5 Peppermint Grove (27 page)

“Come to think of it, she has been extra-secretive since she returned from that trip to Germany. Did you notice anything exceptional when you were home at Christmas?”

“Apart from the fact that she was on the computer, she seemed pretty much the same as usual. Mind you, she was on it for most of the time,” Michael said with a grin.

Their food arrived and they tucked in. The portions were huge and they wished they had only ordered one panini to share.

“By the time we finish up here and take the car back to Subiaco it’ll be time to meet Ruth,” Michael said.

Julia took a chip and dipped it in mayonnaise. The world was changing dramatically around her and she wondered what other surprises were in store for her when she returned home.

Ruth wasn’t alone when the others arrived at the Lucky Shag. She was sitting on a high stool next to Steve and draining a glass of cider. Already the long rows of tables were filling up and Michael and Julia had to move some stools around and squeeze up next to where Ruth and Steve were sitting.

“Hi, Michael – this is Steve. Steve – Michael. And of course you know Julia!”

Julia held out her hand. “Nice to see you again, Steve.”

Steve nodded his head. “Of course – Julia. Ruth has really settled in great!” he said with a beaming smile. “She’s a super addition to our team.”

“Well, I think this lifestyle suits me,” Ruth said, not pleased at being spoken about as if she wasn’t present.

“Would you guys like a drink?” Steve asked Michael and Julia.

“I’ll have a glass of white wine, please,” Julia said.

“Thanks, yeah. A beer for me –
Corona,” Michael said with a nod.

“And another cider for you, Ruth?” Steve said with a familiarity that concerned Julia.

“Yes, please,” she replied.

Julia looked around but there was no sign of Brian yet. The sun was going down on the other side of the
Swan River and they had a spectacular view of the waterfront and the herons and long-billed birds that glided gracefully across from shore to shore.

Steve left at seven and just after that Brian arrived
. The bar was heaving now with after-work clientele who were keen to enjoy the warm summer evening in such a salubrious setting. The sky was now a dark velvet navy, the stars and waning moon beaming down on the revellers.

Brian was smiling although it was obvious to Ruth that he was tired at the end of his day’s work.

Julia, however, was ready for action and she immediately launched into making him feel welcome and beckoned to him to sit next to her.

“Have you been enjoying your stay?” he asked Julia and Michael as he sat down.

“Yes, we went to Fremantle Prison today,” Michael replied.

“Gruesome place!” Brian said with a nod.

“I bought a painting – oops, I forgot to check if it’s okay with you, Ruth – I can’t have it until the exhibition ends in March so can you collect it then and post it over to me?”

“No problem,” Ruth said. “And speaking of post, what news do you have, Brian? I’m dying to know what you heard from that neighbour about the Walters.”

Michael interrupted. “Let me get you a beer, Brian – what would you like?”

“Eh, a bottle of something German would be good, thanks,” said Brian and then turned his attention back to Ruth. “Yeah, it was lucky, I guess. An old lady was just walking by and she wanted to know if I could fix the window in her pool house. I said I’d send one of the guys around and we got talking about the lady who had lived in Number 5. She was a great friend of hers and she said that she missed her. They used to play tennis together when they were younger and in later years played bowls. This old dear was about ninety. She said that her son was friends with Mrs Emily Walter’s son and the whole family was devastated when he died. Mrs Walters’ husband died soon after his son, leaving the old lady on her own for years in the house that we pulled down.”

Ruth was trying to figure out which of the Walters men had known her mother.

“Did this lady give you the names of the men?”

“They were both called Charles – the son was Charlie. I remembered that was the name you mentioned.”

“Did she say what had happened to the son?”

“It was a car crash on the highway,” Brian said.

“I wonder which Charles Ruth’s mum was writing to,” said Julia. “Was the son married?”

“Nah, he was the golden boy – his parents adored him. He was driving a sports car when he sped along the freeway and hit another car.”

“What did the Walters do – were they business people?” Ruth asked.

“They were merchants – freight ships and that kind of thing. A booming business in Perth – always is! When the husband and son died, the nephew took over and kept the old lady sweet in her house until she died.”

“I would love to know how my mother knew them. She wasn’t working when she lived here as far as I know.”

“You’ll really have to ask her,” Brian said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Well . . . I found the letter when I was in my mother’s attic. Then she would know that I had been snooping in her private stuff!”

Michael returned with a fresh round of drinks.

“This is a great spot,” he said. His eyes scanned the beautiful people who had all descended on the bar to watch the sunset over the river and mingle with the other beautiful people of
Perth.

“There’s a nice enough restaurant beside us here if you fancy some dinner?” Brian said, pointing to a wooden-clad building which opened up onto the decked jetty.

“What’s it called?” Ruth asked.

“Halo. It’s a bit pricey but a nice setting. Is anyone hungry?”

“I’m starving,” Ruth admitted. “I had an apple at my desk at twelve and can hear my stomach rumble.”

“Okay, let’s finish these drinks and go over there,” Brian said.

As they drank, Brian told them stories about growing up in Perth and Julia was amazed that Michael was happy to let another man take the limelight – but she realised that he was doing it for her.

They finished up their drinks and walked the short few steps over to the entrance of Halo restaurant. It was very contemporary inside with beautiful jarrah wood on the floors and in the bar area and there was unobstructed viewing of the
Swan River and the boats sailing by.

This was another minimalist restaurant and the food was artistically displayed as well as appetising, as the waiters strutted by with the plates held high.

