“Do you want to go inside and sit on something more comfortable?”
“I am perfectly fine and you’re not getting out of it this easy. Rosie, we’re best friends. If you can’t tell me then who can you tell?”
Kitty stared at Rosie, who knew she’d lose this battle. There was no point in dragging it out.
Taking a deep breath, Rosie said, “I got fired.”
“What? But you loved that job and you were doing so well!”
“I was…there’s a whole story behind it.” Rosie hadn’t discussed this with a single soul, so airing her thoughts and fears for the first time—even with her best friend—cast shadows of regret and doubt in her abilities to assess people for who they really were.
Kitty placed her hand on Rosie’s. “Take your time.”
“My boss was always generous with praise and he’d look people in the eye and say hello as he walked past. Most of the bosses barely knew their secretary’s names so him acknowledging us was welcomed. What took me a while to realize, though, is that more and more women in the secretarial pool would keep their heads down whenever he was around. I thought it was because they were busy, then I realized that maybe something wasn’t right.”
“Oh no.”
“Because I wanted this promotion so badly, I worked really long hours. It was fine for a little while, then he started coming over and making suggestive comments about what I was wearing or my perfume or hair—basically any chance he got to talk about my appearance, he did. I felt so uncomfortable, and told him so, but he didn’t care. Then he…” A sharp pain stabbed Rosie’s throat.
Kitty squeezed Rosie’s hand. “Go on.”
“I swear, I did nothing to encourage him. He…” Her chest constricted like it did every time she recalled the event. “He cornered me and began groping me, kissing me…” Hot tears welled up even though she’d promised herself not to let the emotions get to her.
“Oh, Rosie.” Kitty wrapped her arms around her. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“So, what happened?”
“I slapped him. Hard.”
Kitty’s laugh rang out across the backyard. Birds squawked in response. “I know it’s not funny, though it’s nice to hear he got what he deserved.”
“He deserved more than that. When I threatened to tell his wife, he laughed, then said it would look like sour grapes because I was fired.”
“He’s the one who fired you?”
Rosie nodded. “I went to the director about it and he just said that it was my word against my boss’s.”
“And?”
“And my word held no weight. There were no witnesses and no one else would say anything because they’d lose their job. Plus, I’m replaceable, right?”
Kitty squeezed Rosie’s hand. “You absolutely are not replaceable.”
“In the business world, secretaries are dispensable because there’s always someone else willing to take your job and put up with horrendous behavior from the boss.”
“It sounds like you had a lucky escape. What are you going to do about it?”
Rosie moved her head from side to side, trying to stretch the stiff muscles in her neck. “I want to do something but I don’t know what. It all seems so insurmountable. Me against the influential boss who’s been there for twenty years…. Life was so much easier in AWAS. We just got on with the work and no one cared what we looked like or made unwanted advances.” Rosie paused. “Although, when the war ended we got thrown back into our old roles. Do you think things will ever change?”
“I hope so.” Kitty placed her hand on her belly and looked at it lovingly. “Especially if this little one is a girl.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice for her to grow up as an equal to men and not a second-class citizen?”
“It would, indeed. You need to get your mind off that idiot from Brisbane.” A cheeky smile crept across Kitty’s face. “Come to the dance with me on Saturday.”
“No thanks, I’d rather stick near home.”
“Just come for an hour or so. William would love to see you. It’s been forever since you’ve seen each other.”
“I have missed William’s terrible sense of humor.” Rosie laughed, recalling the first day they’d met. He’d been assigned the desk behind her at school and he’d dipped her plaits in the inkwell. Not to be outdone, she’d hidden a small tree snake in his desk, and from that moment on, they’d become steadfast friends. When William and Kitty had started courting after his return from the war, nothing had made Rosie happier than seeing two of her dearest friends fall in love.
“Please come with us.” Kitty batted her long lashes.
“I don’t think so.”
She gave a self-satisfied smile. “So, we’ll pick you up at seven?”
* * * *
William’s ute rolled to a stop on the gravel and Rosie got out, offering her hand to Kitty as she exited. Rosie strained to hear music from the dance hall, but all she could detect were excited voices talking over the top of each other. She smoothed down her mint-green dress and adjusted the white belt.
“Why are you so nervous?” Kitty asked.
“What?”
“You’ve been fidgeting since we left Tulpil.”
“I’m not nervous. I just…I don’t know how I’m feeling, really. I haven’t been to a dance here for such a long time and people will have changed—”
“Nothing changes around here,” said William. “You look fine, Rosie.”
“Fine?” She arched an eyebrow at this dangerous word.
“Lovely. You look lov-er-ly. Now let’s go. My beautiful wife needs a cold drink and a place to sit.”
“I’m pregnant, not poorly!” Kitty moaned as she stomped up the steps and into the hall.
Rosie skipped up the stairs but halted in the doorway when she was assailed by a wall of heat and cigarette smoke. The band were in the midst of setting up the stage and men were grouped together, having traded their dirty workwear for pressed shirts, ties and fancy trousers. Clusters of women laughed and patted their hair while smiling flirtatiously at possible suitors. Rosie resisted rolling her eyes.
