12 Days At Silver Bells House (20 page)

‘He's thrown me a hard ball.'

‘You mean curve ball.'

‘Whatever. His aim is pretty good.' She moved around the bedroom like a bullet. Whipping clothes from a bedside chair, scrunching them up, folding them haphazardly and slamming them into the suitcase.

Jamie held his hands up. ‘Slow down, Kate. What's happened?'

‘I have to get back to Sydney.'

That razor blade pierced Jamie's heart. ‘Now?'

‘I rang a car hire company in Cooma. They're sending a car down for me tomorrow morning. They said they'd leave it in town because it's Christmas Eve and they have to…whatever. So I asked them to leave it with Mrs Tam at the petrol station.'

Jesus.

‘I'll drive to Canberra and catch a flight to Sydney. I've booked that too.' She paused in her whirling dervish activities. ‘This is costing me a fortune.' She slammed the suitcase lid down and zipped it closed.

‘Kate.'

She looked across at him, and straightened. ‘I have to go, Jamie. I built this business with my heart. I can't let someone walk all over me and take it from me. I mean… They can have the business — but not my reputation.
Never
that. Do you know how hard I worked?' she asked, poking herself in the chest with her finger. ‘For how long I worked to get to where I am today?' She shrugged in some sort of despair and turned, heaving the suitcase off the bed.

Jamie stepped forwards and took it off her, putting it on the floor.

‘My
reputation
!' she said. ‘I won't let him take that from me.'

‘How has he ruined your goddamned reputation?'

‘Don't swear at me,' she yelled. ‘I'm teetering on the edge here.'

‘Alright. Alright,' he said again, calmer. ‘What's the bastard done?'

She sniffed. ‘He brokered that deal, remember? The one that would take Sensations into the big time.'

‘Yeah, and you had a choice. Let him take it and go along with it, or pull out. That's what this time in the country was all about. Making your choice. The choice you want.'

‘Well, the scumbag has gone one better and razed all my choices. Apparently, the only way the deal will go through now is if I resign.' Her eyes widened in bitter fury. ‘Resign! Give up everything I worked for. Because…' She threw her arms up. ‘The new financiers have been told that I'm not to be trusted.' She thumped her chest with her fist. ‘Me! Not trusted! Can you bloody believe that?'

No, he couldn't. ‘You're feeling torn apart, Kate. Why don't you stay here with me until after Christmas?' He was getting desperate and he knew it. But he didn't have a choice. ‘We can figure things out. Chalk up the lot on the board downstairs.'

‘No time. I have to go tomorrow. If I could get into Cooma tonight I'd go now.' She looked at him, blinked. ‘You wouldn't take me, would you?'

He shook his head. ‘No.' He walked across to her and took hold of her shoulders. ‘Are you sure you want this business? From what I've learned of you, you don't. You're making a snap decision.'

‘About time. I've been dawdling for days.' She broke from him and walked to the windows.

‘Pretty good days though, weren't they?'

She stopped her edgy pacing. ‘Jamie.' She came to him and put her arms around his waist and her cheek on his chest. ‘I've had a fantastic time here with you.' She looked up. ‘You do understand? Don't you?'

About why she was going? No.

‘Will you come back?' he asked.

‘I don't know.'

So here he was again, not wanted. What was the point in giving your heart if duty of care didn't matter to the recipient of your love? This wasn't the same as giving Megan her space, this was losing. There was every chance Kate wouldn't return.

‘You're scared, Katie. That's all it is.'

‘Maybe,' she said softly. ‘But we both know that if I stay in the city, this thing between us wouldn't work.'

Now it was a thing?

‘You travel, I travel.' She stepped back from him, took his hands in hers and tilted her head in what appeared to be bewildering exasperation. ‘We'd be travelling all the time. We'd never see each other.'

He smiled, released her hand although it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. Worse even than letting Megan go off without him to her country farm. But he had to let Kate go. She had to find her own way through this, and he had to force himself to make it easy for her. ‘Jumpin' jackfish, Katie,' he said, forcing the smile into his eyes and into his voice. ‘You gone broke my heart, girl.'

She shot back, covering her face with her hands. ‘Don't say that. Don't joke about it.'

