by Mandy Magro
What a woman, to put love before her career. Charlize didn’t know if she could do the same. ‘It certainly would be hard to be a fashion designer here,’ she said softly. She felt like pulling Hollie into a hug. She’d always wanted to be a journalist and she couldn’t imagine having to give up her dream because of a man. ‘I’d love to see some of your designs while I’m here.’ She knew she might regret that later, but for now she wanted to make Hollie feel special because she was making Bruce and her feel so welcome.
‘Oh, really? I’d love that.’ Hollie grinned from ear to ear. ‘Are you two just passing through?’
‘Oh, no, not really. I’m here for a week.’
Hollie flashed her a quizzical look. ‘Really? What brings you to Grenfell? Do you have friends or family here?’
‘Actually, no, I’m a newspaper writer from Sydney. I’m here to do an article on Dallas Armstrong. You know of him?’
‘Ooh, now everything’s adding up. My hubby rang me today to tell me you were coming. He’s one of the blokes doing the nudie calendar.’ Hollie rubbed noses with Bruce, oohing and ahhing before turning her wide-eyed attention back to Charlize. ‘Tim and I actually know Dallas very well. We all went to high school together. He’s one of the most genuine blokes you’ll ever meet, and his mum Katherine is just the nicest.’
Charlize smiled in relief. ‘Well, that’s good to know.’
Hollie motioned towards the table on the opposite side of the room. ‘And that lovely man over there is Reginald, or Reg we all call him. He’s Dallas’s grandad. He’s in here having dinner with his lovely wife tonight. He lives out at Rollingstone Ridge too, so I’m guessing you’ll be seeing plenty of him.’
Charlize followed Hollie’s gaze to the elderly gentleman who had smiled at her on her way in. She couldn’t help but wonder where this lovely wife of his was. ‘Well then, I’ll have to go and say hi.’
‘You should, I’m sure he’d like that.’ Hollie gave Bruce one last cuddle and then passed him back. ‘Let him sit beside you. He doesn’t have to go back in your handbag, unless he wants to, of course.’
Charlize plonked him down beside her on the bench seat. ‘Oh, thank you. He’d much prefer to be acting like a human.’
‘Then let him be who he is.’ Hollie gathered her notepad and pen from the table. ‘I’d better get back to it. Would you like something to drink with your dinner?’
‘Do you make lattes?’
‘I sure do, and they’re the best in town if I do say so myself.’
‘Great.’ Charlize screwed her face up in question. ‘Would you happen to have vanilla syrup?’
Hollie nodded enthusiastically. ‘Of course!’
Charlize barely refrained from clapping her hands. ‘Excellent.’
‘So that’s a chicken caesar salad, minus the chicken but with extra anchovies. A hamburger minus everything but the patty, and a vanilla latte?’
‘Please.’
‘Would you like light or full cream milk?’
‘Sorry to be a pain, but do you happen to have soy milk?’
‘As a matter of fact, we do. I can’t stomach dairy, and there are a few locals that prefer soy milk too.’
Once again, Charlize wanted to pull Hollie into a hug. ‘Wonderful.’
‘Okey dokey, back soon with your dinner. I’ll bring Bruce a bowl of water too.’ And off Hollie strutted, her long black ponytail swishing down her back.
What a lovely lady, Charlize thought as she watched her stopping to collect a few empty plates along her way. Her eyes fell upon Dallas’s grandad once again. She wanted to go and introduce herself but didn’t want to leave Bruce sitting here on his own—lord knew what he’d get up to. Although he was usually well behaved, she didn’t want to risk him annoying any of the patrons.
Instead, she sat back in her chair and stealthily tried to work out what was on the table in front of Reg. And when she finally did, her heart sank. It was a framed photo of a woman around his age, her smile bright enough to light the darkest of days. So that was his wife, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to work out she’d passed away. She wanted to run over and wrap her arms around him—she’d never seen anything so beautiful, yet so very heartbreaking, in all her life.
