One of the partners put his head around the office door and looked at her.
"Coffee time? Mind if I join you?" He swung into the office and plunked down in a spare chair.
He blew gently on the coffee that Rebecca handed him.
"Your Australian?" He said with a questioning inflection. "Tell me about him." James Links had been a partner for a few years now, and had been the youngest partner until Rebecca had come along. Rebecca was a little surprised at the rather direct approach to this subject.
"He's not 'My Australian' James." She retorted. Perhaps a little too sharply. He looked up at her.
"Sorry Rebecca. I didn't mean..." He said softly.
"No of course not. I didn't mean to sound so sharp, sorry. Just a bit preoccupied. Well, yes, the Australian. I haven't heard from him of course. The last I heard was when I left Australia in the middle of the night. He was at the airport with the intelligence agent. Last I heard he was going back out to his property. It wasn't being sold. Apparently it was never being sold, he just wanted to see up close who was showing interest in it. He had had intruders on the place, and there was some sort of nuclear material involved as I understand it. I haven't heard from the client either actually. Their account was paid, and that's the last I've heard." Rebecca was sitting in her chair now, rocking slightly, her foot pressing on the floor.
"Hmm, yes." Said James. "Actually I was asking about the man himself. What did you think of him? What was he like as a person?" James blew gently on his coffee.
Rebecca was looking at James, trying to figure out where this was going. She didn't want to ask outright just yet. It might have been just idle office chatter. James having a lull in his busy schedule perhaps. He didn't sound like he was prying, or worse, fishing. He just sounded interested in Rebecca's view. In any case, if he needed to, he would tell her what his interest was about.
"Well, let me see. What can I tell you? I was only there for a few days overall, so I hardly had time to get to know him really." Her cheeks coloured. She hoped James hadn't noticed. "He was nice enough I suppose. Tall, good looking. Very well off financially. A bit lonely I think. He lives out in the Australian outback, a long way out. In fact, I think it was almost in the centre of the country. I've never seen a place so lonely and desolate." She was easily able to fully describe Cooper's good looks, his lovely face and his so soft lips. His brown hair that seemed to change colour as it reflected the bright Australian light. His fingers that left little trails of sparks across her skin as he trailed them across her stomach. His muscular physique that seemed to ripple under his sun browned skin as he moved. Rebecca thought she had put Cooper into the back of her mind, but this question had opened up a door that she would have preferred to keep shut.
She smiled at James. "In short - he's very nice." That was as far as she was prepared to go. James would not be interested in the details that she had just been recalling. As it was, she was sitting here in her London office with her lower stomach fluttering and very small electric currents flickering through her secret places. It was all she could do not to squirm in her seat. The attention light on her phone started flickering and she snatched it up.
"Yes." She almost yelled. Relief at the distraction flooding through her. James smiled and rose from his chair. He didn’t mention to Rebecca that he had been advised of the presence of the old client being back in town, as well as the presence of Cooper, by friends in Whitehall whose business it was to know these things. He placed the coffee cup back on the tray on the side cabinet and with a finger wave to Rebecca left her office. He looked to be deep in thought, and Rebecca wondered again at the reasons behind his seemingly innocuous questions. There were clients waiting for her in the reception area, and she had to attend to them. Cooper was shelved again. She had to go and earn her living. The day moved along and Rebecca kept busy with the various things that made up her day. There had been no more probing questions from James or anyone else for that matter. Her office had a steady stream of visitors, and suddenly the day was finished, it was time to leave. She sat back and twiddled with a pencil that lay on her desk. It was only early in the evening yet, and Rebecca didn't feel like going home. Hitting the speed dial button on her desk phone she called Kali. It took a few moments and her research assistant and friend came on the line.
"Kali, are you finished for the day? I'm heading down to Vertigo 42 for a drink, if you care to join me?"
"Vertigo? Sure. I love the view, and the food is not bad either. I could use a snack. and a glass of red. I'll meet you at the lifts. Leaving now?"
"Right now." Replied Rebecca, rising from her desk. She picked up her grip, and headed for the lifts. This was just what she wanted. A relaxing drink, something light to eat. Maybe. It was a bit early for dinner at about seven. She needed to talk girl-talk with Kali. They didn't have far to go, both buildings being right in the London square mile so it was an easy walk along the busy streets, and there was the destination. Whisked up to the forty second floor, the bar and restaurant was busy, but not packed yet. Mostly after work types like themselves. Rebecca decided to perch on a seat near the windows, Kali beside her, and sip their house red. She had already made a reservation for two earlier in the afternoon, hoping that Kali would be free. It was that kind of place. Maximum security in the foyer and reservation only entry. The lights of London glittered below them and around them in the many buildings of the City. She loved this place. Kali eased back and admired some of the men in the place. There was no fear here of being hit on by anyone looking for a pick-up, male or female, but there was no harm in looking. She smiled and raised her glass of red to Rebecca.
