by Lucy Clark
Danny sat, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
‘Ya love him, don’tcha?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then what are ya doin’ sittin’ around in a dump like this?’
‘Always like you to come right to the point, Maisy.’
‘Always like ya to edge around it.’ Maisy sat down opposite her and held her hand. ‘What’s up, love?’
Danny tried to think of the best way to voice her insecurities. She shifted in her chair, letting go of Maisy’s hand as she tried to settle. No. She moved again, crossing her legs then uncrossing them. No. She stood and started pacing. Better.
‘What’s up? You want to know what’s up? I love him, Maisy. Isn’t that enough?’
‘Ya scared, ain’t ya?’ Maisy nodded her head wisely.
‘Too right I’m scared. Petrified is more the word.’
‘Of what? Of Mac?’
‘No, not of him. Well, not directly but everything he stands for—yes. I don’t know how much you know but he comes from a very wealthy family. He’s an only child and his mother has been putting pressure on him to get married and settle down. What if he wants to do that with me?’
‘So? Isn’t that what ya want?’
‘Uh…’ Danny waved her hands wildly in the air. ‘Uh…I don’t know. I guess so but I don’t want it there, Maise. I want it here. I can’t leave the outback. It’s in my blood. It’s me. It’s who I am deep down inside. I can’t leave this place.’
‘Has he asked you to?’
‘No, but he will.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
She shrugged nervously. ‘I don’t know, I just do. Why else would he want me to go to England?’
‘I’m guessin’ it’s because he wants to see ya again.’
‘No. It’s a test to see how I fit in over there.’
‘Is that what he said?’
‘No, it’s how it is. He needs to see if I can fit into his world and I can’t. I know I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘Why not? Look at me, Maisy. Just look at me.’ Danny held her arms out wide.
‘Gorgeous. Always have been.’
‘I wear workboots, jeans or shorts and T-shirts with an open shirt on top to keep the sun off. I have hat hair more times than not and I’m just not “take home to meet Mother” material.’
‘Ya reckon that’s what he wants to do? Sounds serious.’
‘It won’t work, Maisy.’ She started to pace again. ‘I know for a fact that I will not fit into his world.’
Maisy’s eyes lit with surprised humour. ‘Ya scared all right. Ya scared that you might actually like it. Ya might like his precious England and never want to come home.’
‘I will come home,’ Danny vowed, as though she were trying to deny Maisy’s words.
‘Yeah, but what if ya don’t wanna? What if ya fit so perfectly into his world and choose to stay?’
‘I would never do that. I have responsibilities here. If I left, who would provide medical care? You know how difficult it is to get doctors out here full time.’
‘We’d figure it out, lovey.’ Maisy stood and crossed to Danny’s side. ‘If losing ya from here means happiness for ya, the majority of us would be screamin’ at ya to take it. Trust me, lovey. I’m an expert in affairs of the heart. I’ve been married enough times.’ She chuckled. ‘That ain’t gonna help ya, though.’ She thought. ‘Well, Mac certainly fitted in well here.’
Danny kept up her almost well-worn path in the floor-boards. ‘Yes, he did. He fitted perfectly into my world but that’s because we knew it was only for a couple of weeks. He knew there was a time limit on it and that was that. He’d go nuts if he lived here constantly, and in the end he’d eventually leave, just like my mother did.’ She stopped, looked at Maisy and didn’t bother to hide the tears in her eyes. ‘If he left me like that, I’d simply curl up and die inside, Maise. Just like my dad. I saw what happened to him when Mum left.’
‘Ah, now, don’t go tarrin’ and featherin’ Mac with the same brush as ya mum. He’s a completely different person and this is a completely different situation. Ya mum was a city girl, born and bred. She was in love with the idea of the outback, probably read about it too much in those glossy magazines she couldn’t live without. Yew only remember her through the eyes of a child. Yew feel rejected because she left ya here instead of taking ya with her to the city but she knew yew belonged here. She knew it was in ya blood and she knew we’d all look after ya.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘I’m a wise old woman, Danny, me girl. Besides, I was there. She’s not the only one I’ve seen it happen to. Ya dad would be away for weeks at a time, tendin’ to the livestock, helpin’ the farmers around him. Ya mum needed her contact with the outside world. There was only one plane in and out of Dingo Creek back then and ya mum went stark raving mad with nothing but the radio to keep her company, and even then the reception wasn’t the best.’
