The Boy In the Olive Grove

by Fleur Beale

  AFTER SCHOOL the next day, I went into town and, using some of the stash of cash accumulating in my account, I bought my own tablet and gave it a name. ‘I christen you Irony.’

  By way of distraction from past lives, I checked on the factory’s website for postings of recent work. There were none.

  I rang Hadleigh and had a moan to him, just because I could. He laughed. ‘Give it up, Bess. Dad’s a dinosaur and you’re not going to change his spots — or his scales, or whatever.’

  ‘No, I guess not. But Eddy should be keeping his eye on things. He’s the one with most to lose if the place goes down the tubes.’

  ‘You’ll sort it, whizz-kid that you’ve turned into.’ He so clearly wasn’t interested. Was still terrified he’d get dragged back in, probably.

  I changed the subject. ‘When are you off to uni?’

  ‘End of the week. Can’t wait. See ya.’

  Ah well, at least he’d answered my call.

  It looked like if anyone was going to sort things on the digital front it would have to be me. It wasn’t ideal, though. The guys needed to be doing it themselves, and I wouldn’t be around next year anyway. We needed a more lasting solution.

  And that was when an image floated into my head of the perfect person. Jason. Jason? Yes.

  I was still laughing when I rang Dad. But he got in first. ‘The orders are rolling in, Bess. I have to say it’s exciting. And you’ll never believe it, but we’ve had an inquiry from somebody wanting miniature furniture for a doll’s house!’

  ‘Cool! You’ve said yes?’ He’d better have, or I’d do him serious damage.

  ‘Well now,’ he said, ‘I wasn’t going to, but then I thought I’d better talk it over with the men.’

  ‘And did you? Did Alton grab the job?’

  ‘He did indeed. Thrilled to the back teeth, he is.’

  So was my father, by the sound of it. ‘Dad, those pieces have to go on the website. Any items that are different from what’s there already have to go on it too.’

  He got soothing. ‘Don’t fuss, girl. I know what I’m doing.’

  I got mad. ‘I’ll bloody tell Beverly on you. You’ve got to keep current. She’ll tell you that. Listen, Dad, ask Jason to be in charge of posting photos. He’ll be good. Knows what he’s doing round a computer.’

  The dinosaur humphed and hawed, but in the end decided that could just be a grand notion and he’d put it to Jason tomorrow.

  I rested my head on my desk and screamed a very small scream. He’d better do it, or I really would tell Beverly on him. Then I sat up and called Eddy to give him a rocket about the lack of current photos.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I know it needs doing, but you know … I don’t feel good about telling Charlie what to do.’

  ‘Get over it. The place will go backwards if you don’t. Dad’s going to ask Jason to post them, but he probably hasn’t thought about captions.’

  ‘Good idea. Jason’ll be stoked too. Don’t worry. I hear you. Thanks … boss.’

  The next day, after Mum and I had dined at the late hour of 6.30 because I’d volunteered to cook, I decided to phone Clint to find out whether Dad had put Jason in charge of keeping the photos current. It was sneaky, but I really didn’t want to badger Dad to his face again.

  My call was answered on the second ring. ‘The Castello Southey. To whom is it your earnest wish to converse?’

  Nick? The blood rushed from my head. ‘What are you selling?’ the voice asked. ‘Or do you wish to inform me that my computer has a virus and that you—’

  ‘George! You idiot! I need to speak to your dad.’

  It wasn’t Nick after all. I wanted to cry.

  ‘Not so fast, lady. I don’t let my honoured pater speak to just any stray female.’

  Heaven grant me patience. I told him my name.

  ‘Ah, little Bess Grey. For you, signorita, anything.’

  At last! Clint came on the line. ‘Sorry about that, Bess. What’s up? Something wrong?’

  ‘I hope not, but I want to check with you first, just in case there’s no need to put a bomb under Dad.’

  That got me a laugh. ‘The website? Young Jason’s as proud as a peacock. He’s posted photos already.’

  ‘That’s awesome. Hey, can you tell him from me that he’s a dude?’

  ‘Sure, word for word. Good to know you’re keeping an eye on your dad,’ he said.

