The Goodbye Girl

by Angela Verdenius

  Finished, she moved between the front seats to slide into the driver’s seat. Starting the engine, she peered towards the dark hill. “Next time,” she muttered. “Next time, you bug-eyed greys.”

  Chapter 4

  Up early, Nick was standing on a ladder in the muddy yard sawing just above one of the broken limbs of a tree. Weak sunlight was painting the tips of the leaves rose as it came up to break the dawn.

  Breathing deeply, he listened to the birds chirping in the trees, the distant sound of a cow lowing, and someone’s car driving in the distance.

  So peaceful. Yeah, he could get used to this, used to the every day life. Some people thought it boring, that his job was so exciting, but there was more to life than war, more than Army life.

  The branch dropped to the ground and he climbed down, shifting the ladder to the next tree. There was this, peaceful surroundings, making your own decisions, going your own way.

  “You’re up early,” Alex remarked.

  Nick glanced over his shoulder to see his friend coming towards him, hands in his pockets. “Early bird and all that shit.”

  “Harly has an early shift at the café.” Alex stopped next to the ladder, reaching out to steady it as Nick climbed to the next broken branch. “So, Bree.”

  Straight to the point. “Yeah?” Lining the handsaw above the break in the branch, Nick started sawing.

  “She’s The Goodbye Girl, isn’t she?”

  “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”

  There was silence for a few seconds, then, “You didn’t tell her.”

  “Yeah, I did. I told her my name.”

  “But you didn’t tell her who you were.”

  “Oh, she knows, don’t doubt that.”

  “But she didn’t say anything.”

  “Nope.”

  “And you didn’t say anything.”

  “I did. I told her-”

  “You didn’t tell her you knew who she was.”

  Nick glanced down at Alex to find his friend leaning against the ladder, one hand hooked around a step as he looked up at him. “I was waiting for her to offer that information.”

  “So why didn’t she?”

  “Now isn’t that the million dollar question?” Nick looked back at the branch as he sawed.

  “And the two million dollar question is why didn’t you offer the information?”

  “I’m waiting for her.”

  “You could be waiting a long time.”

  “I’ve got seven weeks.”

  “Seriously? You’d wait seven weeks?”

  “Maybe not seven.” Nick was halfway through the branch. “Six and a half.”

  Alex shifted, the movement causing the ladder to jiggle a little.

  Nick looked down at him. “I’ve made it through Afghanistan and Iraq so far, I’d like to think I can be on your property for a couple of days without biting the dust.”

  “You’d actually be biting the mud, but why quibble?”

  Grinning faintly, Nick recommenced sawing the last half of the branch. “You know,” he said conversationally, “I didn’t know she was living here until a few weeks ago.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I’d just gotten my ‘goodbye’ letter and was sitting on my bunk thinking about things, and I suddenly noticed the postmark. It was here.”

  “And you thought she’d still be here? Kind of a long shot, don’t you think?”

  “I had a feeling she’d still be here.”

  “Why? Everyone knows she moves around a lot.”

  “Yeah, most of her letters are never from one town more than two or three times, but this time there were quite a few letters with Whicha on them.” Nick shifted his hand. “Branch coming down, Alex. Watch it.”

  “Mate, I’m right behind you at the ladder. Unless you plan to throw it at me, I’m safe.”

  “You’d think so, but who knows?” Nick watched the branch hit the mud before he climbed down. Resting the saw on the rungs of the ladder, he scratched his jaw. “A lot of strange things are happening in Whicha. Why not Bree?”

  The corners of Alex’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “She is some crazy sheila.”

  “Entertaining,” Nick corrected. “Different.”

  “Different is right. UFOs, of all things.”

  “In all the letters and emails we shared, mate, not once did she ever mention UFOs and little grey men. Not once.”

  “Not everyone says everything in their letters. Some things we keep back.”

  Nick slanted a look at him. “Do you keep anything back from Harly?”

  “No.”

  “Sure about that?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You mean not once in your whole marriage have you ever kept anything back from her?”

