The Quilt (29 page)

SECTION 5

Chapter 27

“
Joanne, Paul and Simon”

It was late morning when Paul stepped out of the shower.  He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked to the kitchen to plug in the jug.  They had started work early that morning in the vineyard and Sid had only just left the property. 

The telephone rung and Paul turned down the stereo before picking
it up.

“Chloe asked if you would like to come over to the studio this afternoon
.”

“Aren’t you on duty?”

“Yes, but we can all go from here if there is a call out.”

“I will plan
to be at your place at about three if that suits you.  I still have a couple of things to do here.”

Paul put down the telephone and walked over to the breakfast bar.
The surface was covered in bank statements and tax returns.  He frowned at the neglected paperwork and turned his attention to the shimmering water of the bay.

“Jes
s do you want to go for a walk?” 

It was three thirty by the time the small group had made their way down to the studio.  Chloe was seated at the table concentrating on the strings of the guitar that was positioned in her lap. She looked up and greeted the men before turning to Paul.

“Your guitar was in desperate need of a tune
.”

“I had tuned it
.”

She looked up and smiled before handing the instrument over to him.  He reached for the guitar at the same time as a chorus of pagers erupted around the room.

Geoff cursed and took the offending black square out of his pocket.

“
Can you believe on a day like this someone would manage to get themselves into trouble?” 

He looked apologetically at Chloe who responded with an understanding smile.

“Hopefully, we won’t be long.  There are enough of us here to make up a crew.”

They had just boarded the boat when Geoff received the full details.  He groaned.

“You won’t believe it.  It’s
that mad redhead that has interrupted our afternoon.”

“What
is the vessel?”

Geoff laughed
.

“Believe me
, you will not be able to miss it!” 

Paul studied the small boat as they pulled alongside. The mural had obviously been painted professionally and he wondered why anyone rational would commission something of that quality for the side of an old wooden boat.

Sitting in the front seat of the boat
was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.  She had long, honey coloured hair tied back simply with a thin black band.  A lock had escaped and fell across a smoke coloured eye.  The complexion on her high cheekbones was slightly pink from the sun.  The angelic face was set and furious.  From beneath impossibly thick lashes she glanced at Paul before refocusing angrily on the redheaded woman seated at the rear of the boat. 

“Good afternoon
, Miss Cunningham.”

Geoff spoke in the
level patient voice he reserved for those he considered negligent.

“What can we do for you today?”

The blonde bristled and her eyes turned to steel.

“What the hell
? Coastguard know your name?”

She glared at the red
head and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Miss Cunningham appears to have forgotten to fill her boat up with fuel
.”

“Again
,” added Geoff, “at least today we do not have to release her anchor from a cable.”

Pau
l listened to the exchange and suppressed a smile. He had no doubt Geoff was intending to further infuriate the elegant blonde.

Geoff
continued.

“I assume
after our last discussion you have purchased lifejackets and have put them on board?”

He then addressed Joanne.  Her eyes
remained focused on the irresponsible Sandy.

“
I did explain to Miss Cunningham that it is not only a matter of safety but also a legal requirement.  A buoyancy device must be readily available for every person on board.”

Sandy smiled avoiding Joanne’s stare.  She was far more interested in attracting the
attention of the man seated next to the skipper.

“I have life jackets, they are in that
bin up the front.” She pointed to the large chilly bin sitting in the cabin.  Her eyes didn’t leave Paul when she spoke.

“I seem to have
forgotten to fill up with fuel.”

Geoff sighed
and looked towards the sky. 

“I
also recall that I suggested a few other items to make your boating a safer experience.  Have you managed to look into those?  Or enrol in the Day Skipper Course?”

Paul raised his eyes; t
he predatory redhead latched on to him with an expression that devoured, she postured and flicked her hair.  There was a slight murmur from behind and the crew lost their composure.

Geoff turned his attention to Joanne.

“There is a list of suggested safety equipment on the Coastguard website.  I also suggested to Miss Cunningham that she enrol in a Day Skipper Course.  It would give her some basic boating skills that would help keep both of you safe.” 

Jo
anne didn’t respond, she was furious with Sandy and also with herself.  How had she overlooked basic safety or the need for education before going out on the water?  She glanced at the crew.  The skipper regarded her sternly, the crew muffled their amusement with their open hands and the man seated next to the skipper looked down, she suspected he was uncomfortable under Sandy’s hungry stare. He was an incredibly handsome man.  His shoulders were broad, his arms sinewy and although he was not standing she could see he was tall and athletic.  There was a calm and capable mannerism underneath his rugged good looks.  He looked up and she felt a tidal wave of unfamiliar emotions.  His eyes were cobalt blue.  Joanne felt heat rushing to her cheeks and looked away uncomfortably.

“Paul can you go across and fuel them up.  You will need to prime the outboards to get them underway.” 

Geoff continued speaking his
voice loud enough to carry to the amused crew.

“Like a lamb to the slaughter.”

