Chanel Sweethearts (15 page)

Jessica parked next to Nick's big ute and ambled down the short path to reach the isolated rocky beach. A storm was threatening; she could feel the electricity in the air. The overcast sky was oppressive, making the humid day feel all the more still and close. It was particularly stifling on the path, as very little breeze penetrated the ti-tree lined track. The scrappy bark peeling from the boughs of the melaleuca hung drooping as if it were too hot to cling to the tree any longer. Jessica smiled as she caught sight of a small possum, too hot for indoors, lying limply on the branch just near its nest's entrance, its small arms wide open, so like a human in its lethargy.

She emerged onto the foreshore with relief and the slight sea breeze cooled her flushed cheeks. The acrid stench of seaweed steaming in the heat stung her nostrils.

This part of their coastline was like another part of the world. The cliff face was red and held millennia of weather stories in its layers. Little sand softened the rugged landscape. The beach was all rock pools and inlets, too dangerous for surfing or swimming and guaranteed to be private. Jess knew it was one of Nick's favourite thinking spots.

His text had sent a shiver through her. They hadn't spoken since New Year's Eve and she was desperate to put things right between them. She wanted to get back to the way they'd always been. And she owed him a face-to-face explanation of her plan to move before he heard it on the local grapevine.

Nick was one of her closest friends and life seemed to make less sense without him. The kiss had been a mistake; a moment of passion fuelled by the sentimentality of the occasion, the music and alcohol. Hopefully they could put it all behind them, she thought, pleased with her sensible approach. But a tiny shred of something else nagged at her: maybe he wanted to meet her here for another reason; maybe he had felt what she had in that moment when their lips had met.

‘For goodness sake,' she scolded herself. ‘Enough with the schoolgirl fantasies already!'

The path broadened out to the sand and Jess saw that the beach was empty except for a single figure, staring out to sea, standing hunched against the wind on a flat rock.

Her heart seemed to beat faster, and she had to stop and take a deep breath. ‘Nick,' she called.

‘Jess, you're here!' He stood and walked towards her.

She picked her way across the uneven rocky ground. As they drew closer he smiled broadly, put his bag down and em braced her.

Her thoughts were scrambled. Were they back to normal as great friends, or was there something else between them now? She was too confused to tell so she simply gave into the warmth of his hug, holding him tight and close. Finally she mustered her composure and pulled away.

‘So?' she said, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head. ‘What's for lunch? I'm starving.'

He'd forgotten to bring a blanket so they sat on a small patch of sand at the base of the cliff. Protected from the wind, it was a warm, sheltered place to share the picnic.

‘Oh, you've done well,' Jessica said in delight as Nick unpacked the food.

As they ate they chatted about light topics: the store, the local football team, his work on the estate. Nick poured them both a second glass of wine and they sat staring out to sea, letting their meals sit comfortably in their stomachs.

He looked over at her. She took his frank gaze. She wanted more than anything to delve into the scandalous gossip she'd heard from the women the other night at the party. But there was no way she was going to wreck such a special moment. Nick would tell her when he was ready. It wasn't time yet. History had taught her that Nick Johnson, like a sea anemone, withdrew at lightning speed when prodded.

Nick leaned forward and brushed away the crazy curls that were fluttering in front of Jess's face. She watched his eyes and her playful smile dropped as she saw what was coming. Her heart fluttered; her stomach followed suit. Nick leaned in and kissed her fully on the mouth. Her lips opened to let him in, her arms wrapped around his neck. She lay back on the sand, bringing him with her. He couldn't touch enough of her body. His hands roamed, exploring her curves. She clasped her hands around his back, pulling him even closer.

‘Oh, Jess,' he murmured into her hair. ‘Don't go, please don't leave me.'

‘Nick, Nick, Nick,' she said, not wanting to talk; not wanting to face the question he was asking; not wanting to think about the future. All she wanted was for the present to last forever, as it was, a perfect moment in time.

