5 Peppermint Grove

by Jackson, Michelle

  Brian was right and the food was delicious. The four chatted about life and the different things that Dublin and Perth had to offer. They were the last people in the restaurant at ten o’clock, being asked if they would like another coffee or if they were ready for the bill.

  “I’m getting this,” Michael said, taking the black leather folder from the maitre d’.

  “No, we’re going Dutch!” Ruth insisted.

  “No way.” Michael got up and went over to the bar, credit card in hand.

  Brian was embarrassed that he hadn’t got to the bill first. “Let me get the drinks then after – unless you are too tired?”

  “I’ve got a better idea,” said Ruth. “Let’s grab a cab and go back to my place.”

  Julia’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.

  “Okay,” Brian shrugged but looked down at his watch.

  Ruth turned on the air-conditioning when they arrived at her house.

  “Julia, can you get drinks, please? I have to go to the loo.” Ruth ran off to her own bathroom and had to sit on the toilet to get her head together. She had to control her feelings. She was so into Brian and couldn’t let Julia know. The way that Michael was becoming so chummy in the back of the taxi was also beginning to cause her concern. They were naturally forming a cosy foursome that she did not want to be part of.

  She looked at herself in the mirror and brushed down her clothes. She touched up her lip gloss and decided to go out and face the music.

  It was worse than she had imagined.

  Julia was draped over Brian on the couch in the living room and showing no restraint. Waiting for Ruth in the kitchen with a freshly poured glass of white wine was a sultry-eyed Michael.

  Against her better judgment she went over to him but he lurched forward and planted his lips on top of hers.

  “I’ve been wanting to do that all night!” he said, grinning cheekily.

  Ruth had to stop it right there. She had to say no. But Michael didn’t give her a chance. He put down his glass, wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and then kissed her again. She was snogging him back now and it was nice, so against her better judgement she continued. She didn’t hear footsteps entering the kitchen.

  “Oh sorry, I didn’t . . .”

  Ruth stopped abruptly and looked around to see a shocked Brian staring at her.

  “Don’t tell Julia!” Michael said quickly.

  “I-I-I won’t – I’ll leave you two in peace,” he said as he turned on his heel, pulling the kitchen door behind him.

  Ruth’s heart sank. What must Brian think of her? She had snogged Marty a couple of days ago and now she was kissing Michael. All he needed to be told now was that she had a married man back in Ireland and at work and he would see her as the ultimate scarlet woman! She hoped and prayed that Julia would keep her mouth shut.

  “So, are you coming to bed?” Michael said with a wink.

  “Yep – my own bed on my own.” She shook her head, took a glass of water and left.

  Julia was making great progress with Brian. For ambiance she had turned off the main light and switched on a corner lamp when he went out to the kitchen to get a drink of water. He was sitting comfortably next to her on the couch.

  “I love hearing about your work – tell me more about the projects that you are working on,” she said, taking a sip from her glass.

  “Oh, you don’t want to hear about buildings and work – I think your job sounds more interesting!”

  Julia was winding a strand of hair around the index finger of her left hand. “But I do – I’d really like to get to know you better,” she replied, this time batting her eyelids.

  Brian was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. He was an old-fashioned type of guy and here she was, making the first move.

  Julia leaned forward and put her face so close to his that she could smell his skin.

  “I like you,” she said. It was a line that she felt was a sure-fire winner. Usually by this stage in the chase she would be peeling off her top but Brian didn’t seem like the strong macho man she had first seen on the building site. He resembled a sheep about to be sheared.

  And then it struck her!

  “You’re not gay, are you?” she blurted out.

  Brian was perturbed. He shook his head vehemently.

  “Good!” she grinned and moved snakelike even closer until she could touch the side of his rough unshaven cheek with hers.

  Brian couldn’t escape and, after seeing Ruth earlier in the kitchen, he wondered what he had to lose. Julia was pretty and smart but it was the wild Irish looks of Ruth that really attracted him. It was a shame that she was so wild that she seemed to hook up with any man. To tell Julia now that he didn’t want to get intimate would be an insult – she had clearly made up her mind what she wanted.

  She moved her head so that her lips were almost touching his. It was a taut anxious moment before they met but when they did it felt good and warm. She gently parted her lips and their tongues rolled together. The taste was new and inviting and Julia was sure that she had chosen well for her holiday romance.

  Brian couldn’t blank out the image of Ruth in the kitchen kissing Michael, but it helped to turn him on and he continued with the kiss.

  Julia wanted action. It had been several months since she had slept with another body. She took his hand and put it up to her right breast.

  He cupped it gently but didn’t move.

  Julia was desperate for more and quickly. With her left hand she started to undo the buttons on her shirt and pushed it to the side so that he could feel the satin and lace of her lingerie. She peeled her shirt off. She had never been with such a passive lover. She decided to straddle him and lift both hands up to her breasts. She was aching for more and at last Brian was becoming more animated. He undid the clasp at the back of her bra and removed it.

