by Di Morrissey
It was a remark that momentarily puzzled Holly, but she was soon distracted because everyone was taking a keen interest in the photographs and asking questions.
‘What an experience it must have been,’ said Bonnie enviously. It was her first time at a Sundowners gathering and she had been surprised to be included, but Nola had insisted. With her volunteer work at the Dolphin Centre and the Creative Community, Bonnie now felt she had a role in The Bay. Nola had telephoned to invite her and said she was impressed with what she’d heard from Amber about her generosity to Amber’s mother.
‘It’s only time. And I like pottering around in her garden,’ she said, but was grateful to Nola for subtly acknowledging her changing lifestyle.
‘Giving people time is a precious gift, Bonnie. We look forward to your contribution to our group.’
Bonnie looked intently at the postcard. ‘I might have to make that trip to Hervey Bay myself,’ she said quietly.
‘I can’t put into words how it affected me,’ admitted Holly. ‘They say it’s a profound, often life-changing experience, and I can understand why. There’s so much I could talk about, but I’m sure whales aren’t on the agenda at the moment.’ She turned to Nola. ‘What’s happening?’
Nola took charge. ‘Would you all please settle down so Kimberley can satisfy our burning curiosity. Kimberley.’
‘Well, take a firm grip on your drinks, folks. A Sydney-based company is making a bid to develop most of the beachfront at Mighty Beach. Their rezoning application is before council staff for assessment.’ She paused until the expressions of dismay subsided. ‘Okay, there’s more. Councillor Bright is pushing the application and Stolle thinks that could link the deal to Sam the Man. Lynn.’
Lynn took the cue. ‘Yeah, it seems that after Sam quit sitting on council donkey’s years ago, he stage-managed Bright into the vacancy and they’ve been very close buddies ever since. Bright apparently owes his commercial success to deals Sam cut him in on. Now, it’s likely that the deal is linked through Sam to that little gathering Nola witnessed in the apartment over yonder, and that the Asian bloke is involved. He might well be the big money backer of the deal.’
There was another outbreak of exchanges among the women but Holly didn’t hear what anyone was saying. Her mind was whirling, trying to come to terms with the obvious and irrefutable knowledge that Andrew was probably in on the deal as well. And the trail wound sordidly back to his trip to Thailand last year. As she struggled to get her anger under control she became conscious that the little gathering had quietened and everyone was looking at her.
‘Yes. I know what you’re all thinking, and you’re probably right. Andrew could well be involved, though to what extent I’m not sure. What we’ve heard ties in with some remarks he made to me recently.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘On a slightly different subject I’d like to say a word or two, because it won’t be long before the gossip grapevine puts it about. I’d prefer to say it straight to people I regard as my friends. Before I went away to Queensland I took a trip to Sydney to see Andrew, and to cut a long story short, we seem to have hit the wall. But where we go from here, I hadn’t wanted to think about. I’m now thinking a little more clearly. I don’t believe I can see a future for Andrew and me any more.’
There was a stunned silence for a moment before Nola rallied and took command. ‘Holly, darling, that was probably one of the hardest little speeches for any woman to have to make and we love you all the more for telling us as friends, together like this.’
Mac leaned across and gave her a kiss on the cheek and took her hand.
Nola pressed on. ‘Now, we’d better get cracking. What do we do? Organise a public protest?’ She paused, ‘I take it we are all in agreement we don’t want this ghastly plan to go ahead?’
‘No way!’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Stolle has spoken to Councillor Buck Hagen and I reckon he’ll be moving along those lines before the next edition of the Bugle. If this development goes through it will be the end of The Bay as we know and love it,’ said Lynn quietly. And it didn’t seem a melodramatic statement to any of them.
‘We’d better let him know he has support, right. All in favour?’ asked Nola with authority. There was a round of applause in support. ‘I shall make an appropriate statement to the Bugle then,’ she added.
‘As I’m on the council staff I can’t make any public comment,’ Kimberley explained. ‘I believe Nola would be an effective community spokesperson.’