He looked at her, his eyes asking the question his lips had just begged.

‘Don't, Nick,' she whispered. ‘Just kiss me again.'

He moved in to oblige, murmuring softly, ‘Darling, the city would eat up a little country bumpkin like you.'

She froze.

‘Nick?' She said it gently. ‘Do you really have that little faith in me? Don't you think I can do this?'

‘It's not that, Jess. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it. It's just that I want you to stay here, with me.'

‘What for, Nick?' She sat up and pulled her tank top straight. ‘We're great friends, but that's all.'

She saw him flinch at her words.

‘I can't stay here, Nick. I need to prove to you and Dad and everybody that I can go to the city, that I can take on this job. But most of all, I need to prove it to myself.'

‘You have proven it – look at the General Store. You are a success. What more do you want, Jessica?'

‘I don't know ... more? How can I explain it? I just don't feel fulfilled here anymore.'

‘I know what
you
want.' His words were like driving hail, cold and stinging in the heat of the afternoon. ‘Jimmy McConnell.'

‘How can you say that, Nick?' Jess stared at him, willing herself not to lose it and scream at him. ‘Don't you understand? I need to take this chance to see where I can take my career. And I need to be close to the boys.' She stood up angrily. ‘And anyway, you're not the guy I thought you were. I don't even know who you are. You've been keeping things from me.' She crossed her arms in front of her in anger.

‘I've never lied to you. Never,' he told her.

‘Graham never lied to me either,' she shouted. ‘He just pretended to be something he wasn't, and how do I know that you're any different?' Now she was shaking with anger. ‘How can I trust anyone ever again? How can I trust you when you kiss me one night and then avoid me for days afterwards? Did it mean nothing to you?'

Nick stalked towards the water's edge, where he picked up a rock and threw it into the surf. Jess stared at his clenched jaw. Clearly he had nothing to say.

Right, that was it, she thought. Enough was enough. Over before it had begun.

‘I thought you would understand me better than anyone, but I guess I was wrong,' he said quietly.

She ran her fingers through her tangled locks in frustration. ‘Nick, I don't think you know what you want, but I know that I can't be with someone who doesn't have faith in me.' She reached down to find her bag and put her thongs on.

‘Jess, please don't go,' Nick implored, his hands outstretched towards her. ‘Please stay, we can talk about it.'

‘I'm done talking,' she said and walked across the rocks and up the beach path, leaving Nick alone on the beach. She was so fed up with men and their bullshit lines, their secrets and their insecurities.

Nick sat staring into the waves for more than an hour after Jess left. It was his own style of meditation; gazing at the surf until his thoughts stilled and his heart rate calmed. In his semi-trance the sound of the waves melded with the blood thrumming in his ears until he could no longer tell the two apart. He wasn't sure how he had managed to stuff up something as simple as telling Jessica how he felt.

The monthly summer country races were days for dressing up: bare feet were upgraded to thongs, the locals dusted off their
good
Akubras and their daggiest stubby holders were on parade.

The city folk roosted on the timber picnic benches in the cyclone-fenced members' area, which looked more chicken coop than privileged space, and pecked at their store-bought gourmet snacks, sipping their bubbles and sheltering from the harsh sun under their feathered hats.

In the decades Richard had been coming to the races he'd never signed up for membership. He couldn't see the point when he could relax under the enormous manna gums that peppered the car park, just metres from the bookies, the steak sandwich stall and the cold beer.

It had been Richard's idea to come down today and give Jessica a proper bon voyage from the Peninsula. He couldn't think of anywhere more fitting. He and Caro had planned it as a surprise, and now his daughter-in-law was unpacking several gourmet picnic platters from their esky. He put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his fold-up captain's chair, surveying the scene before him. Beside him Genevieve sat chatting with Tori about a designer sale in the city during the week. Several picnic blankets were spread out, a banquet spreading across each one. Songbird was fast asleep on the rug, and unaware that Taylor was using her open mouth as target practice for sultana shooting.

