Queen of the Road (15 page)

‘It’s got to be tomorrow or this time next week.’ Shell looked stern as she peered over her glasses at Angela. ‘That truck’s due for its service and tyre check and it’s my job to book it in. Your father would have my guts for garters if I let it go overdue.’

Angela sighed. ‘Make it next week then.’ She knew Shell was right. If she kept cutting corners her father wouldn’t be happy, but she was desperate to get the Munirilla run into a routine and organised for him. She was searching out freight wherever she could, drumming up business and keeping things moving. Next week would be her last run before someone else took over and she didn’t want to lose a day while the tyres were being checked and replaced.

‘I’ll make the booking,’ Shell said, reaching for the phone.

‘Okay.’ Angela tugged her diary from her pocket. She would have to make the best of a day out. Perhaps she and Claudia would spend it sightseeing in Adelaide.

Angela looked out the window at her daughter, who was hopping around as if she had ants in her pants. She’d been fidgety ever since she woke up that morning. Hopefully she hadn’t picked up some bug from her farm trip.

Angela stepped out of the office feeling more optimistic and turned her attention to the next job. She still had kegs to collect and a couple of orders for the stock and station agency. There was no way she’d be able to pick up everything today, so she changed the pick-up for the refrigerated IGA goods to the morning. She could still make it back to Munirilla by tomorrow night and unload first thing the next day. Then she’d be back at the end of the week for the chemicals.

She couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Coop would be with her on that trip. Sure, Angela liked travelling with Claudia, but it would be nice to have some adult company. The only problem would be working out a way for Claud to travel safely. The little girl would be delighted to spend her time in the bunk instead of the passenger seat, but Angela wasn’t convinced that was a good idea.

‘Mummy!’ Claudia’s yell from across the yard made Angela jump. ‘It’s Grandpa, it’s Grandpa!’

Angela looked from where Claudia was bouncing up and down beside the shed to the truck that was waiting to turn into the yard. It was definitely one of theirs, more than likely their Melbourne to Adelaide driver.

She walked over to Claudia. ‘That’s not Grandpa. He’s busy in Melbourne. It’ll be one of the other drivers.’

‘It
is
Grandpa,’ Claudia insisted, continuing to bounce up and down. ‘He told me on the phone.’

‘Well, he didn’t tell
me
.’ Angela thought back over the hurried call she’d made to her father last night after Claudia was cleaned up. He hadn’t mentioned doing an Adelaide run.

‘It’s a surprise,’ Claudia said with a glint in her eye.

Angela looked at the truck that was now manoeuvring through the gate. She couldn’t see through the windscreen well enough to recognise the driver, but there were definitely two silhouettes behind the glass.

‘Janice is here too,’ Claudia said with a squeal.

The truck stopped and both doors flew open. Claudia ran towards it.

Angela’s heart skipped. ‘Claud, wait!’

The little girl didn’t stop. Thank goodness there were no other vehicles moving in the yard. Angela watched in amazement as her father jumped down from the truck and scooped up Claudia in his arms. Even more surprising was the identity of his co-driver. Claudia was right – it was Janice, stepping gingerly from the cabin and hurrying round to hug her granddaughter.

Angela walked slowly towards them feeling like an outsider. Her father looked up and smiled. He passed Claudia into Janice’s grasp and held his arms out for his daughter.

‘Surprise!’ he called.

Angela’s nagging questions evaporated as she relaxed into his hug. She felt like a little girl again, enjoying the security of her father’s embrace.

‘Mummy, Janice has brought me a necklace.’

Angela pulled away from her father and inhaled deeply, the brief moment of respite over. She was pleased to see her dad, but Janice she could have done without.

‘That’s pretty,’ she said, glancing at the shiny chain Claudia was dangling at her.

Janice pulled Angela into a quick hug. She stiffened as the other woman’s lips brushed her cheek.

‘Hello Janice,’ she said, then turned back to her father. ‘What’s going on, Dad? You didn’t mention you’d be here.’

‘Last-minute decision. I knew you’d be here today. Tommy was happy to do some local work for a couple of days so we could come. Haven’t seen my daughter and granddaughter for a long time.’ Claudia squealed in delight as he scooped her up again and blew raspberries on her cheeks.

