‘Hello. Welcome.’ He kissed Antonia and shook Flynn’s hand. ‘Lauren’s here, and Georgia.’
As usual, at the cooperative meals the smells coming from the kitchen were fantastic. Everyone seemed to be a good cook and they all contributed to communal dinner gatherings. They weren’t vegetarian but vegetables and fruit naturally played a major role in meals.
Simon introduced Antonia to Georgia, a wiry tanned woman in her fifties who’d started the venture ten years ago with husband Aidan and their friend Rufus. He had to hand it to them; they’d worked bloody hard and made it into a profitable business, supplying cafes and restaurants in a wide radius.
‘Aidan and Rufus will be here shortly,’ she said. ‘Bernie’s had to stop overnight in Mungaree. The truck broke down.’
‘Sit down,’ said Simon. ‘Drinks?’
Flynn and Antonia handed over their wine.
Lauren sat next to Antonia on the sofa while Flynn took a chair.
‘How are you liking Flynn’s Crossing?’ asked Lauren. ‘Bit small for you?’
‘I like it,’ Antonia replied. ‘Flynn found me a house and I’ve just started with Cath and Len at the Paragon.’
Simon gave a beer to Flynn and handed her a glass of wine. ‘Well done!’
‘That was fast work,’ said Georgia.
‘I’ll have to go back to Sydney to pack and collect Sarah and Jacob but I hope to be settled within a week.’ The smile on her face was pure joy and it made Flynn smile too.
‘Sarah and Jacob? Who are they?’ asked Lauren.
‘My children.’ Antonia glanced at Simon.
‘And mine,’ he said.
Chapter 4
‘Yours?’ Lauren shot off the sofa as though her bum was burning, her face a study in shocked outrage. Flynn figured his was probably similar, total surprise without the outrage. Only Georgia took the announcement in her stride.
‘Yes, mine.’ Simon held out his hand to Antonia and she took it, holding onto him like a life preserver. He sat on the arm of the sofa next to her.
‘How old are they?’
‘Five,’ said Antonia.
‘Did you know?’ asked Flynn.
‘No, well I knew she was pregnant but …’ Simon looked at Antonia.
‘We were seventeen. My parents took charge and told him I was having an abortion,’ she said. ‘Your parents never knew, did they?’
Simon shook his head. ‘They’re very religious.’
‘So, what happened?’ asked Flynn, trying very hard to keep his voice level and non-confrontational. No wonder these two were so close. ‘You obviously didn’t have an abortion.’
‘No. I changed my mind.’ She met his gaze fearlessly and he held it for a moment before Lauren spoke, breaking the link.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She glared at Simon.
‘I didn’t know. I only found out this morning. You saw Tonia arrive.’
‘So are you going to set up house with her?’
‘Lauren …’ Simon looked at her helplessly. Totally bewildered. Flynn could have laughed at his expression if the situation had been different. If Antonia wasn’t involved. But the same question lurked at the back of his mind. Had she come here to move in with Simon?
Georgia stepped in. ‘Calm down, Lauren. Simon hasn’t seen Antonia for years. That’s right, isn’t it?’
He nodded. ‘Since we were seventeen.’
‘I thought my children should know their father and he has a right to know them,’ said Antonia. ‘I have no intention of forcing anyone to do anything. I don’t want …’ Her lip trembled, close to tears. Flynn wanted to put his arm around her but this wasn’t his business.
‘And you’re perfectly right,’ Georgia said. ‘You were brave coming here on your own. Did you know what Simon would say?’
Antonia moistened her lips. ‘Not really but I had a pretty good idea. My parents were worried but they didn’t know him like I do … did.’
‘And if he’d said go away?’ asked Flynn.
She looked at Simon. ‘He wouldn’t.’
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. ‘No, I wouldn’t. I’m proud to be a father. Twins! How about that?’ He beamed around at everyone.
How about that, indeed. Lauren remained tight-lipped, hurt, and in her eyes, betrayed. He’d seen that look on a girl’s face before. Not his fault this time. Flynn raised his beer. ‘Congratulations, mate.’
