Where the Light Plays

by C. Fonseca

  “You did too. Whispering in my ear and playing with my leg under the table.”

  “I did not!”

  “Did too. Whose hand was it on my knee then?” Caitlin scowled and narrowed her eyes. “You delinquent. How old are you?”

  Andi grinned and struggled to free her hands. “There are, let me see, only nine years between us… That would make me thirty.”

  “You cheeky little brat—hey, it’s only eight years.”

  “Don’t worry,” Andi squeaked. “I’ve always had a fantasy about seducing an older woman.”

  Caitlin opened her mouth and looked into Andi’s sexy, brown eyes. She was speechless.

  “I don’t believe it. Caitlin Quinn at a loss for words.”

  Caitlin blinked and threaded her fingers through Andi’s. She rolled onto her side, and they lay facing each other, centimetres apart, knees touching. Andi slid her leg across Caitlin’s thigh and drew their bodies closer. She kissed her with an intensity that left Caitlin’s heart beating powerfully in her chest. A sweet ripple of desire, and something she couldn’t quite name, swept over her.

  “Are you okay, Caitlin?”

  Caitlin nodded and moved gently to roll Andi onto her back. She repositioned her body and lay above her. “Yes, I am.” She sighed. The heat between them was like a tender caress. “I love…the way you say my name,” Caitlin whispered. “You leave me breathless.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Andi stirred at dawn to the sound of a rooster crowing, with the silky contours of Caitlin’s body pressed against her. One protective arm lay across Andi’s waist, and a hand curved just under her breast. She gently lifted Caitlin’s arm and turned, careful not to wake her. She pressed her lips into Caitlin’s shoulder to inhale the scent of her skin. She closed her eyes and once again fell into a blissful sleep.

  When she woke an hour later, sunlight streamed through the east window, and a pair of intense, blue eyes gazed tenderly into hers. “You’re awake,” she croaked, lazily stretching out her limbs and nestling closer into Caitlin’s warmth. “This is nice.”

  Caitlin’s arms tightened around her. “You are a snuggler, aren’t you?”

  “Do you mind?” Andi murmured.

  Caitlin ran her fingers through her hair, settled her right hand at the nape of Andi’s neck, and then placed her lips tenderly against her hair. “I’ve never been one to cuddle, but I like this very much.”

  “Never? Not with anyone?”

  “Not really. Rachel often worked on her writing late at night, and she wasn’t really the type to stay hugging for too long, especially after the honeymoon period was over.”

  “Well, I guess we won’t have a chance for that to happen,” Andi blurted before she could stop herself, immediately feeling the tension in Caitlin’s body. I’m such an idiot.

  Caitlin pushed the pillow up against the headboard and pulled herself into a sitting position, covering her body with the cotton sheet. Andi did the same and sat staring at her hands. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair.”

  Caitlin reached for her T-shirt and sleeping shorts and swung her legs off the bed. She dressed quickly, then went around to the other side, handing Andi her nightshirt. She walked across the room, pulled the thin cord, and drew open the curtains.

  Across the green fields, the misty fog was lifting to reveal a bright blue sky. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful morning.” Caitlin turned, her arms wrapped around her chest protectively. “You promised me a run this morning. Do you feel up to it?”

  Seeing the inner turmoil reflected on Caitlin’s face, Andi was overcome by a sense of guilt. She wanted to go to her, wrap her arms around her, but Caitlin’s cool look stopped her.

  “Well, do you feel up to it?” Caitlin repeated.

  Andi swallowed. “I do. Let’s get changed. It’s a great time to run along the tree line on the outer farm road. There are usually koalas in the messmate stringybarks in the morning.”

  “Messmate stringybarks? That sounds so very Australian. Mess-mate.” Uncrossing her arms, she searched through her bag for her running gear.

  Andi tied the drawstring of her shorts and pulled on a lightweight hooded top. “It’s a type of eucalyptus the koalas love to eat. The messmate provides a corridor of treed areas linking patches of bush. The tree corridor means the koala are less likely to come down to the ground, so they are much safer.”

  “Aren’t you a wealth of information this morning?” Caitlin pulled on her leggings and a pair of red shorts over the top. “I’ve never seen a real koala. It will be a first for me.”

