Beside the Brook (8 page)

“Jamie’s toys are still out of the cot because of you I think. But you shouldn’t take it personally. It doesn’t take much to upset our James.”

“You don’t help.” Kirsten pouted in Tyler’s direction. “You like to goad him, I’ve noticed.”

“Hey, if it’s one thing you’ll learn about me from the start, it’s that I tell it straight. And I’m a pretty good read on other people. For instance,” he narrowed his gaze at her,

“I can tell right now that you’re just dying for me to give you a shoulder rub.”

Kirsten felt the heat rush to her cheeks. It had been the furthest thing from her mind. She stared wide eyed back at him. “Whatever would make you think that?”

“Well, you just indicated you’ve had a hard week. I know only too well how people can get riled up when dealing with my mother. Wouldn’t a nice neck rub be great right about now?”

Kirsty couldn’t help but smile. She had to admit it sounded wonderful, but did she really want to let Tyler lay his hands on her? His reputation with women already seemed crystal clear. But then again, why would she think he could be interested in the likes of her?

“I don’t think that would be appropriate do you?” she asked. “After all, you’re almost my employer.”

Tyler laughed, letting his head fall back against the side of the pool. “I think you know as well as I do who holds the purse strings around here. I do as I’m told just as much as you do. Come on, I won’t bite.”

Kirsten crumbled. It was easy to sway to someone who showed a friendly face among adversity. She so wanted to feel liked by at least one of the adults around here. She

knew she had Sarah’s vote, but to have Tyler in her corner would also be a huge bonus. It was a risk she was willing to take.

She slid around the bench and pushed her back closer to Tyler as he took hold of her shoulders. His fingers were soft and warm against her skin and she leaned her head forward, dropping her chin onto her chest. His hands moved rhythmically over her neck and upper back, his thumbs digging in to smooth away the tension they found there.

“God, do you do this for a living?” Kirsten murmured as she closed her eyes.

“No, I’m just very practiced.” She felt his breath on the back of her neck as he spoke and it made her shiver. He was so close she could feel his hip against her own as she slid back against him under the water.

“You have great skin,” Tyler teased. “It’s very soft.”

Kirsty giggled. “Yeah, right. I guess in this light you can’t see the freckles.”

She felt his body shake with laughter. “Hey, freckles are very cute.”

“Yeah, right,” Kirsty said sarcastically. “And I suppose the red hair is too?”

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a feisty redhead.”

Kirsty laughed. “Well, it doesn’t seem to be doing me any favours here so far.”

“I don’t know about that,” Tyler murmured as he bent his head and let his lips graze the back of her shoulder.

Kirsty gasped and straightened her back in shock. She turned to move away, but as she dropped her legs to the bottom of the pool Tyler grabbed them with one hand and pulled them across his lap, forcing her into his arms. Putting her off balance she instinctively grabbed his neck and held onto him. His eyes twinkled as he dropped his head and moved his mouth over hers. She moaned in surprise; let his tongue push between her lips in anticipation. He kissed her hungrily for a few moments before she dropped her hand to his chest and pushed herself away from him. She stared wildly up into his face.

“This is not a good idea,” she said breathlessly.

“Why not?” Tyler asked, his eyes daring her to come back for a second attempt at seduction.

“Because, it’s not.” Kirsten dragged her legs from Tyler’s grasp. “It’s completely unprofessional.”

Tyler leveled her with a bold stare. “That never stopped you in the past.”

Kirsten was shocked. “What did you say?”

“I said it doesn’t seem to have put you off with past employers.”

Kirsten stood up. “You bastard!” Before she could stop herself she slapped Tyler across the cheek. It wasn’t hard, but a nice red mark appeared on his face and he put his own hand up to cover it.

Kirsten was stunned. How did Tyler know about Greg Hamilton? And moreover why did he think bringing it up would only encourage her to take something up with him?

What kind of sick game was he playing?

“Jesus, I can’t believe you people.” She scrambled to the side of the pool, a sick feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach.

