Ten
By the time Saturday came around, Joe had almost forgotten his meeting with Gill Dickson, almost but not quite. There were times, during the odd moment in his office, when the memory of the vulnerable woman who’d burst into his life came back to haunt him, and he wondered anew what had caused her to be so distressed she agreed to have coffee with him, an act which he was sure was out of character for her.
He'd made a few discreet enquiries which only reinforced his view she was not the type of woman to have coffee with someone she’d just met – even if he was the town mayor with an impeccable reputation. From what he could gather, she was a very private person with few friends, one of which was Poppy Taylor, the woman with whom he and Erica were having dinner that very evening. It wasn’t such a coincidence. Pelican Crossing was a small town. It was inevitable people knew each other. What surprised him was how he and Gill Dickson had never crossed paths before now.
Each day this week, Joe had noticed a change in his sister. Imperceptible as it might be to others, he knew Erica so well it was easy for him to spot how every day it seemed as if the load she’d been carrying lightened. It was as if Pelican Crossing was working its magic on her, restoring the old Erica, the sister he remembered, the young girl she’d been before she left to take up a nursing position in Sydney, before she met Geoff and moved with him to Perth in Western Australia.
They’d spent the day on the beach with Coco. With the sounds of the sea and the scent of the ocean, it was easy to forget the cares of the working week, and to pretend all was well with his sister. Joe knew they’d soon have to face the fact she’d left her husband, a husband who might well decide to follow her. But for now, it was enough they were here together in the place they’d both grown up, throwing a ball for his dog.
There were a few other dog owners on the beach, reminding Joe of the challenge he was facing with the two difficult councillors. Earlier in the week, he and Coco had joined several other dog owners to pose for photographs which would accompany the article Finn had promised would appear in The Echo . Joe hoped it would raise the community’s awareness of the value of the dog beach and would influence the council’s decision if it ever came to a vote on ongoing access.
Joe raked his fingers through his still thick hair which was fast turning grey, and grimaced at his face in the mirror. There seemed to be more wrinkles each time he looked, but he supposed it was to be expected at his age. He’d never see fifty again. Then he felt the familiar pang. Barb had never reached her fiftieth birthday, despite all the plans they’d made to make it special.
He took a deep breath, headed out of the bedroom and popped his head into Erica’s room. ‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Almost. Do you think this will do?’ Erica turned from the mirror where she’d been examining herself, and Joe was struck again how, despite the improvement he’d noticed since she arrived, Erica’s self-confidence was at an all-time low. Geoff had a lot to answer for. He’d managed to change the feisty girl he’d married into a shadow of her former self.
‘You look lovely,’ Joe said. And she did. The pink, wool dress suited her to perfection, and she’d done something different with her hair.
‘Thanks,’ she smiled. ‘It’s a while since anyone called me that.’
Joe smiled back, vowing to say it as often as he could. ‘Let’s go then.’
*
As soon as the door opened, Poppy’s little West Highland Terrier ran out to sniff at Joe’s ankles. He leant down to pat him, glad he’d left Coco at home. Although the dogs got along well when they met on the beach, this was Angus’s territory, and it was best not to tempt fate.
‘Come on in,’ Cam said. ‘Poppy’s in the kitchen. Good to see you again, Erica. It’s been a while.’
‘Thirty years since I lived here,’ Erica said. ‘I was back for Barb’s funeral, but only briefly.’
Joe frowned, remembering how Geoff had insisted they leave immediately the ceremony was over. He’d have liked to spend more time with his sister.
‘Poppy’s looking forward to seeing you again,’ Cam said, leading them into the kitchen, Angus padding along at their heels.
‘Oh, this is lovely,’ Erica said, when they entered the large family kitchen with the French window through which they could catch glimpses of the sky filled with stars, and the lights of a distant ship on the ocean.
‘Thanks.’ Poppy came forward to hug Joe and Erica. ‘Jack and I built it. I could never leave. I’m so glad Cam had no qualms about living here too.’ She sent an affectionate glance in his direction.
Joe flinched. This is what he’d been afraid of when Cam first mentioned him coming to dinner. But somehow, it didn’t feel as bad as he’d expected. Maybe it was Erica’s presence which mitigated the effect, or maybe… Why did the image of Gill Dickson suddenly appear in his mind’s eye?
‘It’s lovely to see you back in Pelican Crossing, Erica,’ Poppy continued, clearly oblivious to Joe’s discomfort. ‘We must see more of you while you’re here. Do you plan to stay for long?’
There was an uncomfortable silence during which Joe looked at Erica, and she looked at the floor. Then she said, ‘I’m back for good. I’ve left Geoff.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. Oh, is that the right thing to say? It’s good you have Joe to come to.’
‘He’s been wonderful.’ Erica said, smiling at Joe. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done if he hadn’t taken me in.’
There was another awkward pause, then Cam said, ‘Sorry, guys. I haven’t offered you a drink. What’ll you have?’ And in the kerfuffle of pouring beer for himself and Joe, and wine for Poppy and Erica, the uncomfortable moment passed.
Over dinner, the conversation focussed on how Pelican Crossing had changed over the years, with Poppy reminiscing about the plans she and Jack had had for Crossings and how she had thrown herself into the restaurant after his death.
Joe marvelled at how she could talk about this in Cam’s presence.
Then she took Cam’s hand, smiled at him and said, ‘Then Cam came along and persuaded me to take things easier.’
Joe wondered if he’d ever be able to speak about Barb in this way, as if she was a dear friend, who somehow was no longer with him.
‘You must bring Erica for a meal at Crossings ,’ Poppy said, when Erica expressed an interest in how the restaurant looked now; she could only remember what it was like in Poppy’s parents’ day.
‘Good idea,’ Joe said, ‘if you’re up for it, Erica.’
‘I’d love it,’ she said, a sure sign to Joe she was on the mend.
After dinner, Cam and Joe went out onto the deck, ostensibly to sample a special Scotch Cam had obtained through a contact he’d met on the marina, leaving the women to chat.
‘I could tell Poppy wanted a quiet word with Erica,’ Cam said. ‘Women’s business.’ He tapped the side of his nose.
Joe hadn’t seen or heard any communication between Cam and Poppy but understood what he meant. He and Barb had been able to communicate silently too. Something else he missed. He wondered what the two women were saying to each other.
When the men returned inside, he heard Erica say to Poppy, ‘Thanks. I’ll contact her. I’ll probably need her help.’
Despite being curious to know who and what Erica meant, he had the sense not to ask. But when they were driving home, Erica said, ‘Poppy has suggested I talk with a solicitor to work out what my options are. She’s given me the name of a friend of hers, a Gill Dickson. Do you know of her?’
Joe swallowed. ‘As it happens, I met Gill recently,’ he said.