True Blue

by Sasha Wasley

  She heard Finn get home at four in the afternoon. Free shoved her brushes in the turpentine jar and ran over to his place.

  Finn’s tired face brightened when he opened his door to her. ‘I was going to come over to see you. I just wanted to get changed first.’

  ‘I couldn’t wait that long.’

  She stepped inside, Max trotting at her feet. Finn closed her in his arms, giving her a long kiss that wandered from her lips, down her cheeks and neck. Free hung from his powerful shoulders, glorying in the sensation.

  ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘We have the easiest dinner ever tonight. Everything’s whisked and chopped in your fridge, ready to go.’

  ‘Yeah, I rescued it all last night after you went to sleep.’

  ‘I know. You’re the best.’

  She told him about her delivery to Olly, lingering over the fabulous workshop set-up.

  ‘He said it was like the art fairies had been after I’d unpacked everything,’ she finished, grinning at the memory.

  ‘This is a great opportunity,’ Finn said. ‘You could build your own business on this. You could even call it The Art Fairy. Have you set up a schedule?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  He elaborated. ‘Have you scheduled a regular visit to Olly’s gallery?’

  ‘Yes, I told him I’d come every month.’

  ‘So, you’ll go see him this time next month? On the . . .’ Finn checked his phone for the date. ‘On the seventh of each month, or the first Thursday, or whatever?’

  She considered it. ‘Yeah, the first Thursday makes sense.’ An idea occurred to her. ‘Hey, I should set up a monthly reminder in my phone. Just in case I forget.’

  ‘If it was me, I’d definitely need a reminder of some sort,’ he said.

  Free pulled out her phone and set up a recurring reminder. ‘You don’t even need to buy me a calendar,’ she said, feeling rather smug. ‘Check me out, setting up a reminder. Beth would be so proud.’

  Finn laughed and got himself a can of cider, offering Free one as well. She accepted, although she wasn’t a fan of sweet drinks. She sipped, examining Finn as he put his phone and wallet away, then he disappeared into his bedroom for a few minutes. He reappeared in a T-shirt and shorts. Was he a little quieter than usual? He dropped onto the couch beside her and grabbed his cider off the coffee table, taking a swig.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

  He gave her a big smile. ‘I spent last night with the most amazing, beautiful woman in the world. How could I not be okay?’

  ‘It’s just, you’re not quite . . . yourself.’ She studied him. No, he was certainly not himself. Those Kimberley-creek eyes were not sparkling like they normally did. They were troubled.

  ‘I’m just tired. I stayed up pretty late last night.’ He caught her eye and winked.

  ‘Because you were tidying the kitchen?’

  Finn dissolved into laughter. ‘Yeah, okay. I did get up to tidy the kitchen. You’d been asleep for a while.’

  That was probably true. ‘Why weren’t you asleep?’ she asked.

  Finn stretched out, propping his feet up on the coffee table, and put out an arm so she could curl up against him.

  ‘I watched you sleep,’ he said. ‘The hall light was coming through the door, shining over you. You looked like an angel, lying there. I couldn’t get over it.’ Finn stopped.

  Free hoped he wouldn’t look at her face. Tears had filled her eyes and were threatening to spill over.

  ‘It was good,’ he added. ‘All good feelings.’

  There was more to it. Free was sure. ‘What happened today?’

  She felt his sigh, rather than hearing it. ‘Not a great day. I attended a family violence situation. Repeat offenders.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Parents not looking after their kids properly. It was their last chance. They’ll probably lose the kids for good now, and I don’t know how to feel about it. I don’t want those kids to suffer in that household, but they didn’t want to go with the child services worker. They love their mum and dad – and that shitty environment is just what they know. It’s what they’re used to. It’s a bloody horrible situation. They all love each other but they’re a mess as a family.’

  ‘Oh no. Can’t someone work with the parents to help them do better?’

  ‘That’s been tried. Social worker visits, an order to attend parenting classes – they never turned up – even temporary foster care. But those kids are getting exposed to drugs and violence on a daily basis – and God knows what else.’

  ‘Oh wow,’ Free breathed. ‘I didn’t realise it was that bad. The kids need to be made safe.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Finn gazed at his hands. ‘It sucks that they’re being split up, though. The kids were screaming and crying, “Mummy, Mummy”. They didn’t care about the problems – they just wanted to be with their mum and dad. The parents were screaming too. It . . . it rattled me.’

