‘Oh shit! The curry!’ Ana exclaimed. She raced towards the saucepan that was still sizzling away on the stovetop, automatically turning the hotplate to low. The top layer of meat, sauce and vegetables looked perfectly fine, and Ana found herself crossing her fingers as she reached for the wooden spoon on the bench beside the stove.
It was to no avail, though. As soon as she tried to push the spoon into the curry, she felt resistance. Pushing deeper into the dish, determined to reach the base, Ana found the curry dry and congealed. Pulling the spoon out once she’d scraped the bottom, Ana stared in horror at the large clumps of black.
‘Maybe the burnt flavour isn’t through it all,’ Ana spoke her hopes aloud, reaching for a teaspoon to conduct a taste test.
‘It’s okay, Ana. It doesn’t matter.’
‘But I really wanted to cook for you. You’re always cooking for me, and this is my place, and…’ Blowing on the spoonful of curry, Ana tasted it. Liquid charcoal surrounded her tastebuds and she spat the food straight back out. ‘It’s ruined,’ she moaned, throwing the spoon in the sink and switching the heat off completely.
‘Lucky I brought some takeout then.’
‘What?’ Ana stared at Travis, uncomprehending.
‘I brought dinner,’ Travis reached for the plastic bag sitting on her kitchen table and started pulling out plastic takeout containers.
‘But…but…I said I was doing dinner. I was cooking.’ Ana didn’t know whether to be devastated at his lack of faith in her, or relieved that they had a back-up meal.
‘I know. I just…you have tried to cook before and it kind of always ends up like this.’
‘Oh.’ Crestfallen, Ana could only stare at the containers stacked up on the table.
‘Hey, baby girl, it’s not a big deal. Cooking’s just not your thing,’ Travis gave her a quick squeeze, guiding her towards the table as he did so.
‘Then what is my thing, Trav? I mean, on top of everything else you do, you love cooking. Pierce is painting again. Me? I’ve got nothing.’
‘You’re the loveable one; the social butterfly.’
Ana scoffed at his words, ‘Yeah, ‘cos my love life has worked out so well.’
‘Aw, honey.’ She could feel Travis’ eyes on her, full of concern and pity and wished she’d kept her mouth shut. ‘You’ve just had some bad luck. It’ll pick up. Hell, you’re not even thirty yet.’
‘Yeah, yeah, I know,’ Ana dismissed quickly, keen to push the attention away from her woeful love life. ‘So, how did the trip to Sydney go? This was the first time Kelli was meeting Sean, wasn’t it?’ Ana determinedly ignored Travis’ gaze as she loaded her plate with steaming Jasmine rice before reaching for the take out curry Travis had provided.
When he didn’t respond, just kept standing there watching her, she forced herself to meet his piercing blue gaze.
‘I’m fine,’ she insisted, holding his gaze until he backed down and took the seat opposite her at the table. ‘Now, tell me about your trip.’
‘If you’re sure…’
‘I’m sure. Now, how did the little squirt get on with Kel?’
The wariness finally dropped from Travis’ eyes as he focussed on his own son, an easy grin stretching across his wide mouth.
‘Well, you certainly can’t call him a little squirt anymore. He’d be up close to your chin by now.’
‘What? No way! He’s only eight.’
‘Nine in a month, and tall for his age, and bursting with ideas. I know I’m biased and all, but he’s just such a great kid. There was no animosity, no strangeness when he met Kelli. She was nervous as hell, but he gave her a big old hug and then it was as though we’d been a family for years.’
Ana felt pinpricks of happiness at the backs of her eyes. It was just so good to see Travis settled. ‘That’s awesome, Travis.’
‘Yeah. Yeah, it was. We even had dinner with Ashlee and her new man.’
‘Oh, gawd. How did that go?’ Ana asked, forkful of curry hovering in front of her mouth.
‘It was fine. Good, even. She seems…happy. Finally. They all seem happy. Even Sean. He…ah…it’s hard to admit, but I think he’s happier there than he ever was up here. I guess a happy wife/mother really does make for a happy life.’