‘You’ll have to tell us all about what you’ve been doing,’ Janice said, moving closer to brush a hand over Claudia’s hair, turning her back on Angela. ‘What do you do while Mummy’s driving?’

‘Sometimes I sleep in the bunk,’ Claudia said. ‘I’ve got my own drawers in Big Red with all my things. We sing songs and play ‘I Spy’. One day we spied a policeman …’

‘It’s been great to see you,’ Angela interrupted, keen to put a stop to that story, ‘but we have to get on with our pick-ups.’

‘Aww!’ Claudia clung to her grandpa’s neck.

‘How about you show Janice your things inside Big Red?’ He put the little girl down and met Angela’s gaze. ‘Mummy and I have some business to discuss.’

Angela frowned at her father. Janice was dragged away by Claudia, who was talking ten to the dozen as they moved across the yard.

‘I won’t keep you for long. I’ve got to unload and refill for the trip back myself, but we really need to talk. Let’s sit out here,’ he said.

They perched on the edge of the verandah, shaded from the bite of the sun. There was supposed to be rain on its way in Munirilla, but there was no sign of it here.

‘So what’s this about? Are you checking up on me?’

‘You know I do an Adelaide trip when I can. I like to see for myself how things are going.’

‘You were here just before I took up the run,’ she said. She looked up at the truck and saw Janice’s and Claudia’s heads through the windscreen. No doubt the little girl was describing every detail of their life on the road. Her father’s eyes followed hers.

‘Janice misses her terribly.’

‘She’s doing fine, Dad. You didn’t have to come.’

‘It was an opportunity too good to pass up.’

Angela leaned in and kissed his cheek. ‘We miss you too.’

‘What about Melbourne?’ he asked.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Your friends, the parties – do you miss them?’

‘Kate keeps me posted … But parties?’ She raised an eyebrow at her father. ‘You can count on one hand the big nights out I’ve had since … since Nigel left. You know I don’t go out much, why do you think I care about those things?’

‘Just something Janice said about you needing time away from Claudia. It hasn’t been an easy four years.’

‘I don’t regret one minute of it.’

‘And work?’

Angela stared at the ground. She could feel her father’s eyes on her. ‘Honestly, I don’t miss the office. I’ve enjoyed the driving these last weeks. It’s been hard work but you were right, the change was good for me … for us.’ She nodded in Claudia’s direction.

‘How would you feel about doing it a little longer?’

‘I can’t.’ Angela held her father’s gaze and added gently, ‘You know I can’t.’

‘You said the change has been good for you.’

‘But it was only ever meant to be temporary, Dad. I can’t just leave my job.’

‘You don’t enjoy it there.’

‘But it pays the bills, and there’s Claudia to consider.’

‘Don’t get too concerned, I’m only asking for a few more weeks.’

‘I don’t know.’ Angela looked again at the truck. She could see Claudia’s head close to Janice’s. They were deep in conversation.

‘Claud could stay with us. Janice would be happy to take her to pre-school.’

‘No.’ Angela stood up. ‘Thanks for the offer, Dad, but if I continue, Claudia will stay with me. I’ll enrol her at the pre-school in Munirilla.’

‘Do they even have one?’

‘Of course. Leanne’s youngest goes there.’

‘Is this Leanne the one that looks after Claudia?’

‘Yes.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Look, Dad, I’ll think about the job but right now I need to get loaded.’

‘We can talk more over dinner.’

Angela frowned. ‘What?’

‘Janice has booked a motel room. You know she doesn’t like sleeping in the truck. I’ll have to be on my way first thing, but she’s staying a few days and flying back. We booked a room for you and Claud too – our treat.’

‘We’re fine in the truck, Dad. Claudia loves it in there.’

‘I know, but we can eat together this way. It’ll be nice to spend some time with Claud … and you. It’s not far from here.’

‘Mummy, Mu-mmy.’ Claudia was bounding towards them with Janice in tow. ‘Janice said we’re staying at a special place tonight and we can have tea with her and Grandpa.’

‘Looks like the decision’s already been made,’ Angela conceded. She didn’t mind the prospect of a good meal and a bed but she wasn’t looking forward to an evening of small talk with Janice.

‘I can look after Claudia while you two get on with your work,’ Janice said. ‘We could go to the zoo.’

‘Goodie,’ Claudia squealed.

