Chapter Five

“What? You were on your way back to Sydney. What changed your mind?” Goosebumps charged over her skin.

“I was thinking of Bob for a start. He left half to me for a reason. There could be a dozen reasons. The first one I came up with is he wanted me to watch out for you, make sure you were safe.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding, wrong excuse.”

“I’m here to stay. I have many fond memories. The second reason is that Bob knew you needed a partner to help you in the business.”

“Wrong, again.”

“Catherine...I respected and loved your father almost as though he were my own father. It is because of that respect and love I will accept his gift.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I will dispute any connection you have with the business. This business has been in the family name for three generations. I will make sure it stays that way.”

“Don’t you realize I’m a lawyer and an excellent one at that? Not to mention, one with many connections.”

She sucked back an angry breath. She wasn’t about to allow that to interfere with her plans.

“What did you do to my father to make him leave you half of the business? It was supposed to be mine!” she snapped. “What did you say? Maybe…you forced him.”

“You think I coaxed him into leaving me a slice? Be sensible, Fish.”

“What’s with that name, Fish?” She shook her head. “Just stay out of my way.”

“Even if I told you, you would never believe me...I’ll be working here five days a week, after I settle all of my existing business affairs in Sydney.”

She forced a mock laugh, throwing her head upward. “Doing what? Cleaning aircrafts like me?”

“If that’s what it takes, a hands on experience. Yep honey, hands-on all right.” His gaze was deep, soul-destroying, and disturbing her to the point where she felt as though that safe world she had created had already begun to deteriorate. Fear knifed through her. Fear of what was about to eventuate.

“You, you…clean? Who are you kidding? I didn’t think you knew how to clean a shirt, let alone an aircraft.”

“I might surprise you, Catherine.” His voice was a slow, wicked drawl, hinting there was more to come, more to it than just being a partner at Airways.

Then, he turned and walked out, carrying an air of confidence that had her questioning what she’d said. It made her question everything about him and the business. Nothing helped to settle the wild emotion in her stomach that was making her feel utterly sick.

Catherine slid back onto the chair and rested her head in her hands. What am I going to do with that damn man, now? Her stomach soured. How could she keep him away? Did she really want him out of her sight? She wasn’t sure. Since he made a show, she wasn’t sure about anything in her life for that matter. What a crazy, mixed up mess? She’d been doing fine until he arrived. Her chest rose and sunk, her shoulders following as though the world had just dropped an anchor right on top of her.

He did say he loved her father, and that he cared for him. She closed her eyes. Why couldn’t she remember? What was stopping those memories from coming forward? She was a living shell and had felt like a shell of a woman for twelve months, perhaps more. Would life ever be the same, as it was before her father passed? Ali had told her so much about her father, about how well they got on, the parties, the laughter. She even said her father was a well-respected, decent man who helped anyone. He sounded like a great person. She prayed for an hour’s release, but her mind refused to admit even a preview.

Catherine didn’t know how long she could keep going. She was still so afraid, so scared that one day she may wake up and find her entire memory had disappeared. Not that she’d know it, but what would happen to her then? They’d probably consider sticking her in some sort of home and that would be that. She bit on her lip, her eyes watered, and her frustration escalated. A struggling sound gurgled in her throat. She wasn’t about to become a vegetable.

A doctor’s appointment that afternoon might show some light. Perhaps they had something new to tell her, but she doubted it; they told her last time all avenues were exhausted, that they were out of answers.

The sound of an aircraft approaching snapped her from her reverie. She jumped up. Her first thought was the local Tiger Moth. She raced out toward the approaching aircraft. It was a Tiger Moth all right, but not the one she knew.

Her lips parted as she examined the male with a mass of dark, brown hair climbing from the cockpit. She didn’t recognize him, and instinct jolted her nerves to high alert.

“Hello, can I help you?”

“I thought I would surprise you, Catherine.” A sarcastic grin eased over his face. His eyes glazed with darkness, almost turning black. He jumped off the wing and walked toward her.

Geez, not another one. “I beg your pardon. Do I know you?” she asked quietly. “What gave you the idea I wanted to be surprised?” Her right hand slipped onto her hip.