  Her heart was at war with itself. Her first instinct was to see the children safe – but how could anyone split up a family like that?

  ‘I don’t know how you did it,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t have.’

  He shook his head. ‘I had to. We had a court order from Child Protection.’

  Free stayed still against Finn, deeply unsettled by the story. She felt another inaudible sigh from him and the weight of his sadness hit her. Her tears dripped onto his arm.

  ‘Free?’

  Finn’s finger touched her chin and he lifted her face so he could see her better.

  ‘Leaky eyes,’ she said quickly, wiping her cheeks.

  His sorrow seemed to fade and he kissed her softly. ‘Holy shit, you’re special.’

  Beth was going to be mortified when she realised how wrong she’d been about Finn.

  Beth arrived at Free’s place promptly at eleven on Saturday morning. Free messaged Finn to come over and join them, but before she even hit send, she had another knock at her door.

  ‘Will! Dad!’ Free stared at them both. ‘What are you doing here?’

  Willow gave her a hug. ‘Dad and I went to the wildlife impact session about the dam. I thought you were coming too, Free?’

  ‘Was that this morning?’ Free slapped her forehead. ‘Good Lord, I’m such a moron! I completely forgot.’

  ‘Never mind. It was a good session, though. There’s another public protest coming up – I’ll flick you the details. Tom’s gone to visit Briggsy this morning, so Dad and I thought we’d swing by to check out your place while we’re here.’

  ‘Thought I’d better make sure you’re not living in some shithole, sweetheart,’ their father added.

  Free stepped back to let them inside and Willow went over to kiss Beth on the cheek. ‘I saw the Beast out the front. How’s work?’

  ‘Busy,’ said Beth. ‘As always.’

  ‘Well, well!’ Barry was looking around. ‘It’s a pretty smart place you’ve got here. Good aircon, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes! It’s great,’ said Free.

  ‘And good security?’ By now he’d kissed Beth as well, and was inspecting the screen door. ‘Is this lock working?’

  ‘Yep.’ When I remember to lock it! she thought guiltily – although she hadn’t forgotten since the car break-in. ‘Come and see my studio, Dad.’

  Her father was full of praise for the lino mat Finn had laid down and Willow admired Free’s latest painting – the horsehair one – for several minutes.

  ‘You just keep getting better, Free,’ she said, as Barry and Beth went back to the kitchen. ‘I love this. Even the photo you’re working from is amazing. Did you take it?’

  ‘Yeah, at the station on the weekend.’

  Willow shot her a cheeky smile. ‘Speaking of the weekend, will a certain lonely constable be joining us for a cuppa this morning?’

  Free rolled her eyes. ‘Good news travels fast around here. Did Dad tell you about Finn staying with us on the weekend?’

  ‘Of course he did. And Beth’s been in
my ear. She has a few reservations about him . . .’

  Free sighed. ‘She was the wrong person to spill my guts to when Finn and I had our wires crossed.’

  ‘She just cares about you.’

  Yep. Beth cared about her in the same way a parent hovered over a toddler with a cup of juice, just waiting for it to spill.

  ‘You know she’d do anything to see you happy,’ Willow added.

  That brought back Free’s uneasy feelings about Beth’s influence on her residency contract. She exorcised the thought, leading the way out to the kitchen.

  ‘How was Bali?’ she asked.

  ‘Really good. Fascinating place. The scenery was incredible.’

  ‘Did you visit Kintamani?’

  ‘Are you out of teabags, Free?’ Beth was checking the pantry shelves as they arrived in the kitchen.

  Crap. ‘Hold on.’ Free zipped out the front door and met Finn just as he was emerging from his place. ‘Teabags?’ she said breathlessly.

  He nodded and went back in. He returned a moment later with a box of teabags and a packet of biscuits. Free seized him for a hasty kiss.

  ‘Um, Finn . . . Dad and Willow are here too.’

  To her astonishment, Finn looked unfazed. ‘Cool,’ he said, following her inside.

  Barry greeted him in a friendly manner. There was silence while her sisters both carried out a not-so-furtive examination.

