The House On Jindalee Lane

by Jennie Jones

  Olivia breathed audibly. ‘In that case, two bottles of shiraz. One each.’

  ‘We’ll be drunk.’

  ‘I know! How soon can we make a date?’

  Edie’s heart exploded at the satisfying thought of a woman-towoman talk. ‘This week. Maybe tomorrow night. I’ll check with my chauffeur. Can I call you back?’

  ‘I’ll be here.’

  Olivia ended the call and Edie paused. Had she heard an unspoken ‘where else would I be?’ in Olivia’s tone?

  ‘Here,’ Ryan said, appearing at the living room doorway with two mugs in his hands. ‘I poured you a fresh coffee.’

  She took hers and smiled. ‘Thanks.’ He was so good to her. Should she ask if he would give her a lift into town one night that week, or wait until she’d told him she was buying her own car?

  She stared out the window again. She’d have to get someone to drive her into Cooma to buy the bloody car. Maybe her dad would take some time off from his vet rounds. Or Josh might help her out. It was so exhausting being reliant on others. This had never happened in Sydney or Melbourne where public transport was her friend.

  ‘So what time do you need to be in town this morning?’ Ryan asked.

  ‘I’ll walk.’

  He controlled his laugh before he splattered his dark green shirt with hot coffee. ‘And leave me without a job?’

  Her smile arrived without her approval. ‘Actually, if you could run me into town tomorrow evening I’d be ever so grateful. I’m meeting Olivia at Kookaburra’s.’

  ‘No problem.’

  ‘And Gemma wants to meet me later this morning, so I do need to go into town today. I have more crew roles to fill.’ And I’m going to buy a car.

  ‘I have to get some things from Barton’s Hardware, so that suits me,’ he said. ‘Shall we leave at ten?’ He must have thought it set, because he made for the hall.

  He was already going into town, so …

  She looked out on the pretty picture through the window, of uncut grass, dandelions and swaying treetops at the end of the fenced garden. She ought to buy a camera as well as a car, so she could make a memory for herself, of Jindalee House before and Jindalee House after. She gasped as a thought struck. ‘Ryan!’

  He play-acted skidding to a halt at the door to the hall and turned to look at her.

  ‘I’ve just had an idea about Ted.’

  ‘Do you think Ryan thinks I use him too much? Or expect too much of him?’

  Gemma hesitated, then said, ‘Do you really want to know what I think?’ She leaned her forearms on the walkway railing outside the toy shop and peered down Main Street as though looking into the future. Or maybe the past.

  ‘Is it in the tarot?’ Edie asked.

  ‘It is.’

  ‘My contempt?’

  ‘You don’t hold him in contempt.’

  ‘I know that, but does Ryan?’

  ‘How can he?’ Gem asked, turning to look at Edie. ‘When you’re not sure yourself?’

  Edie swallowed. ‘I’m having a very strange time at the moment.’

  Gem nodded.

  ‘I’m sort of—disillusioned. Or a bit wary, or confused.’

  Another nod. ‘Colours,’ Gem said. ‘You need colours for healing.’

  ‘Except I don’t need healing, Gem.’

  ‘Of course you do. Everybody needs healing. Look at Ryan.’

  Edie looked at the man across the street, surrounded by a gaggle of women who’d suddenly got a big desire to work out since Ryan had taken over the fitness classes.

  When she was nineteen, she’d tried flirting with him, but it seemed to scare him off—and what twenty-four-year-old man would cradle-snatch a nineteen-year-old? Okay, plenty. But not Ryan. Maybe she hadn’t been very good at flirting, not having a whole lot of experience back then.

  She’d been such a klutz around him after that. He’d never known how much she adored him because she’d been careful to hide it.

  ‘You need orange for balance in this challenging situation,’ Gem said, bringing Edie’s focus off Ryan. ‘Plus green for hope and growth.’

  Edie couldn’t imagine a worse mix. ‘What colour does Ryan need?’

  ‘Blue,’ Gem pronounced. ‘For truth, serenity and harmony.’

  ‘How come he gets a normal colour and I’m looking like a neon bar sign?’

  ‘Because you need more healing than he does.’

  How could Gemma tell? Was it from the cracks in her resolve to remain calm about the Marcus issue?

