Anchored

by Hoffmann, Tracey

  “Yes. How often have you gone out with her? What’s her name?” David could hear the curiosity in Patrick’s voice.

  “I haven’t asked her out yet. Met her once and I’m contemplating giving her a call.”

  “How long ago did you meet her?”

  “Two weeks ago.”

  “What’s the matter with you? Scared of rejection?” His brother mocked him.

  “What’s to reject? I’m one good looking guy.”

  “Yeh, yeh. Call her today and let me know how you get on. I’m based here at this number for a couple of weeks. What’s her name?” he asked again.

  “Mia. I was about to give her a call when you phoned,” David explained. “Pat, you need to make sure someone knows where you are. You can’t disappear like this, it’s irresponsible.”

  “You saying you miss me big bro?” Patrick’s voice carried laughter over the wires.

  “Of course I miss you but it’s more about safety.” David knew he was playing the big brother, but since his parents had died he worried about Patrick.

  “I hear you mate, but I get caught up in what I’m doing and everything else fades to insignificance. I’ll email you more, how’s that?” Patrick offered.

  “Better. Tell me about your book.”

  After ending the call, David dialed the preschool numbers and waited.

  “Good afternoon, Bluehaven Preschool, Jackie speaking.”

  “Hello, Jackie. May I speak to Mia Dawson please?” David concentrated on sounding casual.

  “Mia’s teaching at the moment. Can I take a message for her?”

  “A message? No thanks, I can call back. What time do you suggest I phone?” Disappointment laced his voice.

  “Maybe I can help you, Mr.?”

  “O’Malley. David O’Malley.”

  “Are you a friend of Mia’s?” Jackie enquired.

  David cleared his throat. “No, um, an acquaintance.”

  “I see. I’ll tell Mia you called. Do you want to leave a number?”

  “Yes.” David told her the number. “What time did you say for me to phone?”

  “I didn’t say a time, Mr. O’Malley, but if you phoned again in say half an hour she’d be free to take your call.”

