Four
Jamie was ready for a beer when he walked into the old hotel opposite the harbour. The Grand Hotel , known locally as The Grand , had been there for as long as he could remember. It was where he’d ordered his first beer – when he was still underage – where he’d celebrated his twenty-first, then his bucks party, and it hadn’t changed much over the years. There had been the time when a new owner wanted to change the name, but there had been a local outcry, so The Grand it had remained. There was nothing grand about it, the hotel having retained its original frontage and décor which the locals all accepted and loved. The only difference was that in recent years, in addition to serving the familiar brews which Jamie loved, it had added a selection of craft beers from a local brewery owned by a couple of young guys of his sons’ generation.
Looking around, he caught sight of his old mate, Cam, standing at the bar and headed towards him. He and Cam Mitchell had been at school together and, although Jamie hadn’t been part of the tight clique of four Cam belonged to, they had remained friends over the years. Now Cam managed the marina next to the harbour and owned Pelican Marine, a boat sales and chandlery business. Like Jamie, he’d divorced, but was now remarried to another old school mate, Poppy, who owned the restaurant Crossings . The pair often met for a beer after work.
‘Your usual?’ Cam nodded to the brimming glass sitting on the counter, its sides dripping with condensation. ‘I got one in for you.’
‘Thanks.’ Jamie took a long swallow. ‘Boy, that tastes good.’
‘As bad as that?’ Cam grinned and took a gulp from his own glass.
‘You couldn’t read about it.’ Jamie wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘A group of self-satisfied Sydney businessmen who were hungover when they arrived and managed to smuggle a few bottles of whisky on board. Then they had the hide to complain when they could barely stay upright to catch anything.’ He shook his head.
‘Wishing you were back on the fishing boat?’
‘Almost. But it’s not always like that. Most groups are well behaved, grateful if they end up with a couple of fish, happy to have had a day out on the water. How was your day?’
‘Pretty average. Your Rory is proving to be a valuable offsider. I can see him wanting to take over one day, though not just yet. I still have a few more years in me, even though Poppy is on at me to slow down.’
‘Good to hear the young chap is doing well. He and his brother gave me more than a few sleepless nights after Cindy left. I never expected to be left with two teenagers.’
‘Me neither. Though luckily Lachlan never caused me any worry.’
‘You were lucky.’ Cam had been left to care for his son when his wife left town with a teaching colleague. Jamie might complain about bringing up his two boys on his own, but he didn’t know how he would have coped with knowing his wife preferred another woman to him.
‘Fancy having a bite to eat? Poppy’s deserted me tonight for some women’s thing, and I don’t fancy going home to an empty house. Odd how quickly I’ve got used to having a woman around the place.’
‘Sure.’ Jamie couldn’t stifle the stab of envy he felt at the mention of Cam’s relationship with Poppy. Not that he envied him Poppy. He wasn’t sure he could cope with someone as feisty as she was, but it would be nice to have someone to come home to after a busy day.
‘How’s the new grandson?’ Cam asked, when they were settled at a table with plates of steak and chips and a second glass of beer.
‘Archie?’ Jamie smiled, relaxing at the thought of the little fellow he doted on. ‘Doing well. We’ll have him out on the water before much longer. But I have a bit of catching up to do with you and Poppy. How many is it?’
Cam laughed. ‘ at last count, with Amber’s twins, but I know what you mean. I feel the same about Lachlan and Scarlett’s boy, Taylor. There’s something special about knowing your name will carry on when you’re gone.’
‘Hey, less of that. I hope we’re good for a few more decades yet.’
‘I’ll drink to that.’
The pair chuckled and no more was said until they had finished their meal.
They were about to leave when Cam said, ‘I hear your old flame’s in town again.’
Jamie stopped in his tracks. There was only one person who’d fit that description, one person he’d dated before Cindy. Erica Harris – Masters now, he remembered – had been staying with her brother last year. But she’d returned to Perth after the death of her husband. And he’d barely managed to meet her when she had been here. Her brother had made sure of that. ‘Erica?’ he asked, his voice sounding odd, even to him.
‘Who else? Poppy said she and Joe were in Crossings the other night. I guess she’s here on a visit. You’re not still…?’ He peered at Jamie intently.
‘What? No, of course not. I’m just curious. Last time she was here, it was all very mysterious, as if Joe wanted to keep her under wraps. He sometimes likes to keep everyone guessing.’
As Jamie farewelled Cam and made his way home, the news Erica was back in town was going round and round in his head. Was this just another visit or was she back for good? He intended to find out, and this time, he determined he wouldn’t let Joe stop him from contacting her.