Twenty-eight
Joe had sensed Gill’s embarrassment when he went across to speak with her. Had he done the wrong thing? But he couldn’t ignore her, though her blush and the expression on her daughter’s face made him wish he had. He’d never get a handle on dealing with women. It was one of the reasons he’d never made any women friends since Barb died… not until now. But there was something about Gill that made him want to wrap her up and carry her off to a place where no one could hurt her – figuratively, of course. Unlike most people who, he was sure, only saw the hard outer shell, the successful divorce and family law solicitor, he sensed the vulnerable woman inside and wanted to comfort her.
‘Everything all right? Who is the young woman with Gill?’ Erica asked, when he returned to their table.
‘Fine. It’s her daughter.’
‘Oh… they look alike, apart from the hair.’
Joe glanced across again to where the two women were sitting. Neither was looking in his direction. He hadn’t noticed at the time – he’d been too busy looking at Gill and wondering if she was upset with him. But now he considered it, they did look alike. He could imagine Gill looking exactly like Freya at thirty – apart from the hair, as Erica said. ‘You’re right,’ he said, taking a sip of wine to hide his confusion and embarrassment, as Freya glanced over at their table, clearly asking Gill about him. What was she saying? He wished he could hear.
‘You are going to see her again, aren’t you?’ Erica asked. ‘It’s about time you moved on, and Gill’s perfect for you. Barb would like her,’ she added when he didn’t respond.
Joe knew Erica was right – on both counts – but it wasn’t so easy. Gill was a hard nut to crack and if he made a false step, it could so easily go wrong.
When he still didn’t respond, Erica said, ‘Sorry, Joe. I’m probably not the best person to give relationship advice.’ She looked down at her empty plate, then took a sip of wine.
‘I’m sorry. Of course you can offer advice. Isn’t it what sisters do? What happened between you and Geoff wasn’t your fault. But regarding Gill… best leave it up to me.’ Though he hadn’t done too well so far. Maybe he did need Erica’s advice. Women understood other women, didn’t they?
*
‘Well?’ Freya asked, glancing across to where Joe sat with Erica. She had the mischievous twinkle in her eyes Gill remembered from when she was a teenager.
‘We’re just friends.’ Gill felt herself redden. ‘I was his plus one at a business do, and we’ve had dinner together.’ As soon as she spoke, Gill knew it had been a mistake. Freya seized on her words.
‘His plus one? And dinner? Sounds serious.’
‘It wasn’t.’ But Gill remembered the misconceptions of his friends in Bellbird Bay. ‘A Chamber of Commerce thing down the coast. A bit of a bore, to be honest, though I did manage to chat with the director of the women’s centre I’d visited earlier. Ali gave a talk to our local Zonta group last week. She’s an interesting lady.’
If Gill hoped she’d manage to distract Freya, she’d forgotten her daughter’s ability to get the bit between her teeth once she thought she was on to something.
‘He’s pretty hot for someone his age,’ she said, glancing over again. ‘I bet Dad hasn’t aged so well. It must take a lot out of him trying to keep up with Mercedes,’ she said more bitterly than Gill might have expected.
Mercedes, so that was the name of Max’s pregnant girlfriend. It conjured up the image of some exotic creature as unlike Gill as could be. ‘Have you spoken to your dad recently?’ she asked.
‘No way. Not since he told me about her. Can you imagine? She’d be like my sister and she’s with my dad. I’m guessing you’re not in touch?’
‘Only through our solicitors.’
‘I thought you’d be divorced by now.’
So did I! ‘There have been a few challenges.’ Gill had no intention of going into their disagreements with Freya, or of bad-mouthing Max to their daughter. He was still her dad, after all, even if he was currently on her blacklist.
‘Ready to leave?’ Gill asked, seeing Freya had finished her coffee. She was keen to change the subject.
‘Okay.’
Freya was silent on the drive back to the apartment, giving Gill the impression she was caught up in her thoughts. Was she thinking about Max and his new girlfriend, or was it something else entirely? Why did Gill have the impression Freya had some other reason for coming home, and Max was only the catalyst?