"Want to come up after all? The view's great from the balcony."
Still she hesitated. She'd shared a room with him for months and he'd never laid a finger on her. They'd shared a hut on isolated Heard Island, and he'd had plenty of opportunities to cause all kinds of trouble. Even on the coldest nights, he'd never suggested sharing a sleeping bag, though she'd seriously considered it. It had been cold at night without her hot water bottle.
Damn it, it was the middle of the day in her home town, with plenty of people about. And she wanted to see the view. "Yeah, I'll come up," Audra said, following Jean up the stairs.
FORTY-NINE
This was a mistake. She didn't even like him, Jean told himself as he strode up the steps. She hadn't looked happy to see him, though it was a relief that she looked healthier than the woman who'd flown out of Heard in a helicopter. But she had accepted his apology, which was a start. Maybe she just needed time to warm up to him, after believing him to be an asshole for so long.
Or maybe this was a huge mistake and he should leave before he caused her any more trouble.
He pointed to her bag, then headed out to the balcony. That way, he wouldn't have to watch her leave, and walk out of his life forever. He'd just hear the door shut, and...
"I found my wallet and phone." Audra stepped out onto the balcony beside him. "Everything in that bag smells awful, though. It's been weeks since I did any washing, and it shows."
"There's a washing machine here and a dryer," Jean replied. "I have a big box of laundry powder, too. I used a lot to wash my stuff when I first got here, but there's still plenty left, if you want it." He'd wash it for her if it meant spending more time with her, and he usually hated laundry.
She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "If you let me do my washing here, I'll do my best to be your tour guide for the afternoon."
He didn't hesitate. "Deal."
Water soon cascaded into the washing machine full of Audra's clothes, so it was her turn to hold up her end of the bargain. True to her word, Audra walked him through the century-old prison, then took him to see the remnants of a four-hundred-year-old shipwreck in the maritime museum. When they walked out of the museum, Audra suddenly stopped. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and threw her arms wide as if to embrace the breeze.
"Ohhh, the Fremantle Doctor," she said in what Jean thought sounded like a moan of longing.
A mental image of her moaning in pleasure flashed through Jean's head, distracting him. Yes, he wanted that. So much. Baby steps, though. First, he had to persuade her to like him.
It took a moment for her words to register. "You need to see a doctor?" Jean asked.
Audra laughed. "No, I've seen enough doctors this week. The Freo Doctor is what we call the afternoon sea breeze. It blows away the summer heat and makes everything wonderful."
The smile on her face was definitely wonderful, Jean thought but didn't say. Instead, he said, "Where to next?"
"The markets. I need those mangoes."
Jean followed her into the markets, through the crowded stalls of souvenirs and all sorts of goods. Soon, he had a collection of odd items to send home to his parents, while Audra blissfully swung a bag of fruit by her side.
"Now all I need is a knife," Audra said.
"Plenty in my kitchen, if you want. Use whatever you need, while I shift your clothes into the dryer," Jean suggested.
To his shock, she accepted his offer.
Swearing under his breath, he dragged the tangle of wet clothes out of the washer and battled to get it all into the dryer. A couple of socks made a bid for freedom, but he added them to the drum before he switched the dryer on.
When he returned to the kitchen, he found Audra had sliced up several of the mangoes, and was partway through dissecting a chunk of watermelon.
"You'd have made a good biologist," he commented, eyeing her precision with the chef's knife.
Audra laughed. "No, I wouldn't. I don't have the patience for it. And the dissections...ugh, no thanks. Not to mention collecting dung samples, or baiting traps with all sorts of disgusting things. I like the weather much more." She blushed. "And the weather has a power to it that I just can't resist. Plants and animals just don't leave me with the same awe."
Jean nodded. He understood. The only time he'd ever felt awe around any animal was when they'd encountered a pod of whales last summer. "What about whales?"
