The House On Jindalee Lane

by Jennie Jones

  ‘He’s planning to kill off my career.’

  ‘Let’s hope that’s all he’s planning to kill.’ He grimaced, and looked away. He hadn’t meant to say that.

  ‘Don’t even say such a thing.’

  ‘Sorry.’ He was doing a hell of a lot of apologising recently. ‘I’m doing as you say regarding the stage manager’s job. You’ve been barking orders at me for the last few days. So why can’t you do one simple thing that I request of you?’

  ‘Last night you told me you were okay with me being in charge. And anyway, producers shout and demand quite often. But I’m not shouting at anyone.’

  Ryan took a deep breath. What did he do now? ‘Yesterday we agreed to be friends,’ he said. ‘Let’s try not to argue.’

  The silence felt eternal, although it was only a few seconds.

  She took a step forwards. ‘Am I missing something, Ryan? Is that what this is? Am I supposed to have understood something about you that I don’t?’

  ‘Well …’ he strung the word out. ‘I don’t think we’re on the same wavelength we used to be.’ Understatement of the decade.

  ‘Is that my fault?’ Any argumentative tone disappeared and that troubled tone he’d heard a lot recently entered her voice.

  ‘No, of course not. It must be both of us. Or more likely it’s me.’

  She shook her head. ‘It’s bound to be me.’ She was obviously thinking hard so he didn’t interrupt her. Not that he knew what to say. She wasn’t getting any of the undercurrents here.

  ‘Are we just having a misunderstanding?’ she asked eventually. ‘Is it something we can talk about and straighten out? Because if so, I’d like to get that done. I don’t want you to leave …’ She trailed off, then blinked away whatever thought had come into her mind. ‘I mean I don’t want you to leave thinking I hate you. Because I don’t. I like you.’

  ‘I like you too, Edie.’ More than she knew. He decided on a different tack. ‘I’m sorry I told you not to do something I think will put you in the line of trouble. But I’m still going to be right behind you. And don’t forget—as far as Gary is concerned, I’m supposed to be chasing you. So while I’m sticking close to protect you, you might occasionally see me looking at you as though I adore you. Or I might take your hand and appear to thoroughly enjoy holding it. Maybe, if I’m pushed, I might even kiss you. If I’m lucky, you’ll think it’s because I want to kiss you.’

  She looked at him for ages, stunned, then burst out laughing. ‘You’re a really good actor, Ryan.’

  He withheld a sigh. ‘Aren’t I? So are we back to being friends?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, shaking her head at what she obviously thought a far-fetched recital from him. ‘We’re friends. And yes, okay, you can run me into town and keep an eye on me. Sorry I got uppity.’

  ‘That’s all right. Thank you for allowing me to protect you.’ He added a bow, which only made her laugh again.

  He stepped back. This wasn’t a try-out in the romantic sense or even the flirting sense, it was just a misunderstanding, so he hadn’t exactly failed. At least that’s what he told himself.

  What was he missing? It was like they didn’t know each other, which was crazy because they’d known each other for years.

  Three hours later Edie looked across Main Street and watched Ryan, a smile on her face. There wasn’t a woman in the fitness gang around him who wasn’t beaming.

  One day, she’d have to take one of his boxing circuit classes so she could get a much better look at his body in action—since it would likely be the only glimpse she’d get.

  She still couldn’t make sense of their strange argument. A week ago their arguments had been normal, like everybody else’s arguments. Now they’d turned into some kind of misunderstanding—no matter that they’d ended up laughing at themselves that morning, and at each other. She had so many things to worry about, or to try not to worry about. Like Ryan saying he sometimes thought about settling down, and that strange speech about looking at her adoringly and holding her hand because he wanted to.

  For the entire speech, she’d been stunned, but also, something about what he was saying and the way he was saying it had sunk into her, like a new awareness of him. There’d been an expression in his eyes she’d not seen before. One that might have been saying he meant everything he said.

  Maybe it was just that he needed or wanted comfort, like Gem had said. Edie understood that even the strongest man or woman could crack under intense pressure. Stress and anxiety could buckle the best person. But she couldn’t fathom why Gem said Ryan needed comfort. He was the one who held all the comforting ability. Just look at his chest and shoulders. They were broad enough to protect those less fortunate.