  Alex looked at him steadily. “I trust her. She trusts me.”

  “Huh. Does she know you have shares in her name? A lot of shares?”

  “That’s insurance in case I die.”

  “But does she know about it?”

  A muscle tightened in Alex’s jaw. “My job is dangerous, we both know that. Harly knows that. I need to make sure that she’s taken care of financially if anything happens to me.”

  Nick laid a hand on his shoulder. “If anything happens to you, Alex, Harly will have not only your family and her family to care for her, she’ll also have me watching out for her. You know that.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Alex took a deep breath. “I know. I just need to know for my own peace of mind that I have taken care of her, that she’ll want for nothing.”

  Nick smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, only the good die young. You’ll live forever.”

  “Jesus, when did the subject turn so bloody morbid?”

  “When we started talking secrets.”

  “Oh yeah.” Alex visibly relaxed. “Your secret.”

  “And Bree’s.”

  “Nick and Bree sharing a secret.”

  “We’re not exactly sharing it, you drongo.”

  “But both of you know who each other is, yet neither of you will admit it to the other. And you both suspect each other of knowing that.” Alex pursed his lips. “That’s some secret. Kind of like an open secret, isn’t it?”

  “My, look at you. Mr Psychology himself.”

  “Don’t be bitter. I know the truth hurts.”

  “I’ll hurt you in a minute.”

  “And make Harly cry? I doubt it.” Alex smirked. “But go ahead. Try.”

  No way would he make Harly cry, but he wasn’t above wiping the smirk off Alex’s face. Dust or mud, it made no difference. Nick dove for Alex.

  Wrestling in the mud was actually a little better than the dust, it didn’t get into ones lungs. Into ones shirt, squashed between ones fingers, and slithering down ones jeans, yes, but definitely not sucked in. Look, it didn’t even fill the air as they flailed around in the mud.

  They were still wrestling and trying to push each other’s faces into the mud when Alex suddenly looked up. “Oh - uh, hi, honey.” His hold didn’t loosen around Nick’s throat.

  Nick squinted up through the mud on his face. “Hi, Harly.”

  Standing not far from them, her coat wrapped tight around her and belted at the waist, car keys dangling from one hand, Harly looked them over slowly.

  Alex rolled into a sitting position. Nick sat up beside him, shoving his muddied hair back.

  “Okay,” she said finally. “I’m off to work.”

  “All right,” Alex said cheerfully.

  Nick grinned. “Have a nice day.”

  “Right.” She looked them both over once more, shook her head and walked over to the shed where her car was parked.

  “Want a hand to open that, heart of my heart?” Using Nick’s head for leverage, Alex pushed upright.

  “No, you boys just continue playing.” Harly swung the shed door open.

  “How about a little kiss to get me through the rest of the day?” Alex started walking towa
rds her.

  Nick laughed as Harly yanked the door of her car open, jumped inside and slammed it shut. He didn’t hear the locks click down, but he knew she’d done it.

  “I’m hurt.” Alex placed his hands on his hips. “Fancy my beloved wife not wanting to give me a little cuddle.”

  Walking past him towards the house, Nick cast him a sidelong look. “No way it could have anything to do with that beauty mud pack on your mug. Or chest and shit.”

  Laughing, Harly drove past them.

  They both waved cheerfully before striding towards the house. By unspoken agreement they veered around to the back. Undressing on the veranda in the cold air was a nut-shrivelling experience, but no way could they go into the house covered in mud.

  “I own the place,” Alex declared without shame. “I’m having first shower.”

  “Just don’t use all the hot water.” Shaking, Nick clutched his arms around himself, following Alex into the warm kitchen. At the sight of Sunny watching him, he pointed at her. “Don’t even think anything funny, cat.’

  Alex tossed him a blanket. “Wrap yourself in that before you give the cat nightmares.”

  “Like your bare arse parading around isn’t worse.”

  Grinning, Alex disappeared.

  Nick stood in one spot, not wanting to spread the water and mud on the clean floor, the warmth of the kitchen and blanket not enough to drive out the cold from the wet mud that still coated parts of him.

