Beside the Brook

by Paulette Rae

  “Where’s Sarah?” Jamie addressed Kirsten in a curt manner.

  “She’s in the kitchen with your mother.” Kirsten glared back at him. She was beginning to tire of his impolite conversations which began with an almost accusatory tone. Could he not even be courteous enough to begin a conversation with a simple hello? She had been nothing but polite to this man. What gave him the right to continue the obnoxious renderings which did him no favours?

  “I came up to see her this afternoon, but you’d had taken her away.” Jamie put his brush in the jar of water set on the side table and wiped his hands on an old rag. Taken her away? Even the way he spoke about Sarah, it was as if everyone was out to get him. Everything was an accusation.

  “We went on a field trip.” Kirsten straightened her skirt and tried to avoid his gaze. “I thought Sarah needed some outside stimulation.”

  “Oh?” Jamie questioned.

  Tyler scoffed as he moved to pour himself a drink at the bar. “Leave the poor woman alone, James. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”

  “Well, that’s yet to be proven, don’t you think?” Jamie glared at Tyler.

  “She loves writing stories,” Kirsten interjected, glancing at them both in turn. “I simply wanted to provide a little inspiration. Sarah needs to get out more, socialize and explore in order to engage her imagination.”

  Jamie smirked, but Kirsten couldn’t decide whether or not it was positive, even when he spoke, “You think her family doesn’t give her enough?”

  Kirsten watched him closely, wondering if it was a defensive mechanism or a test to see whose side she was on. But there was only one side to be taken here, and it wasn’t that of any man.

  She steadied her gaze on him. “No, I don’t. Children need more than just their family to give them a balanced outlook on life.”

  Jamie dropped his stare in defeat and continued to pack up his brushes. The light was fading over the hills and he had lost the best part of the day for painting. One all, Kirsten thought as she crossed her arms and turned back to Tyler. He stood behind the bar, a smarmy grin plastered on his shadowed face, as if he were silently cheering for Kirsten.

  “You really think she can write?” he asked as he poured a double nip of scotch into a crystal tumbler.

  “Well she’s only seven, but I can tell she loves it. She just needs things to write about. You know, to get her juices going.”

  Tyler raised one eyebrow. “Juices?”

  Kirsten laughed and whatever tension was in the air dissipated. “Don’t be rude. This is your niece we’re talking about.”

  Jamie mumbled something under his breath, but Kirsten couldn’t quite make out what it was. His back was turned and it was obviously not meant for their ears so she didn’t bother asking him to clarify.

  As Kirsten expected, Beth requested a word with her after dinner was over. Instinctively she knew she was in for a tow over the hot coals. Beth was silent as they climbed to her office and she closed the door behind them.

  “Sarah tells me you visited the school today.” She sat on the edge of the desk and looked down at Kirsten.

  “Yes,” Kirsten replied in her sweetest tone. “Did you know there was a school in the area?” She already knew the answer to the question, but hoped her plea of innocence would work to her advantage.

  “Yes, I knew there was a school here. We simply chose to school Sarah ourselves. I would hope that in future you will check with me before you decide to take Sarah anywhere.”

  “Before I take her anywhere?”

  Beth seemed unsure whether Kirsten was questioning what she had heard or was standing up to her. Before she could say anything Kirsten continued.

  “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Beth, but I do think I know what I’m doing when it comes to caring for children.”

  Beth frowned. “I’m not disputing that, my dear. But ultimately we make the decisions for Sarah, not you.”

  “Nothing that happened today was about making decisions for Sarah,” Kirsten scoffed. “We simply stopped in to see what the school was like. Sarah was extremely keen to interact with the other children.”

  “So you don’t think Sarah should be going to a school instead of distance learning?”

  Beth raised her eyebrow, looking rather like Tyler as she did so.

  “I’m not saying that.” Kirsten clenched her hands together in her lap. “You probably already know that’s not what I think, and that’s why you have jumped to the defensive on the subject. I think Sarah should be at a school with other children her own age. She should be open to all the possibilities, all the stimulations she can get at her age. But that’s not my decision. She’s not my child. I work for you, and I will respect your decisions when it comes to Sarah.”