‘How do you feel about that?’
‘Good, I think. It’s so good to see him settled and happy. You wouldn’t believe the change in him. Actually, you’ll get to see it, if you want? He’s coming up for the school holidays.’
‘We definitely have to book in some Aunty Ana dates, then. I’ll spoil the little—sorry, big—bugger rotten and he won’t want to go home.’
‘Not too spoilt,’ Travis laughed as he scooped up some of his curry with a piece of naan bread. ‘We want him to keep on being a nice kid.’
‘You can be such a spoilsport sometimes, Trav.’
‘I call it keeping my boy well grounded.’
‘Keep telling yourself that,’ Ana teased, snatching the last of the naan bread.
‘By the way, do you mind doing this dinner with Dad and Viv a bit earlier on Saturday? I’ve got Cam’s buck’s party at my place that night, so I need to get back by seven—preferably before then.’
‘Yeah, no worries. That’ll free up the rest of the night for some shenanigans. How are you getting there?’
‘To Dad’s?’ Travis arched an eyebrow in query as he scooped up the rest of his curry. ‘Driving. How else?’
‘Yeah. Sorry. Stupid question. What I meant was, can you give me a lift?’
‘Sure. Why?’
‘Now it’s your turn for the stupid questions,’ Ana laughed. ‘So I can drink, duh!’
‘Of course,’ Travis grinned, feigning a smack to the forehead. ‘That was a stupid question.’
His phone beeped, the screen lighting up with a picture of Kelli.
‘Ooh, your girlfriend’s calling. Better let you take that,’ Ana winked, as she started clearing the table.
‘It’s just a message,’ he dismissed easily, though she noticed he flicked into the message pretty damn quick, a bright smile lighting his face even faster in response to whatever it was he read. He typed out a quick message before jumping up to help her clear the table.
‘What movie do you want to watch?’ Ana asked him once the dishwasher was stacked and started.
‘Ah, actually, I’m probably going to head off.’
Panic started fluttering inside her chest at his words. He couldn’t go. She couldn’t be here alone. That wasn’t how she’d planned for the night to work out.
‘Kelli’s just finished up at the hospital, and—’
‘She can come around too. We can all hang out.’
‘Look, she’d love to, but she’ll be buggered. She commuted from the Gold Coast this morning, so she’s been up since all hours and—’
‘It’s okay. I understand. You don’t need to go on,’ Ana held up her hand to stem the tide of explanations. She didn’t want explanations. She just wanted company.
Her words must have come out sharper than she’d intended because that look of concern was back in Travis’ eyes.
‘I can stay if you want me to. I don’t have to go if you need me here.’
There was that word. Need. She hated that word; hated admitting that she did need him, or anyone. And neither did she want Travis to stay here out of pity for his little sis when he’d rather be somewhere else.
‘No, I’m good. You should go, hang out with your missus.’
‘I won’t go if you’re not okay, Ana,’ his voice was soft and full of worry, his hands reaching for her but she pulled away.
‘I’m fine. Really.’
He stood looking at her, his eyes trying to assess the truth of her claim. ‘You know you can always come back to mine. Just for the night, or for good. No one will think any different of you if you just…need the company.’
‘Thanks but no thanks. I don’t want to be a third wheel again. Besides, I’m a big girl now, Trav. I can lo
ok after myself. I promise. You don’t need to baby me anymore.’
Even as she said the words, she fought the butterflies in her belly. But she didn’t want Travis to know. She didn’t want to go backwards. Not anymore.
‘If you’re sure?’
‘I’m sure. Now go and make Kelli’s night,’ she added with a saucy wink, pleased to see the blush staining Travis’ face at her words. It meant she’d succeeded in distracting him from his thoughts of her.
She managed to keep the smile on her face till after she’d closed the door behind him, but once he was gone she let the pretence drop.
Moving down the corridor, into the empty apartment she felt a shiver race across her skin. It was so quiet. The dishwasher clunked as it released its tablet and she almost flew across the room.