As everybody agreed, Nola smiled. ‘I think grey-haired old warhorses can put the wind up councils. We have time and inclination to stir. Now, let’s top up our drinks and enjoy what’s left of the twilight.’
The women chuckled as the bottle of champagne was passed around. The queenly and glamorous Nola and the wonderfully eccentric Mac in her purple hippy clobber could scarcely be described as grey-haired warhorses. But stirrers – definitely.
It was then that Mac took Nola aside. ‘I’d like to thank you for providing this little forum and hospitality for such a diverse group of women. Some very lovely friendships are being forged here, very lovely indeed.’
Her sincerity touched Nola deeply, and impulsively she reached out and gave Mac a hug and whispered, ‘Thanks, Mac, thanks.’ She pulled back and took Mac’s hands in hers. ‘You know what we’re acknowledging here is that we’re all changing, all responding to what life offers. The Bay encourages that, doesn’t it?’
Mac smiled. ‘You’re right. You know I once read a line that went something like this, “Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart.” ’
‘A lovely line.’
‘Yes, but the trick is taking time to listen.’
Mitchell completed the final sequence of movements in his morning tai chi routine, stretched and stood, hands on hips, looking at the sea.
‘Now run down and dive in,’ instructed a steady voice behind him.
He turned in surprise then grinned at discovering Eddie had his camera focused on him. With a shrug Mitchell jogged to the water and dived through the waves, his sleek body silhouetted against the early morning light.
Eddie filmed him swimming strongly then panned to the right as several dolphins arched through the backlit waves. ‘Ah, wonderful stuff.’ Eddie turned off the video and sat on the sand waiting for Mitchell, tempted to strip off and dive in the water, but his training to never leave his camera was too strong.
Mitchell joined him, rubbing himself with a towel then pulling on a T-shirt. ‘What’s this Eddie – “Candid Camera”?’
‘The sexy side of life in The Bay,’ laughed Eddie. ‘You had clothes on. I’ve just shot a long soft-focus segment of Drew’s nude beach yoga class and a couple of fabulous naked Danish girls who were most co-operative. They were being chatted up by Robbo, our local well-hung stud.’
‘Our favourite lawyer?’ laughed Mitchell. ‘Makes a change from filming weddings and rallies, eh?’
‘From what I hear there’s going to be a lot more rallying. Kimberley is on the warpath,’ Eddie said. ‘A lot happened while you were blissed out in Hervey Bay. How was it?’
Mitchell sat on the sand beside him and didn’t immediately answer. Eddie waited, suddenly aware Mitchell was giving his light question some heavy thought.
‘Eddie, it was special. It is every year. But this year, Holly made it really special.’
‘Yeah, I’ve heard it can be mind blowing. I’ve only filmed whales from the air, not up close. So, Holly really got into it?’
‘She did. But what I meant was, she made me feel special,’ Mitchell said slowly. ‘I suppose the whole experience is conducive to bonding. But I have to say, I’ve come ashore with a bit of confusion.’
‘Ah,’ said Eddie, suddenly understanding. ‘Deep waters afloat and ashore.’
‘Holly has become a good friend. The months I’ve been working up at Richmond House . . . I don’t know, we never ran out of things to talk about, laugh about, sh
are. I realised I’d never had that in quite that way before. I suppose because we’re both married it took the pressure off . . . but out there at sea, it was like we were starting out again in life.’ He stopped and gazed at the water and gave a shrug and half grin. ‘I wish.’
‘I know exactly what you’re saying,’ Eddie said. ‘I’ve been through two marriages. Things start off in that hot rush of adrenalin, sex, fun, and the next thing you’re looking at this strange woman across the breakfast table thinking what the hell are you doing here?’
‘Oh, things haven’t got to that stage with Veronica,’ said Mitchell hastily. ‘Nothing unpleasant. It’s just that we seem to have run out of things to say to each other, do together. I blame myself for dragging her up here.’
‘I thought she was into her ceramics with all the pottery people,’ said Eddie. ‘Laura never got into anything but spending what little money I had left.’
Mitchell chewed his lip, finding it difficult to get out his next remark. ‘Veronica did drop a bombshell on me as a welcome home surprise.’
