heart.
“You did what you could. We all make choices and you’re not responsible for Jonathan’s actions,” Klara stated harshly.
“But I am responsible for mine. I allowed him to hurt her. I’m responsible for that. I could have left him and her childhood would have been free of fear.”
“You know why you stayed. Come on Maggie, this isn’t helping. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to hang onto the Lord with everything I have. Something is happening in Jon and I’m praying things will come to a head and force him to his knees.” Pausing, she swallowed. “Mia’s another story. It breaks my heart to see the coldness in her where he’s concerned. She needs Jesus, needs to forgive.”
Her stomach churned and Margaret tilted her head. Why couldn’t she cling onto the security that prayer gave her?
“One minute after the prayer meeting and I’m worried. See how quickly I fall?”
Rummaging around in her handbag, Margaret pulled out a small notebook. Flicking through the pages until she found what she wanted.
“Listen to this. Isaiah twenty-six, verse three. ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.’ That’s what I’m going to do, Klara. Keep my eyes on him and not let my thoughts lead me down the path of hopelessness.”
“Perfect peace?” Klara avoided Margaret’s eyes and picked at her fingernail.
“It’s conditional though—you have to keep your thoughts on what God says, it’s not easy.” Margaret stared across the street and watched a woman and a child alight from a car. Where had the years gone?
“I’m going to talk to Mia. Can you pray for me Klara? Pray I have the right words and that she’s receptive.”
Lifting her cup Klara swallowed the last of her coffee. “Of course I can, although I’m not sure what good rehashing the past will do.”
Chapter 4
Seven hours of bedlam. The silence was like music to Mia’s ears. The consistent throb behind her eyes wouldn’t let up and she lifted her hand to massage her forehead. The children had left a rainbow of color splashed all over the benches. Sighing Mia began scrubbing.
“You okay? You look a little pasty?” Jackie scanned the area and smiled.
“Slight headache, that’s all.” Her hand moved to her head and pressed her right temple.
“Poor you. What a day. Did you put s
ugar in the water?” Jackie sighed.
“It certainly seemed like they were buzzing. Maybe they had a secret stash of candy bars in the bathroom,” Mia suggested.
“Mia, I can finish up here,” her boss offered. “You take off home and get rid of that headache.”
“I’m fine Jackie. How about you give me a hand here and I’ll help you set up the reading area.”
“It’s a deal. Don’t say I didn’t offer though. I’m a nice gal, you know.”
Laughing, they worked together cleaning up the mess.
~~~
All she wanted to do was sleep. Mia called out as she entered the house and was pleased no one was home. Going straight to her room she collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes.
The shouting jolted her awake. Rolling over she wanted to pretend she didn’t care. Unable to maintain the pretense she bolted up and raced downstairs.
“You always dramatize everything, Margaret. It was probably just kids. Now you’re blaming me for not reacting the way you want. I won’t have it!” Jonathan yelled.
“All I want is for you to care and phone the police. It’s not the first time something like this has happened and it makes me feel uncomfortable.” Worry etched Margaret’s face.
Mia moved towards her mother and stood between them. “What’s happened?”
“Someone egged my car while I was at the supermarket. All over the door handle and window,” Margaret explained in a wobbly voice.
“Mum, are you okay?” Mia reached out and took her mother’s hand.
“Of course she’s okay. It’s the car that needs cleaning,” Jonathan snapped.
Turning towards her father she couldn’t keep the disdain out of her voice. “Don’t you have any compassion? Can’t you see Mum’s upset?”
“Upset I’d be, if the car was damaged. It’s only eggs, for goodness sake. I’ll leave you two to make a mountain out of it while I clean the car.” Jonathan stormed out and slammed the door.
Mia watched her mother collapse into a chair. “Do you want me to phone the police, Mum?”
“No, dear, your father’s probably right, just kids playing a prank. He’s cleaning the car for me so I’ll leave it be. Be a dear and put the jug on.”
“I hate the way he yells at you. Why do put you put up with it?” Mia clenched her fists and wanted to scream.
Her mother lifted a hand and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. A sure sign she was exhausted.
“He only yells when he’s upset. He won’t say so but he’s worried too.” Margaret’s expression softened.
“You always make excuses for him. If he’s worried why doesn’t he do something?” Mia exclaimed.
“He is doing something. He’s outside cleaning my car. That’s his way of fixing it, dear. Now let’s have that tea.”
Struggling to reign in her temper Mia left the room. Her anger wasn’t helping but making the tea would.
~~~
At the general store you could source any information. David took his time and allowed Bruno to smell all sorts of pungent doggy odors on the way. When he’d looked into Mia’s eyes he’d seen torment and shadows. The green depths had flickered at him, making him curious and concerned. It was this curiosity that now quickened his pace.
“Well, Bruno, desperate times call for desperate measures. Let’s hope Phil can tell me where to find Mia.”
Looping the lead over the post, David entered the general store. A mixture of magazines displayed cars, boats and celebrities. Shelves of food items rested in meticulous order, begging purchase. David picked up a newspaper and waited for Phil Paterson to respond to the bell.
“David, my lad, good to see you. Just the newspaper is it?” Phil greeted him warmly.
“Thanks, Phil. How’ve you been?” David smiled.
“Living the dream lad. Living the dream. Lovely evening for a stroll I’d be thinking.”