  Free cringed. ‘Willow, you know Finn, and Beth, I think you met him at the wedding.’

  ‘Yes, briefly.’ Beth gave him a composed smile. ‘You live next door, I believe?’

  ‘That’s right, in 17B. Free’s place was vacant for a couple of months, but when she moved in I knew it’d be either another copper, a teacher or a nurse.’

  ‘And instead you got Free.’ Willow said.

  ‘None of the above,’ Free joked.

  Her voice sounded tight in her own ears. She glanced at Beth, but could read nothing from her sister’s polite making-acquaintances face. Gah. She busied herself with the kettle and cups, horribly conscious of the unwashed dishes in her sink. Jesus. She really needed to grow up.

  ‘Sorry about the mess,’ she said as she placed cups of tea on the table for Beth and her father. ‘Willow, you probably want a coffee, right?’

  ‘Yes, but I can do it.’ Willow headed for the kitchen, which left Free with nothing to do except join them at the table.

  ‘Finn, you don’t drink tea or coffee?’ Beth inquired.

  Shit! In her nervousness, Free had forgotten to ask him. But Finn – thank heavens – was shaking his head. ‘Not right now. I just had a coffee. I might have a bickie, though.’ He tore open the packet and offered biscuits to Barry and Beth.

  ‘How long have you been a police officer?’ Beth asked.

  ‘About two and a half years. I did my probation in Perth.’ He shot a small smile at Free and she tried to relax. He’s perfectly capable of impressing my family. ‘Then I came to Mount Clair last November. Fantastic town.’

  ‘Free says your family are moving overseas,’ said Beth. ‘That must be hard.’

  Free frowned at Beth to let her know this was not a good topic for discussion. Beth ignored her.

  ‘Yeah.’ Finn glanced down. ‘Yeah, it’s not great. Life goes on, though, I suppose.’

  ‘Ireland, didn’t you say, sweetheart?’ Barry addressed this to Free. She nodded. ‘Are they emigrating?’ he asked Finn.

  ‘Returning.’

  Barry grinned. ‘You’re a Paddy, are you, mate?’

  Free jumped up. ‘Willow, Beth, Dad, come see the backyard. I forgot to show you.’

  Her father rose obediently but Beth just flicked her a look. ‘I’ve seen it.’

  ‘I’ll have my coffee first,’ Willow said.

  Barry thought that was a good idea and sat back down. Free sank into her chair. This could not be worse. Beth was asking Finn painful questions and her father was teasing him about being Irish. She had never thought her family would embarrass her in front of a boyfriend but here they were, mastering it like they’d been in training for years. The sudden arrival of footsteps and voices on the porch was a welcome reprieve.

  ‘Who’s this now?’ she gasped, scrambling up again.

  It was Tom and Briggsy.

  ‘Hey, Free.’ Tom gave her a hug. ‘Cool place! I went round to see this bloke’ – he indicated Briggsy – ‘but Kate had her girlfriends over for some sort of party-plan thing, so we made an escape.’

  ‘How’re you going, Free?’ Briggsy landed a scratchy, bearded kiss on her cheek.

  ‘Good! Come in. Cuppa?’

  ‘Morning, Kelly,’ Briggsy addressed Finn. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’

  Finn nodded, his cheeks reddening a little. ‘Sarge. Tom.’

  ‘You got any coffee, Free?’ Tom asked.

  There was no more room at the table, so the couch filled up and the party instantly became much more relaxed. Tom was full of stories about Bali, and Willow interjected with occasional corrections when he became inclined to embellish. Briggsy could talk too, and Barry was giving them both a run for their money.

  ‘Oh.’ Tom sat up suddenly, putting his coffee cup on the table. ‘Check it out, Free.’ He pulled up his T-shirt sleeve and revealed a fresh tattoo, still red around the edges.

  ‘Oh wow, you did it!’ Free went over to inspect it more closely. It was a little blue shape, only a few centimetres long. ‘Is that . . .’ She squinted, trying to work it out. ‘Is it a sitar?’

  ‘A sitar?’ Tom looked scandalised and Willow burst into laughter.

  ‘I told you,’ she said to him.

  ‘Don’t worry, Tom,’ Beth called from the table. ‘I can see what it’s supposed to be. A soup ladle, right?’

