Kate melted a little. Turning to Corbin, she said, “Corbin, meet Evan.”
“Hey, Corbin.” Evan, took Corbin’s free hand and shook it. “Howzit goin’?”
Corbin stared up at him, his mouth hanging open, a dollop of mash slopping over his lip.
“We kinda met before, remember? A few weeks ago in Alex. I didn’t get a chance to say hello to him though cos your friend lost the plot.”
“You mean me?”
Evan turned and gave a start when he saw Tracy.
Laughing, Kate said, “Evan, you remember Tracy.”
“How could I forget?” He offered his hand and Tracy shook it, smiling.
“Yeah, I was havin’ a rough day. But seein’ you squirm was pretty entertaining. Anyway, nice of you to finally turn up. Poor Kate’s been waitin’ half-an-hour for your head to poke through those doors. She’s already on her second wine.” She placed a large glass of pinot noir on the table in front of Kate. “I hope you’re gonna make it up to her.”
“I’ll try. Any suggestions?”
“A good root oughta do it.”
Kate’s eyes sprang wide. “Tracy!”
Tracy shrugged. “Just sayin’.”
“That might be taking things a little too fast,” said Evan.
“Yeah, you’re a real romantic, choosin’ this place for your first date. Still, they do say that beer makes a great aphrodisiac.”
“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad, is it? I’ve had some great nights in here.”
“Were you tryin’ to court a lady at the time?”
“Dunno — I was too drunk to remember the details.”
Tracy laughed. “Exactly. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself. Normally you just order from the bar but I’ll try to give you some special attention, seein’ as it’s your first date an’ all, so just wave me over if you need anythin’. Can I get you a drink, Evan?”
“Yeah, I’ll have a Heineken.”
“Okay. I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it. Enjoy.”
Evan sat down. “I thought this was our second date.”
“I told Trace about our first. She reckons it doesn’t count, on account of you being an arsehole. Her words, not mine.”
“Hmmm, fair enough. Okay, so let’s start over — our first date it’ll be. At the Dunstan Hotel. With your kid. Who says romance is dead, huh?”
Kate frowned. “I’m sorry, but it was either bring him or cancel.”
“No, no, don’t be sorry. It’s fine, really — I’m glad he’s here. It’s nice to meet him. What’s that stuff he’s eating, though? It looks disgusting.”
Kate turned the empty can around to show him the label. “Mashed pumpkin, kumara and peas. Here, have a sniff.” She held it up to his nose.
“Eew, that smells awful.”
“I know, makes me gag every time. I have to breathe through my mouth when I serve it. But he loves it.”
Tracy returned, carrying Evan’s beer and two laminated menus. She handed them over, then drew a lighter from her pocket and lit the candles. “Can’t have romance without candles.”
Kate wrinkled her nose as pale wisps of smoke drifted off the flames. “They’re even scented.”
“Yeah. Helps disguise the smell of stale piss,” said Tracy, winking. She left, disappearing behind the bar into the kitchen.
“So,” said Kate, “you’ve had some great times in here, huh? Who was that with?”
Evan took a swig of beer before answering. “My mate Dwayne lives over here. Haven’t seen much of him lately — he’s got young kids too — but we used to come here a bit. Mostly to watch the All Blacks play on the big screen. Dwayne’s a huge fan.”
“You’re not?”
Evan shrugged. “I can take it or leave it.”
Corbin finished his bowl of mash and began blowing bubbles, the transparent spheres of saliva flecked with orange goo.
“Stop that,” said Kate, cleaning him up with a paper napkin.
“He’s pretty cute,” said Evan.
“He has his moments.” She tapped the table with a finger, perusing the menu. “Anyway, since you’ve been here before, what do you recommend?”
“I’m getting a burger. They’re bloody good.”
“Hmm, I’m not in the mood for a burger. I feel like something a little more… refined, I guess. What about the chicken fettuccine?”
“Can’t help you there. Never had it.”
“Never mind, I’ve made my decision. You ready to order?”
“Yep.”
