5 Peppermint Grove (40 page)

“What if the insurance won’t pay?” she asked.

“I don’t know how that works, Ju.”

“I’m sure she wants to stay in her house – it’s the other investments that she needs to offload.”

“Well, now that I’m home I’m keen to help her sort things out – no point having a brother who’s a financial consultant without getting him to help.”

“I told Odette that we would be out to her house for lunch – we should be finished up here by then.”

Michael nodded – it sounded good.

Gillian watched through the window of Julia’s office door. She was so jealous of her boss. Michael was her brother, of course, but it was obvious he adored her. She wondered if Julia realised how lucky she was and how much men were drawn to her? After the other night it was apparent that Dylan was a lost cause but Michael might be an easier fish to catch.

Lydia
looked at her watch – it was eleven o’clock and she wanted to see Julia again. Her head was so full of wild thoughts she couldn’t work and she’d had a difficult evening pondering over their chat in the Bailey pub. Julia was the rock of sense that kept her on the straight and narrow. She would wander up to Grafton Street and just pop into her office on the off-chance that she was there. She pulled on her light jacket and stepped out into the sunshine. It was a beautiful mild day for March.

Gillian was at the reception desk, waiting with a smile. When she saw that it was
Lydia she rang through to Julia’s office.

“It’s
Lydia for you, Julia,” she said.

Julia turned and looked at Michael in a state of panic. Darn her! Why hadn’t she rung first? She didn’t want to see Michael upset so early on his arrival and especially with his big interview the next day.

“You’d better send her in,” she said reluctantly.

Gillian went back to her work, oblivious of the situation that was about to unfold.

Lydia stopped dead at the door. She looked at Michael first and then at Julia.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, am I disturbing you?”

“Lydia!” Michael was astonished to see his old love.

Julia looked first at Michael and then at
Lydia. She jumped to her feet and rushed over to her dumbstruck friend.

“
Lydia – Michael was helping me do some figures before I present them to a company tomorrow – how are you?”

Lydia
couldn’t speak.

“Hello,
Lydia,” Michael said politely.

“Hi,” she winced. “Sorry, Julia, I should have called. Maybe I’ll come back another time.”

“We’re going to Malahide after we finish here so I can’t do lunch today,” Julia said, taking Lydia gently by the arm, ushering her out of the office and closing the door behind them.

“I’m sorry,
Lydia – you didn’t need to see him at the moment.”

Lydia
’s eyes filled up. “I’m a mess, Julia – I can’t seem to get through to Peter at all – he’s just continued to brush it all under the carpet and carry on as if the other night never happened.”

Gillian had her head behind the computer screen on her desk but all the time her ears were sharply pricked to pick up any information worth knowing.

“And the last person you need to see right now is my brother.”

“Oh Julia, it always unsettles me when I see him. You know it’s always been this way – and I can’t cope with the rejection from Peter at the same time.”

Gillian was putting two and two together and getting a perfect four.

“I’m sorry but we have to go to Malahide – can I call you later?” Julia suggested.

Lydia nodded. “Thanks, Julia, you’re such a great friend.”

Lydia
almost tripped over on the way out and Julia looked over at Gillian who had obviously been listening to every word. Gillian’s head ducked behind the screen again and Julia returned to her office.

“What’s wrong with
Lydia?” Michael was visibly shaken but Julia wasn’t keen to start a full-blown conversation about her friend right now. “I can’t believe I’ve seen her!”

“Nothing’s wrong – she didn’t know you were going to be here. Look, maybe we’ll just finish up and go visit Odette now?”

“God, she looked gorgeous!” Michael shook his head.

“Michael, I’m sorry that you had to see her but I can’t talk to you about her – she spoke to me in confidence.”

“Fuck me – I think I’m too old for bombshells, Julia.”

Julia actually felt bad for her brother in light of the entire
Lydia saga.

“Look, I’m sorry to change the subject but we have to move – let’s go and see Odette and maybe you can come and help me tomorrow?”

“Sure – I can finish this in the morning – my interview will be over by eleven.”

Julia sighed. “That would be a great help, thanks – it’s nice actually, having you here.”

“This is a lovely set-up that you have, Ju, and your figures are coming in good. Glad to see someone doing well in the recession.”

“It’s a lot of hard work but it seems to be paying off.”

Julia handed Michael his coat and breezed by Gillian. “I’ll be back at about four if anyone is looking for me!”

As they walked out to the car Michael had to pry more. “So please, Ju – tell me – what’s up with
Lydia?”

“I said – I can’t say.”

“Did Perfect Peter not propose then?”

Julia knew that her brother was going to drag it out of her at one stage or another so it was probably better to get it over with.

“She’s gutted because he has said that he doesn’t want to rush into marriage.”

Michael’s eyes brightened. “Ah, so there’s hope for me yet!”

Julia frowned at him. “Just concentrate on one thing at a time – and take my advice – leave her alone, okay!”

“Hey, did she propose then on the 29
th
? I was thinking about it during the flight. I put up a request for proposals on Facebook but didn’t get a comment!”

Julia laughed. “If I tell, you must promise not to say anything to
Lydia, okay?”

“Cross my heart!” he said making a Boy Scout’s pledge with his fingers.

“Okay, she brought it up and, well, let’s just say it didn’t appeal to him. He doesn’t want to get engaged.”

Michael laughed out loud.

Julia thumped him in the arm. “You are too cruel.”

“I’m sorry, Ju, but it was a crazy idea – and he said no – well, it’s funny.”

“I can’t believe you’re so heartless, Michael.”