His knife and fork now neatly placed beside each other on the empty plate, the man caught her gaze as he wiped his lips with his paper napkin and then gently pushed his plate away. He gave her another of his friendly smiles, his eyes conveying the opposite to what his lips were saying. Charlize could see the aching sadness within them and it crushed her.
Unable to hold back any longer, she grabbed the moment of connectedness to make her way over to him, firmly telling Bruce to stay put. Bruce gave her a look like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. In eight steps she was beside his table.
‘Hi, Reginald.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Charlize Dawson.’
His speckled hand reached out for hers. ‘Please, call me Reg.’ His bushy white eyebrows met in the middle. ‘I’m sorry, my memory is shocking these days. Do I know you?’
‘Oh, no, well, not in the flesh.’ Charlize motioned to the seat opposite him. ‘May I?’
‘Be my guest.’ He smiled warmly, the lines around his eyes suggesting a past of laughter, heartfelt smiles and affection. And yet his deeply wrinkled brow told of worries, past and present.
Glancing over to Bruce, she noted he was still where he should be before she continued on. ‘I’m the newspaper writer that will be doing an article on your grandson.’
Reg’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, and this time his eyes were genuinely full of happiness. ‘Oh yes, Katherine mentioned you’d be arriving today. It’s lovely to meet you, Charlize.’
‘And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Reg.’ She tapped the photo, wanting to include his wife in the conversation. ‘And who is this? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.’
Reg beamed, his eyes conveying appreciation for her gesture. ‘I don’t mind you asking at all.’ He turned the frame around so Charlize had a better view. ‘This is my beautiful wife, Nancy. We were married for fifty-eight wonderful years. She died last year. She fought long and hard but the damn cancer beat her in the end.’
Charlize’s hand fluttered to her chest as if to stop her breaking heart from tumbling out. Watching her own grandad slowly wither away from cancer three years ago had damn near killed her. Even though she’d already guessed that Nancy was no longer on this earth, it was so much more real and poignant hearing it from Reg.
‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’ She tried to smile, her quivering lips making it a little difficult. She quickly found her voice, wanting their first conversation to be a positive one. ‘How did you meet?’
‘Oh, I’d love to tell you—’ a look of absolute glee crossed Reg’s face as he sat back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap, his eyes resting on something past her as he smirked ‘—but before I do, I think your dog is trying to tell you something.’
What the hell?
Charlize spun around in her seat, her heart now in her throat as she imagined all the things Bruce could be up to. In less than two seconds she spotted him. Her bundle of fur had both front paws up against the glass of the cake cabinet and was ogling the yumminess on the opposite side. Drool hung from his lips. He only had to race around the other side and he’d be in sweet heaven. ‘Oh no,’ she muttered as she jumped up and made a beeline for him. She scooped him up into her arms, her cheeks aflame.
‘You shouldn’t be bringing your mutt in here,’ the woman who’d been eyeing her up and down said beneath her breath. ‘You’re not in the city now, you know.’
Shock smacked Charlize in the chest. The lady had looked so sweet and innocent, nanna-like in fact, that such an outburst was unexpected. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Charlize pretended she hadn’t heard her. She wasn’t about to argue with an elderly woman.
‘Oh come on now, Mum, the little bugger’s not doing any harm.’ The handsome middle-aged man
opposite her replied quietly. He reached out and gave Bruce a brisk pat on the head. ‘He’s actually quite cute, don’t you think?’
The woman clucked her tongue. ‘You know I don’t like animals, especially dogs. They’re dirty creatures and they smell.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘And how anyone thinks it’s okay to bring one into an establishment that serves food is beyond me.’
Charlize fought the urge to flee, or cover Bruce’s ears in protest. How dare she insult her gorgeous little pooch. It seemed that not everyone in Grenfell would be as welcoming as the people she’d met so far.
The man smiled at Bruce. ‘Well, I think he’s adorable.’
‘Oh shut up, Warren.’ The woman retorted. ‘I’m not interested in what you think.’
‘You never have been,’ the man muttered beneath his breath. Clearly embarrassed at his mother’s outburst, the man dropped his head and stared down at his half eaten crumbed whatever-it-was.