Kate waved to Tracy, who was pouring drinks behind the bar.
She nodded to them. “I’ll be right over. Just gotta serve these.” She delivered the drinks to the birthday group. As she placed the jugs of beer on the table Kate saw Steve lean over and make a squeezing gesture with his fingers behind Tracy’s bum, to the amusement of his companions. If she noticed, Tracy didn’t react.
When she got to their table, Kate said, “Did you see that guy? He made as if to pinch your bum.”
“Who, Steve?” asked Tracy.
“Uh-huh.”
“Yeah, he’s got a thing about it, the moron. He’s not the only one. It goes with the job. Mostly I just ignore it, but it gets worse once they’ve had a few.”
“Well, I think it’s totally unacceptable. You should say something.”
“Nah, you can’t get too upset about it. Gettin’ aggro just encourages them.”
“Come on Tracy, you shouldn’t have to put up with that. It’s disgusting.”
Tracy shrugged. “I feel sorry for them, actually. I mean, look at me — I’ve got a face like a barrel of monkeys an’ a chest like an ironing board yet I’m half the reason they come here. Steve especially. He’s an ugly bastard, an’ aside from the odd sheep I don’t think he gets much action.”
Evan laughed, but Kate gave him a disapproving scowl and his smile faded. She pushed her chair out and stood up.“You can’t excuse that kind of behaviour, Tracy. It’s sexual harassment.”
“What’re you doin’?”
“If you won’t say something, I will.”
Kate took a step forward, but Tracy grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t. “
Kate stopped. “Why not? They’ll just carry on, otherwise.”
“It’s no big deal.”
Kate gave an exasperated sigh. “Yes, it is. This is your place of work. It’s supposed to be safe.”
Tracy glanced over her shoulder at the birthday table. A couple of the men were looking in their direction. “Sit down — you’re makin’ a scene.
“Making a scene? I’m trying to help you.”
“Well, you’re not!” Tracy snapped. Lowering her voice, she said, “I need this job, Kate. Do you know how much money those guys spend in here? Steve is in almost every night. This place runs on the cash they put through the till. If I make a fuss, who do you think my boss is going to side with — them or me?”
“If that’s the way it is you need to get another job.”
“Oh, cos they grow on trees, do they? This is a good job, Kate. Haggis is a good boss. He’s flexible, lets me work around Hayley. I don’t want to screw it up.”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Tracy raised her eyebrows. “That’s easy for you to say — you don’t even have a job.”
“My job is looking after Corbin!”
“Yeah, an’ mine is lookin’ after Hayley. One of the ways I do that is by workin’ here so I can put food on the table for her. Now leave it, Kate, please.” She gestured towards Kate’s chair. “Sit down an’ I’ll take your order.”
Kate stood where she was for a moment, staring at Tracy, brows knitted, then did as she was told.
“Thank you.” Tracy took a notepad and pen from the pocket of her jeans. “Now, what can I get you?”
Evan looked at Kate, but when she didn’t respond he gave his order first. “I’ll have the Angus beef burger, thanks.”
“Kate?”
> Kate continued her frown for a moment longer, then sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I think I’ll have the chicken fettuccine. Would you recommend it?”
Tracy nodded. “Yeah, it’s good. Maybe not high-street, Italian-restaurant good, but good nonetheless. Anythin’ else?”
Kate wasn’t sure if that was a dig at her, and Tracy’s serious expression didn’t give her any clues. She requested a bowl of hot chips for Corbin while Evan added some garlic bread. Tracy repeated their order back to them, then scrunched her nose.
“You might wanna check Corbin’s bum,” she said. “I think he’s done number twos.”
“Really?” Kate leaned towards Corbin and sniffed, then recoiled. “Oh, dear.”
Tracy cocked her head towards Evan. “You should get him to change it. Bet he needs the practice.”
Evan’s eyes widened and Kate chuckled. “I don’t want to scare him off on our first date.” She stood and gathered Corbin’s bag from beneath the table. “I won’t be long.” Lifting Corbin from his chair, she disappeared into the toilets.
