Hindsight (12 page)

Silence followed, and she realised they must both be looking at her.

‘Yes, but … I don’t feel comfortable with strangers.’ The uppermost question in her mind was also bursting to be asked, and she couldn’t wait another ten days to find out for herself. ‘Can you describe yourself for me first?’

‘
Oui
, naturally. I’m a little shorter than you, and brunette with brown eyes. But really, what does the appearance of a shell matter, when every oyster hides its pearl inside?’

‘Hear, hear,’ Ben agreed.

‘I can hardly argue with that.’ Mira confessed, wondering if she’d just discovered Ben’s idea of beautiful. Judging from the admiration she’d just heard in his voice, she strongly suspected it. ‘Okay, shop with me, Gabby. I confess I am a little intrigued now by your opinions.’

‘Are you sure?’ Ben asked, sounding surprised and a little disappointed. ‘I suppose I do have to load the board, and I have to check my post box and pay bills before we do that other little thing, but I don’t mind waiting. Or even helping?’

‘To choose clothes?’ Gabby laughed. ‘Benny, you’re wearing the shirt I gave you for your birthday eight years ago!’

Mira could hear Chuck, the attendant, returning from the back room.

‘Scoot-scoot!’ Gabby ordered, also clicking her fingers. ‘Be a good boy along your way, and slip in a kind word about me to my VIPs. I want them to think well of me, even while the fish are not biting.’

‘You’ve got twenty minutes,’ Ben replied. ‘Don’t leave the shop for anything. Not even an earthquake.’ Then he chuckled. ‘Mate, you heard the ladies. Leave my account open. I’ll fix the damage when I come back to get her.’

‘Oh,
oui
? An open account?’ Gabby laughed as his footsteps took him out. ‘Then you’ll see how much fun two girls can have in here!’

‘Whatever, Gabby, just don’t leave this shop until I get back. I mean it.’

Anxiety prickled Mira’s skin until she could hear no more of him.

‘How long …’ they asked at the same time — and they both laughed.

‘You first,’ Gabby said, dropping her accent again and tugging Mira further away from the shop attendant and deeper into the rows of beach fashion.

‘How long have you known Ben? I mean with or without the accent?’

‘Forever, darling. The accent comes naturally enough from living with French parents, but if you had a surname that sounded like
Bitch
without it, you’d wear it deliberately more often than necessary too.’

‘So why share your secret with me?’

Gabby hugged her roughly again around the shoulders. ‘Any friend of Benny’s is a friend of mine, and no secrets among friends. Still, miraculously, guys can’t seem to notice so many of my blemishes behind a little attitude and accent. Adds a little mystery too, which never gets old, especially for a two-bagger like me.’

Mira wrinkled her nose, confused. ‘What do you mean — a two-bagger?’

You’ve never heard of this?’

Mira shook her head, causing Gabby to laugh.

‘Oh, it’s a saying among men, really. One bag to hide her face if she’s ugly, or two if she’s so bad you need one too if hers falls off during sex.’

‘Oh,’ Mira blushed. ‘Sorry, I … I never guessed. I … I pictured you as beautiful.’

‘Well, that’s sweet, honey, and I’m going to enjoy that for a second … Yeah, that does feel nice. But I’m guessing you get treated like a freak often enough, too, so let’s even up the playing field.’

Gabby grabbed Mira’s hands and slapped them palm first across her crooked nose and narrow face. ‘See? Overbite and receding chin. So whenever I pucker-up for a guy, he might as well be kissing a duck’s bum.’

Mira shivered. She couldn’t picture Gabby that ugly at all, so she lightened the touch of her fingertips and explored the shape of Gabion’s cheek, also using her thumb to gently find the corner of a perfect eye.

‘Okay, you’re done.’ Gabby brushed off her hands. ‘No need to remind me of every little blemish.’

‘No, I wasn’t … Sorry, I just don’t see it — no wrinkles, no crow’s feet. Don’t you work in the sun all day? But your skin feels so soft and silky — so beautiful, really.’

‘Oh, that’s just moisturised sun block. If you expected oily, then you’ve been using the wrong type for your skin, I dare say. We can fix that too while we’re here. Just stand still for now with your arms out.’

Mira did, and felt the shape of a soft dress, and then another, held up with the poke of a clothes hanger each time against her neck.