‘Who's going to win in the next, Taylor?' Richard asked.

Without hesitation Taylor said, ‘Wet star is a long way away.'

‘What in the blazes does that mean?' Richard asked and grinned at the child. He'd always scoffed at the idea that the boy was psychic.

Taylor simply shrugged and ran off to find his siblings.

Richard took a quick look at the field in his race book. ‘Wet star? That doesn't make any sense at all,' he muttered.

Angus sat opposite Richard, mirroring his father's body language. Richard noticed and smiled as he watched his son place his own straw panama on his head.

‘Who do you like in the next, Dad?' Angus asked as he studied the form guide.

‘My Little Pony has come in at the bookies. It's the favourite now.'

‘Ahhh,' his son replied, scribbling down the information.

Richard noticed Nick's car pull up at the rear of the paddock. What a nice surprise for Jess, he thought.

Jessica was enjoying her last day as a local. The past week had been a blur of briefing Linda on the finer details of running the General Store, daytrips to the city to find a corporate wardrobe, packing up the clothes and books she wanted to take with her to Angus and Caro's, and trying to read as much as she could about Still Life and Mimsy Baxter so that she felt truly prepared when she started her new job.

Now there was time to enjoy the Peninsula sunshine and farewell as many of her friends as possible. Jess and Rainbow were wandering around the busy racecourse, weaving in between the many picnic blankets and camp chairs and stopping to chat with friends.

They met up with Steve from the milk bar and Sarah from the organic greengrocer's, who were sharing a barbecue of lentil burgers and T-bones.

‘Hey Jess,' Steve greeted her. ‘You off soon?'

‘Yep, couple of days,' Jess answered. ‘I'm doing the rounds today, saying goodbye.'

‘Good luck.' Sarah gave her a warm hug. She stood back and wrinkled her nose as a sudden gust of wind swept across the grounds, whipping up dust. ‘Oh, my goodness,' she said, ‘what in the world is that smell?'

‘Yeah, it's a bit ripe, isn't it?' Steve agreed. ‘It's been like it for a few days now. Especially when the wind blows from the north.'

Rainbow looked around, then down into the wicker basket that hung from the crook of her arm and started scrabbling through it as Des ambled over to join the group, his thumbs stuck firmly in his jean pockets.

‘Hello ladies, Steve,' he said. ‘Are you talking about the pungent north winds we've been enjoying of late?' He looked pointedly at Rainbow. To the others he said, ‘You do know where it's coming from, don't you?'

‘Where?' Sarah asked.

‘Rainbow, would you like to explain?' Des asked; a tease of a smile played on his face.

‘Oh all right, I admit all.' Rainbow threw up her hands in surrender. ‘It's coming from our place, it's the terra preta. Well, not the earth itself, that's fine, it's just the delivery of the fish guts and compost scraps. We just need to get it into the ground more quickly, that's all. And it's just been so hot lately...' she trailed off feebly.

‘What? Do you mean this black gold that's going to change the environment is making the smell?' Steve asked.

‘This magic stuff?' Sarah clarified. ‘This magic dirt that's apparently sucking carbon back into the earth? That's what's so stinky? It's coming from your house. My God, the whole village reeks of it!'

‘Jeez, Rainbow,' Jess whispered, ‘where's Songbird when you need her?'

‘I know, I know.' Rainbow wailed. ‘I'm sooooo sorry!'

‘Don't be sorry, you daft thing,' Jess said. ‘What's short-term stink for long-term gain? You'll get a storage facility in place soon enough. We can't expect you to get it perfect on the first shot.'

‘Yeah, absolutely,' Des said, ‘it's all for a good cause. Merle's got a load of scraps from the fruit and veg section to drop off at your place later today. We're one hundred per cent behind you love.'

Sarah nodded. ‘Sorry, Rainbow, I didn't know it was coming from your place.'

