Meant To Be (4 page)

‘Not good at taking hints, is she?' Jake said.

‘That's the understatement of the century.'

‘You couldn't have made it more obvious.'

‘I wouldn't be surprised if she turns up in half an hour or so.'

‘Well, we won't be here,' Jake said, gathering up the ingredients and taking them back to the fridge and pantry.

‘But don't you want to cook that for a few hours?'

‘I'll do it tomorrow instead,' he said over his shoulder. ‘Your mother needs to learn that no means no. Anyway, I need to take you on a proper date. Come on, you've got ten minutes to get back into your jeans,' he said, grasping her by the hand and leading her out of the kitchen.

‘We could
pretend
we're not here,' Emily said, pulling him close as they entered the bedroom.

‘Somehow I don't think Enid would believe you weren't here if the car was still in the shed. And I don't think we should be stooping to hiding it, or ourselves. You're allowed some privacy, Em. She'll just have to learn that.'

‘Thanks, Jake. I probably would've just given in to her.'
Like I usually do.

‘Happy to help.'

‘I feel a bit mean.'

‘There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying no, Emily. You're an adult. You're allowed your own life. Come on, we'd better get out of here. You stay here, okay Gracie?' Grace looked up from her cushion on the floor and flapped her tail.

In less than fifteen minutes they were locking the glass sliding door. Emily had hesitated at the bathroom mirror, thinking that she ought to put on some make-up. But Jake had wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissed her on the cheek and said to her reflection in the mirror, ‘No need for that. You look perfect just the way you are.'

Emily smiled and grabbed his hand. She had never been much into clothes and make-up. Throughout her twenties she'd religiously slathered stuff on her face, and carefully added colour to her eyes, lips, and cheeks. But she'd never enjoyed doing it, and didn't like leaving the house feeling not quite herself. What was wrong with looking natural anyway? And why the hell should she put on all the ridiculous war paint for a man? Look where that had got her.

She hoped Jake wasn't just being nice, because she was done with all the try-hard crap – she'd leave that to younger women. Not that she was unkempt. Emily was always clean, tidy, and
presentable, and did wear make-up for evenings out and special occasions. She just couldn't be bothered trying to look like she was ready for a magazine shoot every time she left the house.

‘I like that you don't wear make-up every day,' Jake said over the crunch of the rubble as they walked over to the car.

‘Thanks Jake,' she said, smiling at him.

‘I honestly don't know how you women do it.'

‘No, whenever I wear it I tend to spend the whole time feeling like I need a damn good scrub.'

‘Well, it's lucky I love you just the way you are then, isn't it?' Jake said, and pulled her to him more firmly. ‘Now, shall I drive since it's our first proper date?'

‘That would be lovely,' Emily said, beaming. She gave him a peck on the cheek before making her way around to the passenger's side.

But Jake darted ahead of her and opened the door with his left hand while giving a flourish with his right. ‘My lady.'

‘Why thank you, kind sir,' Emily said, and got into the car.

Jake went back around to his side and then climbed in. But instead of starting it up, he turned to her. ‘You know we won't be able to hide from Enid forever, don't you?'

Emily frowned. ‘I'm learning to say no to her. I am. And I really do appreciate your support. Far too often it's just easier to give in.'

‘Short-term gain, long-term pain,' he muttered. ‘Anyway, you did stand up to her. You said no. She just didn't listen.'

‘Hmm. You know, leaving John was probably the first time I've ever really stood up to her. And that was mostly because of my love for Grace, and need to protect her, not…' She fiddled with the strap of her handbag in her lap.

‘Yes, but it overrode your habit of just falling into line. I know she seems to be very – how shall I put it? – self-righteous? But
surely she just wants to see you happy. I would've thought that was the most basic mothering instinct of all – to protect your child from pain.'

‘I honestly don't think my mother cares about my happiness,' Emily said sadly. She hadn't really meant to say the words aloud. ‘Or if she does, it comes a distant second to I-will-not-have-my-daughter-embarrass-me-by-daring-to-divorce. And, yes, before you say it,' she said, holding up a hand, ‘I am fully aware this is not the nineteen fifties.'

