Forty-six
It had been two weeks since Erica moved in with Gill, and they were all beginning to feel complacent, reasoning, if Geoff hadn’t come here by now, they were safe. Freya was still in Sydney, her old professor having suggested she stay around and sit in on a few classes to get the feel of the place. She was confident she’d be offered the position and had even started looking around for accommodation. But she was planning on coming back later in the week, and Erica was making noises about moving back to Joe’s.
‘What do you think?’ Gill asked, when Erica had gone to bed. Since his sister had been staying there, Joe had joined the two women for dinner most evenings, Coco too, and Erica had developed the habit of tactfully disappearing to bed leaving the couple alone. But Joe’s awareness of his sister’s presence only a few metres away, plus Gill’s determination, kept him from taking their relationship any further.
‘I think possibly enough time has passed. If Geoff was going to travel all the way from Perth, he’d have done it by now. My guess is the AVO, and the risk of possible jail time has made him cautious. He’s a businessman, used to taking calculated risks, but also evaluating the potential of failure. He’s not stupid, and it would be stupid to risk the loss of his liberty – and his business – by pursuing Erica and breaching the AVO.’
‘You may be right.’
‘You don’t think so?’ Joe was surprised by Gill’s tone.
She sighed. ‘I’ve probably seen more of these cases than you have. Men like your sister’s husband often don’t consider the consequences of their actions when their wife is the one they’re pursuing. But I hope you’re right. Erica has suffered enough, and she’s only just beginning to feel secure again. I wish Freya wasn’t coming home so soon, even though I’ll be pleased to see her again.’
‘Erica will be right with us, won’t she, Coco?’ Joe nudged the sleeping dog with his foot, only to have her grunt in her sleep, her ears twitching as she doubtless chased a pelican in her dreams.
‘I hope so. I guess she can’t stay in hiding for ever. She does seem to have settled into Pelican Crossing.’
‘We both loved it here when we were growing up, and the town hasn’t changed too much since then. I could never imagine leaving.’ Joe stretched out his legs, this time ensuring his feet avoided Coco’s sleeping body.
‘I love it too. It’s one thing I have to thank Max for. If it hadn’t been for him accepting a teaching position at Pelican Crossing High, who knows where we might have ended up? I always thought he’d choose to be in the city, and I’d join some high-powered legal firm.’
‘Instead of which…’ Joe turned to look at the woman who had come to mean so much to him. ‘You’ve never regretted it?’
‘Maybe a little, when things got bad between Max and me. But by then I had my practice. I love what I do, Joe, helping women, women like me… and Erica. I sometimes wish I could do more. I look at what Ali Wells is doing in Bellbird Bay and…’
‘Don’t sell yourself short. You do a lot. Pelican Crossing would be the poorer without you.’
‘Thanks, Joe.’ Gill smiled and snuggled into him. ‘You’ve done a lot for Pelican Crossing too.’
‘Now we’ve decided we’re both essential members of the community, why don’t we enjoy our time together? If Erica moves back with me, and once Freya is home, we’ll have no excuse to spend so many evenings like this.’ As Gill opened her mouth to speak, Joe pulled her into his arms to silence her with a kiss, and for the rest of the evening not another word was spoken.
*
Next day, Joe had just arrived home from the office and was preparing to take Coco for a walk before heading to Gill’s for dinner. Although she had only been there for two months, Joe had become accustomed to Erica’s presence in the house and had missed her since she moved to Gill’s. He’d be glad to have her back, though sorry his time with Gill might be curtailed. Perhaps he could persuade her to spend some evenings here with him and Erica… and Coco. As if reading his mind, Coco let out a woof of what Joe took to be agreement. He chuckled.
Joe had taken Coco’s leash from its hook, and the dog was bouncing around in anticipation of her walk when there was a loud pounding on the door. Fearing the worst, Joe instructed Coco to stay and went to answer it. When he saw the red-faced, bloated figure at the door, the first thing that hit Joe was how much his brother-in-law had changed since they last met, when Geoff had been in Pelican Crossing for Barb’s funeral two years earlier. Then he’d been fresh-faced and if not the trim-figured man Erica had married, at least looking fit and healthy. The man facing him seemed to have aged prematurely. He didn’t look well.
‘Where is she?’ Geoff blustered. ‘I know she’s here. Where else would she go other than to her brother? The pair of you were always as thick as thieves. You lied to me about some friend in Cairns, but you’re not getting away with it this time.’
Joe stared at his brother-in-law. He wasn’t making any sense. But he knew better than to question him. ‘If you mean Erica, if you’re looking for your wife, she’s not here.’
Behind Joe, Coco started to growl.
‘Quiet, Coco,’ Joe said, putting out one hand to silence the dog.
‘Where is she?’ Geoff repeated, making to push past Joe.
Coco growled again.
This time Joe ignored her. Coco recognised Geoff wasn’t a friend. ‘You can come in,’ he said, ‘but you won’t find Erica here.’ He was glad Erica was still with Gill, and that she’d taken all of her meagre possessions with her, leaving no sign she’d ever been there. If it had been later in the week… but Joe didn’t want to think of that.