  I checked the website. The photos were clear, crisp and showed the work to advantage. Somebody had written brief captions for each of them.

  It wasn’t till I was in bed that I let myself think about hearing Nick’s brother’s voice. What an idiot I’d nearly made of myself. Iris was right: I had to keep going forwards, I had to let go of the whole belief that Nick was my one and only.

  I was nearly asleep when it occurred to me to wonder why I hadn’t just checked the website myself. It was the obvious thing to have done. I came to the sorry conclusion that subconsciously I’d been hoping for news of Nick.

  Bloody subconscious.

  I THREW MYSELF into school, immersing myself in work and any activities going: Stage Challenge, tennis, swimming, peer support.

  ‘Are you always like this?’ Harriet asked.

  ‘Pretty much,’ I said. ‘My brother reckons I’m hyperactive.’

  Harriet lay back on the grass. ‘Give me the quiet life.’

  ‘Yeah right!’ She was up there in the workaholic category.

  School was okay. I was making friends with boys as well as girls. None of the boys made my heart race, and I wondered if I’d ever fall in love again.

  About the middle of March, Iris sat me down for another of her motherly type conversations. ‘How’s school going? The truth, please.’

  ‘Fine. I like the teachers. I’ve got friends. It’s all good.’

  ‘And the boys?’ she asked, skewering me with her witch eyes.

  ‘They’re nice. I really like Anaru and Peter. Sol I can tolerate except on Tuesdays. He’s always really obnoxious on a Tuesday for some reason.’

  She wasn’t deflected. ‘And I’m willing to bet you wonder every day if you’ll ever fall in love again.’ One look at my face was all it took for her to grab my shoulders to make me look into her eyes while she said, ‘You are eighteen. Enjoy it. Have fun. If you hadn’t seen those images, Nick would be just another nice guy. Like those boys at school.’

  The trouble was, I had seen the images and I’d felt the connection when we’d been together on the day of the ice cream. He was my olive grove boy.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  TWO DAYS BEFORE school broke up for Easter, I talked to Mum about my plans for the holidays. Clodagh had asked me to stay with her for the second week.

  She didn’t lift her eyes from her tablet. ‘That won’t be possible. I need you to be here during the holidays.’

  My heart sank. ‘But Mum, why? The garden’s perfect. Lily’s a brilliant cleaner. There’s nothing for me to do.’

  ‘Elizabeth Symes has arranged for you to look after her grandchildren the first week. In the second week Mrs Chapman is entrusting her dogs to you. They need walking twice a day. On Easter Saturday there’s the Horticultural Society dinner. I have put your name down to waitress.’ She still didn’t look at me.

  I headed for the door. ‘Please thank your friends for me, but I won’t be able to oblige them.’

  She caught me up at my bedroom. ‘You’re as stubborn as your father, but you will do as I ask.’

  ‘You didn’t ask!’ Disengage. She can’t help it. Don’t react.

  I counted to ten, then to twenty. ‘Please will you talk to me first before you make plans for me?’

  She went off. Total nuclear fission. I tried not to listen, tried not to let her damning words sink in.

  ‘Holy hell, Mum — give it up will you!’

  She kept on and on at me until I couldn’t stand it, couldn’t take any more. I ran out of my room, out of the house as she shouted after me, �
��Don’t you dare walk out when I’m speaking to you! Where do you think you’re going? It’s nearly midnight.’

  It was nine o’clock, not midnight, and it was raining.

  I tore down the road, heading as usual to my haven. Dad opened the door, took one look at me, bellowed for Iris, put his arm around my dripping shoulders and hustled me inside.

  ‘Your mother?’ he asked.

  I just nodded, couldn’t speak.

  He said, ‘I’ll make up the spare bed. You’re staying here tonight.’ He patted my shoulder. ‘Any time you want to move in. You know that.’

  I tried to smile. Couldn’t. Shivers wracked my whole body.

  ‘Hmm,’ said Iris. ‘This isn’t good, Bess. But how about we make decisions another time? Let’s get you warm. Jump in the shower, I’ll make you a drink, then you can hop into bed with a hottie.’

  It was balm to be fussed over.

  I sent Hadleigh a text just before I went to sleep: Mum excelled self this time. Have taken refuge with Dad & Iris.

