Forty-eight
Rachel’s guests, an elderly couple from Melbourne, and a young family with a boy a little younger than Verity, had already left for the day, intending to spend it on the beach. Fortunately, Verity had left too. The previous day, the twins had talked so much about their activities with Nippers, where they went every Sunday morning, that Verity had wanted to see for herself. Jess had picked her up on their way to the surf beach where the sessions were held. She was happy to go, confident in the knowledge Rachel was safely at home with Molly and would be there when she returned.
Luke had shot her a strange look when he arrived with Nelson, giving her a kiss on the cheek as usual. Now, Nelson and Molly were outside, and Luke was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee.
Rachel’s stomach was churning as she cooked a fresh batch of scrambled eggs and bacon and dropped slices of sour dough bread into the toaster. She’d been awake half the night trying to work out what to say to Luke, how to word it in a way that wouldn’t hurt him. She didn’t expect he had feelings for her, no more feelings than the normal desire of a man for a woman he found attractive and who was available. Had she been too available, flattered by his interest, lonely after living alone for so long? She was the one who’d be hurt by her decision, but better now than in a few weeks’ time when he went back to his life in Sydney.
When Rachel had served breakfast and taken a seat, Luke stared at her. ‘What’s up, Red? You seemed very on edge on Friday and this morning you’re strung out with tension. Have I done something to upset you?’
Rachel flinched. She hadn’t realised she was so obvious. She had hoped to delay this conversation until they had finished breakfast, but seeing his expression, she knew it couldn’t wait.
Breakfast grew cold as Rachel stumbled with words in her attempt to explain her decision ending with, ‘So I think it best if we remain friends. You’ll be gone soon and…’ Her voice broke.
‘You can’t mean it, Red, not after…’ Luke stared at her as if she’d gone mad.
‘I do, Luke. I’m sorry.’ Rachel couldn’t say any more as images of the times they’d spent together, moments she’d cherish for ever, flitted through her mind. Maybe she was mad. She knew all her friends would tell her so. Her heart dropped. They’d all find out. They knew she’d been seeing Luke, that she and he… Would they believe she’d been the one to end it? But she couldn’t think of that now. ‘It’s for the best,’ she repeated, picking up her cup with a hand that was shaking so much the liquid threatened to spill over.
Luke’s lips tightened, his eyes narrowed. Rachel had never seen him like this.
‘Well, I guess that’s that,’ he said. He went to the door, called Nelson, then man and dog left, the door slamming behind them.
What had she done? Rachel looked at the untouched plates of eggs and bacon. She pushed hers away, dropped her head onto her arms, and began to weep.
Rachel had no idea how long she sat there. She was brought back to the present by a wet tongue on her ankle and Molly’s gentle ‘Woof’.
‘Sorry, Molly. Did you think I’d forgotten about you?’ She picked the little dog up and hugged her, but Molly, scenting the food on the table, tried to wriggle free.
‘You’d like some of that, wouldn’t you?’ she asked. She knew she wouldn’t eat it. Would she ever eat scrambled eggs and bacon again without remembering this morning? Rising she scraped the plates into a delighted Molly’s bowl and went to wash her face. Verity would be back soon, and Rachel didn’t want her granddaughter to see her like this.
*
Luke strode across the bluff, Nelson running to keep up with him. He was filled with suppressed anger, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. He had arrived at Rachel’s for breakfast, anticipating a pleasant meal, maybe the chance for a cuddle if Verity was playing with the dogs. He’d missed the closeness which had developed between him and Rachel when she was gone and was looking forward to a resumption of their relationship. Instead… He shook his head. He’d never understand women.
Back home, he mooched around the house, unable to settle. At the sound of his phone ringing, his hopes rose. Maybe it was Rachel calling to apologise, to say she’d been wrong. It wasn’t Rachel’s voice, but Joe’s.
‘Glad I caught you. Good news. We have a result. The police brought Coatts in for questioning – the councillor we suspect of setting the baits,’ he added, when Luke didn’t respond. ‘He broke down and confessed, so they’ve charged him.’
‘Right. Thanks for letting me know.’
‘Are you all right? I thought you’d be more pleased.’
‘Sorry.’ Luke tried to rouse himself, to bring himself to sound more enthusiastic. ‘I just had some bad news.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. Want to talk about it?’
‘Not really. But I could do with some company.’
‘That I can do. The Grand ? I’m free now if you are.’
‘See you there in twenty minutes. We can celebrate our win,’ Luke said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into his voice, but failing.
Luke sluiced his face with cold water to hide the ravages of the tears he would never admit to shedding. What had taken place at Rachel’s that morning had shocked him. Not what she said, though that had been bad enough. What had shocked him most was the realisation of the strength of his feelings for her. What had started as a pleasant way to pass the time in Pelican Crossing, with an attractive woman who he knew had hero-worshipped him as a teenager, had turned into something more. They hadn’t known each other long, but in that short time, he’d fallen in love with Rachel.