Chapter Seventy-two

Monday, 18th November

Three hours later, the sun rose and proceeded to baste Jack through the front window of the Beamer. When he finally forced his eyes open and they adjusted to the blazing sunlight, he saw the seat beside him was empty. Then he heard what sounded like a chainsaw coming from the back seat, and found Ricky looking perfectly content, untroubled by his own snoring.

Jack went for the piss he should have had hours ago, followed by a long session at a water fountain. Neither his throbbing head nor his stiffness were helped by the sight of lycra-clad joggers energetically bounding past in all directions. He walked slowly down to the beach. It was a glorious morning. Surfers queued for waves; seagulls queued for scraps.

As he watched the wispy white clouds drifting across the sky, Jack wondered what his future might hold now that his father was a murderer. Then his thoughts drifted to Caitlin. It had been a tumultuous fortnight for both of them, especially for her. But during those horrible days he’d also met the first woman he felt completely at ease with. A woman who had absolutely no interest in the fortune he would no longer inherit. A woman who lived life to the full just in case Huntington’s disease prevented a long life. And so he decided he didn’t really care what his future held as long as his future, in some way, maybe a big way, included Caitlin.

Jack returned to the Beamer and interrupted the sleep of the dead just long enough to say goodbye to his old friend. Then he made plans for the day. They were fairly simple. Go home. Get changed. Find Caitlin. The first two went smoothly, the third not so much.

Two hours later, thanks to Tony and the Kingswood, Jack was knocking on Zoe’s door showered, shaved and in fresh clothes. Nobody answered.

He couldn’t call Caitlin; the burner phone Ricky had given him had none of his contacts. Nor did it have his Uber account, so Jack had to fall back on a maxi-taxi vomitorium to check her known haunts: her father’s house, the Jetty Hotel (way too early) and The Beacon (Bain missing in action). No Caitlin.

He stopped by the GP surgery. Dr Belinda was still grumpy – even though she’d won the croquet final. She gave him a prescription for antibiotics. He went to the chemist.

Then it was another vomitorium: Zoe’s apartment, Caitlin’s father’s house, Jetty Hotel (a bit early), a florist to buy flowers for Zoe, and finally Zoe’s salon. No Caitlin – and she didn’t answer Zoe’s call. A big hug from Zoe.

He went back to the Jetty Hotel and enjoyed a few free drinks.

He found Caitlin just before sunset at The Pass lookout. He sensed her presence as he climbed the stairs, his anticipation increasing with each step. She was leaning on the rail and staring down at the surfers. The last of the sun’s warm light accentuated the red of the dreadlocks draped over her shoulders. Betty Boop, basking in the last of the sunlight, smiled at him from beneath the sleeve of Caitlin’s green top.

He fought the urge to wrap his arms around her and, instead, stood close by her side.

‘Hi, Jack.’

‘Are you okay?’

She nodded. ‘Just talking to Dad.’

They stood together for a long time and watched the surfers bob in the water, her closeness like an electric charge.

‘Bernstein called,’ she said. ‘They’ve offered me a partnership – presumably conditional upon me indemnifying them against any legal action, and signing a gag clause.’

‘Caitlin, that’s great, just what you wanted.’

‘Yes. That was what I wanted. But now I’m not so sure.’

They watched in silence as the sun slid behind the distant range.

‘It’s a strange feeling now my parents are both no longer here,’ she said. ‘A feeling of being alone in the world. But I feel less alone here in Byron. I feel their presence in the house, and Dad’s here. That’s something.’ She smiled weakly at him. ‘And what about you? Will the great white knight gallop back to Melbourne to save the empire?’

‘I think that depends on you.’ He reached out and took her hand, and she didn’t resist. It was warm and soft, and a shiver of excitement ran through him.

She turned to him. Her emerald eyes stared into his. Then she bowed her head. ‘Jack, I couldn’t do it to you. It’s the Huntington’s. I accept it is what it is – God knows I can’t do anything about it, but I won’t inflict it on you. I’m sorry.’ She leaned forward and kissed him, slowly wrapping her arms around him.

Jack’s world stopped.

And then she was gone, walking towards the stairs and away from him.

‘Caitlin.’

Without turning, she said, ‘Goodbye, Jack.’

‘Caitlin. Tell Mr Huntington to go fuck himself. I’m willing to take the chance.’

She turned slowly and looked at him for what seemed an age. Then smiled. ‘You’re very sweet, Jack. But I couldn’t ask that of anyone, even you.’ She began moving away again.

‘We can just take it slowly,’ called Jack. ‘Kick the can down the road and see what happens.’

She stopped, but didn’t look back to him.

Jack held his breath.

She said nothing, but Jack saw her shoulders tremble. He went quickly to her, and rested a hand gently on her shoulder.

Without turning, she placed a hand on his, then said, ‘You’ll enjoy being back home in Melbourne. And you’ll forget all about me.’ This time there was no hesitation. She let go of his hand and set off down the stairs, and away.

He watched her go, even though every fibre of his body wanted to run after her. He remained at the lookout, never in his life feeling so alone, hoping Caitlin would change her mind and return to him.

He watched in vain as the silhouette of the distant range faded away and the stars began, one by one, to puncture the vast black sky.

He shook himself from his gloomy thoughts and made a promise to himself. With or without Caitlin, from now on, he would live his life to the full.

He ran down the stairs to the beach and stripped off his clothes. Then he ran into the sea, dived under a wave and felt the calming cool of the water. He turned over and floated on his back, then looked up, waiting. And there it was. The beam of the lighthouse sliced silently through the darkness high over his head.