"Okay, I'll give you that, but there aren't many jobs for whale biologists, unless you work on one of Japan's scientific whaling vessels." Audra scooped up the watermelon slices and set them on a plate. "I think I bought too much. I hope you're hungry."
He helped her carry the food out to the table on the balcony, waiting for her to choose a chair before he sat in the other one.
"I know they're not exactly awe-inspiring, but penguins are still important," he began. "They're an essential indicator species – "
"Of climate change. I know," Audra interjected with a grin, popping a piece of mango into her mouth. She swallowed, then said, "You've told me a few times. You're passionate about your penguins, and your research, which is why I'm still wondering why you're here." Green eyes gazed at him over a slice of watermelon.
He swallowed. "I told you already. I came to apologise. And...to thank you. That last video you took on Heard Island helped my research more than you know. Right now, you're at the top of my list of acknowledgements for my thesis."
"Uh, thanks. But you could've just sent me a copy. It'll make interesting reading while I'm waiting for the computers to come up with the next weather forecast."
"I will." This was where he was supposed to talk about feelings, wasn't it? "I wanted to see you. I missed you, and it might be a long time before I see you again. And I wanted to thank you in person." He sounded so stupid he would've walked out.
Audra didn't, though. Her lips turned up in a tiny, enigmatic smile. "Yeah, you said that, too. And now you've done both, so mission accomplished. Whereas I have to be at my parents' house in just over an hour for dinner, so I should probably get going."
No! Don't go! He wanted to grab her and say the words out loud, but then he'd just look like a bigger idiot than he already was. "Can I come?" he blurted out instead.
FIFTY
Audra's jaw dropped. Jean wanted to meet her family? Why? This could only end badly. Then again, that might be a good thing. The way he'd mumbled and repeated himself made him sound like a shy teenager trying to work up the courage to ask her out. Instead of a married man who should know better than to do any such thing.
Audra wet her lips. "My family isn't particularly wealthy, and my father lost his job when the mining boom ended. You're probably better off having dinner at one of the seafood restaurants here."
Jean shrugged. "My family's not rich. I'd rather have dinner with you than eat lobster alone." His eyes widened. "Or do you mean they won't have enough food for all of us? I could buy something and bring it along."
He was so close to the mark, but Audra didn't want to admit it. "Actually, I'll be picking dinner up on the way. There's a pizza place near their house." If she didn't, there was no guarantee she'd get dinner at all.
"So how are you getting there?" he pressed.
She hadn't thought of that. It wasn't like she had a car any more. "Taxi?"
"I have a rental car. I can drive you," Jean offered. "I'll put your bag in the trunk, and I can drop whatever's in the dryer off tomorrow. Unless you want to take it now, and dry it at home. I mean – "
"It's not home." The moment Audra said the words, she knew they were true. She hadn't been here in almost two years. Broome, Melbourne, Davis, even Heard Island – all those places felt more like home than her family's crowded state housing handout. She might not have a permanent place of her own right now, but Davis was home for as long as she was posted there. "And yes, you can drop things off tomorrow. My parents don't have a dryer, and the neighbours nick things off the line if you don't watch it."
<
br /> "So you want me to come?" he asked eagerly.
Yes. The answer surprised her, but it wasn't about Jean. Not really. Her family would be on their best behaviour with a stranger there, and her brothers would be less likely to ask her for money. Of course, he'd leave after dinner, to go back to his hotel room, while she stayed in the tiny room she'd shared with her sister since Sam was born, but it would only be for a few nights until she flew out to Hobart to meet the ship taking her home. It wasn't such a hardship. After all, she hadn't seen her family in ages.
"Sure. But I'll have to order you an extra pizza," Audra said. "What would you like?"
Jean shrugged. "I don't mind. Whatever you recommend. Do you know how long it's been since I had fresh pizza?"
Audra tried not to laugh. "About as long as me, I imagine." She made the call, placed her order, and zipped up her bag, ready to go. Then she reached for it with her right hand and realised her mistake. She was going to have to pretend to be a frail female and ask Jean for help.
