The Bay (41 page)

‘Who are?'

Her sharp question stung him, for Andrew realised he didn't actually know who was behind Beacon Land Holdings. Letitia had put the deal to him after they'd met at a party in Bangkok and started their affair. Later she'd introduced him to General Chidchai, who was looking to invest money in Australia. Andrew had his suspicions but it didn't bother him how the General and his friends had acquired the money. Letitia had introduced Andrew to Sam back in Sydney and things had started rolling along. When he'd seen the potential money to be made, Andrew wanted in as an investor and not just a hired designer and architect. That's why he'd needed to cash in all the family assets. Under normal circumstances Holly would never have known, he'd have had enough money to do his own thing. The shadow of Letitia hovered over him. It was so incredibly ironic that Holly got a bee in her bonnet about doing something with her life and picked – of all places to do it – The Bay. He shook himself as these thoughts spun through his mind.

‘Holly, I'm not at liberty to give you that kind of information. Trust me, the Beacon development is something you'll be proud to know I was a part of creating. Wait till you see the whole concept. Just don't talk about this until I see you. I'll be up in a day or so, as soon as I can.'

‘I don't care how wonderful your concept is. The issue is, nothing should be built on that land – for lots of reasons. It's beautiful and unspoiled and it's used by everyone in the community. You'll put up something for rich people.'

‘Well it's too late. The rezoning is going through council, and when the people see what we are giving to the community, it will be a different story.'

‘Andrew, I'm telling you, people are going to fight this. And I'm going to be in the frontline.'

‘Oh, God, like you were at the dog rally? Get real, you're in business there too, remember. The development will advantage everybody.'

‘I am in business, no thanks to you. And when I open the doors of Richmond House I can say I've done it all with integrity, with the help of good and decent people, and all with my own money.' Her anger had dissipated and she felt close to tears.

‘Fine, Holly. I'm withdrawing as your guarantor – conflict of interest. You realise if this little B & B doesn't make a dime, you're left with nothing.' He sounded snide and mocking. Andrew had taken pride over the years in being a tough bastard in business and Holly could hear the pleasure in his voice.

‘Nothing to you is a lot to me, Andrew, but you couldn't even begin to understand that. I guess we just call it quits then. On every level.' Her voice was drained of emotion.

‘I guess so.'

‘Goodbye, Andrew.' She hung up before he could say anything else. What was there left to say? Later would come the painful task of telling their children and families, of sorting through possessions. She started to shake and headed to the kitchen.

Andrew immediately lifted the phone.

‘Letitia, what the hell is going on? Holly has just rung to ask me what I know about Beacon Land Holdings. The shit is going to hit the fan, she says. Who talked? We wanted to stage-manage the release of this for public comment. We have our own media and PR people to do it. What happened?'

‘Calm down, it's a small town. Once the DA went in, there'd be some talk. We can handle it. Certain people jump up and down but there's nothing much they can do. Sam has things under control.'

‘I'm coming up tomorrow. By the way, who is the owner of that land? Who is Beacon Land Holdings that Sam's acting for?'

‘That doesn't matter, Andy. Everything is being done legally. Sure there could be front companies, but that's par for the course these days. The minute after council votes through the rezoning application, we get paid. The locals shouldn't be a problem. This is too big to stop.'

‘My wife has informed me she'll be in the frontline against it. Or should I say my soon to be ex-wife. Holly and I have called it quits.'

‘Oh. That could be a complication we don't need. She's well liked in town.' Letitia didn't sound as thrilled at his news as he'd expected.

‘Dinner tomorrow night then? I'll check into the Big Pub . . .' He had no intention of staying there and he waited for Letitia's invitation to stay with her, but it didn't come.

‘I'll get Sam and the PR woman down from Brisbane to come and eat with us. We'd better start thinking strategies.' Letitia sounded distracted and they said goodbye without their usual endearments.

Mitchell and Eddie pulled up to Eddie's farmhouse and Mitchell leapt out of his truck and went to the large Esky tied in the back. ‘Hey, come and grab a handle, there must be over twenty kilos of fish in here.'