"Here's to Cooper." She said. Rebecca nearly spilt her drink.
"Where? Not here surely." She looked around in alarm. Kali was laughing helplessly.
"Oh Rebecca, of course he isn't here. I was only toasting his memory, because I have noticed these last few weeks that you have a certain far away look in your eyes a lot of the time." She put down her glass.
"Want to talk about it?"
"No, I do not want to talk about ‘it'." She replied, emphasising the it. "There's nothing to talk about. honestly." The truth of the matter was that she had been spending far too much time thinking about Cooper and it had even been affecting her ability to work.
"Hmmmm." Was all Kali said. She swirled her drink.
"Then you won't mind if I talk about him." She added.
"Fine, go ahead Kali. Means nothing to me." Rebecca could feel the salt of the lie on her tongue. She placed her glass of Shiraz on the table. Heywood Estate, Australian Shiraz. Kali looked from Rebecca to the glass and back again, a faint smile on her lips.
"So the Australian Shiraz is just accidental is it?" A throaty chuckle escaped her as Rebecca looked at the glass then back at Kali.
"Oh, ok then. I do think of him a lot. In fact, I actually miss him a lot. He's the first man who's come into my life in a very long time. It feels like months since I've been back, but in fact it's only been six weeks." Rebecca was looking at Kali, but her focus was suddenly inward, although her gaze was still on Kali. She coloured slightly, the heat rising up her neck to the roots of her hair.
Kali chuckled again.
"From what I saw on Skype, you have good reason to remember him" She said. "He is one hunk of a man. I am assuming from what I saw and heard, that you weren't sitting around discussing the weather." Kali was ordering some more drinks, and snack foods while talking. It could be a long session if she could get Rebecca started talking. That girl needed to talk too. It was obviously troubling her friend, and Kali was determined to draw her out. She leant across and tapped Rebecca's fingers. She had gone really quiet. Kali frowned slightly.
"What's up Rebecca. Gee, I'm sorry if I have upset you. Really, I am only trying to get you to talk to me, get these things out in the open where you can deal with them. Good heavens, you look like you've seen a ghost!"
Rebecca turned the biggest eyes Kali had ever seen on her. Kali raised her glass and took a large sip of wine to give Rebecca time to think about it. Rebecca looked like she might need a moment, but then she said.
"Kali... " Then in an almost whisper, "I'm late!"
Kali choked on her wine, hastily grabbing at her napkin to catch the spraying red droplets, the rest running down her chin. She had heard the expression about someone sitting there with their mouth open in surprise and realised she was now doing exactly that.
"Rebecca! you don't mean..." She looked around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "Late, as in ... late?" She whispered in shock. "Are you sure? Of course you're sure. Stupid question. When did you realise?"
"Just now. I just did the sums when I realised how long I've been back. Oh My God!" Rebecca slumped back in her chair and took a long sip of wine. She looked at the glass. She looked at Kali. She reached out her hand to Kali.
"Kali, I can't." She wailed. People turned to look enquiringly in her direction. Kali was gripping her outstretched hand in support. Kali was shaking her head slowly.
"Rebecca, get a grip girl. So you are a little out of sync. Sometimes travel does that. Other things too. Have you been feeling well? No..." She whispered again. "Morning sickness? And in any case, I assume that you of all people would have used protection." Kali was sure her friend was at least that sensible in this day and age.
Rebecca went as white as a sheet. Kali was getting worried, and a couple of the chic young things nearby were looking at Rebecca with traces of concern starting to show on their faces.
"No." A very long pause. "None at all, ever." Her voice was very husky, as though she was struggling to keep in the raging emotions that were flooding through her. Most of her adult life, she had repressed any overt emotional response, and now it felt like they were about to burst forth in an overwhelming flood. She sat back in her chair and fanned her face with her table napkin. A waitress appeared at her side.
"Are you feeling ok miss? Can I get you something?" Rebecca looked at her and smiled faintly.
"No, I'll be ok in a moment. Just some bad news. Or maybe good news. I don't know." She said.
The waitress looked at her in puzzlement for a moment, and moved away.
Kali sat forward again and said.
"No need to get all upset. You can't know right now. You just need to do a test or something. You will probably be ok in a day or two. This sort of thing happens a lot to people. Timing gets thrown out." Kali shook her head. "No protection!" She exclaimed, in disbelief.
Rebecca's colour was coming back, and she nibbled at the little canapé she had taken from the plate in front of her.
"Champagne I think Kali. I think I'm in shock. You are right of course, it's not likely, and anyway I can check easily enough. It was rather stupid of me I know, to leave myself unprotected. I don't know what I was thinking."
Moments later the Champagne arrived and the flutes were filled. Rebecca tipped hers back like she had not had a drink in years. Her glass of red abandoned on the table. The waitress took both the red glasses away. Kali kept looking at her friend. She seems to be coming around to her old self again. Back in command of her emotions.
