Outback Sunset (47 page)

At the party, Vanessa was soon surrounded by guests proffering congratulations, but all the while she was waiting for Curtis to appear. When she saw him hovering just inside the door she excused herself from the group around her to go and welcome him. She had searched the packed audience for him during the running of the movie but hadn’t been able to locate him.

All the hoo-ha over the movie, the ringing endorsements, the congratulations were forgotten when, as he saw her, he smiled. Vanessa experienced something instantly — it was as if she had been kicked in the chest, and the muscles around her heart tightened. All the thoughts, doubts, wonderings, the
analysing she had done over the last several months crystallised into one sentence:
Vanessa, you love him
. She couldn’t fool herself any longer by thinking otherwise.

As he waited for her to reach him, standing composed and not intimidated by the glamour and glitter around him, he looked handsome, even urbane in his rented, well-tailored dinner suit. He was wonderfully special in so many ways and she freely accepted the feelings that were spiralling through her mind and soul, as love, a deep, abiding love. In fact, she didn’t know how she was going to hide how she felt, after keeping her emotions subdued for so long.

Over the last year or so she had come to believe, on recalling a number of events during her years at Amaroo, and with the baggage of a failed marriage behind her, that someone special was missing from her life and, that someone was Curtis Selby. Even after several exhaustive soul-searching sessions she couldn’t pinpoint the precise moment in which the shift in the emphasis of her feelings had occurred. She only knew that the sense of awareness had begun when she’d filmed at Amaroo and the emotional pull had built from that time, despite only seeing each other once in the interim when he had brought Regan to Sydney for a week to stay with her maternal grandparents. Now she was wondering where these feelings she had discovered inside herself might lead. And, if Curtis felt anything other than friendship for her. She had to know …

It took considerable acting skill on her part not to betray exactly how pleased she was to see him. As
they took each other’s outstretched hands, a frisson of excitement slid down her spine then curled through and around her stomach muscles, making them tighten and be very much aware of her physical reaction to him. She prayed that he wouldn’t see the fast-beating pulse at the base of her throat — it would be a dead give-away.

‘Where’s Regan?’ Oh, damn. Did she have to sound so breathless?

‘She was exhausted from the long flight today and too much excitement. I had Ken, her grandfather, pick her up after the movie. She’s going to spend the night with them.’ His smile widened as his gaze ran over her in open appreciation. ‘Regan said to tell you that you were
too much.’
A sandy eyebrow lifted with amusement. ‘I believe that’s teenager’s talk that translates to high praise.’

‘Curtis, I’m so glad you came. It’s good to see you.’ She relaxed a little, pleased to be exerting better control over her vocal chords. ‘How are things at Amaroo?’

‘The station’s doing well.’ His grin proclaimed more than his words; the confident smile implied that the property was running the way he liked it to. ‘The movie was terrific, Vanessa. I was very impressed.’ Respect, even awe was evident in his voice.

‘Thank you. It’s a shame Bren couldn’t come,’ she said, then felt duty-bound to ask, ‘How is he?’

Curtis’s smile became less buoyant. ‘Good. Very busy. He and Stuart called in last week. Bren seems,’ he paused for a few seconds, ‘contented and enthusiastic over what he and Stuart are doing.’

‘I’m pleased for him,’ Vanessa responded, and she meant it. As far as she was concerned there was no ill will between them — just a lingering, but dissipating sadness for a marriage gone wrong. She then considered it diplomatic to change the subject, besides, it wasn’t Bren she wanted to talk about. ‘I’m glad you enjoyed
North of the Nullarbor
. Didn’t Amaroo look stunning? The film’s camera crew and the editor did a marvellous job bringing out the best scenes and the colours.’

His gaze swept around the room, taking in its array of star-studded guests. ‘I guess Hollywood might soon beckon, once the big time execs at a few studios see
North of the Nullarbor.’

‘I’m not fussed about Hollywood. My Sydney agent is getting me enough work to keep me gainfully employed — stage performances, television ads, voice-overs. But you know Kerri, she and Martin believe the movie has Oscar-nomination potential written all over it. I’m more conservative and would rather adopt a wait and see attitude.’