‘Oh, yeah,’ Gabby said as she flicked Mira’s uneven blonde locks away from the collar. ‘Lavender is definitely your colour. But pale blue looks nuclear, too. So which fabric feels nicer? Purple or …?’ Swapping hangers, the first fabric felt so soft and light against Mira’s neck, the material could hardly be anything except silk. ‘Or blue?’ She swapped again. ‘This one is cotton. Tailored better, and has a heart-shaped neckline to show off your attributes. You do know you’re naturally gorgeous, don’t you?’

Gabby’s fingers touched Mira’s neck and she shivered with goosebumps. Mira shook her head and sidestepped.

‘Well, you are, which also explains the baggy rags from his mother. She tried the same trick on me with trashy make-up, the bitch. I had zits for weeks.’

‘Oh, no. She’s not like that. A little strange with me but Mellow by name, mellow by nature. Ben said so.’

‘Ha! Poor Benny’s blind to it. But wear one of these around him with a smear of lip-gloss, and you’ll soon see. You’ll poke the snake awake. First one and then the other.’

Mira pushed the invisible dress away to arm’s length. ‘I don’t want to upset his mother. I’d just prefer if she moved out with her boyfriend so we can all be happy.’

‘Mel has a boyfriend? Girl, I definitely need more time to speak with you. Listen, first you’ve got to tell me … arms up again and turn around … how long have you known Ben? How did you meet him? Or did it happen that you knew his mum first?’

Mira chewed on her tongue, wondering how much she should reveal. At the same time, Gabby played dress-ups, calling out more colours with tops and skirts as she mixed and matched, and used Mira’s arms as racks for maybes and definites — two conversations at once, which felt oddly fun.

‘I met him at work,’ she said. ‘Nearly a month ago … Yeah, red feels nice.’

‘… and he’s fetching you home already?’ Gabby whistled. ‘Wow … and yellow? That’s a record in that house! So aside from sabotaging your wardrobe, how else is she taking it?’

‘Mel? Oh, she’s always been polite enough, I suppose … Yellow is prickly.’

‘
Polite?
Girl, that’s your first warning. She must really feel threatened. Mellow by name, mellow by nature,
my ass
! She’s Mrs Control Freak.’

‘I hope not.’ Mira shuddered. ‘I have to live with her.’

‘You’ve
moved in
with them? Sheeesh! This is black.’

‘I’ll say.’

‘Actually, I meant the skirt. But that works too. No doubt about it.’

Mira nodded. ‘Then I’d rather white. Or grey in a pinch.’

‘Yeah, I suppose you’re sick to the brink of black. Oh, hang on. There’s a rainbow!’

Mira heard rustling through the rack of clothes, a chink of metal upon metal, then felt a flap of material held against her waist like a wide stretchy belt or a very short skirt.

Smoothing down the bands of colours with her hands, Mira lightened her touch on the material, until she could sense the approximate colour of each band through her Braille-sensitive fingertips, by detecting the variation in energy that was being emitted from each in the form of colours and their light waves. At the waistline, she found the cool energy of pale blue or lavender, below it a stronger shade, then below that purple, and below that, the strength of violet.

‘I love it,’ she said. ‘I’ve never felt this kind of material before. It’s not silk, it’s thicker and …’

‘Spandex. It can’t wrinkle,’ Gabby said. ‘Figure hugging too. Very flattering on you, and you could wear it with almost any colour blouse, but I suggest …’ More rustling. ‘This white blouse — so loose fitting, and this beige bikini. Wet or poor light and you’ll look practically naked. Oh, and you’ve got to get these adorable white sandals. They’ll go with anything.’ She nudged Mira’s ankle and helped her swap from Mel’s clogs while ensuring she had the right size. ‘Might as well keep them on. I’ve got the price tags for Charlie.’

‘Naked?’ Mira said, still snagged on the idea.

‘Sure, it’ll drive Ben wild — bring out the naughty boy, if you know what I mean?’

Mira shook her head. ‘Ben’s more than an angel. He’s a saint. Why would you suggest otherwise unless you wanted to tarnish how I think of him?’

‘Two reasons. First, all guys need to vent.’ She nudged Mira in the ribs. ‘Look, I’m his friend, aren’t I? You heard him say that he’d trust me with his life, and since you can’t see that he’s in trouble, I’m telling you. I won’t deny I’m jealous. I’m completely frog green. But until there’s a ring on his finger, he’s wild game, and I’m up for another threesome, if he is. At least we’d get a level playing field to compete.’ She laughed and nudged Mira in the ribs again.

‘Threesome?’