‘Oh well, as frustrating as she can be, I think what you have to do is limit the impact of her behaviour. Each of us is responsible for our own wellbeing. And, playing devil's advocate for a moment, she is your mother. As much as she drives you mad, at least you still have her in your life to drive you nuts.'

‘I know. And I'm sorry you and Simone lost your parents when you were so young.'

‘Thanks. But I didn't say it for sympathy. I've had plenty of years to come to terms with it. Hopefully you'll come to terms with Enid one day, and accept that she just is the way she is. I mean, if we ever have kids, I'd like them to have their grandparents in their life.'

Crikey! Kids? Where did that come from?
Emily nearly poked her finger right through the leather of her handbag.

Emily couldn't picture Enid as a doting grandparent letting kids run around her immaculate home, but had to concede that people did continue to have the capacity to surprise.

She blinked back the initial shock, and looked up and across at him. ‘You want kids then?' she asked.

‘One day. Of course. Do you?'

‘One day.'

There was a moment of silence, as if Jake was going to say something. Instead, he turned the ignition. Emily put her handbag at her feet, took a deep breath, and settled back into her seat.

‘Well, let's get out of here before we get caught. I must say, I do like your dad,' Jake said, as he carefully backed the car out of the shed.

‘Me too.' Emily felt a familiar stab of guilt. She'd sold Des Oliphant short for so many years, assuming he was gutless when all the time he was most likely biding his time and choosing his battles wisely. She wished her father had been more influential in her upbringing than her mother. Maybe then she'd have chosen her life partner better and not have had the mess of the past few months to deal with.

‘So, which way?' Jake asked, idling at the end of the short driveway beside the house.

‘Left if you don't want to risk bumping into Mum and Dad. They'll be coming from that way if they come,' she said, indicating with her head. ‘It's a forty-minute drive to the nearest winery, but we don't have to go all that way if you don't want to. We can just drive around.'

‘I don't mind if you don't. Let's do a bit of exploring and then have an early bite to eat if we see somewhere we like the look of. Sound like a plan?'

‘Perfect. Left here and then the next right and then left – we'll take the back roads; the scenic route.'

Emily took them along a road where a number of partial ruins, abandoned stone cottages and larger homesteads were scattered about the undulating landscape. Most were constructed from pale cream, almost white, limestone – the same as her cottage ruins – but a few were of the darker brown ironstone.

Jake stopped wherever a building was close enough to take a photo without trespassing. A number of times Emily tried to assure him that the owners really wouldn't mind them entering the property for a closer look, but he said he'd rather get their permission first. She liked how respectful he was – about everything.

Eventually they turned onto the bitumen highway, drove a few more kilometres, and then turned in at a glossy painted sign swinging in the slight breeze that read:

Ocean View Winery

OPEN

‘Vineyards have only been in the area a few years, hence how bare everything looks,' Emily explained. ‘And cellar doors with cafés and restaurants have only really started popping up in the past twelve months.' What she didn't say was that she hadn't been to one before.

Jake let the car roll on slowly across a large rubble car park where a few young, spindly gum trees had been planted. They would make good shade one day and return some of the character to the area, Emily thought. She cast her eyes down the undulating landscape with its neat rows of bright green vines on their timber and wire trellising. The scene was very striking against the wider patchwork of pale yellow, grey and brown stubbles remaining from the recently harvested winter crops. They were on a small rise, and in the far distance she could just make out the blue of the Spencer Gulf.

‘Isn't it a shame they left those lovely stone buildings back there to rot? They could have reused one of them instead of putting up something completely new,' Jake said, bringing the car to a halt. Emily was having the same thought at the same moment. ‘Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge fan of corrugated iron,' he continued. ‘I just think it's sad to see all that old charm and quality workmanship going to waste.'

