5 Peppermint Grove

by Jackson, Michelle

  “I know I’m not the typical youngest child – I was always so much my daddy’s girl and I wanted to make him proud. It’s difficult now that he’s gone but I feel he’s looking down on me saying ‘good move’ or ‘invest there’! I could never find a man that I loved as much as him.” Julia looked sadly into her glass of cider and took a large gulp.

  “We are two of the most dysfunctional people we know, Julia!”

  Julia smiled. “I never would have agreed with you before but I think I know what you mean!”

  A crowd of young Irishmen filtered in through the door.

  “Howaya, girls – are yis backpackers?” asked a scruffy man who was wearing a Dublin jersey and beaming smile.

  “No, she’s on holiday and I’m working in the CBD,” said Ruth.

  “Arya?” he beamed. “So am I – I’m a lecky!”

  “A what?” Julia asked.

  “He’s an electrician,” Ruth interpreted.

  “It’s a great town, isn’t it?” he said to Julia.

  “It’s cool!” she smiled.

  “Can I get yis a drink?” he offered.

  “No, thanks, we’re fine,” said Ruth.

  “Good luck!” he said and went off to chat to one of the scaldy girls.

  “I told you people were friendly in here,” Ruth laughed. “And when you are feeling homesick, two hours chatting to Lecky there is heaven!”

  “I suppose we are so used to hearing how wonderful it is for everyone who has left our little country as it sinks further into debt, that we don’t think about what it feels like to be so far away.”

  Ruth took another drink. “I never gave it a thought before. And I’m lucky – I’m here through choice not necessity. I could always move back in with Mum and Dad.”

  “But you are glad you came?”

  Ruth nodded vehemently. “I swear I’d never have left Ian’s clutches otherwise. I guess I’m missing him too so it’s twice as difficult but now I’m on my own I realise that I never really had him. God, it’s so annoying to realise that you’ve been deluding yourself for ten years. I wonder what opportunities I missed out on while I was entangled in his web. Maybe there’s a lovely lecky out there that I’d be happily making the dinner for right now and feeding his sprogs!”

  Julia stood up abruptly. “Stop all this morose talk. I’m getting another drink. We are – well, I am – on my holidays and we are going to have fun!”

  For the next two hours they had fun with Lecky and his mates. They drank more cider than they should and jumped into a taxi before Julia’s jet lag saw her asleep in the corner of the bar. The craic was good.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  The next morning Ruth came into Julia’s bedroom with a mug of tea and some buttered toast.

  “How’s the head?” she asked.

  “I remember now why I don’t drink cider – and we’d already had a bottle of bubbles earlier that I’d forgotten about!”

  “Drink up. I’ve got to go into work for a couple of hours but we’ll be getting the ferry at three so make sure that you have your bag packed.”

  “I will – or maybe I’ll just take it easy till you get back.”

  Ruth smiled at her friend. She had been the Julia of old last night – the one she had been with in New York when they were young adults. It helped Ruth to realise that they were at a new stage in their lives, a fresh start of sorts, and she hoped that Julia would find what she was looking for because since moving to Perth Ruth was feeling very much like a new person.

  Ruth took her bag and called goodbye as she closed the front door.

  Julia sat up in the bed and flopped back down again. The mix of time, alcohol and sunshine were proving to be a lethal cocktail and she would have to take it easy when she got to Rottnest Island. She took her phone and switched it to Wi-Fi to check her emails. It was still Thursday night in Dublin and she was anxious to see how business had been at home.

  Gillian had promised to email a report at the end of every day so Julia went straight to her email first.

  It started off describing the business in the office before going on to the post. But it was the last paragraph of the email that rattled Julia.

  I’m going for drink to the Shelbourne with Dylan tomorrow night. Thank you so much, Julia, for introducing me to your brother-in-law. He really is so lovely and I never dreamed that I would be taken out to such a nice place. I hope that you’re having a brilliant time in Australia.