"Hey, I'll get that," Jean said before she could ask, slinging her backpack over his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
"Thank you." She tried to make the words sound as grateful as she felt.
As she climbed into the passenger seat of Jean's hired hatchback, Audra realised she couldn't have driven it even if she wanted to – one arm wasn't enough.
She directed Jean south, feeling a strange tightening in her tummy as the stacks of the refinery came into view. "Not far now," she said, hoping the pizzas would be ready by the time they reached the place. Anything was better than cold, though.
Jean looked stunned when he saw the stack of boxes waiting for them. "How many people are in your family?" he asked.
"I have three brothers and a sister, plus my parents. All of the boys will eat a pizza each. Maybe more. Besides, it's always been the rules in my parents' house that whoever's up first the morning after pizza night, they get to eat the leftovers for breakfast."
"Cold pizza for breakfast?" Jean looked ill.
Audra laughed. "Of course not. Heated up in the microwave. It was usually me and Sam up first, because I'd have to work."
"Sam's one of your brothers?" Jean guessed.
"No. Samantha is my little sister. She's in Year 12 this year, and she wants to go to university, like I did, but she hasn't decided what she wants to study yet." Audra expected him to be bored, but Jean waved for her to continue, so she did. "Tadas – we call him Tad – he lost his job about the same time Dad did, and he's been depressed about it for as long as I can remember. Occasionally he gets a new job, or an interview for one, but it never lasts long. He has the worst luck. Benediktas is an apprentice electrician. He's actually not too bad, but he's had his tools stolen a few times, which means he can't work until he buys new ones, which he really can't afford on an apprentice's salary, so it's taking him longer than normal to finish his apprenticeship. Leonas is my youngest brother. He was born after me, but before Sam. Leon had a nasty car accident a few years ago. He had head injuries and nearly died, but he hasn't really recovered from it. So if he says anything strange, it's because of his brain trauma."
"It sounds like your family's had a run of bad luck," Jean said, his eyes on the road.
"Not all of us. Not Sam, and not me," Audra said.
He glanced at her. "A broken arm isn't bad luck?"
"Getting accepted into the graduate program, being selected to go to Antarctica twice, being part of a South Pole expedition and a trip to Heard Island, where I got to see a volcano erupt...all those are incredibly good luck," Audra said. She waved at her polka-dot brace. "This doesn't even start to even it out. I'd have to break both my legs, too, to – " She stopped when she saw his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
He barked out a harsh laugh. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I've been so lucky with my scholarship and all that my accident was just the universe trying to keep things balanced, but it tipped things too far the other way. I guess that means I'm due some really good luck soon, then."
Audra had never heard him sound so bitter. "You'll get your PhD. That's a good thing, right?"
"I guess after three long years, it's sort of lost its shine. Yeah, I'll get it, but after all the hard work it doesn't feel so important any more. My plan was always to finish my PhD, then take a postdoctorate or teaching post at a university. Settle down and have a family."
Audra's blood ran cold. A family, with his wife. That's what he meant. She had to remember that even after spending a lovely afternoon with him, he was nothing more than a work colleague. One who was married to someone else.
FIFTY-ONE
Jean expected a lot worse than the house Audra identified as her parents' one. Sure, the garden was mostly dead weeds, but so was the rest of the street. The beaten-up car in the front yard made him wince, though.
"Was that the car your brother crashed?" Jean asked.
"One of them," Audra answered through gritted teeth. "The first one he left at the crash site. That one used to be mine. He borrowed it without my permission while I was working in Broome and did that to it."
Jean swore. "What did your parents do?"
Audra swallowed. "Nothing. It's Leon."
What kind of parents let a boy wreck his sister's car without some sort of punishment? Jean fumed. She was a graduate, barely out of college, with probably a huge debt to pay off and not exactly a high-paying job to do it on. If she hadn't needed the car, she could have sold it to help pay off her loan. If her brother didn't have the money, then her parents should have done something.