“Kirsty, wait.” Tyler grabbed at her wrist, tried to pull her back. But she already had one leg out of the pool. With the other leg she pushed down against the molded plastic seat, but before she could do anything her foot slipped out from under her. Her weight collapsed onto the coloured concrete tiles and her hip burned with pain as she landed. She yelped and rolled onto her back, closing her eyes as a bright light blocked her sight. Tyler leapt from the pool and was at her side before she knew it.

“Are you okay?” He took her by the shoulders and tried to lift her, but she shook him off.

“I’m fine.” Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed.

“You’re not fine, let me help you up.” He lifted her with his strong hands, despite her protest.

“Get off me.” Kirsty was now sitting and she swatted his hands away. Her chest heaved in blind anger. She wanted him to stop touching her. She was so wild at him. Tyler laughed, enraging her further. He held her firmly with his large hands. Then he spoke in a sharp tone, “Kirsten, stop. You’re hurt.” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and peered into her green eyes. “I’m sorry.” His look seemed genuinely remorseful and Kirsten calmed a smidgen. “I’m sorry, okay? That was uncalled for.”

She regarded him with speculation. “Damn straight it was.” Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes, flowing out of control. The flood gates had opened and she didn’t know how to close them. “I needed you to be a friend.”

“I’m sorry. I am, seriously. I am a friend, please.” He pulled Kirsten to her feet and she held his shoulder for balance.

She looked up at him. “How the hell did you know about that?”

“Hey, my job was to check you out. You don’t think my mother would have hired you without knowing anything about you, do you?”

Kirsten shrugged. “So you went snooping into my past?”

“Hey, when I do a job, I do it properly.”

“What else do you know about it?”

“Hey, you can’t blame me for something
you
did. I just happened to find out about it. You didn’t cover your tracks very well. Besides, most of what I found out was assumption on my part. You just confirmed it.”

“God, you’re infuriating,” Kirsten sighed.

“I know.” Tyler grinned.

Kirsten thumped him on the arm. “Don’t try that bloody Mister Sweetness on me.”

“Hey, I’m sorry. It was just the moment. You looked so good under the moonlight. It won’t happen again okay?”

“Promise?”

“Scouts honour.” Tyler held two fingers against his forehead. Kirsten laughed. “You weren’t even a boy scout were you?”

Tyler shook his head. “Nope. Come on let’s get you inside.”

Kirsten let Tyler carry her into the house. Then he made good on his promise, by seeing her safely to her bedroom and bidding her goodnight. She dried herself off then fell into the pillows, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. The hot water and cool night air had worked their magic. Even after her fight with Tyler she felt spent and ready for sleep.

Tomorrow was her day off. She planned to make the most of it. Sleeping late was first on the agenda. That way she could avoid contact with everyone for as long as possible. She felt it was what she needed to do if she were to retain her sanity in this alien territory.

By lunch time the next day the sky had filled with low level grey cloud. The temperature was still in the late twenties though, and despite the heat Kirsten slept well into the morning. Ditching all bedtime attire she had taken to sleeping naked with just a sheet covering her, and was getting used to the absent comfort the heavy blankets provided.

She climbed out of bed and put on her blue satin robe, tying it securely round the waist before opening the door to her balcony. She could hear voices below, and she looked down to see Sarah and Jamie in the pool. She felt rather like a voyeur as she watched them, undetected from her third floor perch.

Jamie wore a pair of red board shorts, his long lean frame submerged from the waist down in the clear water. Sarah amused herself by climbing up his back, her skinny limbs flailing as he dipped into the water and let her settle on his gleaming shoulders. She squealed as he burst out of the water, raising her high in the air with a noisy whoosh. He grabbed her hands and let her scramble to her feet atop his back. Her knees shook but he held her fast, helping her balance as she bent over his head. Then he leaned forward and tossed her into the water. Her arms waved around as she screamed with delight, toppling into the water with a huge splash. She came up spluttering and laughing, and Jamie plucked her effortlessly into his arms once more. Kirsten smiled. They were such a delight to watch. She daren’t be spotted in case the magic spell was broken and Jamie reverted to the monster he became in adult company. So she retreated back inside and showered, putting on a green summer dress with spaghetti straps. Then she padded downstairs barefoot, expecting to find Craig. But the house was deserted. Tyler’s car was gone from the driveway, but Kirsten knew he had been due to return to town anyway so that was no surprise. Beth’s car was also missing, and seemingly so was Craig. She found a note on the fridge, held high with a large plastic magnet:

Gone to town with Craig, back tomorrow.

