by Sofia Grey
He studied me for a moment, dark brows tugged together, and I wondered if he’d call me on my blatant lie, but no. He nodded, and then pushed to a standing position. “Come on. Let’s make the most of the weather.”
I hadn’t noticed it until now. He was right. The sun peeped over the hills, and the sea was calm. Pink clouds dotted the horizon and were reflected in blurry patterns on the water. I took a deep breath. Beautiful.
I followed Jasper onto the sand, and then, under his direction, did some stretches and jogged on the spot for a minute. At the point when I felt I couldn’t do any more, he told me to walk briskly to the driftwood and back, and in that time, I caught my breath. Mostly.
Walking back, I couldn’t help staring at him. At the faded hoodie he wore and the jeans that fit him perfectly. The stick in his hand and the way he avoided leaning on it. What happened to him? It was a question too far. He said he wasn’t always a gimp, but I guessed that anyway, since he was a personal trainer.
The exercise session had to be longer than fifteen minutes, but while I felt tired and my muscles complained, it wasn’t unmanageable, and Jasper kept a close eye on me.
There were no smiles from him today, but a steady calmness that made me want to keep going, to keep pushing on. I marched and carried weights, and then did some yoga-like stretches on the sand.
Sweat pooled in the small of my back and stained the front of my shirt, and I must smell disgusting, but it didn’t stop Jasper from bending down and touching my foot.
“Point your toes and count to five, and then relax.” He stood close and watched. “That’s right. Well done.”
I flopped onto my back and let out a huge sigh. “I’m munted.”
He didn’t reply, and I raised my head to look at him. “Thank you. I do appreciate this. It’s only been two days, but I can feel the difference,” I said.
“You will.”
“I need to shower.”
“Yes. Before you get cold.” As if to underline his words, Jasper shivered, and guilt tugged at me. While I’d been working out, he stood in one place. Though it was warmer than yesterday, it wouldn’t be fun, standing still for half an hour or more.
“Would you like to come back for a hot drink?”
A hint of a smile teased at his lips. “We had this conversation. I hate herbal tea.”
“I bought coffee yesterday. As long as you take it black.” Buying a bag of ground coffee had been an impulse, in the faint hope that Jasper might call around again, and now I was pleased I did it.
“That works. I’ll make the drinks while you shower.”
“Deal.”
I had the quickest shower in history, pulled on clean jeans and a floaty top, and dashed back to the kitchen. I found Jasper sitting at the table, his hands wrapped around a mug of coffee. Though I hated drinking it black, the aroma taunted me. It was as well I didn’t buy milk and sugar, otherwise I’d be indulging right now.
“I made you some Lemon Zinger,” said Jasper, nodding to a cup steaming on the counter. “And your phone has been going mental. Someone’s desperate to talk to you.”
It wasn’t even eight thirty on a Saturday morning, and there was a very short list of people who might be calling me. With a sense of impending doom, I picked up my phone and scrolled through the two missed calls, two voicemails, and no less than four text messages, all from Deanna.
Something was badly wrong.
Chapter Nine
Pls call me. ASAP.
Problem in the office. I need to spk to you.
Caitlin, pls pick up yr phone.
Really urgent. Really REALLY need to spk to you.
The feeling of doom multiplied, and I reached for the nearest chair while dialing my voicemail. The first message was from Deanna.
“Caitlin.” Her voice was high and stressed. “I know it’s Saturday, but you need to come in. The council is going to close us, and we’ve got—like—a couple of hours to move all the stuff. Please call me right back. Thank you.”
—the fuck? Closing my business? I stabbed the phone, to pick up the second message, and it was Deanna again.
“Caitlin. The guy here says he can’t wait any longer if he doesn’t hear back from you. Please call me.”
The building was filled with guys in fluorescent jackets yesterday. Why would they close us down? I had all the health and environment certifications, and even if I’d messed up somewhere, we wouldn’t have to move everything. We’d just be barred from trading until the paperwork was resolved.