‘But what about me? I was there with her.’
‘To a person like ya mum she needed more human contact than just lookin’ after a kid. There was no cable TV back then, no phones in the home, no mobile phones, and she got so desperate she begged the pilot to bring her whatever he could in the way of magazines when he did his weekly deliveries. When yew were a bit older, that’s when she started leavin’ ya here with me so she could get away. She’d go to Darwin most of the time or wherever the plane would take her. She told ya dad she’d be back and she usually did come back after a while. I guess she thought she was gettin’ even with him for leavin’ her alone while he went off and worked the farm. One day she just didn’t come back from one of her breaks. It was nothin’ personal to ya, Danny. She tried, lovey, but in the end it was easier to give up.’
‘It still hasn’t been easy to deal with.’
‘The point is, lovey, that Mac is nothin’ like ya mum. He knows what it’s like out here. He’ll be workin’ alongside yew. If he came for good, it wouldn’t be for the wrong reasons. The point is, he’s nothin’ like ya mum.’
‘I think you’re wrong, Maisy. Sure, he may like it out here, sure, he even fits in with the locals, which is a miracle in itself, but the fact remains—I’m an outback girl and he’s a city boy and never the twain shall meet.’ Danny raked her fingers through her hair, desperately trying to hold back the dam, but the walls weren’t strong enough and they burst, allowing the tears to break out over her lashes and slide down her cheeks. She choked on a sob and within the next instant Maisy’s warm and comforting arms were around her.
‘I love him, Maisy,’ she cried. ‘I love him so much it hurts, but if I go over there, it will just hurt even more.’
‘Shh. It’s all right. Ya’ll work it out. Ya always do.’ Maisy soothed. After a few more minutes, Danny pulled back and wiped her eyes. ‘Ya have to go, lovey.’ Her tone was gentle but firm. ‘Ya promised him ya’d go and ya’ve never been one to break a promise before. If ya don’t go, ya’ll always wonder and that alone will drive ya crazy. Ya’ll never be the same again. At least if ya do go and find out that things won’t work out after all, then ya can come back home, to people who love ya and get yaself back together again and get on with ya life, but ya gotta go, lovey.’
Danny sniffed but nodded. ‘You’re right.’
‘Yew’d better believe it, mate. I always am.’
‘Big-headed too,’ she jested, and the two women laughed.
‘How soon can ya organise the locum?’
‘It’s done. He’s just waiting on the final dates.’
‘What about the plane ticket?’
‘Sebastian sent me one. I just need to ring the travel agent and change the date.’
‘So ya could go tomorrow if ya wanted.’
‘I suppose I could.’
‘Then what are ya waitin’ for, girlie? Honestly. Go and pack ya stuff, ring the locum and tell him he starts tomorra and let Mac know. I’ll put ya on the plane tomorra mornin’ and
so long as Mac knows ya comin’, ya’re all set.’
Danny laughed. ‘You’re such a railroader.’ She hugged the older woman to her and kissed her cheek. ‘Where would I be without you, Maisy? You’re the best.’
‘Don’t I know it.’ They both laughed.
‘Today’s Thursday. Let me get things organised and I’ll fly out of here Monday morning.’
‘Fair dinkum?’
‘Fair dinkum,’ Danny replied, and felt as though a weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. She was still scared but at least she’d made a definite decision.
‘How long will ya be gone, then?’
‘I’ve arranged the locum for two weeks. I’ll have jet-lag for the first few days after travelling, both when I arrive in England and after I return here.’
‘So how long does that give you with Mac? Quality time, I mean, not when you have jet-lag.’
‘Well, Mac said jet-lag usually lasts for forty-eight hours at the most. I may not get any at all. Guess I’ll have to play it by ear.’
