15. Jamison
I left Elle’s house feeling out of sorts. Initially my intent was to find out more about the kind of person her husband was. And I had to admit Elle had been very honest and open not just about Jake’s character, which was questionable at best. She also didn’t try to hide the fact that the marriage was more or less over. She knew I would find out about it from the locals, and I was impressed with how open she had been.
I was also impressed with the loyalty she showed her sister. Refusing to go into Gisele’s personal business, only go far enough to let me know Gisele had experienced a hard time. I already knew that her daughter’s father was an imbecile, not because Gisele alluded to that but from the ten minutes, I listened to him demand I give him full custody of their daughter after the unfortunate event when I arrived in town. Explaining to him the law and the fact I wasn’t a solicitor had not stopped the idiot from yelling his outrage. It took Jock threatening him with knocking out his teeth to stop his tirade.
What a pussy, and definitely not any kind of father. The idiot not Jock.
Elle’s warning did have an impact in a way I wasn’t expecting. My attraction to Gisele was real and I knew she had the same pull to me. My job here in Blessings was time limited. Investigate whether Elle’s husband was missing or just off getting pissed with mates and possibly a woman to two. If the evidence led to foul play, then that was a different story all together. Even though my gut was telling me Elle had no knowledge of Jake’s whereabouts, my boss however was the one to make that call once I made my final report.
Elle’s other concern about her sister left me wondering if pursuing Gisele was not a good idea. Most missing person cases took only a week to ten days on location, the rest could be done back at the headquarters. I would only need to be here to conduct interviews, take statements and photos of the crime scene. However, to date there is no crime scene or even any proof one had taken place.
Once my boss received my initial first stage report, the most likely scenario would be me ordered back the Gracefield. Ordinarily I preferred being called back in early. I had a desk overflowing with cases, and to be perfectly honest, I tried to off load this case onto a younger newly appointed detective. I decided he needed some more field work, but the order came from the top that I was the one to go. It had pissed me off that the Commander ordered me to go, all because he knew Jake’s father from the golf club, that they were both members at.
I was a city cop; I enjoyed the chaos and the constant stream of work and the long hours. I didn’t have a wife or kids who needed me home for dinner, no plants to look after, just a crazy Pug who preferred his own company to mine so more often than not it was me, they sent. Usually it didn’t bother me, but Blessings was a far cry from Gracefield. More people lived in my housing estate than here.
The backward laid-back lifestyle was definitely new to me, but for some reason its appeal was more than just the gorgeous single mother. For once being away on assignment I didn’t have that urgent need to get shit done so I could leave. That alone confused me.
The people in Blessings were a far cry from those in the city. There was more of a feeling of community here, friendliness and a more peaceful lifestyle.
Making my way back to my car, I couldn’t decide if I should just go back to the hotel room or drop in and see Gisele at her grocery store. I did need to stock up proper coffee, the hotel only offered instant sachets, and I hated having to trapse down to the bistro for a half decent cup. Gisele mentioned her shop stocked all kinds of kitchen appliances, I wonder if that meant a coffee pot and a bean grinder. Taking less than three seconds to make up my mind, I folded myself into the compact rental wishing like hell I had driven my own car. But rules were rules and if I wanted any reimbursement on fuel, I chose the police issued rental.
Predicably it took me less than five minutes to make it from Elle’s to Blessings Grocery and Sundry, a unique name, but it fit considering they sold everything from groceries, TattsLotto tickets, fishing gear and small electrical appliances and everything in between.
Finding a park not far from the entrance, I looked around but didn’t see Gisele’s Mini Cooper. Not surprised considering how close she lived to her work, I made myself take a breath before pulling open the accident wood and glass door, the jingle of a bell sounding my arrival.
“Be with you in a jiff,” a voice called out from what presumed was the backroom. The voice I was hoping to hear. The nine-year difference in our ages should’ve bothered me. It wasn’t exactly cradle robbing but for me being interested in someone more than three years younger was unusual. I tended to go for the busy professional corporate ladies, closer to my age and not interested in having kids disrupt their careers.
My last dalliance had been with a real-estate mogul. It lasted exactly three dates, and that was fine with me. On the rare occasions she called me to confirm a date, her voice did nothing for me, most of our correspondence had been through email or text. Since arriving in Blessings, I was yet to see anyone walking down the street talking on a mobile phone.
Feeling a tug on my pants pocket I looked down to see Gisele’s young daughter, Miracle looking up at me with a smile that matched her mum’s.
“Hello Miracle,” I greeted her easily and receiving a small shy wave in response.
I waited for the uncomfortable silence to set in like it did every time I was in the same room as a kid, but it didn’t.
Strange.
At work events where families were invited to come along, I usually steered clear of children that weren’t teenagers. At least they would talk to you, not expect you to jump on a trampoline or likely to hurt themselves.