“Problem?”
I looked up to see Jasper, concern clear on his face. I’d forgotten he was here. “Not sure yet. Give me a minute.” I dialed Deanna’s number, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Thank God. How soon can you get here?” There was a rustling noise, as though she covered the phone with her hand, and a muffled conversation filtered down the line.
I strained to hear but couldn’t make it out.
“Is that Caitlin Mortimer?” said an unfamiliar male voice.
“Yes. Can you please tell me what’s happening to my business?”
A tiny part of me hoped that Deanna misunderstood things. That was dashed by his next words.
“You can have an hour to remove your possessions.”
“An hour?” I swallowed past the fear in my throat. “I’m up on the Kapiti Coast at the moment. It’ll take me an hour just to get there. Can you tell me what the problem is?”
He grunted. “Hour and a half then, but be quick.”
I clung to the phone. If I could keep him talking, I could find out what was wrong. “Why are you closing my business? Are you from Environmental Health?”
“It’s not just you, it’s the building. Cracks have been found on the upper floors, and I have an emergency closure order for earthquake checking.”
“But.” It came out as a squeak, and I moderated my tone. “There’s always been a crack in the stairwell. It was there before the November quake. It’s the plaster.”
He clicked his tongue. “I assure you, Ms. Mortimer, this isn’t only a crack in the plaster. You have ninety minutes to remove your stuff.”
“But...” God alone knew what objection I was about to raise. He hung up, and silence echoed in my ear. “Shit,” I whispered. “Shit.”
“Caitlin? What’s the matter? Can I help?”
I gazed at Jasper, but in my head I saw my kitchen unit. “I... No. I don’t know.”
“Talk to me.”
I blinked back the tears that pressed at the backs of my eyes. “You’re very kind, but unless you have somewhere I can store all my equipment and catering supplies, there’s nothing you can do.” I called Deanna again, and spoke as soon as she answered. “I’m leaving now. Box up as much as you can, and we’ll shove it in my car while I figure out where to go.”
I could store some things in my shoebox of an apartment, but after that, I was screwed. I needed new premises immediately, or at the very least, temporary storage space.
Wellington’s storage facilities were bursting at the seams, and I needed a place with a working kitchen, otherwise I’d be out of business. No work—no income. Panic was a heartbeat away.
“Yes,” said Jasper. He sounded calm.
“Yes, what?” Was he even listening to me?
“Yes, I have space. I’ve tons of room. How much do you need?”
I gave him the dimensions. “If you could help, it would be beyond amazing. At least, until I figure out where to go next. Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I have a truck as well, if you need help to transport everything.”
“You do?” I must have sounded like an idiot, but I operated on instinct. I hadn’t begun processing the details.
“Yep. I need to get Hol to drive. Hang on a sec.” He lifted his phone to his ear. “Sis, you got plans for this morning? Could you drive me into Wellington and back? We need to go right away.” He paused, and then nodded to me. “You’re the best, Hol. I’ll see you
in five.”
It was a thousand miles from a solution, but it might buy me breathing space. Without thinking, I hugged him, tight. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
He stiffened in my arms, and then gave an awkward laugh. “No worries.”
His voice sounded rougher than usual, and I groaned inside. Talk about overstepping boundaries. He was—again—being nice. My night-time fantasy couldn’t be anything more, and I had to remember that.
Chapter Ten
The building was the definition of chaos.
People bustled in and out, other tenants removing their belongings, and yellow-vested engineers carrying their gear inside. Deanna had boxed and bagged everything she could, but there was more to do. I had her empty the fridge of perishables, and Jasper busied himself disconnecting all the IT equipment. Holly helped too, and lugged boxes to Jasper’s waiting truck. She’d managed to snag a space right outside, while I was parked further down the street.
A member of the crew stuck his head around the door. “Ten minutes, and then you have to leave.”