She followed William and Kitty to a table at the end of the hall, far away from the preening peacocks. After pulling out a seat for his wife, then Rosie, William went over to the drinks station to chat to some colleagues.
Kitty used a serviette to dry the thin layer of perspiration from her brow. “The band is from Brisbane, you know.”
“What on earth are they doing here?”
Kitty shrugged. “Perhaps they needed a change of scenery, just like some other people I know?”
“Hmmm…” Rosie cast her gaze around and noticed there still weren’t a lot of immigrant workers present, even though more were now living in Piri River.
The band finished tuning their instruments and the room filled with the familiar notes of Tommy Dorsey’s “Sunny Side of the Street.” Within moments, the dance floor grew crowded with couples laughing and smiling at the upbeat music.
William arrived with three large glasses of ginger beer and placed them in the center of the table. “Care to dance, my sweet wife?”
Kitty looked at her ankles and grimaced. “If they’re like this now, how will they be when I’m bigger?”
“Maybe you need to get as much dancing in as you can now,” he said.
“I came here to watch.” She closed her eyes and sipped the ginger beer. “Ahhh, delightful.”
“So why are we here if you’re not dancing?” asked Rosie.
“To listen to good music and be social.” Feigning surprise, she said, “Oh look. Isn’t that Rodney Johnson over there? He’s always had a soft spot for you, Rosie, and I’ve heard he’s an excellent dancer.”
“I’m not interested in being courted.”
&nbs
p; “You say that now…”
Rosie shot William a look of exasperation.
He grinned and cocked his head in the direction of the dance floor. “As my wife isn’t quite capable of dancing—”
“I’m totally capable! I am just choosing not to!” she shouted.
“Like I said”—he raised an eyebrow—“as my wife is not dancing, would you like to join me for a spin across the boards?”
“Thank you, that would be lovely.” Rosie took his hand, grateful for a break from Kitty’s scheming.
Rosie and William found a small space on the dance floor and she let her body move to the music, caught up in the moment.
William said quietly, “Kitty told me about why you left Brisbane.”
Rosie stopped dancing and let go of William’s hands. “Oh.”
“But you knew she’d tell me.”
Rosie nodded.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine, I’m just…disappointed, I guess. I had so many hopes for my job in Brisbane.”
“I’m really sorry it didn’t work out.” William’s lips kicked into a wry smile. “Want me to go and sort out your old boss?”
“Ha! No, I’ll figure it out. Or I won’t.”
“You shouldn’t let him get away with it.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m thirsty.”
“Okay, end of discussion, I get it,” said William. “Maybe I should check on Kitty.”
They crossed the dance floor and dodged the spinning couples only to find Kitty deep in conversation with a man with dark hair. He had his back to the dance floor and when he laughed, it was with his whole body.
“You better get over there, quick smart.” Rosie laughed.
“Tomas? He’s harmless.”
“Tomas Conti?” She took a better look and her heart beat faster. With a dry mouth, she asked, “How do you know him?”
“I met him through Randall.” William tilted his head to the side. “How do you know him?”
“We met last week on the bus from Brisbane.” She studied the familiar way Kitty and Tomas spoke. “So, Kitty knows him?”
“We ran into him at the post office yesterday.” William grinned. “Why the twenty questions?”
“Nothing.” She feigned nonchalance. “You’re not jealous that a handsome man is chatting with your wife?”
“Handsome, eh?”
She punched him in the arm. “Stop it! You should go and rescue your wife before the handsome man woos her away from you.”
William laughed. “Kitty’s married to me and I know she loves me. She’s also having my baby. It will take a lot more than a handsome—as you tell me he is—man to rip her away from my clutches.” Once more, he gave her a sly smile. “Tomas seems like a nice bloke. Maybe you should spend more time with him.”
“Oh no!” She held up her hands defensively. “Don’t you start with this matchmaking rubbish.”
William put his hand under her elbow and steered her toward the table. Not that she minded too much. A new face in town, and one as attractive as Tomas’s—with his large brown eyes and thick lashes—meant the evening might not be so bad after all. Then she remembered her stance on men: not interested. So why did Tomas Conti grab her attention?
“Tomas!” said William, a little too enthusiastically.
Tomas turned to face them and, once more, Rosie found herself in awe of his beautiful skin. He shook hands with William while Rosie stood out of Tomas’s view.
“Your lovely wife has been telling me about the renovations on your house.”
“Ah, yes, we are under a deadline of sorts.” William nodded toward Kitty’s ever-expanding belly. William draped his arm across Rosie’s shoulders and pulled her close. “I believe you have met my very good friend Rosie.”
“Ah, Rosalie. It is lovely to see you again.”
Rosie returned his smile as she tried to cobble together a sentence.
Tomas studied her as the music slowed into a waltz. “Would you like to accompany me on the dance floor?”