  His reply came swiftly: Spare room here all hols. Wanna stay? U can meet girlfriend.

  I be there Thurs after school. Off to Auck second week. Can’t wait 2 meet GF.

  The next morning I went home to change into fresh clothes and collect my school gear. Mum turned her back on me. I tried to disengage, tried to remember the statue. Only one more day to get through and I’d be free of her for two whole weeks. Strangely, though, when I got back that afternoon, she had afternoon tea set out on the table — matching china and a clutch of cupcakes.

  ‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’ll keep out of your way if you’re having friends over.’ No way was I going to play the dutiful daughter, especially not to dog-woman and grandkid-woman.

  ‘This is for you. Come and sit down.’

  She was several degrees above glacial, and I was suspicious as hell. What was she up to?

  ‘I’ve cancelled the arrangements with Elizabeth and Gloria,’ she said.

  The grandkids and the dogs? ‘Thanks, Mum. Appreciate it.’ Not that she deserved thanking, but this was one huge concession.

  ‘However, you are still needed at the dinner. I can’t reorganise that at this late stage.’

  She poured a cup of tea, handed it to me and gestured towards the cupcakes. I don’t like cupcakes. The cake part is disappointing and the icing is always too sweet. I took the plainest one. Pink icing. Gross. I didn’t respond to the waitressing topic.

  ‘Hadleigh’s asked me to stay with him from tomorrow night. For a week.’

  ‘That’s good of him,’ she said, making it sound as if he’d be babysitting a monster. ‘I will drive you there. I haven’t seen my son for several weeks.’

  Apparently we’d done with the chat, because she got up and began clearing away the tea things. ‘He can bring you over to the dinner. I’ll buy him a ticket so that he can take you back with him.’ She sailed from the room, leaving me gaping after her.

  How had she done that? All without me yelling, or telling her yet again that no way was I going to be a waitress at her garden do? I shrugged. Just do it. It was a small price to pay for getting out of the baby- and dog-sitting.

  I packed that night, and texted Hadleigh about the joys awaiting him.

  I spent a good portion of the last day of term trying to work out what my mother was up to. Why hadn’t she gone silent on me? Why the concessions? Driving me into Hamilton to Hadleigh’s flat was no puzzle. She wanted to see him — and maybe she was glad to be rid of me for a while as well. Even as I walked home from school I kept mulling over her motives, and (for once) praying she’d be home and ready to go. It’d be just like her to keep me waiting. But no, she was there and keen to hit the road. She even offered a few remarks as we travelled to Hamilton: two weather-related comments, one observation that the town was growing, and two expressions of disdain about the driving habits of other people.

  I did my best to respond. ‘Yes, the paddocks are starting to get green again … You’re right, there’s never a cop when you need one.’

  Apparently it was enough. She inclined her head graciously at each dumb reply.

  WE ARRIVED at Hadleigh’s flat after the longest drive in the universe. I leapt out, rolled my eyes at him and stood back to let him turn on the charm.

  ‘Great to see you, Mum. Come in, come in. And what do you think of our garden? Pretty good, huh?’

  Surely she wouldn’t fall for that? The ‘garden’ was a parsley plant, a scraggly lavender bush and a lemon tree.

  She sparkled at him. ‘You have a little way to go, dear.’

  He laughed and led the way into the house to serve tea made with teabags in cracked mugs. Mum drank hers without a murmur. She commended Hadleigh on his housekeeping, which wouldn’t have looked so snappy if I hadn’t given him a day’s warning. She inquired about his studies. Interesting, she’d not once asked me about mine, or about how I was settling in at school. She remembered the names of his three flatmates and asked after each one.

  Hadleigh got to his feet. ‘Sorry to hurry you, Mum. But I’ve got a meeting with my supervisor in twenty. If I’m late she’ll mark me down. Regular dragon, she is.’

  At once, our mother stood up. She kissed her son farewell, nodded to her daughter and tootled off out the door, leaving the Saturday-night waitressing gig unmentioned — until she had one foot in her car.

  ‘By the way, Hadleigh. You’ll need to bring Bess over on Saturday evening.’ She outlined the treat he was in for.

