by S R Silcox
“Oh, is that what I am now?” Georgia asked, eyebrow raised.
“Everyone’s got to start somewhere,” Zoe replied. They smiled at each other for a bit and then Zoe said, “Want to take a break?”
“Sure,” Georgia said. She pulled the dust mask over her head and placed it on the door with her gloves and safety glasses.
Zoe led them to the back of the shed where her bar fridge was kept and pulled out a couple of beers. She opened the top of one and handed it to Georgia and then opened hers and took a long drink. She wandered over to the bench and pulled herself up to sit on it. Georgia did the same.
“Cheers,” Georgia said.
They clinked bottles and as she took a drink, Zoe watched as Georgia glanced around the workshop.
“It’s a lot neater than I thought it would be,” Georgia said.
“That’s just because I’ve been moving stuff out,” Zoe replied. “Usually that rack over there is full of tools, and there’s a big pile of old timber stacked over there by the door.”
“You’re moving out?” Georgia asked.
“Not by choice,” Zoe replied, taking a long drink of her beer.
“Oh?”
Zoe sucked in a breath and let it out. “Long story short, I was going to buy the place, but it was sold from under me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Georgia said. “Have you got anywhere else to go?”
“We aren’t exactly swimming in empty old workshops here,” Zoe replied. “I’m storing stuff at work until I find somewhere but until then?” She shrugged.
“How long have you got left in here?” Georgia asked.
“A couple more weeks. Today was my last class with the kids.” Zoe shook her head. “I just had so many plans for this place, you know?”
“Yeah,” Georgia replied. “I do.”
Zoe glanced at Georgia. She was smiling one of those smiles where your mouth said you were happy but your eyes didn’t agree. She wondered what could make Georgia feel like that, and not wanting to upset her by asking, Zoe cleared her throat and jumped down off the bench. “So, should we finish all of these doors? Or do you want to get back to your motel?”
Georgia pushed herself off the bench. “I’m happy to keep going if you are.”
“We should have enough beer in the fridge to see us through,” Zoe said with a nod.
“Sold,” Georgia grinned.
“Right, then,” Zoe nodded. “We’re going to need some music.” Zoe walked over to the wall near the door, turned on the old radio and turned it up. Then she grabbed her dust mask and a door and placed it on the bench across from Georgia and got started on stripping away the paint.
Every now and then, she glanced up to see Georgia working away on her door. Apart from her classes and occasionally Nick and Jack, she didn’t often share the workspace with anyone else. Not like this anyway. For the first time in a long time, she felt content.
Hours later, as Zoe was wiping down the last door, Molly walked into the workshop. Zoe didn’t hear her thanks to the radio, and she jumped when Molly tapped her on the shoulder to grab her attention. She checked her watch and threw back her head. “I’m so sorry, Mol. I’ve done it again.”
Molly leaned in and raised her voice over the radio. “I thought I’d find you wallowing over here, but I can see I was totally wrong about that.” She nodded over to Georgia, who was on the far end of the bench, wiping down her doors. She obviously hadn’t heard Molly come in either.
“I can see why you lost track of time,” Molly said with a smile.
“We were just getting some work done,” Zoe replied, turning down the radio.
“Whatever you say,” Molly said, but Zoe got the impression she didn’t believe her. She handed Zoe a container. “Spaghetti. I brought enough for lunch tomorrow, or you know, it would be enough for two if that’s what you wanted.”
“Hey, Molly!” Georgia called from the other end of the workshop. She dropped her rag into her bucket of water and walked down and stood beside Zoe.
“I brought some dinner,” she said.
“Oh?” Georgia said, looking at Zoe, mildly confused.
“If Zoe doesn’t make dinner, this is usually where I can find her,” Molly explained. “It’s her happy place.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. Molly made her sound like a child needing to find a place to hide whenever she felt bad. Which if she thought about it, wasn’t actually too far from the truth, but she wasn’t about to admit that in front of Georgia.
“There’s enough there for two,” Molly said, not even trying to be subtle.
“Only one set of cutlery,” Zoe replied without thinking and then realised how that must have sounded.