  “Well, good.” Beth seemed puzzled.

  “Alright then.” Kirsten stood up. She didn’t want to give Beth a chance to realise what had just happened. Right now she had the upper hand and she wanted to leave on that note.

  “Kirsty-,”

  Kirsten turned as the older woman spoke. “Oh, can I just say one thing? I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but Sarah is not Brook. I may be way out of line in saying so, but I think Sarah needs to learn to breathe without being mollycoddled by her family. She’s not going to disappear if you give her some room to experience life for herself. But when she gets old enough to realise there’s a whole world out there that she’s been kept from, you will lose her.”

  Beth simply stared, open mouthed at Kirsty, as if she had been slapped in the face. Kirsty disappeared quickly, deciding it was probably a good idea if she laid low for a few hours. She thought if she even so much as stuck her head out the door it may be chopped from her neck.

  She blamed her red hair more than anything else. It always managed to get her into so much trouble. Why couldn’t she learn to keep her mouth shut? So far she had managed to alienate Jamie, even though she couldn’t put her finger on what may have caused that, and now she had more than likely upset the matriarch of the family. That was called biting the hand that feeds, she remembered her father saying once. God, what she wouldn’t do to see her father’s friendly smile right now. He would know just what to say to make her feel better. But she wasn’t about to go running to him right now. She needed to act like the adult she was and just keep it together. She could handle this.

  What she needed was something to take her mind off the job. Dragging her bathing suit from the wardrobe, she exchanged it for her clothes, feeling sure that a hot soak would be just the thing to ease her mind. Tomorrow she may not have a job, so why not make the most of her time here before Beth sent her packing?

  She took the lift to the bottom floor, which brought her down into the back passage and to a shortcut out through the laundry door. She walked down the damp concrete path, maiden hair ferns rustling against her bare legs as she passed. The sweet scent of Jasmine wafted on the night air as she neared the pool, its thick crawling growth providing shelter as Kirsty slipped behind the fence. With some difficulty she pulled back the cover of the pool, and dropped it onto the paving beneath. Thick steam rose in contrasting shards of warm against the cool black sky. Kirsten stepped down into the heat. The smell of chlorine assaulted her nostrils as she dipped into the water. She leaned over and found the button to start the bubbles. The gurgling water surged around

  her, and she lay back against the vinyl headrest, her eyes skimming the expanse of brilliant stars that seemed endless. The sky here was clearer, the air cleaner with no city smog to coat the atmosphere. Kirsten had never seen a night sky like it. After a few moments she felt the tension melting from her body, and she relaxed completely, letting the stress wash away.

  “You’d look better with a glass of mulled wine in your hand.”

  She opened her eyes to see Tyler staring down at her, a playful grin at the corners of his mouth.

  “Definitely not.” She smirked as she watched him throw his towel onto the tiles and climb into the
pool opposite her. “I had a bad experience with red wine once and I don’t touch the stuff now.”

  “Sounds interesting.” Tyler dipped both hands in the water and then ran them through his hair, pushing it back against his head. Then he leaned back and extended both arms out along the edge of the pool. His body glistened, water dripped from his muscular upper arms as he watched her trying not to look at him. His thick eyebrows and black hair framed a well defined face with high cheek bones and an angular jaw. Kirsten wasn’t sure if it was his good looks, or the way he seemed to be her only ally here right now, but she felt drawn to him. She dropped her gaze and trailed her hands through the water.

  “Not really.” she smiled to herself as she remembered the night in question. It seemed like such a long time ago now.

  “Are you okay?” Tyler seemed concerned and in tune with her unrest. She gave him a wary smile. “Yes. It’s been a long week. I think I’ve already managed to upset your mother, and Jamie-,” she paused. “I don’t know what’s up with Jamie. Is he always like this?”

  “Jamie’s toys are still out of the cot because of you I think. But you shouldn’t take it personally. It doesn’t take much to upset our James.”

  “You don’t help.” Kirsten pouted in Tyler’s direction. “You like to goad him, I’ve noticed.”

