Forty-five
She loved him! Jamie was so thrilled to hear Erica say those words, it wasn’t till next morning that he realised she hadn’t replied to his suggestion she move in with him. Surely, if she loved him, it was the obvious next step? But he knew Erica too well to make any assumptions. As far as he knew, she hadn’t told her son and daughter-in-law about their relationship, and he was mindful of what Briony had said to her about it being too soon after Geoff’s death.
As they sat in the courtyard of Livvy’s cottage eating breakfast, Jamie was more convinced than ever that this was how he wanted to spend every morning of the rest of his life, but he decided to move cautiously, aware how quickly Erica’s mood could change. While both of them valued family above everything, he was very aware how Erica’s family members in Western Australia were very different from his two boys. They had been encouraging him to find someone else for several years now.
‘What would you like to do today?’ Jamie asked, when he had demolished the bacon and scrambled eggs Erica had cooked for breakfast and drained his second cup of coffee.
Erica stretched her arms above her head. ‘What would you say to kitesurfing?’ After several more sessions, they were becoming more proficient at the sport, but although Gary had judged they were now skilled enough to go solo, they preferred to be part of one of Gary’s kitesurfing groups, finding the company boosted their confidence.
‘Good idea. Let me check with Gary.’
‘You do that while I clear the dishes.’
Jamie watched Erica gather up the dirty plates and cups, marvelling at how he had managed to snare this incredible woman, not once, but twice, and conscious of how much he wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing. He picked up his phone to call Gary.
By the time Erica returned, Jamie had arranged for them to join one of Gary’s kitesurfing groups which was due to set off in an hour’s time. He had also called Joe and invited him and Gill to come along, knowing the pair weren’t complete novices at the sport having taken part in several sessions with Gary the previous year. He hoped that seeing Joe and Gill and hearing more of their plans might sway Erica’s thinking about moving in with him.
The kitesurfing was as amazing as before, though the four of them were older by far than the other members of the group. ‘You need to have a special group for geriatrics,’ Joe joked, when they were all back on the beach.
‘Not a bad idea,’ Gary said, laughing. ‘What do you think, Dad?’
‘None of your cheek,’ Jamie said, but he was laughing too. ‘Maybe we’re ready to take the next step and go solo.’
‘Your choice,’ Gary said.
‘We can talk about that later,’ Erica said.
‘Why don’t you join us for lunch?’ Joe asked, as the four of them walked out of the building containing Gary’s dive and kitesurfing schools.
‘Sounds good. Erica?’ Jamie said.
Erica nodded. ‘Where had you in mind?’
‘ The Grand ,’ Joe said, only to be howled down by the two women, who suggested they’d prefer the yacht club or The Blue Dolphin .
An hour later saw all four seated in the yacht club, having taken time to go home to shower and change. Hungry after their exertions, they all ordered large servings of fish and chips to be washed down with beer for the men and a bottle of sauvignon blanc for the women.
‘So,’ Jamie began, ‘I hear we’re going to be neighbours.’
Joe grinned and took Gill’s hand. ‘As soon as settlement takes place, but we’ve already been in taking measurements and getting quotes for the work we want done.’
‘Drop by next time you’re there,’ Jamie said. ‘It’s time I did some renovating too.’ He gave Erica what he hoped was a meaningful look, but she didn’t appear to notice.
‘We’d be happy to share our plans,’ Gill said, smiling at Joe.
Erica said nothing, but Jamie knew her so well he could tell she was lost in thought. What was she thinking, he wondered, hoping it was about his suggestion she move in with him.
By the time lunch was over, Jamie had heard a detailed description of what Joe and Gill planned to do with their new home. It made him realise how slack he’d been. He’d done nothing to improve his cottage since he moved in, considering it wasn’t worthwhile to spend money when he was living there by himself. Maybe if Erica joined him…
*
Despite seemingly being lost in thought, Erica was listening to the conversation. Although she’d heard Joe and Gill talk about their new home before, this was the first time she’d heard them describe in detail how they planned to modernise it. Her mind went to Jamie’s cottage. How she’d love to update it. She’d tackle the kitchen first, she thought, change the dark brown cupboard doors to white and the surface to granite or marble. Then she’d work on the rest of the house, paint the walls white instead of the present cream, recarpet the bedrooms and tile the floors in the rest of the house. Then the bathroom – she’d go wild there. White cupboards and surfaces again, a double shower and a corner spa bath.
‘Erica!’
‘Sorry?’ Erica snapped back to the present at the sound of Gill’s voice, and the realisation that all those renovations would only be possible if she agreed to move in to live with Jamie. She didn’t see how she could do that until Kieren and Briony changed their thinking. If they considered it too soon for her to have a relationship with Jamie, they’d definitely freak out if they learned she was living with him.
‘I was asking you what the news was from Briony. Is everything okay with her and Ava?’
‘It seems to be. She doesn’t give much away, though she did appear stressed last time we spoke. I worry about her… but feel helpless.’
‘You’re doing all you can, keeping in regular touch, letting her know you’re available to help. I wish more of my clients had family like you to support them, though I know many would refuse to accept it.’
‘I know. I was one of them,’ Erica said regretfully. ‘I knew Joe would always have helped me… Barb too, when she was alive, but I was too pigheaded – or embarrassed – to ask them… until it got so bad. I hope Briony doesn’t wait till things get to that stage for her. I wish she wasn’t so far away.’ Erica bit her lip, her chest tightening as a wave of guilt flooded her again. Could she have done more to help Briony if she’d given in to Kieren’s demands and remained in Perth, or as she suspected, would he have managed to control her life too?
‘You did the right thing, coming here,’ Jamie said as if reading her mind. He squeezed Erica’s hand. ‘Think of all you’ve been able to do since you arrived. You’re independent, working at the job you love… and you met me again,’ he added with a grin.
‘You’re right,’ Erica said, a warm glow enveloping her at the touch of his hand and the memory of their times together. None of that would have been possible if she’d stayed in Perth. She suspected Kieren would have taken over her life, just as Geoff had, and she’d have been powerless to stop him.