He stepped forwards and wrapped her in his arms. ‘It's alright. Hush now.' All he could do was let her go and hope she'd come back.

Where were the magic stars when you needed them?

Jamie stopped on the walkway outside Cuddly Bear Toy & Gift shop. He peered through the fake snow and snowflake decals stuck on the glass and ran an eye over the window display behind. This was the only shop in town that sold gifts and he wanted one for Kate. He didn't have time to drive into Cooma. Leaving Kate on her own yesterday while he shopped for groceries had been difficult enough. He'd thought she might scarper behind his back because he'd told her he loved her. She was ready to hear it in her heart, but not her mind. And the two hadn't gelled yet. He'd half expected her to get into the excavator and drive that out of town. But he'd had no idea what trouble he'd really be going home to.

Now here he was in town again, this time to check that her hire car had been delivered.

It had. Thank God, because there was no way he was going to drive her anywhere. She was going to have to get used to hearing him say he loved her because he did love her. Adored her. And he was used to playing mind games although he hadn't thought he'd have to use them to this extent. This time, it was Jamie who was cheating.

It didn't feel like Christmas Eve, it felt like hell.

‘Morning, Jamie. What are you doing in a toy shop? Where's Kate?'

Jamie smiled at Mrs Tam who stood at the counter next to Ted and Mary Munroe, Gemma's mother, who owned the shop.

‘I could say the same to you both,' Jamie said, indicating Ted with a nod.

‘We ran out of teddies,' Ted said. ‘Mary here ordered two more. Just got time to wrap them before this afternoon's extravaganza.'

‘What can I do for you, Jamie?' Mary asked, pushing her short blonde hair behind ears that somehow held up gold hoop earrings so big a dog could jump through them. A small dog, anyway.

‘I'm buying a present for Kate. I saw something in the window I think might be perfect.'

Ted huffed. ‘Love in the air, is it?' he asked. ‘I've only just changed the population sign for you. I've got to change it again for the new guy, so if your woman is staying too, let me know soon, would you? Save me two trips up the ladder with a paintbrush in my hand.'

His woman. Sounded good. ‘I'll let you know when I know, Ted.'

‘Like that, is it?' Mrs Tam asked with a motherly frown of concern.

‘I'm afraid so, Mrs Tam. But don't worry. I've got a plan.' And maybe the townspeople could help. ‘Actually, folks, I couldn't have a confidential quick word with you all, could I?'

****

They hadn't made love last night but Jamie had held her. All night. Kate thought she must have dozed on and off. He'd been awake each time she stirred. Each time her eyelids flickered open. Perhaps he hadn't slept.

She reviewed her appearance in the bathroom mirror. Smart. Professional.

He appeared in the bathroom doorway, a hand on the frame. ‘Okay. The car hire people have dropped off your car. It's parked next to the petrol station.'

She looked at him in the mirror. ‘Thank you.' She blinked at him. ‘How do I look? Fighting fit?'

‘You look just fine. Five minutes, and we'll go. I've put your luggage in the ute.'

He disappeared from the doorway.

Kate plucked the lid off her lipstick, angled her face to the mirror and applied the dusky-rose colour to her lips.

This is the best thing to do, she told her reflection. She straightened the jacket of her raspberry-red suit and shuffled the slim-line skirt over her hips. Yes. Fighting fit.

****

Kate's heartbeat had been racing the whole fifteen-minute silent drive into town. She'd concentrated on remembering everything, like a montage in her mind. The No Through Road driveway from Silver Bells House, and the towering gum trees lining her way out of the country. The wildflowers on the verges of All Seasons Road. The endless road into town.

The road out of town
.

Jamie parked the ute next to the hire car and handed her the vehicle keys before getting out of the ute and walking to the tray-back where all her belongings sat.

He heaved them off and put them onto the ground behind the car.

‘My, my. What a surprise to find you leaving, Kate,' Mrs Tam said as she came out of the petrol station's office.

‘Something came up,' Kate said with a forced smile. ‘I have to leave earlier than expected.'

Mrs Tam tutted and looked up at Jamie.

‘She's made a decision,' he told Mrs Tam. ‘That's why she was in town, to make a decision. And she's made it. Sort of.'

