Two
In the office of the new Crossing Echo , festivities were winding down from the morning’s celebration. Joe Harris drained his glass of champagne, set it down on a table and glanced around the room. The event designed to farewell the old paper and welcome the new one had been a success. The tables set up for the occasion, which had been groaning with food, were now almost empty and were being cleared by the staff from Crossings , the local restaurant which had catered the event.
‘It went well.’ Finn Hunter, the editor of both the old and the new newspapers joined him. ‘It’s all thanks to you, Joe.’
Joe shook his head. While as mayor of Pelican Crossing, he’d spearheaded the campaign to save the paper after the consortium that owned it decided to close it, along with a number of other regional papers, it had been the community – and a very generous anonymous donor – which had provided the necessary funding. The funding thermometer outside the town hall had now reached the top.
‘I must be getting back. I left Coco in the office,’ he said, referring to the chocolate labrador who had been his sole companion since his wife died.
‘Catch you later, and thanks again.’
Embarrassed at the outpouring of thanks he’d already received, Joe left and made his way back to the mayoral office. He had only been doing his job. The town needed its newspaper. But was that all it had been, he wondered as he walked through the town. The campaign to save the newspaper had been a way of helping him get through each day, something that had become difficult after Barb passed away. They had been childhood sweethearts, neither looking at anyone else after they met at high school. They’d married young, intending to have a large family. But the children they both longed for had never eventuated. Instead, they had found comfort in each other’s company, enjoying their home and garden, even taking a year off to travel around Australia in an old caravan.
Now all he had were his memories.
When he’d been voted in as mayor, he and Barb had thought it the pinnacle of their life together and he had joked about how she’d be the most elegant lady mayoress Pelican Crossing had ever seen. The diagnosis of her ovarian cancer soon after his inauguration had been a terrible shock, and the following years a challenge. Then he was alone.
Joe had thrown himself into his work with the council but coming home each night to an empty house had threatened to send him out of his mind, so he’d bought a dog. Now, he couldn’t imagine life without Coco. The dog was the perfect companion and seemed to sense his every mood.
When he opened his office door, Coco rose to greet him, emitting a gentle ‘Woof’, her wet nose pushing into his hand.
‘Sorry, Coco,’ he said. ‘I’ll take you for a walk at lunchtime to make up.’
Seeming to understand, the dog padded over to lie in her favourite spot under the desk.
The rest of the morning passed quickly, as Joe scrolled through his emails, deleting some, and answering others, and gave instructions to his PA regarding the agenda for the next council meeting. Then, with a sigh of relief, he picked up Coco’s leash.
Once outside, there was no question in his mind where they would go. He’d been so tied up with the campaign to save the paper, it was some time since he’d spoken to his friend, Cam Mitchell, who owned and managed Pelican Marine . But it was no excuse for ignoring an old mate.
It was good to get out into the fresh air. Coco enjoyed it too, after being cooped up in Joe’s office all morning, excited by the sight of a group of seagulls fighting over a scrap of food and pulling on her leash. There was a stiff breeze coming off the sea when they reached the marina, making many of the vessels rock in their moorings. It was good to be alive, but Joe wondered what he could find to occupy him now the campaign was over. Being mayor was all very well, but he needed a project to keep his mind occupied in the lonely nights.
‘Joe, good to see you again. A great success this morning,’ Cam greeted him before reaching down to pat Coco.
Joe had forgotten Cam had been there, as had many other local businesspeople. ‘It did go well, didn’t it? But it’s not why I’m here. I want to apologise for being so out of touch the past couple of months.’
‘No worries.’ Cam grinned. ‘You had other things on your mind. And it was all worth it. You must be very proud of what you’ve achieved.’
Joe flinched. If one more person tried to congratulate him for what had been a community effort, he’d either scream or dock them one. But this was Cam. They’d known each other most of their lives. So, he smiled and said nothing.
‘Fancy lunch?’ Cam asked. ‘I often go across to The Blue Dolphin . We can sit at one of the outside tables to accommodate Coco.’
‘Sounds good.’
The pair were soon seated outside the café, Coco happily lying at their feet, a bowl of water having been provided for her.
‘How’s life?’ Joe asked, when they’d been served with coffee and the ploughman’s lunch Cam had insisted on, telling Joe it was a new item on the menu.
‘Better than ever.’ Cam grinned again. ‘Life with Poppy is never dull, that’s for sure. And now, with the grandkids… We don’t have a moment to ourselves, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.’
Joe winced. He envied Cam who had got together with Poppy, the owner of Crossings , only a year earlier. Between them, they now had two grandchildren and two more on the way. Interestingly, one of them, a little boy called Taylor, was the son of Poppy’s daughter and Cam’s son. No wonder Cam was enjoying life.
Joe’s one regret was that he and Barb had never had any children. He had no children or grandchildren to fill his life. As if reading his mind, Coco nudged Joe’s leg. He looked down affectionately at the dog and patted her head. If only she could speak.
‘So, what’s new?’ Cam asked. ‘Now the campaign’s over, you must feel relieved.’
‘Not really.’ Joe sighed. ‘After fighting the development, then setting up the campaign, life will seem pretty empty.’ He chuckled, but it sounded hollow, even to himself. He shrugged. He didn’t want Cam’s pity, but there it was. Since Barb died, he’d been lonely, needing something to fill his life. The fight to save the town from a developer, then the paper, had filled the empty hours. Now they were both over, he’d be back to spending all his time on town business.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.’ Cam was silent for a few moments. ‘You must come to dinner,’ he said, injecting a note of enthusiasm into his voice. ‘I’ll talk to Poppy and get back to you.’
‘Thanks.’ It was good of Cam, but a dinner with the loved-up couple wasn’t going to cure what ailed Joe. He needed a purpose in life, a project he could get his teeth into.