  “Hey, if it’s one thing you’ll learn about me from the start, it’s that I tell it straight. And I’m a pretty good read on other people. For instance,” he narrowed his gaze at her,

  “I can tell right now that you’re just dying for me to give you a shoulder rub.”

  Kirsten felt the heat rush to her cheeks. It had been the furthest thing from her mind. She stared wide eyed back at him. “Whatever would make you think that?”

  “Well, you just indicated you’ve had a hard week. I know only too well how people can get riled up when dealing with my mother. Wouldn’t a nice neck rub be great right about now?”

  Kirsty couldn’t help but smile. She had to admit it sounded wonderful, but did she really want to let Tyler lay his hands on her? His reputation with women already seemed crystal clear. But then again, why would she think he could be interested in the likes of her?

  “I don’t think that would be appropriate do you?” she asked. “After all, you’re almost my employer.”

  Tyler laughed, letting his head fall back against the side of the pool. “I think you know as well as I do who holds the purse strings around here. I do as I’m told just as much as you do. Come on, I won’t bite.”

  Kirsten crumbled. It was easy to sway to someone who showed a friendly face among adversity. She so wanted to feel liked by at least one of the adults around here. She

  knew she had Sarah’s vote, but to have Tyler in her corner would also be a huge bonus. It was a risk she was willing to take.

  She slid around the bench and pushed her back closer to Tyler as he took hold of her shoulders. His fingers were soft and warm against her skin and she leaned her head forward, dropping her chin onto her chest. His hands moved rhythmically over her neck and upper back, his thumbs digging in to smooth away the tension they found there.

  “God, do you do this for a living?” Kirsten murmured as she closed her eyes.

  “No, I’m just very practiced.” She felt his breath on the back of her neck as he spoke and it made her shiver. He was so close she could feel his hip against her own as she slid back against him under the water.

  “You have great skin,” Tyler teased. “It’s very soft.”

  Kirsty giggled. “Yeah, right. I guess in this light you can’t see the freckles.”

  She felt his body shake with laughter. “Hey, freckles are very cute.”

  “Yeah, right,” Kirsty said sarcastically. “And I suppose the red hair is too?”

  “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a feisty redhead.”

  Kirsty laughed. “Well, it doesn’t seem to be doing me any favours here so far.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Tyler murmured as he bent his head and let his lips graze the back of her shoulder.

  Kirsty gasped and straightened her back in shock. She turned to move away, but as she dropped her legs to the bottom of the pool Tyler grabbed them with one hand and pulled them across his lap, forcing her into his arms. Putting her off balance she instinctively grabbed his neck and held onto him. His eyes twinkled as he dropped his head and moved his mouth over hers. She moaned in surprise; let his tongue push between her lips in anticipation. He kissed her hungrily for a few moments before she dropped her hand to his chest and pushed herself away from him. She stared wildly up into his face.

  “This is not a good idea,” she said breathlessly.

  “Why not?” Tyler asked, his eyes daring her to come back for a second attempt at seduction.

  “Because, it’s not.” Kirsten dragged her legs from Tyler’s grasp. “It’s completely unprofessional.”

  Tyler leveled her with a bold stare. “That never stopped you in the past.”

  Kirsten was shocked. “What did you say?”

  “I said it doesn’t seem to have put you off with past employers.”

  Kirsten stood up. “You bastard!” Before she could stop herself she slapped Tyler across the cheek. It wasn’t hard, but a nice red mark appeared on his face and he put his own hand up to cover it.

  Kirsten was stunned. How did Tyler know about Greg Hamilton? And moreover why did he think bringing it up would only encourage her to take something up with him?

  What kind of sick game was he playing?

  “Jesus, I can’t believe you people.” She scrambled to the side of the pool, a sick feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach.

  “Kirsty, wait.” Tyler grabbed at her wrist, tried to pull her back. But she already had one leg out of the pool. With the other leg she pushed down against the molded plastic seat, but before she could do anything her foot slipped out from under her. Her weight collapsed onto the coloured concrete tiles and her hip burned with pain as she landed. She yelped and rolled onto her back, closing her eyes as a bright light blocked her sight. Tyler leapt from the pool and was at her side before she knew it.