‘Oops, mate. I think I know what’s coming.’
‘It’s not that serious. I mean she doesn’t want to leave me or anything. Well, I mean . . . it’s just that she wants to go back to Sydney. Has a job,’ said Mitchell in a rush.
Eddie stared at him. ‘That’s not leaving you? Or are you supposed to pack up and go back too? Do you want to go back to Sydney?’
‘Hell, no. Would you?’
‘No. No way,’ he said quickly, then paused and spoke slowly. ‘Well, maybe. I mean I think I might if Tina said she was moving to Sydney.’ His face cleared and he said with some relief, ‘She’s never going to leave here.’
‘You and Tina – how serious is it?’
‘Now, very. I’ve been in a bit of a mess about it all. When you make two mistakes you think you have to be a lousy judge. But she seems so different, so special . . .’
Mitchell smiled and nodded in agreement.
‘I was very cautious. I didn’t let on I was so smitten with her. Didn’t tell anyone, even myself,’ said Eddie. ‘I was scared I might do the wrong thing. Didn’t even try to sleep with her and for me, well, that’s a bit of a record. Used to be easy Eddie . . . easy come, easy go. I treasure this girl. I’ve never felt like this.’
‘I’ve found the friendship part is really important. My old mum used to say friends first, lovers later. Now I know what she meant,’ said Mitchell.
‘So what are you going to do?’ Eddie asked sympathetically. And when Mitchell didn’t answer, he added, ‘I think you know very well.’
‘It’s not that simple.’
‘These things never are. You and Holly are good friends. That counts for a lot. Mind you, Andrew seems a bit of a shit, wouldn’t surprise me if he was playing around with his secretary.’
‘Or solicitor,’ blurted Mitchell.
Eddie gave Mitchell a hard look. ‘In Sydney?’
‘As well as up here. I saw Andrew and Letitia together on the beach a long time back.’
Eddie let out a low whistle. ‘Now I reckon there’s more to that than just having the hots for a younger bird. That woman is dangerous. Devious. Ambitious. She’s one of those reptilian bitches that eat soft men like us for breakfast.’
‘In that case Andrew can hold his own.’ Mitchell made an attempt at a joke.
‘Andrew is a businessman. He and Letitia Sweetman are well suited,’ said Eddie. ‘The question to my mind is, who’s using whom?’
Holly had agonised over making the phone call to Andrew. So many small things now added up and she saw an ugly picture emerging. The extended trips to Bangkok, mutterings from other partners in Andrew’s company and a comment or two from their wives at cocktail parties that she hadn’t understood at the time. Phone calls in the evening when she’d answered and the caller had hung up, or Andrew had picked up the phone and spoken in a low voice. The dubious company he was keeping. His evasiveness. And thousands of dollars in a bundle in the drinks bar at their house. Mac’s comment that she’d seen Andrew in The Bay when Holly didn’t think he was there. And most devastating, the fact that he’d tricked her into signing all those papers, effectively removing her financially from their marriage. Not to mention the issue of Letitia Sweetman. Well she was glad. He was a stranger to her. And she was now determined to fight for her share of their assets and take a stand against whatever involvement he may have in this development at Mighty Beach. But being the fair person she was, Holly still wanted to give him an opportunity to convince her he was not part of this scheme which looked like igniting the town.
They briefly exchanged small talk about Marcus and Melanie, then Holly drew a breath. ‘Andrew, there’s something else . . . about The Bay –’
‘About Richmond House? I hope you’re not going to ask for money. I told you I had to consolidate everything, just temporarily of course.’
‘Would that have been to invest in Beacon Land Holdings?’ Holly glanced down at the points she’d written on her notepad.
There was a moment of stunned silence. ‘What do you know about that? Who told you?’
She sighed, hearing the note of panic in his voice. ‘Andrew, the news is out about the development of the beachfront by some group and you’re said to be one of the people involved.’
He gave a sharp short laugh. ‘You make it sound like I’m a criminal. Holly, this is a business deal, a big one, with very reputable people. It’s going to be magnificent.’