Antonia glanced at him, looked away just as fast, and smiled.
‘What are we celebrating?’ Aidan and Rufus clumped in.
‘Simon has twins,’ snapped Lauren.
‘Twin what?’ Rufus asked. ‘Lambs?’
‘Children,’ said Simon. ‘Antonia’s and mine.’
Aidan, stocky, solid as a brick, laughed and shook his head. ‘You kept it quiet. How did you manage that?’ He switched his attention to Antonia. ‘Sorry. I’m Aidan. This is Rufus. How do you do, Antonia?’
She shook hands with them both, eyeing Rufus’s numerous tattoos. Hard to tell what she thought about the bearded, long-haired, tough biker look.
Rufus went to the fridge and came back with two beers. ‘So what’s happening?’
‘Antonia and I knew each other in high school. She … we … got pregnant, her parents kept it quiet and told me she was having an abortion. I didn’t see her again until yesterday.’
‘I came to see Simon so he could get to know the twins,’ she said.
‘I’m a twin,’ said Rufus. ‘Identical.’
‘Really? You never told us that,’ said Simon.
‘Aidan and I knew,’ said Georgia.
‘Liam died when we were little. He had heart problems.’
‘I have a boy and a girl,’ said Antonia softly. ‘I’m so sorry about your brother. You must miss him.’
Rufus nodded. ‘Yep. It’s like I have a gap inside me. Crazy really, because we were about two when he died so I never knew him. Not really.’
‘Sorry, mate, but this is a depressing conversation,’ said Aidan. ‘Antonia. How long are you staying?’
‘I’m not sure. For a while.’
‘We should serve this food or it’ll be dried out.’ Lauren went to the small kitchen, bad vibes emanating in waves.
Simon grimaced and stood up.
‘I’ll go and help her,’ said Antonia and sprang off the couch.
‘But it’s my …’
‘It’s okay.’
Lauren had her back turned when Antonia approached, chopping something and adding it to a large bowl of salad that looked full to overflowing already.
‘Anything I can do?’ she asked.
‘Take the casserole dishes out of the oven.’
Antonia picked up two oven gloves and opened the oven door. ‘Hmm, it smells delicious. What is it?’ She carefully removed a large cast-iron baking dish.
‘Moussaka and the other dish has baked vegetables. They can go on the table.’
Still she didn’t turn around. Antonia took the dishes to the big wooden table. Lauren brought the salad and went back to the kitchen. Antonia followed.
‘Lauren, I’m not here to steal Simon from you,’ she said softly so no one would overhear. ‘Honestly. I’ve had … a … bad experience and …’ To her astonishment and embarrassment, a couple of tears ran down her cheeks. ‘Sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.’ She sniffed hard and quickly wiped her eyes and cheeks.
Lauren touched her arm gently, concern in her eyes. ‘No, I’m sorry. I’m not usually so rude. It’s just that … well … Simon, you know?’ She shrugged lightly, confirming Antonia’s impression from the morning.
‘He was never very cluey. He had very religious parents who thought everything to do with sex was a sin. We could never figure out how they managed to have him.’ Antonia smiled. ‘But as far as I’m concerned, he’s yours. If you can get him to understand.’
‘How did you manage it? I mean you must have …’ Lauren’s cheeks turned pink. ‘Sorry …’ She
giggled.
‘He was pretty cute back then. I guess my desire to make him sin outweighed his not to. I was very adventurous. And he was a seventeen-year-old guy …’
Lauren burst out laughing. ‘Right.’ She looked across to where the others sat deeply engrossed in some agricultural discussion. ‘He still is cute.’
‘He was always incredibly good-natured and loyal,’ Antonia said. ‘My parents didn’t want me to come here but I was positive Simon would want to meet his children. I just knew he’d love them and it’s not fair to keep them all apart. Is it?’
Lauren shook her head. ‘No, it’s not.’ She picked up a pottery flask with Salad Dressing written into the glaze. ‘Thank you for explaining.’
‘Is it ready yet?’ called Rufus. ‘We’re starving over here.’
‘Yes. Let’s eat.’