Angela sighed. An afternoon of pick-ups couldn’t compete with the zoo. She bent to kiss Claudia and got a closer look at the dainty locket on her neck. It was no piece of trinket jewellery.

‘Be good for Janice.’ Angela turned to her father. ‘I should be back by six.’

‘I’ll meet you here,’ he said. ‘Janice is organising a hire car.’

Claudia was jumping up and down between her Grandpa and Janice. Angela headed for her truck, leaving the three of them to their plans.

***

Several hours later, Angela climbed into the small hire car beside her father.

‘How was your afternoon?’ he asked.

Angela pulled her face into a smile. ‘Fine,’ she answered, settling back and letting the cool air blow over her. It had actually been one delay after another and the heat had been oppressive. She sighed at the thought of the full morning she’d need tomorrow to finish loading, but that was the trucking business and her father knew it better than she. ‘What about you?’ she asked.

‘Straightforward. I’m loaded, ready to go first thing. How did you get on?’

‘I hope to be underway by early afternoon.’

‘You shouldn’t do too much night driving, Angel.’

‘Neither should you.’

‘You look tired.’

‘So do you.’

He laughed. ‘Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix.’

Angela relaxed against the headrest while her father navigated the early evening traffic. ‘It’s been a long day but you’re right. Sleep is all I need.’

She thought about her frustrating afternoon at the brewery. She’d had an order of kegs to collect for both hotels, but as soon as she’d got one order loaded she had to move her truck and wait while several other rigs were loaded before she could get back in and collect her second. The guy in charge wouldn’t listen to her plea to do both at the same time. He stubbornly refused to deviate from the order the requisitions were listed in.

‘I don’t want to pressure you, Angel, but I’m going to have to work out some way to keep this run going till Tiny Trev can take over.’

She rolled her head to get a better look at him. ‘I’ve had time to think about it.’

‘And?’

‘Work will give me more time off …’

‘That’s great.’

‘But it’ll be without pay.’

Angela had made use of her idle time at the brewery to make some calls. Work was still quiet – they were happy for her to take more time off – but she’d used up all her holiday leave.

‘I’ll make sure you don’t have any extra expenses and I’ll pay your rent in Melbourne.’

‘You can’t pay for everything, Dad. You’re already covering the flat at Munirilla as it is.’

‘I’m not paying for that. Ken Harris is.’

‘Really?’

‘It was one of the conditions of taking on the job. He said he’d provide accommodation for the first few months. I think the flat is his anyway.’

‘That figures,’ Angela muttered.

‘No good?’

‘It doesn’t matter. We’re not there much.’

‘What about Claudia?

‘What about her?’

‘Would you like us to take her back to Melbourne? Give you a chance to concentrate fully on the job.’

‘No Dad.’ Angela had given her daughter a lot of thought too. ‘I appreciate your offer but Claudia is happy here. She’s settled in to life on the road and in Munirilla. When we get back there I’m going to see if I can get her into the pre-school.’

They stopped in front of a block of motel units. Her father switched off the engine and turned to look at her. ‘Janice will be disappointed. She really has missed Claudia … More than I have, if that’s possible.’

Angela felt a pang of guilt from the sadness on his face. ‘It’s not forever, Dad. Just a few more weeks, like you said.’

‘I know, and that’s what I’ve been telling Janice.’

‘You know, Dad …’ Angela paused to pick her words carefully.

‘Janice never used to want much to do with Claudia.’

‘That’s not fair, she loves Claudia.’

‘I’m sure she does.’ Angela could see the confusion on her father’s face. She didn’t want to make him take sides. Partly because she loved him, partly because she knew, as Janice had said all those years ago, that his loyalty would be with his wife. She decided to drop it.

‘Janice has cut back her hours at the depot. She’s got more time to devote to Claudia now.’

‘That will be good when we’re back in Melbourne.’ Angela hoped her words sounded believable.

‘Fair enough, Angel.’ He patted her arm. ‘Just as long as you know the offer’s there. I don’t want Claud to suffer because you’re doing me a favour.’

There was a call from outside and they turned to see Claudia waving at them from the motel room door. She clutched a large panda under her arm. Angela clenched her teeth and undid her seatbelt. The clothes Claudia wore were new as well. Janice must have gone all out today.

As Angela got out of the car a brief gust of wind whirled dirt in the air, forcing her to squint. The grit stuck to her skin making her feel even grimier.