A wave of despair hit me. This was my livelihood, being reduced to a pile of cardboard boxes. Would I ever find premises like these? I’d been so lucky to find this place. Close to the CBD—the central business district—with great parking, and affordable. Who knew when I’d be back in business? I might have to find other work in the meantime. Go back to working on a help desk. I winced at the thought.
No. This was my dream. I’d make it work again.
“You doing okay over there?”
Jasper’s voice dragged my attention back to the pile of mixer attachments I was packing. “I guess. It’s so sudden. I thought I had everything figured out, and then this. Wham. Here, have some more crap in your life.”
He quirked his eyebrows. “Yeah, been there. Still there, actually.” He dropped a neatly twisted cable into the bag at his side. “It’s called life, but you know what?”
I paused and stared at him.
He shrugged. “It sucks donkey balls sometimes, but it’s a fuckload better than the alternative.” He pulled a face. “‘Scuse my language.”
For a few moments, the buzz of activity around us faded into the background. I longed to say something profound—something to acknowledge the pain he hinted at—but nothing came to mind. I reached out and squeezed his hand. He didn’t pull away, and I took heart from that. “Fuck yes.”
His lips twitched, and then broke into a curving smile that lit up his entire face. “I knew I liked you.”
He did? I felt an answering smile emerge, my stupid heart fluttering at his words. He didn’t mean he liked liked me, but it felt good. I’d take it.
I still rested my hand on his. We made a little bubble of calm in the eye of the storm raging around us.
“Hey.” It was Holly.
I hadn’t noticed her walking up to me; I was too intent on her brother. But the spell was broken. “Hey,” I replied as I snatched my hand back, and then returned to what I was doing.
“Are these the last ones?” Holly grabbed the box I filled. “The guy with the clipboard looks like he’s counting down until he can throw us out.”
She was right. Moments later, the man stomped into the admin area. “Time’s up. If it’s not packed it, you leave it.”
I gave a last, wistful look at the catering-sized oven that came with the property, hoisted the overflowing cardboard box in my arms, and left my business.
*
I drove back to Kapiti behind Holly and Jasper, my mind darting from one anxiety to another. Deanna had given me a tight hug. She looked close to tears, and no wonder. Her job was in jeopardy too. If I didn’t find new premises by the end of next week, I wouldn’t be able to fulfil the orders on my books. Deanna still lived with her parents, but she was saving up a deposit to get her own place. If I couldn’t continue to employ her, she’d find somewhere else.
Could I ask Bruce for help?
No. Hell would freeze over before that happened.
By the time I arrived at Jasper’s house, I’d half-convinced myself the situation was hopeless. I’d have to call my customers, cancel their orders, and refund their deposits. The prospect made me want to weep. I’d come here a couple of days ago, looking forward to a break and to pushing myself into a routine of diet and exercise. To get slim again. Now it was all meaningless.
If I couldn’t make Bruce’s wedding cake, there was no point in going to the wedding.
Holly knocked on my car window and startled me. “Come inside,” she said. “Jasper’s locking the dogs in the yard. You’ll be safe.”
They’d helped pack my stuff and hauled it back to their house. They had confidence in me. Perhaps I should have a bit more faith in myself.
Jasper had three unused bedrooms at the back of his house, and we put all the boxes in there, apart from the chilled goods, which we crammed into his refrigerator.
Holly sifted through the existing contents and pulled out eggs, bacon, and a tired-looking red pepper. “Time for brunch, I think.” She was cheerful. “Don’t know about you two, but all this work has left me starving.”
It sounded like my cue to go, and I reached for my car keys, which were abandoned on the table. “Thank you so much. I’ll get it moved again as soon as I can.”
“Hey. Where are you going?” Jasper gazed up at me from where he sat. “Stay for something to eat.”
I was tempted. Gods. Just the sight of the bacon made my mouth water. “I shouldn’t.”
