“Yep,” he grinned, “three times.”
“Shut up.”
He rolled over onto his side, propping his head up on one hand. “You promised me you wouldn’t regret it.”
“I don’t,” she said, happy to realise she meant it. “But I’d prefer last night wasn’t spoken of again.”
He frowned. “That will make it hard for me to tell the guys at the pub about it.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she protested, then realised he was joking. “Oh ha ha,” she picked up her pillow and threw it at him. He reached up to catch it and his sheet slipped even lower. He noticed the direction of her eyes.
“How about a repeat,” he suggested, “for old time’s sakes?”
And Maggie had to shake herself when she realised she had paused to consider it.
‘No,” she said loudly. With a nervous glance at the door she lowered her voice in case the others heard her. “You have to leave.”
He sighed. “But I don’t want to.”
“Please,” she pleaded. “I really don’t want Willow to know about this.”
He understood her concern was only for her daughter. “Ok,” he said. “But how will I get past without them seeing me?”
Maggie searched around the room for an answer. “The window,” she said triumphantly. “You can go out the window.”
“Are you serious?”
“Please.”
“I have to say this element of danger is getting me somewhat excited again.”
“Down tiger,” she threw his clothes at him. “Quick, get dressed before Willow comes back. It’s not like her to just knock, next time she might just come barging in.”
Maggie turned away while Jack pulled on his jeans and T-shirt. She opened the curtains and the blinding sun that flooded the room left them in no doubt that today was going to be another scorcher. The house had old sash windows, the kind you lifted to open. Over the years the ropes that worked the pulley system had aged and sometimes need a little extra persuasion to work. Maggie pounded at one corner of the window to unstuck it.
“Come on you stupid thing,” she muttered, and then said “aha,” as it came free and she could lift it.
“Right,” she turned to Jack. “Go.”
“That’s it?”
“What?”
He sat down on the corner of the bed. “How about a goodbye kiss, or simply thanks for the ride last night. The one in the car I meant,” he added hurriedly when he saw her face.
“Thank you for the lift home. Now please get up and go, before my daughter comes back and sees you.”
“Ok ok. But when can I see you again?”
“Oh no you don’t,” she shook her finger at him. “Last night was a one off, remember? We agreed; no strings attached. Don’t you start getting soppy on me.”
“I’m fairly sure that’s normally the guy’s line.”
She flicked an anxious glance at the door. “What will it take for me to get you to leave?”
“A promise to see me again soon. For dinner, or coffee or a walk. Your choice.”
“Ok, I’ll call you.”
“Good.” He smiled and crossed to the window. Looking outside he realised there was a thorny rose bush underneath her window. He raised her eyebrows at her.
“Sorry,” she said. “Dad planted it there when I was a teenager to prevent just this sort of thing. You’re the first who has ever had to risk it though.”
“You owe me two dates for this,” he muttered, one leg over the windowsill and pausing while he tried to judge where the best landing place was.
“Mum,” there was a knock on the door and then the door knob rattled as it was turned. Without thinking Maggie shoved Jack then turned to stand in front of the window, just as her daughter came into the room. There was a muffled swear word from the garden outside and Maggie coughed to cover it.
“What’s taking you so long?” Willow asked suspiciously. “And were you talking to someone?”
“No, just singing to welcome in the new day,” Maggie lied brightly, “la la la di la, etc. Did you want something?”
Willow walked over to her mother and looked her up and down.
“Why are you only wearing a sheet? And why is your face all red like that?”
“Christ Willow, what’s with the interrogation? I’m just flushed because I did a few yoga exercises, that’s all.”
“Wearing a sheet?”
“Yes, Willow, wearing a sheet. Now go and finish your breakfast, I’ll be out in a minute.” Willow walked away, but at the door she turned and regarded her mother sceptically.
‘You’re up to something,” she said. “And I’m going to figure out what.”
Then she left.
Maggie exhaled and turned back to the window. There was no sign of Jack. She sank down on to the bed. Phew. What a night. Upon reflection, she had no regrets at all. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable night; at least that’s what her body was telling her. She had a feeling she might not be thinking the same later in the day though when muscles that hadn’t been used in sometime started to protest their sudden use. It was the deception and adrenaline rush she’d just had that she could do without, her heart was still pounding from the fear of getting caught.
She quickly showered, using her parsley soap to help ward off any potential hangover, and threw on a long yellow summer dress. The day was already hot and seconds out of the shower she felt a trickle of sweat make its way down between her shoulder blades. She stopped by her shop room to flick on the air conditioner then headed out to the kitchen. Already, as per her earlier premonition, parts of her body were starting to make their protests known. It had been a fun night, she admitted to herself, but despite her promise to get Jack out of the window she had no intention of seeing him anytime soon. So when she rounded the corner and saw him sitting at the kitchen table her mouth dropped open and she stopped dead in her tracks.
What the hell was he playing at?
He looked at her sheepishly.
“Morning” sang Dot from the stove where she was transferring bacon from a hot frying pan to a plate. “You’re just in time for breakfast. And look who’s joined us.”
“Morning,” said Jack.