‘Ask him. Second reason: his mother is like darkages conservative where his girlfriends are concerned. Bit of a hypocrite really, if you could see some of the things she wears. Anyhow, if you wear this bikini, she can’t compete — not where he’s concerned. She’ll storm off in her car, guaranteed. So there’s your chance to be alone with him. Or call me, if you need a hand to get rid of her. But be ready for round two when she returns, baby-cakes, because she’ll be fuming — and silently too, so the big softie won’t notice.’

Mira frowned. ‘I suspect that’s more likely to drive a wedge between us.’

‘Honey, the wedge is already there. We don’t fit her perfect picture of the right woman for him. So don’t make my mistake, trying to smooth out each little crisis gently with diplomacy. As they say in the army, diplomacy is what you do until your sniper is in place. I’ve dated stacks of army guys before so trust me, that’s what she’s up to. Be proactive. You’ve gotta smash and destroy the problem. Show her she’s got no say in your relationship and let Ben be the whole man he needs to be. Or else the only person moving out of that house will be you.’

‘That’s my goal anyway.’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘I’m not Ben’s girlfriend, Gabion. He’s my social worker and I’m just … well, I suppose you could say I’m his homework.’

‘Homework?
Merde
! You’re joking! I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’s aching to kiss you!’

Mira blushed and turned away, fearing her own reaction. Did Ben really look at her like that, or was Gabby playing games with more than her accent?

‘Oh, so he has kissed you?’

She didn’t reply.

‘Not recently, obviously, or he wouldn’t be aching. So what went wrong? I mean, I don’t mean to pry, but Ben’s a good friend and I can see he’s hurting. What hurts him, hurts me, get it? You don’t have to say anything, obviously, but there’s no need to lie either.’

‘I don’t lie! Not deliberately.’

‘Perhaps not, but you’re more than just homework, admit it. There’s no point keeping secrets on Straddie. Everybody knows everybody eventually.’

‘I
am
just homework!’ She gulped, fearing that she’d said too much already, but she knew how gossip in a small community could ruin everything; no different at Serenity. Much better, she decided, to be as upfront as possible. ‘I’m a ward of the state and starting today, he’s my guardian.’

‘Do I sound that naïve?’ Gabby laughed, then lowered her voice to a more serious whisper. ‘Benny can’t be a guardian, honey. He’s been in gaol. He’s still got that whole mess of murder and robbery behind him.’

‘This is different; a special arrangement to help him rebuild his credentials. Ask him if you don’t believe me. It’s only temporary until I can set myself up in my own place.’

‘Regardless,’ Gabby said, ‘that’s not the issue. I’m talking about you and him — and you have been close, I can tell.’

‘As close as friends get, I guess. Sure. But I’m bad medicine for him.’

‘Tonic, you mean. He’s drawn to that shit.’

‘Maybe so, but Mel has every right to be worried. If I could see through her eyes, to protect my son from someone like me, I’d probably kill me in my sleep.’

‘Helloooo? Ugly clothes? She is killing you — in other ways.’

‘Regardless …’ Mira shook her head. ‘I’m not going to antagonise her any more than I have accidentally.’

‘Suit yourself. If it was me, I’d burn everything Mel gave me.’

Mira laughed. ‘Actually, it’s funny you should say that.’

‘So what’s it to be?’ Gabby tugged at the buy-it pile in Mira’s arms. ‘Shall I return these to their racks? You can shop down at Granny Ethel’s if you prefer to pander to Mel.’

Mira hugged the clothes to her chest. ‘I didn’t say I wouldn’t wear them. Just not around her.’

‘Oh, honey, there’s not going to be any time without her, unless she’s working.’

‘That’s fine by me.’

‘Suit yourself, but she works nights, and these are all day clothes. You’ll also need something better suited to a nightclub.’

Mira shrugged and headed for the counter.

‘Oh, sorry. I forgot that every day is the same as night for you.’ Gabby tugged on Mira’s arm, regaining her accent. ‘
Oui
,
cherie
, don’t forget to care for your skin. Whatever you’ve been using is better left for dry walling.’ She handed Mira a small plastic bottle. ‘Try this twice a day and call me, if ever you wish to discuss anything.’

Mira chewed on her lip. There was still one question bothering her, since Gabby hadn’t answered properly. ‘How long have you known Ben?’

‘Oh, this you could ask anybody. Even cute Charlie, here, behind the counter.’

‘What if I’m asking you?’

‘Tell her for me, Charlie? My throat is so sore, you know? From all day with my VIPs.’

Charlie chuckled. ‘Ben and Gab have been items off and on since kindergarten. Their parents owned rival ferries, so they’re supposed to be enemies — even now, after that big mob moved in and bought up both shipping lines.’