  Julia felt her stomach churn and hoped that it was the Night Nurse from Rosie’s making her nauseous. The Shelbourne was her favourite spot in Dublin and Dylan knew that. And why was Gillian signing herself Gill? That was way too familiar for her liking! It worried Julia that she was feeling this way about a man she not only disliked but despised. He had irritated her for ten years so why was she cross about him seeing Gillian? Who was she to judge who either of them should go out with? After all, she had instigated the match in the first place. But it didn’t sit right with her because she didn’t think that they suited. In fact, Gillian should be down here in Perth and Ruth should be in Dublin going to the Shelbourne with Julia!

  It was midnight in Dublin but Julia decided she had better check in and see how her mother and Horatio were doing. She went onto Skype on her iPad and didn’t have to wait long.

  “Julia, is that you?”

  “Hi, Mum, yes, it’s me!”

  Her mother was sitting in the living room and Julia could tell that she had either been playing bridge or was about to start a game.

  “How are things in Dublin?”

  “All good here – you are missing nothing, love. Oh, apart from the massive row that I had with the credit-card people this morning. I couldn’t understand a word that the girl from the NGB bank was saying. She wouldn’t let me cancel Granddad’s card – you know how he keeps losing things – he probably left it in one of those cowboy shirts that he wears. I bet it’s in one of them but he swears he can’t find it. So they wouldn’t let me cancel just his – they said I had to cancel mine too because they are on the same account!”

  “It’s probably a security procedure, Mum!”

  “But wait, I’m not finished – I want to book a flight over to Warwickshire to play in a bridge tournament and I’ll need to have the card this week – so the cheeky girl tells me that I’ll have to wait. I was furious so I told her that I was cutting up my credit card and I went and got a pair of scissors and did it right there on the phone and she was yelling loudly at me, telling me ‘Madam, you still owe two hundred euros on the account!’. I asked to speak to someone who could speak English! I swear, Julia, I think the girl was in Cairo or somewhere mad like that – why can’t they have Irish people to talk to Irish customers? That would stop some of the emigration!”

  Julia tried hard not to laugh and wished that there was no video on her iPad. She could see by her mother’s expression that she was totally wound up about the matter. This was exactly the sort of thing that Julia would have been able to sort out for her if she was there – it made her feel good that she was missed and needed for all sorts of little tasks!

  “So how is Granddad?”

  “He’s in great form – the weather’s nice and mild and he’s taking his walks on the beach every morning. I think he should get a little dog but he won’t hear of it. How is Ruth getting on in Australia?”

  “Her house is lovely and her job’s going really well. It’s a gorgeous city but everything is so expensive!”

  “Really?” Carol was surprised. “I thought Australia was meant to be cheap. Where is she staying?”

  “Ruth’s house is in Subiaco – it’s a lovely little suburb – almost in the centre of the city!”

  “How was your flight?”

  “Good – really comfortable.”

  “Well, have a good time because you are missing nothing here – I think Granddad has fallen in love with that Brazilian girl that you sent to do the housework. He’s fixing a watch for her! Is Mi
chael going out to you?”

  “Yes, he’s due here on Saturday evening. I’ll get him to call you on Sunday.”

  Carol frowned uncomfortably. “Oh, there’s no need for that – eh, I’ll be busy on Sunday.”

  “Really? Where will you be?”

  Carol went red in the face. “Oh nothing, I’ll just be playing a bit of bridge with the girls – you know, Treasa and Ita!”

  Julia was curious – she always knew when her mother was trying to hide something. There was no point in prying as she was too far away to find out more.

  “Okay, well, have fun and we’ll call you on Monday.”

  “Oh yes, Monday is much better!” Carol looked relieved which made Julia even more curious.

  The world had turned upside down and she was on the other side of it and could do absolutely nothing about it! First Gillian and Dylan surprise her and now her mother! Julia had never felt so out of control of her life and everyone else’s!