  ‘Do you want me to do posters for the play?’ Gem asked. ‘I could knock some up, you print them off and we can use them as flyers.’

  ‘That would be fantastic—although don’t put my name on the poster.’

  ‘But you’re the star.’

  ‘I’d like to give the others billing over me.’

  ‘That’s sweet of you, but you’re going to get more bookings if your name’s on the poster.’

  Yes, but then everyone would know where she was.

  ‘Something going on?’ Gem asked. ‘What are you worried about now?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  Edie took her focus off Gemma and checked the street for Ryan.

  He was gone. Two minutes ago he’d been surrounded by female fitness enthusiasts, and the next he’d disappeared. This skill must have been useful in jungle and desert conditions. Which was good for the missionaries.

  ‘Here we go,’ Gem said as a coach full of tourists pulled up at the bus shelter on the other side of the street. ‘I’d best go plump up my teddy bears.’ And with that, she hurried back inside the toy shop.

  Edie studied the length of the walkway, realising how pretty the town looked with all the shops painted in their own signature colours. Bronze trims, pale lemons and midnight blues. Ruddy pinks and dark greens. All of it topped by the backdrop of majestic Mt Kosciuszko to the west, and their very own High Country farmland hillside sheltering the town on the east.

  There’d been so little around when she was born. But in the ensuing years, people had pushed to better themselves. They’d worked hard to get what they wanted. Was she doing the same with her Little Theatre? Could she sustain an income if the Little Theatre took off? On two plays a year? Absolutely not. But she could write her own reference for those who might want to employ her. Dazzlepants career woman available for car washing or cat sitting when not writing dumb plays and producing them in the barn at the back of her house.

  She might as well start wearing funny tassel hats like Ada Ormond.

  ‘Edie!’

  She spun around at the sound of Ryan’s deep voice.

  He was on the other side of the road, outside the stock feeders where he’d parked his four-wheel drive.

  ‘I’ve got to run up to Canberra and check in with an old friend,’ he called out. ‘He’s only in town for a few hours.’

  She’d been hoping to have an I don’t hold you in contempt conversation with him later. Trouble was, whenever they started a normal conversation, it turned into an argument. She didn’t want to hear that she was a fake, or worrying too much, or pushing everyone into a corner with a heavy hand.

  ‘Okay,’ she called over the street. ‘I’ll make my own way home.’ Thank God she’d worn her sneakers.

  ‘I’ll run you home first.’

  ‘No need. Feel like a walk anyway!’

  ‘I can shut up shop and run you home,’ Gary called from over the road, cupping his mouth with his hands to ensure his megaphone voice reached her.

  ‘No, thanks!’ Edie shouted. It had been excruciatingly awkward when he’d driven her home yesterday. His silence had made her so uncomfortable that she’d talked nonstop. He’d been so tense, nervous, strung up and practically puce all over that if someone had struck a match, Gary would have self-ignited.

  ‘I love walking,’ she called. ‘Love my independence!’ She refrained from looking at Ryan in case he gave her a baffled look.

  The bell on the toy-shop door behind her
jingled, and a second later Josh appeared at her side.

  ‘I have to buy a car,’ she said quietly, turning to him.

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Independence.’

  ‘You’re going to be around town long enough to need a car?’

  ‘I can keep it garaged when I get back to Sydney.’ If she ever got back to Sydney.

  Josh looked over to where Ryan was still standing with Gary. ‘What’s happening?’ he asked Edie.

  ‘Ryan’s going to Canberra to meet a friend so I’m walking home.’

  ‘Hey, Ryan!’ Josh called out. ‘I’ll run Edie home!’

  Ryan gave him a thumbs-up, then returned his focus to Gary.

  Edie’s mobile beeped with a message.

  Darling, call me ASAP!! Très important. Tony.

  She turned to Josh and smiled tightly. ‘Okay, let’s go.’ She couldn’t have a conversation with Tony while she was on the street. She had to get home.

  This might be a good opportunity to fix one problem though.

  ‘I’ve got a part in mind for you, Josh,’ she said as she followed him to his four-wheel drive. ‘You’ll love it. You’ll get to use one of your horses.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘But I need a horse and someone to play the simpleton groom.’