Dammit. She couldn’t let this fear consume her. She refused to let it win.
She switched on the television, unconcerned what program was on as long as its noise killed the silence yawning around her. Grabbing her keys off the bench, she then flew around the apartment, ensuring all doors and windows were locked.
Satisfied that she’d secured the apartment, she sat down in front of the television, consciously trying not to listen for strange noises, but failing miserably. Butterflies were still fluttering in her stomach, teeny tiny ants marching up and down her arms, but she was winning the battle. She was.
At least, she thought she was. Until there was a loud crashing bang that reverberated around the apartment. Her heart jumped up into her throat, her lungs barely working as her wide eyes stared around the apartment.
There was no one in the room. Nothing was out of place.
She heaved in one deep breath, then two before standing up. She was about to start checking the rest of the apartment when muffled curses echoed down the corridor from the front door and she realised the noise had come from outside of her apartment, in the complex hallway.
Frozen in place she listened to the noises outside, carefully waiting until she heard the door of another apartment slam closed, the cursing disappearing inside there.
Sucking in a deep, relieved breath, Ana flopped back onto the lounge, staring at the television but unable to focus on the program.
She couldn’t deny it any longer. She needed help.
Picking her phone up off the coffee table, Ana scrolled through the contacts until she found Brad’s number. He’d told her to call if she needed him. Had he only meant that night?
No, she knew Brad. If she called him, he’d come. And she needed someone. She needed him.
Yet still, her finger hovered over his image, hesitating.
The phone started vibrating in her hand, and she squeezed it tight in shock. She glanced down at the screen, expecting it to be Brad, half-believing some sixth-sense had alerted him to her need.
Natalie.
Eeek. Why was Brad’s sister calling her?
Sliding her finger across the screen, Ana held the phone to her ear.
‘Hiya, Ana speaking.’
‘Hi Ana, it’s Natalie. Natalie Lewis here.’
‘I thought you were a Brenton, now?’
‘Oh…ah, no. Not at the moment. Anyway, that’s not what I was calling about.’
‘Oh-kay. So why did you call. Is it about Stacey’s hen’s night? I meant to stop by their place and pick up the invitation, but I just haven’t made it there yet. Hopefully—’
‘No. Not about that. I’m not involved. I think Stacey’s friend Teegan is the one organising that. I was ringing because Brad told me you might be in need of some help.’
What?!
‘He asked me to recommend a good psychologist for you, someone with experience in dealing with anxiety and post-traumatic stress.’
Heat flushed across her skin, an acute mix of the embarrassment and growing fury that was winding through her body. Natalie was the very last person she’d ever wanted to know these details about her.
‘I’ve been in contact with a colleague I used to work with. He has a practice in New Farm, so quite conveniently located to you now. He’s got a lot of experience in these areas, and is very well respected in the field. His waiting lists are quite long, but as a favour to me, he’s happy to fit you in sometime in the next week.’
Whoa! This was getting out of hand way too quickly. She needed to put a stop to it and fast.
‘Look, thanks and all that, but no thanks.’
‘What do you mean “no thanks”?’
‘Exactly what it sounds like.’
‘But Brad—’
‘Brad shouldn’t have said anything to you. I don’t want any help. Not from you, not from anyone.’
‘Except from him.’
The barb sucked the breath right out of Ana. ‘What?’ she asked, her voice low and full of warning. A warning Natalie paid no attention to.
‘Brad’s been the strong one for you for too long. It has to stop.’
‘Excuse me?’ Ana could not believe what she was hearing. What right did this woman think she had to pass judgement on Ana?
‘Don’t play dumb. You weren’t the only person hurt that night.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘It means my baby brother has spent a lifetime playing the hero for you, while ignoring his own problems. He has to start looking after himself, but he’s never going to do that while he’s looking after you.’
Instant denial formed on Ana’s lips, but instead she sat there frozen. What Natalie was saying couldn’t possibly be true, could it?
