‘I’m sure they are who they say they are.’ Silence, then she said, ‘Kaelee saw Georgia, my daughter, just a few weeks ago. I need to talk to her, ask her … things.’
‘I understand.’
‘They’ll be gone tomorrow. They know I’m busy.’
‘Okay. That’s fine.’
She didn’t finish the call. He waited, sifting words in his head. None suited whatever it was he wanted to say. To keep her on the line. Talking.
‘I just wanted to let you know,’ she said eventually.
‘Right. Yes.’
She laughed softly and he pictured her mouth curving in that special way. ‘So you don’t worry.’
‘Good, I’ve stopped worrying about you. Now I can get on with my other pressing work.’ He was smiling now too.
‘Which is?’
‘Talking to the primary school kids about road safety and stranger danger.’
‘That’s important.’
‘I know. And I’m giving a talk to the CWA over in Taylor’s Creek tomorrow. They do a great lunch, I’m told.’
‘That’ll be fun.’
‘I think so.’
‘Who was this Taylor bloke who named everything after himself?’
‘No idea. Haven’t you asked Hannah?’
‘No, but I will tomorrow night at book club.’
‘Hah. The bluestockings of Taylor’s Bend.’
She laughed aloud at that. ‘Thanks, Rupe. I’d better get to work. Looks like it might rain.’
He turned to look out the window. ‘A few drops are falling here already.’
Chapter 5
The rain began in earnest a few minutes after Abbie started painting again, and the light, which had been fading as the cloud increased, suddenly sank into a dismal gloom. She switched on lights but it was impossible to continue with what she’d been working on, so she cleaned up, took out her sketchpad and sat on the small back porch making notes of the way the rain and the wind altered the trees surrounding the garden. Her final canvas began to take shape in her mind. A rainy bush-scape. Not a stormy scene, one of lighter rainfall, the kind that softened the trees and released the powerful scent of eucalyptus into the atmosphere. Maybe with shafts of sunlight breaking through the clouds.
Humming softly, eyes flicking from trees to page as her pencil raced, she was so immersed in ideas the sound of footsteps hurrying along the wet path down the side of the house sent her heart into overdrive. She stood up clutching the pad and pencil, and backed towards the door.
‘Hi, Abbie. You didn’t hear us knocking.’ Kaelee and Aaron, rounded the corner, both carrying grocery bags. ‘Sorry, we came back early. It’s raining really hard in town and we were a bit worried about driving in the wet.’
She exhaled the trapped lungful of air and smiled. ‘That’s okay. It’s too dark to paint now anyway.’
‘Is chicken curry all right?’ Kaelee asked. ‘Aaron does a really good curry, and we have dessert.’
‘Sounds lovely.’
‘I’ll get started.’ The screen door banged as Aaron went inside.
Kaelee started after him but Abbie said quickly, ‘Kaelee, can I talk to you, please, about Georgia?’
An odd expression flitted across her face. Fear? Not quite. Surprise, yes, but more like alarm. ‘I have to get this into the fridge.’ She lifted the grocery bag slightly and darted for the door.
‘Fine, can we talk later?’ Abbie said, but the door had closed. She shut the sketchpad and pushed her chair back against the wall. The rain hadn’t eased at all but the flurry of wind had died away, leaving the drops falling in relentless vertical streaks. The temperature had dropped, she needed a jumper.
Voices sounded inside. She paused at the door, listening. Aaron was insisting on something in a firm decisive tone but the pounding of the rain made his words indecipherable. Kaelee’s voice was a murmur, acquiescent and submissive, almost inaudible.
When Abbie stepped inside Aaron looked up, a smile immediately appearing. Kaelee turned her back and put things in the fridge.
‘Pots and pans are in that cupboard,’ Abbie said, pointing. ‘Anything else you need, just ask.’
‘Thanks, but I’ve had a poke about already. I’m all set.’
‘Do either of you need a hand?’
‘No, this is our thank you to you for letting us stay.’
‘In that case, how about a glass of wine? I’ll watch you cook and we can talk.’