‘Don't worry about it,' Steve said reassuringly to Rainbow. ‘If anybody asks I'll just tell them it's Cat Bayard's estate and she's just had it blood 'n' boned.'

Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Oh thanks so much, guys, that's fantastic support. I really appreciate it, and I know Songbird does too.'

‘You kidding?' Jessica said. ‘The whole town's behind you. It will take more than a couple of strong-winded afternoons to turn us against your project.'

‘It's very embarrassing that it's coming from my house, though,' Rainbow mused. ‘It's like being stuck in a lift with twenty strangers after eating a bowl of lentils.'

After farewelling the group, Jess headed back to her family's spot and felt her stomach flip as she saw Nick had arrived.

Bugger, she thought. They had managed to avoid each other entirely since their picnic date a few days before. Oh well, she was going to have to face him sooner or later – she could hardly leave town without saying goodbye.

‘Oh, Jess, you're back,' Tori said.

‘Yep.' She tried to sound bright. ‘Hi Nick,' she said and forced a smile to her face.

‘Hi Jess,' Nick said. But his face was a lot softer than hers. He was obviously feeling badly about the other day.

‘Here's to our Jess, best of luck with your big move,' Tori said, toasting her.

The others raised their glasses, Richard and Genevieve holding hands, Angus and Caro with hearty ‘hear hears' and Rainbow and Songbird offering their best wishes. Tori looked downright miserable.

‘Give us a run-down of what you think your first day will be like,' Rainbow said from her reclining position. ‘Tea lady in the morning and general manager by lunchtime?'

‘Oh, I'm not that sure, really,' Jessica replied.

Caro piped up brightly, ‘We can ask Jimmy when he gets here.'

Nick sat bolt upright. ‘Jimmy's coming?'

‘Yes, of course. I thought it would be fitting: out with the old and dreary and in with the new and exciting,' Caro explained. No one missed the meaning in Caro's clumsy message. Richard shot her an angry look.

‘Oh, lovely,' Genevieve said. ‘I've known Jimmy McConnell for years. We worked at the same agency. He's a darling boy, very ambitious. Such charisma.'

‘Well, you'd all better shush, because here he comes now,' Jess whispered nervously.

Jessica stood to greet her new boss. She smoothed down her straight, white cotton skirt and pulled her grey Tigerlily T-shirt taut over the waistline, quickly adjusting her lime citrine pendant. She didn't usually dress so plainly but she was practising her more staid city look.

‘Hello Jimmy, it's nice of you to join us,' she said.

She had to admit he was damn cool. Very few men could pull off the kind of eclectic fashion that Jimmy achieved with such aplomb. His vintage bowling shirt hung over the top of a pair of loud checked shorts, while a charcoal pork pie hat pulled the two pieces together in a way that said, ‘S'up.' Both wrists were bound in numerous braided leather bands. The ink that snaked from under the shirt-sleeves towards his elbow begged further examination.

Jessica expected him to give her a polite cheek-kiss, so was quite taken aback when he put both arms around her waist, picked her up, swung her around and mashed her lips with his own.

‘Ahhh, now I've got you all to myself!' he purred.

Rainbow flicked her eyes nervously over at Nick and was sure she saw the blood vessels in his eyeballs popping.

‘Oh, Jimmy, yes, right, hello,' Jess said, flustered, stammering through the introductions. When she came to Nick, a moment of heart-stopping anxiety made her mind go blank. He and Jimmy were shaking white-knuckle hands and looking at her as she said, ‘This is Jimmy. Jimmy this is ... um...' The silence was unbearable. Jimmy's grin got wider as Nick glared at his lifelong friend.

‘Nick Johnson,' he snarled, then turned and stormed off to the tote.

‘Friendly chap,' Jimmy said, and accepted a glass of champagne from Tori. ‘Chin chin,' he said and raised his glass to the group.

