Twenty-one
By Sunday morning, Gill was feeling a lot better. She’d be fine to go back to work on Monday as planned. She hadn’t told anyone about the biopsy, reasoning her health issues were none of their business, and now she was fine, there was nothing to arouse their sympathy, something she’d have hated.
About to make one more banana smoothie, Gill realised she had finished the last container of almond milk the previous evening. For a few moments she stood undecided with the pantry door open, then made up her mind. She’d make a quick dash to the shops for two more, and she’d stock up on more frozen meals while she was there. She hadn’t progressed from smoothies, yoghurt and soups yet, but would do soon.
Running her fingers through her hair and pulling on a jacket, Gill slid her feet into a pair of canvas shoes and headed out. She looked a mess but wouldn’t meet anyone she knew this early on a Sunday morning.
She was browsing the freezer compartment in the store, debating whether to choose the macaroni cheese or another cottage pie when a voice behind her made her turn.
‘I can highly recommend the chicken stir fry.’
‘Oh!’ Gill flinched. Of all people to see her looking like this. Joe Harris had caught her at a disadvantage again. ‘Thanks,’ she said, picking up two frozen meals of macaroni cheese and one of cottage pie, and hoping he’d leave and get on with his own shopping. But it wasn’t to be.
‘Seems we have the same taste in food,’ he said. ‘Until Erica joined me, I lived on frozen meals. They’re handy when you’re on your own and can’t cook. Though I don’t imagine it applies to you… the not cooking part.’
‘I can cook, but I agree, these do come in handy,’ Gill said, wondering if her voice sounded as strange to him as it did to her. This was the first time she’d spoken to anyone since the biopsy.
It must have, because Joe said, ‘Are you all right, Gill, you sound…’
‘… odd,’ she finished for him. ‘I had… some dental work.’ It wasn’t really a lie. As far as the medical services were concerned anything in the mouth was classified as dental.
Joe gave her a strange look.
Gill flinched, remembering her vow to make friendship with him a priority. But she hadn’t expected to meet him here like this. ‘I…’ she began.
‘Why don’t you join me for coffee?’ he asked. ‘We can put these,’ he gestured to the frozen meals which were now in her basket, ‘in an esky I have in the car. Unless you have something else planned…’
‘No… yes… I mean…’ What did she mean? He’d caught her looking like a tramp in the store on a Sunday morning when most residents of Pelican Crossing were either at church or eating breakfast. ‘Your sister…’ she said lamely.
‘Erica’s having breakfast with Olivia. I don’t have to be anywhere.’ He paused. ‘I’d like it if you would join me for coffee… and you can tell me about your dental procedure.’ He smiled.
All of a sudden, looking into the brown eyes filled with a concern she recognised from their first meeting, Gill felt herself relax, knowing she could share what she’d been through with Joe. ‘Thanks,’ she said.
*
A short time later, having stashed her shopping into the esky in Joe’s car, Gill was seated opposite him in Books and Coffee with a mug of hot chocolate. ‘No dog today?’ she asked.
‘I left Coco at home this morning. She’s not allowed in the shops and hates being left in the car. I’ll take her for a walk when I get back. Now, are you going to tell me what’s up, why you are taking tiny sips of your chocolate, and your voice sounds strange? It wasn’t only a dental procedure, was it? Don’t think I’m being intrusive. but sometimes it helps to talk about these things.’
Gill wrapped both hands around her mug. For a few moments she didn’t speak, then she began… ‘I had a scare. I thought it was cancer.’ She saw Joe flinch at the word and regretted she’d spoken it. But she’d started now. There was no going back.
‘So, that’s why I sound a bit odd,’ she said, when she had finished. ‘I was lucky, not like Barb. I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be. It’s not your fault. Sounds like you had quite a scare. I’m glad you got a clean bill of health. But you’re right. It does tend to put things into perspective.’ He placed his hand over hers, which was now lying on the table, then removed it, as if he’d been burned. ‘What do you say we have dinner together once you’re able to eat properly again?’
Gill was surprised to find herself smiling. ‘Sounds lovely,’ she said, liking the idea of getting to know Joe better. It was time she broadened her circle of friends, she told herself, ignoring the flash of a long-forgotten yearning she had felt when his hand covered hers. Had he felt it too ?
‘Have you seen Friday’s copy of The Echo ?’ Joe asked, changing the subject as if he’d read her mind.
‘No.’ Gill shook her head, ‘I was otherwise engaged on Friday.’
‘Of course. Sorry.’
‘What did I miss?’
‘Coco and me, along with other dog owners made the front page.’
‘Oh!’ Gill had a vague recollection of Poppy and Rachel mentioning something about photos of dog owners on the beach, something about… She tried to remember. ‘I think Poppy may have mentioned it last time we had lunch.’
‘She was there, along with a number of others. Finn did us proud with the covering article. But…’ his forehead creased, ‘… not everyone was pleased. A couple of the councillors are waging a campaign to ban all off-leash dogs on beaches.’
‘Surely not?’ Now Gill remembered the discussion and her own comment. She repeated it now. ‘They don’t do any harm. I don’t remember ever hearing of anyone being bitten or attacked on our beaches. It’s not like K’gari and the dingoes.’
‘Exactly!’ Joe seemed pleased. ‘But that’s their argument.’
‘I think I need to come along to the meeting.’ Poppy would no doubt be there, Rachel, too, and with Finn’s connection, probably Liz.
‘I hope a lot of people will feel that way. Our four-legged friends need all the support they can get.’
‘They won’t be at the meeting?’ Gill asked trying to keep a straight face.
Joe stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide, then he seemed to realise she was joking. ‘Probably not,’ he said, chuckling.
A few minutes later, they both rose to leave. When Gill picked up her shopping from Joe’s car, she thanked him for the hot chocolate and for listening. It had helped to share her fears and subsequent relief with someone who understood. They parted without making any plans to see each other again, but Gill was confident their paths would cross again and there was the promised dinner to look forward to, though right now, Gill couldn’t imagine when she might feel like eating normally again.
Back home, she smiled as she packed her shopping away, and set about making herself another banana smoothie. She had just taken a seat on the balcony and was about to sip it when her phone rang. She gazed at the screen in amazement, seeing Freya’s name.