Rebecca was thinking again about the rather strange questions put by James earlier on that day.
"What would James be asking about Cooper for do you think?" She asked Kali. "Earlier on today he came into my office and asked outright, what I could tell him about Cooper."
Kali shook her head.
"It does seem rather odd for James to be asking questions about Cooper. It wasn't even his brief, so he had no involvement at all. I'll see if I can find out tomorrow." Kali smiled. She was very good at ferreting out such information.
They ordered a light meal from the menu, and finished the champagne about the same time as the meal. The place was getting a little overcrowded now, so they decided to leave. It was another work day tomorrow in any case. Rebecca wanted to stop by a chemist, and had to swear to Kali that she would phone and tell her the results as soon as she found out the result of the pregnancy test. Rebecca was sure that it would be negative but she couldn't help feeling apprehensive, remembering that she had been so foolish as to have sex with Cooper without protection. She hurried home, having the taxi wait outside the chemist and then taking her on to her door step. She lived close to the city, and usually caught the tube train. Tonight though, she wanted to be home and indoors with her thoughts. Cooper figured large in those thoughts. Was she prepared to share any news with him? She didn't know. She did know that she just wasn't prepared herself.
She sat for a long time on the edge of the little foot stool she kept in the bathroom, staring at the tell tale read out on the plastic holder. She wasn't particularly focused on it, just staring in the general direction. Her thoughts were on the other side of the world. What was Cooper doing now, it must be day time there now. Was he out working on his property? In town on business? Should she phone and let him know? Or was it really nothing at all to do with him now? He seemed to have made his position perfectly clear by not contacting her at all. He had practically carried her onto her departure flight from Australia, and she didn't think his reasons for having her leave really held water. He must have realised that she would never leave her position in the firm to move out and live in that remote wilderness. He must have known equally well, that he would not consider moving to London - or even England, because of his deep attachment to his home. So why did he seem so intent on distancing himself from her so absolutely, when even knowing all that, didn't really stop them from forming some sort of close relationship. So the positive result on the little card strip held its own set of concerns. Some hugely emotional issues, some purely practical. She pushed herself to her feet and walked back out into the unit. She felt a little aimless, and couldn't seem to think of what to do next. This was most unlike her, and she was very aware of it, but couldn't help herself. Kali would be of some comfort she knew, and picked up the phone and dialled her number.
"Kali?" The phone trembled slightly in her hand. "Can you come over for a bit please?" She stood looking at her feet. She looked at her flat stomach. She was proud of her looks, her shape, her fitness. Was it all going to change. Kali was silent for a bit then said.
"I'll be there in ten minutes." She hung up.
In no time she was ringing to be let in to the unit lobby, and on her way up. They stood in the door hugging for a long time, then with a sniff and a wipe of her eyes, she stepped back into the unit and Kali followed.
She looked at Kali and smiled weakly.
"Well, it looks like my life is about to change rather radically." She showed Kali the test kit result strip. "I'll get a doctor's opinion of course but it looks pretty positive to me."
"What will you do?" Kali asked. "I mean, I know you only just found out and haven't had a moment to think about it at all. I just wondered really what you might have thought about Cooper and his position in this situation."
"I haven't had a moment to think really. I seem to be unable to focus at the moment. I'm not going to be able to come into work in the morning., that much I know. As for Cooper... do I tell him? Can I tell him? I just don't know. Perhaps he does have certain rights in this. Well I know that he has - did have - some involvement in this." She smiled. "Some very nice involvement actually."
Kali smiled.
"That's better. It's nice to see you smiling again." Kali was very pleased. If Rebecca was able to smile about even some part of this, then she would be alright. Kali was not about to offer any solution one way or the other. She would however support her friend in what ever decision she made for herself.
What Rebecca couldn't possibly know was that Cooper had not forgotten her at all. He had been very busy with the repairs and updates to his house and yards, and not a day had passed when he hadn't been thinking about her. The work had progressed well, and he had thrown money at the problems like he had never done before in his life. He wanted his place sparkling again. The number of aircraft coming and going with supplies and building materials, furniture, white goods, machinery and so on had made headlines in the Toowoomba daily paper, and was the talk of the social group behind the cattle industry of the entire region. It hadn't taken all of his time though. He was going to change his entire outlook and primary career. He had been sent to boarding school and then to university by his parents, and his father had been happy to leave him there until he finished. Cooper had not given it a second thought. All of the children of the station owners of the outback went to university. Most never went back to the land, and inevitably the properties went in to decline and were taken over by multinationals and put under managers. His place was one of the few left in private hands. Which made it extremely valuable. But his time at university had not been wasted. It was that degree that was now going to be his life. He felt he had discharged any filial duty to his father now, and it was time to map out his own life before it was too late.