Mildly unsettled, he went inside and finished moving empty suitcases and sundry overnight bags from under Riley’s bed to the shed behind the carport. He’d cleared out the cupboard and the chest of drawers but it meant he now had files and boxes of papers to store somewhere. What a pain in the neck. When he moved here he’d already dumped a lot of things but Debra had insisted he take everything he’d stored under the family house.
Mia was right about needing a bigger home. He and Riley would be on top of each other and that wouldn’t be good. Arlo wasn’t used to sharing. A heavy lump formed in his belly. This was a disaster in the making. And kissing Mia could well have been another.
He made himself a toasted sandwich for lunch and ate it morosely. Debra rang while he contemplated making a second one, saying they’d be arriving at around three-thirty.
‘We can have dinner at The Crown, or the Chinese restaurant is good,’ he said. ‘Where are you staying?’
‘At The Crown. Riley recommended it. He said it’s been renovated.’
‘How did he know that?’
‘He knows Sam, the landlord’s son. He keeps in touch with a few of the local kids on Facebook.’
‘I see.’ So Riley had a whole network going on he knew nothing about. Another thing to worry about. Social media and all the evils associated with it.
‘Deb, I hope I’m up to this. Riley … he’s … a teenager and they’re so foreign to me.’
‘You’ll be fine.’ She paused and in a kinder tone than he’d heard from her for some time she said, ‘Arlo, if we didn’t think you could cope, James and I would never have let him go to you.’
‘Thanks. I … really appreciate it but I can’t say I’m not scared I’ll mess this up.’
‘You won’t. He’s excited about coming and he loves you and vice versa. See you soon. Bye.’
She disconnected and Arlo had to swallow hard before getting up to make that second toasted sandwich. Her words were reassuring on one hand but added pressure on the other. What if he let Riley down?
***
Mia’s lips tingled with the memory of the kisses as she walked all the way down the street and round the corner. She hadn’t been so surprised for years. Arlo hadn’t indicated he wanted that type of relationship even though she knew he looked at her with consuming interest in those blue eyes. She’d assumed it was part of his training as a journalist. Kissing a source would be compromising his impartiality.
So what did that mean? He wasn’t committed to her story? He was pretending to be for some fringe benefits? That didn’t fit with her impressions of him. She’d only told him about the dream because of his reputation for integrity and he’d done nothing so far to make her doubt the wisdom of her choice. Quite the opposite.
Nothing that was, until he kissed her. Liking it was irrelevant and kissing him back felt natural. If she hadn’t wanted to she wouldn’t have but it was nice to be desired and he was attractive. And kissed well. Very well.
She smiled as she walked and touched light fingers to her lips, remembering. How could a kiss do that? She’d been kissed many times with varying degrees of expertise but never had she had a reaction like that. If Riley wasn’t coming to stay who knows what would have happened tonight?
Brilliant timing by all concerned. Probably for the best. Starting something with Arlo wouldn’t be smart however desirable it might be at the moment.
Mia paused at the cross street to allow a car to round the corner then continued on. The handicraft shop was on the other side of the street. She hadn’t walked down this side so she’d cross at the next intersection and go another block past The Crown.
Saturday morning was busier than she’d seen it during the week. Families had come out to shop and catch up on the news, people sat in the weak sun at the tables outside the takeaway, strolled along window shopping or stood in groups, gossiping. Curious eyes followed her as she walked by, a few frowned and looked away, a couple of people nodded but no-one spoke until, when she reached the corner and waited for the lights to change, a man’s voice behind her said, ‘The sooner you leave the better. We don’t want any reminders of that murdering bastard in our town.’
She turned swiftly. A man and a woman stood glaring at her, mouths twisted with dislike.
‘I’ve no desire to stay here any longer than I have to, believe me,’ she said.
‘Should have burned that house down,’ said the woman. ‘It’s wrong you get to benefit from that murderer and what he did.’