Vanessa was surprised by the wave of frustration that suddenly moved through her. She didn’t want to talk about the film, or Bren, she wanted to talk with him, about them! About the possibility of there being a ‘them’. But to her chagrin, out of the corner of her eye she saw Kerri and a media troupe bearing down on them. ‘It’s going to be too hard for us to talk tonight …’

Curtis understood straight away. ‘Regan would love some time with you. Are you free for lunch tomorrow?’

She wasn’t. She and Rachel had several promotional commitments organised by Magnavid — but she would juggle some free time, somehow. ‘Of course. How about The Park Hyatt at the Quay? At 1 p.m.? We’ll meet in the foyer.’

‘Terrific. It’ll be great to catch up.’ He smiled again, a slow, lingering smile that said as clearly as words how much he was looking forward to being with her.

‘See you then.’

Kerri and the journalist pack closed in. Vanessa, trying to concentrate on the questions being asked by two journos, watched an adept Kerri, after a conspiratorial wink, link arms with Curtis and move him off towards a long table near the back wall of the room. It was covered with tempting smorgasbord dishes.

Later, as the crowd thinned — only the die-hards staying on for the booze — Kerri, with two champagne flutes in her hands, passed one to Vanessa who, for the moment, stood peacefully alone at the window, looking at the harbour view.

‘Well?’

Vanessa straightened as she sipped the champagne. ‘It’s going very well, I think. Good feedback so far.’ Her tone was distracted because, having turned towards Kerri, she saw Curtis involved with a group of people on the other side of the room. She wondered what they were talking about. ‘The media seemed on side, but I’m not sure about the movie critic from the
Sun-Herald
, he’s a dour kind of chap.’

Kerri let Vanny’s remarks about the journalists and the critic go over her head. ‘And …?’ She stared expectantly at her friend.

Vanessa blinked and stared back. ‘And what?’

Kerri pursed her lips and waggled a finger at Vanessa. ‘You can’t fool me, Vanessa Forsythe, I’ve known you for too long.
Curtis.’
She gave her friend her cat-that’s-swallowed-the-canary smile. ‘I saw your face when he came in. In fact, both your faces lit up like Christmas tree lights. I can tell when something’s going on. Curtis has the hots for you. I thought he might when I was at Amaroo with Heather. That’s why Nova got so upset — she realised Curtis couldn’t fall in love with her because he was in love with you.’

Vanessa shook her head, but also had the grace to blush at Kerri’s amazingly accurate revelation. ‘My God, you should be writing fiction. Where did you get such an idea?’

But … Kerri’s words set her thoughts off on a tantalising tangent. Could it be true? Was Curtis in love with her and might he have been for years? Kerri Spanos was an insightful woman and she didn’t make personal comments unless she was sure she was right. Vanessa’s heart began to thud, increasing its beat dramatically as a shiver of expectation wafted through her body. What if Kerri’s assertion about Curtis was true …?

‘Just think about it.’ Kerri was warming up to the subject. ‘He’s changed towards you over the years, hasn’t he? He couldn’t stand you when you first met, you told me that at the reception in Darwin. Then he saw you change, adjust to outback life and watched
your commitment and love for Amaroo grow. And, another thing, how many men, related or otherwise, would donate part of their liver to save a child. It takes a special man, one with deep feelings, to do that. Curtis is that type of man, the quiet, patient kind who doesn’t push himself forward.’ She gave a nod of approval. ‘He’s a lot like my Yannis.’

Kerri stopped to give Vanessa time to absorb what she had said. ‘As well, luv, he’s been divorced for years but hasn’t found anyone else. Never even looked at another woman, most likely.’

‘Finding eligible women in the middle of nowhere isn’t easy; women of any kind are pretty hard to come by,’ Vanessa explained as she pondered Kerri’s words.

‘You’re right about that.’ Kerri subjected her to a searching look then, forthright as usual, asked, ‘Okay, Vanny, my girl. What about you, what do you feel?’

Vanessa shook her head as if she wasn’t going to reply but then the expression in her eyes changed, at first confused then it became positive. ‘I’m in love with him,’ she said simply, the truth of it evident in her features and her accompanying glorious smile. ‘I don’t know how or when it happened but … that’s how I feel.’

‘I knew it! Of course you are. And what are you going to do about it?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t know if he …’ she broke off, gathered her thoughts. ‘We’re going to have lunch tomorrow, and later, Kyle and I will fly to Amaroo for Regan’s fifteenth birthday, in four weeks time.’