NINE
Evan watched Kate go, admiring the way her bum swayed beneath her skirt as she walked. Tracy returned to the kitchen and he sipped his beer, glancing at the birthday table. The argument between Kate and Tracy had been uncomfortable, and while it was admirable that Kate had been so willing to stand up for her friend he got the impression that Tracy was capable of taking care of herself.
He took another sip, his attention captured by an old photo on the wall above him. A group of solemn Chinese miners were seated in front of a mud and stone hut, with some bushy-bearded white guy standing beside them.
Hearing his name being called, he turned in surprise to see his friend Dwayne striding towards him.
“Hey, Dwayne. How’s it going?”
Dwayne was a stonemason, and although he was only a couple of years older than Evan his complexion was grizzled and weatherbeaten from years of working outdoors, his jowls covered in a week’s worth of stubble. He was short, five-seven or eight, with a number-one buzz cut and a scar above his right eyebrow. He was wearing a charcoal hoodie and green cargo pants, his hands stuffed in the pockets, the exposed skin on his wrists furred with black hair.
They shook hands and Dwayne clapped him on the back. “Yeah, good. Long time, no see. What are you doin’ here? And why is there a high-chair next to you?”
“Well, actually,” said Evan, grinning, “I’m on a date.”
“If she’s in a high-chair, bro, I think she’s a little young for you.”
Evan laughed. “No, that’s for her son. They’ve just gone to the bathroom.”
“No shit? What happened to Yumiko?”
Evan shrugged, averting his eyes. “I dunno. We had a big argument the other night and ever since she’s been ignoring me.”
“So you’re cheating on her?”
“Bro, it’s just a date. I haven’t done anything yet. For all I know it could be her that’s cheating on me.”
Dwayne shook his head. “Yumiko’s not the cheating type.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
It was Dwayne’s turn to shrug. Changing the subject, he said, “So she’s got a kid, huh? What’s her name?”
“Kate.”
“Kate who?”
“Kate Hensley.”
Dwayne’s eyebrows shot up, meeting the creases in his forehead. “You’re fuckin' kidding?”
“No, why? Do you know her?”
“Yeah, I know her. I did some work at her house a while back. Bro, I’d steer clear if I was you.”
“Why’s that?”
“She’s a stuck-up bitch, for one.”
“You think? Seems pretty friendly to me.”
“Yeah, cos she’s on the rebound. She’s only just split with her husband. Did she tell you what she did to him?”
“No.” Evan leaned forward. “What’d she do?”
“Set fire to all his stuff. Clothes, skis, golf clubs — you name it, it all went up in flames.”
“Wow,” said Evan. Clearly a passionate woman. “What’d he do to upset her?”
“She reckoned he was cheating on her. Even so, bro — burning all his gear, that’s taking it too far.” The expression on Dwayne’s face was comically solemn, as though it were his belongings that had gone up in smoke.
“I don’t know,” said Evan, smiling. “Serves him right if he was cheating on her.”
“So if you go home tonight and find Yumiko’s set all your shit on fire it’ll serve you right too, will it?”
“I told you, I’m not cheating.”
“Then whaddaya doin’?”
Evan finished his beer and turned away, sighing. “I dunno. I just like her, is all.”
“Well, go back to liking Yumiko. It’ll be a whole lot easier, I tell ya. Anyway, here she comes. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Where you going?”
Dwayne tilted his head towards the big table. “My mate Steve’s celebratin’ his birthday.”
Evan nodded. “Yeah, we noticed. Okay, bro, see you.”
“Yeah. Catch ya later.”
Dwayne joined the birthday party and Kate returned, dropping Corbin into his high-chair.
“Who was that?” she asked. “He looks familiar.” She took a plastic train from Corbin’s bag and handed it to him.
“That’s my mate, Dwayne, who I was telling you about. Says he did some work at your place.”
She sat down as Corbin pushed the train around the tray of his high-chair, making whistling noises. “What sort of work does he do?”