Abbie took three glasses and a bottle of red wine from the cupboard.
***
An intense pain in the stomach pulled Abbie awake with a gasp. The bedside clock showed ten-fifty in luminous digits. She’d only been asleep twenty minutes. Rain still fell outside. She lay on her side, gritting her teeth against the cramping and the increasing nausea. Her stomach heaved and she scrambled for the door and the toilet across the hallway. Vomit rose in her throat and dinner made a dramatic reappearance just as she dropped to her knees by the bowl.
Wave after wave consumed her body and she stayed on the floor, shuddering and gasping, sweat clammy on hands and forehead. The light flicked on but she could barely lift her head to register the other person’s presence.
‘Are you okay, Abbie?’ Aaron’s voice. He didn’t sound very sympathetic and it was a stupid question anyway. Who chose to lounge around on the toilet floor?
She grunted and stretched out to tear off some toilet paper to wipe her streaming eyes and mouth.
‘I hope my cooking didn’t do this to you. Kaelee and I are okay, so it must have been something else.’
‘Don’t know.’
‘Anything I can do?’
‘No.’
‘Okay.’ He left the light on but went away.
Abbie stayed where she was until the paroxysms ceased then levered herself upright, pressed flush and staggered into the bathroom to wash. Kaelee appeared in the doorway.
‘Let me help you,’ she said but remained where she was.
Abbie supported herself by leaning on the basin, head bowed. Her stomach ached. ‘I’m okay now, I think. I just want to lie down.’
‘Maybe I should get a bowl in case.’
‘There’s a bucket in the laundry.’ Abbie looked at herself in the mirror. A waxy-skinned pale face stared back, hair lank and tousled. Where had this come from? What the hell had she eaten? It couldn’t have been dinner because they were fine but she hadn’t eaten anything else except a Gingernut biscuit with her tea midafternoon.
Towel in hand, she shuffled across the hallway to her bedroom using the walls and doorframe as support, and collapsed onto her bed. Kaelee came in with the red bucket from the laundry and a glass of water.
‘I thought you might need a drink.’ She placed the glass on the bedside table and the bucket on the floor.
‘Thanks,’ Abbie murmured.
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Not your fault.’ Her eyes closed.
She heard Kaelee move away and the door gently click shut. She wanted to say leave it open but didn’t have the strength. The bucket was by the bed anyway. Her stomach ached, as did the muscles strained by retching. Whatever it was seemed to have been emptied out of her system, thank god.
Ten minutes later another spasm hit but now there was hardly anything left except the water she’d swallowed when rinsing her mouth. Dry-retching was exhausting but at least she could stay in bed between bouts.
By morning, the vomiting had ceased but her body felt as though she’d run a marathon and been run over by a steamroller. All she wanted was sleep. The door opened softly and Kaelee crept in.
‘How are you feeling?’ she whispered.
‘Awful.’
Kaelee picked up the bucket. ‘I’ll clean this out. Can I get you anything?’
‘No.’
‘Aaron says we’ll stay until you’re better.’
‘You don’t need to.’
‘We can’t leave you like this.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
/>
‘Should I call a doctor?’
‘No. It must have been some bug, that’s all. I’ll stay in bed and get up later.’
‘All right, but call if you want anything.’
‘Thanks.’
Abbie slipped into a doze, and when she woke the sun was shining strongly through the gap in the curtains. She blinked against the light but managed to sit up and rinse her mouth out with the water, taking care not to swallow any, just in case. Sleep overcame her again and the next time she woke she needed the toilet. The house was silent when she opened the door and crossed the hallway, but when she came out and went to wash in the bathroom, Aaron was standing outside the door.
‘How are you?’
‘A bit better.’ She washed her hands and splashed water on her face, conscious of him watching.
‘You don’t need to stay any longer,’ she said. ‘I’ll be all right now.’
‘It’s no trouble.’
She turned to face him. ‘Thanks, but it’s not necessary.’
‘I think it is.’
‘I don’t.
‘What if you’re sick again?’
‘I’ll manage. I’ve been sick before.’
