by Hannah Ellis
“No worries,” she said. “Water?”
“Yes, please!” I returned her smile and leaned on the bar. “How do you survive in this heat?”
“Heat?” she said. “Highs of thirty-four today, pff. This is nothing!”
“Well I’m melting.”
“I can see that!”
Hastily, I drank the cold water and asked for a refill. I searched the walls when Michelle took my glass, but there was no sign of photos as Kai had promised. The place was classy. Everything about it screamed luxury, and I felt suddenly out of place in my scruffy shorts and vest top.
“Did you get a room at the Croc?” Michelle asked, passing me more water.
“Yes. Kai’s nice.”
“Yep, he’s as sound as they come. And the Croc’s a good place to stay.”
“It seems like it,” I agreed, looking around some more. “If you work here, you must know the owner? Todd?”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure do. He’s a slave driver!”
“Really?”
“Ah, he’s okay. Most of the time! He’s my dad. You after a job or something?”
“No. I just . . . I’m doing some research . . . on the town. Kai said I should talk to Todd.”
“Cool! He’s around somewhere. I’ll find him.” She bounced away and I watched as she almost collided with a middle-aged guy coming the other way. “There you are.” She turned back to me. “Found him!”
“Will you ever learn to watch where you’re going?” he asked, continuing past Michelle and behind the bar. “I thought you’d gone to work already.”
“Just stopped to serve a customer,” she told him sweetly, looking over at me. “This is my friend, Libby. I gave her a ride from the airport, I told you, remember?”
“Hi,” he said, giving me a curt nod. “Is Kevin not here yet?” he asked Michelle.
“I’ve not seen him.”
“I’m paying him,” he grumbled. “Why can’t he get here on time?”
“Sack him?” Michelle suggested.
He raised an eyebrow. “You wanna take his shifts?”
“Don’t sack him. Please don’t sack him!” Todd’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile, and I could see where Michelle got hers. “I gotta go, Daddy Dearest! Libby wants to ask you some questions about the town. Be nice, won’t you?”
He looked at me properly, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. “I take it you’re Evelyn’s kid?” he said once Michelle had skipped away. “Kai told me you were coming.”
“Yeah,” I said, unnerved by him; he made me uncomfortable somehow. “Kai said Mum used to work here. He thought you might have some old photos . . .”
He stared at me for a moment and then moved away abruptly. When he reached for a bottle of gin on the shelf behind him, I was tempted to bolt. His cold manner was disconcerting.
“There she is,” he said quietly. The photo caught my eye then, stuck to the wall where the gin had been. I moved to get a closer look. She was laughing into the camera with an awful French maid outfit on. The lump in my throat was hard to swallow. I leaned further over the bar, squinting.
When Todd pointed up, I tilted my head and laughed at the array of photos stuck on the ceiling above the bar. They were full of people I didn’t recognise and occasionally a familiar face. A younger version of Todd looked down on me with, presumably, a tiny Michelle in his arms. He smiled shyly into the lens.
“Come here,” Todd said, and I walked around the bar, occasionally glancing up at the photo ceiling. He replaced the gin and pulled another bottle down to reveal yet another picture. No one I recognised but they were standing behind the bar I was standing at, pulling a pint. When Todd gave me the nod, I peeked behind another bottle, and then another. There were photos hidden behind every one. After a while, I came across another of Mum. She was sitting on a boat, a fishing rod in one hand and a beer bottle in the other. She looked so happy.
“She went fishing?” I asked as a memory popped into my head. A little scar on her hand that she told me came from a fishing accident when she was young.
“She loved it,” he said with a nod. “I’m sorry to hear she passed away.”
I was glad Kai had warned him. Awkwardly explaining things to everyone would be exhausting.
“The hidden photos were her idea,” he said. “My dad was running the place back then and Evelyn tried to persuade him to have a photo wall but he wouldn’t hear of it. Said it would lower the tone. After she left, I started to find photos hidden around the place. It became a tradition: anyone who worked here would hide a photo somewhere when they left. Then the locals joined in the game. There are so many photos around here you wouldn’t believe. Under chairs, tables – look anywhere, you’ll find photos.”