But Eddie was standing by the truck glaring at a small white convertible with Queensland numberplates parked by the shrubbery. ‘Shit. I hate the way she just turns up like it's her house.'

‘Who?' Mitchell moved towards him.

‘Laura.' He scowled.

‘She visits Alice, doesn't she?'

‘Yeah, but I've made it clear she has to plan these things, doesn't just walk in unannounced. Typical. Let's get those fish in the freezer.'

They carried the Esky between them round to the back into the laundry where Eddie had installed a second-hand freezer.

‘I'll get some freezer bags.'

Eddie went into the kitchen and was rummaging in a drawer when Laura spoke behind him.

‘Hi, Eddie. What's new?'

He slammed the drawer shut. ‘I might ask you the same thing. Damn it, Laura, I've asked you to call before you come up here. I hope you're not taking Alice back with you . . . this is an unscheduled visit. She has stuff to do tomorrow.'

He glared at her and Laura was struck as she had been when she'd first seen Eddie at how handsome he was. ‘You're cute when you're mad.'

‘Give it a rest. Where's Alice?'

‘She's searching the internet for something. Been showing me her room. You've made this old dump look quite decent.'

‘Alice and I are very comfortable. Of course if I had some money it'd be much better. But I give all my money to you. Nice car by the way.'

‘Present from Jack.'

‘Good of him. Excuse me, I have to get these out to Mitch.'

She followed him through to the laundry and greeted Mitchell. ‘What a heap of fish! Have you guys been fishing?'

‘No, hunting, Laura. What's it look like?' snapped Eddie and Mitchell laughed.

‘We took a friend's boat off the Cape to film a sequence of deep-sea fishing and this is what we caught,' said Mitchell.

‘Filming fishing? Making a sporting film now?' asked Laura.

‘I'm actually shooting The Bay's lifestyle,' said Eddie calming down. ‘All the nice things one can do here. Tomorrow it will be the kayaks paddling round the Cape with the dolphins.'

‘Alice is going to be a star in it. She's looking forward to it,' said Mitchell, sealing the fish into freezer bags.

‘Of course, it's probably a bit tame compared to the exciting life you lead on the coast,' Eddie said.

‘I wouldn't say that,' she answered. ‘Good to see you, Mitchell. Eddie, we have to talk,' she added ominously as she went back through the house.

Eddie and Mitchell exchanged a look. ‘Another one of those talks. Guess what it's about?' said Eddie.

‘Alice?'

‘Wrong. Money.'

‘Eddie, it's not my business, but surely you can't keep supporting her like you say you do, plus care for Alice,' said Mitchell quietly.

‘Be careful, mate. You have all this to look forward to. Your wife will get half your super too, you know.'

Mitchell shrugged. ‘I haven't thought about any of that. I mean the word “divorce” has never been mentioned between Veronica and me. She's down in Sydney already, doing her thing, enjoying her job. They wanted her to start straightaway, so we agreed she should go for it. She's got her ceramics, and now she says she's going to do textile design. She and our son Tom have the house, they're happy. I'm happy up here. Seems a fine arrangement to me.'

‘A word of advice – get things drawn up now, legally, while you're still friends. I've had to learn the hard way,' sighed Eddie.

‘Okay, thanks. It might give me an opening to ask Veronica just where she sees our future going. Certainly not together,' said Mitchell.

Eddie shut the freezer and held up two large snapper. ‘Come back for dinner. I'll sling them on the barbie.'

‘Done. I'll finish distributing the fish and clean up and see you about six. I'll bring a salad and a bottle.'

Eddie retrieved his camera gear from the truck and waved to Mitchell as he went back into the house dreading his talk with Laura.

Alice walked in holding one of the fish. ‘Wow, Dad, these are great. Are they for tonight?'

‘Yes, Mitchell's coming over.'

‘Great.'

‘Have you done the chooks today? I have to talk to your mother then I'm taking a shower.'

Alice looked from one to the other. ‘You could just ask to be left alone to talk, you know. But I'll do the chooks. We get big brown eggs every day,' she said to her mother.

