Twelve
Luke had had a busy morning. He’d been wakened at the crack of dawn by a call from Josh to ask how to reset the gas water heater as Abby had complained the water was cold in the shower. He’d sighed at the realisation he’d forgotten to leave instructions for this possibility and at how spoiled the younger generation were. He remembered having lots of cold showers when he was younger – his dad said they were bracing.
The phone wakened Nelson too, and unable to go back to sleep, Luke had taken the dog down to the beach for an early morning walk, surprising himself by how much he enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the ocean. But even with a walk along the beach, followed by a swim, it was still barely six when he got back home.
Since Luke was now wide-awake, he fixed breakfast for himself and Nelson before showering and dressing. Then, over a welcome mug of coffee, he sat down to study the book on Italian immigration he’d scarcely had time to look at earlier.
An hour later, he’d reluctantly closed it. So far, he’d discovered that while many Italian immigrants came to work on the Snowy Mountains project, there was also a large group who headed for the cane fields of Northern Queensland. He wasn’t sure which group his own ancestors belonged to. He knew nothing about his mother’s family and was keen to find out more.
Luke walked across to the clinic with Nelson. One of the advantages of this job was the proximity of the clinic to Bob’s house… not to mention the nearby beach. It would be difficult to leave and go back to the city when Bob returned. But that wasn’t for another three months. He might have tired of Pelican Crossing by then.
Wendy arrived soon after he did, and the morning routine began. Rachel’s Molly had only been the first of many animals to be attacked by ticks, and the cages in the hospital section of the clinic were filling up with a variety of breeds who’d been similarly affected. Luke had just finished treating one such creature when Wendy called through. ‘I have Rachel Mason on the phone about Molly. Can you speak with her now?’
‘Give me a minute,’ Luke replied, surprised how his mood lifted at the prospect of speaking to Rachel and seeing her again. Molly had responded well to treatment and would be able to go home later in the day, freeing up a space for another poor animal.
At the sound of Rachel’s voice on the phone, and the relief in her voice, Luke immediately pictured her as she’d been two days earlier. He told her she could pick Molly up in the late afternoon, already beginning to look forward to seeing her again, and berating himself for his foolishness. He was only here for a few months. It would be madness to become involved with a local woman… especially this one, whose sister he had once dated. And… she was probably happily married. But he couldn’t stop himself thinking what if…
*
By the time four o’clock came around, the clinic had emptied of patients and their owners. It was closing time, and Wendy was packing up ready to leave.
‘Is that everything?’ she asked, before she closed off the computer for the day.
‘Only Molly’s mum to pick her up. I can fix up the payment.’
‘Are you sure? I can stay for a bit longer.’
‘No, it’s fine. Off you go. It shouldn’t take long.’
‘Right.’ Wendy headed off, leaving Luke alone in the clinic with Nelson, the silence only broken by the barking coming from the hospital section.
In preparation for Rachel’s arrival, Luke fetched the little Westie from her cage, and carried her through into the reception area, Nelson padding at his heels and glancing up from time to time as if wondering what Luke was doing. He didn’t normally bring an animal in like this.
It was quarter past four, and both Nelson and Molly were becoming restive, when Rachel rushed into the clinic. ‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ she said. ‘I was held up. Early Christmas lunch. You know how it is.’ Her face was red from rushing – or perhaps from celebratory wine – but she looked good to Luke, dressed in a loosely-fitted red and gold caftan, her curls, reminiscent of the red ones he remembered, though now faded, falling around her face.
‘No worries,’ Luke said, picking up Molly from where she had been lying on a soft cushion. ‘Here’s your little lady.’
‘Oh, Molly!’ Rachel took the now squirming dog from his arms, sending a frisson through him as their hands touched. She appeared unaffected. She raised her eyes to meet Luke’s and, for the first time, he noticed how blue they were, a pale blue, the shade of the ocean on a cool day. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘She’s fine now?’
‘She’s recovered sufficiently to go home, but you still need to take care.’ Luke repeated the instructions he’d given her earlier regarding a cool environment, plenty of rest, lots of water and small amounts of food frequently.
‘Thanks,’ she said again. ‘I remember and I’ve told my granddaughters. They love Molly too and will hopefully obey my instructions.’
Granddaughters, he knew she’d have grandchildren. Luke’s heart sank. ‘How old are they?’ he asked.
‘Four, going on five. They start school next year.’
From her tone of voice, it wasn’t something she was looking forward to. Luke wondered what it would be like to have grandchildren that age, if he’d ever know. Josh certainly wasn’t in any hurry to make him a grandfather. He cleared his throat to… but he couldn’t ask about her husband. He said nothing.
Nelson nudged him. It was as if the dog knew something he didn’t.
‘Your dog?’ Rachel asked.
‘Nelson.’ He sounded like a fool.
‘How does he like it here? You’ve come from Sydney, haven’t you?’
Of course, she’d have known he went there, or perhaps Bob had said something about his replacement. ‘Yes. He’s loving the sand and the sea, the freedom.’ As I am .
‘Who wouldn’t? Pelican Crossing is a beautiful spot, always has been.’
Did Luke sense a note of bitterness? ‘My parents left. There was nothing to come back to.’ Why did he feel he had to justify himself to her ?
Rachel seemed to collect herself. ‘Of course. How much do I owe you for this little one?’ She peered down at her pet who was cuddling into her, clearly pleased to be back in her mistress’s arms.
Juggling the little dog in her arms, Rachel took out her credit card and paid the vet bill. Then she turned to go.
Luke wanted to stop her, to say something, anything, that would delay her departure. But there was nothing he could think to say that would make any sense, that wouldn’t paint him as a fool, an old fool who was trying to recapture a youth that was long gone. He wondered what had happened to her sister, to the first girl he’d kissed. No doubt that’s all he was to Rachel – her big sister’s boyfriend. He wondered if she’d tell Becky he was back, back in Pelican Crossing where it had all begun, where he’d started to learn about the ways of the fairer sex, who he’d never fully understood, not even after all those years of marriage to Ness. ‘What do you think, Nelson?’ he asked his dog. ‘Do I have a chance there?’ The dog looked back at him pityingly.