by Mark Stewart
WADE AND ANNELI walked past few people on their lazy stroll along the main street of Darwin CBD.
“Everyone must be at a disco,” murmured Wade, breaking the ice.
Anneli looked sideways at the man walking next to her. She knew it to be an awkward moment. The first few minutes of any new relationship were always the hardest. Only the right questions should be asked and answered. The chemistry between the couple must be brewing. Both needed to be open to the other. Being too open could be dangerous. If one revealed too many personal secrets, the other might be scared off which in turn could make the night end in a, ‘thank you for the evening and a goodbye forever handshake.’
Although they hadn’t seen each other for almost a year, to Anneli, the chemistry, she felt when Wade kissed her on the bridge seemed to be more intense. In fact, her feelings for the man seemed to be growing stronger. Could he be the one to save her from the pathetic miserable future life? The last of her questions before any relationship could even begin needed to include facts on finance. She made up her mind at the time of writing the note and sealing it in the bottle with a kiss no matter what, poor or rich; it didn’t matter. Now the man she dreamt about nearly every night since they met was walking next to her. She certainly saw holes in her ideas of financial security.
“A dollar for your thoughts?” whispered Wade.
Anneli looked up into his eyes. “I don’t mean to be rude, where do you live?”
“You’ve asked an off the cuff question. I thought you might be thinking how much money I earned.”
Anneli’s face flushed bright red. “If you must know I’ve been enjoying the evening walk.”
Wade looked ahead, whispering gently. “I did expect our reunion to progress a lot smoother than it has.”
“Meeting each other after such a long time is awkward,” hinted Anneli.
“I’d have to agree,” replied Wade. “I live in Melbourne.”
“If I were to guess I’d say Melbourne is at least two thousand miles from here.”
“It’s well over four thousand miles.”
“I’m impressed at the dedication you used to find me,” blurted Anneli, stopping outside a general goods store.
“Every second I spent on the search was worth it. Tell me, what’s the Goss on the wedding plans?”
Anneli looked shocked at hearing the words of her plight spoken out loud.
“How did you know about the plans?” she asked.
“I have friends in high places.”
“You have been misinformed. It’s supposed to be an engagement.”
A lazy smile presented itself on Wade’s face. “I’ll have to reprimand my informant.”
“For the record, I detest the idea. My father has organized for me to meet my future husband.”
“Sounds barbaric,” said Wade.
The pair heard footsteps approaching and quickly restarted their walk.
An old man wearing dark blue coveralls, a tattered wide brimmed hat pushed firmly on his head, stopped running when he came close enough for Wade and Anneli to hear his shouts. Pointing at the sky, his long grey beard twitched. “You two love birds should take shelter. There’s a cyclone forming. Where ever you’re headin’ get there sooner than later. There’s not much time. Not much time at all.”
He hurried off into the darkness. Wade and Anneli could hear his voice some distance away warning others of the imminent danger.
Wade’s mind flashed back to the falling barometer needle. The only hint of a cyclone came from the slight cooling of the temperature.
“I feel uncomfortable at what the old man implied,” confessed Anneli. “Maybe we should be looking for safer ground just in case.”
“I know a place where we can go,” hinted Wade. “If he’s wrong we’ll see a beautiful sunrise.”
“What if he’s right?”
“There’s no need to worry; we’ll be safer than a church full of people. My home isn’t far. I’m positive you’re going to love meeting Charlotte. Now tell me your story?”
“Who’s Charlotte?”
“Surely you’re not jealous?” blurted Wade. Skipping ahead a few steps he swiveled on his toes, waiting for Anneli to walk into his arms.
“What a slick move,” she giggled.
Wade swept Anneli off her feet. Looking up into her eyes, he gradually lowered her feet to the ground. Placing one hand behind her head, he pulled her towards him.
“I’ve waited almost an entire year for this. I can’t wait any longer.”
“You have yet to divulge who Charlotte is?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Wade and Anneli stood in the middle of the street outside a pharmacy window locked in a loving kiss; both wanting to re-ignite the kiss on the bridge.
Wade eventually pulled back.
Anneli felt totally devastated at the interruption. Her emotions were falling fast. She wanted to shrink away so she could be swallowed up by the darkness. Convinced beyond doubt prematurely ending the kiss meant the night was over she started to think Wade’s story of trying to find her had been an illusion. How could he have dashed her hope? He might as well have opened her chest and yanked out her heart.
Wade quickly smoothed over the scene. “Believe me; I didn’t want to interrupt the kiss. If you look skywards, it’s a gorgeous evening. The beauty of the stars is dull compared to the radiant features of your face.”