  She hadn’t been able to help glancing at his body when he’d peeled off his T-shirt. She’d wanted a much closer look at the tattoos but it would have felt too intimate and she hadn’t been able to manage a friendly interest because for a blinding second she’d wanted to put her mouth on his shoulder and kiss that unit badge he was so proud of. It was simple yet utterly bold with all that black, like the wings of a rescuer and liberator. It also made him look outrageously strong and masculine.

  She thought again about the tattoo he had emblazoned on his forearm, the Latin an inky blue in a stylised font that was somehow strong yet not invasive.

  He didn’t often talk about his army days, but she had heard him refer to his boys, his team, his regiment, as lesser-known warriors. They were highly trained. Beyond normal—just look at his physique, let alone his mental abilities to suss out friend or foe without letting anyone around him know he was doing so. His brain probably ticked over at a rocketing rate even when he was reading the newspaper, building her stage, or dozing in the armchair by the fire.

  ‘Ryan, have you ever been wounded?’ she’d asked him once. It was a few days before their kiss by the lamppost and he was at her side, carrying her shopping as they made their way along the walkway in town.

  ‘Shrapnel.’

  That’s all he’d said.

  ‘How?’ she persisted.

  ‘Main projectile hit a building on our right. Our vehicle copped the debris.’

  She wanted to stop walking and gulp back her shock but he carried on, so she’d stayed with him, moving a little closer until her shoulder was touching his arm with every step they took. She’d wanted to touch him. Just to reassure herself he was alive. Silly, but necessary.

  ‘Where were you hit?’ she asked.

  ‘Right thigh.’

  ‘Bad?’ It was hard to ask, because she didn’t want to bring back his memories, but she’d needed to know.

  ‘Not too bad.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Just a scar now.’

  Maybe that’s why he’d never told anyone. Gem and Sammy would have called Edie straight away if they’d known Ryan had been injured.

  She’d stopped walking then, and her eyes had gone instinctively to his forearm.

  Et servierunt meam in inferno.

  ‘What does it mean?’ He hadn’t had this ink on his arm the last time she’d seen him.

  ‘It’s just fancy Latin. Not sure what it means.’

  That was a lie. Edie had memorised the phrase and looked it up. He had I served my time in hell tattooed on his forearm.

  She was brought out of her memory of that moment by Magdalena, who came jogging out of the town hall where Ryan held the fitness classes, then began doing her version of star jumps. Magdalena was beautifully endowed and her breasts were bouncing so high they almost touched her chin.

  Edie let her amusement fade as more pressing issues came to the fore. Who was Ryan thinking about settling down with? He must have someone in mind—why else would he mention it? Was it the one-night stand in Canberra? Had the petite woman with the little limbs enthralled him, pulling out the protective side of him, making him think about marriage and children?

  Maybe it was best if he did leave town, and stayed away. She couldn’t imagine how she’d cope if she was
stuck here forevermore and he visited with his family. A family!

  ‘Mornin’, Edie.’

  She turned at the sound of Gary’s voice. ‘Hi, Gary. Lovely day, isn’t it?’

  ‘Always a fine day when you’re in my sight,’ Gary said, stepping off the ramp at the side door of the stock feeders. ‘Here.’ He bent and plucked a clump of fireweed growing between the wooden wall and an empty barrel. He handed the weed to Edie. It was pretty with its yellow daisy-like flower heads, but noxious, so she fingered it carefully.

  ‘How sweet, Gary. Thanks. What are you doing in there?’ she asked, referring to the jumble of sacks and boxes at the front of the store.

  ‘Having a clean-up. I’ve advertised for an assistant but no-one’s responded. Can’t understand it. I’m paying the going rate, and he’d get free lodgings and free grub. Why doesn’t anyone want to come down here?’

  ‘It’s a long way from anywhere exciting,’ Edie said. ‘But best of luck. I bet you get a dozen applicants really soon.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Better get going—’ She didn’t want to have a conversation about not being gay, in case he asked her out.

  ‘Now we’re alone,’ Gary said, and Edie tensed.

  He cleared his throat. ‘I’d like to ask you to have dinner with me.’