  Alex, thoughtful bloke that he was, had a fast shower, yelling out to Nick when he’d finished. Within minutes Nick was sighing with relief as the hot water warmed his goose-bumped flesh.

  By the time he got out, dried and dressed, Alex had a pot of tea brewing and a saucepan of porridge warming up.

  Chuckie, the one-eyed tom, Sunny, old Pepper, and Buffy the dog were watching him slop the porridge into two bowls. Without blinking an eyelid, Alex put a small spoonful into their dishes, adding milk.

  “Never knew cats ate porridge.” Nick poured the tea into two mugs.

  “Neither did I,” Alex agreed. “Guess we know now.”

  They ate in silence, enjoying the morning. Once finished, Alex washed the dishes while Nick put their clothes in to soak, then they shifted the ladder to the house and climbed up to check the tin on the roof.

  They were still up there when Paul’s work ute pulled into the driveway. Getting out, he crossed to the house and looked up, hands on hips. “Becky’s hormones are out of control,” he announced. “I need coffee.”

  “What did you do this time?” Not finding any holes or rust in the roof, Alex climbed down the ladder.

  “What makes you think I did anything?”

  “Because you generally do.”

  “I only suggested she get stretch pants. I only said that it was time she put fashion aside for a bit of comfort for her swelling belly and get elastic waisted pants.”

  Nick started laughing.

  “What?” Paul demanded.

  “What was her reaction?” Nick came down the ladder.

  “Well she certainly wasn’t laughing like you two hyenas.”

  “Let me guess. Someone went without breaky this morning?”

  “I couldn’t have breaky! She was throwing pots and pans around, practically foaming at the mouth.”

  “Because you suggested she was swelling like a watermelon?” Alex tsked. “Whatever is wrong with her?”

  “Yeah, that’s what I said.” Paul nodded. “I said ‘Sweetheart, you know you’re going to get big. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again.’”

  Nick gave a snort of laughter. “I bet that went down well.”

  “The woman went just about haywire. Said she wouldn’t get fat again because she’d make sure I was castrated before I touched her again!” Paul shook his head. “I guess the little love fest we planned tonight is down the gurgler.”

  “You didn’t by any chance mention that to her, did you?”

  “I was trying to make her laugh, lighten the mood, you know.”

  “You are such a drongo.” Picking up the ladder, Nick started towards the work shed. “I’m not married and even I know what you don’t say to a woman.”

  “Hormonal or otherwise,” Alex added. “Paul, you’ve been married longer than me. You’ve known Becky all your life. When will you ever learn?”

  “I’ve learned that hormones make a woman crazy.” Paul twirled his finger near his temple. “They go all gonzo on a man.”

  “You’d make anyone gonzo.”

  “Don’t you start. I get enough of that from my mother-in-law.”

  “Becky’s mother loves you.”

  “She loves Becky more. Always takes her side.”

  “Oh, diddums.” Alex fluttered his eyelashes. “Does someone feel all unloved? Are someone’s widdle feelings hurt? Does someone need a widdle kiss?”

  “And a hug?” Nick opened his arms and started forward. “Come here, Paulie, let Uncle Nick and Uncle Alex give you a little comfort.”

  “Touch me and you’ll both be nutless. I’m not that desperate.” Paul shuddered.

  Alex grinned. “So, you coming in for coffee and some food?”

  “I was thinking we could hit the café before work. You boys on today or off?”

  “On.” Alex nodded.

  “Count me in,” Nick added.

  “Great. I’m only working until lunchtime, seeing as its Saturday.” Paul paused. “Or maybe tonight if Becky’s still got the shits up with me.”

  “Maybe you should just work right through the night?” Nick suggested.

  “Don’t worry, Becky will be all sweet by the time lover boy gets home.” Alex nodded at Paul. “We’ll be there soon, just got some washing to hang out.”

  “Washing?” Paul’s’ eyebrows went up. “That’s women’s work.”

  “You poor dumb bastard.”

  “What?”