She edged past him and went to her room. Her legs were weak as string but she forced herself to walk without clutching at the wall or doors for support. She closed her bedroom door and climbed into bed with a sigh of relief. Five minutes later, her eyes popped open.
What was that about?
Aaron’s insistence on staying was on the unnerving side. Was he poking about in her studio? Was he trustworthy? What were they doing in her house while she was asleep? Better not lie here being helpless.
She sat up and swung her legs to the floor. A shower would make her feel better and she could try some dry toast or a cracker biscuit. If they stayed down she’d probably survive. Every move was slow and feeble but Abbie gathered clean clothes, collected a clean towel and had a shower. She did feel better after it and definitely smelled better. She examined her reflection as she rubbed moisturiser into her face. Slightly improved colour now and the clamminess had gone. She brushed her hair and clipped it into a loose bun.
Some food would restore energy, but she’d have to be careful.
She headed for the kitchen but paused as she passed the closed door of the spare room. They should be getting ready to leave. Voices came from the kitchen. A low laugh from Aaron, the clink of crockery, smell of food cooking. Making themselves at home.
She stood in the doorway, her nostrils tightening against the odour of frying bacon. They must have bought that; she never ate it.
‘Hello, how about bacon and eggs, Abbie?’ Aaron flourished the spatula. Kaelee was at the toaster.
‘No thanks.’ The kitchen clock said eleven-five. They could eat and leave.
‘Toast?’ Kaelee turned with a plate of fresh toast.
‘I think I’ll just have a cracker biscuit.’ She went to the pantry cupboard.
‘Have some vegemite on it,’ Aaron said.
‘Plain will do.’
Kaelee began buttering the toast and smearing vegemite.
Abbie took the unopened packet of crackers and a plate to the table where she sank on to a chair before her legs gave out. Plain, dry crackers but they tasted fine and took the edge off the hollowness in her ravaged stomach. Two places were set with cutlery, mugs and a side plate each.
‘I wonder what caused it,’ said Kaelee.
‘No idea.’ Having the shower and dressing had drained her meagre reserves of energy, but she wasn’t going back to bed and leaving these two unsupervised. She should call Connie Benson to come over, then this pair wouldn’t feel they had to stay.
She levered herself to her feet and moved slowly to the phone on the sideboard. No dial tone. Nothing.
‘Phone’s dead,’ she said.
‘Must have been the storm,’ Aaron said casually. He slid eggs and bacon onto two plates.
‘We didn’t have a storm.’
‘It was raining, though, and windy. Maybe a branch fell off a tree onto the wire. There are plenty of trees around.’
‘Maybe.’ It could be anything, it wouldn’t be the first time her line was out of action.
‘Who were you calling?’ He sat at the table. Kaelee brought the toast and the plate of eggs for him then went back for her own.
‘My neighbour.’
‘Why?’ Aaron chose a piece of toast and took a bite from one corner.
‘Is that your business?’
He shrugged and scooped up a forkful of egg.
Kaelee ate, head bowed.
‘How about the tea?’ Aaron said.
Kaelee leapt from the chair and filled the kettle. Abbie’s floral teapot waited on the bench. They must have opened cupboards to find that and the leaf tea. She made do with tea bags unless visitors came.
‘When you’ve finished eating you should go,’ Abbie said. ‘I’ll be fine now.’
‘We can stay,’ said Aaron. ‘You don’t look well.’
‘As I said before there’s no need, and as I also said before I need to work. Alone, so I can concentrate.’
Aaron didn’t reply. Kaelee concentrated on making the tea. She brought the pot to the table and went back for milk and the sugar bowl. Also something Abbie never used.
She nibbled more of her cracker. There was a whole other something going on here. Why would he be so insistent on staying? What could he want?
‘Why do you want to stay?’
‘We like it here. It’s peaceful and quiet. Isolated.’
‘It’s not as isolated as you think,’ she said sharply.
‘Isn’t it?’ He stopped eating and stared at her with a half-smile twisting his mouth. ‘I don’t think anyone would hear you scream.’