“I found him outside,” said Ray, “claims he was out walking his dog.”
“Yep, just out for another early morning walk with Rufus. Best way to start the day I find,” replied Jack in an overly cheerful manner.
“Funny thing is, I didn’t see any sign of the dog,” Ray helped himself to some bacon.
Jack’s mouth gaped comically while he searched for a suitable retort. Finding none in his sleep deprived brain, he shut his mouth and shrugged. “He’s somewhere around.”
Willow frowned at him. “You lost Rufus?”
“Of course not. He’s not lost, as such. In fact I’m pretty sure he knows exactly where he is. I’ll run into him again at some point.”
Maggie looked down quickly to hide a smile. God help me, she thought, his humour is growing on me.
“Whatever weirdo,” Willow pushed her chair out from the table.
‘Lift it, don’t scrape it.”
She headed out to the front porch and Maggie didn’t even consider where she was going until she was back a minute later, her head tilted to one side and her hands behind her back.
“That’s weird,” she said.
“What’s weird baby?” Maggie asked, reaching over to grab herself a piece of toast from the freshly buttered pile.
“Dad didn’t leave any meat last night.”
Maggie’s hand froze and her eyes widened in horror. She looked quickly from her mother to her father but they both avoided her gaze. How could she have forgotten? She knew exactly how, she’d been too busy enjoying herself. This was exactly why she’d avoided complications like men all these years, she thought furiously. She let her guard down for one minute and what had happened? She’d forgotten something so crucial.
“Really?” she finally said, sel
ecting a piece of toast and trying to sound as normal as possible. Still, she could hear a quiver in her voice nevertheless.
“Yes, really. Do you think he’s ok?”
“I’m sure he’s fine, he probably just got caught up with something. Or maybe he had no luck hunting this week.”
“I doubt it. He’s never missed a week before.”
“Everyone has their off days Willow. Don’t worry about it, I’m sure next week he’ll be back like normal.”
“You don’t think we ought to try and find him? Make sure he’s ok?”
Maggie finally looked at her daughter. There was something in her voice that didn’t quite sit right, like she was testing her mother. “No,” she said firmly. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
Willow held her mother’s gaze steadily for ten seconds, her eyes probing, and then she relaxed. “Ok,” she said. “If you say so. Can I go see Nick?”
Maggie started to relax. It seemed she had gotten away with it, although it had been a close call. “Have you done all your homework?”
“Yep,” Willow lied smoothly. It wasn’t a complete lie, she had done most of her homework. The last bit she figured she could copy off Nick in the morning before the bell rang. Heck, as far as she was concerned they shouldn’t even have homework in the last week of school, stupid sadist teacher, so he was lucky she’d bothered to do any at all.
“Ok then. But be home by lunchtime, and be safe.”
Willow turned to go and Maggie allowed herself to relax and take a gulp from her coffee, but then Willow turned back quickly as if something else had just occurred to her.
“Oh and Mum?”
“Mmm?”
“Why was your top lying out on the front porch?” Willow’s hand came out from behind her back and held the offending top up in front of her.
Maggie spat her coffee out and had a coughing attack. Ray pounded her on the back while her face turned bright red.
“Alright dad, enough,” she finally managed to splutter as her colour returned to normal. He stopped smacking her.
“I must have dropped it there when I was bringing the washing in yesterday,” she said, thinking up the lie quickly.
“But Gran bought the washing in yesterday. And isn’t this the top you were wearing when you went out?”
“What’s with you and all the questions this morning?” Maggie snapped. “Sometimes things are just none of your business ok?”
Willow looked hurt and tears sprang to her eyes. Without another word she dropped the top on the floor and ran out the front door. As she left they heard a small sob. She hadn’t heard that tone from her mother before, at least not directed at her.
“Oh nice one Maggie,” Dot sighed. “The poor girl has done nothing wrong; she didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that.”
“I know,” Maggie dropped her head into her hands and moaned.
“Well don’t take your mistakes out on her. You were the one who forgot to put the meat out, and you were the one who left your top there for her to find. She’s not a baby anymore; you can’t blame her for being curious.”
“I know mum, like I don’t feel bad enough already?”
“Go after her and apologise”
“She’ll be long gone by now. I’ll sit down and have a talk with her later.”
“Are you going to finally tell her the truth? Stop all this craziness for once and for all?”
“I don’t know mum, ok? I don’t know what I’m going to say.”
“Ahem,” Jack cleared his throat.
Maggie jumped, she had completely forgotten he was there. “Shit,” she swore, “how much of that did you hear?”
“Well,” he was confused by the question, “all of it, obviously. I mean, I am sitting right here and I’m not deaf.”
“Well don’t start asking questions. It really is none of your business.”
He held up his hands defensively. “I wasn’t going to ask anything.”
“Good.”
“Except maybe just one question –”
Maggie glared at him. “What?”
“Does your ex-husband really stop by every Saturday night to leave dead meat on your porch? Cause if he does, that’s kind of creepy.”
“Don’t be so stupid, of course he doesn’t.”
“So why does Willow think he does?”