“He’s a stonemason.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Kate nodded. “He built the wall along the street front. Did a good job too, when he wasn’t stopped for a drink. I’ve never seen anyone drink so much water, and yet he never asked to use the toilet.”
“That’s cos he pisses in his concrete mixer,” said Evan, smirking. “Reckons it makes a superior plaster.”
Their meals came and they ordered more drinks. He watched Kate eat, her movements delicate, a rosy glow suffusing her cheeks. She was wearing a white cotton blouse, the top two buttons undone, and Evan struggled to keep his eyes from drifting to the curving V of her cleavage. He had visions of her dripping creamy pasta sauce down there and asking him to lick it off, but she was a controlled and tidy eater, and his visions remained just that. The two of them chatted freely, but Evan noted that she was careful to steer the conversation away from any discussion of her ex.
As they neared the end of their meal a lull settled over them. Finishing his burger, Evan wiped his mouth with a napkin, leaned back in his chair and said, “Well, that was bloody good.”
“Mine too,” said Kate, smiling. Better than I expected.”
“See, I told you. Shall we get dessert?”
“Maybe. Depends what’s on the menu.”
Corbin, who to Evan’s amazement had devoured his entire bowl of chips, grizzled and shuffled in his seat, pointed to the floor and said, “Down.”
“No, Corbin, sorry.” Kate shook her head. “You’ll just have to be patient. Would you like some dessert?”
Corbin looked at her with a quizzical expression. “Down,” he repeated.
“I’ll take him for a wander round the room, if you like.” said Evan. “I could do with a stretch myself.”
Kate cocked her head, staring at Corbin, then consented. “I guess. It’s not like he can wreck anything in here.”
She lifted him out of his high-chair. Corbin chuckled and toddled off, Evan following. As they approached the birthday table Dwayne turned from his stool and beckoned Evan over.
“How’s your date going?” he asked. “I see she’s already got you on babysitting duties.”
“Yeah,” said Evan, keeping a watchful eye on Corbin. “I don’t mind. He’s pretty cool.”
Glancing at Kate, Dwayne said, “I wonder what she sees in you.”
“My rugged good looks.”
�
��Bro, I’m the rugged one, not you. With that hair and those fat, feminine lips, you look like a girl with stubble.” He scratched his head, looking thoughtful. “Maybe she wants to bat for the other team but is afraid of making the leap, and you’re like a halfway point — a stepping stone.”
Evan chuckled. “You’re rugged all right. With that skull of yours…” He patted the prickly fuzz on Dwayne’s scalp. “You look like some kind of ancestral primate — Neanderthal man.”
Dwayne shook his head. “Neanderthals weren’t ancestral — they evolved simultaneously with us. We were just more ruthless.”
Evan giggled again, then nodded towards the far end of the table where Steve Gibson had his head raised to the ceiling, skulling a glass of beer. “Looks like he’s in for a big one.”
“Yeah,” said Dwayne quietly. “He’s a real pisshead.”
“And you’re not?”
“I’ve eased off. Chloe told me she’d leave if I didn’t. I shouldn’t even be here, but I wanted to make an appearance for Steve’s sake. In fact,” he said, looking at his watch, “it’s about time I got going. I promised I was only gonna stay for one jug.”
“Well, it’s good to see you again.” Evan rested his hand on Dwayne’s shoulder. “We need to hang out soon — head up the mountain or something.”
“Yeah, bro, definitely. If I can get out of the house, that is. It’s hard with the kids.”
“I’m sure it is. Anyway, see you, man.”
“Yeah, see you.” Dwayne stood and leaned towards Evan, continuing in a low voice, “Don’t forget what I told you. It’s your life, bro, but risking Yumiko for her…” He flicked his head in Kate’s direction. “I think you’re crazy.”
Evan shrugged. “We’ll see.”
They shook hands and Evan continued walking with Corbin. There wasn’t much to hold the boy’s attention, and soon they circled back to Kate, who was reading the dessert menu.
She sat Corbin on her knee, giving him a kiss, then turned to Evan.
“How’s Dwayne?”
Taking the Plunge Page 6