  “I’ll do that. Thanks for your help. You’re a gem.” David hung up and slapped his hand on his forehead. “You’re a gem. Who says you’re a gem?”

  ~~~

  Surprise showed on Mia’s face. “David O’Malley called me here?”

  “Yes, and he’s calling back. Who is he Mia? He sounded kinda cute and nervous.”

  “I met him, or should I say his dog a few weeks ago. His dog bowled me over. He’s probably phoning to see if I’m okay. If he calls again, can you tell him I’m busy? Tell him I’ll call sometime.” Mia jabbered on, stopping and starting, confused by his call.

  “No way. The poor man is probably concerned about you and the least you can do is relieve his mind,” Jackie stated, her mouth curving.

  “Why are you looking like that?”

  “Looking like what? What do you mean?” Jackie widened her eyes innocently.

  “You have a stupid smirk on your face. I don’t even know the man and I don’t want to talk to him.”

  Jackie shrugged and continued to smile.

  “I met him once and that’s it,” Mia forcibly stated.

  “Mia, settle down, I’m only teasing. It’s not like you get many men calling you here. Surely if he means nothing to you it’d be easy to talk to him for a few minutes.”

  “Yes of course but—”

  “Okay that settles it. You will answer the phone for the rest of the day. I’ve got work to do.” Jackie laughed and walked off.

  Mia could hear Jackie humming and felt annoyed. Why was she so uptight about his call? He was only being polite and it meant nothing.

  The morning couldn’t be over soon enough for her. Her nerves felt ready to snap, and she was tempted to take the phone off the hook.

  She jumped as the phone shrilled beside her and dropped a stack of papers she’d been sorting.

  “Good afternoon, Bluehaven Preschool.”

  Silence greeted her as she waited for a response. When no one replied she said, “Hello, is anyone there?”

  “Hello Mia, it’s David O’Malley. How are you?”

  “Hello Mr. O’Malley. I’m fine thank you. How can I help you?” Mia knew she sounded businesslike but couldn’t help it. What did he want?

  “I haven’t seen you out walking and wondered if Bruno and I had scared you off.”

  “Not at all. I liked Bruno,” she informed him.

  “So it must be me you’re scared of. I don’t bite either you know.”

  She could hear the humor in his voice. “I’m sure you don’t Mr. O’Malley.”

  “David please, Mr. O’Malley sounds like my father. Mia, have lunch with me today? I’d appreciate seeing you to reassure myself you’re okay,” he coaxed.

  “That’s not necessary. I’m fine.”

  “It’s only lunch. What time is your break?”

  Mia felt eager to end the call. “I’m sorry. I already have a lunch date. Thank you for the offer but I must get back to work.”

  “How about tomorrow then? Or dinner? I’m interested in getting to know you, just say the time and I’ll be there.”

  Mia mulled over the offer and gnawed her fingernail. “I’m sorry Mr. O’Malley but I’m very busy at the moment so— ”

  “I’ll keep asking, Mia. Every day I’ll phone until you go out with me. Come on, give me a chance, I think we could be friends.”

  “I’ll think about it. I need to go. Goodbye.” Mia hung up the phone and her hand went to her mouth. She hadn’t handled that well. What must he think of her?

  Chapter 6

  Black Forest chocolate was the last item Margaret needed, Mia’s favorite. She thought of the pending conversation with Mia and her hands trembled. Parking the car Margaret raced across the street to the shop.

  Phil Paterson had wanted to talk and now she felt rushed. Opening the car boot she lifted the lid of the picnic hamper and gasped at what she saw.

  The chocolate slipped to the ground unnoticed as she stepped back. Margaret’s hand went to her stomach and she retched.

  Stunned, she pulled her mobile phone out of her pocket and called Jonathan. Tears blinded her and she collapsed on the curb.

  “Margaret, what’s the matter?”

  “How could someone do something so disgusting? What sick mind would—why is this happening to me? First the eggs, and now this. I don’t understand.” Gasping, Margaret dropped her head between her knees.

  “What’s going on? Calm down and explain what’s happened,” he demanded.

  Margaret stammered, “Someone put a dead cat in my picnic hamper.”

  “You can’t be serious. Where’s the hamper?” he exclaimed.

  “In the back of the car. Jonathan, can you come? I can’t get back in the car.”

  “Maggie calm down. How did they get into the car? Didn’t you lock the door?” His voice was calm and Margaret took a deep breath.

  “No. I was only going to be a minute. I ran across the street to Phil’s shop to get some chocolate.”

  “You should always lock the car. Wait there.”

  “Mia will be wondering where I am,” she sobbed. “I told her I’d pick her up at twelve.”

  “Give her a call and tell her something came up and you can’t make it. Don’t tell her what happened, it’ll worry her.” Jonathan’s voice was stern but controlled.

  “Okay. Please hurry Jonathan.” Margaret shivered and tentatively glanced up. Could someone be watching her?

  ~~~

  Mia snapped her phone closed and stormed up the hill. Her mind was baffled by her mother’s call and her heart felt like it was running on empty. Her muscles tightened and complained at being pounded in punishment. She was used to being disappointed, even expected it, so why did it still hurt? Her mother had
refused her offer to pick her up and minimized the importance of their lunch.

  Stopping abruptly, Mia held back the tears. Her throat felt clogged and her vision blurred. She turned and trudged her way back to work.

  The afternoon went quickly with plenty to distract her. The thought of going home and facing her mother distressed her. Mia closed her eyes and allowed her hands to lay limp in her lap.

  She didn’t want to be alone and on impulse she moved to the desk to find David O’Malley’s phone number.

  She left David a message asking him to meet her in half an hour on the esplanade. Would he too make an excuse why he couldn’t come?

  Leaving her car, Mia strolled across the grass to lean on the empty planter boxes. The aroma of barbequed corn drifted over the oval, making her mouth water.

