22. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Beth
Beth had her shower and came out feeling a touch better. She practised her mindfulness techniques which distracted her thoughts for ten minutes. At least, she wasn’t close to nervous break-down anymore.
She grabbed an apple and her phone and sat at the dining table. As she flicked through airline ticket prices with her left index finger, the engagement ring sparkled from the fluorescent light above. The ring. She needed to return it, but how?
The crunch of the apple between her back teeth was the only sound in the apartment. No T.V. or radio, and the thick walls drowned out any sound from the neighbors.
Alone in America. Knowing not a soul. No car. Not even a key to the front door. She didn’t belong here.
An email notification popped up on her screen. A piece of apple jammed in her throat when she gasped. Lachlan? She coughed into her fist, then clicked the message.
Hello Beth,
I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch lately. I’ve recently finished my deployment and returned to San Diego. Not much is happening here, just working for my brother. But, I’ve been talking to Chris Evanson, and he offered me a position at Bayside Manna. It sounds like a great opportunity to see more of your amazing country and spend time with my Australian friends. That includes you, of course. That is, if we’re still friends? Did you get my Facebook friend request?
How have you been? What’s happening in the small town of Fremantle? I would love to hear from you.
Bye for now,
Lachlan.
Beth laid the phone back on the table and stared until the screen dimmed. She touched her cheeks. San Diego. Where was that? How far from L.A.? He’d just emailed, so maybe he could talk on messenger tonight. She could tell him—oh, how embarrassing. Shameful. Dumped in the U.S.A. Sounded like a song title. Dumped in the U.S.A. yeah, dumped in the U.S.A., yeah.
She clicked on Facebook and accepted Lachlan’s friend request. She hadn’t posted anything for months, but she wanted his friendship—even though he’d shunned her for almost a year. Opening the messenger app, she typed in his name and sent a message.
Hi Lachlan,
Thanks for your email. I’m available to talk now, can I call you on messenger?
The three dots waved as he typed. A smile appeared on her lips. He was in America. She had a friend in America.
Lachlan replied that she could call. One tap later, she held her breath and waited for his voice.
“G’day, mate,” He said in a poor attempt at an Aussie accent.
“Oh, Lachlan. It’s so good to hear from you.”
He laughed. “Really? That’s nice to know. Wow, I can’t believe I’m talking to you after two years. Your photo appeared on my memories’ notification the other day. The one with the Quokka.”
She laughed. “Oh, I love that photo.”
“Yeah. That was a great day.”
She wriggled in her seat. “How’s Wally? How did he weather the rest of his training?”
“Ugh, he didn’t last much longer.”
“Right.” She swallowed. Her stomach dived, taking the plunge to ask him more. “So, you live in San Diego. How far is that from L.A.?”
“Two hours. Why’s that? You know someone in Los Angeles?”
“Yes.” She bit her lip. “Me.”
“What? You’re in L.A.? Are you joshing me? Serious?”
A bubble of excitement rose in her belly. He sounded happy about it.
“So, I don’t have to fly to the other side of the world to see you?”
She giggled. “Were you going to fly to Australia, just to see me?” Her tone turned sassy.
“It’d be worth it. What are you doing in L.A.? Did you hit it bigtime in journalism?”
Beth didn’t know if she should laugh or cry at his comment. Now she had to tell him why she sat in an L.A. apartment, alone. Oh, it was so nice to forget, for just one minute.
“Beth, you there?”
“I have a sorry tale to tell.” Where to start? “I’m embarrassed by how foolish . . . I . . .” Too late to chicken out, she’d contacted Lachlan—told him she was in America. He was a counselor—a safe person. Beth bit her fingernail. How would he feel about her falling for another sailor? Would he understand?
“I’m listening. No judgment here.” His voice had not a trace of worry. Yet.
“True? I needed to hear that.” She released a breath. “Thank you, Lachlan.”
“So, how did you end up in the States?” he said in an encouraging tone.
She started from the beginning, only two months ago. Lachlan listened, asking an occasional question. “Nick said he had an urgency to get to Jerusalem, and when I returned from the corner store, he was gone. Took his things. And I’m left here in an apartment with no key.”
“He abandoned you? After you spent all that money, gave up your life in Australia, after a few days, just left you?” He whispered, “Beth, you poor thing.”
“I am poor now. I’ve wasted so much money. On a wedding that didn’t happen in Fremantle, then a flight to L.A. But I do have money to get home. Thank goodness.”
Lachlan asked more questions about Nick’s odd behavior.
“Beth, I’ve seen things like this happen before. My neighbor once had an episode where he couldn’t sleep and had an urgency to tell everyone about his spiritual experiences. He wasn’t even spiritual before that. Have you told Nick’s family about what happened?”
“He only has his mother and doesn’t speak with her much.”
“Does she live nearby?”
Beth startled from a crash of metal outside. “Um. Somewhere on the coast, an hour from here.” She crept to the peep-hole but found no movement nearby. “In an over-fifty-five villa or something.”
“Newport Beach?”
Her legs became weak as she made her way back to the table. “No, but it’s something beach.”
“Longbeach?”
“No, I was wrong.” She plonked herself into a wobbly dining chair. “It has the word ocean in it.”
“Oceanside?”
“Yes, that’s the one, and she’s in a fancy retirement place. Hard to get into.”
“And her last name would be?”
“DeHann.”
“We could track her down.”
She bit her fingernails again. “But Nick wouldn’t want me to contact his mother. He doesn’t believe she supports him, and they don’t get along.”