Charlize felt sorry for him. How could a mother speak to her son like that, no matter the age? What a nasty piece of work. As she tried to step past the table, the woman surprised her by reaching out and grabbing her arm. Charlize instinctively flinched and pulled away as she hugged Bruce protectively. ‘Can I help you?’
‘Actually, maybe I can help you.’ The woman whispered. She smiled in the most uncomforting of ways and then handed Charlize a business card. Her eyes narrowed so close to a squint that it was impossible to tell their colour. ‘It’s my son’s transport business, but you’ll find me there most weekdays answering the phones and doing the bookwork.’
Charlize stared at the business card, and then back at the woman, who continued. ‘I couldn’t help but overhear you telling Hollie you were here to interview Dallas Armstrong. If you want to know some really interesting stuff about that family, give me a call.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘But make sure you bring your chequebook. What I’ve got so say will cost you a hefty sum.’
‘What the hell are you doing?’ The man glared at his mother.
‘I’m doing what I should have done months ago, Warren. I was waiting for the good Lord to give me an opportunity, and here it is. And why not make some money out of it.’
‘We’ve talked about this. If you say anything I’ll—’
She cackled with laughter. ‘You’ll what? You’re as meek as a mouse, so you’ll do nothing.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t care that you want me to keep my mouth shut. It’s time people knew the truth about that wretched man.’
‘I wish you’d just leave it, mother. My business is none of yours.’
The woman pointed her fork towards him. ‘Your business has everything to do with me when it goes against the Lord’s way.’
Charlize shoved the business card into the pocket of her pants, wanting to get as far away from this strange old woman as possible. She made her skin crawl, enough that she wasn’t sure if she’d follow up the lead or not. ‘I’ll keep it in mind.’
The man gave her a weak smile, as if to apologise for his mother’s behaviour, and she acknowledged him with a quick nod of her head. ‘Enjoy the rest of your dinner.’ And then she hightailed it back to where Reg sat with his back to them. She wondered how much he’d seen, or heard.
Reg dropped his voice as Charlize sat back down. ‘Don’t take any notice of those two. They’ve been bickering like that for as long as I can remember. I know she’s his mother but I really don’t know how he’s put up with her all these years.’
Charlize shook her head. ‘How can she be so mean to her own flesh and blood?’
‘Well, Vivien is really his stepmother. His father’s second wife.’
‘What happened to his real mother?’
‘She died giving birth to him.’
Charlize sucked in a breath. ‘Oh my God, how horrible.’
‘Yes, it was very sad.’ Reg slowly shook his head. ‘And then Warren’s father died in a car accident when the boy was only ten, so Vivien raised him as her own. She never had children; I don’t think she’s got a maternal bone in her body. He’s the only family she has, that I know of.’ Reg’s brows knitted together in a frown. ‘And I suppose that makes him feel indebted to her. She is the only family he has left too, so he’s just learnt to make the most of what he has, I suppose.’
‘The poor man.’ She eyed Vivien warily over Reg’s shoulder. ‘I wonder what’s made her so bitter and twisted?’
‘Well, apart from losing her husband, I’m not too sure, but—’ Reg leant in closer, dropping his voice even further ‘—the story around town is that Vivien was used to a life of luxury before she and her family relocated here when she was fifteen. They apparently had a very ritzy house in Sydney until her father lost everything to gambling, and they had to move out here where it was cheaper to live, basically relying on welfare to put food on the table.’
‘Hmm, interesting.’ Charlize’s cogs were turning. ‘She said something about the Lord’s way while I was talking with her—is she very religious?’
Reg nodded. ‘Staunchly. And so too was her mother.’
‘And what does Warren do for a living?’
‘He owns the local transport company. He started off with one truck but now he’s got three or four that are basically on the road non-stop. That’s who Dallas’s dad Mick used to work for before he …’ his voice trailed off. He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then with a deep breath he pointed to Charlize’s handbag still over at the other table. ‘Anyway, enough of this sad stuff. Why don’t you go grab your things and join me here.’ He reached his hands out. ‘And pass me that little lump of fur and muscle while you do.’