  “You have a treat in store for you, then.” Andi attempted to make eye contact. She won’t look me in the eye.

  “Won’t you freeze in shorts?” Caitlin asked, tying her laces.

  “I’m tough. I’ll soon heat up when we run.” She smiled shyly, pulling on her well-worn Adidas runners. Caitlin’s sleek Swiss Cloudsters didn’t escape her notice. “They’re nice,” Andi said.

  Caitlin looked down at her black and white shoes and shrugged. “Cushioned landing and barefoot takeoff. I need something to help me keep up with you, don’t I? Come on, then. Let’s do it.” She tugged on her running cap. “I’ll be well and truly ready for coffee by the time we get back.”

  “Let’s not forget breakfast. We can pick up some fresh eggs from the hen house, and I spotted a loaf of Mum’s Portuguese bread she prepared last night.” Andi opened the glass sliding door and shivered as the crisp air touched her face. “Herbed potato frittata and freshly baked sweet bread. It is great to be home.”

  Andi set out fast; she needed to work off those uncertainty demons that kept surfacing. As she increased the pace, pushing her legs, she reminded herself that she was not supposed to let negative thoughts spoil their few days together. She knew she’d stepped into this with her eyes open. Caitlin had never made any promises, and now Andi had to deal with the choice she’d made. No regrets. I would rather have what I have with her than nothing.

  As she ran, she chanted over and over, “Caitlin is not Martha. Caitlin is not Martha. Caitlin is not Martha.”

  She glanced back over her shoulder. Caitlin had an easy stride and natural fluid motion. Her slight height advantage and long legs forced Andi to work even harder to keep ahead. When she reached the top of the outer farm road, she slowed and checked her sports watch. They had run six kilometres at a good pace, and Caitlin kept up with her the whole time. Looking at how effortlessly she was breathing, she wondered if she was holding Caitlin back.

  According to her parents, the previous week had brought significant rain, and the dirt roads were a little muddy but not sloppy enough to slow them down.

  Caitlin stopped beside her, taking a long drink from the bottle she’d attached to her waistband. “You’re setting a good pace.”

  Andi blinked in the bright sunlight. “Too fast for you?”

  Caitlin shook her head, fastened the water bottle back in place, and danced about on her toes. Then, as if she was ready to take off, she lunged forward to stretch out her hamstrings. Andi admired her fitted jersey singlet and her graceful, lightly muscled arms glistening in the sunshine.

  Caitlin arched one eyebrow at her, looking a little cocky and too confident. “I’m ready, when you are,” Caitlin said, cool as a cucumber.

  “How far do you want to run?” Andi asked. Better not overdo things. She’s not used to this terrain.

  “A few more k’s, just don’t take me too far, or we’ll miss breakfast.”

  “Okay, no problem.” Andi bent over to retie her shoelaces.

  Caitlin started off down the embankment, then came to a stop and turned around. “Hey, Andi?” she called.

  “Yeah?” Andi raised her head to catch the wicked grin.

  “Did I ever mention I was part of track and field at UCC Athletics Club? Not that I’m competitive at all…” she sang out as she sprinted ahead at a cracking pace.

  “Damn! Now she tells me.” Andi shook her head. Have mercy.
She would probably kill herself trying to catch up to her, but she was willing to give it a go.

  By the time they made it back to the house, Andi was breathing heavily. She untied the top that was around her waist and used it to mop up the perspiration from her face and arms… No, actually, it was sweat. She looked down at her grey Nike sports bra that was drenched, and a little revealing. Caitlin, who had stopped in the shade of the veranda, was calmly sipping on her drink bottle, stretching her muscles.

  “You made it.” She laughed, sauntered over to Andi, untied the sweatshirt from her waist, and used it to mop Andi’s brow. “I thought I’d have to run back and find you.”

  Andi bent over to ease her breathing and let her heart rate slow down. “God, I’m a wreck,” she scowled. “What was that you said about not being competitive? You’re ruthless, and you didn’t even stop to look at the koalas.”

  “There will be a next time, won’t there?” Caitlin leaned forward to lick Andi’s heated skin in the hollow at the junction between her breasts. “Poor baby. Did I tire you out?”