  ~*~

  Nick was fast coming to rediscover that he enjoyed working with his hands. Building things was something he found satisfying, watching things slowly form from a blueprint to reality. It gave him a sense of fulfilment.

  Maybe he should think about going into building or something similar.

  Or maybe he should think about going into handyman work. Yeah. Standing back, he nodded to himself as he studied the repair work he’d done inside the café. The shelf he’d reattached to the wall, the repair work on the wall, the chair with the reattached leg, the broken tile replaced, he’d enjoyed doing it all. He’d always had a flair for repair work of all kinds, had learned a lot in his years working with his father in his repair shop after school and for two years when he’d left school early and trained under his father with the plan of going into partnership with him when he got old enough. He’d loved it then, had forgotten how much since, but he’d just discovered that he still enjoyed it.

  Yeah, he’d seriously consider leaving the Army, doing a few courses, open up a general repair shop here in Whicha. It certainly appealed. But he’d mull it over a little more, see if there’d be enough work. Maybe he could go to outlying towns as well, be more mobile.

  “Nick, you are awesome.” Maryanne surveyed the work he’d completed. “You’re totally wasted on Paul.”

  “Hey.” Paul appeared in the doorway. “I am here, you know.”

  “Your point?’ she asked.

  “I can hear you.”

  “Your point?”

  Spreading his arms out, he raised both eyebrows.

  She mimicked him.

  “No respect,” he said. “None at all.”

  “I knew you when we were all in nappies. You really think I’m going to respect you now?”

  With a sigh, he entered the room. His gaze travelled around, studying the work that Nick had done. “Wow.”

  “Yeah, great job, huh?” Maryanne smiled.

  Nick glanced sideways at Paul. Hmmm, had Paul been hoping to conquer this side of things, the handyman side? Apart from owning and running the o
nly carpenter’s business in Whicha, he also owned the only mechanics garage even though he wasn’t a mechanic.

  Not too sure what to expect, Nick was relieved when Paul grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “Mate, just what we need! Can you tile walls?”

  “Sure. I helped a few mates over the years with their homes, renovating and stuff. You know, general stuff.”

  “Building things, making things?”

  “Pretty much. I’ll give anything a go and what I don’t know, I’ll learn.”

  Paul’s smile widened. “We need a handyman around town.”

  Alex entered the room. “Did I hear you say you’re thinking of starting up a handyman business?”

  “Not me, but Nick could do it.” Paul nodded towards the repaired wall. “He’s got a good eye, good steady hand, got the smarts, too.”

  Alex nodded. “That he does.”

  Pleased, but hiding it because he didn’t believe in tooting his own horn, Nick picked up the dust pan and broom and handed them to Maryanne. “I better head back out and help Paul.”

  Paul shook his head. “No need. We’re finished for the weekend now, back Monday. The boys have gone home already.”

  “How about staying for lunch?” Maryanne asked.

  “Thanks, but I better go and see if Becky’s over her snit.”

  “She should be, the cause of her snit is right here.”

  “No respect.” Paul walked out.

  “Buy her some flowers and be humble, for crying out loud!” Maryanne yelled after him before turning to Alex and Nick. “How about it, boys? Lunch is on me for all the help.”

  “No need for that,” Nick said.

  “Whatever.” Placing a hand on each of their backs, she gave a not-so-subtle shove. “Come on. Meat pies are hot.”

  They washed their hands in the staff bathroom and had just taken a seat at the booths when Harly crossed to them with a cup of hot coffee each. “Here you go.”

  Alex shifted over so that she could sit beside him in the booth. No sooner had she done so than Charlotte Harmon came through the door. She took one look around the café, spotted Harly and hurried over. “Did you hear?”

  “Hear what?” Harly queried.

  Nick listened with only half an ear, his attention mostly focussed outside the window as he watched a blue Transit van drive by. Hmmm, that looked like Bree’s van, was, in fact, Bree’s van, he could tell by the dented driver’s door. Lifting the lace curtains slightly, he peered out as the van disappeared down the street.