Jasper’s brows knitted together. “Why on earth not? What do you plan to do next? Right now, I mean.”
It was my turn to look puzzled. “Look for new premises, of course.”
“We can help.”
Why did he have to be so nice? I was at risk of dissolving into a blubbering puddle of self-pity, and his soft words pushed me closer.
I examined a torn fingernail and bought myself a moment. “You’ve been so kind. Both of you. I can’t impose on you any longer.”
Holly dropped a rasher of bacon into a giant frying pan, and it sizzled, the smoky, salty fragrance teasing at my nostrils.
“You’re not imposing. I offered.” Jasper huffed a sigh. “Stay for brunch, and then we’ll hit the commercial ads and find somewhere for you. My WiFi is probably faster than what you have at your place.”
While the bacon fried, Holly was busy shredding the red pepper. She dropped it into the pan, and my stomach rumbled at the delicious smell.
I knew when I was beaten.
Chapter Eleven
The three of us pored over the ads on Jasper’s laptop, debating the Pros and Cons of each property listed. There were precious few in the center of Wellington. The big earthquake was six months ago, but usable space was still in short supply.
How far outside the city was I prepared to go? I could get more space for the same price, but since my core customer base was in the CBD, I’d have to add travelling time and costs to most deliveries.
“This one looks good,” said Holly. “Kitchen facilities, and it’s in Oriental Bay, which is close enough to the city center.”
It was a pretty area too, but pricey. The monthly rent was almost double what I paid in Thorndon. “It’s lovely, but I can’t afford it.”
Jasper pushed his chair back from the table and stretched. He reached for his stick and limped across the kitchen to the counter. “Anyone else want coffee?”
I opened my mouth to ask for herbal tea, and then thought fuck it. One milky coffee wouldn’t hurt. “Yes please,” I chorused with Holly, and we smiled at each other.
“I’ve been thinking,” Jasper said to me over his shoulder. “Apart from needing an office front, to have somewhere visible for customers, why can’t you work out of your place? You’ve got an apartment in town, haven’t you?”
“I wish I could, but apart from the fact that it’s tiny, it’s not certified for food prep. It takes weeks to get an inspection lined up, and even then, there�
�s a ton of paperwork to do. The process can take a month, and that’s if there are no delays. Whereas, if I find somewhere with a certified kitchen, I can start work right away.”
“Fark,” said Jasper.
“Yep. That sums it up.”
Holly sifted through the printouts we’d made of potential locations. “There are three worth looking at. Four, if you include the one in Oriental Bay. What next?”
“I make appointments to see them. Commercial properties turn over quickly.”
I drank the excellent coffee Jasper brewed, and spent the next hour calling the letting agencies. One was already snapped up, but I could view the others today. I glanced at my watch. It was only two in the afternoon. With all the drama, it felt much later.
Jasper wanted to come with me, and I greedily said yes. I did wonder how comfortable he’d be travelling another hour each way in the car, but I wasn’t sure how to ask without offending him.
Holly had no such qualms. “You’re going to hurt tonight, little brother. Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
His fingers tightened around the handle of the stick. “I’m fine, Hol. I know what I can and can’t do.” He bit the words out, and I stared at my empty cup, wishing I could hide in it.
They said nothing else, and after a minute, I went to put my cup into the dishwasher. “Okay, then. I’m off, if you’re sure you want to come.”
Jasper sighed and turned to face me. “Yes, I am. Thank you. And despite Holly’s worrying, I know my limitations. Okay?”
****
I drove with extra care, as though I transported a fragile multilayered cake, and wondered again why Jasper was so eager to spend time with me. He must be bored. Should I ask him about his injury?
Curiosity burned inside me. I haven’t always been a gimp.
The radio played softly in the background, and my car purred along, the roads quiet and the weather calm. I glanced at Jasper. He was gazing at the stick by his side. His hair flopped onto his forehead, and I wondered how it would feel if I swept it back with my fingers.