  He scowled at her but his eyes were twinkling. ‘Ha-ha. You all know perfectly well it’s a banjo.’

  ‘Ohhh,’ said Free, recognising it now. ‘Oh yeah, I see it! That’s super cute.’

  ‘He should have got you to design it,’ Willow said to her. ‘I told him it wasn’t a good idea when the tattooist didn’t even know what a banjo was, and Tom had to google it to show him.’

  Tom was attempting to peer at his own shoulder. ‘You lot are bloody blind. It looks just like what it is.’

  ‘It’s such a sweet gesture,’ Free told him, but she couldn’t help giggling a little.

  ‘I know a good tattoo artist in town,’ Briggsy informed Tom. ‘Let me know when you’re ready to get it touched up so it resembles what it’s supposed to.’

  Tom muttered balefully as he retrieved his coffee. Free noticed Briggsy had Kate’s name tattooed on his forearm. Hmm, not good, considering the stress in their relationship. He might have to get it removed or covered if they split . . .

  She was brought back to the present by yet another knock at the door.

  ‘Jesus H Christ, Free,’ said her father. ‘It’s like bloody Hay Street in here.’

  This time it was Cameron, Tia and Jorja. ‘Oh, hi, guys,’ she said, pulling the door open.

  ‘She’s got visitors, see?’ Tia murmured to Cameron, her cheeks flushed.

  ‘Want us to bugger off, Miss Patz?’ Cameron asked.

  ‘Of course not! Come in. Cam, just set up the card table in the studio, will you? You know where everything is, right?’

  They did. They passed through the crowded living room, Tia still pink-cheeked, her eyes glued to the floor.

  ‘Who are they?’ Beth asked Free, dropping her voice.

  ‘Students. They come around to paint on the weekends sometimes.’

  ‘Why?’

  Free shrugged, but couldn’t think of one simple answer. ‘Why not?’

  ‘That’s so you, Free,’ Willow said, smiling, and Beth was chuckling too.

  ‘So, when’s the dam protest?’ Free asked Willow.

  ‘Thursday afternoon.’

  Briggsy’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You lot aren’t getting involved in that, are you?’ He looked at Tom. ‘It’s been a bit
fraught.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Willow.

  ‘We’ve had to clear the protesters off the site a few times,’ he said. ‘Getting rough and rowdy.’

  ‘Some of them have targeted the workers,’ Finn put in. ‘Chucking bottles at them and things like that.’

  ‘Oh no,’ said Free. ‘That can’t be right. I went to the last protest and it was completely peaceful. We just chanted and sang and held up signs, and the woman in charge spoke to the ABC news people. It was awesome.’

  ‘Well, there are some protesters down there every day now, and they’re misbehaving,’ Briggsy told her.

  ‘Bugger,’ said Willow. ‘That’s not going to do the cause any favours.’

  ‘Maybe the construction company is reporting that kind of thing to the police because they want to get rid of the protesters,’ Free said with sudden horror. ‘Making up lies about them to get them moved out!’

  Briggsy was sceptical. ‘There are some known troublemakers involved.’

  Free found it difficult to believe. Briggsy was such a hardened cop, she thought, he probably tended to think the worst about people.

  Her guests hung around for a while longer, but it ticked past lunchtime and Barry said he felt like a pub meal. He also wanted to go to the hardware shop for some ‘garden choppers’ before they did the drive back to Patersons. Everyone left, even Beth. Free waved them off, standing on the porch with Finn.

  Beth was so damn hard to read. Did she like Finn or not? Was she convinced now?

  ‘Your family’s a really good bunch,’ Finn said, leaning against the porch railing as the last car pulled away. ‘Beth is nice. She didn’t seem to have a problem with me after all – don’t you reckon?’

  ‘Yeah, I think so. I mean, not. I think not. I don’t think she had a problem.’

  Finn tilted his head. ‘Right. So . . . maybe she did?’

  ‘Why would she?’ Free flicked a dead beetle off her porch rail. ‘She’d have to be insane not to like you.’

  Finn looked at her with those honest eyes, which had only ever said exactly what he thought.

  Free cast all doubt out of her heart. ‘Anyway, who cares? She’ll have to get used to you, no matter what.’ She stretched up on her toes to kiss his lips.