  ‘Oh, well—’

  ‘Kookaburra’s. Or if you’d prefer a Chinese, we can grab a takeaway and go sit in the park. I’ll pay,’ he kindly offered.

  ‘Actually, Gary—’

  ‘I like to treat my women, so don’t tell me you want to go halves.’

  His women? Oh, lord.

  ‘So a chicken parmy at the hotel, or a combination chow mein in the park? Which would you like? My preference is the parmigiana, but if you want the chow mein, then that’s what we’ll have.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Gary—’

  ‘It’s the more expensive of the two, of course, but I’m not worried about that.’

  ‘Gary! I’m dating Ryan.’

  He shuffled back, looking like she’d punched him in the mouth.

  She gave him an apologetic smile. ‘We’ve always had a bit of a thing going on.’ What a lie. A bit of an argument here, another there—hardly relationship material. Plus, she’d just got Ryan tangled up in a love affair when he must already have one on the go with the woman he was considering settling down with. ‘Not that Ryan and I are actually having—you know—having …’ She couldn’t say the word ‘sex’ in front of Gary. He’d go puce and ignite. ‘We’re more friends really.’

  ‘With dating benefits, obviously,’ Gary said, frowning.

  Oh, heck. She was making this worse. ‘I’m sorry I can’t take you up on the offer of dinner, Gary. But it wouldn’t be fair to lead you on …’

  He stepped back, looking both fierce and wounded. ‘I told Ryan I liked you and this is what he does.’

  ‘He hasn’t done anything! It was me, Gary. Not him. I led him on. I’ve wanted him forever.’ That part was true. ‘He’s the only man I’ve ever loved.’ She shut her mouth, shocked that she’d admitted that out loud—and to Gary!

  ‘Did Zenda tell you to go out with him? Because that wouldn’t make sense.’

  ‘Zenda?’

  ‘I flagged her down before she drove out of town last night. Gave her ten dollars and asked for some insight to the future. She said true love would find me.’

  Not with Edie. ‘If Zenda said it, then love must be right around the corner for you.’ She smiled. ‘Please don’t be angry, Gary. If I had said yes,’ she said coaxingly, ‘I’d have gone for the chicken parmy too.’

  ‘You would?’ Edie saw a hint of appeasement on his face.

  ‘Definitely. My favourite. Anyway—’ She stepped back. ‘Don’t let me keep you. Have a great day!’ She turned and headed across the street, remembering to check for traffic. She dodged two cars and pelted up the walkway to where Ryan was standing with his fitness followers.

  ‘Need a word! Sorry, ladies. You can have him back later.’ She grabbed Ryan’s arm and led him towards Kookaburra’s where the walkway was relatively unoccupied.

  ‘Hey,’ Ryan said, slowing them both down. ‘What’s the problem?’

  She didn’t stop walking and she still had hold of his arm, and gave him no choice but to walk along with her.

  ‘Edie.’ He halted, pulling her up. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Buchanan?’

  ‘I’ll tell you when we get past this point on the walkway.’

  He stopped her from moving one more time. ‘Tell me now.’

  ‘I can’t.’ She glanced over his right shoulder and winced. ‘Not here.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because that’s our—lamppost.’

  He checked it and turned back. ‘Our lamppost?’

  She went hot all over. She hadn’t meant to bring it up. ‘I have to admit something,’ she said, taking the focus off the bloody lamppost. Then she realised she still had Gary’s weeds in her hand. She shoved them into the bin hooked on the walkway railing and brushed the palms of her hands on her jeans. ‘But first, I need to know if you have a lot of friends in Canberra.’

  ‘I know a couple of guys there. Why?’

  ‘I suppose you know a lot of women too. Your old girlfriends—and maybe a new one?’ She tried for a smile but it felt lopsided.

  ‘Huh?’ he asked, looking nonplussed. ‘Edie, I’m not sure what this is about, but I can tell you that I’m not seeing another woman.’

  Another? How many had he recently had?

  ‘I’m only asking,’ she said, ‘because you mentioned this morning that you’re thinking of settling down, and if that’s the case, I’ve just stuffed up your entire future.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I told Gary I’m going out with you.’

  He paused for only a second before he smiled widely. ‘What did he think about that?’