The slick newcomer wasted no time in charming them all. He chatted real estate with Caro, promising he'd sell his Richmond loft apartment with her. He and Genevieve reminisced over the crazy advertising days of the nineties. Tori nearly got whiplash from trying to communicate her approval of Jimmy to Jessica through a series of elaborate winks and nudges.

Songbird and her son Taylor, never ones for quick decisions, sat together to one side, two sets of hazel eyes gently observing.

‘Muuuum,' a nerve-scratching screech in the distance shattered the serenity. Tori rolled her eyes and pulled herself to her feet. ‘Not again, this is the tenth time today. Coming, Priscilla! I honestly don't know what's got into them,' she said, shaking grass from her dress. ‘Dustin lashes out violently at the smallest thing, and Priscilla goes to water if anyone so much as looks at her funny. It's driving me insane.'

She stalked over to remonstrate with her children and then came back shaking her head. ‘Do you think it's the separation?' she asked Jess as she sat back down.

‘Of course that's what it is,' Caro said, overhearing the conversation.

Tori rubbed her hand over her eyes, tiredness evident in the lines on her face.

Jessica felt for her friend. ‘Have you talked about it with them?'

‘Yes, I explained everything to them just a few days ago, that's when the behaviour started.' She sighed. ‘We had a shopping trip yesterday. I thought it would cheer them up, but they didn't even seem interested.'

Caro snorted. ‘Well of course they don't want stuff; they want their parents to love each other and be able to live together.'

‘I know that,' Tori said angrily. ‘I just thought an outing to the shops might distract them, that's all. I feel so guilty about all this.' She watched her children playing on the nearby playground. ‘I think I'll go and treat them to some fairy floss.' She jumped up, grabbed her bag and dashed off.

The horses for the next race trotted past to take their places in the gates. The gum trees filtered the hot autumn sunshine perfectly, spilling gentle beams of warmth onto the picnicking punters as the group made their way down to the fence to watch the race. Jimmy rested his arm casually across Jessica's shoulders. She quite enjoyed the feeling of being taken under someone's wing.

The horses rounded the bend and everyone cheered as they came into the home straight, all flying hooves and gleaming horseflesh.

‘Here, I got this for you,' Jimmy said and handed a ticket to Jess. It was for a horse named Gorgeous Girl. She looked up at him with a half smile to acknowledge the compliment and he winked. Suddenly a horse from the back came hurtling down the outside. The race caller picked up the momentum: ‘Gorgeous Girl drops back to second, here's a surprise from dead last, coming down the outside, over taking the field, it's the outsider Scorpio! Scorpio is first by a length, Scorpio, followed by Gorgeous Girl, then Mighty Mart...'

Richard looked over at Taylor, who was hanging upside down from a tree branch, and scratched his ear thoughtfully. ‘A wet star...' he muttered to himself. ‘Scorpio – an astrological water sign, of course. A long way away – well the bloody horse did come from well back to win. I wonder what that kid's doing next Cup Carnival.'

The afternoon meandered along gently – probably because Nick stayed clear of her, Jessica thought with more than a little guilt as she passed around her mini quiches. Genevieve's chicken sandwiches were well received and Tori offered her famous homemade sausage rolls (homemade by the local bakery).

Rainbow and Songbird had, of course, brought brownies for dessert but it took some time to convince everyone of their innocence.

‘So, got a place to live, darl?' Songbird asked Jessica after the fifth race. ‘In town?'

Caro leaned towards them eagerly. ‘Yes, she's staying with me. I absolutely insist on it.'

‘Well, that'll be handy,' Songbird replied, ‘until you get your own joint of course.'

‘No, utterly not necessary, she can stay with us forever if she likes,' Caro waved a hand in the air. ‘We've got a perfectly suitable guest suite. And besides, we'll be spending so much more time down at Springforth now, she'll have the place to herself. Hopefully Angus will start to take long weekends so we can spend more time together, won't you, darling?' Caro flicked her husband on the knee.