‘Hmm,' Emily agreed, looking at the structure in front of them. Its high-pitched roof and row of skylights gave it a certain charm. But still it looked somehow temporary. Perhaps when
the trees and shrubs grew it would look more in keeping with the surrounding landscape.

They parked, got out, and walked across to the building. She followed Jake through the bank of café doors and looked about at the interior – concrete, corrugated iron, and visible steel beams. At first glance, the place was just a shed with nicer doors and windows. Though, looking more closely, she realised that only the main beams were visible. The building was lined in corrugated iron, no doubt with insulation between the inner and outer sheets. There was a solid timber bar running almost its whole length. Emily was turning around and slowly taking it all in when she heard a familiar voice.

‘Well, look what the cat dragged in.'

Her face lit up as her gaze settled upon a couple at a table in the corner.

‘Barbara! David! What are you guys doing here?!' She rushed over and hugged them both.

‘The riff raff they let in,' Jake said, grinning at them. ‘Hello you two.' He hugged Barbara and shook David's hand.

‘Sit, sit,' Barbara urged, patting the wooden bench beside her.

‘What can I get you to drink, Em?' Jake asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.

‘Their rosé recently won a prize,' Barbara said.

‘Would you like one, Barbara? David?' Jake said.

‘No thanks, we're having an alcohol-free day,' David replied.

‘At a winery?' Emily laughed.

‘We came for coffee and hot chocolate.' He suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. And Barbara was looking down at her hands in her lap.

‘Another bottle of water then?' Jake asked, picking up the empty one.

‘That'd be good, thanks,' Barbara said.

‘Yes, water, thanks,' David said.

Emily noticed her friends visibly relax. So what if they didn't want to drink? She wasn't about to make them feel awkward by quizzing them on it. In her opinion, most people drank far too much anyway.

‘Em?' Jake asked.

‘I think I'll just have water too, thanks,' she said, smiling at him.

‘Righteo,' Jake said cheerily. ‘Water all round it is then.' He tucked the empty bottle under his arm, collected David and Barbara's used mugs, and walked the few metres across to the bar. Emily sat down next to Barbara, who leaned in towards her.

‘Jake's looking a little brighter,' Barbara said.

‘Yes, he is, isn't he?' Emily watched him. They didn't know about Jake's adrenal fatigue, but this wasn't the time to share. ‘He'll be fine. It'll just take some time,' she replied.

‘And plenty of fresh country air and TLC from you,' David said.

Jake returned with a bottle of water and four glasses. He sat next to David, across the table from Emily.

‘To good friends,' Barbara toasted when they each had a glass in hand.

‘Good friends,' David, Emily, and Jake replied, and they all clinked glasses to complete the ceremony.

‘We would have invited you to join us, but we thought we'd give you your space,' Barbara said, after they'd all taken a sip. ‘Wasn't expecting to run into you lovebirds quite so soon,' she added with a knowing expression, which caused both Jake and Emily to blush slightly.

‘Actually, we're hiding from Mum,' Emily said with a laugh.

‘Oh?'

‘She phoned and then wouldn't take no for an answer about dropping by for coffee,' Jake said. ‘So we decided to give her a little wake-up call.'

‘Oh, bravo!' Barbara said.

‘I told her it wasn't convenient; that we were heading out,' Emily said.

‘And she said she was coming over anyway, right?' Barbara said.

‘How did you guess?' Jake laughed. ‘If I hadn't got all insistent, she'd probably be interrogating poor Em as we speak,' he added, stroking Emily's hand that was wrapped around her glass on the table. ‘So, here we are.'

‘Good! I've been telling her for ages she needs to redraw the boundaries,' Barbara said.

‘She was doing okay, just needed some reinforcement,' Jake said. ‘But I'm here now.'

Hello people, I'm sitting right here.

‘So, other than hiding from the lovely Enid, we're actually here on our official first date. And what are you guys doing so far from home?' Jake asked.

‘First date, eh? About bloody time,' David said jovially.

‘Yes,' Barbara agreed.

‘Here's to many more.' David raised his glass and they again went through the ritual.