‘Guess so.’
‘Ooh, I’d better get off home and email him the good news.’ Danny could feel excitement coursing through her veins. The decision had been made. She was going and she was going on Monday. ‘Bye, Maisy.’ She almost danced her way to the door. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘Don’t mention it, lovey. Just be happy.’
The instant Danny was out the door, she raced up the street to her house. Pushing the flyscreen door open, she walked directly towards her study and sat down at her computer. ‘Hurry up,’ she said impatiently as the computer took its time to boot up. At last she could write her email informing Sebastian of her arrival. No, wait, first she had to confirm the ticket with the travel agent and then email Sebastian. No, wait, first she had to contact the locum and see if he could come. No, the travel agent should come first. She dithered around, which was unlike her, but eventually the dates and times were organised and she sent her email off into cyberspace.
Now all she had to do was to wait for Mac to come on line and tell her what he thought.
Finally!
Sebastian took a deep breath, filling his lungs properly for the first time since he’d kissed her goodbye. She was coming and it was about time!
He’d always considered himself a patient man but lately he’d been getting so annoyed with Dannyella’s procrastination that he’d been ready to get on a plane, fly all the way to Dingo Creek, pack her bags and bring her back to England himself.
One thing he’d discovered, though, was that the longer he was away from her, the stronger his feelings became. The last time he’d seen his mother she’d once more recited her spiel about him settling down and starting a family. He’d almost lost his temper with her pompous and autocratic attitude. Still, she was his mother and he had a duty towards her.
She’d insisted he attend a cocktail party which was being held at the end of the following week.
‘There will be plenty of fine young ladies at the cocktail party for you to choose from, Sebastian.’
‘Mother, we’ve been over this.’
‘Oh, come, come, Sebastian. You know it’s time. Your father didn’t live to see his grandchild and I’m determined not to miss it. You aren’t getting any younger.’
‘Thank you, Mother.’ He sipped his tea and nibbled on one of her ridiculous cucumber sandwiches. He thought back to the food he’d eaten at the pub in Dingo Creek. Now, that was what he called food.
‘Jane Strethmore will be there. She’s had her eye on you for quite some time and, quite frankly, dear, I think she’ll make an excellent doctor’s wife. Perhaps she’ll even be able to get you out of the country and back into civilisation.’
‘I have no intention of marrying Jane Strethmore, Mother,’ he’d stated calmly. ‘Or anyone else you choose to parade in front of me. I will choose a wife when I’m good and ready and neither you nor anyone else will induce me to do otherwise.’
‘Chrysteena Mathis?’ She continued on as though he hadn’t even spoken. ‘Louisa Templeton. Either of them would do and all three of them will be at the cocktail party. Just make sure you take the time to talk to them all. I’ll remind you about it closer to the time of the actual party.’
Sebastian had had enough. He put his cup and saucer down on the nearby table and stood. ‘I’ll see you next month, Mother.’ He walked over and kissed her upturned cheek.
‘It’s not time for you to go. You still have another ten minutes.’
‘I’ll see you next month,’ he reiterated.
‘At the cocktail party. Sebastian, I shall be very displeased if you don’t at least make the effort to attend.’
‘It depends what emergencies arise, Mother,’ he replied blandly. He’d done his duty for another month and now it was time for him to leave.
Sebastian leaned back in his comfortable leather chair and reread Dannyella’s email. She was coming and she’d be here for his mother’s ridiculous cocktail party. He wondered if he could kill two birds with one stone.
Finally, Dannyella made her way through customs at Manchester Airport with the throng of other passengers, carrying her canvas rucksack while searching for Sebastian. Butterflies—although it felt more like bogon moths—took flight in her stomach and although she was exhausted from her trip, the anxiety mixed with anticipation at seeing him again was pumping through her veins at a rate of knots.
Eagerly, her gaze scanned the arrivals hall for Mac. Would she recognise him? Of course she would, she rationalised. It hadn’t been that long, even if it had felt like an eternity. Her breathing was increasing and she parted her lips to allow the pent-up air to escape. Breathless! Just the thought of him made her breathless and she was still desperately trying to come to terms with that feeling.