  ‘I couldn’t find an easy way to let him down kindly,’ she explained. ‘He asked me out for a combination chow mein and I didn’t know what to say. So I blurted out that I’m dating you.’

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ll play along.’ He slung his arm over her shoulder, pulled her into him and smiled down at her. ‘This is good. I just won the girl.’

  ‘You’re not angry?’

  ‘Why would I be? I told you I was chasing you.’

  ‘But that was—’

  ‘Edie, I’m not seeing another woman. There’s only you in my life. Don’t worry about Gary. He’ll get over you, and I doubt I ever would.’

  ‘Stop joking.’

  He took no notice, but continued to apparently enjoy himself as he smiled down, pulled her around so she was chest to chest with him, his arms looped around her and clasped at the base of her spine. ‘Do you think this makes me look like the love-struck suitor?’ he asked. ‘Or should I kiss you passionately?’

  ‘Maybe I’ll come back later …’

  Edie pushed away from Ryan when she heard her father’s voice. She laughed, unsure if it sounded happy or forced. ‘Dad!’ She lunged for him and hugged him hard.

  The firm, protective arms that had hugged her all her life, whenever she needed a hug and even when she didn’t, came around her. ‘Hey, Sweetpea,’ Ethan said. ‘Everything okay here?’

  ‘Ryan’s just being amusing,’ she said, untangling herself from the hug. ‘He told Gary I was gay.’

  ‘And are you?’

  Edie laughed. Not at the fact that he’d asked, but at the accepting look on his face. He wouldn’t care if she were. ‘No.’

  ‘I’d love you either way,’ Ethan said, then looked at Ryan. ‘Have you got something to say to me regarding what I just overheard?’

  Ryan pulled his shoulders back. ‘I’m in love with your daughter, Ethan. I’m glad she’s not gay because if that was the case, things might not go the way I’m planning.’

  Edie’s mouth dropped open. She checked to see her father’s reaction.

  Ethan’s smile softened and a paternal look came into his ey
es. He held out his hand to Ryan. ‘In that case, you’ve got my blessing.’

  Ryan grinned and shook her father’s hand.

  Ethan turned to Edie. ‘And you, Sweetpea?’

  She huffed an astonished laugh. ‘He’s having you on, Dad!’

  But her dad turned back to Ryan. ‘I wouldn’t trust any other man with my daughter.’

  ‘Thank you, Ethan. I promise I’ll look after her with my life.’

  ‘I hope there won’t be a need to go that far, but I understand the sentiment.’

  ‘Excuse me,’ Edie said. ‘Sorry to interrupt the excessively macho bonding going on here, but apart from not having a car and having a few issues with electrical items, I am very capable of looking after myself, thank you.’

  ‘It’s nothing to do with machoism or outdated chauvinism, Edie,’ Ethan said. ‘It’s about a man wanting and needing to protect and care for those he loves. Especially our wives and our children. That’s going to happen, no matter the decade and no matter if it’s considered politically correct or not. It’s the way a good man is built.’

  She glanced at Ryan, who gave her a smug, raised-eyebrow look.

  Unbelievable. How did he do this? How did he get everyone to believe his jokes? She hadn’t even known he was this good at fooling around. But Ted had believed him, so had Gary, and now her dad!

  ‘Okay,’ Ethan said. ‘I’ll leave you both to it.’ He nodded at the lamppost behind Ryan. ‘Great to see you’ve made up and sorted things out at the very spot where it all went wrong.’

  She noticed Ryan’s quick unease and a slight narrowing of his eyes, and she shot a glaring look at her father. Thanks for bringing that up, Dad.

  Ethan bent and gave her a kiss on her cheek. ‘I’ll let Mum know how the land lies.’

  ‘It’s not lying anywhere!’

  ‘Uh-oh.’ Her dad slapped Ryan on the shoulder as he moved off. ‘Good luck.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Ryan said. ‘I’m going to need it.’ He turned to Edie. ‘See? Now you’re mine. Your dad just gave you to me.’

  Edie couldn’t halt her laughter. ‘You’re outrageous,’ she said, and punched him lightly on his chest. But this was much better than arguing. She hoped he’d meant it about not having another woman. Not that she had any right to not allow him another woman and a family. If luck was ever again on her side, he wouldn’t get married until she’d got over him. If that ever happened.