With the tension diffused, the mood around the table was relaxed and comfortable and for the first time in years Antonia felt safe with strangers. These people were honest and hardworking, striving to produce the best crops they could while living in as natural a way as possible. The contrast with where she’d been held captive was stark.
Mealtimes had been fraught. The women and children in his ‘family’ were silent unless specifically addressed. The children were almost too frightened to eat and subsequently were yelled at for not finishing their food. The women prepared and served and cleaned up afterwards, always in the knowledge one or other would be chosen to share his bed and the humiliation and violence that went along with that honour.
‘Are you okay?’ Simon touched her arm gently.
She blinked and focused on her hand with a forkful of food poised over her plate. All eyes were upon her. ‘Sorry. I zoned out for a minute. Tired I guess. It’s been a big day.’ She offered a bright smile round the table, skating past Flynn who was watching her with a slight crease in his brow and a question in those blue eyes. ‘This is a lovely dinner.’
‘Simon’s a good cook,’ said Georgia.
‘Did you cook? I thought Lauren did.’ She turned to him, surprised.
‘I like cooking.’ Simon squeezed her arm gently. ‘It’s so great you came.’
‘I’m pleased I did.’
Flynn raised his glass. ‘Here’s to Antonia. Long may she stay in Flynn’s Crossing.’
This time Lauren’s smile was as welcoming as the rest.
***
In the car going back to the motel, Flynn asked, ‘What did you say to Lauren in the kitchen? She was pretty pissed off with Simon, I thought. Next thing you were laughing together.’
‘She was surprised. Like everyone else. Like you.’ No way was she betraying Lauren’s trust by gossiping with this man.
‘I’ll admit it did surprise me, but now I think about it, it makes sense your coming here. I should have guessed.’
‘Didn’t it make sense before?’ What did he mean by ‘he should have guessed’?
‘Not really. I mean, I don’t know your parents, but they sound supportive and I wondered why you would choose to live so far away from them on your own. Now I understand.’
Antonia didn’t know how to reply. What business was it of his what her motivation was? Flynn didn’t press his point. At least he knew when to be quiet, which was a mark in his favour.
When he drove into the motel driveway she said, ‘Thank you for the ride.’
‘No worries. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Yes. What time should I come to the office?’
‘After lunch suit you?’
‘Okay.’ She had the breakfast shift at the Paragon, finishing at ten-thirty, so she’d have a couple of hours to fill. Maybe she’d visit Simon again or explore the area. She opened the car door.
‘When are you going back to Sydney?’
‘After I sign the lease.’
He nodded.
She got out but bent to say, ‘Thank you. Goodnight.’
‘See you tomorrow.’ He lifted a hand and his teeth flashed in the dim interior light.
She closed the door and walked towards her room. His car hadn’t moved. She stopped and turned. Why was he waiting? To see which room was hers? A chill ran up her spine, the hairs on her neck rose. She changed direction and forced herself to walk not run towards the reception office where a light still showed. An older grey-haired woman was on duty tonight, she’d seen her on the way out.
Flynn’s car tyres crunched on the gravel as he turned to go. She slowed her pace so his tail-lights had gone before she reached the door to the office. Her breathing slowed. The door to reception opened and a young man in shorts and a yellow fluoro shirt came out carrying a backpack.
‘Hi,’ he said.
‘Hello.’
He walked over to a bike propped against the wall and wheeled it down the path in the opposite direction to her room. Normal people doing normal things. She had to get used to that fact. She turned and went the right way. But why had Flynn waited in his car?
She unlocked her door. There could be any number of reasons. Texting? Answering the phone? Fiddling with the radio or choosing a CD? Or maybe he was just waiting to see she got in safely. Her dad did that when he dropped her friends home after some event, waited till they opened their door and a light came on. Caring and courteous.
She tossed her bag on the bed and went to the bathroom. She must stop being paranoid. Her car was parked right outside her door. Flynn could easily guess which was her room.
But before she hopped into bed, she put the safety chain on.
***
Simon couldn’t concentrate. He must be driving the others nuts; but in their typical easygoing manner, one or the other would collect the rake he’d left in the garden, or the half-full barrow of compost and wheel it to the shed, collect the eggs he’d forgotten all about and generally tidy up after him and remind him of a chore.
