Ten
Erica awoke to the realisation that today was her birthday, and she didn’t need to go into work. She stretched luxuriously, then the memory of seeing Jamie the day before broke into her consciousness. Jamie Whittaker was her neighbour.
She let the thought percolate for a few moments, blushing at the memory of her rudeness. There had been no need for her to rush off inside and slam the door. He was only being polite. It must have been a shock for him too, to see her there in Livvy’s garden. Last time they’d met had been on the fishing charter Joe had organised. He’d been busy, and there had been little time to talk… but she’d noticed him, noticed him noticing her. Her stomach churned at the memory. Nothing had been said. Probably Joe hadn’t seen anything, but Gill would have. Women noticed these things.
So, what now? He was a neighbour, and a friend of Joe’s. They’d be bound to meet again. She’d need to make it clear that she wasn’t… But what if his interest in her was all in her imagination? Was she being paranoid, thinking that any man who spoke to her had intentions of…? This was Jamie, she told herself, the boy she’d been in love with when she was sixteen. She was fifty today, a long way from that young girl, and had learnt to be far more cautious. She’d never trust a man again or give way to her emotions.
Giving herself a shake, Erica rose, showered and dressed, choosing to wear a pair of beige pants with a pink blouse. She had arranged to meet Joe for breakfast at The Blue Dolphin Café, then she planned to spoil herself with a shopping spree before the dinner Joe and Gill were treating her to at Crossings . It was going to be a perfect day, and she didn’t intend to spoil it with worrying about something that was unlikely to happen.
When Erica arrived at the café, Joe was already seated at one of the outdoor tables, with Coco lying at his feet. The dog rose to greet her.
‘Hello, Coco,’ she said, ruffling the dog’s ears. ‘Good morning, Joe.’
‘Happy birthday, sis.’ Joe rose and pulled her into a warm hug. ‘I can’t believe my little sister is fifty.’
‘Believe it,’ she said with a laugh. ‘Half a century. Where has the time gone?’
‘I just need to look in the mirror and I can see,’ Joe chuckled, pointing to his greying hair, so like her own. ‘Gill sends her best wishes. She has a full schedule today, but she’ll see you tonight. In the meantime… this is from both of us.’ He handed her a brightly wrapped package.
‘Oh, Joe, thank you!’ Erica hadn’t expected anything. When Barb had been alive, there had always been a gift in the mail, but since her death, Joe hadn’t seemed to notice the date. She supposed it was different now she was living here… and Gill would no doubt have chosen it. She pulled off the wrapping to reveal a set of headphones. ‘Wow! How did you know?’
Joe grinned. ‘Gill said she’d heard you complaining about the free earpods which came with your phone, and I know how you like to listen to audiobooks and that meditation stuff.’
‘Thanks. They’re perfect.’ Erica leant over to place a kiss on his cheek. That meditation stuff he referred to, was a hypnotherapy programme Livvy had recommended to her. She knew Joe had no time for what he called mumbo jumbo, but it helped her relax and was exactly what she had needed to help with the stress she’d experienced after leaving Geoff, and his subsequent death. She’d continued to use it afterwards, the twenty minutes of enforced relaxation helping her adjust to her new sense of freedom.
‘What’ll you have for breakfast?’ Joe asked picking up a menu. ‘My treat, remember.’
Erica didn’t need to check the menu. She knew what she wanted. ‘I’ll have the brekkie wrap with a flat white,’ she said. ‘Thanks, Joe. I think this may be my best birthday since…’ Her eyes filled, remembering her childhood birthdays when her parents had spoiled her, then those when she was married to Geoff who’d believed celebrating birthdays was an unnecessary indulgence after turning twenty-one. She’d secretly slipped gifts to Kieren, then to Briony too, without his knowledge.
‘I’m sorry,’ Joe said, patting her arm, his kindness almost bringing her to tears.
‘Two brekkie wraps, a flat white and a macchiato,’ Joe said to the waitress who had appeared at his side, allowing Erica time to pull herself together.
‘How are you finding being back?’ he asked.
‘It’s good. I’m loving being able to work again, and living at Livvy’s…’
‘About that…’ Joe shifted in his seat. ‘I should have told you, but… One of your neighbours is Jamie Whittaker. I wanted to tell you before you found out for yourself.’
‘Too late, Joe. I met him yesterday. I was in the front garden when he walked past.’
‘Hell, I’m sorry, Erica. When you were here last year… He asked about you. I didn’t tell you then, because I knew you were distraught about Geoff. You didn’t need an old boyfriend looking you up. I hadn’t realised you two were close back when…’ He coughed.
‘When you and Barb had no eyes for anyone else?’ She chuckled. ‘It suited me… us… at the time. I doubt you’d have approved of your little sister dating one of your mates.’ An image of her teenage self with Jamie flickered behind her eyes. She dismissed it. She didn’t want to remember those carefree days before her life changed.
‘Probably not. Jamie’s a good guy but you were only sixteen, Erica. We were older.’
‘Two years.’
‘Two years is a lot when you’re sixteen and eighteen. Not so much these days. As I said, Jamie was asking about you. Would you ever…?’
‘No! Don’t even think about it, Joe. I’m never going to let myself be fooled by a man again. Once is enough for me. I know you found love a second time around, and I’m glad you did. I love Gill. You’re good together. But it doesn’t work for everyone. I could never trust myself to make the right decision. I thought I had with Geoff and look how wrong I was. And I worry that Kieren has inherited much of his father’s nature. I only hope…’
‘Surely not!’ Joe looked shocked. ‘Not Kieren.’
‘I hope I’m wrong, but the way he wanted to take over my life, the speed with which he put the house up for sale. He expected me to move in with him and Briony as if…’ Erica shook her head, too upset for words, reliving her Facetime call with Briony before she left home.
Her daughter-in-law had called to wish her happy birthday, little Ava gurgling happily in her arms. It had been lovely to see them both, to receive the birthday wishes, but there had been something about Briony, about her wariness, as if she was afraid Kieren would walk in and discover her speaking to Erica. She knew Briony might have been worried about something else, but Erica couldn’t help feeling anxious.