The smile didn’t leave my face as I moved away from him and ducked my head under a table. He was right: there were photos taped underneath. Next, I upturned a stool at the bar and found another.
“That’s so cool!” I said, looking up at Todd, who was watching me intently.
“I’m glad you came,” he said, his features softening. “I always thought Evelyn would come back someday. She should’ve stayed in touch.”
“I’m not sure why she didn’t,” I said. “I never heard anything about this place until she was dying . . .” I took a breath. “Then suddenly she’s telling me to go and find Joe Sullivan in some crazy outback town that no one’s ever heard of.”
“Did you find Joe?” he asked.
“Not yet,” I said.
“So you’re staying at the Croc?” Todd didn’t wait for an answer. “I hope Kai is looking after you well.”
“I can’t complain.”
“There’s always this place if you’re sick of slumming it.”
I snorted, taken aback. “Sorry, it’s just that I’m on a budget.”
“I wasn’t going to charge you.”
My eyebrows shot together and I felt uncomfortable again. “Thanks, but I like it at the Croc.”
“You’re your mother’s daughter,” he muttered, only just loud enough for me to hear. “I’m not sure what else I can tell you, really. Joe and Leslie knew Evelyn best, and Cam, but he moved away.”
I hovered while he walked the length of the bar, straightening things out.
“Joe’s next on my list of people to talk to. I’m surprised to find so many people who remember her. I just wanted to look around, really – see the places she went and where she lived.”
Todd leaned on the bar, his face scrunched up, saying nothing and giving me the creeps.
“Thanks for showing me the photos,” I said.
“No worries. Come back if I can help with anything else.”
Chapter 39
LIBBY – August 2017
My encounter with Todd left me unnerved. It seemed like there was probably a lot he could tell me about my mum’s time in Kununurra, but I had the feeling that whatever he had to tell, I didn’t want to hear. Mum’d told me to find Joe. Maybe there was a reason that she hadn’t told me any more. I should talk to Joe.
As I passed the camping shop, I was drawn to it and fought the urge to go in. Cassie and the girls had been so warm and friendly. I would love to spend more time with them. Although, what I wanted more than anything was a refreshing dip in a pool.
Back at the Croc, a few people sat around the pool and bar area. Kai was nowhere to be seen, and a tall lanky guy had taken over bar duties.
“Hi!” a blonde girl said when I spread my towel on the sunbed next to hers.
“Hi.” I smiled at her.
“Just arrived?”
“Yesterday.”
“What do you think so far?” the stocky guy next to her asked.
“I think it’s hot!”
“Crazy hot,” the girl replied. “I’m Sylvie.”
“Libby,” I told her. “Where are you from?”
“Sweden.”
I looked over at the guy. “Jakob from Germany!” he said proudly.
“Your English is very good,�
� I said to both of them.
“English is easy,” Jakob declared.
“I think so!” I said. My language abilities were embarrassing.
“Swimming?” Sylvie asked, standing. I followed, and my enthusiastic dive-bomb into the pool covered Jakob in water. He chuckled and came to join us.
We chatted as we swam; Sylvie explained how she’d been travelling with a friend but they’d gone their separate ways a few weeks back. She’d arrived in Kununurra a few days before and was intrigued by the place. She wasn’t sure how long she’d stay. Jakob had been here for three months. He’d just finished his stint of fruit-picking and told us stories about how awful the first weeks on the farm had been, until he got used to the work and the heat.
The three of us spent the rest of the day by the pool. I found them both to be easy company, and I managed to relax and stop myself from thinking about the reason I was in Kununurra. At least until late in the afternoon, when I caught sight of a woman looking at me from the bar. She was older and didn’t look like a backpacker.