Then…she spotted him. He was standing a head above the rest of people gathered to greet their loved ones and he looked…dead sexy! He was dressed in a navy blue business suit with a crisp white shirt and what appeared to be a university tie. Not a hair was out of place. His hands were thrust deep in his pockets as he stood still. His gaze, however, was following her every move and she had the sneaking suspicion he’d spotted her before she’d spotted him.
The bogon moths started going crazy in her stomach. She felt sick and knew it was simply her nervousness increasing. As always, when she was nervous, she covered it over with her Aussie humour and now was no exception. He remained glued to the spot as she walked towards him, the only concession the large smile that beamed at her. Every step she took felt like lead and for a moment she wasn’t sure if her legs would actually finish the job or crumple beneath her.
When she was within speaking distance, she smiled up at him. ‘G’day, mate.’ He instantly took her bag from her and she gave his shoulder a light punch. ‘How’s it goin’?’
He moved, taking a step closer until they were toe to toe. He breathed in deeply, closed his eyes for a second as though savouring the sensation before looking at her once more. ‘Much, much better, thank you.’ He placed her bag on the floor beside him and rested his hands on her shoulders. ‘You look…exhausted, Dannyella.’
‘Gee. Thanks for the compliment,’ she replied drolly, wondering whether or not he was going to kiss her. He continued to look down at her, the blue depth of his gaze darkening slightly with desire. Danny swallowed, trying to wet her suddenly dry throat.
Time seemed to stand still.
Nothing existed except the two of them…and the person who jostled Sebastian from behind. Danny took a step back so he could retain his balance and the mood, the little bubble they’d been caught up in, burst.
‘Let’s get out of here.’ His voice was thick with repressed emotion and he quickly bent to pick up her bag. ‘Is this it?’
‘Sure.’ She frowned. ‘Why? Were you expecting more luggage?’
He smiled and shook his head. ‘You’re just constantly full of surprises,’ he remarked as she followed his lead. She had no idea where she was going
and as the airport was pretty crowded, she stuck close to him.
Their hands knocked against each other, once, twice, before Sebastian simply grabbed hers as he towed her along.
‘Why is it surprising that I only have one bag?’
He shrugged but kept on walking. ‘You’re a woman. Most women need at least two bags for a few days.’
‘Well, I ain’t most women, mate.’
He smiled warmly at her. ‘I know.’
‘So how many women do you usually pick up from the airport?’ She tried to keep her tone casual and light but deep down she needed to know. She’d told this man that she loved him—which was true—but the fact that he hadn’t reciprocated with a similar declaration had left her feeling vulnerable and exposed.
His smile increased. ‘Quite a few in my time and all of them were laden down with luggage.’ Sebastian watched as a dark scowl creased her forehead and he chuckled. ‘Does that bother you?’
‘Course not,’ she denied with a dismissive wave of her free hand. ‘Where’s the limo?’
‘Limo?’
‘Do I need my universal translator here as well?’
He laughed. ‘I do know what a limo is, Dannyella. I’m simply perplexed as to why you thought there would be one.’
‘Well, I’m sure all the other women you’ve collected from their airport, with their three hundred pieces of luggage, would have had a limo. As I’ve now made the list, bar the excessive luggage, I don’t see why I should miss out.’
‘Rightly so.’ He walked her through a car park and stopped next to a shiny silver car.
‘Whoa!’
‘Will this do?’
Danny looked at the car in amazement. ‘This is what you drive?’
‘Yes.’
‘What is it?’
‘S-Type V6 Jaguar. Problem?’
‘No. Uh…no.’ She smiled. ‘Just a little bit different from my four-wheel and the utilities you were jumping in and out of back home.’
His smile matched hers. ‘Just a little.’ Sebastian opened her door and held it for her. ‘Your car, m’lady,’ he said with a small bow.
Danny chuckled but didn’t move. ‘I’m too scared.’