Lean on Me (The Mackay Sisters)

by Verdenius, Angela

  Ali nodded.

  “And so did Harriet.”

  “Wow? You met her?”

  “Twice.” Lori hesitated. “The first time was a bit volatile.”

  Ali’s eyebrows rose.

  “She thought Tommy and I were having an affair.”

  Ali grinned.

  “Then he talked to her and she came around to apologise and talk.”

  “So you know more than I do.”

  “Not really. It’s exactly the same as Tommy said it was, only with a bit more detail.”

  “What a shame.” Thoughtfully, Ali twirled a long curl around her finger. “They need to sort something out or he’s going to crack.”

  “You think he’ll break it off?”

  “Hell, yeah. No one is going to sneak around forever. But he’ll probably do something dumb.”

  “So what can be done about it?”

  Ali pulled her finger out of the curl, which bobbed enchantingly around her cheek. “I’m not interfering.”

  “Neither am I. I’m just asking.”

  “Someone needs to talk sense into Harriet.”

  Lori cast her a wry look. “Oh yes, because acting sensibly in this town could swing the opinion either way.”

  “Better to be upfront about it than have bits and pieces come out in gossip. Now that…” Ali jabbed her finger in Lori’s direction. “Is much worse.”

  “You think?” Lori rolled her eyes.

  “I know.”

  That was so true.

  Their breakfast arrived and they started eating.

  They were halfway through when the door chimed again.

  “Oh look,” Ali said. “The blonde that’s doing Adam’s head in.”

  “You noticed.” Lori watched the busty blonde walk to the counter.

  Pretty, blonde, busty, and with the figure of an overblown hourglass, she also seemed to have a whole lot of attitude, going by the few interactions Lori had observed between Adam and her. Actually, the blonde’s attitude seemed to be present mostly at the same time as the local cop.

  “Interesting.” Ali forked up some omelette without taking her eyes from the blonde. “Adam’s usually so calm and collected, yet I’ve seen him drag her out of Mrs Swanson’s restaurant after she tipped a glass of water onto his lap.”

  “You did mention that,” Lori murmured. “Wonder what’s going on between them?”

  “No idea, and Ghost won’t tell me.”

  Lori shot her sister an incredulous look.

  Disgusted, Ali shook her head. “Can you believe it? He’s such a blabbermouth at times, knows some gossip, but will he tell me? No. And you know why?”

  “Because you refuse to spill the beans about Tommy.”

  Ali jabbed the fork in her direction. “Exactly!”

  “Tit for tat?”

  “I showed him a bit of tit and he still didn’t say a word.”

  Lori nearly choked. “Cripes, Ali! I’m your sister, remember? Eww!”

  “No tit for tat.” Ali ignored her.

  “Tit for tat actually means giving someone the same kind of thing.”

  “He never offered to show me his wanger for a bit of my secret.”

  “Ghost is like my brother! Please stop!”

  Ali smirked. “He’s not like a brother to me.”

  “I’m going to gag in a minute

  “Hello?” The blonde called out, obviously tired of waiting.

  Tommy’s mother came out to serve the blonde, the annoyance clear on her face. “Where is that boy? Tommy!”

  No answer.

  “I swear, he’s doing my head in,” she muttered.

  “Lot of that going around,” Ali observed.

  “It’s a man thing,” Lori said.

  The sisters sniggered.

  “I’m so sorry.” Tommy’s mother smiled at the blonde. “Can I help you?”

  “I’d like to put a notice up in your window, if you don’t mind.” The blonde handed her a poster which she studied before nodding.

  The doorbell rang again and Lori’s eyes widened. “Ali.”

  Ali glanced around and her mouth fell open right before she closed it again with a snap. “As I live and breathe.”

  Harriet Keller glanced around nervously, spotted the sisters, smiled weakly and stood to one side, shifting from foot to foot.

  The doorbell rang once more and in walked Adam Moor.

  Tommy chose that moment to come out of the back room and came to a stop.

  The room was dead silent.

  “It’s like a stand-off right before a gun fight,” Ali whispered, awed.