  Josh’s laugh rang down the street. ‘Simpleton? What drugs are you on?’

  ‘Please, darling Josh.’ Apart from his stallions, and the quiet thoroughbreds and ponies used for riding lessons and eventing, he had another thirty retired and rescued horses. Edie only wanted one. ‘The groom is a really important part,’ she insisted. ‘He’s the killer!’ She said that in a low but emphatic whisper in case somebody in town heard her. They’d be in the audience in under five weeks’ time and there was nothing worse in a whodunnit than knowing who’d done it.

  ‘Yeah, and you’re killing me, Edie. Get in the car before people start thinking you’re calling me a simpleton. I have an equine business to think about. I’m not swanning around pretending to be something I’m not.’

  He got into the driver’s seat, shaking his head.

  Edie got in and slammed the door. At this rate she’d have to cast Gary and ask him to move his plastic horse to the barn. He’d be puce and uptight throughout the entire act and they’d have to put him and the plastic horse on a trolley and wheel them on and off. It wouldn’t be anywhere near as dramatic as having a live horse neighing upstage-right.

  ‘What do you mean, pretending?’ she asked Josh as he fired the engine.

  ‘Acting and stuff.’

  ‘Josh Rutherford!’ she said in an accusing tone. ‘I earn my living by this stuff.’

  ‘Yeah, but I don’t think you’re that keen anymore.’

  ‘How would you know what I’m keen on?’

  ‘Because I’ve known you since you were ten years old,’ Josh said. ‘I know when something’s not right.’

  Edie didn’t respond but drew a breath and sighed. How come everybody around here thought they knew her?

  She turned to look across the street at Ryan and Gary as Josh pulled from the curb.

  Who was Ryan meeting in Canberra, and why was he suddenly looking so pleased with himself?

  7

  Starstruck

  ‘She’s just dazzling, isn’t she?’ Gary said, sounding as though he’d swallowed the glitter ball from the town hall and it had lit him up and electrified his insides.

  ‘She’s okay,’ Ryan agreed, glancing across the street as Edie got into Josh’s car. He was relieved she hadn’t asked to come with him. He was going to Canberra, but only so he could get on a plane for a quick visit to Sydney.

  ‘She was really chatty in the van when I ran her home yesterday,’ Gary said, pulling back his shoulders and thrusting out his chest as he waved at Edie. ‘I’m hoping I’ve got a chance.’

  Ryan inhaled. There were times a man had to do something for one of his own kind and let a guy down as gently as possible. ‘You know she’s gay, right?’

  Gary looked so appalled Ryan almost let a grin loose. ‘Yeah, I know,’ he said, with a frown. ‘Just our luck, eh? Best looking woman in town and she likes other women.’

  Gary’s eyes widened so much they almost retracted into their sockets. ‘I did notice yesterday morning that she was kissing most of the women on Main Street. I can’t imagine she’d be after Mrs Tam. Not in that way. But she was flinging her kisses about more than usual.’ His face fell, as though he couldn’t understand why Edie wasn’t throwing her kisses his way.

  Ryan felt a pull of commiseration.

  ‘I can’t believe it,’ Gary said, his shoulders sloped.

  Ryan slapped him on the back. ‘Believe it, mate.’

  He made his way across Main Street, dodging a busload of tourists who were blocking the traffic—five cars—as they meandered towards the walkway and the shops.

  He planned on having a quick word with Nick and bringing him up to date on Edie’s troublesome situation, which he’d kept to himself until now. He wasn’t going to mention anything to Ethan about what he’d overheard Edie say on the phone. No point in worrying him until Ryan knew a lot more about this producer.

  ‘Ho! Ryan!’

  He paused, squinted down the street towards the library, and lifted a hand to Ted who was in the ice-cream van, leaning out the open driver’s window. Ted beckoned him, looking a bit shifty and bulgy-eyed.

  Ryan changed course and walked down to him. ‘What’s up, mate?’

  The oversized plastic ice-cream cone and the horn speakers on top of the van juddered with a heavy plastic and metal clash as Ted got out—with a bit of a struggle between his stomach and the steering wheel—and slammed the door. He darted a glance left and then right, then walked around behind his van so he was out of view of anyone on the street.