“Oh, that’s okay. I should probably get going anyway,” Georgia said.
“I can drop you off,” Zoe said. “Save you walking.” She hoped Georgia hadn’t taken the cutlery comment as an insult, and the least she could do was drop her home.
“Are you sure?” Georgia asked.
“Of course,” Zoe smiled.
“I should get home too,” Molly said. “If you haven’t got any plans tomorrow, Georgia, you’re welcome out to our place for lunch.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Georgia replied.
“You wouldn’t be,” Molly said with a wave of her hand. “Besides, I’m trying out recipes for my scones to enter into the show next weekend. I could use an unbiased opinion.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “I’m sure Georgia has more important things to do.”
Georgia shook her head. “Not really. Besides, I do love a good scone.”
“Is that right?” Molly asked. “That’s settled then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Zoe and Georgia walked Molly out, and waved her off as she drove down the road.
“I guess I should shut up shop and get you home,” Zoe said.
“I guess so,” Georgia replied.
Zoe handed Georgia the container of spaghetti and headed back inside the workshop to lock up.
THIRTY-FOUR
As they pulled up in front of the motel, Zoe asked, “Did you have any plans for dinner?”
“Not really,” Georgia replied. To be honest, she hadn’t really thought about it because until Molly had arrived at the workshop, Georgia had totally lost track of the time. But if Zoe was asking her out for dinner, she certainly wouldn’t say no. They’d had a great night at the workshop, at least Georgia thought so, and she wouldn’t mind spending some time with Zoe outside of work.
She had a feeling she’d seen Zoe in her element at her workshop, teaching the kids in her class that afternoon and then showing her how to prep the doors. She seemed to be a natural at teaching, which is why Nick probably liked working for her so much.
“I’m happy to share my spaghetti,” Zoe offered. “If you want to. I mean, Molly always gives me way too much anyway.”
“Only if you’re happy to,” Georgia said, remembering Molly’s surprise that morning about Zoe sharing her food last night.
“Of course,” Zoe replied. “But only if you’ve got some cutlery. Otherwise one of us will be eating with our hands.”
“I think I can find some,” Georgia replied with a smile.
When they got to Georgia’s room, she said, “Sorry about the mess. I wasn’t expecting visitors.”
“It’s okay,” Zoe said as she stepped inside. “You call this messy? Wait til you see my room.”
They both laughed and then Georgia realised what Zoe had said. Zoe must have too, judging by the way she turned away quickly and asked, “So, drinks?”
“Oh, yes.” Georgia opened the bar fridge and realised she didn’t have much to offer. She didn’t know what she’d been thinking, offering her a drink when she didn’t actually have anything. “I don’t have a mini bar, so you’re limited to water, a milk pod or white wine that Ren left here last week.” She uncapped the bottle of wine and sniffed. “Smells okay.”
Zoe smiled. “Wine would be great.”
Georgia poured the wine into two mugs and carried them to the table. When she sat down, Zoe raised her mug and said, “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” Georgia replied, clinking mugs with Zoe and taking a sip. She squeezed her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry. Ren hasn’t got the best taste.”
Zoe took a sip, closed one eye and pulled a face like she’d just sucked a lemon. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is top shelf.”
Georgia grinned and dug into her spaghetti. It was as good as the stew had been the night before. “Molly’s a great cook.”
Zoe nodded. “Means I don’t have to.”
Georgia swallowed her mouthful of spaghetti, took a sip of her wine and lifted an eyebrow.
“Sorry,” Zoe said, shaking her head. “That sounded terrible. I can cook and I do most of the time it’s just, I think maybe Molly and Jack worry too much about me sometimes.”
“Oh?”
“I was just out of my teens when Mum and Dad died, so Jack and Molly took care of me. I think they forget sometimes that I’m a grown woman.”
Georgia smiled and nodded. “I get that. I mean, Ren, who you met the other day, is sort of the same.”
“Oh, really?”
Georgia nodded and took a breath. She hadn’t had any intention of telling anyone about Amy’s death, but it seemed something she should share, since Zoe was sharing about her parents’ deaths. “My partner, Amy, died a couple of years ago.”