"C'mon, let's get these pizzas inside before they get cold." Audra's tone had turned dull and lifeless, much like the dried weeds crunching underfoot.
Jean grabbed the boxes and followed her to the front door.
She knocked several times before someone finally came to the door.
"I thought I heard something, but then I thought, nah, it's too early. So good to see you!" a female voice exclaimed.
The screen door clanged open and a girl with bright green hair threw herself at Audra.
Jean strode forward to intercede even before Audra let out a pained yelp. "Careful. She has a broken arm," he boomed, bringing his own arm up to shield Audra's from her overzealous sister.
To her credit, the girl backed off. "How did you do that?"
"It was a volcano," Audra began shakily.
The girl didn't let her finish. "A volcano? There are volcanoes in Antarctica?"
Audra described Heard Island to her sister as they followed her inside. Jean tried to keep his expression neutral as he surveyed the interior, which had definitely seen better days. Better decades, too, seeing as the décor looked like they'd picked the colour scheme before Audra was born and not done anything to it since.
"Where do you want me to put these?" Jean asked, lifting the stack of boxes.
"On the dining table," Audra and her sister said together.
They both laughed, then the sister said, "I'll get some plates." As she leaned over to extract them from the kitchen cabinet, she hollered. "Oi! Audra's here and she brought dinner!"
Three men marched into the room, and made a beeline for the table. They each picked up a pizza box, ignored the plates, and headed for the front room. Not one of them said a word to him or their sisters.
Jean felt his anger build. She'd been away for months, and even bought them dinner. What kind of family didn't say hello or thank you? They hadn't offered to pay her back for the pizzas, either, and those hadn't come cheap. Someone should have picked her up from the port, instead of letting her find her own way here. Did they just take her for granted so much that they'd stopped caring for her? It just wasn't right. Audra deserved better. So much better than this.
Audra didn't seem surprised. "Where are Mum and Dad?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "At the state housing office again. They sent a nasty letter, saying they didn't have as many kids any more, so the
y didn't need a four bedroom house. Because I'm the only one who's still a kid, they're only entitled to a two-bedroom unit. So they took all the doctors' reports for Leon and Tad, and all the paperwork from welfare and Ben's apprenticeship, and they're trying to convince them that we do need this house, otherwise they'll need to find a new place for Leon and Ben and Tad, and a new place for us, and they're saying the waiting list is a couple of years."
Audra nodded. "Bloody bureaucrats." There was no venom in her tone – just tired resignation. She gestured toward the table. "Have something to eat, Jean."
He was as bad as they were, taking her for granted. First out on Heard Island and now here. He should've paid for dinner, not her. Too late now.
Feeling both girls' eyes on him, he took a plate and lifted two slices from the nearest box. Then he was lost. "Are we sitting at the table or joining them?" One glance at Audra's polka-dotted arm gave him his answer. He might not have done enough to repay her kindness before, but he could start now. "I'd prefer to sit at the table, if that's all right."
The girls nodded, then made their own selection. Audra slid into the seat on one side of him, while her sister took the other.
"Who's he, then?" the sister asked through a mouthful of pizza.
Audra swallowed. "This is Jean, a biologist who was working with me at Heard Island. Jean, this is my sister, Sam."
Sam's eyes were more golden than the green of her sister's. "What are you doing here?"
"Audra said she'd show me around for a bit while I'm in Fremantle, so she invited me along to dinner to meet her family," Jean said.
"How long are you staying?"
"I fly out in a few days."
At this, Audra slumped slightly in her seat. Did that mean she was relieved, or disappointed? Or just tired?
"I'll be right back," Sam said, jumping to her feet. She hurried out of the room.
Jean looked askance at Audra, who just shrugged.
One of her brothers sidled into the room. He jutted his chin at Audra. "So, when are you going to pay to get the car fixed?"
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