  Julia was emancipated at last and she started to move slowly against his crotch. She felt him stir and was becoming more excited with each move that she made. It was time to unbutton his shirt and he helped her take it off, revealing a smooth bronzed chest.

  She wanted him more now. Reaching for the buckle of his belt, she tugged and released it as she unzipped his fly with her other hand.

  She slid off him and he helped her to push down his trousers until they rolled down to his knees. Her skirt was superfluous to requirements and she danced out of it and her underwear in the one action. She straddled him again and could hardly breathe with excitement and desire.

  Suddenly Brian moaned – he couldn’t understand what was happening. It had never happened before. There was no explanation for it. Even as a teenager it had never happened. But now he was helpless to prevent it. He had ejaculated and what had been cocked and prepared a few seconds earlier now lay limply to the side.

  Julia was speechless. She had never had a sex disaster before.

  Brian was embarrassed. He didn’t know what to say or do. It must have been the thought of Ruth that had disturbed his concentration.

  “I-I-eh . . .”

  “It’s okay,” Julia said, making light of the situation. The whole moment went from anticipation to awkward so quickly that she winced in her nakedness and started to dress. “It happens all the time – it’s very common.”

  Brian wanted to say that it didn’t happen all the time and it had never happened to him but he didn’t want to make the situation worse. He stood up and pulled on his trousers.

  “I’d better go home – I have to be on site at six.” He stuffed his shirt inside his waistband and patted down his hair. “Say thanks to Ruth – she must be gone to bed and eh – say goodbye to your brother too.”

  Julia followed him out to the hall door and, without a peck on the cheek or a mention of meeting another time, he was gone.

  Julia stood with her back to the closed front door. It was awkward and awful and not something that she ever wanted to experience again. She was getting sick of relying on random men on holidays to fulfil her. S
he wondered what it must be like to be in a relationship with someone that you made love to day-in day-out. To have that security. But then what it must be like to have that taken away from you. That was possibly the main reason why she had been slow to try commitment before.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Gillian was frantically checking her phone every few minutes. She had become obsessed by Dylan. She had heard nothing from him and she desperately wanted to know if there was a chance of meeting up with him again. She decided to take a chance and send him a text.

  Hi Dylan would you like to go to the pictures tonight? Gill

  She thought that the smiley face was non-confrontational and she didn’t want to be too forward. She waited until noon to send it but when there was no reply by four thirty she was feeling agitated. An email might be a better option but she didn’t have his address. She could always call him. But she was afraid of becoming tongue-tied and sounding foolish.

  She looked at her watch – it was night in Australia. Julia’s request of an email at the end of every day had to be completed.

  Gillian wondered if Julia had any idea how lucky she was. If only she had some of her boss’s confidence. But if her experience at the Shelbourne had taught her anything it was that it wasn’t easy to just swan in and be the femme fatale.

  Carol was moping around the house after Gerry had gone back home.

  Horatio didn’t want to upset her but he did want to know what was going on.

  “Will I make you a cup of tea?” he asked her when he came upon her at the kitchen sink.

  “No, it’s okay, I’ll make it for us both.”

  He sat at the table and watched her. She was in a daze putting the teabags into the pot.

  “So when are you going to tell me about your new man?”

  Carol almost spilled the water as she poured from the kettle. “My new what?”

  “Your new man – don’t tell me that you slept over in Treasa’s – you aren’t ten!”

  Carol was horrified. She babbled madly. “I’ve been playing bridge all week like I always do –”

  “If you don’t tell me I’ll ring Julia in Australia and tell her that you’re holding out on me.”

  Carol sighed. “Okay – but don’t say anything to the kids. His name is Gerry and he lives up in the North – I met him playing bridge online and . . . well, we are close friends.”

  Horatio laughed. “And where was he staying for the last few days?”

  “In the Marine Hotel.”

  “For God’s sake, woman, you are old enough to bring a man back to your bed! And Julia is going to have to deal with him whether she likes it or not!”

  Carol shook her head. “You know how she adored her father – it would break her heart and I don’t want her to think that he has been replaced for me either.”

  “Look, if I’d met a woman that I liked after your mother died I’d have got married again. But I was just pleased with the peace and tranquillity to fix my clocks at two in the morning if I wanted without anyone complaining!”

  Carol poured the tea. “I wasn’t expecting to ever feel this way again but it is more awkward bringing a boyfriend home to your children than your parents. I had never realised it but the pressure is enormous.”

  Horatio chuckled. “And then you become the child . . . now you know how I feel. I know Julia has a good heart but when she fusses over me, telling me that I might fall and hurt myself or do something stupid, I find it infuriating.”

  Carol put his tea down in front of him and went to get the milk from the fridge. “I’m sorry – I’ve been known to do that to you too. Mea culpa.”

  “Carol, we only have one crack at this life,” Horatio said, in a more serious tone now. “Please don’t let happiness pass you by. How I wish I had travelled more and been a bit more of a rebel but your mother had such tight reins on me I . . . ah, maybe it was for my own good! But go and be happy and let the young people sort themselves out!”

  Carol smiled and planted a kiss on her father’s forehead. “Thanks, Dad. I know I don’t say it often enough but I love you.”

