“I don’t believe I’m doing this,” Roberta wailed.
“Look at you. Having the time of your life.” Nadia jostled beside her, placard in hand. She was holding it above her head, ensuring it was clearly visible for the local television crews set up across the lawn in front of the Cairns council chambers.
Nate squeezed her shoulder, a silent sign of reassurance. “Smile, Roberta, so at least you can laugh over it when you watch the news tonight,” before distracting her with a quick kiss on the cheek behind her placard.
A heated blush crept across her face, and she failed to smile. How did she ever think this would be a good idea?
So much had happened in the past week since the night she and Nate had stumbled on some kind of truce and fallen asleep on that goddamned tiny couch.
“Did your mother ring again this morning?” Nate asked quietly, gently nudging her with his shoulder. Roberta recognised the signs of concern on his face. The same ones directed to her after all her mother’s daily phone calls. Last night, he’d stayed in Cairns to prepare for this event, so she hadn’t been able to fill him in yet.
Roberta grimaced. “I’m sure she’s just checking to make sure I haven’t given the rock away or sold it for a pretty penny.”
“Hmm … there must be something else bothering her,” Nate said. “I wonder if Bob knows what?”
What her mother was doing was unusual. She’d called every day since speaking with Bob. Asking how she was. What her plans were. Was the rock safe?
Bob came across as a man of his word. She must’ve copped a good serving from Bob to elicit this kind of response from her. But now it was getting beyond ridiculous and tedious.
It was this morning’s phone call that decided it for Roberta. She was going to stay at the lake and keep working for Natasha until her leave ended. It would be easy to lie and convince herself it had nothing to do with Nate. But in a matter of days, they’d established an easy, relaxed friendship that would be hard to walk away from. Who would’ve thought it was possible without a single mention of sex.
Connor would be proud of her. After their visit to the lake, he and Liz went to Brisbane for a few weeks to conduct business, taking Sally with them as it was the third-term teaching holidays. Roberta would catch up with them again before Connor and Liz departed for Canada. What would they think of the new Roberta?
Brent’s chant via a megaphone pulled her from her reverie, and she turned her gaze towards him.
“Meet with us, Premier. When do we want it? We want it now!”
The entire protest group repeated for the benefit of the cameras, leaving Roberta with the urge to shrink and disappear. This was so not her scene.
With all the protesters joining in with the chant, Roberta stopped using her placard and slunk behind it, hiding from the gathering crowd. She was getting a little bored with it all and allowed her mind to wander.
What would it be like to have sex with Nate? She’d already imagined it plenty of times. Had fallen asleep thinking just those thoughts. Something was building between them. Strong, unbreakable. They were making memories: swimming, hiking, sanding the rowboat and talking, sharing ideas, opinions and fears. It’s what Roberta did best, and Nate had shaken his head aplenty over how she spoke freely without censorship.
The best moments were when she made him laugh, and it was a lot. It was good for her and him, she suspected. Sometimes she sang. This always snagged Nate. It only took a couple of words strung together, and it reeled him in, entwining them closer together.
She’d never experienced this with Antonio. Her repertoire of Italian music was limited and failed to convey the same emotion. It was a powerful strength she had, often leaving Nate choked with emotion.
Agreeing to come and help support the protesters was an easy decision to make. But she threatened all sorts of unimaginable things if there was one instance of blocked roads or everyday people hassled by their actions.
Nate had smiled and kissed her plenty over that. She secretly smiled at the memory before raising her placard a little higher as pulse points sent her zappy messages beneath her skin.
“Are we still on for tonight?” she asked Nate as the chanting quietened down and he sidled up beside her.
“Yep. Bob has confirmed his mother is cooking up a storm. Apparently, the entire clan is turning up.”
“Huh? Why? To gawk at me?”
“I doubt it. You know how it is. Big Italian families, gathering and eating great food any day of the week. Surely, you’re familiar with this?”