Still aching inside, Anneli reluctantly viewed the stars. Her breathing momentarily stopped. “Even the breeze has dropped,” she managed to whisper.
“Though the moment has been interrupted, the sky has enriched our reunion.”
Anneli wrapped her arms tighter around Wade. The words he spoke were starting to melt her anguish. She wanted desperately for her heart to dominate what she thought.
“My ideas of late have been way off.”
Wade copied her move, cementing their cuddle. “Where have you been hiding my entire life?”
“Nowhere,” replied Anneli boasting a school girl’s grin. “I’ve been waiting for my hero to sweep me off my feet.”
“You’re looking for a romantic lifestyle?”
“Yes, I am.”
Anneli took hold of Wade’s hand. Walking along the street, they watched their reflection in the glass shop windows. When the shops were gone, they both looked at nothing in particular.
Anneli started to wonder how Wade might react to the news of her appointed contract deed her father made. Even though they touched on the subject earlier, they didn’t discuss it at length. If she were to listen to what her heart suggested, she needed to be certain. Anneli looked sideways at Wade. ‘Is he the type of man to click his tongue and walk?’ She knew of only one way to find out.
“You’ve gone quiet,” commented Wade.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“I hope it’s nothing I’ve done?”
“Far from it,” confessed Anneli.
“I know you’ll tell me what’s on your mind when the time is right.”
“You’re a hard man to predict.”
“I blame it on my career.”
“Are you in the army?”
Wade let a chuckle slip. “No, I’m a lawyer, or at least I used to be.” He heard Anneli sigh before looking away. “Please, tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I suppose I do owe you an explanation.” For several moments, Anneli studied the ground at her feet. “When I was born, my father received a photo of a baby in the mail. A few weeks later and a contract was written and signed. I am expected to marry a man I have never met.”
The truth behind the story the messenger spun took Wade totally by surprise. He didn’t know how to react. One thing he knew he needed to keep his emotions in check.
“Stand up against the contract.”
“I’m expected to accept it. No exceptions. I was told years ago; the man’s family is rich.”
“Money’s not everything.”
“Exactly what I told my sis
ter.”
“Simply tell your father no.”
“I’ve tried. The closer the meeting gets, the more I feel it’s easier just to give in.”
Wade lifted Anneli’s head, so they were looking at each other square in the face.
“Even though I don’t know you yet, you strike me to be an extremely strong, courageous young woman. I feel it in my spirit you can say no. You should stick to your ideas come what may. I’m positive when you relay how you feel your father will change his mind.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“What about if I talk to your father explaining how much this idea is stressing you?”
“No. I have to solve this problem on my own. My father and I have discussed the stupid idea a few times. I also told him how I felt about the whole mess.”
“What did he say?”
Anneli squeezed Wade’s hand. Tears rolled unhindered down over her cheeks. “He threatened to drop my name from his will. Adding to the list, he said he’ll never see me again. I don’t want to back down on the idea I have the right to choose my husband. The trouble is it’s getting harder every day.”
“You should never back off from what you want,” blurted Wade.
“Again, I thank you for being on my side. It’s nice to know someone agrees.”
“What your father has proposed is illegal.”
“I know. Believe me; it’s easy to say.”
“Yes, it is. In an Australian court, you’d win hands down.”
“It’s good to know the law is also on my side.”
Wade restarted walking along the street; gently tugging Anneli’s arm so she’d follow.
“Where are, we going?” she asked.
Wade winked. “I’m positive the place I’m thinking of will cheer you up. I promise every one of your ideas will turn out.”
“You’ve said a big commitment.”
“I sure did,” replied Wade.
Anneli fell silent, allowing the man, holding her hand to take her on a journey. Deep down she felt excited by not knowing where they might end up. She decided to entertain the feeling of suspense.
The two walked down the road which ended at the beach. Before Wade and Anneli rounded the last bend, tall masts from the many yachts could be seen towering over the trees.
Anneli didn’t know what to make of it. She hadn’t known Wade for a great length of time. She started to count the hours since they met in her head before thinking he lived next to the marina in a little one room seaside shack. It could even have a small wooden table amongst a miniature garden and a small window in which to view the sunset. Anneli loved her idea so much she posted it from her daydream to her consciousness. She started to relax, deciding she discovered the secret of Wade’s little shanty.
Stepping onto the wharf Wade firmly held Anneli’s hand. He noticed her expression slowly change from confident to complete bewilderment the further they walked along the wooden slats towards the end. At the halfway point, they heard the water gently lapping the pylons. Wade started to doubt if the young lady would approve of Charlotte.
“Wade, where are you taking me?” Anneli started to tug at his arm in an attempt to signal she wanted to return to the road.
