February Or Forever

by Juliet Madison

  ‘I’ll text Mum tonight. Besides, Dad always makes enough to feed an army. He used to be a chef; if you come you’ll be in for a real treat.’

  ‘Are you trying to tempt me with food, Williams?’ Chrissie’s self-consciousness from before vanished as they returned to their usual banter.

  ‘Is it working?’

  Chrissie tapped her chin.

  Drew edged closer to her. ‘Roast chicken with balsamic glaze and rosemary potatoes, honeyed baby carrots, crusty olive and herb bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil, homemade vanilla custard with — ’

  ‘Okay, okay, you’ve won me over!’ In more ways than one. ‘Is that what he’s really making?’

  ‘Dunno.’ Drew shrugged. ‘Just said the first things that popped into my head.’

  ‘Tease!’ She slapped him playfully on the arm.

  ‘Payback for all that tickling.’

  ‘If I remember correctly, you were giving as good as you got.’

  ‘You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, Burns.’ He wriggled his fingers in front of her and she smiled. ‘So, I’ll tell them you’re coming? Deal?’

  ‘How can I refuse?’ She held out her hand and he shook it. ‘Deal.’

  What on earth was she getting herself into?

  Chapter 15

  After treating herself to a sleep-in, hanging out a load of washing, and sorting through Felicia’s old books — some to give away and some to keep — Chrissie sat ready and waiting on her verandah chair for Drew to arrive. Her fingers entangled themselves in each other, her foot tapped against the weathered timber decking, and she nibbled at the inside of her mouth. For some reason she was more nervous about meeting Drew’s parents than she had been to meet Drew himself.

  She picked up the bouquet of flowers she’d snipped from the garden to give to his parents, as even though Drew had told her not to bring anything, she couldn’t come empty-handed. With his father being an ex-chef she didn’t want to step on his toes by bringing something edible, in case it didn’t go with what he had planned, and as for wine, he would probably have one to match the food. So flowers it was. Simple, easy, and no one had to eat them in order to be polite.

  Chrissie stood and, right at that moment, Drew appeared from behind the rocky hill. He walked around it this time, instead of climbing over it, and he smiled as he approached her house. His casual buttoned shirt was open slightly at the top, exposing a light layer of hair, and he must have been wearing aftershave or cologne because the scent greeted her before he did. It was no budget cologne, something exotic and expensive, she could tell. Much nicer than Victor’s cheapo one he’d get from the pharmacy.

  ‘Good morning,’ she said. ‘I mean, good afternoon.’ She was so used to seeing him before midday.

  ‘Good morning and afternoon yourself.’ He smiled. ‘You look nice.’ His gaze ran down her body, not in a sleazy way, but in a way that told her he appreciated her style. She wore light beige linen trousers that draped loosely down her legs; thin, gold sandals that accentuated her tanned feet; and like Drew, a white cotton top, only hers had delicate patterning around the sleeves and scoop neck collar. She’d finished off the look with a pair of simple, gold hoop earrings, and her hair was twisted into a relaxed chignon. It was nice he could see her wearing clothing other than Lycra yoga gear, or daggy pyjamas like last night.

  ‘You look nice too. A bit of a change from the yoga gear, hey?’

  ‘Yeah, I don’t think we’ll be doing any today, unless my mum pesters you into a private lesson.’

  ‘Well apparently Helena is going to be introducing some open classes from next month, so you don’t have to be a guest of the retreat to take part. Your mum might like to come along.’

  ‘I’ll let her know.’ He eyed the flowers. ‘And she’ll appreciate those, thank you.’

  ‘It’s the least I can do, and thank you for inviting me. I should have got an extra bunch for you.’ She smiled.

  ‘No need,’ he replied. ‘And the staff always replace the flowers in my room every couple of days. I’m all good for flowers.’ He smiled.

  Chrissie turned to walk around the house. ‘Shall we get going?’

  He held out his arm. ‘Lead the way.’

  They walked around to the front of the house and she unlocked her small Hyundai with a high-pitched beep. ‘After you.’ She opened the door for Drew.

  ‘Aren’t you the gentleman,’ he joked, and she eyed him with a feigned warning look.

  As she got into the driver’s seat, she said, ‘If it gets cold later I’ll even put a jacket around you.’