“I see you haven’t changed a bit, babe. I heard about your father’s death and well, wanted to see how you were holding up.”

“That was over twelve months ago. Besides, what interest would you have in my father’s death or me?”

“Old time’s sake.” The space between them began to shrink until he stood at arm’s length.

“I’m sorry, what old time’s sake?”

“Don’t play games with me, babe. What we had was great. Remember me? Aaron, your lover boy. When I left, you pleaded for me to return.”

Now, this was getting crazy. What on earth, or where on earth would she have known someone like him? The pumping of her heart rattled against her ribs and heat raced to her cheeks. “I think you have me mixed up with someone else.”

She flicked a quick gaze sideways. Nathan had pulled up a forty-four gallon drum some distance away.

“Come on, babe,” Aaron stepped closer and grabbed her arm.

Nathan pounced from the drum in defense. He was at her side in no time. “The lady has made it obvious she is not interested.”

Catherine wanted to run, as she struggled to pull herself free. “Let me go. You have no right.” The white cap she wore fell to the ground, and a spill of blonde, silky hair swung around her shoulders.

“You heard what the lady said. Let go.” Nathan’s confident, high-pitched tone and his looming height over Aaron seem to force him to release his hand.

“Lady, where’s the lady? Who’s this? Your new lover, bodyguard?” Aaron spat sarcastically.

“No, he...He’s just...he’s my partner, here at Airways.”

Nathan stepped forward, standing between them. “You don’t have to explain anything to him, Catherine. You’re trespassing mate, so I would advise you to leave.”

“Giving orders, eh? Catherine doesn’t like men giving orders. Tell him, Catherine. You must tell him the sex was great. Tell him how we used to—”

If her face wasn’t crimson now, she was sure it was an embarrassing, shimmering red from her forehead to her neck. “You must be mad. We never—”

“You used to love me to come to you. Remember?”

“The lady said leave, so you better do it now.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Aaron took two steps backward. “You know she gives it out.”

With that statement, Nathan took one wide step closer. “Enough is enough.” His voice rose, and he stood on guard like a leopard guarding its master.

“Bloody leave, now.”

His looming voice and the threat hinging on his words forced Aaron to take a step backward.

“I’m goin’; I’m goin’. But it won’t be the last time you’ll see me, babe.”

“It will be if I can help it.”

Aaron turned and began to walk toward his aircraft.

Catherine spun around and headed toward the office, trying to hold back sobs. Her body vibrated from not knowing the truth. So much was trapped in her mind with no way out, making life a battle. A sickening feeling twisted in her stomach.

She wasn’t sure how to decipher her feelings for Nathan, or the incident that had just taken place. Nathan protected her. She had always done that herself. She thought hard about her situation and decided it may be time she did give a little leeway.

“Coffee,” she called, when she spotted him walking in.

“Love one.” He entwined his fingers in front of him, and gave them a snap. “White, one sugar thanks. That was unexpected. Does it happen often?”

She set two cups down and scooped coffee into them, the jug was near to boil. “Thank you for what you did. And yes...before you arrived...there were two occasions. Nothing like that, though. Two men pretended to know me. They said they knew Dad. They said lots of things. The one mistake they made is that they said it was two years ago. Well, Mike and Ali have been here for seven years, and they have no recollection of them. Also, Pete didn’t know them at all, either.” Her words were a whisper as they caught in her throat. “Perhaps, that man didn’t know me, or he could have known Dad. I don’t know. I can’t remember. Thank you for what you did.”

“Here.” She passed the coffee to him.

When she couldn’t stop tears from clouding her eyes, she turned to face the sink.

“Hey, are you okay?”

When she didn’t answer or turn, a soft touch on her shoulder and the currents it conveyed to her body forced her to jerk away. She wasn’t ready for a male’s touch, wasn’t ready for anything for that matter.

“I was trying to comfort you, Catherine. It’s obvious you’re quite shaken.” His voice was soft and considerate.

She turned slowly. “I’m sorry. It’s just. Nathan…I have no memory...I mean, I don’t have any long-term memory. I don’t remember anything from the age of about five up until I had my car accident.”

