Twenty-four
Gill awoke on Sunday morning feeling happier than she had for some time. It took her a few moments to remember the call from Freya, then her agreement to have dinner with Joe. She had almost refused Liz’s invitation, unsure how she’d cope with eating food she hadn’t prepared herself. But it had been okay, though she’d felt uncomfortable when she caught Joe glancing at her from time to time during the meal.
It was early and, for the first time since the biopsy, she felt ready to go swimming again. Rising, she pulled on her swimsuit, shorts and tee-shirt, glugged down a glass of water and set off.
It was a smaller group than usual who made the effort to join the wild swimmers on a Sunday morning, many choosing to stay in bed, or to have plans for family breakfast. Gill shivered in the slight breeze when she got out of the car. She ran down to join the others on the beach, pleased to see Olivia among those standing there. Then they were off, striding into the ocean to dive through the waves and strike out across the bay.
As Gill once again experienced the exhilaration of being at one with nature she struck out, forgetting everything in the pleasure of being back in the environment she loved. She’d missed this. She turned to float on her back and gazed up at the changing colours of the sky, glad to be alive.
She was still in high spirits when she emerged to grab her towel from where she’d left it on the beach.
‘Hey, Gill. Haven’t seen you for a few days. Is everything okay?’ Olivia asked.
‘It is now.’ Gill hoped Olivia wouldn’t ask anything further.
She didn’t, but did say, ‘It’s been a while. Why don’t we have breakfast together… unless you have other plans?’
‘Sounds good, but I need to go home and change first.’ Gill looked down at the old shorts and tee-shirt she’d pulled on earlier.
‘Me too. How about we meet in The Blue Dolphin at eight-thirty?’
‘See you there.’
Gill arrived at The Blue Dolphin Café just before eight-thirty. She looked around. There was no sign of Olivia, but she could see Poppy and Cam with a young couple she recognised as Poppy’s daughter, Scarlett, and Cam’s son, Lachlan. They were accompanied by a small child who Gill knew must be their son, Poppy and Cam’s grandson.
She smiled, waved to her friends and took a seat at a vacant table. Now she was in touch with Freya again, seeing her friend with her daughter and grandson didn’t hurt as much. Thinking of her daughter, Gill took out her phone, her heart leaping at the sight of a new text. It must be mid-afternoon in California, she calculated. She read it quickly, conscious Olivia could arrive any time.
Flight booked. Arriving next Sat. Will make my own way to Pelican Crossing. Be home for lunch. Fxx
Gill beamed, her heart pounding with excitement, then seeing Olivia walk into the café, replied with a thumbs up emoji. She would send a proper reply later when she was alone.
‘Hey!’ Olivia took a seat. ‘You’re looking very pleased with yourself.’
Gill couldn’t keep her news to herself. ‘Freya’s coming home,’ she said, grinning.
‘Freya? But I thought…’
‘It’s complicated, but we’re back in touch.’ Gill had no intention of sharing the story of Max’s situation with Olivia. She may have decided to be more sociable, but she preferred to keep some things to herself. She glanced across to where Poppy was laughing down at her grandson. Freya would be back in Pelican Crossing by the time their next lunch meeting came around, and her three close friends would want the details. She’d have to figure out how to tell them before then. Then she thought about Joe. Did he deserve to know? All this deciding to be more open with people was full of pitfalls. After being reserved for so long, it was going to be difficult to change.
‘I’m glad for you, and I understand if you don’t want to share the details,’ Olivia said.
Gill relaxed. Even though Olivia had supported her through Max leaving and Freya’s rejection, and Gill knew that as a counsellor, her friend was accustomed to keeping confidences, she was still hesitant to share this latest news with her… maybe later when everything had been resolved… if that ever happened. But somehow, Gill was feeling more positive about her situation and the divorce. Perhaps it was the knowledge that Freya had shunned Max, that he’d finally done something to alienate their daughter and brought her back to Gill, perhaps it was the positive result from the biopsy, perhaps it was the prospect of dinner with Joe. She stifled that last thought before it could take root. He was a friend, nothing more. But whatever the reason, Gill was feeling more positive about the future than she had in a long time.
‘Shall we order?’ Olivia picked up a menu. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.’
‘Let’s.’
The two women studied the menus before each deciding to order the savoury mince with poached egg served on Turkish bread, accompanied by skimmed milk cappuccinos.
‘So,’ Olivia said, when their orders had been placed, ‘what’s been happening with you?’ She leant forward as if anticipating some sort of revelation or explanation of Gill’s absence from their early morning swims.
‘I’ve been busy,’ Gill said, determined to keep news of the biopsy to herself. ‘But it was good to get back this morning. How are you enjoying The Wild Coast ?’ she asked, moving on to the book chosen for their next month’s book club meeting. ‘I’ve been listening to the audiobook and love the Scottish narrator’s voice. It reminds me of my grandmother.’
‘I didn’t realise you had Scottish ancestry,’ Olivia said. ‘I haven’t got very far yet. You may have the right idea, listening instead of reading. I’m finding the concept of wild camping interesting. Very different from wild swimming.’
‘And a lot more dangerous… according to Lin Anderson.’ Gill shivered at the memory of the missing girls in the story she’d been listening to. ‘But it was good to be reminded of the trip I took to Scotland between school and uni. I visited several of the locations in the book, and it brought back happy memories.’
‘Scotland’s on my bucket list,’ Olivia said. ‘I hope to get there one day.’
‘Don’t hope. Make a plan.’
‘Listen to you. Are you sure it’s only about Freya coming home? You sound different.’
‘I guess I’ve come to the realisation we should make the most of what we have. We never know what’s in store, how much time we have left.’
‘Wow! That’s pretty heavy for a Sunday morning,’ Olivia said, just as their coffee and breakfasts arrived.
While they ate, Olivia regaled Gill with the latest news from her daughter who was finding this pregnancy more difficult than her earlier ones, and how she wished they didn’t live so far away – a common complaint of Olivia’s.
‘Why don’t you go over to visit, combine it with a trip to Scotland. Didn’t you say she wanted you to go?’ Gill asked, taking a gulp of coffee. ‘You could be there for the birth.’
Olivia didn’t immediately reply, then said, ‘Do you know, I think I will. I have some leave owing. The baby’s not due till early next year. It would give me time to arrange a locum. Thanks, Gill.’ She smiled.
‘No problem, Livvy. I know how much I’d want to be there if it was Freya.’ But first Freya would have to find a partner, and she had made no mention of one in any of the emails they’d exchanged since her first call. But now she was coming back to Australia, who knew what might happen?
When they left the café, Gill hugged Olivia. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she said. ‘Thanks for suggesting breakfast.’
‘Thanks for coming.’
As Gill hurried off, it occurred to her for the first time that perhaps Olivia was lonely too. Since Max left, she’d been so wrapped up in her own problems, she’d been blind to what might be happening in the lives of those around her. Well, that was about to change. And now she had things to look forward to – Freya’s arrival, her dinner with Joe, and Ali Wells coming to speak with the Zonta group which she’d finally managed to organise. Life is good right now, she told herself, and she was going to make the most of it.