“Shit,” Zoe said, leaning back into her chair. “I’m so sorry.”
Georgia shook her head. “It’s okay. Really.” Georgia paused to take a sip of her wine. “Ren thinks it’s time for me to move on.”
“What do you think?” Zoe asked.
Georgia looked at Zoe then, really looked at her. Maybe it was the wine making Georgia mellow, but whatever it was, there was a warmth to Zoe’s eyes that Georgia hadn’t noticed before.
“You know, I don’t think anyone’s really actually asked me that before,” Georgia said finally.
“Seems sort of important, doesn’t it?” Zoe’s mouth lifted into a half-smile as she brought her drink to her lips. She let it hover there a moment before she took a sip.
“I guess so,” Georgia replied. She leaned back into her chair, relaxing a little more now. “I promised Amy I would, but I never thought I’d keep it.”
“Damn dying people asking you to make promises,” Zoe said. She turned the mug around in her hands. “Dad made me make one too and I haven’t kept it, and now it’s been taken out of my hands anyway.”
“The workshop?” Georgia asked.
Zoe nodded. “He told me not to go into the family business, well before he died. I didn’t have much of an intention to, but then he and Mum died and Jack needed me. So I quit uni and did my apprenticeship under him. I didn’t intend on staying around so long but I really had nowhere else to go.” She let out a breath. “I guess I just figured here is better than nowhere.”
“So, you’re a builder who doesn’t like building?” Georgia asked.
Zoe snorted out a laugh. “I grew into it,” she said. “And anyway, I love the classes I teach, with the kids. That’s what I wanted to do, once Jack got going with the business, but—” She shrugged. “I guess that’s just another pie in the sky thing now.”
“Surely you can find somewhere else?” Georgia asked.
“There’s nowhere big enough for my tools and equipment.” Zoe drained her mug and put it on the table. “And anyway, Jack’s hoping your boss is the gateway to bigger things.”
“My boss?” Georgia asked, thrown by the change in direction.
“Rick,” Zoe said.
It took a moment for Georgia’s brain to catch up. “Right. Rick. My boss. What exactly is Jack hoping for?”
Zoe screwed up her nose. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything.” She stood up and picked up her plate, looking around the room. “Should I rinse this out in the bathroom or something?”
“Leave it. I’ll sort it out,” Georgia said, confused at why the conversation had ended so abruptly.
Zoe put her plate back on the table. “I should probably get going. It’s getting late and you need to have a shower and… stuff.”
Georgia sniffed her armpits. “Are you telling me I smell?” she joked.
“What? No, of course not, I just mean—”
“I was joking,” Georgia said, reaching out and touching Zoe’s arm. She realised half a second after she’d done it, and pulled away quickly. “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she said, hoping she didn’t look as embarrassed as she felt.
“Right,” Zoe replied. She turned and walked out the door, Georgia trailing behind her. Zoe stood on the doorstep and there was an awkward silence between them as they just stood there for what seemed like an eternity.
Georgia realised all of a sudden that she was resisting the urge to kiss Zoe. Then she wondered why on earth she was resisting it. Before she could talk herself out of it, she leaned in, intending to kiss Zoe on the cheek. But Zoe turned just at the same moment and appeared to be going to say something, but whatever it was, it was silenced by Georgia’s lips finding Zoe’s. Zoe didn’t pull away, Georgia realised with relief, and when Georgia pulled back, she noticed Zoe had gone slightly pink.
“Sorry,” Zoe said, breathless. “I, um—” She ran her hand over her the back of her head.
Zoe appeared to be flustered, which Georgia thought was sweet.
“It’s okay,” Georgia replied. “Thank you for dinner. And the chat. It was, nice.”
“Any time,” Zoe said, shoving her hands into her jeans pockets. “I’ll, er, pick you up around eleven tomorrow? For lunch?”
Georgia nodded. “I’ll see you then.” She waited in the doorway as Zoe walked down the driveway to her car. When Zoe got to the end of the driveway, she turned and waved. Georgia waved back and then Zoe disappeared around the corner.