‘I see,’ suddenly Kerri sighed with exasperation. ‘I know your temperament, waiting isn’t your strong suit. I can’t believe you’re prepared to wait an hour, a day or a month to find out how he feels. If you are it
can’t
be love.’

Vanessa should have been irked that Kerri knew her so well but, curiously, she wasn’t. Kerri was right. She didn’t want to wait another day … another hour.

‘Are you worried about Bren, what other family members might think if you and Curtis get together?’

‘No.’ She wasn’t. With everything that had happened she didn’t think there would be any problems in that regard. She was being given the opportunity to find happiness again and she would not let it slip away from her. Her real concern was Curtis’s feelings for her!

Kerri looked towards Curtis then back at her, and jerked her head in the obvious direction. ‘Then why are you standing here talking to me when …?’

Vanessa smiled her thanks and began to work her way through the thinning crowd towards Curtis. Reaching him, and trying to ignore the fact that her heart was racing and her knees trembling, she took his hand and whispered, ‘We have to talk — now!’

The evening breeze made it cool on the club’s deserted patio but Vanessa was unaware of the air chilling her bare shoulders because she had other things on her mind.

‘What’s up?’ Concern was evident in his eyes. He saw her shiver and took off his coat, placing its warmth around her shoulders.

For a moment or two she savoured the heat from his body transmitted through the coat’s material, then, with considerable difficulty she attempted to organise her thoughts. ‘I want to ask you a question.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Just one question, and I want a yes or no answer. Nothing more, nothing less. Okay?’

Bemused but with his curiosity roused, he shrugged casually, ‘I guess so.’

Vanessa licked her lips. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled his coat more tightly around her, and hoped he wouldn’t notice that her hands were trembling. ‘Are you …’ her throat muscles began to tighten. ‘Curtis, are you in love with me?’

‘What?’ He half-turned away to cover his shock.

‘A
yes
or
no
answer, remember.’

She waited … and waited — it seemed an eternity, but was in fact only a few seconds during which her hopes see-sawed between need and despair. Why was he taking so long to reply? Finally she had to prompt him. ‘Well?’

Curtis turned to face her again. His normally inscrutable gaze, for once reflected what he felt, what he had hidden from her, and everyone, for so long. ‘I don’t know how you found out but,’ he chuckled deep in his throat, ‘you wanted a short answer, it’s …
yes.’

Vanessa’s smile widened to its absolute limits. Radiance and delight lit her features and, the light from a lowering half moon made her look stunningly lovely. Deep inside her being she began to give way to feelings she no longer had to keep
under control — they were raging through her body and spreading to her heart and her soul.

‘Oh, Curtis, that’s wonderful. Fantastic.’ She could drop the barriers now, the self-control. ‘It’s the answer I wanted to hear because …
I love you too.’

She watched him blink in amazement but he recovered fast and stretched out his arms invitingly. There was no hesitation on her part as she glided into his embrace and, the way he held her tight — as if he never intended to let her go — confirmed his love for her.

As their lips met, Vanessa’s last conscious thought for several minutes was, that later there would be time for questions and answers, and they would talk about their future with Kyle and Regan, and a new beginning at her beloved Amaroo, for all of them.

T
HE END

To my literary agent, Selwa Anthony. To my editors: Nicola O’Shea, Vanessa Radnidge, Linda Funnell and Pauline O’Carolan. Michael McFadden, Taronga Park Zoo. Alan Ross, Dreamworld Helicopters. Rachel Oates-King. Dr Kenneth Oey.
In the Middle of Nowhere
and
Riveren, My Home, Our Country
, by Terry Underwood.
Outback
Magazine. Joanne Brookes.

And a special thanks to Terry and John Underwood of Riveren Station, Northern Territory.

Lynne Wilding published eight previous novels with HarperCollins: King of Cane Valley, Heart of the Outback, Whispers Through the Pines, Turn Left at Bindi Creek, This Time Forever, 52 Waratah Avenue, Outback Sunset and Sundown Crossing.

A
LSO BY
L
YNNE
W
ILDING
from HarperCollins:
Heart of the Outback
Whispers Through the Pines
Turn Left at Bindi Creek
52 Waratah Avenue
This Time Forever
King of Cane Valley