Geoff pushed his way in, past a snarling Coco, only Joe’s hand on her collar preventing the normally mild-mannered dog from attempting to bite him. He blundered through the house, going from one room to another in his fruitless search, while Joe stood in the hallway with Coco. ‘Satisfied?’ Joe asked, when Geoff finally returned. ‘She’s not here.’
‘What have you done with her? Kieren told me…’
Joe’s heart sank. What had Kieren said? He couldn’t know his mother had come to Pelican Crossing, could he?
But Geoff didn’t elaborate. ‘I’m not done with you yet,’ he yelled as he barrelled out the door and made his way to what Joe recognised as a rental car sitting by the kerb.
‘No, Coco,’ Joe said, as the dog made to follow him, her teeth bared. ‘He’s not worth it.’ His eyes followed the car as it disappeared around the corner. Maybe Geoff would go back to Perth now he’d failed to find Erica. But Joe wasn’t sure he’d managed to convince his brother-in-law. Before heading to Gill’s, he made a call to one of the local police officers he knew quite well. Gavin was married to Megan, one of Poppy’s daughters, and was a keen local athlete. He knew Gill had apprised him of Erica’s situation and wanted to update him. It was as he’d expected, there was nothing the police could do. As yet, Geoff hadn’t actually breached the domestic violence order.
Too upset to take his normal walk, Joe attached Coco’s leash and headed to Gill’s. He kept an eye out to ensure Geoff wasn’t following him, but there was no sign of the dark blue SUV.
Joe was still feeling shaken when he reached Gill’s apartment to find the two women enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony.
‘What’s up?’ Gill asked, when he walked in, Coco at his heels. The dog immediately went over to lay her head on Erica’s lap, as if understanding she was about to receive bad news.
‘I had a visitor,’ Joe said with a pinched expression.
‘Not…?’ Erica’s face paled; her hands clenched.
‘Geoff paid me a visit. He was looking for you.’
‘Of course he was,’ Erica said bitterly. ‘Oh, I knew this would happen. What am I going to do?’ She began to tremble.
‘Stay calm,’ Gill said. ‘He doesn’t know you’re here. What did you say?’ she asked Joe.
‘I told him the truth. You weren’t there. He blundered through the house, but there was no sign of you, or any of your belongings. Lucky you brought everything here with you.’
‘That was Gill’s advice.’ Erica looked gratefully at Gill.
‘It was only the sensible thing to do,’ Gill said. ‘But now he’s here in Pelican Crossing, you need to be doubly careful.’ She seemed to think for a moment. ‘It’s probably a good idea if you stay in the apartment for a bit, call in sick at work… just in case.’
‘But I was going to move back to Joe’s. Your daughter is coming home,’ Erica said, her face now ashen.
‘You can’t go back yet. When Freya gets home, we’ll work something out. I can always make up a temporary bed in the study, for a few days at least, until we know what your husband is up to, or we know for sure he’s left town.’
‘Gill’s right. And I need a drink,’ Joe said, discovering he was shaking. It must be the result of delayed shock at the way Geoff had pushed his way in and stormed through his house.
‘Coming up.’ Gill disappeared to fetch a glass of wine for Joe.
Joe gave Erica a hug. ‘It’ll be fine, sis,’ he said. ‘Geoff can’t stay here for long. He has a business to run back in Perth. If, as Gill suggested, you lie low here for a few days, he’ll realise he’s made a mistake. Then, once he’s returned to Perth, you can come back to live with me and Coco and go on as before.’
‘If you’re sure.’ Erica didn’t sound convinced, but Joe couldn’t imagine Geoff hanging around if he couldn’t find her.
‘I am,’ he said, trying to sound more positive than he felt, remembering the anger in Geoff’s voice. He’d sounded deranged but surely even he wouldn’t want to waste his time here if there was no sign of Erica?
By the time Gill returned with Joe’s wine, Erica seemed calmer and was sipping her wine. ‘Thanks. Gill,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t offered to have me to stay.’
‘Not a problem,’ Gill said, reddening. She met Joe’s eyes, and his heart flipped at the thought of being alone with her later. Then he felt guilty for focussing on his own emotions when his sister was in such trouble.
‘I contacted Gavin to let him know Geoff was in town,’ Joe said. ‘But, as I thought, there’s nothing they can do.’
‘Gavin?’ Erica asked.
‘He’s a local police officer, one I happen to know pretty well. Gill, too.’
‘He’s married to the daughter of a friend of mine,’ Gill said. ‘I was in touch with the station earlier, and Gavin said he’d keep a look out. Sadly, they can’t take action until…’ she corrected herself, ‘… unless Geoff actually tries to make contact with you. Accusing Joe doesn’t count.’
Erica shivered.
‘It’s okay, sis.’ Joe hugged her again. ‘We’re not going to let that happen.’