Georgia closed the door and rested her head on it. “What on earth are you getting yourself into?” she asked herself. She blew out a breath and headed to the bathroom. Zoe had been too polite to say so, but Georgia really did need a shower.
THIRTY-FIVE
How had one single kiss almost sent Zoe over the edge? It wasn’t even a proper kiss, just a gentle, thank-you-for-dropping-me-home-and-sharing-your-dinner kiss. It was on the lips, though. Zoe touched her mouth with her fingers and then realised what she was doing. She shook herself. Bloody hell, Zoe. Pull it together. It didn’t mean anything. Did it?
Oh God, what if it did? What if Georgia was expecting Zoe to kiss her back properly? It’d been so long since Zoe had even been close enough to another woman to even consider kissing her, she was out of practice.
And where did that kiss leave her today? What on earth was she supposed to do when she saw Georgia at the motel? Was she supposed to acknowledge it? Ignore it? Forget it ever happened?
She thought about ringing Molly and asking her advice, but what would she say to her? It was just one very small, very insignificant kiss. But why did it feel like it was so much more?
She pulled into a park outside the motel and pulled the rear view mirror around so she could see herself. She raked her fingers through her hair and tucked a stray couple of strands behind her ear. She took a deep breath and got out of the car. When she arrived at Georgia’s door, she took another deep breath to calm the nerves that had started to flutter in her stomach, adjusted her shirt collar and wiped her hands on her jeans. Then, she knocked. Georgia opened the door and Zoe’s throat seemed to close up. She swallowed hard and managed to squeak out a “Hi.”
Georgia stood smiling at her in a flowing summery dress that showed off her shoulders. It did nothing to calm Zoe’s nerves. “Ready to go?” Georgia asked, closing the door.
“Yep. Yes. Let’s go,” Zoe said, turning on her heels and walking off before realising she’d left Georgia trailing behind her. She mentally kicked herself and turned back and waited for Georgia to catch up. Wha
t the hell was wrong with her?
“In a hurry?” Georgia asked.
“Don’t want to be late for Molly’s roast,” Zoe replied, trying to calm herself down. This was Georgia, her client, who she was taking to lunch. It was nothing, really. Businesses took clients to lunch all the time. Not to their brother’s house, granted, but still. Nothing except the servo and the pub were open on a Sunday in Elizabeth Creek. But Georgia wasn’t just a client anymore. Zoe knew that deep down, no matter how she tried to frame it that kiss last night, intended or not, had changed everything.
As she walked around the back to the driver’s side, she took a couple of deep breaths. When she got in, she decided she needed some music to break the tension. She leaned over to the glove box and pulled it open, spilling cassettes onto Georgia’s lap and feet.
“Ah, shit,” she cursed, trying to pick up the cassettes.
Georgia scooped up the cassettes off the floor. “I can get them. Did you want anything in particular?”
Zoe sat back into her seat and shook her head. “Any of them is fine.” She started the car and drove off as Georgia sifted through the cassettes. Hopefully lunch wouldn’t be so awkward.
By the time they arrived at Molly and Jack’s house, Zoe had calmed down. Georgia had maintained most of the conversation on the drive, thankfully, asking questions Zoe could answer without making a fool of herself. Questions like whether Zoe grew up in Elizabeth Creek and where she went to school. Things Zoe already knew the answers to without having to think too hard.
Georgia jumped down from the ute before Zoe had a chance to open her door and said how impressed she was with the house. “It’s based on some old Queenslander designs Jack found in the library years ago,” Zoe explained. “Built it himself, with Dad’s help.”
They walked around the side of the house to the back where Ryan and Josie were chasing each other around the yard with Nerf guns. Zoe led Georgia across the back deck and inside to the kitchen, where Molly gave Georgia a hug, gushed over her dress and gave Zoe the side-eye and a quick up and down glance at what she was wearing. Normally, she’d wear a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, but today she was wearing a button down shirt with a good pair of jeans she normally reserved for special occasions.