Suddenly shy about being in his company, Rosie looked at the empty chair. Kitty pulled it next to her and rested her swollen legs on top. Her grin would have made the Cheshire Cat proud.
“All right, thank you,” Rosie said.
Tomas held out his hand and she took it, refusing to look back at her best friend. Fine, Kitty and William could play their little matchmaking game but they wouldn’t win.
Tomas placed his hand lightly on her waist and held her hand in the customary waltzing position. He exuded the confidence of a man who knew his way around a dance floor and, despite her mind protesting, she found her body relaxing. With a slight movement to the left, they began their journey across the boards.
“The band is good, yes?” he asked.
“Very good.” A slight hint of spicy cologne hung in the air.
Turn. Sway.
Gosh he really is an excellent dancer.
“So…” Spin. Twirl. “How are you settling in, Tomas?”
“The weather, it is hot. The work, it is hard. The sky, it is a beautiful blue. The rain, it smells of magic. And the scenery…” His eyes connected with hers. “The scenery gets better with every minute that I am here.”
Her face burned, as did her neck. Please, please, don’t let it show. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
They spun to the other side of the dance floor. When he stretched out his arm so she could spin under it, she felt an underlying strength mixed with gentleness in Tomas.
“I wish you to know, Rosalie Stanton, you are the first woman I have danced with in a very long time.”
A small laugh left her lips. “Oh, please.”
“You do not believe me?” His tone sounded slightly offended.
“You’re serious?”
“Of course. I am not one to lie.”
Whether it was the earnest look in his eyes or her own desire for it to be true, Rosie chose to believe him.
The music picked up tempo and Tomas seemed keen to keep dancing but the balls of her feet had reached a point of unbearable agony from her new shoes.
“I’m really sorry, but do you mind if we have a break?” she asked.
Tomas escorted her to where Kitty sat, fanning herself while William looked at her adoringly.
“Would you all care for another cold drink?” asked Tomas.
“I’ll come with you.” William stood and accompanied his new friend.
Rosie watched the two men saunter over to the bar. When she turned around Kitty was rubbing her belly and not making any effort to hide her glee.
“He’s lovely, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” Rosie avoided eye contact because it would only encourage this discussion.
“And it looks like you two had a nice time,” Kitty persisted.
“Don’t even think about it,” Rosie said sternly, tapping her fingers on the table. “I’m heading to the ladies’. You coming?”
Kitty shook her head. “Surprisingly, I don’t need to.”
“Back in a moment.” Rosie scooped up her purse, scooted past the dancers, and headed toward the exit at the side of the hall. Taking the steps down, she looked up to find a reedy figure with slicked-back sandy hair. He casually leant against the toilet wall while he smoked and laughed with a small group of men.
She balled her fists.
Damn.
Rosie should have known Ken Ridley and his mates would be hanging around here.
“Well, well, well.” He threw the cigarette on the ground. “A sight for sore eyes, indeed.”
Holding her chin high, she said, “Gee, Ken, I wish I could stop and talk but I…have somewhere to be.” She turned on her heels to enter the safety of the hall but was stopped when Ken’s fingers dug into her ar
m. She wrenched it away. “Stop it!”
“Why don’t we take a little walk?” A wall of alcohol moved in on her as his face came closer to hers.
“No, thanks.” She kept her tone polite, careful not to anger Ken, who had always been unpredictable.
“Come on, Rosie.”
He went to grab her again and memories of her recent run-in with her boss overtook her. With as much force as she could muster, Rosie shoved Ken in the chest and it was followed by laughter and “ooohs” from Ken’s cronies. Rosie rushed up the stairs only to slam into Tomas, who stood like a sentinel at the entrance of the hall.
“How may I assist?” His kind tone made hot tears well in her eyes.
“No assistance needed, truly.” Her voice shook as much as her hands.
Tomas peered down at Ken who stood at the base of the stairs surrounded by his drunken mates.
“Leave her alone, dago!” Ken shouted, a slight sway in his stance.
“Don’t listen to him.” She put her hands on Tomas’s arm and tried to steer him away. Rosie had no idea what temper Tomas had, but if Ken and his gang decided to start a fight—which they were likely to do—she didn’t want Tomas injured because of her. “Please, let’s go back into the hall.”
Tomas stood his ground. “If this person is doing the wrong thing by you—”
“No, he just… Really, I am fine. No damage.” Except for her confidence.
“Perhaps if I—”
“Please, Tomas, let’s just go back inside and forget about them.”
He looked reluctant but did as she asked. They returned to the table where William and Kitty sat, totally oblivious to the goings on outside the hall.
Rosie collapsed in the chair and Tomas sat beside her, his companionable silence reassuring.
Kitty leant forward, concern in her eyes. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She took her time sipping from the glass. “Just Ken Ridley up to his usual tricks.”
William was on his feet, pushing up his sleeves. “Where is he?”
“I’m all right, really.” Rosie sat up straight.
“You don’t look all right,” said Kitty.
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