Random Meeting

by Maggie Mundy

  “Have you had lunch?” she asked.

  Greg shook his head and she set about making him some, and then sat down across from him with her cup of tea.

  “I’m sorry about this morning. You shouldn’t have to cope with the Spanish Inquisition from my parents. They’re just concerned for me.”

  “That was fine. Your Dad’s okay, he just loves his girl.”

  “His thirty-five-year-old girl.”

  “Look, something happened last night I need to talk to you about.”

  She blushed.

  “No. Not that, and believe me I’ve no complaints there. It’s just … someone painted my pick-up while it was parked out the front here last night, with the words, ‘Clear out, they don’t need you’.” Greg decided he would leave the word scum out of the discussion for now.

  “What the hell! Greg, have you called the police?”

  Her face went pale, and he could see her hands shaking. She was freaking out as he’d imagined she would. He needed this to go the way he wanted.

  “No, Beth, they’re too busy to deal with this. But I have a suggestion––I don’t think Keri will like it, though.”

  ****

  He was right. Keri stormed off to her room, saying he had made the whole thing up. David, on the other hand, wanted to be part of the stakeout. He thought it was cool if Greg wanted to hook up with his Mum when he heard he had stayed over. Beth tried to calm Keri down, but the last words Greg heard before the door slammed were Beth being called a two-faced slut. At that point, Greg thought it best to go and do some more work on the patio. He could always lose himself in work. David wasn’t long in joining him.

  “They always argue,” David said.

  “Hand me one of those nails.” Greg didn’t want to talk about them.

  “Are you going to live here with us?” David asked, grinning.

  Greg stopped hammering and glanced over at David, unsure what to say next.

  “It’s just, you’re Josh’s Dad,” David offered, along with another nail.

  Greg wanted this: a family, and a place to come home to where someone waited for him. It would be nice to pretend for a while. Hadn’t he earned the right to some happiness? He’d spent twelve years paying his dues.

  “I wouldn’t mind living with you here, if it’s what your mum wants. Your sister’s not too happy, though.”

  “Mum’s smiling, and Keri’s just pissed because Mum said the guy she’s dating is too old and he’s only after one thing, which is gross as she’s my sister.”

  “Look, are you going to talk all afternoon or do some work? I don’t think your Mum would like you using the word pissed, either.” Greg decided a deep and meaningful chat with a twelve-year-old wasn’t his style. He really didn’t want to know anything about Keri’s sex life, either.

  ****

  Tea was a silent affair, with Keri brooding. Greg took himself off to the area behind the side gate on the patio where he had a good view. You would have thought CSI had cameras going. He could see the driveway and his pick-up, and with the lights out, no one would know he was there. David came out with him until eight. Beth came out, then. “That’s it, mate. You have school tomorrow,” she whispered.

  “But, Mum,” David pleaded.

  “No, sir. Bed, now.”

  Keri stayed away. Greg secretly thanked the unknown boyfriend for phoning and keeping her occupied. With David settled in bed, Beth brought a coffee and sat next to him in the dark. She wore her jasmine perfume again. He took a sip of coffee.

  “It tastes good, but I don’t think the whiskey will help keep me awake,” Greg said.

  “It’ll keep you warm, though. I brought a pen and paper unless we need to write down a car number.” Beth pulled her blanket around her. “Do you think he’ll come again?”

  “We can only hope he’s stupid enough, because I look forward to kicking his ass.” Tonight reminded him of nights in prison, listening to every sound. After a while, you either knew what they meant, or you didn’t want to.

  “Can I look the other way when you kick his ass?”

  Her voice brought him back. It was still unreal, having a woman close. Like a dream from when he was inside, one from which he always woke up disappointed.

  “That would definitely be a good idea.” He didn’t want her to see that side of him. She shivered and he put his arm around her, pulling her close. Why wasn’t he listening to the voice of reason when he was around this woman?

  Beth giggled.