She signed something that left me totally confused, like I told Gisele I knew a few swear words in sign language but that was the extent of my knowledge.
“I’m sorry little lamb, I’m not much of a signer,” I apologised and received an even bigger smile, then she started signing again, her hands going every which way giving me the impression she had a lot to say.
“She asked if you have any kids,” Gisele laughed coming towards me.
God damn she was beautiful. Her long blonde hair hung to her lower back, soft wavy curl. Today she was dressed in a cute summer dress of yellow with no straps, instead the material was crinkled and stretchy looking. I’m sure there was a technical name for it, but all I could think about how the hell it was holding her breasts up. The dress was short, falling just above her knees and on her feet were well worn cowboy boots.
“Um, hi,” I croaked all the blood in my head rushing to my other head,
“Morning Jamison,” Gisele smiled at me, and it was all I could do not to grab her and kiss the shit out of her pouty lips. Hearing her say my given name was a turn on I didn’t see coming. The cops at my station all referred to me as Jury, family members and friends called me Jami. I liked that Gisele called me Jamison.
“That seemed like a lot just to ask if I have kids?”
“Oh yeah, she wants you to know if you can call her lamb all the time. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but chickee is the family’s go to pet name for all of us. And she wants to know why lamb.” Gisele explained but all I could think about was her calling out my name while I worshipped her body with my mouth.
Realising both mother and daughter were waiting for me to answer Miracle’s questions, I gave myself a mental slap then got down on my haunches in front of Miracle.
“No lamb, I don’t have any kids, I’m an only child. My dad died when I was a little baby and mum never remarried. I have a few cousins but none of them have kids either” receiving a sad smile from little lamb, I reached and grabbed her hands.
“Hey there is no need to be sad for me, lamb. I have a dog named Optimus. He has serious issues with his small stature, he’s a Pug but believes he is a Great Dane.” Chuckling when Miracle did her shoulders shaking and her mouth wide with a smile, but she made no sounds.
“And to answer you other question, your hair is almost snow white with curls just like a lamb. A little lamb.” Releasing my hands, Miracle surprised the shit out me by throwing her tiny arms around my neck, hugging tight as she could, kissed me on the cheek then let me go and skipped off like she didn’t just knock me for a loop.
“Wow,” I breathed getting to my feet, ignoring that my knees were a little shaky.
“Wow indeed,” Gisele echoed looking to where her daughter disappeared, “she never lets her father hug her. Grumpy, Josh and Ryan are the only men in her life she feels safe with. And now you.” Gisele seemed more surprised than I was, almost shocked.
“Why doesn’t she talk?” I blurted out, not meaning to sound so noisy or abrupt. It just seemed odd she could hear but not speak. Had there been a trauma to caused it.
“What are you doing for dinner tonight, Jamison?” Gisele answered me with a question of her own, completely throwing me off balance. I was used to asking the questions and having them answered.
“Um, nothing planned why?”
“Elle and Miracle are having an aunty and niece night tonight. They do it every Thursday, so tonight I’ll make us dinner and I will tell you the story of my daughter. How does that sound?”
Fucking awesome.
Except….
Reading my expression, Gisele giggled.
“I promise it will just be you and me. It’s Thursday night footy tonight and no one is allowed over at my parents unless they don’t talk during the game.”
“Your mother doesn’t speak for a whole two hours?” the thought was incredulous to believe.
“It’s the only time,” Gisele grumbled, emphasising only. “They both barrack for the same team, Richmond. So, there will be no interruptions, phone call or anything else from seven pm to ten-thirty. Then after the football is the movie Jaws II, Jock will take himself off to bed while Gigi engrosses herself in her favourite genre. Killer shark movies, except for Jaws the Revenge. Never mention that movie in her presence.” The warning in her tone didn’t go unnoticed, truth be told Gisele’s mother scared me. To look at she was beautiful like her daughters, same blonde silky hair with soft waves. Striking blue eyes, and a figure that belied her age. Then there was her sharp tongue and the things that came out of her mouth could make you blush like a school kid or shock the utter shit out of you but damn she could make me laugh.
As much as Gisele’s family was growing on me, spending more than an hour alone with her and not talking about her missing brother-law was most definitely on my bucket list.
Conflicted between wanting to keep the Jake’s case the priority due to the timeframe to get home to my dog and my job. Complicating that with spending time with Gisele at her place. I wanted that, so pushing the cop aside, I went headfirst into untried waters.
“Six thirty or seven?” I asked sealing my fate.
“Six thirty sounds good,” Gisele agreed readily, that beautiful blush staining. She was as eager as I was to get to know each other.
“Okie dokie darlin, see you later today,” touching my palm to her cheek, the zing I felt the first time we held hand was still there.
Oh, fuck yeah this was happening.