“Yeah, I am. To be honest, I’ve missed decent Italian food. If I don’t cook it around here, it doesn’t exist.”
“I, for one, can vouch that you’re a brilliant cook.” Nate shifted his placard, swooping in for a kiss. She was enjoying this banter way too much.
“Jeez, you pair. We have important business going on here.”
Roberta stepped away from Nate when Brent appeared beside them. She hated being caught this way. As showy and loud as she could be, she much preferred it when they were alone at the cottage or jogging around the lake. This week of laughter, jokes, singing and cooking, believe it or not, was flirting at its best. Would they take the next step and make that commitment?
“Have we got word yet?” Nate stepped back too but couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
“We sure have,” Brent beamed. “Our meeting is scheduled, Bro. We go in next.”
“Really? She agreed to meet with us?” Nate’s smile matched that of Brent’s. “Oh, man. I had a good feeling about this. We’ve lobbied, protested, put up our valid arguments. There was no way she could refuse coming to the party.” Nate fist-pumped the air, his excitement palpable.
“Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Just make sure you bring in the Nate we need. Not the sappy someone with eyes for only one person.” Brent scowled like he’d lost a best friend.
Nate playfully slapped Brent on the back. “I’m here, mate, with all guns firing. If I get the premier’s ear, she won’t get a chance to back out. We’re prepared, ready for this.”
Roberta had witnessed firsthand how this cause dominated Nate’s days and nights. Contrary to what Brent believed, despite how much time they’d spent together, Nate had diligently worked late every night of the past week writing up this report to present to the premier and her ministers. He’d worked overtime for just this moment, and finally having some success made Roberta happy. A private meeting with the premier and her cabinet was no mean feat. As a collective group, they’d done it.
For an instant, she wished she could be part of all this group’s successes. As she watched on, she witnessed the connection between them as they shared hugs and patted each other on the back. She didn’t belong. To do so, she would have to commit to staying in the north past her six months of leave. Commit to more than just hanging off Nate. Believe in this cause.
But to give up her life in Melbourne? Move away from her family? Stop nursing?
What if everything was great between them, and then one day it went pear-shaped? She was a risk-taker most days, but she didn’t think she had it in her to crash and burn again so soon after Antonio.
And the warning signs were all there. Bells clanging nice and loud. They clashed on so many topics. Something as simple as pineapple on pizza caused a riot during the week. It was fun and with lots of laughter, but it highlighted the enormous gap pervading their thought processes.
This sombre reminder had the muscles around her chest tightening. She might have to settle for sex alone. She’d done it before. Have some fun, enjoy conversations, not get hurt. Was Nate the man for casual sex?
She sighed as Nate meandered his way back to her. She lowered her placard. “I might head off and do some shopping before I drive home.”
Nate put his arm around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. He was grinning, disbelief still written all over his face. “There’s a shopping centre down along that street.” He pointed out the direction. “This meeting could take a couple of hours. I’ll be back in plenty of time for dinner with Bob’s family.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” She made to walk off, but Nate tugged on her hand, halting her amongst the crowd.
“You’re addictive,” was all she heard when he wrapped his arms around her waist and found her mouth. A kiss full of energy, excitement and the buzz of success for all the hard work this environmental warrior had done. The kiss was possessive, like he was claiming his stake on her too, no different from the land he was trying to save.
As he let go, Roberta couldn’t help but smile, savouring the lingering touch of his hand before she turned and walked off. Holy heck. Apart from floating a couple of inches off the ground, this was so out of her normal. When it came to men, she was always in control. But Nate, with his climate activist ways, was probably more extreme than bringing home a professional boxer for the parents to meet. Or an Italian prince, for that matter. She’d never brought Antonio home to meet the family.
Her heart thumped erratically. The problem was that she wanted Nate to meet the family. All of them. The cousins, the uncles, the aunties. Even her mum, if she ever came clean on what was really happening.