Paycheque (45 page)

Claire glanced around the table. They were indeed very lucky. With Paycheque's recovery going so well, and the other horses coming along nicely, life was looking pretty good again.

Claire had spent ages dreading her birthday. Not because she was scared of getting old, but because her life was finally going really well and she didn't want to jinx it. The last thing she needed was to get all sad about Keith again. It wasn't fair on Derek and it wasn't fair on her. She'd been doing so well focussing on the present and the future and leaving all the bad that had happened behind.

Claire rolled over and faced Derek's empty side of the bed. Things were now working well between them. They had shared interests, separate interests, were best friends, and made the best love. It was early days, but daydreaming while out riding, Claire often got mental images of them old and shuffling around the house in their slippers, looking over bifocals to discuss something or other in the paper. The fact that it
didn't
scare her was what scared her!

Claire loved how considerate Derek was. She knew he would do almost anything for her. Looking back, she was sure she'd never felt that about Keith, or any relationship before him. Whenever they had time during the week or on weekends, whoever woke first got them
both coffee in bed. It was a tradition Claire loved, especially because she was usually the last to wake. She knew that Derek knew she sometimes pretended to be asleep, but he didn't seem to mind. He often said he liked to make his girl happy. It was like having the best of both worlds. They had the passion of lovesick teenagers and the care and consideration of a couple who had been married forever.

The other light in Claire's life was the horses – especially Paycheque. She saw his recovery as miraculous, despite Will saying that there'd never been any doubt. The horse had slowly returned to training and would soon have his first proper gallop. They'd do it when Will could be there. He now spent a lot of his spare time in the Adelaide Hills visiting David and Bernadette, regularly dropping in to check on his star patient. Jack had practically accepted him as another member of the family.

Claire smiled at Derek as he sat on the side of the bed, pulled his socks off, and took a long sip of coffee before sliding his feet beneath the sheets and snuggling down. She turned and picked up her cup, and noticed a wrapped parcel the size of a tissue box beside it. She grinned at Derek who raised his eyebrows before returning to sipping his coffee.

‘Oh, thank you,' she cried, leaning over to hug and kiss him.

‘You'd better open it first, you might not like it.'

With Keith and every boyfriend before him, she'd opened presents while focussing on the mantra, ‘It's the thought that counts, it's the thought that counts'. Gifts always seemed to be one extreme or the other: totally practical and boring, or jewellery she had to pretend to love. She cringed at the memory of the last gift Keith had given her: a leaf blower for the garden. She ignored the twinge of guilt and returned her attention to the package on her lap.

This was the first major gift-giving occasion for her and Derek, but she just knew it would be perfect. He was a true romantic. Since their blow-up, she'd come to realise that Derek really did understand her like no one else ever had. He would often turn up with flowers or chocolates for no other reason than that he loved her.

Claire picked up the parcel and curbed her instinct to shake the box. Wrapped so beautifully, it was a shame to untie the mass of pink, purple and silver entwined bows.

‘It's too pretty to destroy,' she said.

Derek shrugged. ‘There are no rules to say you have to open it, but I did put a bit of thought into choosing the contents.' He took another sip of coffee.

‘Oh well, I'd better open it then, hadn't I?'

‘Go on, do it for me.'

Carefully Claire pulled the ribbons apart and tossed them to Bill and Ben, who had been eagerly watching the flailing ends.

The cats had been desexed, which had calmed them down considerably. They were now large, reformed characters who no longer tried to destroy furniture with their claws, nor linen with wayward toilet habits. Derek had helped Claire install a cat door, which meant they now spent their days lounging around inside or out fossicking in the garden, and their nights sprawled across the end of Claire's bed.

The silver wrap came off to reveal a plain purple unmarked box. Claire opened it to find a box about half the size and wrapped with equal care and precision. She rolled her eyes at Derek in mock exasperation. He shrugged again. Claire tore off the plain pink gloss wrap expecting the ‘pass the parcel' theme to continue. Instead she found a plain business-sized envelope. She blinked in slight surprise, picked it up, turned it over and pulled the seal apart. The contents were two plane tickets – one in her name, the other in Derek's – to Kangaroo Island. The date was today's. Shit! She couldn't just drop everything at a moment's notice. Or could she?
Of course I can
, she told herself.

‘Wow, it's wonderful. Thank you,' she cried, reaching over and embracing Derek.

‘Happy birthday, darling. Hope you don't mind sharing with me,' he murmured, rolling Claire over and beginning to kiss his way down her body.

‘Mmm, not at all,' she murmured back, already aroused and responding to his gentle touch.

As if on cue, the phone started ringing moments after Claire had finished in the shower and Derek had stepped in. Jack rang, and then put Maddie on to wish her a good day, and then Bernadette called and Claire had to break the news she wouldn't be able to have dinner with them as planned. She felt dreadful and said so, but Bernie didn't seem to mind, and David sounded like he hadn't even decided on what to cook.