‘Oh, I’d love to join you. Thanks Reg.’ Charlize grinned as she passed Bruce over. ‘Back in a jiffy.’
Just as she got herself settled back at Reg’s table, Hollie appeared with her latte and a bowl of water. ‘I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long. I’ve got a few orders going at once.’ She blew a strand of flyaway hair from her cheek. ‘I think I need to bite the bullet and employ someone to help me.’
‘Oh, no worries at all. Thank you,’ Charlize said, thinking it hadn’t taken long at all compared to waiting for a latte in Sydney. Smiling as Hollie placed it down in front of her, she noted the pretty flower shaped into the froth.
After placing the bowl of water down on the floor beneath the table, and getting Bruce settled beside it, Hollie gathered Reg’s empty plate. ‘How was it, Reg?’
‘Beautiful as always, Hol.’ Reg rubbed his belly.
‘That’s what I like to hear.’ Hollie smiled and then turned her attention back to Charlize. ‘I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail with dinner for you and Bruce.’
And true to her word, just as quick as she was gone she was back; placing the most delicious looking caesar salad Charlize had ever seen in front of her. It was so good she almost didn’t want to eat it.
Hollie held up a plate with a beef patty. ‘I’ll pop this down under the table for Bruce. That okay?’
‘Of course,’ Charlize said, feeling the old woman’s eyes burning a hole in her back. It wasn’t very often she took an instant dislike to someone, but Vivien was a whole other kettle of fish. Stuff her. If Hollie said it was okay then she wasn’t doing anything wrong having Bruce in here.
Ignoring her desire to turn around and give her the finger, she instead smiled towards Reg. ‘Right, sorry about all that. Where were we?’
‘I was just about to tell you how I met the love of my life,’ Reg said with pride.
‘I’m all ears,’ Charlize replied with a smile just before tasting her salad. The dressing was creamy and full-bodied with just the right amount of zest, and it was most definitely homemade. She moaned in pleasure, feeling as though she’d died and gone to foodie heaven.
‘It was February fourteenth 1957, but I remember it all like it was only yesterday.’ Reg closed his eyes for a few moments, the growing smile on his lips letting Charlize know he was in a very happy place. After a contented sigh, he continued. ‘N
ancy and I met at a local Valentine’s Day dance when we were just nineteen years old.’ His eyes sparkled as he slowly shook his head. ‘Talk about love at first sight … She was wearing a lavender coloured dress and she was so beautiful I could barely breathe. It took every bit of courage I had for me to go and ask her for a dance, and when she said yes I almost died. You see, the thing was, I was from the opposite side of the tracks to her. I was a low earning builder’s labourer, whereas she was from a well-to-do cattle farming family.’ He laughed. ‘The other thing was I couldn’t dance to save my life, but it was the only way I could get her on her own to talk to her.’
Charlize laughed along with him. ‘Oh no, so what happened?’
‘Well, I feigned confidence and took her out to the dance floor. It only took a few seconds for her to realise I had two left feet. But instead of laughing at my incompetence she leant in closer and told me to follow her lead. And I just knew, right then and there, that she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.’ He shrugged as his smile started to fade. ‘My Nancy was always so loving and kind. I don’t think I ever heard her say a bad word about anyone.’
Wanting to keep the smile on Reg’s lips, Charlize encouraged him to go on. ‘So what happened after the dance? How did you end up getting married?’
‘Well, we spent a whirlwind couple of months together falling more and more in love every day. And then, with the blessing of her parents, we were married at the local church here in Grenfell. It was the happiest day of my life, other than the birth of our two children, of course.’ His eyes started to glisten and he blinked faster.
‘But with the happiness there also came our share of tragedy throughout the years. Some of it almost broke us, but we held onto the faith in our love and thankfully made it through to the other side.’ He smiled sadly, his hands now clasping and unclasping on the table. ‘I miss her so very much. I never wanted to live a day without waking up to see her beautiful face, to hear her beautiful laugh and kiss her beautiful lips’ He paused, clearly needing a few moments to gather himself.