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Julia and Ruth cruised along like Thelma and Louise and parked at Eshed markets on Fremantle harbour. The quayside was awash with travellers. The captain was accepting people for boarding. The massive cruiser The World cast a shadow on the water.

  “Come on, we’ve only got ten minutes!” said Julia.

  This trip was a wonderful opportunity for them to catch up without any distractions, thought Ruth. Have some good heart-to-hearts. Julia had made it obvious that she was not keen on Steve. She really had thought that she had hidden her feelings from Julia but her best friend knew her better than she knew herself.

  The captain was charming and flirtatious, wearing a gleaming white shirt and four golden bars on his lapels.

  “Hey there, girls, going to Rotto today, are ya?”

  They nodded and ran on board the ship.

  “This reminds me of Irish college – remember when we took that trip to the Aran islands?” Ruth said.

  “Only it wasn’t thirty-five degrees in Galway,” Julia chirped.

  They watched the Fremantle port authority building disappear as they motored through the harbour mouth. A large red peppermill lighthouse stood to their right and a green one to their left. A TV screen ran a video information trailer about Rottnest and it was announced over the tannoy that the bar was now open.

  “Come on, now we are both on holidays – what would you like? Cider?” Ruth asked with a cheeky grin.

  “Never ever again!” Julia laughed. “I’ll have a coke and maybe we can go outside?”

  “It’s hot today – but at least it will be cooler on Rotto with the sea breeze.”

  The thirty-minute journey flew by and, as the picturesque jetty at Thomson Bay came into view, Julia gasped. “I had no idea that it would be this beautiful!”

  “Neither had I!”

  The two gazed as the sandy shoreline drew closer and the sun glistened on the bright turquoise Indian Ocean. Tall pine trees were dotted sporadically behind the dense clumps of the indigenous trees. One large building resembling a hotel and a beach-front restaurant filled the shore-front to the left and a mix of yachts and motor boats were moored in front. A selection of holiday villas jutted out in the distance along the right side of the island and a tall white lighthouse perched high on the hill.

  After landing on terra firma, Ruth assured Julia that she knew exactly how to get to their accommodation. Steve had suggested the Rottnest Lodge as a good base and the location was perfect. After a short stroll past the general store and Rottnest Bakery they were at the front of a brightly painted orange building.

  “Look out for the quokkas!” Ruth said.

  “For what?”

  “Quokkas – they’re like tiny kangaroos – Steve said they are everywhere!”

  Julia dragged her bag behind as they entered the reception of the Rottnest Lodge. The shimmering pool just outside the main entrance beckoned.

  “Oh, I think that’s our first port of call!” Julia said.

  The male receptionist was tall with jet-black curly hair and translucent blue eyes like the azure shades they had seen on the water in Thomson Bay.

  “Hello, are you staying with us today?” he asked with a warm smile.

  Ruth gave him their details and took the key.

  “Breakfast is at seven in the morning and runs till ten.”

  The girls thanked him and didn’t have to go far to find Room 26. The buildings and pathways were quaint and distinctly colonial.

  “It feels like we are going back in time on this island,” Julia remarked.

  “It does have a certain feel – reminds me a bit of Martha’s Vineyard.”

  “Yeah, that’s it,” Julia agreed as she opened the door to the basic but clean accommodation. “I thought this was a deluxe room!”

  “Yeah, pretty basic – but at least the pool looks nice.”

  They changed into their bikinis and poured on some Factor 30 sun lotion.

  “It’s hot out there today.” Ruth said.

  Julia nodded. “I can’t wait to get into the pool.”

  The loungers were covered with fresh towels for guests to use and the palm trees gave natural shade from the sun. Ruth jumped straight in and Julia quickly followed. Like most Australian pools it was deep and so refreshing the girls stayed in it for half an hour.

  Ruth got out first and sat on the sun-lounger that she had reserved with her wrap. She put on her sunglasses and lay in tranquillity.