  He chuckled. ‘Yes, quite the gentleman.’

  Chrissie started the engine and wished she’d taken a moment to turn the volume down on the CD player beforehand. Drew’s singing voice blared through the car, smack bang in the middle of his upbeat song, Fired Up. Her hand lunged for the volume knob, turning it off completely in a flash.

  ‘Sorry about that, didn’t realise the CD was in there.’ Only five minutes into their lunch date and she was already blushing like a beetroot. She switched on the radio to detract from the fan girl moment.

  ‘That’s okay, I’d rather my music be played at full volume than not at all.’ He grinned. ‘Though it is kind of weird listening to myself, so yes, radio is the way to go.’

  Nice one, Chrissie. Mental note — turn volume right down after each trip, just in case hot celebrity who created the music being played at full bore happens to enter the car. A few weeks ago she’d have thought there’d be more chance of being struck by lightning.

  Chrissie cleared her throat as she backed out of the driveway. ‘So, where do your parents live?’

  Several minutes later Chrissie had to force her mouth not to gape as they arrived in Tarrin’s Bay Hills and she pulled into the long driveway of Honeydew House.

  They live here? No way!

  The house she’d admired while driving past on her way to the country fair last weekend stood proudly in front of her. Serendipity wasn’t just her place of work, it was at work in her life, too.

  ‘You okay?’ Drew asked, as she turned off the engine and didn’t move.

  ‘Yes, fine, I’m just taking in the beautiful property.’

  ‘It’s a great place. Wait till you see inside, and out the back.’

  They stepped out of the car, and although she probably didn’t need to in such a secluded spot, she locked the car.

  The multicoloured loose pebble driveway crunched underfoot as she walked alongside Drew towards the grand front entrance, a glossy burgundy double door with gold doorknocker. The warmth of the door was enhanced by the rich tones of the brick house; deep earthy browns and mottled reds, giving the place an inviting, homely feel you could imagine coming home to on a winter’s night and curling up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Only it wasn’t winter, it was the tail end of summer and the sun streamed down through the tall trees, searing the bare skin on her arms.

  She followed Drew and stepped onto the porch, where a potted plant she didn’t know the name of sat shaded in the corner, a small handpainted sign above it on the wall saying, ‘Life is a journey, but home is a destination.’

  ‘Cute,’ Chrissie said, gesturing towards it.

  ‘And we have reached our destination,’ he replied.

  ‘You sound like my car’s GPS. Though less female.’

  ‘Is this better?’ He cleared his throat, ‘You have reached your destination,’ he said in a female version of his Downton Abbey accent.

  Chrissie covered her mouth as she giggled, then whacked him lightly on the arm.

  Drew tapped the doorknocker and the sound of footsteps scurrying to the door came from the inside. The double doors opened, framing a petite woman with white-grey hair that sat in curly tendrils around her face. Her mouth went wide in a welcoming smile, and Chrissie recognised Drew’s smile in hers.

  ‘Well, hello!’ She stood on tiptoes and leaned towards her son, kissing him on the cheek, before turning to Chrissie. �
��Chrissie, how lovely to meet you.’ The woman grasped her hand gently. It was soft and silky, like a baby’s, and she leaned towards Chrissie too and pecked her on the cheek.

  Wasn’t expecting that!

  ‘I’m Susan. Come on in.’ She stepped aside and they entered the house.

  ‘It’s lovely to meet you too. And thank you for having me here for lunch today. You have a beautiful home,’ Chrissie said.

  ‘I was thrilled when Drew said he wanted to bring a guest. I love having visitors over, gives me an excuse to do a spot of decorating.’ She smiled, and Chrissie admired the well-designed and decorated room.

  ‘Here, these are for you.’ Chrissie held out the flowers that, although nice, seemed oddly small and humble for such a grand house.

  ‘How gorgeous, thank you.’ Susan hurried over to the open plan kitchen where a man stood, busying himself with food preparation. In a flash she’d filled a vase with water and placed the flowers inside, putting them on display on the coffee table in the lounge area.

  The man turned around. ‘G’day there,’ he said with a small, kind smile. ‘Geoff Williams.’ He rinsed his hands under the tap, dried them off with a tea towel, and approached Chrissie. ‘Nice to meet you.’ He shook her hand.