  “Are you okay?” He took her by the shoulders and tried to lift her, but she shook him off.

  “I’m fine.” Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed.

  “You’re not fine, let me help you up.” He lifted her with his strong hands, despite her protest.

  “Get off me.” Kirsty was now sitting and she swatted his hands away. Her chest heaved in blind anger. She wanted him to stop touching her. She was so wild at him. Tyler laughed, enraging her further. He held her firmly with his large hands. Then he spoke in a sharp tone, “Kirsten, stop. You’re hurt.” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and peered into her green eyes. “I’m sorry.” His look seemed genuinely remorseful and Kirsten calmed a smidgen. “I’m sorry, okay? That was uncalled for.”

  She regarded him with speculation. “Damn straight it was.” Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes, flowing out of control. The flood gates had opened and she didn’t know how to close them. “I needed you to be a friend.”

  “I’m sorry. I am, seriously. I am a friend, please.” He pulled Kirsten to her feet and she held his shoulder for balance.

  She looked up at him. “How the hell did you know about that?”

  “Hey, my job was to check you out. You don’t think my mother would have hired you without knowing anything about you, do you?”

  Kirsten shrugged. “So you went snooping into my past?”

  “Hey, when I do a job, I do it properly.”

  “What else do you know about it?”

  “Hey, you can’t blame me for something you did. I just happened to find out about it. You didn’t cover your tracks very well. Besides, most of what I found out was assumption on my part. You just confirmed it.”

  “God, you’re infuriating,” Kirsten sighed.

  “I know.” Tyler grinned.

  Kirsten thumped him on t
he arm. “Don’t try that bloody Mister Sweetness on me.”

  “Hey, I’m sorry. It was just the moment. You looked so good under the moonlight. It won’t happen again okay?”

  “Promise?”

  “Scouts honour.” Tyler held two fingers against his forehead. Kirsten laughed. “You weren’t even a boy scout were you?”

  Tyler shook his head. “Nope. Come on let’s get you inside.”

  Kirsten let Tyler carry her into the house. Then he made good on his promise, by seeing her safely to her bedroom and bidding her goodnight. She dried herself off then fell into the pillows, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. The hot water and cool night air had worked their magic. Even after her fight with Tyler she felt spent and ready for sleep.

  Tomorrow was her day off. She planned to make the most of it. Sleeping late was first on the agenda. That way she could avoid contact with everyone for as long as possible. She felt it was what she needed to do if she were to retain her sanity in this alien territory.

  Chapter 6

  By lunch time the next day the sky had filled with low level grey cloud. The temperature was still in the late twenties though, and despite the heat Kirsten slept well into the morning. Ditching all bedtime attire she had taken to sleeping naked with just a sheet covering her, and was getting used to the absent comfort the heavy blankets provided.

  She climbed out of bed and put on her blue satin robe, tying it securely round the waist before opening the door to her balcony. She could hear voices below, and she looked down to see Sarah and Jamie in the pool. She felt rather like a voyeur as she watched them, undetected from her third floor perch.

  Jamie wore a pair of red board shorts, his long lean frame submerged from the waist down in the clear water. Sarah amused herself by climbing up his back, her skinny limbs flailing as he dipped into the water and let her settle on his gleaming shoulders. She squealed as he burst out of the water, raising her high in the air with a noisy whoosh. He grabbed her hands and let her scramble to her feet atop his back. Her knees shook but he held her fast, helping her balance as she bent over his head. Then he leaned forward and tossed her into the water. Her arms waved around as she screamed with delight, toppling into the water with a huge splash. She came up spluttering and laughing, and Jamie plucked her effortlessly into his arms once more. Kirsten smiled. They were such a delight to watch. She daren’t be spotted in case the magic spell was broken and Jamie reverted to the monster he became in adult company. So she retreated back inside and showered, putting on a green summer dress with spaghetti straps. Then she padded downstairs barefoot, expecting to find Craig. But the house was deserted. Tyler’s car was gone from the driveway, but Kirsten knew he had been due to return to town anyway so that was no surprise. Beth’s car was also missing, and seemingly so was Craig. She found a note on the fridge, held high with a large plastic magnet: