Anchored (3 page)

“It’s a deal. Don’t say I didn’t offer though. I’m a nice gal, you know.”

Laughing, they worked together cleaning up the mess.

~~~

All she wanted to do was sleep. Mia called out as she entered the house and was pleased no one was home. Going straight to her room she collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes.

The shouting jolted her awake. Rolling over she wanted to pretend she didn’t care. Unable to maintain the pretense she bolted up and raced downstairs.

“You always dramatize everything, Margaret. It was probably just kids. Now you’re blaming me for not reacting the way you want. I won’t have it!” Jonathan yelled.

“All I want is for you to care and phone the police. It’s not the first time something like this has happened and it makes me feel uncomfortable.” Worry etched Margaret’s face.

Mia moved towards her mother and stood between them. “What’s happened?”

“Someone egged my car while I was at the supermarket. All over the door handle and window,” Margaret explained in a wobbly voice.

“Mum, are you okay?” Mia reached out and took her mother’s hand.

“Of course she’s okay. It’s the car that needs cleaning,” Jonathan snapped.

Turning towards her father she couldn’t keep the disdain out of her voice. “Don’t you have any compassion? Can’t you see Mum’s upset?”

“Upset I’d be, if the car was damaged. It’s only eggs, for goodness sake. I’ll leave you two to make a mountain out of it while I clean the car.” Jonathan stormed out and slammed the door.

Mia watched her mother collapse into a chair. “Do you want me to phone the police, Mum?”

“No, dear, your father’s probably right, just kids playing a prank. He’s cleaning the car for me so I’ll leave it be. Be a dear and put the jug on.”

“I hate the way he yells at you. Why do put you put up with it?” Mia clenched her fists and wanted to scream.

Her mother lifted a hand and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. A sure sign she was exhausted.

“He only yells when he’s upset. He won’t say so but he’s worried too.” Margaret’s expression softened.

“You always make excuses for him. If he’s worried why doesn’t he do something?” Mia exclaimed.

“He is doing something. He’s outside cleaning my car. That’s his way of fixing it, dear. Now let’s have that tea.”

Struggling to reign in her temper Mia left the room. Her anger wasn’t helping but making the tea would.

~~~

At the general store you could source any information. David took his time and allowed Bruno to smell all sorts of pungent doggy odors on the way. When he’d looked into Mia’s eyes he’d seen torment and shadows. The green depths had flickered at him, making him curious and concerned. It was this curiosity that now quickened his pace.

“Well, Bruno, desperate times call for desperate measures. Let’s hope Phil can tell me where to find Mia.”

Looping the lead over the post, David entered the general store. A mixture of magazines displayed cars, boats and celebrities. Shelves of food items rested in meticulous order, begging purchase. David picked up a newspaper and waited for Phil Paterson to respond to the bell.

“David, my lad, good to see you. Just the newspaper is it?” Phil greeted him warmly.

“Thanks, Phil. How’ve you been?” David smiled.

“Living the dream lad. Living the dream. Lovely evening for a stroll I’d be thinking.”

David nodded. “I prefer going for a run in the morning, but Bruno will nag me day and night to get out.” David gave a lopsided grin.

“I’ll leave the exercise up to you laddie. I’ll be here doing my chores while you’re out pounding the streets.”

“Someone has to do it. Phil, do you know someone called Mia? Bruno bowled her over a couple of weeks ago. I was sure she’d come up firing bullets at me, but the opposite happened. Nice girl.”

“That’d be little Mia Grace. Often walks the beach in the morning.”

“I’d like to see her to apologize for Bruno’s actions. Do you know where I’d find her?”

“Pretty wee thing, can understand why a man like you would be interested in seeing her again.” The crooked smile teased David.

“I want to apologize. Nothing more,” David assured him.

“Well, don’t worry yourself. Mia wouldn’t have given you another thought, busy as she is at the preschool and all. Which preschool, you ask? Well, there aren’t too many around here, shouldn’t take you too many phone calls to find her. Mia Grace Dawson that’s her name.” Laughing, he thumped his hand down on the counter.

“All right. I’m interested. What can you tell me?” David glanced behind him and leaned over the counter in an attempt to create comradeship.