  “What?”

  “Come on, Greg, don’t you think this is crazy? I mean, us hiding behind a palm on my patio?”

  “I spent two hours cleaning that crap off my pick-up, and I want to get the asshole who did it.” He tried to keep the anger out of his voice, but didn’t succeed.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t believe Keri, do you? That I wrote that shit on my own car?”

  “No, it’s just creepy to think someone’s watching my house. I feel like I’m drawing you into stuff with my family. I thought my parents were the problem, but now there’s this.”

  A car pulled up out the front of the house.

  “Do you know the car?” Greg whispered.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Beth jumped up as the front door slammed and Keri ran up the driveway to the car. Greg joined Beth on the front steps as the car drove off down the street.

  “Do you want me to go after them?” Greg asked.

  “No. I know where he lives. I’ll call her in a minute.”

  They walked back inside. Beth sat down at the kitchen table and shook her head. “I’m doing a crappy job of trying to bring these kids up.”

  “You’ve had a lot of shit in your life, and you’re not doing badly.”

  “At her age, I climbed out my bedroom window to be with Jeff. When my parents found out, I was grounded for two weeks. I was lucky with Jeff in the end, but I don’t want her to get hurt.”

  Greg sat down and took her hand. What could he say? He knew nothing of having kids or what you should do to keep the peace.

  “Look, Beth, I haven’t known you long, but you seem a great mum, not only with Josh, but with your own kids. Just phone her, say you love her, and ask them to come and talk. She can only say no, and I don’t believe she will.”

  Beth didn’t move, so Greg went and got the phone, placing it in her hand. He would go back outside and let her talk to Keri alone.

  He checked his pick-up. There was nothing. Sitting in the front of his car, he put on the CD player. As he listened to the music, he thought about driving away. Three Days Grace again, and this time the lyrics felt too close to home. They talked about waiting ’til someone finally trusted you and then you let them down.

  Beth knocked on the window, causing him to jump. His stomach churned with unease at the future, but he couldn’t leave.

  “They’re coming back,” she said with a smile on her face.

  “Good. Do you want me to go?”

  “No, I was hoping you could take Tyler out onto the patio and talk.”

  “This sounds like your Dad and me this morning. I’m no father figure, Beth. I’m the opposite. I can’t tell him to stay away from Keri when I’ve been out there doing the same at his age.” Greg wriggled in his seat, his hand on the keys in the ignition.

  “You can talk to him about the weather or whatever. I just want to talk with Keri for a bit. I would appreciate it. Please.” She gave him a pleading look.

  “Okay.” Greg got out. One moment he wanted this, and the next it scared him shitless.

  The door opened ten minutes later, and Tyler and Keri walked in. Whatever Beth had said on the phone worked, because Keri ran over and gave her a cuddle. Tyler nodded at Greg then stared at the floor.

  Sitting on the patio, Tyler sat and kept drumming his fingers on the tabletop and then glancing toward the door. He was obviously nervous and contemplating a quick getaway. Greg thought about messing with him for a minute, but decided
to go back inside and get the coffees instead. He came back out and put the mugs down.

  “Relax. I’m not her father, though I’m sure she’s mentioned that.” Greg took a sip of coffee thinking how young Tyler appeared: Sweatshirt, jeans, and black hair a bit too long.

  “You’re Josh’s dad?” Tyler took a gulp.

  “Yeah, he’s my kid. So, are you working, or what?” He thought he might as well try and find out something about the guy for Beth.

  “I go to Tafe, and I’m studying graphic design.”

  They talked for half an hour before Beth came to the door. He seemed a good kid who liked Keri a lot. Whether it would last, who knew, but one thing was for certain: the daughter was just like her mother. From what he could pick up, the stable door was open and the horse had well and truly bolted. Greg wondered if Keri had been his daughter, if he would have been so calm. He knew the answer to that one: No way.