David nodded. “I prefer going for a run in the morning, but Bruno will nag me day and night to get out.” David gave a lopsided grin.
“I’ll leave the exercise up to you laddie. I’ll be here doing my chores while you’re out pounding the streets.”
“Someone has to do it. Phil, do you know someone called Mia? Bruno bowled her over a couple of weeks ago. I was sure she’d come up firing bullets at me, but the opposite happened. Nice girl.”
“That’d be little Mia Grace. Often walks the beach in the morning.”
“I’d like to see her to apologize for Bruno’s actions. Do you know where I’d find her?”
“Pretty wee thing, can understand why a man like you would be interested in seeing her again.” The crooked smile teased David.
“I want to apologize. Nothing more,” David assured him.
“Well, don’t worry yourself. Mia wouldn’t have given you another thought, busy as she is at the preschool and all. Which preschool, you ask? Well, there aren’t too many around here, shouldn’t take you too many phone calls to find her. Mia Grace Dawson that’s her name.” Laughing, he thumped his hand down on the counter.
“All right. I’m interested. What can you tell me?” David glanced behind him and leaned over the counter in an attempt to create comradeship.
“Let me see. Mia’s all grown up now and been back home since she finished her study earlier this year. Works at Bluehaven Preschool. Good she is with children. Maggie, that’s her mama, is a favorite of mine. Always bringing me some of her homemade jam. Lived in the Central Coast most of her life. Jonathan, Mia’s dad keeps to himself. Not our Maggie though, she’s the heart of kindness.”
“Preschool. Okay. What else?”
Scratching his chin Phil said, “Of course it could be another Mia. Best you describe her to me lad.”
David shrugged and played along. “Eyes the color of ivy, thick amber hair that sways when she moves. Creamy, soft skin and a smile that captured Bruno’s heart. Are we talking about the same person?” David frowned as he thought of the vulnerability he’d seen in her face.
“You forgot to mention a voice as musical as a pure mountain stream.” Nodding his head, Phil reached over and patted David’s face.
~~~
“Mum, I plan to go for a walk in the morning. Do you want to join me?” Mia watched her mother rinse the cloth.
“Not tomorrow. I plan to get into the kitchen in the cool of the morning and do some baking. You go, dear, and I’ll have breakfast ready for you when you get back.”
“I’d rather skip breakfast and have you come for a walk with me. Please?” Mia coaxed.
“Breakfast is important, starts the day off right.”
Mia picked up a tea towel and swished it around. Her mother watched and smiled.
“Mum, I need to talk to you.”
“How about I make a picnic lunch tomorrow and you see if you can have an extra hour off work. We could go to the beach,” Margaret offered.
“Can we talk now?” Mia touched her mother’s arm gently.
“It’s getting late and your father has already gone off to bed. Tomorrow’s better.”
“What does it matter if Dad’s in bed and you’re down here talking to me? Oh, of course you can’t keep him waiting.” Throwing the tea towel down, Mia turned to go.
“Mia, stop.” Her mother commanded.
Stopping in midstride Mia spun around.
“Please don’t be like this, dear. It’s been a long day and I’m just about asleep on my feet. I want to spend time with you, so how about the picnic?”
“Yes all right, but I’m still sick of the way you run to his beck and call. He probably told you not to be long.” Mia stuck out her chin, showing her displeasure.
“Mia, I don’t appreciate you talking about your father that way. Perhaps I’ll say goodnight before we both say something we’ll regret.” Reaching over, Margaret touched Mia’s arm. “Good night, I love you.”
Mia watched her go. She bit down on her lip and the metallic taste of blood caused her to unclench her jaw.
The decision to wait for him to contact her was harder than she’d thought. Absence may make the heart grow fonder but all Judy felt was anger. How dare he ignore her.
Judy glared at the lady serving her and snatched her change without speaking. She spun around and knocked into the person behind her.
“Sorry!” Judy snapped and charged towards the door.
Stopping abruptly, she tilted her head and looked back at the woman rubbing her shoulder. Her head nodded as an idea formed.
~~~
David’s thumb ran idly over the phone’s keypad as he gazed out the window. The ocean sparkled and winked at him as if encouraging him to make the call. Mia absorbed his thoughts. Her gentle way with Bruno, her wide innocent eyes and the way she ran off like a startled bird.
The shrill of the phone startled him and his hand tightened on the hand piece.
“Hello,” David answered swiftly.
“How’s my best mate? Still lazing around the beach?”
A grin curved David’s mouth as he answered his brother. “Patrick. Where are you?”
Crackling made Patrick’s voice difficult to hear. “I’m still in India. Sorry about the connection, hang on and I’ll move closer to the window. Is that better?”
“Yes. Are you still in Nepal?” David queried.
“Left there a few weeks ago. I’m in Ranchi in Jharkhand. I’m going to use this area to pull the end of the book together. How’s things with you? Got yourself a girlfriend yet?”
David laughed. “I did have a girl fall at my feet.”
“Might be the only way you’ll find someone. Can I give you some brotherly advice?”
“No,” David stated firmly.
“Come on, when have I ever led you astray? Tell me about her,” Patrick’s voice urged.
“Drop dead gorgeous. Big green eyes, expressive face, shy and fragile like a butterfly.”
Silence greeted his statement. “Patrick, you still there?”
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