“Yes, I know. Well, at least I do now. I must apologize. Adam told me when I met him. I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware when I first arrived, and when you didn’t remember me, I had a niggling thought that you were playing games, having me on. A joke, perhaps. I’m sorry for upsetting you. If I can help in any way at all, I will.”

Catherine slinked around him with her coffee in hand and sat at the desk. Nathan sat opposite. She placed her coffee down, drew a tissue from a box nearby, and blew her nose while looking at him under lowered lashes.

“Thank you. The...the accident on the highway was nasty, but it wasn’t my fault. The other car had four teenagers in it. They were all intoxicated, and it was a provisionally licensed driver. They...they all died. The police told me everything. It’s such a shame that so many lives are being taken by that highway. Every one or two days there is a report of an accident and most times a death.

“Anyhow, it’s all a blank page. Eh! More blank pages in my mind...I got over Dad’s death in a small way, so Ali tells me, and tried to get on with my life until the accident took a great chunk away from me, a giant chunk of memory.” Her lips quivered, a tell tale sign she still found many things difficult, a sign she was struggling with not only reality but also her stolen past.

“Hey. As I said, I’m here to help you, Catherine. I’ll do anything I can.”

“I was told everything about that night. They didn’t find me at first; my car was upturned and landed in a gully. You see, the other car was speeding. They were going thirty kilometers over the speed limit.”

Nathan shook his head. “I cannot imagine going through something as horrific as what you have. If only we could turn back the clock.”

Her gaze lingered over him.

Those eyes seem to grow bigger with everything she was trying to deal with. He wasn’t going to lay a hand on her now. Not even a squeeze on the shoulder. He’d seen her reaction. When the time was right, he would sit her down and explain, little by little. By then, maybe he could dig out some type of evidence, something to prove that they were once lovers.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, I do understand. I realize that you are having some difficulty in adjusting with the present. I also realize that you do not remember me due to your condition.” He gazed at her and wondered why they drifted so far apart. She was a dream, but in fact, his dream was a long way off from becoming anything closely related to his reality. At present, it was a persistent torment with no way to prove how close they had been.

What was important now was Catherine’s wellbeing. She needed someone’s help, even if she didn’t know it or like it at present. The other reason was he had to make a go at Airways. “I haven’t had any personal experience similar to what you are going through, but I do hold compassion,” he said, feeling regret yanking his heart from his chest.

“Don’t you realize I couldn’t tell you anything about A or B, and that man Aaron. How do I know he isn’t telling the truth?”

“He wasn’t. I know so.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re too much of a lady, and, well ladies don’t behave in that manner.”

“You don’t know me, Nathan.”

“I know enough about you to say you’re a decent woman...what does the afternoon bring?” He wanted to change the subject. She’d been through enough for one day.

She blew out a frustrated sigh. “I have to be at my other job by two. Castor wanted his aircraft checked over. He’s flying out about two thirty to Lord Howe Island. He’s taking his wife and two kids.”

“I can do that, so you won’t have to rush. I’ll make sure Aaron leaves for good...Your other job? I thought Macquarie Airways would be enough. What’s your other job?”

“Customer service…it’s sort of a voluntarily position,” she added in haste. Well, it was the first thought that popped into her mind. After all, she wasn’t lying. She did have customers and took them out to sea or a cruise around the Hastings River. She did volunteer to buy the “Cruise Cat” and undertake the position as skipper.

She watched his lips go over the rim of his coffee mug, jolting her memory back to their recent kiss. She had to put some distance between them.

“I’m going. Could you lock up about five, if you don’t mind?” She put her cup into the sink and began to rinse it.

“Are you in that much of a hurry?”

“No, but I have a lot to do. Thanks, again. Lock up keys are on the back of the door.”

He called out just as she reached the doorway. “Would you like me to put the trash out, honey?”

Catherine stopped dead in her tracks and smiled before turning. Taking a glance at the overflowing rubbish bin then back at Nathan, she noticed a humorous twinkle in his eyes.

“Yes. Thank you, dar…ling.” She could give back what he gave out, she mused. Besides, she did like Nathan calling her honey. The way it slid off his lips, in that husky liqueur voice, filled her stomach with such sweetness. She flicked him a quirky grin, pivoted on one foot, and left.