  Lori could only agree as she watched the people.

  Tommy glared at Harriet, she stared at him, the blonde glared at Adam, and Adam’s nostrils flared.

  Chapter 8

  “Harriet,” Tommy finally said stiffly.

  “Tommy.”

  The blonde turned away from Adam to glance curiously at Harriet and Tommy before switching her attention to Tommy’s mother. “The poster?”

  “Hmmm?” Tommy’s mother looked from her son to the blonde.

  “The poster? Can I put it in your window?”

  “Oh, of course.” She handed back the poster. “Do you have sticky tape?”

  The blonde plucked a small roll from her skirt pocket. “Absolutely.”

  “Then go right ahead, dear.”

  “Anywhere in particular?” The blonde turned and walked right by Adam without looking at him.

  Lori’s mouth fell open when he reached out and plucked the poster from her, holding it up to read. His eyes flashed.

  Almost as much as the blonde’s when she snatched it back off him. “Do you mind?”

  “I’m keeping an eye on you, Barb.”

  “Don’t call me Barb, Mr Moor. That’s reserved for friends who deserve it.”

  One of his big hands curled into a fist.

  Lori and Ali exchanged looks.

  At the same time this was happening, Tommy said tightly, “I’m surprised you’re able to take a step into here, Harriet.”

  “Tommy, I-”

  “I mean, you can’t bear to let anyone-”

  “Please!” Harriet stepped forward.

  “Are you ashamed of me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Tommy’s mother gaped.

  “Then tell me why the hell we shouldn’t-”

  “We’ve talked about this!”

  Ali and Lori didn’t know which couple to look at first. The accusations and innuendos were flying thick and fast in the air.

  “I’ll damned well call you anything I want, Barb.”

  “You’d dare that, wouldn’t you? It would just suit your twisted-”

  “Don’t you even think of finishing that sentence!”

  “Why don’t we just stop this now, Harriet?”

  “I don’t want to!”

  “You don’t want a lot of things that I want, so how do you explain that?”

  “Don’t be absorbed, we both want-”

  “Is that so? Because I’m getting confused here.”

  “You trying to tell me what to do, Moor?”

  “You so need taking in hand-”

  “Just try it!”

  The air was thunderous with fury as the two couples faced off, the only difference being that Harriet was crying with temper while Barb, the blonde, was red-faced and practically nose-to-nose with Adam, who was leaning down to her height.

  “Whoa, whoa!” Lori leaped out of her seat, Ali rushing after her.

  Without thought Lori shoved herself between Adam and Barb, while Ali flung herself between Tommy and Harriet.

  Bracing one hand on Adam’s chest and the other on Barb’s, Lori held them apart. “People, settle down!”

  “Mind your business!” Barb spat.

  “This is nothing to do with you,” Adam snarled at Lori.

  “Oh really?” She flared. “You made it my business when you started brawling in a public place!”


  “Where we were trying to have a peaceful breaky, in fact,” Ali informed Harriet. “I’m Ali, by the way. We haven’t met, though you had a chat with my sister, Lori. How do you do?”

  “Ali!” Lori glared at her. Now was not the time for introductions.

  “Cripes, we’re not going to start now, are we?” Ali turned back to Tommy. “Look, this isn’t making things any better. Go out back.”

  “This is my café, Mackay.” He looked over her head at Harriet. “I’m not the one ashamed of me.”

  “Don’t put words into my mouth!” Harriet snapped.

  “Back off, Lori.” Adam made to pull her out of the way, his hold firm but careful.

  “Oh, that’s right.” Barb sneered. “Can’t be the gentleman all the time, can you?”

  Within seconds squabbling broke out again, louder than before, and Lori looked at Ali. How the hell were they going to stop what looked to be an all-out brawl any second?

  Ali shook her head and held up her hands in a gesture of now what?

  The angry voices were jarring, to say the least. Everyone was furious and no one was listening, which left only one thing for an increasingly annoyed Lori to do, and that was scream out, “Shut up! Everyone shut the hell up!”

  The shocked silence was almost deafening after the uproar of seconds ago.