  ****

  Beth came out and sat with him. Keri was out by the car, kissing Tyler goodnight.

  “Well?” Greg asked.

  “She’s going to the doctor’s tomorrow with me, and has promised they won’t do anything again until she’s on the pill. He seems nice, doesn’t he? I hoped I could complain, but there’s nothing to complain about apart from the fact she’s sixteen and he has just turned seventeen. I always told myself it was just the law’s interpretation of when you were ready and ignored it. Now it’s biting me on the bum. She’ll be seventeen in a month anyway, and unless I lock her up I don’t think I can stop them.” Beth sighed.

  “Your kids are great, and it’s not the end of the world. She’s only having sex, and he said he’s using protection, which is more than we did. He could have been into drugs.”

  “She’s only sixteen.”

  “So were you. Look, it wasn’t me back then with you, but what would Jeff make of this?” Beth turned and stared at him with a blank expression, as if she was staring through him.

  Her hand reached out for the pen and paper beside her, and she started writing. She didn’t look at the paper as she stared straight ahead. The writing pad fell to the floor from her hands. Greg picked it up. He clenched his fist and took a deep breath as he read the words.

  I know about your uncle. I know what you did.

  She’s yours now, but she was mine once.

  What would you do to save her?

  What the fuck was going on here? Beth’s expression changed, and her eyes no longer appeared glazed over.

  “Greg, what’s happened?” She backed away from him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You tell me, Beth. You went into some sort of trance and started writing stuff.” Greg kept his voice down, but couldn’t keep the anger out of it.

  “No, I didn’t! I’ve been sitting here with you. We were talking about Keri.”

  “You just wrote this.” Greg handed the writing pad back to her.

  Beth’s hands shook as she read. “That’s not funny, Greg. I didn’t write this. Why would I? It doesn’t even look like my writing. I don’t even understand what it means.”

  “So, you aren’t trying to mess with my head?” Greg stood up and turned away.

  “What? I have a daughter who is rebelling, parents who think I’m a slut, a business I’m struggling to cope with, and a new baby. You think I have time to put on some freak show act for you? If anyone’s messing with someone, I’m more inclined to think it’s you. I don’t know why you would do this to me.” She looked like she was about to burst into tears as her voice broke.

  Greg knew he should walk out the front door before this got more insane, but instead he sat down on the bench next to her. “If neither of us is playing the other, then your ex is making an appearance. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d be laughing at people who believe in this shit.”

  Tyler’s car drove off down the street.

  “I need to speak to her. Please don’t leave.”

  Beth walked back inside, and Greg watched as mother and daughter hugged. A familiar noise filled the air as Josh set his vocal power to full strength. A moment before Greg thought of leaving, but hearing his son, he knew he wouldn’t. While Beth went to get Josh, he helped himself to a whiskey. He poured one for her too. She returned and sat in the lounge breastfeeding. This felt so natural before, but after what had just happened Greg decided to sit at the far end of the couch.

  “Hope you don’t mind. I helped myself,” he said.

  She shook her head.

  “What’s going on here, Beth?” He still thought it was crap, but would hear her side. If she were unstable then maybe he wouldn’t want Josh to stay here. He knew she could be a bit hotheaded, but he had never considered that she might be schizophrenic or something. No court would ever let him have his kid after what he did. Beth couldn’t have made this up, though. She knew nothing of what had happened. Only one person had seen it all––and she was dead. Then again, if Jeff was talking to Beth, how did a dead man know?

  “After Jeff died, I tried to contact him with the help of mediums. Christine was the one I had been to see the night we first met. I know it sounds odd, but he would talk to me through her and sometimes come to me in dreams. He was in my head and we would have conversations about the kids. People thought I was being brave coping without him, but I never was on my own.”

  Beth finished feeding Josh and handed him over to be burped as she rearranged her clothing.

