Twenty-six
Jamie was humming to himself as he showered and changed, ready for the first meeting of Joe’s new committee. He was looking forward to seeing Erica again. He’d hoped to catch sight of her earlier in the week, but she hadn’t been around when he was coming home from work. He knew most of the other members of the committee, only the medico would be a stranger to him. It was typical of Joe to want to involve the people who’d have most to gain from his plan, and to take advantage of their specialised knowledge.
Joe and Cam were the only ones there when Jamie walked into the small meeting room in the council chambers. It was the first time he’d been there, and he felt like a fish out of water in this formal room, the long table surrounded by upright chairs, a credenza at one end on which there was an urn, a tray of cups and saucers, a plate of biscuits, a jug of water and an array of glasses.
‘Help yourself,’ Joe said, gesturing to the selection.
Jamie noticed he and Cam already had cups of tea or coffee. He would have liked something stronger but dropped a teabag into a cup and filled it from the urn. He heard voices behind him and when he turned back to the room, he saw Phil and an older man who he knew was Paul Clark from the hospital. He’d been on one of Jamie’s fishing charters not long after he set up the business.
‘Come and meet Paul,’ Joe said, pulling him into the group. ‘Paul, this is Jamie Whittaker.’
‘Jamie, I remember the day you helped me catch a… what was it again?’
Jamie nodded. He couldn’t remember either. He had led a lot of charters since then, not all of them as successful.
‘The women aren’t coming tonight, so perhaps we should make a start,’ Joe said, pulling out a chair and indicating the others should do the same.
Just as Jamie was feeling a flash of disappointment at the news Erica wouldn’t be there, she walked in with Finn, laughing at something he had said. His heart leapt. Joe was wrong. She was here. They were followed by a smooth-looking man whose black hair held tinges of grey. He was what Jamie supposed many would call distinguished. Joe introduced him as Malcolm Brown, a visiting medical officer at the hospital who would be able to offer his expertise in cancer care. To Jamie’s annoyance, he took the seat next to Erica that Jamie had been eyeing for himself. Finn was seated on her other side.
Swallowing his irritation, Jamie sat down opposite Erica and next to Cam. Joe took his place at one end of the table and the meeting got underway.
It was more interesting than Jamie had anticipated. Joe started the meeting with a PowerPoint presentation showing examples of what had been built in other places, plus a projected costing of building the facility here in Pelican Crossing. It was clear he’d already spent some time on this, and Jamie had to admire his vision.
When the presentation was over, and Joe asked if there were any questions, Finn spoke up. ‘After my article in The Echo , I had a call from someone who wanted to remain anonymous,’ he said. ‘He claims to have a plot of land he’d be willing to donate to the project, if we can raise enough to build it.’
There was a shocked silence.
‘It reminded me of the anonymous donor who saved our newspaper,’ Finn said.
Joe nodded, while the two medicos looked surprised. ‘It was when we had almost given up,’ Joe said. ‘Someone donated a large amount which was instrumental in saving our paper.’
‘Could it be the same person? Do we have a silent benefactor in Pelican Crossing?’ Cam asked what everyone was thinking.
‘Well, I guess now we have the incentive to raise the money,’ Jamie said chuckling. He wondered who this person was, who was willing to make a sacrifice for the community but didn’t want the recognition. He thought he knew most people in town but couldn’t think of anyone who would fit this category. As he spoke, he glanced across at Erica and noticed how Malcolm Brown was leaning towards her and whispering in her ear. Damn the man! But he took comfort in the fact that she appeared uneasy with his closeness.
*
Erica shifted in her seat and tried to move away, irritated by the way Malcolm was whispering in her ear, treating her as if they were engaged in some sort of secret communication. She wished it was anyone else sitting beside her, even Jamie. He’d never behave like this. He had more sense than to embarrass her in public. She was interested in what Finn had said. She didn’t know about the newspaper, though she was aware it had changed its name from when she was growing up here. She gazed at Joe and Finn. They had saved the town’s newspaper? How many other things didn’t she know about her brother?
‘Erica?’ Joe asked.
Erica blushed, suddenly aware that while she’d been wondering about Joe, he’d been going round the group asking for their opinion on his plan. ‘It all sounds good to me,’ she said, flustered.
He nodded and moved on to Malcolm, who had more to say… a lot more. But he did appear to know what he was talking about.
Erica had forgotten he worked with cancer patients, having only seen him when he passed through Emergency, or in the staff canteen. Perhaps she shouldn’t dismiss him too readily, but there was something about him that reminded her of Geoff, that fake charm and a determination to get his own way. She glanced across at Jamie who seemed lost in the medical jargon Malcolm was spouting. She sympathised with him, aware Malcolm was probably only doing this to show his superiority to everyone else in the room. He had a habit of doing that, she’d discovered. It was one of the reasons she avoided him when she could. She sent Jamie a sympathetic smile, suddenly remembering – and appreciating – how down to earth he had always been and still was.
Everyone was right about Jamie. He was genuine and honest, nothing like Malcolm or Geoff. She’d been a fool to imagine anything else. He was the same Jamie she’d known when they were both teenagers, older, perhaps a little worn around the edges. Life had knocked him about – as it had her. He had married, divorced, brought up two teenagers, was now a grandfather – they were both grandparents – but he hadn’t changed in ways that mattered.
After what seemed like an interminable time, Joe brought the meeting to a close. Sensing Malcolm was about to speak to her, Erica quickly pushed back her chair and headed over to where Joe was chatting to Jamie. ‘Are you pleased with how it went?’ she asked her brother.
‘I think so. Difficult to judge, but at least everyone seemed to agree on the plan, and the offer of a plot of land is a huge bonus.’ He turned away as the Hospital CEO captured his attention.
‘How about you?’ Jamie asked. ‘I suppose you understood all that jargon from Brown.’
‘Not all of it. He’s a bit of a wanker,’ Erica said quietly, not wanting the others to hear. Then, seeing Malcolm coming towards them, added, ‘Can we get out of here?’
Jamie seemed surprised but, following her lead, walked with her to the door.
‘What was that about?’ he asked, when they were standing outside the council chambers.
‘Thanks. It’s Malcolm Brown. I can’t stand the man. I thought he was…’ Erica shook her head. Perhaps she had imagined it, but he always made her feel uncomfortable. ‘Sorry, I was probably imagining it.’
‘I don’t think you were. He looks pretty sleazy to me… and you look in need of a drink. The Grand ’s not far away. How about I drive us there?’
‘No, I can drive myself, but a drink sounds good.’ Erica couldn’t believe how good a drink with Jamie sounded after the way Malcolm had acted in the meeting, as if they were more than passing acquaintances, as if… She shivered. Jamie was by far the preferable option.
Once settled at a corner table in The Grand , Erica was again flooded by memories of all the times she and Jamie had come here together in the past. But unlike the last time, tonight the memories didn’t distress her. Instead, they produced a good feeling, one of familiarity.
She picked up her glass of wine, taking a sip as she gazed across the table at Jamie, at his smile as he raised his beer in a toast, her heart unexpectedly racing at what he might be about to say.
‘To old friends,’ he said.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ Erica said, and they clinked glasses.
She took another sip of wine and found herself relaxing in her seat, not quite recognising the strange feeling at first. But for the first time in years, the tension that she carried around the whole time seemed to be lifting, buoyed by a comforting warmth.
‘I do like it here,’ she said without thinking.
‘Me too,’ Jamie said, glancing around the place. ‘So many great memories.’
‘You’re right.’ Erica raised her glass again. ‘To old friends and great memories.’