A slow smile spread across Geoff’s face.  Paul shook his head and stepped into the small interior of the Lucky Lady.  The confined space made it difficult to manoeuvre away from Sandy.  She had positioned herself close to the tiny tank and plastic squeeze pump. 
Paul worked silently.  He disliked the redhead’s attention and was careful to avert his eyes and avoid any physical contact with her. 

The
attractive blonde had retreated to the driver’s seat. Unlike the manufactured beauty of Leslie, this woman was remarkably natural.  She quietly watched him work with a combination of suspicion and hostility.  He looked over and met her eyes. There was a searching intelligence in their depths, a vulnerability that came from previous hurt.  She had the demeanour of a feral kitten, not dropping her stare and summing up the situation while at the same time looking for a safe method of escape.  Another complicated, troubled and determined woman underneath an attractive exterior.   Paul looked away and refocused his attention on the outboard.

He stood up
and cautiously stepped aside avoiding contact with
Sandy.  She appeared oblivious to the murmurings of the crew or the set, unfriendly mask Paul had maintained.

He
turned to Joanne.  

“Would you mind if I checked
that the lifejackets are up to standard?”

Joanne stood up
and made an effort to lift the bin. She frowned placed a hand on each end and tried once more before turning to Paul.

“I am sorry
, it is quite heavy.”

H
e smiled as Joanne sat down to allow him access to the cabin.

“Excuse me
.” 

There was a
complex, rich scent of sandalwood when he moved past her.  Joanne watched on in silence as he lifted the bulky object out of the cabin and placed it effortlessly on the cluttered floor, opened the lid and inspected the two plastic wrapped lifejackets. A smile tugged at the corner of Paul’s mouth and he looked at Joanne with amused cobalt blue eyes. 

“What were
you thinking Sandy?”  Joanne’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Apart from the jackets, there isn’t one item related to safety in this bin.  The whole thing is full of bottles of bloody wine.”

Geoff cleared his throat
.

“I think it i
s time to get you underway, ladies.  Perhaps you should reassess the equipment you have on board before coming out again. Has your address changed since the last callout, Miss Cunningham?”

Sandy shook her head and accepted the invoice without speaking.

Geoff erupted in
to laughter as soon as the Coastguard boat had pulled away.

“Your way with th
e ladies sure as hell failed you this time, Paul.”

The Coastguard boat had almost disappeared before Joanne had calmed down enough to speak.

“You have put me in some embarrassing situations in the past, but today was
, by far, the most humiliating experience.”

“
Why? Because you appeared vulnerable in front of a man that you found attractive.”

“What
the hell are you talking about?”

“Joanne
, you must have ice running through your veins.  That man looked like he had stepped straight off the pages of a woman’s magazine. He obviously was interested in you and he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.”

“You noticed his marital status?”

Sandy grinned.

“What is more surprising
, is that you didn’t.”

“You really are impossible.  The last thing either of us need or have time for at the moment is another complication
.”

On the way back to the villa Joanne stopped at a fishing and tackle shop.  She purchased an additional life jacket, a waterproof torch, a high quality knife, additional charts showing the waters and hazards around the Gulf islands, a full medical kit including hypothermic blanket, and some waterproof bags so that cell phones would remain functional in the event of an emergency. 

She only had to remove four bottles of wine to accommodate t
he new items in the chilly bin.

“I am sorry, but you are over qualified.  Unfortunately, in the past we have found people similar to you move on to better opportunities within a few months.” 

This was the fourth
café that had declined Joanne’s application.  The manager smiled before continuing.

“
Take my advice and lose the CV.”

The next restaurant was larger and considered one of the most upmarket locally.  Small tables sat on the s
idewalk and the interior lighting was soft and moody.  Inside, the restaurant was decorated in a striking black and white monochromatic scheme that used various textures and fabrics to create its chic atmosphere.

A friendly
, well-presented waitress approached and immediately offered Joanne a leather encased menu.

“I would like to speak to the m
anager about the position you have advertised.”

The waitress smiled and ex
cused herself.  She returned a few minutes later following an effeminate slim man with unnaturally blonde hair and a variety of piercings on his face and ears. 

“Hi
, I’m Simon.” He offered a long-fingered, soft hand.

“Come through
, please.” He minced his way towards the back of the restaurant.

“Please take
a seat.  Now, tell me about yourself, have you got a CV?”

“No
, I am sorry.”

Simon
dropped his eyes pointedly to the leather handbag and the folder that slightly protruded from the top. 

“What then is that?”

Joanne removed the papers and handed them to the bejewelled fingers that extended across the table.

“Y
ou, my dear, are over qualified.” He looked up. “I gather you have been told this before.”

“Yes.  But I am also desperate
.”

“Aren’t we all
!” He giggled and leant forward. “So, please tell me why a lady like yourself would study for years to apply for a job in my restaurant waiting tables?  I see here you were employed for a relatively short time at a law firm in Nelson.  Should I be concerned?”

“My employer found me inappropriately attractive
.”