Colder Than Ice (36 page)

Defeated,
Michela sat on her bed. “It’s too painful to go out. When I do, I run into
Allison and by the looks on her face she isn’t happy to see me.”

Sarah
leant against the table and gazed at Michela’s tired face. “Have you tried
to speak with her?”

“I
have, but when I approach her, she turns away,” Michela said quietly.

Sarah
pulled out a chair and sat down. “So, what did happen back at the
station?”

Michela
ran her fingers through her hair at the none-too-pleasant memory. “As
you’ve probably guessed we argued. Again. Allison walked in on Maddi and
me.” She held up her hand. “No, it wasn’t what you’re thinking. Maddi
had just learned that her father had died and wanted to talk to someone on a
professional level. I don’t like to be disturbed when dealing with someone who’s
grieving. Some past occupant of the room had left behind a hotel’s ‘do not
disturb’ sign, so I used that to prevent any unwelcome guests. As I was
comforting Maddi in my arms, Allison walked in unannounced, incorrectly summed
up the situation and left, loudly.”

Sarah
cringed. “She really does have something against Maddi, doesn’t she? I
wonder if from the first day she subconsciously figured her as a potential
rival?”

Michela
shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s the case, but I can tell you she wasn’t
happy with what she saw. I over reacted and yelled at her, asking her why she’d
barged into my room and she basically accused me of being with two women at the
same time, something I’ve never,
never
done. I tried to reason with her
but she wouldn’t let me near her. I assumed she’d changed her mind about our
relationship—”

“Are
you serious?” Sarah asked. “You see the way she looks at you.
Confused, maybe. Changed her mind—I don’t think so.”

“Then
how do you explain how she acted on the journey from the dig site?”

Sarah
smiled. “I had the chance to talk to her when we got back to the station.
There were a lot of issues going through her mind during that trip. I’ve no
doubt she was on her way to discuss those with you when she walked in on you
and Maddi.”

Michela
laughed. “That’s just my luck. Timing has never been one of my strong
points.”

Sarah
tilted her head. “So what are you going to do about it?”

Michela
crossed her legs and arms. “Nothing. I’ve had time to think about this and
maybe what happened between us was no more than two people thrown together in
extreme circumstances who were both emotionally fragile and looking for an
anchor. I’m sorry, but I’ve tried enough. To coin one of your phrases, I think
I’d like to let sleeping dogs lie.”

“If
you do that, then you’re a bigger fool than I thought you were,” Sarah
said. “You’re mad about her. She’s mad about you. But if you want to throw
something this good away then so be it.”

“It’s
too painful. Between Natalie and Allison, these past ten months has seen my
emotions pulled every which way and I don’t think I can take much more. No,
it’s up to Alli now.” Michela stood and opened her small closet. She
pulled out a jacket and put it on. “Now, how about we go and get something
to eat so I can get back to my research.”

ON
THE FINAL night, during a ship’s gathering in the games room, Sarah looked up
and saw Allison’s wan face. Despite being in a group of attentive young men,
Allison seemed lost, looking around as if she were looking for her anchor.
Unfortunately
Michela’s still in her room.
Realizing Allison was seeking a polite means
to remove herself from the male gathering, Sarah went to her side.

“There
you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. There’s a leak in one of the
containers from the dig site and the captain was wondering what you wanted to
do about it.” Allison headed to the doorway before Sarah could finish her
sentence. Sarah excused herself to the group of young men, caught up with
Allison, and snagged her arm. “Hey, not so fast. There’s no emergency. I
made that up. You looked as if you were keen to get away from that lot.”

Allison’s
face alternated between mild anger at being tricked and relief. “Thanks, I
was beginning to think I was a fish in a very small pond of sharks. I think
I’ll head back to my room.”

“No
problem, I’ll walk you.”

The
pair silently walked until they reached Allison’s door. Allison opened the door
and walked into the room, followed by Sarah. “As a matter of fact I think
I’ll come in. That is, if you don’t mind.”

“I
know what you’re doing and I really don’t want to talk about it.”

Sarah
stretched out on the bed and placed her hands behind her head. “Too bad.
I’ve had about enough of you two. There’re some things you need to know before
you make up your mind. If you listen to me I promise not to bother you any
more. After I’m finished, the decision will be yours.”

Allison
closed the door. “I suppose it’s the only way I’m going to get rid of
you.”

Sarah
smiled. “I’m glad you see it my way. I know something happened between you
and Michela after I’d spoken to you and before I found her as drunk as a lord
in the Wills Station bar the night before we left.” She paused at
Allison’s surprised look.

“I
didn’t think she drank that much.”

“I
don’t think she did until then,” Sarah replied. “All I could get out
of her were ramblings that something had happened between the two of you and no
more. It was only yesterday I got a better picture.”

Allison’s
face reddened as she remembered how she’d found Michela and Maddi. “So,
you know she was seeing Maddi?”

Sarah’s
features softened. “Oh, Alli, it wasn’t like that at all. Yes, Michela and
Maddi had a very brief interlude during the voyage on the way to Antarctica,
but that was only one night. Trust me, I know Maddi and she was only really
interested in scratching an itch, and Michela was the itch. What you saw at the
station before you left was Michela comforting Maddi.” Allison snorted.
“No, listen, please. Maddi lost her father that day and had only just
received the news. Michela was doing no more than comforting her after Maddi
had asked for her professional help. Do you really think Michela would overstep
her professional bounds and compromise her reputation?”

Allison
tried to recall exactly what she’d seen.
But how do I know for sure?
She
answered her own question as she remembered Michela’s work ethic and their
discussions during the storm. Michela had admitted she’d strong feelings for
Allison for a long time, but her promise and professionalism meant she’d never
acted on them.
So why would she do so now?
Allison raised her eyes to
Sarah. “I believe you, but I think it’s too late. I let her walk away.
What’s done is done.”