‘Scream? Why would I scream?’ She couldn’t hide the surprise.
‘You might be hurt. In trouble. Anything.’ He speared the last piece of bacon and scraped it around the plate. ‘Like last night.’
‘I think you’ve seen way too many horror movies.’
That shrug again. Insolent now, as he chewed.
‘You’re very interesting.’ Aaron pushed his empty plate away and Kaelee jumped up to remove it. ‘Your work, I mean.’
‘I really think it’s time you left now, please. I need to get to work.’
‘Okay. Let me finish my tea.’
‘I’ll wash the dishes,’ Kaelee said quickly.
‘Don’t bother, I can do it.’ Abbie stood up.
Kaelee flung a glance at Aaron which could only be described as desperate.
‘Get our things, Kaelee,’ he said.
Abbie remained where she was. She wanted to talk to Kaelee but she didn’t want to leave this man alone in her house a moment longer. He lingered over his tea, a half-smile never leaving his lips.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked suddenly.
‘Fine.’
‘You don’t look fine.’
‘Maybe, but I am.’
His eyebrows flicked up and down as the smile widened, almost laughing, but he picked up the mug and drained it.
‘You ready, Kaelee?’ he called.
‘Yes.’ She appeared in the doorway with an overnight bag and jackets.
‘Okay, let’s get out of here.’ He jumped to his feet, knocking the chair back so it swayed on its rear legs and almost fell. ‘We’ll need the key to open the gate.’
‘I’ll come with you and walk back,’ Abbie said.
‘Are you strong enough?’ Kaelee asked with a worried frown.
‘She’s fine, she just told me,’ Aaron said. ‘By the way, Abbie, do you have Georgia’s address?’
‘I don’t know where she lives at the moment. She moved,’ she added before he could make any disparaging remarks.
Abbie slipped the boots on that stood by the back door and took the keys from her bag. She latched the back door and led the pair through to the front, locking the door behind her. On the verandah, she p
aused. Would she be able to walk back? It was only about two hundred metres but she was already tired from moving about the house. ‘I’ll follow you in my car.’
‘Goodbye, Abbie. Thank you,’ said Kaelee.
‘Goodbye, Kaelee.’
Aaron strode towards the white car without a word. Abbie said quickly, ‘Kaelee, how was Georgia when you saw her?’
‘Oh. I didn’t …’
‘Kaelee! Hurry up.’ Aaron was in the driver’s seat with the door open. For someone who didn’t want to leave, he was in a hurry now.
‘Sorry.’ Kaelee ran down the steps.
Abbie went to the garage and backed out. Aaron was already moving off down the driveway. At the gate she parked behind him, unlocked and opened the gate and waved him through before securing the chain again. The white car accelerated down the road in the direction of the highway.
Abbie sagged against the gate, exhaling in relief. Adrenaline had kept her upright until now. Thank god she’d driven; she never would have managed the walk back to the house, she was exhausted. She turned the car in the narrow space and drove home shaking with weariness, concentrating fiercely on staying on the track.
Back in the house, she went straight to her bedroom and lay down. Four hours later she woke, thirsty and starving. Annoyingly, the day had been completely wasted and to top it off, in the kitchen she was faced with the debris of her visitors’ cooking. At least they’d gone. What a walloping great mistake inviting them to stay had been. Never again. And she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that somehow her illness was connected to their visit. Why or how this might be she had no idea.
As soon as the dishes were washed and put away, she began preparing her own meal of vegetable soup and toast. She ate watching the news on TV, a depressing occupation given the state of world affairs, but after that a detective series came on that she enjoyed whenever she remembered to watch it. When that finished she was yawning, and only then did she realise she’d totally forgotten about the book group.
She picked up the phone. Still no dial tone, which was odd. Maybe it was just the line to her house that was at fault. She could use her mobile but that involved more effort than she was capable of at the moment. She’d just have to miss the meeting and apologise tomorrow after a good sleep. She’d go next door and check with the Bensons. In the morning. Now it was bedtime.
The Secrets that Lie Within (Taylor's Bend, #1) Page 6