‘Fuck off out of our town,’ said the man.
Mia clamped her mouth tight shut, fighting the tears that threatened all of a sudden. She stepped past the glowering pair and crossed the side street instead, narrowly missing being run over by a ute towing a trailer packed with sheep. She walked blindly, cold hands thrust in her pockets, shoulders hunched, until the couple was far behind her and the shops had given way to weatherboard houses with bare winter gardens. The traffic had eased and no-one was at this far end of the street.
The footpath ran out at the end of the block as the paddocks took over and the road continued out of town, disappearing around a bend after a few hundred metres. A sign on the corner pointed to a veterinary practice on the left but the place itself wasn’t visible.
She crossed the road and began walking back slowly. Leaving town was an option. She didn’t need to be here once the tradesmen were organised, which they mostly were. The estate agent could handle the rest. She could be at home on Tuesday, away from the nastiness lurking on the pavements, but she wouldn’t go. If she left before she knew the truth about her father’s death nothing would ever be resolved.
The comments had surprised her. She’d expected something of the sort before she came but everyone had been so friendly since her arrival the verbal attack was a shock. How many others felt the same way? At least one—he of the dead rabbit—but if Rupe was right Glenda’s brother had, if not an excuse, a valid reason for venting his anger. Who were these other people? Relatives of some sort? They were closer to her own age than Glenda’s or Tony’s.
She passed the first of the shops, boarded up with a For Lease sign on the window. Next door was a lawyer’s office, closed. How much work would he or she get? An organic vegetable shop was next door with bins of Granny Smith apples, potatoes and cabbages out the front. The apples would be fresh, last of the season. She selected two and stepped inside.
‘Mia, good morning,’ cried a vaguely familiar voice. ‘How are you, darling?’
A figure emerged from the dim interior clad in an embroidered peasant skirt, red ankle boots, a black velvet jerkin and a stylish red felt hat with a yellow felt flower on the side. Arlo’s friend Gina, the singer and dramatic director.
‘Hello, Gina.’ The warmth of the welcome made her voice husky with relief.
To her surprise Gina planted a kiss on each cheek then drew back eyes narrowed. ‘What’s the matter? Has something happened?’
‘Not really … why?’
‘Tell me all,’ she ordered. ‘Sit down there.’ She pointed to a squashy elderly sofa against the side wall covered in an eclectic bunch of fat multi-patterned and coloured cushions. A small coffee table sat in front of it strewn with magazines and a copy of Arlo’s paper, and a pot belly stove in the far corner did its best to fight the invasive chill from the open door.
Mia did as she was told incapable of resisting the force that was Gina. She looked around at the tubs and bins of vegetables and herbs arranged on the bare floorboards. A set of scales shared the long trestle table which served as the counter, with pots of honey, preserves, chutney, jam, a juicer and clean glasses. The space had an earthy, old-fashioned appeal.
‘It’s nothing really … I just got a shock, that’s all. Someone said something to me.’
‘Something nasty?’ Gina nodded. ‘Some people are like that. They love to hate. What did they say?’
‘That I should leave and I shouldn’t benefit from inheriting Dad’s house. A murderer’s house.’
‘Who was it?’
Gina would have done well working for the Spanish Inquisition.
‘I don’t know. A man and a woman. About my age. She was thin with big teeth and he’s overweight with a shaved head.’
‘Jasmin and Sean Olson.’
‘Were they friends of Glenda?’
‘Not particularly, but they had a thing about Tony. He handled the sale of some of their land and they weren’t happy with the price. Reckoned he cheated them and favoured the buyer. It was ages ago. Two years at least.’
‘Dad wouldn’t do that.’
‘No, but that makes no difference to people like that. If they didn’t get the price they expected it was always going to be someone else’s fault. The world’s always against them. Are you nearly finished with the place?’
‘It’ll take a week or more, I think.’
‘Will you need to stay?’