  “Good morning,” said a crisp, clear voice from the open doorway.

  “Ana.” Andi turned. She embraced her sister and kissed her on both cheeks while holding her hooded top between them. “Sorry, I got a bit hot… I’m a bit sweaty. I need a shower.”

  Andi stepped back and looked at Ana. Her long, dark hair hung in a loose braid over her left shoulder, and her large, alert hazel eyes scrutinised the scene like a hawk. But her eyes softened as she checked Andi at arm’s length.

  She wriggled her nose. “Yes, you do,” Ana said.

  Andi grabbed Ana’s hand and dragged her closer to Caitlin. “I’d like you to meet my sister, Ana—Annalise Thompson,” she said. “This is my friend—”

  “Caitlin. Pleased to meet you, Ana.” Caitlin stepped forward and took the hand offered in a matching strong handshake.

  “You too, Caitlin. It is always lovely to meet one of Andi’s friends.”

  Caitlin fiddled with her cap, twirling it around on her finger. “If you don’t mind, I need a shower, so I’m going to head inside. I’ll feel a lot more comfortable once I’ve freshened up. Excuse me, please.”

  Caitlin walked in the direction of their room, and before Andi could follow, Ana marched her towards the main entrance of the house. “Why don’t you grab a shower in the other bathroom? Breakfast is nearly ready, and we have a long list of things to get done today.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Tomorrow night, the Reys would celebrate Emmanuel’s sixty-fifth birthday, along with the farm’s annual spring gathering with their extended family, neighbours, and friends.

  At breakfast, Caitlin was seated between Luc and Mick, Ana’s husband, who reminded her of an Irish rugby player—tall, muscular, and broad shouldered, with thick, sandy hair and freckles. Ana and Andi were across from Caitlin, and Lina and Emmanuel sat at opposite ends of the long table.

  Ana apparently took her role as project manager very seriously. Caitlin shook her head as Andi rolled her eyes, watching her older sister take charge. Their meal doubled as a planning meeting, and by the time the dishes were cleared, Ana handed each of them a neat, handwritten list of their tasks for that day.

  Caitlin had been volunteered by Andi to help Lina, Emmanuel, and Ana in the kitchen. Despite Ana’s occasional call-to-order—mostly directed at Luc—with a quick toss of her braid over her shoulder, the atmosphere was lighthearted and friendly. Andi bubbled with excitement, and Caitlin, happy to be included in the preparations, enjoyed the friendly banter.

  An hour later, Caitlin stood at the kitchen table, lining dozens of flan tins with thin pastry.

  “Maybe you wish you’d skipped this experience and arrived in time for the party?” Andi asked, her arms full of coloured lights.

  Caitlin dusted the tip of Andi’s nose with a dab of flour. “What, and miss learning to make your favourite dessert?” She leaned closer. “Your brother assures me that if I learn to make these properly, you will be brought to your knees when you sink your teeth into the flaky, buttery pastry and rich, creamy custard.”

  “Andréa, maybe we can find you an apron, and you can help Caitlin with the pastéis de nata?” Lina called while expertly platting bread dough at the other end of the bench.

  “No thanks, Mum. I’m in the middle of helping Mick with the tree lights. Then I have to drive into town to pick up the order from the hotel. Also, Manny and I are supposed to connect outdoor speakers and check the music when he gets home from school.” Andi laughed, brushing the flour off her nose onto Caitlin’s shoulder. “The list Ana made for me is a mile long.”

  “Don’t forget the tablecloths. Shirley said they would be ready for pick-up after lunch,” Ana called as she wiped her hands on a tea towel, followed with a quick shake of a finger at Andi.

  Andi bowed to her sister. “Your wish is my command. Don’t be too hard on Caitlin. She may never want to come back here again,” she pleaded, glancing at Caitlin apologetically. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed before escaping through the back door.

  Caitlin watched Lina separate farm fresh eggs skilfully with one hand, placing the orange yolks into a stainless steel bowl. Following the instructions from the well-worn, handwritten book of family recipes, Lina had carefully weighed and measured all the other ingredients.

  “How do you keep the custard from separating?”