  “Ah, don’t be getting all soppy on me now – I’m off to fix a clock!” He stood up, lifted his cup and gave his daughter a wink as he went out to his room at the back of the kitchen.

  Carol sat down at the table and stared into space. She would take on board what her father had said but she was still dreading telling her children – especially Julia – about Gerry.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Ruth was awake early. She had heard Brian leaving the night before and was keen to find out what had happened. She didn’t want to wake Julia but the suspense was killing her. She slipped on her dressing gown and went into her friend’s room.

  “Morning! I have to go to work soon.”

  Julia lifted her head, slowly realising that she wasn’t in her own room at home, and the memories of the night before started to flood back.

  “Ruth, I’m so glad to see you – what a disaster!” Julia shook her bed-head and rubbed her eyes.

  “What happened?” Ruth asked, dying to know.

  “Well, I hope Brian isn’t like other Aussie men because he was no performer!”

  “Oh! Tell me.”

  “The whole experience was like a damp squib – he then came in his pants before I even got a chance to get going properly.”

  Ruth didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You’re joking!”

  Julia shook her head. “Nah – I don’t know, Ruth – I’m seriously thinking of setting up a booty call back home – getting sick of taking my chances on holidays!”

  “Julia, you sound like a guy – what about settling down and finding someone nice to have a proper relationship with – like you are trying to get me to do?”

  “I don’t know where he is or if he exists. Actually, that’s probably it – he doesn’t exist. My mother got the last good man on the planet.”

  “Julia, you could give guys a chance when you get home. What about Dylan? He’s lovely and he’s single.”

  Julia was horrified. “Not a good idea and he will probably turn out like his brother . . . speaking of which, I need to call Odette and see how she is – what time is it in Dublin?”

  “After midnight.”

  “Sugar! That’s too late.” Julia shook her head.

  “If you don’t ring now you’ll have to wait eight hours and the chances are that then she’ll be getting the kids up for school.”

  “Okay, I’ll try her now. Do you have to work all day?”

  “Yes, sorry, I’ve used up my quota. Besides, it’s Michael’s last day so I’m sure you want to do something together.”

  Julia nodded. “Will we meet you back here at five?”

  “Perfect – have a good day and we can both bring Michael somewhere nice tonight – maybe we can go to Cicerello’s in Fremantle – it’s a chip shop with a difference.”

  “Sounds good!” Julia said as she lifted her phone and rang her sister.

  Odette was quick to answer.

  “I can’t tell you how good it is to hear your voice,” she said.

  “Hi, Odette, I’m missing you and missing work – Gillian didn’t send me an email yesterday. How are things with you?”

  “Good, thanks . . . well, you know – the same. Dylan came around for dinner on Sunday – I don’t know how he puts up with Craig – I don’t know how I put up with him either.”

  Julia hated to hear her sweet sister sound so sullen.

  “Odette, Michael’s going back tomorrow – it’s been great seeing him again so soon.”

  “I’m glad – I thought he wasn’t himself at Christmas – is he still lonely?”

  “Yes – a lot of his friends in Singapore are transient, moving from country to country for two years here, two years there. I can see his point of view and I think turning forty last year has had a massive effect on him.”

  Odette sighed. “Well, sometimes married life isn’t all that it’s cr
acked up to be either.”

  “Don’t worry – things will turn around for you two.” Julia bit her lip. She hoped that she was right. “How are the kids?”

  “Great – busy and in good form. I’m careful not to let them see the tension between me and Craig.”

  Julia’s heart sank. “What about Mum and Granddad?”

  “Mum has been out a lot and Granddad is delighted with the Brazilian girl. I think he wants to take a trip to Brazil!”

  “Well, I’ll be home towards the end of next week – time just flies by here, now that I’ve got over the jet lag.”

  “What is the weather like?”

  “Always sunny – not as hot as Ruth predicted thankfully so we’ve been able to do a good bit of sightseeing.”

  “Well, make the most of it – it’s been mild here but it’s certainly not bikini weather.”

  “Right. I’m going to get Michael up now – see you next week.”

  “See you next week and thanks for the call . . . miss you.”

  “So where are we going today?” Michael asked his sister who was flipping pancakes at the hob.

  “I think we should just go to the beach – City Beach is close and then tonight Ruth suggested we try some special chipper in Fremantle.”

  Michael nodded. “Sounds perfect. What about your man Brian – are you seeing him again?”

  Julia giggled as she flipped the pancake and slid it onto a plate.

  “I don’t think so – shame really, I thought we had something. I think he told us all that he knew about the house anyway – really, Ruth should just ask her mother the story.”

  Michael took the pancake from Julia gratefully and laced it with lemon and sugar.

  “That’s if there is a story.” He shrugged and stuffed a piece of pancake into his mouth.

  “That’s what’s wrong with you – no romance! No wonder Lydia doesn’t want anything to do with you!”

  “Ouch, that hurt, Ju!”

  “Well, maybe if you had been more considerate and not played around – I nearly forgot that – then you would be married to her!”