  Mia watched people strolling arm in arm along the boardwalk and she felt lonely. The thought that David might not get the message or not want to come prompted Mia to saunter over to the vendor to order a corncob. With childlike pleasure Mia eyed the cob dripping with melted butter and reached out to take it.

  “Make that two please. Lots of butter on mine.” David handed over twenty dollars and smiled at Mia.

  “Hi, thanks for the invite.” Taking his cob he reached down to lick the butter before it escaped to the pavement.

  “Come on, let’s sit over there so we can relax and gnaw our way through these.” Cupping her elbow, David led her to a bench facing the water.

  Once seated, Mia watched David attack his corn with vengeance.

  He looked up and grinned. “No easy way to eat this. Can you taste the soy sauce? Its delicious.”

  Taking a tentative bite, Mia enjoyed the buttery texture and joined him in eating whole-heartedly. “I think you’re right, I can taste it.”

  David wiped at his chin. “That was nice for an entrée. I suppose you had a big lunch and don’t want anything else?”

  “I didn’t end up having lunch,” Mia explained.

  “What happened to your date? Don’t tell me he forgot.” David’s mouth twitched with humor.

  “It wasn’t a he, it was my mother, and she cancelled at the last minute,” she said haughtily. “I’m going to wash my hands.” She felt foolish as she stormed across the oval to the bathrooms.

  David caught up with her and placed his hand on her arm, bringing her to a halt.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Shaking her head Mia tried to pull away.

  David’s grip tightened. “Why are you so upset? Tell me what happened.”

  “I’m not upset. Let go of me.” Her nerves were starting to fray.

  David’s hand dropped but he didn’t move.

  Shrugging her shoulders, she sighed. “I don’t know why Mum cancelled. She gave some lame excuse about my father needing the car. It’s impossible to get any time alone with her.”

  Taking her arm David pulled her along after him. “Go wash your hands and then we can go somewhere for dinner.”

  “That’s not—” Mia’s eyes widened as she took in the concern on his face.

  “No arguing, Mia. Go.” He gave her a gentle push and smiled his encouragement.

  How she ended up agreeing she didn’t know. Her face grew hot as she watched him place his order. She didn’t even know him and she’d exposed her vulnerability about her mother.

  “What’s your mother like? Does she normally make dates with you and then cancel?” David steepled his fingers on the table.

  She studied him for several moments before answering. “No. I told her I needed to talk to her about some things—I think she’s avoiding me.”

  “Why would she do that? Don’t you live in the same house?”

  Mia’s eyebrows lifted in question at his knowledge.

  Tilting his head, David laughed and confessed to interrogating Phil Patterson for information about her.

  “We may live in the same house but that doesn’t mean we talk. I didn’t mean to involve you in this David. Please let’s change the subject.”

  His eyes squinted and for a moment she thought he would continue questioning her. David crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, an easy smile lifting his lips.

  “Okay, let me tell you about my day. I found the courage to ask the woman of my dreams out for lunch only to be brushed aside like an old sock.”

  His smile disarmed her and she said, “Dreams have a way of being shattered.”

  “Where’s your sense of romance, Mia?” He gave a dramatic wave of his hand.

  “I don’t believe in romance and I know nothing about you,” she exclaimed.

  “I can rectify that. What do you want to know? Ask me anything.”

  She found herself laughing and David joined in.

  “I’m twenty-eight and have my own teeth. I’ve never been married but am interested in one day meeting my dream woman and settling down. Arh, sorry no pressure. Um, let me see—I’m an architect and have a business based in Sydney. I moved to Blue Bay because I love the ocean and had to get away from the buzz of city life.”

  Mia surveyed him. He carried himself with an air of authority and confidence. She sniffed and guessed his cologne was expensive, some type of sandalwood mixture. His clothes were casual but classy. He was successful, she concluded.

  His steady gaze waited for her to comment. With a casual movement of his hand he continued, unperturbed by her scrutiny.

  “My parents died two years ago in a boating accident and I have a younger brother.”

