Twenty-four
Jamie was surprised when Rory turned up with Freya Dickson in tow. He knew the pair had been friends at school, and the girl had returned to Pelican Crossing the previous year, after spending time overseas. He thought he’d heard she was now working in Sydney. He supposed she must be home for the weekend and might be glad to get some time away from her mum and his friend, Joe. He didn’t blame her. After being on their own for so long… and eschewing all thoughts of a relationship… the overt expressions of affection between Joe and Freya’s mother, Gill, were sometimes difficult to handle.
‘Welcome aboard, Freya,’ he said, as she clambered onto the boat behind Rory. ‘Not spending the day with your mum?’
‘I was with her yesterday, and we had breakfast together with Joe and his sister. Thought I’d let them have some privacy.’ She chuckled. ‘I’m glad he and Mum have got together and I’m sure they don’t want me around all weekend.’
Jamie barely heard her final remarks, her mention of Erica bringing back the memory of what Joe had told him about her and her husband. He felt his anger boil up again. If he’d known, he’d have been happy to have punched the guy himself when he turned up in Pelican Crossing. But he hadn’t known, hadn’t even been aware the guy was in town until he heard of his death. Then Erica had disappeared back to Perth again… until now.
‘Okay, Dad?’
Jamie forced his mind back to the present. ‘Okay, son. Ready to cast off?’
Rory nodded and they set off, sailing out of the harbour with the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces. It was a perfect day for it, and Jamie had come prepared with a picnic basket from the local deli and several bottles of Coke cooling in the esky below deck.
Jamie didn’t say much as they made their way up the coast, steering the boat and letting the chatter of the two young people flow over him. He learnt that Freya was teaching at Sydney University and had met someone she thought might be the one , but was taking things slow after a bad experience in California and was reluctant to tell her mother about him. Rory was less forthcoming, but did share that he was keen to settle down, if only he could meet the right person. He alluded to someone he’d known in the past who had moved away. Jamie racked his brains but couldn’t figure out who it could be. Rory had always kept his personal life to himself, unlike his brother who had seemed to date a new girl every week… until Mandy. He smiled to himself at how his younger son had settled down, and was now a married man, a proud dad and owned two businesses.
‘This is amazing, Mr Whittaker,’ Freya said, coming to stand beside Jamie. ‘Thanks for allowing me to come along. While I love living in Sydney, I do miss all this.’ She waved a hand to encompass the ocean. ‘I missed it when I was in California too, but I was too pigheaded to admit it. I was a fool to believe my dad, but Mum and I are all good now.’
‘Call me Jamie,’ Jamie said. ‘Mr Whittaker makes me sound like my dad. Your mum must be glad you’re back in Australia.’ He knew from what Joe had told him that Gill and Freya’s dad had been involved in an acrimonious divorce, which had led to Freya and her mother being estranged for years. At least that hadn’t happened to him and Cindy. Their divorce had been reasonably painless. She’d been eager to leave, and he’d been happy to see her go, though he hadn’t bargained on being left with the boys. But it had worked out well. They’d always been closer to him than their mother and they did keep in touch with her from time to time.
‘She is. I’m glad to be back, and I’ve even forgiven my dad. Rory says he still sees his mum?’
‘She came to Gary’s wedding.’ Jamie wished he could forget that last meeting with Cindy, forget her not-so-veiled contempt that he was still involved with boats and fishing.
‘Anyone hungry?’ Rory called, making Jamie realise it was lunchtime.
They anchored in a narrow bay, the waves lapping gently on the side of the boat while Rory unpacked the picnic hamper and poured Coke for him and Freya. Jamie stuck to water, not being a great fan of the carbonated drink.
‘Mum and Joe were talking about the article in The Echo ,’ Freya said, ‘about the shark nets. I’m glad they’ve taken them up. What do you think, Mr… Jamie?’
‘It’s a good move, but not a popular one. There are those who are worried about shark attacks.’
‘Surely not?’
‘There hasn’t been one on this part of the coast that I can remember,’ Rory said. ‘It’s a lot of scaremongering, an attempt by the tourist operators to make everyone feel safe. They are safe… and now the whales are too.’
‘But it would be horrible to be attacked by a shark.’ Freya shivered, despite the heat from the sun.
‘Not much chance in Pelican Crossing,’ Rory said with a laugh.
‘Mmm.’ But Freya didn’t look convinced.
‘Another Coke?’ Rory asked and handed her another can, just as the sun disappeared behind a cloud.
Jamie looked up. ‘We’d better be getting back,’ he said. ‘I don’t like the look of the sky. There wasn’t a storm predicted, but it’s best not to take the risk. If you two can pack up, I’ll start heading for home.’
As they made their way back, the sky grew darker and darker. They had just tied up when the first large drops of rain fell, forcing them to run for cover in Jamie’s office.
‘Wow!’ Freya said, shaking her dripping hair. ‘That happened fast. I’d forgotten about the storms we get here.’
‘It won’t last,’ Rory said. ‘We can make a dash for my car, and I’ll drive you back to your mum’s. Will you be all right, Dad?’
‘Sure thing, son.’ Jamie chuckled. Rory was acting as if he was an old man. ‘I’ll sit it out here for a bit, then walk home.’ He was glad to have some time to himself. Being out on the ocean with the young couple, plus Freya’s mention of Erica, had brought back memories of his own youth, of days when Erica had been his sailing companion in the small eighteen-footer he’d been so proud of. He wondered if she remembered those days too.