Laura watched Alice head down through the garden. ‘She seems very happy here. The next thing she'll be wanting to wear gingham skirts and broderie anglaise tops.'

‘What's that mean?'

‘Just she's a little bit wholesome, Miss Country meets RM Williams, you know.'

‘What's wrong with that? You want to dress her up too much. She's never worn any of those clothes you bought her.'

‘That's because she doesn't go anywhere smart with you.'

‘I imagine she gets enough of the high life with you and Jack.'

‘Can we drop this, please? I have something to say.' Laura fiddled with the pepper and salt shakers on the table.

‘Fine.' Eddie folded his arms and leaned against the sink. ‘Shoot.'

‘It hasn't worked out with Jack. Nice guy and all that, but well, the age difference caught up with us I guess. He's boring.'

‘You mean he's showing old fart tendencies? Wanting to watch telly and you want to go dancing?'

‘Golf actually. He plays golf, then watches TV. And all his friends, and their wives, are old. I don't think they like me. Well, we don't have anything in common.'

Eddie felt a chill creep over him. ‘So what are you saying? I hope you don't want to take Alice up there full time.'

‘No. I know she likes school here and all her friends . . . It's me. I'd like to move back here. Looking back, we had good times here.' She gave a tremulous smile.

‘Here? You don't mean, here, in this house?' Eddie's voice rose.

‘I miss you, Eddie. We did have fun in the beginning, lots of fun.' She tried a sexy little laugh. ‘Couldn't we try again? No commitments, just a family again –'

‘Christ, no way, Laura! We were never “a family”, it was controlled mayhem most of the time. This is the most stable Alice has been since we met. And you and I are history. I'm sorry, but I've moved on, there's no going back for me.'

‘Couldn't we at least try? I mean, no sex, just be friends, under the same roof. It'd be good for Alice to have a real family situation, just for a while. Till I get my own place settled –'

‘Laura, grow up. Alice has been given a sense of stability these past months, I'm not going be a hypocrite. You can't keep running to me every time you have a problem. I have a life of my own now.'

‘What's that mean? Are you seeing someone?' Her eyes narrowed.

‘That's none of your business. And don't ask Alice about my life, it's not fair to her. Listen, you have a unit, move in there.' The last thing he wanted was Laura back in town, but anything was better than having her move in with him.

‘It's rented.'

‘So rent something yourself. Go back to your parents and sort yourself out. Then make a decision. That's the best plan,' he said again. ‘Definitely.'

‘You want to get rid of me,' she pouted.

Alice came through the back door. ‘Four eggs today.' She looked from Eddie to her mother, the tension between them still thick in the room. ‘Oh, are you still talking?'

‘Not really. I've said all I'm going to say.' Eddie looked at Laura. ‘Have you talked this through with Alice?'

‘Talked what through? What's going on?' asked Alice sounding worried and glancing from one adult to the other.

‘Tell her, Laura.'

‘All in good time. Alice, honey, I had to talk to Eddie first. But he's not being at all understanding and now I don't know what I'm going to do.' She started to cry and sank onto a kitchen chair.

Alice gave Eddie a bewildered look. ‘What's going on?'

‘Your mum and Jack have split up.'

‘Oh. I'm not surprised. He wasn't her type. Just rich,' said Alice with a mature assurance that stunned them both.

‘That
is
her bloody type,' snapped Eddie.

‘You're mean, you're not trying to understand,' wailed Laura and released a fresh flood of tears.

‘Understand! That's just what I am trying to do. Why in God's name do you want to move back in with me?'

‘Mum wants to move back here? With us?' yelped Alice. ‘What about Tina?'

‘Tina?' Laura lifted her head, her eyes steely bright through her tears.

‘Mum, you're not going to make me leave here. Please, I don't want to leave.' Alice began to cry.

‘Oh, for God's sake.' Eddie took two strides and drew Alice to him. ‘Stop crying, sweetie, nothing is going to change. For us. Your mother has to sort herself out. Now we'll help her. But there comes a time when everyone has to grow up and start managing their own life. On their own.'