Mia rubbed her lips together, considering how much to confide in Gina but before she could speak Gina had come to her own conclusion.
‘Arlo?’ Gina asked softly.
Mia looked up swiftly. ‘Arlo?’
‘He’s been different since you arrived. More alive. Remember, we’ve known him for years. He met Barnaby at uni. He’s a dear friend and we were quite concerned when he came back from Africa. He was very ill but there was something else, something buried deep inside that he won’t talk about.’
‘To do with the people who were killed?’
‘Did he tell you about that?’
‘No, I remember the news reports.’ Gina was close to him, not a town gossip. Mia plunged in. ‘He’s very good at his job, his previous job. I wanted to ask him to look into my dad’s death. I think he might have been murdered. And Glenda. Both of them.’
Gina’s mouth formed a perfect O as she exhaled slowly. ‘I see. We always thought the suicide verdict was very odd. What does he think? Don’t tell me, I know. He’s taken the scent and he’s off and running.’
‘Yes.’
‘No wonder he’s perked up,’ she said almost to herself but then flashed a smile at Mia. ‘But that’s not the only thing that’s put a spring in his step and don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way. I saw you two together the other night.’
Mia ducked her head to hide the flush creeping up her cheeks.
‘His son is arriving this afternoon,’ she said.
‘Riley. We haven’t seen him for ages.’
‘Arlo is worried he won’t cope.’
‘Who, Riley?’
‘No, himself.’
‘He’ll have to make some changes, that’s for sure, he’s lived alone for so long.’ She looked meaningfully at Mia.
‘So have I. I like it.’
‘Don’t get lonely?’
‘No. I have plenty of friends, things to do.’
‘No room for a man in your life?’
Mia smiled. ‘Depends on the man, doesn’t it?’
‘He’s the one you can’t imagine living without.’
‘And you think that’s Arlo?’
‘Don’t discount the possibility.’
‘Seeing as my life is in Sydney and his is here, it’s unlikely even if we did want to get together.’
Gina appeared momentarily stumped by that obstacle.
‘There is that but you can’t run away before any of this is resolved. Give yourself a chance.’
A woman came into the shop and started filling a bag with potatoes so she was distracted from further comment.
‘I’ll be off,’ said Mia. ‘How much for the apples?’
‘Nothing,’ said Gina.
‘But I can’t take them. Please, how much?’
‘Eighty cents.’
Mia gave her the coins.
Gina smiled. ‘Remember what I said.’
‘About?’ She’d said quite a few things.
‘Arlo,’ she mouthed with a glance at the customer.
‘Not going to happen.’
Gina patted her arm. ‘Love always finds a way but you have to stick around,’ she said softly.
The potato shopper lifted her bag onto the scales and went off to choose a pumpkin.
‘Thanks, Gina.’
Considerably cheered and with two fresh apples in her bag Mia continued along the street. The handicraft shop had a carved wooden sign out the front. She pushed the yellow door open and met a strong dried rose smell head on. Better than dead rabbit but potent in the overheated space. Baskets of all shapes and sizes filled with dried or fabric flowers, scented soaps and candles hung from the ceiling and adorned the walls. The gaps between were filled with inked sketches of animals. A wooden rocking horse took up one corner next to a shelf of beautiful handmade pottery bowls and mugs. A woman wearing gold hoop earrings as big as bangles, a purple crocheted shawl and with long grey hair tied back with a flowing purple scarf, sat knitting behind the counter. She looked up with a smile that wobbled uncertainly when she saw the intruder.
‘Hello,’ she said tersely. ‘Looking for something in particular?’
Mia sent her an innocent smile. Surely she wouldn’t refuse a sale. ‘Hello, yes, I am. A beanie and a warm scarf.’
‘Over there.’ The woman nodded towards a stand draped with an array of knitted scarves and others of silk in glowing jewel-like colours. A basket on the floor held beanies in all colours and sizes.