Ruth took the seat beside Brian and Michael sat opposite her.

Julia was delighted to be facing Brian. She would work this meal to her advantage. Since meeting in the Lucky Shag she was more certain than ever that she wanted to be with him.

A snooty maitre d’ sauntered over to them with large flat menus. Golden hair swept down her back in a ponytail – her black dress reached down to the ground and covered her five-inch heels.

“The specials today are . . .” and she recited the list in the plummy tones of an English governess.

“She’s not Australian, is she?” Ruth whispered into Brian’s ear.

“Unfortunately she is, but she’s so stuck up her own ass she’s in danger of disappearing up it – don’t let that put you off the food here though – just ignore the snobs!”

Brian was right and the food was delicious. The four chatted about life and the different things that Dublin and Perth had to offer. They were the last people in the restaurant at ten o’clock, being asked if they would like another coffee or if they were ready for the bill.

“I’m getting this,” Michael said, taking the black leather folder from the maitre d’.

“No, we’re going Dutch!” Ruth insisted.

“No way.” Michael got up and went over to the bar, credit card in hand.

Brian was embarrassed that he hadn’t got to the bill first. “Let me get the drinks then after – unless you are too tired?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” said Ruth. “Let’s grab a cab and go back to my place.”

Julia’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.

“Okay,” Brian shrugged but looked down at his watch.

Ruth turned on the air-conditioning when they arrived at her house.

“Julia, can you get drinks, please? I have to go to the loo.” Ruth ran off to her own bathroom and had to sit on the toilet to get her head together. She had to control her feelings. She was so into Brian and couldn’t let Julia know. The way that Michael was becoming so chummy in the back of the taxi was also beginning to cause her concern. They were naturally forming a cosy foursome that she did not want to be part of.

She looked at herself in the mirror and brushed down her clothes. She touched up her lip gloss and decided to go out and face the music.

It was worse than she had imagined.

Julia was draped over Brian on the couch in the living room and showing no restraint. Waiting for Ruth in the kitchen with a freshly poured glass of white wine was a sultry-eyed Michael.

Against her better judgment she went over to him but he lurched forward and planted his lips on top of hers.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all night!” he said, grinning cheekily.

Ruth had to stop it right there. She had to say no. But Michael didn’t give her a chance. He put down his glass, wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and then kissed her again. She was snogging him back now and it was nice, so against her better judgement she continued. She didn’t hear footsteps entering the kitchen.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t . . .”

Ruth stopped abruptly and looked around to see a shocked Brian staring at her.

“Don’t tell Julia!” Michael said quickly.

“I-I-I won’t – I’ll leave you two in peace,” he said as he turned on his heel, pulling the kitchen door behind him.

Ruth’s heart sank. What must Brian think of her? She had snogged Marty a couple of days ago and now she was kissing Michael. All he needed to be told now was that she had a married man back in
Ireland and at work and he would see her as the ultimate scarlet woman! She hoped and prayed that Julia would keep her mouth shut.

“So, are you coming to bed?” Michael said with a wink.

“Yep – my own bed on my own.” She shook her head, took a glass of water and left.

Julia was making great progress with Brian. For ambiance she had turned off the main light and switched on a corner lamp when he went out to the kitchen to get a drink of water. He was sitting comfortably next to her on the couch.

“I love hearing about your work – tell me more about the projects that you are working on,” she said, taking a sip from her glass.

“Oh, you don’t want to hear about buildings and work – I think your job sounds more interesting!”

Julia was winding a strand of hair around the index finger of her left hand. “But I do – I’d really like to get to know you better,” she replied, this time batting her eyelids.

Brian was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. He was an old-fashioned type of guy and here she was, making the first move.

Julia leaned forward and put her face so close to his that she could smell his skin.

“I like you,” she said. It was a line that she felt was a sure-fire winner. Usually by this stage in the chase she would be peeling off her top but Brian didn’t seem like the strong macho man she had first seen on the building site. He resembled a sheep about to be sheared.

And then it struck her!

“You’re not gay, are you?” she blurted out.

Brian was perturbed. He shook his head vehemently.

“Good!” she grinned and moved snakelike even closer until she could touch the side of his rough unshaven cheek with hers.

Brian couldn’t escape and, after seeing Ruth earlier in the kitchen, he wondered what he had to lose. Julia was pretty and smart but it was the wild Irish looks of Ruth that really attracted him. It was a shame that she was so wild that she seemed to hook up with any man. To tell Julia now that he didn’t want to get intimate would be an insult – she had clearly made up her mind what she wanted.

She moved her head so that her lips were almost touching his. It was a taut anxious moment before they met but when they did it felt good and warm. She gently parted her lips and their tongues rolled together. The taste was new and inviting and Julia was sure that she had chosen well for her holiday romance.

Brian couldn’t blank out the image of Ruth in the kitchen kissing Michael, but it helped to turn him on and he continued with the kiss.

Julia wanted action. It had been several months since she had slept with another body. She took his hand and put it up to her right breast.

He cupped it gently but didn’t move.

Julia was desperate for more and quickly. With her left hand she started to undo the buttons on her shirt and pushed it to the side so that he could feel the satin and lace of her lingerie. She peeled her shirt off. She had never been with such a passive lover. She decided to straddle him and lift both hands up to her breasts. She was aching for more and at last Brian was becoming more animated. He undid the clasp at the back of her bra and removed it.