“Let me see. Mia’s all grown up now and been back home since she finished her study earlier this year. Works at Bluehaven Preschool. Good she is with children. Maggie, that’s her mama, is a favorite of mine. Always bringing me some of her homemade jam. Lived in the Central Coast most of her life. Jonathan, Mia’s dad keeps to himself. Not our Maggie though, she’s the heart of kindness.”

“Preschool. Okay. What else?”

Scratching his chin Phil said, “Of course it could be another Mia. Best you describe her to me lad.”

David shrugged and played along. “Eyes the color of ivy, thick amber hair that sways when she moves. Creamy, soft skin and a smile that captured Bruno’s heart. Are we talking about the same person?” David frowned as he thought of the vulnerability he’d seen in her face.

“You forgot to mention a voice as musical as a pure mountain stream.” Nodding his head, Phil reached over and patted David’s face.

~~~

“Mum, I plan to go for a walk in the morning. Do you want to join me?” Mia watched her mother rinse the cloth.

“Not tomorrow. I plan to get into the kitchen in the cool of the morning and do some baking. You go, dear, and I’ll have breakfast ready for you when you get back.”

“I’d rather skip breakfast and have you come for a walk with me. Please?” Mia coaxed.

“Breakfast is important, starts the day off right.”

Mia picked up a tea towel and swished it around. Her mother watched and smiled.

“Mum, I need to talk to you.”

“How about I make a picnic lunch tomorrow and you see if you can have an extra hour off work. We could go to the beach,” Margaret offered.

“Can we talk now?” Mia touched her mother’s arm gently.

“It’s getting late and your father has already gone off to bed. Tomorrow’s better.”

“What does it matter if Dad’s in bed and you’re down here talking to me? Oh, of course you can’t keep him waiting.” Throwing the tea towel down, Mia turned to go.

“Mia, stop.” Her mother commanded.

Stopping in midstride Mia spun around.

“Please don’t be like this, dear. It’s been a long day and I’m just about asleep on my feet. I want to spend time with you, so how about the picnic?”

“Yes all right, but I’m still sick of the way you run to his beck and call. He probably told you not to be long.” Mia stuck out her chin, showing her displeasure.

“Mia, I don’t appreciate you talking about your father that way. Perhaps I’ll say goodnight before we both say something we’ll regret.” Reaching over, Margaret touched Mia’s arm. “Good night, I love you.”

Mia watched her go. She bit down on her lip and the metallic taste of blood caused her to unclench her jaw.  

Chapter 5

The decision to wait for him to contact her was harder than she’d thought. Absence may make the heart grow fonder but all Judy felt was anger. How dare he ignore her.

Judy glared at the lady serving her and snatched her change without speaking. She spun around and knocked into the person behind her.

“Sorry!” Judy snapped and charged towards the door.

Stopping abruptly, she tilted her head and looked back at the woman rubbing her shoulder. Her head nodded as an idea formed.

~~~

David’s thumb ran idly over the phone’s keypad as he gazed out the window. The ocean sparkled and winked at him as if encouraging him to make the call. Mia absorbed his thoughts. Her gentle way with Bruno, her wide innocent eyes and the way she ran off like a startled bird.

The shrill of the phone startled him and his hand tightened on the hand piece. 

“Hello,” David answered swiftly.

“How’s my best mate? Still lazing around the beach?”

A grin curved David’s mouth as he answered his brother. “Patrick. Where are you?”

Crackling made Patrick’s voice difficult to hear. “I’m still in India. Sorry about the connection, hang on and I’ll move closer to the window. Is that better?”

“Yes. Are you still in Nepal?” David queried.

“Left there a few weeks ago. I’m in Ranchi in Jharkhand. I’m going to use this area to pull the end of the book together. How’s things with you? Got yourself a girlfriend yet?”

David laughed. “I did have a girl fall at my feet.”

“Might be the only way you’ll find someone. Can I give you some brotherly advice?”

“No,” David stated firmly.

“Come on, when have I ever led you astray? Tell me about her,” Patrick’s voice urged.

“Drop dead gorgeous. Big green eyes, expressive face, shy and fragile like a butterfly.”

Silence greeted his statement. “Patrick, you still there?”

“Yes. How often have you gone out with her? What’s her name?” David could hear the curiosity in Patrick’s voice.

“I haven’t asked her out yet. Met her once and I’m contemplating giving her a call.”