Beth

So it really was just her, Jamie and Sarah in the house. Inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. She could relax. Jamie and Sarah were obviously intent on just hanging out together, which left her to enjoy her first day off in peace. She made herself a hot drink then pattered through to the television room. The heavy curtains were drawn, making the room dark. She left them closed, instead turning on a light to see the huge selection of movies against the back wall. She picked an old favourite, put it in the DVD player and switched the lights off again before settling back on the over-stuffed chaise lounger.

Later, when she was sure the others had vacated the pool and were nowhere to be seen or heard, she crept outside. She walked barefoot across the lawn, the soft grass sponging between her toes. Large water marks on the rock tiles, which had been concreted in place around the pool, let off the sweet smell of evaporation in the heat. Kirsten crept into the pool house. It was stifling hot and she opened a window on the north side to let some fresh air in. Guilt crept over her as she lifted the loose boards on

the custom built bench. The diary had been calling her name. She had resisted returning to it all week, but eventually the thoughts of being able to learn more about the people that surrounded Brook, who were now also a part of Kirsten’s life, got the better of her. Maybe she could get some insight into how these people ticked if she read what Brook knew of them.

She plucked the old book from its hiding place and settled back to read. Brook’s tale started of course, in January, when Sarah was just over a year old. She seemed to have a settled life, although she continued regular sessions with a therapist:

January 1st

Margaret thinks I need to continue this diary, so I will write my thoughts still, if even
just to keep her happy! Last night was wonderful. We had a huge bonfire down on the
beach. My mother is so happy here. She just loves having everyone around, especially
Sarah. My darling little girl is now a year old, how fast that has flown by . . .

January 2nd

Jamie and I went riding, down to the Chamberlain cabin, his favourite place. He
wants to know what I talk about with Margaret. He thinks it’s still all about my father.
Okay, so my father molested me. God, how long does it take to get over that? I still have
nightmares sometimes . . .

January 10th

Sigh. Jamie has gone back to work. I hate it when he goes away. I used to go with
him, all the time, but with Sarah sometimes it’s just easier to stay here . . .

Kirsten started to form a clear picture of Brook in her head. She had been troubled, obviously, by the past she had endured with her father. It explained why Beth had brought her children half way around the world, to a place that offered nothing but comfort and a sense of security in its obscurity.

Brook’s contentment had a melancholy undertone. Kirsten sighed. Her own shame was nothing compared to what Brook had endured in her past. Certainly Kirsten hadn’t required a councilor when she had left her last job. She had slept with a married man under bizarre circumstances, which was nothing compared to Brook, left scarred by abuse. She felt thankful that Beth, at least, had taken her children away from such an environment. So many women would not admit it of their own husbands, and often stayed, long after the damage had been done.

She put the book back in its dinghy hiding place, replacing the boards carefully so it would go undetected once more, then walked back up to the house. Jamie and Sarah sat in the kitchen, eating sandwiches. The sharp smell of peanut butter filled the air as Kirsten entered. A butter knife covered with a thick later of chunky peanuts on the bread board, its gelatinous remains stuck in thick blobs to the smooth surface, indicated that Sarah had been allowed to make her own sandwich.

“Hi, Kirsty,” Sarah attempted through a mouthful of bread.

“Hi there.” Kirsty smiled as she crossed to the bench and pulled the electric jug from its cradle.

“Sarah, don’t talk with your mouth full,” Jamie scolded.

“Sorry.”

Kirsty filled the jug and put it on to boil. Jamie looked up, seeming almost shy for a moment as their eyes met.

“I thought I’d take Sarah out for a meal tonight.” He looked back at Sarah.

“Oh yay, Dad, where?” Sarah jiggled excitedly in her chair, making it rock noisily on the linoleum.