Eighteen
The next day was busy at work, two traffic accidents using up all their resources and leaving the staff exhausted, making her poor company for Joe and Gill at dinner in the yacht club. Looking around the busy restaurant, Erica was glad she’d opted for the wine bar for her date with Jamie. It wasn’t a real date, she told herself, only a drink with an old friend. But she knew it would look like a date to anyone else. She deliberately hadn’t mentioned it to Joe and Gill, afraid of their comments. She hoped Jamie hadn’t told anyone about it either.
On Saturday, feeling an unexpected sense of anticipation – it was so long since she’d been out with a man other than Geoff – Erica dressed in a pair of black slacks and a white sweater and took more care than usual with her makeup before brushing her hair into its customary style. She completed the look with a pair of high-heeled black sandals.
When Erica heard Jamie’s knock at the door, she quickly slipped her arms into a red jacket, grabbed her bag and answered it, giving him no opportunity to step inside. She wasn’t sure why, but she wasn’t ready for him to access what she considered to be her private space, even though it did belong to Livvy, and he might have been inside before now.
‘Ready?’ Jamie was looking very smart in a pair of grey pants teamed with a navy sweater over a blue and white striped shirt. Tonight he was closely shaved and the scent of a familiar cologne wafted towards her, reminding her of the past she was at pains to forget. It shocked her he was still using it. She had changed her perfume several times over the years, always in an attempt to please Geoff. Now, she was wearing Calvin Klein’s Obsession, which she had chosen for herself. She loved its fragrance which was a mix of floral and spicy and made her feel feminine. It was very different from the light floral scent she’d favoured in her teens.
‘Ready,’ she said, stepping out and closing the door behind her.
The wine bar was located behind Main Street and close to Books and Coffee , a combined bookshop and café Erica had discovered on her last visit to Pelican Crossing and which she loved to pop into to browse the books and grab a quick coffee and one of the delicious cakes. The wine bar was a new addition to the town and, from the noise emanating from it, was a popular one.
Jamie pushed open the door under the sign Number 96 , which was the name of the wine bar as well as the street number, and they entered a dimly lit room which appeared to be filled with young people. A young man was playing a guitar in the far corner.
Seeming to sense Erica’s uncertainty, Jamie steered her through the crowd to an empty table at the opposite end of the room from the musician, and which was somewhat protected from the noise of the other patrons. ‘White or red?’ he asked.
‘White, thanks,’ Erica said, curling her legs around the high stool and glad she’d worn pants.
While she was waiting for Jamie to return, Erica checked out the other patrons. As she’d expected, most were in their twenties or thirties. She guessed she and Jamie were the oldest ones there. But instead of feeling awkward, it gave her another taste of the freedom she’d been experiencing since she was back in Pelican Crossing. Geoff would have hated this place.
‘Here you are.’ Jamie placed two glasses of white wine on the table along with a platter of cheese, olives and biscuits. ‘I thought we might want something to nibble on too,’ he said with a smile.
‘Thanks.’ The food did look inviting, and Erica hadn’t taken time to have a proper meal before she left. She placed a piece of cheese on a biscuit and bit into it, then took a sip of wine.
‘Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself,’ Jamie said. ‘I know you married and went to West Australia, then your husband died when you were here last year. What have I missed?’ He raised an eyebrow.
Erica flinched. She didn’t want to go into the whole sad story of how she’d made such a mistake in marrying Geoff. Instead, she said, ‘That’s right. I have a son and granddaughter back in Perth too.’
‘So, what brought you back to Pelican Crossing?’
It was a reasonable question, but Erica didn’t answer immediately. She twisted the stem of her glass and took a sip. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said at last. ‘When Geoff died… he didn’t leave his estate the way we’d planned. Everything went to Kieren… our son. The business – a car yard – was in trouble and the house had to be sold. I could have stayed with Kieren and Briony, but…’ She gazed into space, picturing again what her life would have been like.
‘I can’t see the Erica I knew settling for that.’
How little he knew. He could never guess what her life had been like with Geoff, and she could never tell him. That part of her life was over, best forgotten, though she would never forget. ‘I’m not the Erica you knew anymore, Jamie,’ she said, a break in her voice. ‘I’ve changed.’
‘We both have. It’s been over thirty years, Erica. It would be strange if we hadn’t. No one stays the same. Marriage changes us. I know it changed me… and when Cindy left…’ He shook his head. ‘She left me with two teenagers. It was no picnic, I can tell you.’ He shook his head again. ‘But I coped. We have to, don’t we? We have to deal with what life presents us with, no matter how hard it is at times.’
Erica exhaled. He understood. Life had thrown him a challenge too, different to hers, but perhaps just as shocking. She nodded and took another sip of wine, unsure how to respond.
The music became louder, as did the voices of the other clientele as they tried to make themselves heard above it.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ Jamie said, draining his glass, ‘unless…’ He gestured to the food which they’d barely touched.
‘Fine.’ Erica’s head was beginning to ache from the noise. She finished her wine too and grasped the hand Jamie held out.
Once outside, Jamie released her hand, and they looked at each other and laughed.
‘Perhaps not the best choice of venue,’ Jamie said. ‘I guess it’s a sign we’re getting older.’
They laughed again.
‘It was okay at the start,’ Erica said, ‘but perhaps you’re right. The yacht club might be more our scene.’
‘Next time.’
Erica stared at him. Was there going to be a next time?’
‘It’s a lovely evening. Why don’t we go for a walk along the beach?’ Jamie said, then looked down at her flimsy sandals.
‘I can take them off,’ Erica said, the prospect of a walk on the beach sounding attractive after the noise of the wine bar.
Erica was relieved Jamie didn’t make any further attempt to hold her hand as they walked along past the harbour towards the row of cottages and what she had begun to think of as her beach. It was Jamie’s too.
As they stepped down onto the sand, she took off her sandals and looked up. The stars were shining brightly in a clear sky, the full moon sending a golden glow across the water. It was a perfect evening, and one she suddenly realised she didn’t want to end.