  “I’m sorry, that must have been hard,” Mia sympathized.

  “Yes it was. My brother Patrick and I stuck close together during that time. I used work as a way of pushing through and it paid off. Got myself some good contracts and my business skyrocketed. I have a great team working with me which frees me to focus on what I love—design.”

  Her guard dropped and she leaned forward. “David, why are you interested in me? I mean we only met once and that was briefly.”

  “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re beautiful. But to be honest, it’s more than that, your eyes draw me. I want to get to know you.”

  He thought her beautiful. Desperate to move the conversation back to safer ground Mia said, “Where do you work from in Blue Bay if your office is in Sydney?”

  “I’ve converted a bedroom into a studio and work from there. I took out a small window and replaced it with floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall glass. The light streams in, and often the heat—hence the air conditioning clicking away all day.

  “It must get hot in there. Do you have curtains?” she queried.

  “No. Curtains may keep the room cool but would defeat the purpose of the window. I need the light and the cool air pumping in keeps it comfortable. I often stand at the window enthralled by the view of the ocean, the bigness, the changing landscape and ask God for inspiration.”

  “You believe in God?” She could feel her withdrawal as if it were tangible. She angled her head to look away from him, her actions creating distance between them.

  “Yes I do, do you?” he asked quietly.

  “My mother and my uncle do. I used to think I did.” What made her continue she didn’t know, “As a child I used to talk to God and ask him to help me, but he never did, so I think maybe he doesn’t exist or doesn’t care. I suppose it’s easier to think he doesn’t exist than doesn’t care.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way Mia.” His eyes were fixed on her and unwavering.

  Mia shifted uncomfortably.

  “I don’t know why I told you that. I could have just said no I don’t believe in God. Actually hearing myself say I don’t believe in God scares me somehow.”

  “God heard your prayers. He never promised us that life would be easy. Sometimes it’s hard and things happen that hurt us. I don’t know what you prayed about when you were a child but I do know that if you seek Him you will find him. I hope you think about this, it’s important.”

  Mia sat stunned. Why had
she shared that with him? Her gaze locked with his and the clear aqua blue stunned her. She felt guilty, like she was letting him down.

  Annoyed, she snapped at him. “Are you the sort of person who judges people, David?” Her defensiveness showed in her stiff shoulders and the way she clasped her hands.

  Reaching over the table David picked up her hand. “Mia, I’d love you to have a relationship with Jesus Christ but that’s your choice. So what do you say, friends?”

  The shock of his hand on hers was like a current moving through her blood. What would it be like to be this man’s friend? She slipped her hand out of his and shook her head.

  “You’re a nice man but I don’t need any complications right now. So I’d prefer to leave things the way they are—acquaintances.”

  David forked a piece of his sirloin steak into his mouth and took his time chewing, his eyes on her the whole time.

  Mia felt aggravated by his silence but refused to break it.

  Placing his fork down David smiled. “We’ll see,” he stated simply.

  Chapter 7

  The persistent knocking annoyed Jonathan and he strode to the door. “I’ll get it Margaret.” He flung the door open and stood stunned.

  Judy. Looking behind him, he stepped out and closed the door.

  “What are you doing here?” he hissed.

  “I miss you darling, and since you haven’t come to see me I thought—”

  “No, you didn’t think. You have to go before Margaret sees you.” His hands ushered her down the steps to the front lawn. “Go.”

  “Not quite the welcome I expected Jonathan. I’ll go now but you will come to me tonight or Margaret and I will be having a little talk. Do I make myself clear?” Her eyes glared at him and she smiled knowingly.

  “Yes, yes all right, but go now.” Judy ran her fingernail down his cheek and her lips curled. “Until tonight, darling.” Turning, she slowly walked away.

  Jonathan lifted his hand to still the pounding in his chest. Entering the house he softly closed the door and saw Margaret standing with her back to him.

  Hearing the door click she turned and smiled. “Who was that, dear?”