Tom and Sylvie were splashing around in the pool when she wandered over to me. “Libby?” she asked, perching on the chair next to me. Her intense stare unsettled me until she broke into a wide smile. “I’m sorry, Kai told me about you. I was just curious.”
“You knew my mum?” I asked. “I think I’ve seen photos of you.”
“Yeah. We were friends.” She extended her hand. “I’m Leslie.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Kai wandered past, weighed down with shopping bags. “See you’ve met the old ball and chain!”
I looked back to Leslie. “You guys are married?”
“Fifteen years,” Kai called. “Expecting my medal in the post any day now!”
Leslie rolled her eyes as though it wasn’t the first time she’d heard that joke. Kai joined us a moment later, draping an arm around Leslie and kissing her cheek. “She’s all right, really,” he told me with a wink.
“It’s me who deserves the medal!” Leslie said. “Haven’t you got work to do?”
“Yes!” he replied, standing. He lingered for a moment. “She looks like Evelyn, doesn’t she?”
“It’s such a blast from the past,” Leslie said, beaming at me. “I had so much fun with Evelyn. I was gutted when she left.”
“I didn’t know if anyone would remember her.”
Leslie looked at me kindly. “I was sorry to hear . . .”
“Thank you,” I said quickly, shifting my gaze as I felt my chin start to quiver and I fought off tears.
“I’ll see you later,” Leslie said, squeezing my hand briefly. “Don’t miss out on the sausage sizzle tonight, will you? It’s the highlight of the week around here.”
It took a moment to get my emotions under control.
***
Kai fired the barbecue up early in the evening, and the smell of food cooking moved us over to him.
“How was your day?” Kai asked.
“Fine,” I replied. “I went to the hotel.”
“Did you meet Todd?”
“Yes,” I said hesitantly. “He’s a little . . .” I searched for the right word.
“Jeez, did you catch him in a bad mood? He can be a grumpy bugger sometimes.”
“He wasn’t particularly friendly.”
“Ignore him,” Kai said. “He’s mellowed over the years, but he’s still moodier than any woman I’ve ever known.” He winked at me before his face fell serious. “I thought he’d have been interested to meet you though. He knew Evelyn well.”
I shrugged. “He showed me the photos.”
“They’re pretty cool, hey?” he said as he started throwing sausages on the grill. “You hungry?”
“Starving!”
“Great, I’ve too many snags as always.” I looked blankly at him. “Sausages,” he explained with a grin. “I tried calling Joe but I couldn’t get hold of him. I usually catch him for a beer sometime over the weekend. Maybe he’ll call in here later.”
My appetite disappeared. The thought that he might just turn up at any time made me nervous. My evening was ruined after that; I had a bite to eat and took my time drinking a beer, but I felt suddenly nervous about meeting Joe. What if he was as cold as Todd had been? What if he doesn’t want to know me? I’d be no worse off, I told myself. I’d always been fine without a dad before. What difference would it really make?
I found myself smiling inanely at Jakob, who was telling a joke. Reaching for my necklace, only to be reminded of its absence, made my stomach lurch. At the next lull in the conversation I said goodnight and headed to bed.
Chapter 40
LIBBY – August 2017
The next day I had breakfast with Jakob and Sylvie. Jakob had bought a car when he’d arrived in Australia, with the intention of staying for two years and selling it again before he left. After breakfast, the three of us climbed into the old banger and Jakob took us for a drive. We ended up at the Swim Beach – a stretch of sand along the edge of Lake Kununurra which proclaimed to be crocodile-controlled, whatever that meant. An image of uniformed crocodiles wandering around on their hind legs, policing the area, came to mind. It was quickly replaced by more serious images when I cooled off in the water with Jakob and Sylvie. It was only a quick dip for me and then I retraced my steps out of the water.
“Where are you going?” Jakob asked.
“To sunbathe,” I replied, moving quickly to get out of the murky water and away from whatever sharp-toothed dangers lurked below.