But there was something niggling there at the back of her mind. Something Brad had said the day he’d moved her in; that the reason he always left had something to do with hiding from what he’d done in the past. And then, at lunchtime today, he’d been so determined that the others didn’t find out what had happened.
‘Good. I knew you’d see sense eventually. I’ll PM you the details and then all you need to do is call his office and set up a time,’ Natalie informed her, clearly taking her silence as acquiesce.
Ana had no energy left to fight, barely noticing when the call ended. Her anger had drained away, replaced by a burning question she couldn’t hide from.
Was Brad better off without her?
Chapter Ten
‘Come on, it won’t be that bad,’ Ana urged Cara as they made their way down St Paul’s Terrace, starting to wonder whether it had been worth it.
‘Now where have I heard that before?’
Hmm. Okay, so she had some history of dragging Cara along to questionable social events, but, ‘it’s true, this time,’ she insisted as they reached the front door of The Jubilee, the recently refurbished pub their destination of choice tonight. ‘They seem like a lovely bunch of people.’
‘Ah-huh. And that’s exactly why you couldn’t meet up with them by yourself, right?’
She flashed her friend a knowing look, finally conceding the point. ‘If they turn out to be dud company, we can skedaddle after two drinks.’
‘Ha! I knew it.’
‘Well, I have only worked with them a couple of weeks,’ Ana reminded her as she pushed open the pub door.
Beyond the darkened entrance, scattered groups of people chatted while drinking in corners throughout the quieter front area. The general hub of conversation grew louder as they made their way to the more densely packed al-fresco area, with patrons raising their voices as they competed with the latest One Republic song pumping out of discretely-placed speakers.
‘What are you after?’ Ana asked her friend as she led the way to the bar.
‘Just a glass of Sauv—actually, they’ve got frozen daiquiris tonight. I’ll have one of those. What flavours are there? Can you see?’
To get a better look at the frozen daiquiri machine, Ana had to lean in and angle her head round the man in front of her. An overpowering stench of cheap cologne assaulted her senses, and she automatically clenched her nose against the foul scent. It wasn’t that the essence of the cologne was all t
hat bad, really. It was fresh pine with a hint of morning dew, but there was just so much of it. Struggling to focus on the daiquiri machine, Ana eventually identified two delicious-looking flavours, and settled back in line beside her friend.
‘We have Sex on the Beach, Fruit Tingle, and someone trying way too hard to get laid,’ Ana told Cara, confident the pub’s loud noise would muffle her words and ensure they only travelled as far as her friend.
‘Who?’ Cara mouthed at her, and Ana rolled her eyes towards the guy.
Never one to let someone else have all the fun, Cara leaned forward and took an exaggerated sniff before pretending to faint backwards into Ana’s arms. Unable to help herself, Ana exploded into titters of laughter. Cara pulled herself upright and joined in.
‘Ana, you made it!’
Ana looked up and saw Will standing in front of them. Oops! The cheap cologne guy was one of the doctors they were meeting out tonight.
She would just die if he realised they’d been laughing at him.
‘Hiya!’ Ana flashed him a megawatt smile, hoping the darkened bar light concealed her bright red blush. ‘This is my friend Cara,’ she added, waving a hand in her friend’s direction, hoping to draw his attention away until she’d returned to her normal colour.
She needn’t have worried. As soon as Will set eyes on Cara he was a goner. Not that Ana could blame him. Cara was stunning. Tonight she’d practically poured herself into a gorgeous strapless brown number that set off the golden tones in her skin magnificently.
‘Hey there, I’m Will,’ he introduced himself in what he probably thought was an ultra-smooth voice. Unfortunately it came across just plain sleazy and Ana could practically see the mental eye-roll Cara was giving him.
‘Will’s one of the doctors at the practice,’ Ana stepped in, trying to rectify the situation she’d thrown him into.
‘So I guessed,’ Cara replied, condescension thick in her tone. Thankfully Will didn’t seem to notice.
‘So, what would you ladies like to drink?’ he asked, leaning back towards the bar as bar staff started placing drinks on a tray in front of him.
A Love Worth Saving Page 14