“His mom needs to know that her son is unwell. She’s the next of kin.”
“You’re right. Poor woman, she’ll be worried sick when she finds out.”
“She can confirm if this has happened before. Because if it’s what I think it is, this wouldn’t be the first time.”
Beth glanced at the diamond on her finger. “I hope we can locate her. I want to return the engagement ring before I leave the States.”
The line went quiet. What did Lachlan think about her rash engagement? Disappointed?
“Beth, I’m sorry Nick left you. Remember this is about him, not because you aren’t worth sticking around for. After the shock wears off and your life settles back in Australia, you’ll recover when this is all in perspective.”
“Thanks, Lachlan. It helps to have a friend who’s a professional counselor.” She smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. “I feel so much better knowing I’m not alone.” She swallowed. “You did say ‘we’ when you said, ‘we can track her down,’ which I hope means you’re going to help me.”
“I’d feel awful if I didn’t. I’m only two hours from L.A. Are you okay to stay in the apartment tonight? I can pick you up in the morning, and you can stay at my parents’ house until you fly back. They have a spare room you can use. You shouldn’t be alone, Beth. My folks are very hospitable, and it’d be no problem at all.”
“You sure?”
“Certain. And Oceanside is only forty-minutes from me, so once we locate Nick’s mother, we can visit her and explain the situation.”
She let out a breath. “You’re a godsend. You emailed just when I needed you.”
“I’m glad to help. Send me the address, and I’ll be there by ten o’clock tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Get some sleep.”
“I might be able to now. Bye, Lachlan. See you tomorrow.”
“Look forward to seeing you again.” He sighed. “Although I wish it were in better circumstances. Night.”
LACHLAN
The next morning, Lachlan woke early, had a light breakfast, and jumped into his exercise routine. He hadn’t rested well after the phone call. He’d gone into counselor mode while she’d explained all that had happened. Emergency response. But it did pain him to know she’d fallen in love with someone else. Got engaged! And it could’ve been him. If he’d kept in contact and built on their friendship over the last two years, he would be the one organizing a wedding with her right now.
He paused his sit-ups and took a swig from a water bottle. His stomach ached from pushing himself hard—he wanted to punish his stupidity. In the Navy, he’d justified brushing Beth off because every time she made contact, he’d think about her continuously until he replied a day or two later. A polite, quick answer seemed to keep her at a distance. Eventually, he’d resorted to adding her to his group email list. She must’ve got the hint, and then what happened? Nick.
He stood, strode to the press machine, and adjusted the weights. He nestled onto the padded seat and held the bars. Taking even breaths, he counted in his mind, blocking the taunt of his regrets.
When he finished, he hopped in the shower. At this rate, he could get to Beth an hour earlier. What would it be like to see her again? He had squashed all feelings for her the last two years, and he’d need to do it again. The circumstances weren’t right for Beth to consider him more than a friend. And he needed to get over the thought of her wanting another serious relationship. Casual ones weren’t ever his style—he was all in or not at all.
Although she’d only been in the apartment with Nick a couple of nights, it made him wonder what level of intimacy they’d shared. The first day he’d met Beth, she seemed the modest type. As if that would turn him off—it’d had the opposite effect and made her more attractive.
Lachlan moved about on autopilot—dressed, shaved, and switched on the coffee machine. Beth’s situation turned circles around his head. He smacked the old coffee grinds into the bin and scooped in a fresh batch. He needed to wake up to reality. He cringed at the memory of the last words he’d said on the beachside in Fremantle. “Beth, if we meet again, I promise you, I’ll kiss you like there’s no tomorrow.” He jammed the coffee holder into place. Argh. He hoped Beth didn’t remember those words. Boyish dreams that a woman would wait two years for him, while he served in the Navy. It hadn’t worked before. And he guessed this wasn’t too far from the same feeling he’d experienced when Laura broke up with him to date someone else.
The smell of Italian coffee licked his senses as the brown crema filled the bottom of his mug. Well, at least he and Beth could be friends. She’d make a good friend, and Beth needed him. He wanted to help her and would do everything he could to get her through this terrible time.
Lachlan worked up a smile as Beth swung open the door. Her eyes widened, and she flung herself at him. “Lachlan, you’re here.”
He stiffened and patted her back. Completely opposite the feeling he’d experienced the last time he’d held her. “I said I’d come.” He mumbled into her hair. No coconut scent this time. Why did he remember what she used to smell like? He stepped back.
“Come in, come in.” Beth swooshed her hand and welcomed him into . . . a box.
He scanned the dull surroundings. The place lacked color. Lacked floor space. “You’re going to appreciate my folk’s home. Much cheerier.”
She laughed. “I know, right. More like a prison than a—” Her voice trailed off as she flapped her arms, circling the living room. A sadness shadowed her expression. “I don’t want to stay here a minute longer than I need to. I’m all packed. Hadn’t unpacked in the first place.”
Lachlan flicked a glance to the mattress against the wall, then looked back to Beth, hoping she didn’t notice.
She stuttered. “I didn’t share a bed with him, by the way.”
His cheeks heated at his wrong assumptions. But relief flooded him at the same time. “That’s none of my business.”
“Just for the record, nothing happened between Nick and I.” Her ponytail flicked in the air as she spun and strode to the kitchen.
Beth’s indignation and sassy ways were still as strong as ever.
She collected her phone and handbag. “All the luggage is in the bedroom. There’s a lot of bags.” She turned and gave a magnificent smile—one that warmed his heart. Man. Helping Beth wasn’t going to be easy.