“How long ago did you meet her?” 

“Two weeks ago.”

“What’s the matter with you? Scared of rejection?” His brother mocked him.

“What’s to reject? I’m one good looking guy.”

“Yeh, yeh. Call her today and let me know how you get on. I’m based here at this number for a couple of weeks. What’s her name?” he asked again.

“Mia. I was about to give her a call when you phoned,” David explained. “Pat, you need to make sure someone knows where you are. You can’t disappear like this, it’s irresponsible.”

“You saying you miss me big bro?” Patrick’s voice carried laughter over the wires.

“Of course I miss you but it’s more about safety.” David knew he was playing the big brother, but since his parents had died he worried about Patrick.

“I hear you mate, but I get caught up in what I’m doing and everything else fades to insignificance. I’ll email you more, how’s that?” Patrick offered.

“Better. Tell me about your book.”

After ending the call, David dialed the preschool numbers and waited.

“Good afternoon, Bluehaven Preschool, Jackie speaking.”

“Hello, Jackie. May I speak to Mia Dawson please?” David concentrated on sounding casual.

“Mia’s teaching at the moment. Can I take a message for her?”

“A message? No thanks, I can call back. What time do you suggest I phone?” Disappointment laced his voice.

“Maybe I can help you, Mr.?”

“O’Malley. David O’Malley.”

“Are you a friend of Mia’s?” Jackie enquired.

David cleared his throat. “No, um, an acquaintance.”

“I see. I’ll tell Mia you called. Do you want to leave a number?”

“Yes.” David told her the number. “What time did you say for me to phone?”

“I didn’t say a time, Mr. O’Malley, but if you phoned again in say half an hour she’d be free to take your call.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks for your help. You’re a gem.” David hung up and slapped his hand on his forehead. “You’re a gem. Who says you’re a gem?”

~~~

Surprise showed on Mia’s face. “David O’Malley called me here?”

“Yes, and he’s calling back. Who is he Mia? He sounded kinda cute and nervous.”

“I met him, or should I say his dog a few weeks ago. His dog bowled me over. He’s probably phoning to see if I’m okay. If he calls again, can you tell him I’m busy? Tell him I’ll call sometime.” Mia jabbered on, stopping and starting, confused by his call.

“No way. The poor man is probably concerned about you and the least you can do is relieve his mind,” Jackie stated, her mouth curving.

“Why are you looking like that?”

“Looking like what? What do you mean?” Jackie widened her eyes innocently.

“You have a stupid smirk on your face. I don’t even know the man and I don’t want to talk to him.”

Jackie shrugged and continued to smile.

“I met him once and that’s it,” Mia forcibly stated.

“Mia, settle down, I’m only teasing. It’s not like you get many men calling you here. Surely if he means nothing to you it’d be easy to talk to him for a few minutes.”

“Yes of course but—”

“Okay that settles it. You will answer the phone for the rest of the day. I’ve got work to do.” Jackie laughed and walked off.

Mia could hear Jackie humming and felt annoyed. Why was she so uptight about his call? He was only being polite and it meant nothing.

The morning couldn’t be over soon enough for her. Her nerves felt ready to snap, and she was tempted to take the phone off the hook. 

She jumped as the phone shrilled beside her and dropped a stack of papers she’d been sorting.

“Good afternoon, Bluehaven Preschool.”

Silence greeted her as she waited for a response. When no one replied she said, “Hello, is anyone there?”

“Hello Mia, it’s David O’Malley. How are you?”

“Hello Mr. O’Malley. I’m fine thank you. How can I help you?” Mia knew she sounded businesslike but couldn’t help it. What did he want?

“I haven’t seen you out walking and wondered if Bruno and I had scared you off.”

“Not at all. I liked Bruno,” she informed him.

“So it must be me you’re scared of. I don’t bite either you know.”

She could hear the humor in his voice. “I’m sure you don’t Mr. O’Malley.”

“David please, Mr. O’Malley sounds like my father. Mia, have lunch with me today? I’d appreciate seeing you to reassure myself you’re okay,” he coaxed.

“That’s not necessary. I’m fine.”

“It’s only lunch. What time is your break?” 

Mia felt eager to end the call. “I’m sorry. I already have a lunch date. Thank you for the offer but I must get back to work.”