The afternoon was pleasant; Jakob was well-prepared and set up sun umbrellas to provide protection from the scorching sun. We played cards and chatted amiably. When the heat overwhelmed me, I’d manage a quick dip to cool off but couldn’t relax enough in the water to swim far out into the lake. They teased me about my anxiety but I didn’t really care. I wasn’t losing a limb.
As the afternoon went on, Jakob became increasingly excited about an evening in Kelly’s Tavern – or the Tav, as he called it. Apparently, it was the social event of the week. In such a sleepy town, I wasn’t holding out much hope for a wild night.
He was right though; the Tav was definitely the place to be in Kununurra on a Friday night.
“Where did everyone come from?” I shouted over the din. It was a shock to cross the threshold into the Tav and find a barrage of people blocking the way to the bar. Every inch of floor space was taken up by people, and there was a constant buzz of conversation in the air.
“I thought you might be surprised!” he said, leaning close to me. “It’s Friday . . . workers come into town from the farms and stations. During the week, this place is dead, but at the weekend it comes alive!” He could say that again.
I scanned the room, wondering if Joe might be there. The crowd was mixed with a range of ages, but none of the faces looked familiar. It didn’t matter that the image I had of Joe was from twenty-something years ago. I was convinced I’d know him if I saw him.
Once we’d fought our way to the bar, Jakob led us to a side door and out to a large courtyard area. The heat hit me again as we stepped away from the air-conditioning. Outside, the music was “drunken karaoke”, and my eyes followed the noise to a small stage in the corner. There was a sound system set up next to flashing disco lights and a drunk girl propping herself up against a microphone stand and wailing something incoherent into it. No one was paying any attention.
Various groups of people sat around on an assortment of mismatched garden furniture, and scattered people were standing. It was a much younger crowd than inside. Everyone was casually dressed, mainly in shorts and T-shirts.
Jakob spotted friends and they shuffled down to make room for us on the picnic bench. I vaguely recognised them from the Croc.
“You’re Libby, right?” a guy with a London accent asked.
I nodded.
“Kai from the hostel was looking for you earlier. Did he find you?”
“I’ve not seen him today,” I said.
“Is he after you or what? He’s a bit old for you, isn’t he?”
“It’s not like that,” I told him. “He’s a friend. He’s been helping with some research I’m doing.”
“Well you should watch him,” he went on. “We’ve seen some dodgy guys running hostels while we’ve been travelling.” The girl opposite nodded her head as though they’d already discussed this.
“Kai’s a good guy,” Jakob said. “I’ve been here a while. He’s not dodgy.”
I took a sip of my beer and turned away from the couple, wondering why Kai was looking for me.
“What research are you doing?” Sylvie asked.
I gulped down more beer, stalling for time as I decided how much to say. “My mum was here when she was my age,” I said, deciding to stick to the truth. Not everything, of course. “She wanted me to see if there was anyone still living here who she’d been friends with.”
“Wow,” Jakob said. “That’s interesting. Have you found anyone?”
“Kai!” I replied. “He remembers her. He’s tracking down other people for me.”
“That sounds like so much fun,” Sylvie remarked. “It’s like a treasure hunt!”
“Kind of.” I’m just not sure what it’s going to lead me to. I need to drink more.
“Anyone need another drink?” I asked, standing and polishing off the first beer.
Sylvie shook her head and Jakob laughed. “You English girls always drink so much. Go on then, I’ll try and keep up!”
I don’t always drink so much, I thought as I made my way through the throng. Just when there’s a chance I might bump into my long-lost father at any moment.
The heat made me a lightweight, my body absorbing the alcohol at lightning speed. The more I drank, the easier it went down. By the fourth beer I was leaning over the line between tipsy and drunk. The positive was that all fear of running into Joe had vanished. The negative was that karaoke was starting to look like a fantastic idea. I was the life and soul and had everyone around me laughing.
“We should all do karaoke!” I said, loudly. “Who’s in?”
“No way,” Sylvie said. “It’s so embarrassing.”