‘So why didn’t you tell me about it? I’m living here, in business here, for God’s sake!’
‘Because you’ve never taken a bit of interest in what I do –’
‘That’s rubbish! You never tell me anything! Never speak to me. You treat me like an idiot,’ she shouted, breaking her promise to herself to keep cool and calm.
‘So what do you want to know? I’d appreciate your telling me just what wild rumours are being bandied around about a very legitimate enterprise that could set us up for life.’
‘Set you up, Andrew. I’m not a part of your business, our company, or our marriage any longer,’ she snapped. ‘Just what sort of a deal is it? What do you plan to build on that pristine strip of land?’
Andrew suddenly became placatory. ‘Holly, I’ll come up as soon as I can. I’ll bring the concept plans I’ve been working on and you’ll see what a sensitive, necessary, visionary project this is.’
‘Fine. Though how sensitive and visionary it could be with the likes of Sam Mann involved with some shady Asian investor, I fail to see.’
There was another brief silence and Andrew sighed. ‘Is that what you’ve heard? My, the gossip-mongers must be out there beating the drums,’ he said with an attempt at lightness. ‘The development is for a company in Sydney, Sam is just dealing with the legal adviser to that company, which represents the owners of the land.’
‘Who are?’
Her sharp question stung him, for Andrew realised he didn’t actually know who was behind Beacon Land Holdings. Letitia had put the deal to him after they’d met at a party in Bangkok and started their affair. Later she’d introduced him to General Chidchai, who was looking to invest money in Australia. Andrew had his suspicions but it didn’t bother him how the General and his friends had acquired the money. Letitia had introduced Andrew to Sam back in Sydney and things had started rolling along. When he’d seen the potential money to be made, Andrew wanted in as an investor and not just a hired designer and architect. That’s why he’d needed to cash in all the family assets. Under normal circumstances Holly would never have known, he’d have had enough money to do his own thing. The shadow of Letitia hovered over him. It was so incredibly ironic that Holly got a bee in her bonnet about doing something with her life and picked – of all places to do it – The Bay. He shook himself as these thoughts spun through his mind.
‘Holly, I’m not at liberty to give you that kind of information. Trust me, the Beacon development is something you’ll be proud to
know I was a part of creating. Wait till you see the whole concept. Just don’t talk about this until I see you. I’ll be up in a day or so, as soon as I can.’
‘I don’t care how wonderful your concept is. The issue is, nothing should be built on that land – for lots of reasons. It’s beautiful and unspoiled and it’s used by everyone in the community. You’ll put up something for rich people.’
‘Well it’s too late. The rezoning is going through council, and when the people see what we are giving to the community, it will be a different story.’
‘Andrew, I’m telling you, people are going to fight this. And I’m going to be in the frontline.’
‘Oh, God, like you were at the dog rally? Get real, you’re in business there too, remember. The development will advantage everybody.’
‘I am in business, no thanks to you. And when I open the doors of Richmond House I can say I’ve done it all with integrity, with the help of good and decent people, and all with my own money.’ Her anger had dissipated and she felt close to tears.
‘Fine, Holly. I’m withdrawing as your guarantor – conflict of interest. You realise if this little B & B doesn’t make a dime, you’re left with nothing.’ He sounded snide and mocking. Andrew had taken pride over the years in being a tough bastard in business and Holly could hear the pleasure in his voice.
‘Nothing to you is a lot to me, Andrew, but you couldn’t even begin to understand that. I guess we just call it quits then. On every level.’ Her voice was drained of emotion.
‘I guess so.’
‘Goodbye, Andrew.’ She hung up before he could say anything else. What was there left to say? Later would come the painful task of telling their children and families, of sorting through possessions. She started to shake and headed to the kitchen.
Andrew immediately lifted the phone.
‘Letitia, what the hell is going on? Holly has just rung to ask me what I know about Beacon Land Holdings. The shit is going to hit the fan, she says. Who talked? We wanted to stage-manage the release of this for public comment. We have our own media and PR people to do it. What happened?’