  “As time went on, Jeff became angry he wasn’t part of our lives, and said being in contact was too painful. The night you and I met, Jeff said he wouldn’t talk to me again. I know this sounds farfetched, but I swear I’m telling the truth. The thing is, he didn’t talk to me tonight: he wrote a message to you. I don’t remember a thing. Did it mean anything to you?” Beth genuinely seemed confused.

  Whether he believed it or not, she was convinced she had been in contact with Jeff. Greg remembered a guy on the inside called Ron, who would look at people and tell them stuff others couldn’t know. Ron was married with two kids, and had worked at the docks before he had been put away. Greg stayed away from him, but one day Ron came and sat by him while they ate. He’d started off chatting, but then had said something that chilled Greg.

  “You ever been locked away before, Greg?”

  “No.” Greg didn’t look up.

  “Funny, because I keep seeing you locked up, but it’s not here.”

  “I told you before, don’t do your voodoo shit on me.” He had given him a look to say shut up, but Ron was persistent.

  “It’s like you can’t move your hands but they’re not cuffed, but tied up like.”

  Greg got up and walked to the other side of the food hall. It took every bit of his restraint not hit Ron. He hadn’t wanted to be stuck inside those walls any longer than required. Ron took the hint and never came near him again.

  Beth was talking now.

  “Are you listening, Greg? I asked if it meant anything to you. The stuff I wrote down.”

  “My uncle died a long time ago. We were never close, so I don’t know what it could mean. As for looking after you, I’ll do the best I can.”

  Beth moved next to him and put her hand on his arm. Josh was drifting off to sleep.

  “Do you want to put him to bed?”

  “Sure.” Placing him down in the cot, Greg watched Josh drift off to sleep. He couldn’t give him up. Who knew how long this would last. He would grab what time he could. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he would stay. Maybe it was the only way to find out.

  Beth sat there sipping her drink. He sat down next to her and took her drink from her and placed it on the table. Turning her face toward him, he could see tears welling in her eyes. If he left for good, he was pretty sure she would cry. If he stayed, there would eventually be tears. He would do the only thing his mind was telling him was right to do at the moment.

  He kissed her. Lips touched gently and then with more passion. As always, her mouth was warm a
nd inviting, and as always, he could lose himself in its soft interior. She made him feel alive again. He had to hold onto the feeling, whether there were dead husbands sending notes from beyond the grave or not. When they finally broke apart, he knew what he would say.

  “Listen, Beth, this stuff’s crazy and I’m not saying I understand or believe it all, but I’m here for you and Josh.”

  “Thank you. You must be thinking sharing a pizza never usually turns out this complicated: A baby, and voices from beyond the grave sending cryptic messages, and then some loony writing on your car. What next?”

  “You’re not wrong there, but I’ve never regretted any of the times I’ve had with you, and apart from when you pull weird shit like tonight, you’re one sexy lady.”

  She blushed.

  “I should go home. I’ll be back at eight for you to go to work. Look it’s just as well your folks are back, as I’m moving into my unit on Tuesday. I know someone who wants some help with some jobs, so I’ll be busy enough.”

  “You know you can come around whenever you want.”

  “Let’s just see how things go.” Greg stood up, pulling his car keys from his pocket.

  “You know I’d like you to stay, don’t you?”

  “With what’s happened tonight, it might not be such a good idea.”

  “No, not just tonight, I mean move in. Having you here with Josh is right, you know that. I went out with Sara’s friend to prove to myself you meant nothing to me, but it backfired right here on the floor. I want you so much, and I don’t know if this is just lust, but it feels good and I’m not ready to let it go.”

  “You’re not wrong there, but you don’t need someone like me, Beth. You’re a decent woman, and I’m bad news.”

  “I know you had another life before you met me. I don’t understand what’s happening with Jeff. Your past is your own, and I believe you wouldn’t hurt anyone here. This, whatever it is, may not work, but I’d like to try.”

  “Talk to David and Keri. If they say it’s okay, then I’ll try.” Was he really saying this?