‘Did you knit them?’
‘Some,’ she admitted grudgingly. ‘All locally grown and spun wool. Alpaca and sheep.’
Reasonably priced, not that it mattered because buying a few items would increase her standing here. Mia chose two silk scarves then turned her attention to the knitted items. A dark green matching scarf and beanie were perfect and she took her choices to the counter.
A smile flicked on and off. ‘Here for long?’ She put down her knitting.
‘At least another week, maybe more.’
‘It was a nasty business.’
Mia looked at her sharply. ‘Yes.’
‘Glenda was a good friend of mine. Everyone loved her.’
Mia firmed her mouth before replying, ‘So did I and so did my father.’
‘Why did he kill her then?’ A pair of grey eyes glared at her with undisguised anger.
‘I don’t know. No-one does.’
Unbidden tears sprang to her eyes but she turned away so this woman wouldn’t see. She wandered across to a stand of hand printed cards and wrapping paper and stared blankly at them until the voice said, ‘One hundred and twenty-five dollars, please.’
Mia paid and took the bag. ‘Thank you.’
The woman fired her parting shot. ‘You have a dark aura just like your father.’
The sanctuary of The Crown was in the next block but she had to wait at the corner for several cars to pass by, carefully avoiding eye contact with the family chatting next to her, and a couple of teenagers across the road. A second-hand bookshop was on the corner. Maybe she should stay in her room with her dark aura and read this afternoon instead of going to the football. Odd how her aura had changed from Gina’s assessment of lovely at the karaoke night to dark today. Nonsense, she knew, but hurtful because of the intent behind it. She pushed open the door to the shop.
Classical music wafted around the shelves, soothing and beautiful and she spent half an hour browsing. The books calmed her frazzled nerves and she promised herself to listen to more classical music because today it had a profound effect on her when she needed it most. Her aura must be glowing by now.
She paused when she reached the hotel. A chalkboard outside the entrance to The Crown listed the entertainment offerings. Monday: steak night, Tuesday: Italian night with specials on pasta, Wednesday: Karaoke. Thursday offered trivia, Friday had a duo called Wendy and Wayne. Saturday featured something called The Brothers which would no doubt be a rock band to entertain the post-match football crowd. Sunday had jazz from 3pm till 7pm with a group called Bluetone.
It was very tempting to spend the afternoon curled up in the warmth with a book. She had a couple of hours to decide but the choice was looking decidedly lopsided. Football in the cold with the possibility of abuse versus warmth and a good read. Chocolate and a glass of red could be added with no hardship at all.
Mia ventured out for dinner later that evening having spent the afternoon holed up in her room apart from a trip down to the bar for lunch followed by a walk to Laurie’s store for chocolate, successfully testing her new scarf and beanie.
Not wanting to sit in the rowdy bar alone on a post-football Saturday night with the band setting up in the bar area adjusting their amps to loud, she walked along to the Red Dragon Chinese restaurant run by her neighbours. Betty rushed to greet her, all smiles, and ushered her to a table. The room was spacious but already half full with several large tables occupied by what looked like family groups celebrating something.
Mia studied the menu. Betty reappeared with water and took her order for a glass of wine.
‘We thought you’d gone home,’ she said. ‘No car in the driveway.’
‘No, I’m staying at the hotel while the painter comes in and the floor is done. I’m replacing the hall carpet with wooden sheets that slot together.’
‘Very nice. Very smart. You come in and see us again. Have dinner.’
Betty bustled away to return a few minutes later with the wine and to take Mia’s order. The door opened and closed at regular intervals admitting more customers along with blasts of winter air. She pulled out the book she’d been absorbed in most of the afternoon and was immediately drawn back in.
‘Mia, hello. What a surprise!’
Still in Regency London, enmeshed in the complicated love lives of the ton, she blinked and focused on the dark-haired man smiling at her.
‘James. My goodness. I haven’t seen you for years.’