  Ryan threw a quick glance to the roof to check the security of the wobbling ice-cream cone and the megaphone speakers.

  ‘I have a bit of a confidential problem,’ Ted said. ‘And I wondered, with you being a man of the world, deployed unexpectedly to dangerous terrains, armed to the teeth and such, if you had any advice on women.’ Ted puffed out his chest and firmed his mouth. ‘Not killing them,’ he added. ‘Just general how to deal with them issues.’

  Ryan turned his full focus on Ted. ‘No problem. Shoot.’

  ‘Well. I’ve had this woman, Magdalena Cartwright from the village—’

  ‘You’ve already had her?’

  Ted turned purple. ‘I could have her. I think I could have her.’

  ‘So you want her?’

  ‘She wants me. That’s the problem.’

  ‘You don’t want her.’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Ted shuffled closer. ‘If she didn’t push me around so much, I might be interested in taking a personal scenario further, but she’s so damned pushy.’

  Ryan nodded. ‘Shove us around a bit, these women of ours, don’t they?’

  ‘Did you work with women in the army?’

  ‘Plenty. But not so many in 2 Commando.’

  ‘Second Commandos,’ Ted said, eyes keen. ‘Can I take this opportunity to thank you for your service?’

  ‘Thank you. I appreciate it.’

  ‘So tell me,’ Ted said, sidling closer. ‘Have you strangled anyone with your bare hands?’

  Ryan leaned in and lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘There’s a code, Ted.’

  ‘Right,’ Ted said, nodding vigorously.

  ‘We operate across land, sea or air domains. We’re ready for advance force operations or direct action missions. But we never let on what we don’t need to let on.’

  ‘Right,’ Ted said, then firmed his mouth again. ‘I won’t say a word.’

  Ryan gave him a brief nod. ‘I appreciate your confidence. So what are you going to do about Magdalena?’ Magdalena had started attending one of Ryan’s boxing circuit classes, informing him she wanted a thinner waist and was prepared to sweat for it. Ryan had fixed her up with exercise rout
ines, without informing her she was unlikely to gain any waistline at all if drumming up a sweat involved only side bends and arm stretches. But she was nice enough, and she didn’t practise flirting with him, like a lot of the other ladies. Her focus was all Ted and her waistline.

  ‘I think I may have to ignore Magdalena,’ Ted said. ‘Until I figure out whether I want to have her.’

  Ryan narrowed his eyes, keeping the smile that threatened pinned down. ‘Good plan. Catch ya later, Ted.’

  ‘Oh, hang on!’ Ted grabbed Ryan’s shirt sleeve as he made to move off. ‘Is the cast list finalised?’

  Ryan gave him an apologetic grimace. ‘Mate, what are you going to think of me? I totally forgot.’

  ‘What?’ Ted asked, fervour in his eyes.

  ‘Well.’ Ryan lowered his voice. ‘Edie got all excited earlier this morning. Said she’d discovered the right person for the right job. But she’s not sure how to approach this man. He’s a solid citizen in town, and she’s nervous.’

  Ted inhaled deeply.

  ‘I shouldn’t be saying this, Ted, but she’s got you earmarked for not only the main part in the play—the dead body, which is of vital importance—but she also wants to ask if you’d consider offering her your photographic expertise and take photos during the dress rehearsal.’ Ryan hissed in a breath. ‘It’s a big ask, Ted.’

  Ted’s eyes practically popped out of his rotund face. ‘I am in charge of the Swallow’s Fall Community website,’ he said. ‘I take all the photos.’

  Ryan nodded.

  ‘Obviously, I’d want to help her in any official capacity I can.’

  ‘Well, just like you want to make sure Magdalena is not taking advantage of you, you want to ensure Edie isn’t either. So here’s a tip. Don’t say yes straight away. Make her understand you’re not at her beck and call.’

  ‘Magdalena? Or Edie?’

  ‘They want you, Ted. For different reasons, but they need you. Are you going to go meekly, or are you going to stand firm and hold the defence line?’

  Ted sucked in his stomach. ‘I’ll hold out on both of them.’

  Ryan slapped his shoulder. ‘That’s the spirit. Catch you later.’