  When Julia got out she decided to dry off and apply more lotion. She reached down beside Ruth’s bed and let out a yelp.

  Ruth jumped up. “What’s the matter?”

  Fear and trepidation were written all over Julia’s face. She pointed to a spot beside the large palm tree that was offering them shade.

  “There – don’t move – there’s a massive rat!”

  Ruth looked over to where Julia was pointing and started to laugh.

  “That’s not a rat – that’s a quokka!”

  “It’s a rat – I know a rat when I see one!”

  “Julia, I swear – I saw them in the zoo – that’s what they look like.”

  “What are they doing here by the swimming pool?”

  “He’s probably just looking for a bit of shade!”

  With that the quokka turned on his paws and hobbled off through the gaps in the metal gate, to find another place to rest.

  “I can’t believe that thing!”

  “It’s a marsupial – Steve told me about them – the first visitor to the island thought they were rats too and that’s why they call it ‘rottnest’ – he was Dutch apparently and that’s ‘rat nest’ in Dutch.”

  “Well, Steve is a mine of information – I’m so glad we were warned or I’d have been straight up to reception to check out.”

  “Lie down and relax – you’re on holidays.”

  Julia did as she was told and the girls basked in the sunshine for an hour before hunger prompted them to find somewhere to eat. They returned to their room and changed into cool sundresses – not too out of place for the laid-back island but enough to make them feel and look good.

  “Did Steve suggest anywhere to eat?”

  “Aristos apparently is good but there is usually a session of some type in the Hotel Rottnest so we’ll go there after.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  They dined on scampi and fries with salad and drank white wine as the sun slowly set. The cool breeze had left and a still calm fell on the island as night drew in.

  The clumps of trees that were a dense green mass when seen from the sea were now lit up with fairy lights forming a magical path to the Hotel Rottnest. There were no private vehicles allowed on the island. Apart from the old colonial train that was really a novelty for sightseers, only one little bus did a circuit of the island. Holiday-makers were expected to walk or hire a bike. And there were plenty of families and young backpackers breezing along the pathways on bikes at all hours of the day and night.

  The Hotel Rottne
st, painted a bright white, beckoned them with the strains of a guitar and singing. Crowds of Aussie college students and international backpackers filled the tables, drinking from the necks of beer bottles.

  “It’s certainly buzzy,” said Ruth. “Looks like all the tables are taken but we can squeeze in somewhere.”

  The midges were out but the girls had sprayed themselves before leaving the hotel room. Ruth got three massive bites on the first night at Steve’s barbie and made sure that never happened again.

  They walked over to the bar and ordered a bottle of chilled white Sauvingnon Blanc. They took the bottle in a bucket over to the quietest table where only one couple sat. The music was good and with the stars twinkling so brightly above in the sky it was difficult to see where the fairy lights in the trees stopped and the real stars began.

  “Oh, I’ve got the nibbles – can’t believe it after that gorgeous dinner – will I get us some nuts?” Julia asked.

  Ruth nodded.

  Julia went up to the long white bar counter which had filled considerably in the few moments since they had bought their wine. A stag party had arrived and the bar staff were working frantically to serve the crowd. She was considering whether to go back to Ruth or wait patiently for her turn when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

  “Hey there – Miss Peppermint Grove!”

  She turned around and didn’t recognise the speaker for a moment.

  He wasn’t wearing his yellow helmet but his white smile gave his identity away.

  “Hello – you’re the guy from the building site, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, that’s right – Brian!” He held out his hand. “And your name is?”

  “I’m Julia – my friend Ruth is with me too. Are you with all these guys on the stag night?”

  “Stag night? Oh, you mean buck’s party! Yeah, my mate Ross is getting hitched in a couple of weeks. Rotto’s a great spot to go on tour! Where are you staying?”

  “We’re at the Rottnest Lodge.”

  “Oh, we’re staying in the Quad.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s the round building – right by the pool. Used to be an Abo prison.”