  “It’s the corn flour. You mix the milk with the corn flour until you have a smooth paste. When it’s cooking, stir all the time until the mixture is just under boiling point. It must never boil.” Lina smiled, beckoning her closer. “Come on. I will guide you, but to learn, it is best for you to do it.”

  Under Lina’s gaze and careful instructions, she placed the cream and crème fraîche into a saucepan with the sugar, salt, cinnamon, and lemon zest. As the cream heated, she stirred gently to help the sugar dissolve. She removed the stick of cinnamon. Beside her, Lina beat the egg yolks and then added the corn flour mixture.

  “Now, Caitlin, you can pour the warm cream onto this, constantly whisking. Then we put the mixture back into a clean pan and place it on a low heat. Remember, stir all the time.” When the custard was a little thicker than double cream, Caitlin took the pan off the heat and poured the mixture into a glass bowl, as directed, and stirred in the vanilla extract.

  “It looks so amazingly smooth.”

  Lina nodded, testing the custard consistency on the tip of a teaspoon. “We have to wait until it cools, then we can fill the pastry cases and bake them in the oven till the custard is puffed up and blackened in places.” She smiled. “That’s what makes it just like my mama’s, the slightly burnt caramel top. It’s an old family recipe.”

  * * *

  After lunch, with Andi still away on her errands, Caitlin was surprised when Ana asked if she would accompany her on a walk. Not since her summer job in Kinsale, Ireland, harvesting cabbages and lettuces, had Caitlin experienced such a large-scale market garden. “This is really an extraordinary place. There are so many different fields,” she said, as they stood outside the courtyard gates and looked over the 180-degree view of the planted crops before them.

  “We produce more than fifty different vegetable and herb crops in a calendar year. Most are marketed through the organic growers network of shops and wholesalers. We also supply directly to individual restaurants and cafés.” Ana talked and walked briskly, moving in a decisive manner.

  Caitlin observed Andi’s older sister. She had a genuine, grounded appearance. She spoke about her family business with confidence and pride, reminding Caitlin of a lioness looking out for her cubs. Although she hadn’t yet met Andi’s nephew and niece, she imagined that Ana would be a protective and fair mother.

  “I recognise the logo on the farm gate. I’ve seen it at Birdie’s store in Hakea.”

  “Yes, that’s correct. Birdie stocks a range of our produce, including our micro greens. Andi designed that logo,” Ana said, smiling proudly.


  “She’s never mentioned it.”

  “Although Andi doesn’t work on the farm, she helps when she can. Her creative talent has been a real asset in marketing and expanding the business.” Her tone was unassuming, but her gaze was intent, as if she was trying to gauge Caitlin’s grasp of Andi’s role in the family business.

  They walked through the herb gardens, where the air was permeated with the smell of lemon verbena, chives, and the pungent odour of marigolds. The circular beds were crammed with a mix of colourful plants and flowers. “I don’t recognise some of these. What is that?” she asked, pointing to a spiky, weed-like plant with large purple flowers.

  “Great burdock,” Ana said, reaching out quickly to warn Caitlin. “Careful, it belongs to the thistle family, and they have nasty burrs. This is Mum’s experimental garden. Those plants, from left to right, are echinacea, comfrey, fenugreek, and globe artichoke.” She shook her head, her long braid swinging along her back. “Some things I never thought would grow here, but there you go. My mother’s magic touch.”

  After they’d walked for nearly half an hour, Ana led Caitlin to an enclosed garden near the seedling house. With red-bricked walls, it reminded Caitlin of the monastic gardens she had visited in Europe. The clever use of space and colour was presented here in an almost accidental manner. They sat at a heavy wooden table beneath the shade of an old quince tree. The orchard around them was filled with fruit and nut trees, some still in blossom, some with a profuse growth of new green leaves.

  Underneath the branching quince tree, mixed beds of chamomile, poppies, fennel, and lavender attracted bees and other flying insects. Along a wall, the attached lattice was covered with an abundance of purple and red passionfruit.

  Ana grabbed two bottles of mineral water from the fridge in one of the sheds and handed one to Caitlin, who accepted it gratefully. She removed her broad hat to wipe beads of perspiration from her forehead. “Thank you, it’s quite warm. I’m not used to this heat.”