“I’m not – I mean, I really do feel for her but you know she could have had me!”

“I know that you’re irresistible but she wants Perfect – I mean Peter.”

Michael laughed even more. “You know, I think she’s falling off that pedestal I had her on!”

Julia frowned. “If you’re telling me now that you don’t like her because she might be available again, I swear, Michael, you will rot in hell!”

Michael shook his head. “Ah, don’t be so serious, Ju! Actually, I was thinking I might ask Gillian on a date.”

Julia frowned harder. “I don’t want you seeing her – there’s something freaky about her – she’s a good worker and all that but there are times when I think she is a bit psycho about men – she seems to have the hots for Dylan anyway. Besides, you need to concentrate on getting that job tomorrow!”

The pair drove to Malahide, discussing tactics and interview techniques, so Michael didn’t have a chance to consider how he would feel on seeing his bereft sister.

Dylan was on his way out the door as they parked in the drive.

“Hi, Michael, good to see you again – I hear you’re back for good?”

Michael held out his hand and shook Dylan’s.

“Yes, back for good – hope to get working now. How is she doing?”

Dylan smiled. “Good form today – she’s looking forward to seeing you. She wasn’t great last night – sure she wasn’t, Julia?”

Julia shook her head. “I was glad that you were here, Dylan. Why don’t you go on in, Michael, so you can be with her on your own.”

Michael nodded and went inside.

Dylan turned to Julia. “So how are you doing?”

“I’m fine – I was just in work. Actually Gillian has been great, keeping the show on the road for me.”

Dylan hesitated. “Eh, that’s good. She comes across as a bit crazy but I think her heart must be in the right place!”

Julia was puzzled at this reaction – why had he asked Gillian out again then? But certainly ‘crazy’ was a good word to describe her. Or maybe ‘desperate’ would be a better one. She wanted to hook a good catch and seemed to think that Julia was the supplier of eligible men – Julia’s own fault admittedly. Well, she would do her very best to steer her brother and anyone else away.

Dylan was smart – a really clued-in guy. Whatever Gillian was, she had certainly helped Julia to figure out in her own head what she thought of Dylan. She was becoming more fond of him every time she saw him since Craig’s terrible passing and she didn’t want Gillian or anyone else getting close to him – but now it looked like she had left it too late because in one month he would be gone for a year around the world. It was terrible timing and her own fault.

Chapter Fifty-three

Ruth received a text from Brian before she woke up the next morning.

I couldn’t sleep all night. Call me pleas
e


Ruth was keen to hear his voice. She looked at her watch. It was only seven. She could hear her mother snoring in the room next door.

She dialled but didn’t have to wait long.

“Ruth – g’day. How are you going?”

“Good, thanks – my mum and I went out to Cott beach last night and got fish and chips.”

“It must be nice to see her.”

“Yeah, it is – how’s the house coming on?”

“The walls are up and the roof is going on next week. That Arthur’s chap is causing us a bit of grief though – seems to be having cash-flow probs!
It’s going to be a beauty. You should come and see it.”

Ruth needed to think about that carefully. “Eh, I’m not sure my mother is ready for that.”

“Why don’t I just drive by later and we can maybe go to Fraser’s for dinner? My treat.”

“Where’s that?”

“It’s the place in King’s Park where we parked last time.”

“I remember. Will we have to book?”

“Leave it with me. Call by – I’ll be at the site all day.”

“I’ve got to go to work now but I suppose we could go to dinner if you like – is that place very expensive?”

“Don’t worry about the price – I said it’s my treat.”

Ruth was grateful for his gesture and she was delighted that he was keen to impress her mother by choosing such a classy restaurant. “Okay then, if you insist.”

“Fine – I’ll call by at seven, okay?”

“See you at seven.”

Ruth was feeling nervous already. She wasn’t sure how her mother would behave – she had always been acrimonious towards Australian men. Maybe she could sway her opinion. And if anyone could suss a person out it would be Angela Travers. She had nothing to lose and they were going to have a nice meal regardless.

Her mother stirred and got out of her bed. She went to the bathroom, giving Ruth just enough time to think about what she was going to say.

Angela came into Ruth’s room and smiled when she saw her daughter lying on the bed.

“Good morning, love – I slept like a log – I guess that’s partly the jet lag! But it’s been very difficult to sleep with your father this last year or two. He’s always moaning in the middle of the night with his arthritis and he doesn’t realise that he wakes me up!”

“Why don’t you get two single beds and put them together? That way you each have your own space and are still beside each other.”

“Now that’s not a bad idea, Ruth – I’ll say it to your father when I get home. It’s great to have the bed to myself.”

“Can I get you some breakfast?”

“Not at all – I can help myself – you have to go out to work.”

“I’m putting the kettle on anyway.”

“I’ll make us scrambled eggs on toast – how does that sound? And you can get ready for work.”

“Okay – thanks, Mum – it’s so great having you here.”

Angela was feeling more comfortable the longer she was in the country – time must indeed be the greatest healer of all. She set about whisking the eggs and was busy over the stove when Ruth came into the kitchen.

“Mum – Brian was wondering if we would join him for dinner this evening?”

“Brian – oh, your boyfriend?”

“Well, it’s early days – he’s still just a friend.”

“I’d better meet him then,” Angela said with a smile. “I just want you to be happy, love.”

The clock approached seven and Ruth’s stomach started to flit. She had chosen to wear a blue dress and her strappy silver sandals. Her mother was composed at the kitchen table – sipping a cup of tea and looking serene in a rose-printed fabric sundress.