Sort of
? Kate looked up at Jamie. She had made The Decision.

‘I see,' Mrs Tam said, and patted Jamie's arm.

What did Mrs Tam see?

‘What a gentleman, Jamie. A true gentleman. Bringing your lovely girlfriend into town and letting her leave.'

‘Thank you, Mrs Tam. I'm hoping this will work.'

Hoping
what
would work?

‘Well, bye, dear,' Mrs Tam said, lifting a hand in farewell before turning and sauntering off towards the stock feeders' where she stopped to chat with Grace Tillman and Mrs Penman who were standing beside the plastic neighing horse.

‘Bye,' Kate said, her voice soft. She frowned at Jamie. ‘She didn't seem too sorry to see me go.'

‘She didn't, did she?'

Kate raised her hand and waved at the women. ‘Bye,' she called out. ‘Thank you so much for letting me help out. I had a great time.'

All three ladies smiled, lifted a hand in response and returned to their conversation. A door closed on the walkway opposite. Kate looked over the street as Ted and Mr Penman came down the walkway stairs, chatting effusively about something. Ted's arms were waving. Mr Penman's legs were crooked. Poor man. Must still be struggling with his condition.

‘Ted,' Kate called. ‘Did the suit fit?'

‘Thank you, it did.'

‘Bye then,' Kate said. ‘I'm leaving now. Hope you have a wonderful afternoon.'

‘Everything's organised,' Ted said. ‘Everything's arranged with precision. Why shouldn't we have a wonderful afternoon?'

Kate shrugged. ‘I was just saying…'

Ted and Mr Penman walked on by, heading to the ladies outside the stock feeders'.

‘That's weird,' Kate said. This was no ordinary day for Swallow's Fall, she reminded herself. It was Christmas Eve and they had the party and present-giving this afternoon. Why should they care what the visitor from the city thought or did?

‘What about your wine?' Jamie asked. ‘You've got six bottles left. Want me to post them?'

‘You keep them.'

He smiled. ‘Thanks. I will. Your Chardonnay will go nicely with my roast turkey tomorrow.' He walked past her and put her suitcase and her carry-on into the boot of the hire car.

A man who cooked his own Christmas turkey. Kate felt like she'd cooked her goose to smithereens and shared the charred bones with Scrooge. God, what was this nonsense going on inside her head?

She ran both hands over her head, smoothing her hair back and checking the knot of her ponytail.

All secure.

Right then. This was it.

Holy tear ducts. She was crying.

Jamie slammed the boot and walked to her side. He dug into the pocket of his khaki trousers and produced a clean white handkerchief. ‘Here,' he said, handing it to her. ‘I had a feeling you might need it.'

She took it and pressed the folded square of cotton beneath each eye. ‘Don't be nice to me,' she said, her voice catching. ‘I done gone broke your heart, remember?'

He opened the driver's door. ‘Don't worry. I'll forget about you in around sixty years.'

A sob caught in her throat. She'd be looking at her ninetieth birthday in sixty years. What would she have to look back on? What trials would she be most proud of? Not this one, that was for sure. She was nothing short of varmint —or vermin —whichever it was. A rat deserting the sinking love boat.

‘Keep it,' he said when she offered him the handkerchief. ‘Oh, oh.'

‘What?' Kate asked as he peered into the car.

‘Manual shift.' He looked down at her red stilettos. ‘You going to manage?'

Kate swallowed. ‘Of course.' She got into the car, settled herself in the seat, checked the controls and pulled at the seatbelt. She'd stop outside town and take her stilettos off. But she wasn't going to do that now. That would make her look incapable. Flappy. Undecided.

Kate turned the key in the ignition. Jamie closed the door. Kate pressed the window button. The country air, so fresh and warm blew into the car as did Jamie's essence. Lime-scented fragrance. Strength.

Kate put the shift into first gear.

Jamie slapped the roof with his hand. ‘Okay. Drive safe.' He stepped back from the car.

Was that it
? Drive safe? No last use of the
love
word? No final declarations of adoration? No swearing to never forget her, even after sixty years?

‘Well if you're going to take it
that
way!' What was wrong with this town today?