Chapter 54
Chapter Fifty-Four
E vie agreed to work at the resort in peak season, on the condition that Bob let her go to her mother’s wedding. ‘I’m not asking you to come with me, because I know you won’t want to, and someone will have to mind the shop. It’s been years since I’ve seen my parents.’
He grumbled and swore, but she was adamant. ‘Only one night,’ he said, ‘a cigarette hanging out of his mouth as he rearranged some rods at the front of the store.
‘Two nights. I’ll need to be there the night before; then I can leave on the train the day after.’
‘One night.’
Two nights. It’s my mother.’
He hadn’t replied, and she had gone straight to the train station to book a ticket to Brisbane. Two nights by herself. She could hardly wait. Even to sit on the train without him would be a bonus.
That Sunday before she left, she visited Matilda. She hadn’t seen Baker since they kissed, and she noticed he hadn’t been in the shop. She touched her lips, remembering what his soft touch felt like. ‘What are you dreaming about?’ Matilda asked.
‘Nothing. Nothing,’ she stammered, embarrassed to be caught out.
They sipped their tea for a while, and Matilda pointed out the different birds and plants that grew in the bush nearby. ‘Matilda, did you ever make mistakes in your life?’ Evie asked.
‘Everyone makes mistakes. Some are bigger than others; some can be fixed, and others not. If you don’t make mistakes, you aren’t living.’
‘But what if I want to fix one? Like run away, so that I don’t have to face it?.’
‘Sometimes running’s good, other times it isn’t. The mistake might follow you. Maybe you can face it front on.’
She wanted to come out and just tell Matilda what she wanted to do. How she wanted to run away and never see Yeppoon, or Bob, ever again. But then she would have to add how Bob had a gun and had threatened to find and kill her. Baker was Matilda’s son, and he was a policeman. What if she told him?
‘What are you thinking?’ Matilda looked at her.
‘I’m thinking everything is complicated enough. It’s easier not to run.’
Just then, one of Matilda’s cats jumped up on her lap and she nearly spilt her tea. The two women laughed and the moment passed. Maybe it was easier to stay put. At least she would get a break from everything by going to the wedding.
She hadn’t put much thought into who would be at the wedding. Surely it wasn’t going to be a big affair. After all, her mum and Mr McIntosh were old, and for both it was their second marriage.
Hopefully it would just be her and a few others. For a moment she thought about Chris and his sisters. Surely not. They wouldn’t be there. Her mother had said it was just a small affair. The train jolted out of the station, and she relaxed back into her seat. She had her dress, shoes and jewellery with her; and if nothing else, she was going to have fun. If Chris and his sisters were there, she would just have to deal with it.