Over the evening beer on Aidan’s front verandah, two days day after Antonia had left Flynn’s Crossing to collect his children, he apologised for the twentieth time.
‘You’re right, mate,’ Aidan said. ‘We all know what’s going on. It’s a big thing, meeting your kids.’ He stretched his long tanned legs out and slapped at a hovering insect.
Georgia came out with a dish of assorted nuts and sat down. ‘She’s a lovely girl.’
‘Yes she is. She showed me a picture of the twins. They look like her and they’re beautiful.’
‘She must have had a rough trot there for a while,’ said Aidan.
‘Yeah, I reckon.’
‘And you had no idea she’d kept the babies?’ asked Georgia.
Simon shook his head. As he looked at Aidan’s weather-beaten face with the kindly grey eyes, and Georgia’s equally calm and non-judgemental hazel ones, the urge to tell what had really happened was strong. These people were like family; in fact, they were more like parents than his own had ever been—more loving, more caring and far more understanding of life and all the odd issues and troubles that living threw at people.
Rufus was the same, although Simon suspected he’d had a chequered career before he came to Flynn’s Crossing with Georgia and Aidan, and had probably had more than a tussle with drugs along the way. Rufus didn’t say, Simon didn’t ask. If he wanted to mention something from his past he would. Like Antonia. Like the twins thing.
So he had to respect Antonia’s wish to keep her past private, as difficult as that may be.
‘What are her parents like?’ asked Georgia. She knew what his were like.
‘Separated, both remarried. I knew her mother was, but Tonia said her dad is going to marry someone who was a teacher at school. Her music teacher.’
‘Is Antonia musical?’
‘She used to learn the flute. I don’t know about now.’
‘That’ll be good,’ said Aidan. ‘I’ll pull out the old fiddle and we can play a few tunes.’
‘She might not like Irish folk tunes,’ said Georgia in a dampening voice.
Simon smiled and caught h
er eye. The odd occasions when Aidan had played his violin for them had been excruciating for the audience.
‘She can learn. What’s not to like?’ He took a swig from his stubbie.
‘Will the parents come up to help her settle in?’ asked Georgia.
‘She texted me today and said she didn’t want her mother to see the house until she’d got it fixed up a bit. Her dad and his fiancée, Jax, are both working but her dad might take a few days off to come up.’
‘What does he do?’
‘Landscape gardener.’
Aidan nodded. ‘Nice. He’ll be interested in having a look at this place.’
‘Probably. He’s a good bloke. He used to be pretty strict but for the right reasons. Her mum’s a bit hysterical at times. Her brother’s starting uni this year.’
Rufus wandered along with a sixpack under his arm and joined them. Aidan and Georgia’s house was the original large sprawling weatherboard home on the fifty-acre block of land they’d bought ten years earlier. The Big House had naturally become the meeting place for business discussions, celebratory get-togethers and after-work beers on the verandah. Rufus had converted what had been a tumbledown abandoned servant’s cottage but the other houses, like Simon’s, were kit homes, built new by whoever came to live at the cooperative.
‘She’s even more beautiful than I remember,’ Simon said. ‘She was always pretty. Really vivacious and confident. The sort of person you thought could do anything.’
‘Having twins must have knocked that out of her,’ said Rufus. ‘I wouldn’t say she was full of confidence now.’
Simon drank some of his beer and rolled the chilled bottle between his palms. ‘She’s changed.’
‘Did she finish school?’
‘I don’t know.’ She couldn’t have. Poor Tonia.
Georgia shook her head. ‘It’s so unfair. The girl is always left with the responsibility of bringing up the children and wrecking her career opportunities. She’s lucky her parents were onside and helped her.’
Simon sat up straight, bristling. ‘I would have helped her if I’d known. If they’d let me near her.’
‘I’m not criticising you, but you were seventeen, what could you have done?’
‘He could have offered emotional support,’ said Aidan. ‘They were both involved.’
The House At Flynn's Crossing Page 5