Tallie and Gemma were having breakfast outside on the deck on a particularly clear, beautiful morning at Waiheke Island when Gemma’s phone rang.
“Gemma Perrelli,” she answered.
“Oh, hi, Sybil. How are you?”
At the name Sybil Tallie’s ears perked up.
“It was nothing,” Gemma said. “Really, Tallie is the one to thank. She’s the one that spotted his talent. I was only helping out a friend.”
Tallie and Gemma met eyes and Gemma lifted her chin and smiled. “How is Archie coping? Enjoying it or overwhelmed by it? . . . That’s good to hear and when is the release? . . . Oh, it’s on the fast track, is it? Well, that’ll be good for him. I think first-time authors must get anxious waiting for their work to be in print. . . . Uh-huh. I hope this book goes big—for both of you. . . . Hm. Well, that’s an unexpected bonus. . . . Really? I’m impressed. Dancing? I never would’ve guessed it.”
Gemma glanced at Tallie and watched her countenance change.
“Yeah, I liked the Plumbys. Nice people. . . . Yes, well good luck! Nice to hear from you. Bye-bye.”
When Gemma hung up the phone, she expected Tallie to immediately ask about the call, but she didn’t, so Gemma said, “Sounds like Archie’s enjoying the book business.”
Tallie turned her head in question and asked, “What was it you were saying about dancing?”
“Apparently Archie’s quite the dancer!”
Tallie knew her face and neck were getting blotchy, so she jumped up and said, “Oh, will you excuse me for a minute? I just thought of something I forgot to do.”
“Are you all right?” Gemma hollered after her.
“Yeah, I’m fine!” she said from the other room. Tallie went to her bedroom, sat on her bed, and began crying.
Gemma knocked on the door.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” she said in a rough voice.
“Tallie, let’s talk.”
When Tallie didn’t answer, Gemma opened the door and walked into the room. “Now what’s the matter?” she said while sitting on the bed next to her.
“Did Archie dance with Sybil?” Tallie asked.
“It seems so,” she replied. “That bothers you?”
“He wouldn’t dance with me,” Tallie said through a little sob.
“Oh, I see,” Gemma said, patting Tallie’s back. Gemma wasn’t used to showing affection, so it was a little uncomfortable for both of them.
“I should have stayed,” Tallie said sadly. “He told me he loved me and only a few weeks later, I left him. He must have been so insulted by that.”
“He told you he loved you?” Gemma questioned.
Tallie nodded.
“Obviously you feel the same way about him?” she asked sounding a little disappointed.
Tallie nodded again.
“Well, just because he danced with Sybil doesn’t mean he’s in love with her.”
“But you don’t know Archibald like I do. If he danced with Sybil, there has to be something between them. Besides, he didn’t write back to me after my last letter. I knew something was wrong.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re here with me then, isn’t it? I’ll take your mind off of Archie. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a man from Auckland. Can you imagine being able to live here? Outlandish is nothing compared to this place!”
Tallie, of course, would rather have been in Outlandish with Archie than anywhere, but she did appreciate Gemma’s attempt to raise her spirits, so she lifted one side of her mouth into a mock smile.
Gemma surprised Tallie by leaning over and giving her an awkward hug. While patting her on the back she said, “There are other fish in the sea. It’s better that you focus on your career anyway.” Unwrapping her arms from Tallie, she put her hands on Tallie’s shoulders and said, “Just imagine who you’ll have to choose from when you’re a successful photographer traveling the world!”
Tallie hoped Gemma’s heart wasn’t as calloused as it seemed. If she could pick anyone, anywhere, she would pick Archie. Tallie looked down, and Gemma let go of her.
Looking back up Tallie asked, “Did it sound like Sybil had feelings for Archibald?”
Gemma was quiet at first but eventually said, “I’m afraid so. I’m sorry.”
Tallie was desperate to know more. “Did she come right out and say it?”
Gemma nodded with reservation.
Tallie put her hands over her face and cried quietly. Gemma slumped her shoulders and frowned.
“Hm,” she said. “Well, is there anything at all I can do to make you feel better?”
Tallie shook her head.
“Then I guess I’ll leave you to cry it out, but how about we go dancing tonight?”
Tallie shook her head again.
Gemma bent down to meet Tallie’s eyes. “No? There are some pretty tempting men on this island.”
“No, thank you.”
Gemma shrugged her shoulders. “You can’t say I didn’t try. Well, I’ll be out on the deck if you need me.”
Tallie decided to write to Archie, but as difficult as it would be, she also decided she wouldn’t say anything about Sybil. She wanted to give him the opportunity to tell her on his own.
A week later in Outlandish, Annella was getting ready to leave for work and was running a tad late, so she hollered up to Archie, “Archie! I’m off to work! I put a letter from Tallie on the table for you!”
Archie opened his door and hollered down, “Thank you! Have a nice evening!”
He went down to get the letter and took it to his room to read. Tired from working on illustrations all day, he lay down on his bed.
Dear Archibald,
I’ve been missing you. Since you didn’t write back to me after my last letter, I’ve been wondering what’s keeping you so busy. Is it the illustrations or is it some other book business that keeps you tied up?
Gemma and I sat out on the deck this morning and talked about my career. She’s going to connect me with some people who do tour guides and need photographers to travel and take photos for their books. This could take me all over the world. Pretty exciting, huh?
We’re thinking of going dancing tonight. The nightlife here is pretty great. We’ve met all sorts of people!
So do you have a release date for your book? I’m looking forward to having my copy. You’ll have to make sure you sign it for me since I’m pretty sure Sybil is going to make you famous.
Speaking of Sybil—does she come to Outlandish much or do you mostly correspond through mail? I’ll bet you’ve been forced to talk on the phone, haven’t you? Looks like your life is going to be changing fast. I hope you’re ready for it.
Well, I better run. Gemma is waiting for me to join her for a glass of wine. You could even drink here in New Zealand. The legal age is eighteen.
Take care,
Tallie
Archie put the letter on the floor and stared at his canopy deep in thought.
Something isn’t right. Is she upset because I forgot to write to her? She didn’t even end her letter with Love, Tallie. Dancing? Why would she tell me she was going dancing? Why would she even go dancing? And traveling around the world? She didn’t sound at all like herself.
Archie got up and grabbed a piece of paper, anxious to write her back and hopefully clear up anything that might have upset her.