Sarah
got up from the bed and took Allison’s hand. “Only if you want it to
be.” She looked at her watch. “It’s after two, so now’s probably not
a good time. Why don’t you try and talk with her in the morning? Believe me, I
think she’ll be willing to listen.” Her eyes twinkled.

Allison
awkwardly hugged Sarah. “Thanks for having the patience to verbally pound
some sense into me.”

Sarah
returned the hug. “You two were made for each other. Now, if I can only
get the two of you to realize this at exactly the same time then I’ll be a
happy woman.”

AFTER
THINKING ABOUT how she would approach Michela, Allison finally drifted off to
sleep at four in the morning. It was some time later when she finally awoke
with a start. She looked at her watch and launched herself out of bed. After a
quick shower, she lightly jogged to Michela’s room.

“Allison,
there you are,” Dianne said when Allison was within sight of Michela’s
door. Allison sighed and turned around. “They’re unloading the containers
and they want to know where and how you want them laid on the wharf. I’d have
asked Rick, but he’s still seasick. Do you think you can let them know?”

So,
Di, now you know what it feels like to run after that pain in the backside.
“I’ll head down there now. Do you think you and
Rick can manage once I get the load onto the wharf? I’ve got a couple of things
I need to see to.”

“I’m
sure we can. Once I get Rick onto solid ground he should be a lot better.”
Dianne turned and walked quickly down the corridor.

“Thanks
to you, too,” Allison muttered. She stopped at Michela’s door and placed
her palm on the door, making a silent promise to return.

MICHELA
FINISHED PACKING, looked around for any stray belongings, and checked the
cupboard one last time. She looked at the door, feeling disappointed that Sarah
had got it wrong. She was certain Sarah was going to talk with Allison.
Well,
there you go, Sarah. It seems Alli wasn’t so interested after all.

MAKING
SENSE OF the unloading of the artifacts took a lot longer than Allison had
first expected. She knocked at Michela’s door before seeing the access card in
its slot.

“Michela,”
she called, as she pushed on the access card and the door. Her hopes plummeted
as she looked at the Spartan emptiness of the room, and she slumped against the
wall in defeat.
Surely she hadn’t left so soon. Maybe she’s on the deck.
She
pushed away from the wall and ran down the gangway and toward the bow of the
ship.

MICHELA
TOOK HER time as she adjusted to solid ground. She shook out her legs, found
her bags, and loaded them onto a small trolley.

She
watched Rick and Dianne, who were preoccupied with unloading the cargo further
down the wharf and her thoughts returned to the dig site.

Michela
couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss over her failure with Allison. She gazed
up one final time at the lines of the ship that had brought her one step closer
to her homeward journey and found herself staring straight into Allison’s eyes
as she stood at the ship’s bow.

“Michela,”
Allison called above the din.

Before
she could respond to Allison’s hail, Michela felt hands encircle her waist. She
turned and yelped in surprise. “Chrissie, what are you doing here?”

Christine
laughed. “Can’t a sister greet her explorer from the ends of the earth?
That’s the way it’s done isn’t it? And besides, I was in Hong Kong for a
conference and this was too good an opportunity to let pass.”

“You’re
mad, you know. Greetings were usually done by husbands or wives. Just a moment,
there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Michela turned and sadness
overwhelmed her. Allison was gone.

Houston—2010

MICHELA
GATHERED HER notes as Dr. Reilly completed his conference call. He rubbed his
hands together and smiled. “That went well. I think the board’s convinced
that your time in Antarctica was well spent. Your research should exponentially
speed up our Mars project. Well done.”

Michela
nodded. “Thank you. There were days I didn’t think I was ever going to get
it finished. Between the project and calls from the coroner in Hobart,
regarding Ewan McMillan’s death, I was surprised I managed to find the
time.” She’d provided the coroner with a report, as well as the contact
details of the rest of the team. Out of professional courtesy and vain hope of
a reply, Michela had e-mailed Allison, advising her of the coroner’s keenness
to interview the team. Although her system identified the e-mail had been
opened, there was no response.

William
nodded. “So what’s next?”

Michela
picked up her digital tablet. “Back to the project, I guess. Ms. Finlayson
has asked me to come to her country home next week and personally provide a
report. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a couple of days to visit
her.”

“Given
her funding made the project worthwhile,” Dr. Reilly said, “it’s the
least we can do.”

MICHELA
SMILED WHEN the same driver who’d taken her to Charlotte’s office before was
waiting for her at the small airport. During the drive to the estate, she
entertained him with tales of ice flows and icebergs on the Great Southern
Ocean.

Michela
couldn’t help but stare when they drove through wrought iron gates. The car
crept up a tree-lined drive and stopped in front of an imposing mansion.

Michela
was hard pressed not to stare at the grand home in front of her. Her
preoccupation was interrupted as she felt the driver beside her.

“It’s
beautiful, isn’t it?” the driver asked as he pulled Michela’s bag out of
the car. “It’s been in the family for well over a hundred years. Ms. Finlayson’s
namesake lived here for most of her life. Anyway, we better get you inside
before Ella chews my ears off.”

Almost
on cue, one of the double doors to the mansion opened and a short, elderly
woman, dressed in a grey skirt and pastel violet cashmere pullover, stood on
the porch with her arms crossed.

“That’s
Ella,” the driver whispered and then walked up the stairs.

“Where
have you been, old man?” Ella asked in a soft southern accent. “You
must be Dr. DeGrasse, Miss Charlotte’s guest. I’m Ella, part housekeeper, part
secretary to Miss Charlotte.”

Michela
extended her hand. “Please, Dr. DeGrasse is my mother. I’d very much
prefer if you’d call me Michela.”