  ‘Likewise. I hear you’re a fantastic chef, I’m looking forward to sampling your cooking.’ She hoped she didn’t sound too keen, like she was just here for a good feed or something.

  ‘I’m glad to have the opportunity to cook for someone new again,’ he said. ‘I love cooking for the family, but having a new guest here brings back the old days of bringing people together with the simple pleasure of a well cooked meal.’

  A flood of relief washed through Chrissie. These people were as lovely as Drew. He was so lucky to have both his parents still around, and a sister, and a niece and nephew.

  Chrissie smiled and her attention turned to the large table out on the patio. Susan gestured towards it. ‘Since it’s such a beautiful day, I thought we’d eat outside. I’ve got the citronella candles burning so hopefully they’ll keep the mozzies and flies at bay.

  ‘It looks beautiful.’ Chrissie stepped closer to the screen door that separated them from the outdoors. Susan slid it back and they stepped outside.

  The table was covered in a white tablecloth, and silver cutlery sparkled on top, along with polished white plates, and a large tall vase holding several bird of paradise flowers, creating an elegant yet simple display. She peered closer to find her name written in beautiful handwriting on a card, next to Drew’s.

  ‘Wow, this is lovely. You’ve gone to so much trouble.’

  ‘Ah, it’s no trouble, I love doing things like this.’

  ‘The name cards are a nice touch, thank you. You’re very organised.’

  ‘If I’m having guests I want them to feel welcome and appreciated,’ said Susan.

  ‘And you’re right about being organised,’ added Geoff, stepping outside to join them. ‘Susan’s the queen of organisation, aren’t you?’ He nudged his wife and she shrugged. ‘She’s so organised, she’s even pre-written my eulogy.’

  Drew shook his head and Chrissie tried not to look shocked. Her raised eyebrows must have conveyed concern because Geoff touched her lightly on the arm.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘I’m not dying or anything, she just likes to be prepared.’

  ‘Oh.’ Relief lowered her eyebrows.

  ‘Well, it pays to do things in advance. You never know what’s around the corner,’ Susan explained. ‘And anyway, it’s not pre-written, it’s just a draft at the moment. I’ll have to add a few more details and polish it up when the dreadful day arrives of course, but at least I have a basic outline to guide me.’

  ‘And what if — heaven forbid — you die before me?’ Geoff asked.

  ‘Then you can use it as a template to write mine,’ Susan said matter-of-factly.

  Chrissie turned her lips inward, not sure what the appropriate response to something like that was.

  ‘Anyway, Mum, no need to start talking eulogies and funerals just yet,’ Drew said, hooking his arm under his mum’s elbow. ‘Let’s get some drinks organised.’ He looked at Chrissie. ‘What can I get you? Wine, juice, water?’

  ‘She’ll have a nice glass of my best red, won’t you?’ said Geoff. ‘It’s been hibernating in my wine cellar for years, now’s as good a time as any to open it.’

  ‘Oh, well don’t feel you have to. You might like to save it for a special occasion.’

  ‘This is a special occasion, Drew hasn’t brought over a guest since he was, well, about eighteen, have you, buddy?’ Geoff patted his son on the back, and Drew’s cheeks turned a light pink.

  Chrissie smiled. ‘In that case, I’d love one.’ She caught Drew’s eye before he went back inside with Susan, and she realised that when it came down to it, he was just a regular guy, and she was a regular girl. Behind all the glamour and glitz of celebrity life, Drew Williams was your run-of-the-mill average guy with parents who embarrassed him.

  ‘I hear you’re fairly new to Tarrin’s Bay, Chrissie?’ Susan said after lunch had been placed on the table; an entrée of cucumber soup and fresh bread with dipping oil and dukkah, followed by barramundi in a coconut lime broth with vegetables.

  ‘Yes, although I used to come here as a child.’

  ‘A lot of people who move here say that. It usually holds such great memories for them they can’t help but return.’ Susan smiled.

  Drew cleared his throat. ‘Mmm, this is good, Dad.’

  Chrissie shot him a ‘thank you’ glance. The last thing she wanted was to have to discuss her childhood again. ‘It sure is. I think my fish-phobic son would even like this. The broth is delicious.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Geoff replied. ‘Maybe I’ll get around to writing that recipe book one day, hey Drew?’