“We’re almost there. Soon you’ll meet Charlotte. I know when you meet her you’ll understand.”
Glaring at Wade, Anneli stopped walking. “Tell me who Charlotte is? If you don’t, I refuse to take another step.”
Wade smiled his warm luring expression again.
Anneli didn’t fall for it. She looked determined to have her say. “I’m not into guessing games. Tell me or I’ll turn my back on you.”
Wade gently took her hand. “We’re here. Take a look.”
Anneli looked sideways, staring at a brand-new yacht.
Wade stepped behind Anneli, slipping his arms around her waist. He swiveled her slightly. “You’re looking directly at Charlotte.”
“You named a yacht, Charlotte?”
“Yes and no.”
“Which is it?”
“The bloke who built the yacht christened her Charlotte after his wife. He had said before I bought her it is bad luck to change names. I’m the first one to agree on what you’re thinking; what a strange name for a yacht. I reckon the name suits her.”
Anneli confessed slowly. “I thought Charlotte might be your girlfriend or your wife or a daughter.”
Wade looked horrified.
Anneli smiled first. A few seconds ticked off before they began laughing at the misunderstanding.
“You’re right, after the initial shock the name does grow on you,” giggled Anneli.
“Care to come onboard for the five-cent tour?”
“Yes, I’d love to.”
Wearing a widening grin, Wade helped Anneli onboard. Almost immediately she ran her hand along the main boom before looking up at the pulley bolted to the top of the mast.
“The mainsail appears to be rolled up and stowed perfectly,” she remarked.
“Of course,” replied Wade.
Anneli stepped onto the bridge. Slipping behind the wheel, she rubbed her hands around the outside of the highly-polished wood.
“You seem quite at home on a yacht,” stated Wade.
“I’ve been on a few,” replied Anneli.
“Come, I’ll show you downstairs.”
The young lady followed Wade into the belly of the yacht. Standing on the bottom step, he faced Anneli. “You’re the first visitor.”
“This is indeed a momentous occasion.”
Wade palmed an open hand allowing Anneli to step into the small lounge. She nodded her approval at the inner sanctum.
Wade showed off the galley, the dining room, and the bedroom.
“I wondered when this room might come into the equation.”
Red-faced, Wade quickly closed the door. “Care for a drink?”
“What are you offering?”
“You can have either a white or a red wine.”
“White sounds nice,” hinted Anneli.
She sat at the small round table pondering over the man as he pulled a bottle of white from under the bench. She watched him fan out water crackers on a plate and coat the surface in a salmon topping.
Before finishing the last biscuit, Wade suddenly looked up. “You do enjoy eating fish?”
Anneli deduced he looked a little nervous. Maybe after all the trouble, he’d gone through to find her he unexpectedly thought she mightn’t eat seafood.
“Salmon is palatable,” she whispered on a sigh.
Wade walked to the table carrying a plate of biscuits and two glasses of wine.
“Do you live permanently onboard?”
“No, this place is only temporary,” admitted Wade sitting opposite Anneli.
“Where in Melbourne do you live? Do you have a house or do you share it?”
“I live on the coast overlooking the water.”
Wade felt a little uncomfortable at the personal questions. To hide the fact, he gulped half a glass of wine.
“You don’t answer my questions too easily do you?” mentioned Anneli.
“I’m a private person. I take a while to warm up.”
‘It’s not a good trait,’ thought Anneli, looking at the floor. “I thought we were trying to get to know one another.”
“I apologize. I’ve worked so hard trying to find you I don’t want to lose you by coming on too strong.”
“Honesty doesn’t seem to be your weakest point. I like it. You say you’re a lawyer?”
“Was a lawyer,” replied Wade. “I’ve recently changed directions.”
“Is this yacht one of the perks of the job?”
Wade shook his head, giving her a blank stare.
“I don’t mean to sound rude. You certainly don’t look old enough to have earned enough money to buy the small boat attached to the stern of this yacht.”
“I’d prefer it if we changed the subject.”
“I think our dat
e if you could label it a date is over.” Anneli walked towards the stairs. Before climbing she faced Wade. “I believed we discovered something special on the bridge. A stranger walking alone at midnight insisting on giving me a kiss sounded and felt exciting.”
“I assumed we discovered something special too.”
“We were both wrong.”
Anneli climbed the stairs, marched across the deck and started walking along the pier back to the beach.
Wade sat alone at the table contemplating should he run after Anneli. He’d worked so hard to find her only to have her slip through his fingers. Staring at the bottle of wine on the bench determination slowly wrinkled his brow. She wasn’t going to slip away uncontested. If he only managed to convince Anneli, she shouldn’t be enslaved in a loveless marriage, then so be it.
CHAPTER SIX