  “Whoa,” Ali said admiringly and gave her the thumbs up. “Nice one, sis.”

  “The only way to reach the rabble,” Lori retorted. “Now listen up, you lot. I don’t give a rat’s arse what you argue about, but at least have the common decency to remember where you are. Public places are not for airing your dirty linen, got it? Now back off, take a deep breath and for God’s sake, go home!”

  The silence was now more subdued and the two couples mumbled and shuffled their feet.

  “Um…this is my café.” Tommy cleared his throat.

  “Yeah?” Lori retorted. “Then you better start running it like one, Tommy, because the rate you’re going, you’re going to be out of customers. Sort yourselves out, people. Geez!” She glared around at them all.

  Even Adam couldn’t meet her gaze, but when Barb shuffled past and proceeded to stick the poster up in the window, he started to say something, only to have Lori stick her finger under his nose and growl, “Is it a nice thing to say?”

  “No,” he growled back.

  “Then zip it.”

  His jaw clenched right before he whirled around and stalked out, his long legs making short work of the distance. The door shook under the slam.

  Harriet gave a cough, wiped her eyes and left, hurrying out to the car and getting in, driving away quickly.

  That left Tommy, who took one look at his gaping mother and fled.

  Tommy’s mother looked at Lori and Ali, her mouth opening.

  “Don’t bother,” Lori said. “We know nothing.”

  Ali crossed back to the table and slid into the booth, Lori following.

  “Seriously?” Lori watched her sister resume eating. “You can still eat?”

  “I paid for this,” Ali replied around a mouthful of toast. “It’s a public café.”

  After a second’s thought, Lori picked up her fork. “I get it. It’s the principle of the thing, right?”

  “Abso-freakin’-lutely.” Ali looked up and grinned. “Sis, you were awesome.”

  Remembering the shocked expressions on Adam and Tommy’s faces, Lori couldn’t help but start laughing.

  Picking up her cup, Ali held it up. “To the shy, sweet sheilas.”

  Lori clinked her cup against her sister’s. “Amen.”

  ~*~

  “Your girlfriend. When did she get so loud and aggressive?”

  Leaning to the side of the open ambulance bonnet, Matt watched Adam approach. “Lori is never loud and aggressive.”

  “Want a bet?” Hands in his pockets, Adam peered at the engine. “Something wrong?”

  “Nope. Just checking the oil and water.” Wiping his hands on a rag, Matt eyed his friend. “Did you upset her?”

  “Upset her?” Adam scoffed. “Mate, do you really know what you’ve got hold of there?”

  “A sweet girl.”

  “No. She hides behind a sweet persona, but that woman can roar like an angry bull.”

  “Are we talking about the same girl?”

  “Lori Mackay, sweet and shy to those who don’t know her. I’ve known her all her life, so I know she can get stubborn when she wants to, but I’ve never seen her tear shreds off people in a public place the way she’s been doing lately.” Adam eyed him. “What have you done to her?”

  “Me?” Matt dropped the bonnet with a thud. “I’ve done nothing.”

  “I think you have.”

  Crossing to the bin, Matt tossed the rag into it. “I think none of you really know Lori.”

  “And you do?” Adam laughed. “You’ve only known her for months. I’ve known her for years.”

  “And yet her outbursts shock you, not me.”

  “Mate, you were as shocked as shit when she let rip at the supermarket.”

  Squatting down before one of the ambulance wheels, Matt studied the tyre. “True. However, still waters run deep, my friend. Lori has a lot more going on under that sweet demeanour than anyone realises.”

  “No kidding.”

  “I kid you not.” Matt shifted to the next tyre. “She’s no dumb bunny. In fact, she knows a lot more than she lets on.”

  “The Mackay sisters always did, that’s nothing new.” Adam strolled around the ambulance, keeping pace with Matt. “She just about reamed us all a new one at the café.”

  Matt laughed. “Yeah, I heard about it.”

  “Listeing to gossip now?”

  “Sure, especially when it involves the local cop getting reamed.” Matt flashed him a grin.

  “Arsehole.”