  He bent down to give her a smacker of a kiss. ‘Gee, Mum. That would have been so cool! Why didn’t you let me know earlier?’

  Oh god, he was going to bail on me. She’d have to come and get me, and I’d bet a zillion she wouldn’t bring me back again.

  ‘There’s a problem?’ she asked.

  He rubbed his hair, and I wanted to yell Stop because he looked so like Dad when he did that. ‘The thing is, I’ve got tickets for me and the infant here for that new play up at uni.’ He looked worried — have to hand it to him, he truly did. ‘I really can’t cancel. I’m helping on the door, and Bess, I hope you don’t mind, but I kind of volunteered you to be an usher.’

  I had to look at the ground. ‘Oh, uh … well, I’ve never done anything like that. Is it hard to learn?’

  ‘You’ll pick it up,’ he said. ‘Sorry, Mum. It’s going to be a huge nuisance for you. Will you be able to sort it, do you think?’

  She slid into the car. ‘Please don’t worry about it. I can make other arrangements.’

  We stayed frozen until the car vanished around the corner, then I jumped at my brother, hugging him. ‘Gazumped, by heaven! By an expert!’

  ‘Not bad, eh?’ He unwound my arms. ‘Come on, let’s go and relax, and you, my dear sis, can explain exactly how she finessed you into agreeing to that lark in the first place.’

  So I told him the whole sorry saga of the babysitting, the dog-minding and the waitressing. When I’d finished he shook his head at me. ‘You’re an idiot, sister mine. She set the entire thing up because all she wanted was to watch you be a minion. Bring you down a peg or two.’

  I let that sink in. ‘You mean, she made up the babysitting and the dogs?’

  ‘Betcha.’

  ‘But that is … it’s Machiavellian. Evil.’ I paced around the room, picking things up, putting them back, trying to get my head around the grenade he’d tossed at me. ‘Hads — do you truly, honestly believe she staged that row? If she did, it means she knew all the time what she was saying. And she said horrible things. Mean and nasty and horrible.’

  He strolled over and dropped a brotherly arm across my shoulders. ‘Seriously, I do believe that’s exactly what she did. And seriously, you’re going to have to watch her very, very closely. Don’t take anything at face value. She’s a nutter.’

  I stared at him. ‘You’ve never said anything like this before.’

  ‘Ah,’ he said, ‘but I’ve never had a psych major for a girlfriend before. Get yo
ur skates on. We’re going to rescue Su Lin. She’s been hiding out in the library.’

  ‘Su Lin as in the GF?’ I asked. ‘You’ve got an Asian GF?’

  ‘Yep.’

  I started to laugh. An Asian girlfriend definitely wasn’t in Mum’s plan for her son. She’d have it all sorted for him to marry the daughter of one of her friends whose pedigree she knew backwards.

  ‘Excellent. Can’t wait to meet her.’

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  SU LIN WAS A RIOT. For a start, her dress style was gypsy crossed with fairy. Her hair was long, with the back in skinny braids. She wore round, academic-style glasses and her boots were patterned with pictures of high-heeled shoes.

  When she saw us, she piled up her books, dumped them in her bag and said, ‘Good. I’m done here.’ She kissed my cheek. ‘You must be Bess. Welcome to the big smoke.’

  Hadleigh took her bag. ‘You need a bloody elephant to carry this lot. Haven’t you heard of e-readers? Embrace the twenty-first century, why don’t you?’ He hooked his arm round her waist. He’d never been this much at ease with any of his previous girlfriends.

  ‘How long have you known each other?’ I asked.

  ‘A couple of years,’ she said. ‘Did Hadleigh tell you we’re moving in together in a month?’

  ‘No, and I only discovered he had a girlfriend yesterday.’

  ‘Can’t tell you all my secrets, sis,’ he said.

  ‘On the grounds that I might run straight to Mum?’

  ‘Breaking the news to her is a joy yet to happen.’

  Back at Hadleigh’s flat, Su Lin wandered off and returned with yet more books. ‘Hadleigh’s told me about your mum,’ she said to me. ‘I don’t want to be pushy or anything, but I’ve got some books you might find useful. Have a browse through this lot if you’d like to.’