Claire was packing her carry-on bag when Derek appeared and began snuggling her neck. ‘Darling, we're only going for one weekend,' he purred.

Claire was excited and only the tiniest bit apprehensive. She was still only a beginner ‘go with the flow' girl, but with Derek she felt safe enough to be spontaneous. He seemed to understand where her anxieties lay, always mapping everything out and encouraging her to keep pushing beyond her comfort zone. Today her only concern was for Bill and Ben, who Derek had already sorted: Maddie had been charged with dropping by to care for them.

She'd never admit it aloud, but Claire McIntyre was beginning to like the idea of someone else making the decisions.

‘What fun!' she said, as they parked Derek's car in the long-term car park. Claire loved everything about flying, even the food. She hadn't been in a plane since she'd left her office job. It was one of the few things she missed.

As they unloaded the boot, she noticed Derek check his watch and bite his lip.

‘Is there something wrong?'

‘Sorry? Oh no, just trying to remember if I packed my toothbrush.'
Claire thought it odd – Derek was such a seasoned traveller, surely a toothbrush was the last thing he'd forget.

‘If not, you can borrow mine,' she offered, cringing at the thought as she did. It was weird; they probably swapped all sorts of bacteria when they kissed, but the thought of sharing a toothbrush still made her feel uncomfortable.

They got to the terminal and Derek was still uneasy. For some reason he also seemed to be stalling. Claire could see the check-in line growing.

‘Come on, quick,' she said, tugging at his hand. ‘Before that tour group gets here.'

‘There's plenty of time,' he said, standing his ground but still looking edgy.

‘What are you waiting for?'

Just then Derek's phone chirped and he answered it. He looked relieved. Claire turned away to give him his privacy. She was a little annoyed – she wanted to make the most of the airline's lounge. She loved the free open bar and buffet of nibbles. Claire sighed. The little things were what she missed the most from her corporate life. But then she hadn't been able to sleep in every second day, regularly indulge in long lunches or spend so much time in the garden. Life was full of compromises. And she wouldn't change what she had now for quids.

Shit! Claire stiffened. She wouldn't miss Paycheque's first full gallop, would she? No, Jack wouldn't let that happen. Actually, hadn't Will said he had something else on and couldn't make it that weekend? They'd been adamant to wait until Will was there in case anything went wrong. Claire shook her head at the memory of Paycheque that night after his accident. Thank God they hadn't taken the first vet's advice, and thank goodness David had known Will.

Ah, David. She'd certainly been wrong about him. When Bernadette had finally finished telling Claire the whole story only a few weeks ago, it all made sense. When some people lose someone they love, they pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and get on with life.

And then there were those, like David, who made the decision to never get back on the bicycle again. David had lost his fiancée, Caroline, to cancer, and had withdrawn from everything familiar. He'd sold the successful corporate gift basket business he and Caroline had run in the city, and moved to the country. He'd let people believe he was gay so he wouldn't meet another woman and risk having to fully open himself up emotionally again. It had worked well until he'd been befriended by Bernadette and then Claire. Reverse psychology had worked its magic.

Trust Bernadette to sort him out
, Claire thought, smiling to herself.

Claire was brought back to the reality of PA announcements and people bustling about her and by the snapping shut of Derek's mobile. He was looking around as if he were waiting for someone. Claire cringed, hoping he hadn't arranged to meet one of their old colleagues. That would be awkward.

Just then, Derek turned and gave her a peck on the lips, his big smile lighting up his full, handsome features. She was about to ask about the call when she heard familiar voices and turned around to see Bernadette running awkwardly, red hair fanning out behind her. She dragged a suitcase on wheels with one hand and David with the other.

‘Sorry we're late – there was an accident on the freeway by the tunnel,' Bernie cried breathlessly.

Claire stared from her friends' faces down to their suitcases. ‘What's going on?' she asked.

‘Haven't you told her, Derek? Remember how Claire hates surprises,' she added with a knowing grin.

Claire rolled her eyes at her friend.

‘She's getting used to them, aren't you darling?'

Claire nodded dumbly. David regained his composure, and breath, and pecked her on the cheek.

‘Happy Birthday – again.'

‘Thanks. So, are we all going to K.I. or is there some other surprise going on here?'

‘Ooh, I see what you mean. You really are turning her into a “go with the flow” kind of girl,' Bernadette said, nudging Derek.

‘I don't care what we're doing as long as we make the most of the free grog and nibblies in the lounge. Come on, I'm looking forward to a gin and tonic,' Claire said, making her way to the end of the queue, leaving her friends to exchange bemused smirks before bolting to catch up.