  “Sticks and stones.”

  “One day I’ll catch you going over the speed limit, and when I do, I’ll have you crying for your mummy.”

  “I’ll send Lori to sort you out.”

  “Normally I’d say ‘I’m scared’, really sarcastic like, but now…”

  Matt laughed again.

  “Wait until she reams you a new one,” Adam said.

  “Hey, I can handle Lori. The only one doing any reaming will be me.”

  Adam’s eyebrows shot up.

  Oh shit. That had slipped out before Matt could think clearly. “Don’t you bloody repeat that.”

  “I’m guessing my reaming and your reaming are two different meanings.”

  “Heh heh.” Matt slapped his forehead. “What? No!”

  Adam leered.

  Matt gave the last tyre a kick. If he’d said anything like that in Old Man Parker’s hearing, or Mrs Hubble or Mrs Swanson’s, word would fire through the town of his dirty thoughts and then Lori would be waiting for him and… Heh heh, I’d ream her good and proper. He gave himself a mental head slap.

  To divert his attention and the warm stirrings in his loins at just the thought of the kind of reaming he wanted to give Lori - roll on tonight! - he turned and braced one hand against the side of the ambulance. “So, you and Barb have a dust up at the café, huh?”

  All humour fled Adam’s face to be replaced with a scowl. “How do you know her name?”

  “Small town.” Matt studied him. “Man, she has your nuts really twisted. What’s up with the two of you?”

  “Nothing.” Adam kicked the tyre.

  “Checked that one already. Come on, man, spill. What is it with you and blondie?”

  Adam glanced away, staring into the distance. The silence lengthened and Matt watched quietly, wondering but waiting.

  Looking back at him, Adam sighed and shook his head. “Long story.”

  “I’ve got time.”

  “Nah. You’re working.”

  “So come over tonight. We’ll have a beer, whine about women.”

  “You’re going to whine about Lori?”

  �
��No. Just women in general.”

  “You’d talk about other women?”

  “Okay, I’ll listen to you whine about women. One in particular. You can tell me why Barb has your short and curlies all knotted up.”

  Adam sighed again and rubbed his forehead. “Nah. Thanks mate, but I think I’ll give it a miss tonight.”

  “Okay. But the invite’s there. It’s always open, you know that.”

  “Cheers.” Taking a deep breath, Adam swung around. “Catch you around.”

  Matt watched him walk away. Oh, he felt for his friend. Something was going on, something that had the usual calm, controlled cop tied up in proverbial knots. As of yet, no one really knew what was happening, but they did know the cause.

  Barb the blondie was a thorn in Adam’s side. It just remained to be seen why.

  Hamish stuck his head around the door. “Hey, Matt! Emergency call. We’re on.”

  The day was busy, surprising for a small town. A visitor staying at the Peeron Motel had a heart attack, a kid at the school broke his leg after slipping off the monkey bar, and a car travelling along the highway had a tyre blowout which resulted in it skidding onto the gravel side of the road and flipping over.

  By the time he got home he wanted a shower, food, and to snuggle with Lori. Unfortunately, all he got was the shower and food before he headed over to the Mackay house.

  “I’m sorry,” Lori whispered when she opened the front door before he could even ring the bell. “Harriet’s here.”

  The sobbing came from the kitchen. Ali could be heard talking, interspersed by watery replies from Harriet.

  “Okay.” Definitely not a place he wanted to be. “Right. Can I come across later?”

  Lori grinned. “You sound so uncertain.”

  Matt glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “Have you told Ali about us?”

  “There’s a woman crying in my kitchen, and you’re worried about Ali?”

  “I never said I was worried about her.” Catching her around the waist, he pulled her up against him, dropping a kiss onto the tip of her nose. “I’m just wondering if I can sleep over.”

  Pink crept into Lori’s cheeks. “She’s staying over at Ghost’s tonight.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  Her smile was sweet and shy. “Yes.”

  “Oh, boy.” He gave her a hard, fast kiss, licking deep and hot before steadying her on her feet. He grinned. “Why, Miss Mackay, is that your hands under my shirt?”