  ‘Yeah, you should go for it.’

  ‘Oh absolutely. I’d buy it,’ Chrissie remarked.

  ‘Maybe once we’ve finally sold up and moved house.’

  ‘Oh,’ Chrissie raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re selling Honeydew House?’

  He nodded. ‘It’s time. We love it of course, but it’s getting too much for the two of us to maintain, and we want to be closer to town as we, ah…’

  ‘Get older and need home care and Meals on Wheels,’ Susan added.

  ‘Home care maybe, but Meals on Wheels? No chance in hell,’ he said defiantly. ‘I’ll be cooking till the day I die. No processed garbage for me.’

  Susan glanced at Chrissie. ‘Basically we want to downsize, and it’ll be good to be in walking distance to everything. Not just for convenience but for my arthritis, and Geoff’s — ’

  ‘High blood pressure.’ He patted his heart. ‘You’d think I’d get exercise around this place, but apparently not enough.’

  ‘Well you can walk to the shops every day for your fresh ingredients,’ Susan said.

  ‘So have you found somewhere else yet?’

  ‘No, not yet. We won’t be selling till the end of this year, so we’ll start looking in a few months time. Still got to sort out years of household belongings, including those belonging to someone in particular.’ She must have kicked Drew under the table because he flinched a little and said, ‘Mum!’

  Drew took a sip from his glass. ‘I’ll try to do as much as I can tomorrow. Surely it couldn’t take more than a day?’

  ‘It could,’ his mother replied. ‘But I know you, you’ll keep going without stopping until you’ve reached your goal. He always goes after what he wants, this one.’ Susan said.

  Chrissie gulped, even though she’d already swallowed a morsel of food. ‘I’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow. Sorting through boxes. Things that belonged to my aunt.’

  ‘Oh yes, I’m sorry to hear about that.’

  How much has Drew told his parents about me?

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘And will you stay in the house or sell?’

  ‘Sell. It’s too big for just mys
elf and Kai.’

  ‘Oh, I see. Maybe we’ll both be selling up at the same time,’ Susan mused.

  ‘I hope the town has some good real estate agents,’ Chrissie said. Not only to sell Felicia’s beach house, but to help her find the right property for the future. God, she’d love to be able to buy Honeydew House, but even with the sale from the house it’d no doubt go for a lot more. And so much for saying she wanted a smaller place. That might have been a little lie. She just wanted somewhere not so close to the ocean.

  ‘We know of a couple of good agents. William, at Matson and Moore, he’s the son of friends of ours. I know we can trust him. There’s also Colin from Craythornes, been selling houses since he was in nappies, just about.’

  ‘Oh good, I’ll have to remember those names.’ She made a mental note, then the sign of Honeydew House popped in her mind and she dreamed of walking up to it and getting out her own key to the place. Stop dreaming Chrissie! ‘So, ah, how did Honeydew House get its name? Are there…melons growing here?’ She hoped that wasn’t a stupid question. Did honeydew melons even grow in this part of Australia? She had no idea.

  ‘No melons here, unfortunately. The previous owners christened it — honey was their business, and maybe they added the ‘dew’ bit to make it sound nice, or to represent the morning dew that appears here on frosty mornings. They used to be beekeepers. We could have taken the job on when we bought the place, but alas, I’m allergic to bee stings.’ She shrugged. ‘I was so glad when they cleared it all out. And anyway, not my thing. At that stage I was running my own interior design business. Ran it out of there.’ Susan pointed to a separate building, a granny flat, that stood on the far side of the property, hidden partly from view by tall trees.

  ‘Your talent shows. Your house is beautifully decorated,’ Chrissie said.

  ‘Well, thank you. Geoff and I are both retired now, but I loved my job. If you need any help getting your place ready for sale, I’d be happy to help.’

  ‘Really? That’s so nice of you.’

  ‘Sure, just drop in and let me know when you’re ready.’

  Wow, Drew William’s mother was giving her an invitation to just ‘drop in’ anytime? Chrissie hated people dropping in unannounced at her place; she’d much prefer advance warning, ideally twenty-four hours. Or a week. Though she’d probably make an exception for Drew.