“That’s two questions, and it’s complicated.”
“It’s not complicated, it’s stupid,” said Ray.
“Gee thanks for the support dad.”
“Honey, I support you all the way, you know that. But not when it comes to this. You should have told that girl the truth a long time ago.”
“And the truth is what exactly?” asked Jack, looking around the table.
“None of your business,” said Maggie.
“Yep, that’s what I thought you’d say. You’re making it all sound very mysterious. I mean, is there a body buried in the backyard that I should know I about?”
“Of course not. Don’t say stupid things like that.”
“Well if you don’t want me to use my imagination then why not tell me the truth? Who delivers the meat? Where is Willow’s father?”
Maggie stood up angrily.
“Lift it, don’t scrape it.”
“Outside,” she ordered Jack, “now.”
“You’d better do what she says,” Ray said, “she’s got her bossy voice on.”
Maggie stalked out the back door letting the screen slam shut behind her. The fern on the windowsill curled up its fronds defensively as she passed. Ray grimaced. “Yep, you’re in trouble alright. I’d hate to be in your shoes.”
Jack whistled out his breath. “Any tips you can give me that might help me survive this?”
“And take away all the fun? Nope, you’re on your own,” Ray grinned.
“Don’t be so mean,” Dot smacked him lightly on the back of the head. She turned to Jack and regarded him, one hand on her hip. She looked him up and down and then nodded. “I think you’ll be fine. You’ve already proved you can hold your own with her in an argument, and that’s half the battle right there. Just don’t back down. She needs someone like you in her life; she just doesn’t know it yet. Maggie can be a little stubborn you see, thinks she can do everything on her own. You didn’t hear any of that from me though.”
“You’d better go,” Ray butted in. “The longer you leave her out there on her own the angrier she’ll get.”
Jack gulped and stood up.
“Lift it, don’t scrape it.”
“Wish me luck,” he said.
“It’s been nice knowing you,” replied Ray cheerfully.
Outside Jack couldn’t see Maggie at first, but he could hear muttered cursing so he followed the sound around the back of the house. She was bent over one of the raised vegetable beds, plucking out weeds furiously and throwing them on the ground to stomp on.
“You’re busy,” said Jack, turning to retreat, “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Get back here.”
Jack winced, and turned slowly back towards her, plastering a broad smile across his face.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“What’s up? What’s up? Are you kidding me?”
“Look, you’re clearly upset. Maybe we should have this talk later.”
“It’s you that I’m upset at, and we are having this talk right now.”
“Right. Ok.”
She walked towards him jabbing one finger in his direction. “If you think for one minute that what happened last night entitles you to any kind of say in my life, you’re mistaken.”
“Oh no, I would never –”
The finger did an about turn and pointed at her. “My business is my business, and my daughter and I are none of your business, you got that?”
“Of course, I was just –”
“And that goes for my parents as well. Don’t use them to try and find out things about me.”
“I haven’t,” he protes
ted, “I wouldn’t –”
“What happened last night was -,” she flicked a glance towards the house to make sure her parents weren’t listening and lowered her voice, “- sex, and just sex. Nothing else, you got me? Don’t go thinking it was an invitation to start asking questions about things that just don’t concern you.”
He stayed silent this time, simply stood still and watched her.
“Body buried in the backyard? What the hell is wrong with you? Imagine if Willow had heard you say that? Joking or not, it was in poor taste, but then you seem to say whatever the hell pleases you and who cares if it hurts someone else right?”
He frowned.
“I don’t know why you feel this need to hunt out my past,” she continued, “but I want you to stop.”
Maggie finally ran out of steam and stopped talking, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” she asked.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if you were finished. Am I allowed to speak now?”
“Briefly, yes.”
“Right, my turn,” he said. His tone was low and even, and it startled her because she hadn’t heard him speak so seriously before. “I don’t know why you keep secrets the way you do or what it is that makes you think your experiences are any more traumatic than anyone else’s, but here’s the thing; your husband left you. It’s as simple as that. No big drama, no scandal, no mystery. He just left you, as men leave women all the time and vice versa. It’s one of those things that happen in life, as sad as it is when there are kids involved. I’m sure it’s been happening for centuries and it will probably happen for centuries to come.”
“How did you -?”
“Find out? Oh it wasn’t hard, not in a small town like this. I ran into some of your mother’s friends and they were more than happy to fill me in, without me having to ask a single leading question I might add. Seems your mother and her friends think you and I could be quite good together, something I agreed with right up until about now, when I realised what a major pain in the ass you actually are. You think I’m arrogant and maybe that’s the case, but you are a judgmental shrew. You’ve been judging me since the day we met, and based on nothing. I thought after last night we were getting somewhere, but you’re still determined to keep me at arm’s length and play the grieving, mysterious victim. Wake up Maggie, you’re the only one making yourself that. Your ex is the one who lost out, he’s the one with the problem. If he knew how often you still think of him he’d be over the moon I’m sure. Forget it. Let it go. Stop being angry at every man you meet and live life again, before you become so bitter and twisted your daughter ends up the same way.”
A Roast on Sunday Page 11