Fourteen
Erica was seated at the kitchen table with a cup of the herbal tea she enjoyed when Joe and Coco got home. Now she seemed to be settling down, he had begun taking Coco to the office again, though he could no longer pretend it was to stop the dog from fretting at home.
‘How did it go with Gill Dickson?’ he asked, pulling a beer out of the fridge after he had filled Coco’s bowls, and she was munching down her dinner.
‘Good. She was everything you and Poppy said she was. It’s as I thought. I won’t be able to file for divorce until we’ve been apart for a year. But she suggested taking out an AVO in the event he decides to turn up.’
‘Here?’ Automatically, Joe looked around the room.
‘Where else? But I can’t imagine he would. How would he know?’
‘Where else would you go? He knows where I live. He was here for Barb’s funeral.’ The possibility had been at the back of Joe’s mind, but he hadn’t wanted to mention it. He was glad Gill had.
‘Coco would see him off. Wouldn’t you?’ she said to the dog who, now she had finished eating, padded over to Erica’s side at the sound of her name. ‘She also suggested I talk to a therapist. She recommended Livvy.’
‘Olivia? Wouldn’t she have a conflict of interest?’
‘I wondered that too, but Gill said it was up to Livvy. So I dropped into the medical centre afterwards. She recommended I see her colleague. I’ve made an appointment. We’ll see how it goes. I’m not sure how I’ll feel, talking to a stranger.’
Joe shrugged. ‘Gill’s a stranger.’
‘Yes, but… she didn’t feel like one. I liked her.’
‘Good.’ Joe didn’t know what else to say. The woman he’d only met briefly, to whom he’d felt an immediate attraction, was now his sister’s solicitor, privy to all her secrets. It felt odd. He took a swig of beer to cover his confusion.
‘I did a shop on the way back. Thought I’d cook some pasta for dinner.’ Erica said.
‘You don’t have to. I can cook.’ Erica had fallen into the habit of making dinner and, while Joe enjoyed her cooking, he didn’t want her to feel she had to earn her keep. He wasn’t sure how much money she had, suspecting she and Geoff had a joint account to which she no longer had access.
‘I enjoy it. It’s the least I can do when you’re letting me stay here rent free.’
‘As if I could charge you.’ Joe put down his beer to give Erica a hug. ‘You’re my little sister, always will be. It’s my job to take care of you.’
‘Maybe when we were growing up, but I’ll be fifty next year, Joe. I need to learn to look after myself. Speaking of which, I have an interview at the hospital next week. It sounds promising. So, I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.’
‘I enjoy having you here. It’s been lonely since Barb…’
‘Sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. I’m glad if me being here has helped.’
‘It has,’ Joe said, realising it was true. While at first, it had seemed strange to have another person in the house, he was becoming accustomed to Erica’s presence. It was different to having Barb there but comforting in an odd sort of way. And Coco liked her. ‘You can stay as long as you like.’
‘Thanks, Joe.’ Erica threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
Coco stretched, then rose to her feet and nudged Joe.
‘Looks like she wants a walk. Some fresh air would do me good too. Want to join us? We can eat when we get back.’
‘Love to. I haven’t had much exercise today.’
A few minutes later, they were climbing down to the beach, the very section which was to be featured in the paper. A few other dog owners were there too. Finn with his grandson and their young spaniel were making their way across the beach. And old Agnes with her spaniel was strolling along at the edge of the sea her long skirt trailing in the water.
‘Joe!’ Finn stopped beside Joe and Erica, while the little boy ran on with his dog.
‘Finn, this is my sister, Erica. Erica, this is Finn, our local editor.’
‘Hello, Erica. Joe’s told me about you. Welcome back to Pelican Crossing. I understand you grew up here. I’m very much an incomer.’
‘But a very welcome one, from what I’ve heard. It’s good to meet you. I’m looking forward to your column in next week’s paper. It would be a great pity to lose this.’ She gestured to where the three dogs were now tearing along the beach together.
‘It would be a disaster.’
Just then, Sandy returned. ‘Can we visit the pelicans on the weekend, Grandy?’ he asked. ‘Agnes says she’s looking after two baby ones.’
‘If Agnes says it’s okay,’ Finn said. ‘The old lady with the other spaniel manages the pelican rescue centre,’ he explained to a clearly puzzled Erica. ‘She’s a marvel with the birds, does it all herself with a few volunteers. Sandy has made friends with her over the dogs, and she helped him feel safe in the water again after he suffered a traumatic incident.’
‘Grandy says we can,’ Sandy yelled, running back to join the old woman.
Finn and Joe laughed, and Erica joined in.
Joe, Erica and Finn chatted for a few more minutes, until Sandy returned with his dog. Then Joe and Erica continued their walk, Coco running ahead.
Agnes had almost disappeared into the distance, her long white hair flying in the breeze.
‘How old is she?’ Erica asked.
‘No one knows. She seems to have been here for ever and old for as long as I remember. Don’t you remember her?’
‘Vaguely. I guess I was interested in other things.’
They walked on in silence, Coco running back and forth. It was pleasant, the only sounds the waves lapping on the beach and a distant siren.
Then Erica said, ‘The wild swimming Olivia talked about. I think I’ll join them.’
Joe stared at her in the growing darkness. ‘Are you sure? They go out very early.’
‘I’m sure.’ Erica nodded.
*
The pasta turned out to be delicious, the sauce an unusual mix of broccoli and kale with ranch dressing and parmesan cheese, a recipe Erica said she’d discovered on the internet, and which Geoff had hated when she cooked it for him. One more black mark against his brother-in-law. Erica was a good cook. She’d learned from their mother and enjoyed perfecting her skills in the kitchen during her marriage.
‘How was your day?’ she asked when they had progressed to coffee in the living room, Coco in her usual spot at Joe’s feet.
‘Okay. Not a lot happening at the moment.’ Joe paused to take a sip of coffee and ruffle Coco’s ears. ‘I did catch up with Finn for a beer at lunchtime. I told you about the article he’s putting together promoting the dog beach.’
‘Yes, the one you and Coco had your photos taken for?
‘Seems we’re to be featured in next week’s edition of The Echo . I’m not too sure how two of my fellow councillors will react.’
‘I thought that was the point… to get community support.’
‘Yes.’ Joe scratched his head. It had been Finn’s idea, but Joe had put it there. Now he wondered if it would all backfire on him. ‘We’ll have to see,’ he said. ‘There’s a council meeting next week and I’d not be surprised to see it on the agenda.’
‘Don’t you make up the agenda?’
‘Not all of it. Each councillor is able to add items which they deem relevant.’
‘Oh! Not so easy being mayor, then?’
‘It has its moments.’
‘About the swimming, Joe. I waken early. It would be better than lying awake thinking. You wouldn’t mind, would you?’
‘It’s up to you.’ It should have occurred to Joe Erica might still be troubled by thoughts about Geoff. ‘I might come with you,’ he said. ‘Not to swim,’ he added, before she could remind him it was a group of mostly women swimmers. ‘Coco would enjoy an early morning walk.’ And I’d enjoy the opportunity to bump into Gill Dickson again.