White Gum Creek

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  ‘What?’ Alex protested.

  ‘Trying to take my mind off this meeting.’

  ‘Is it working?’

  ‘No, but thanks for trying.’ Tash picked up the covered tray.

  ‘Any time, sis. Now go get ’em.’

  Tash grinned.

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  ***

  Tash was nervous as she walked into Sinclair’s. She was early, but only just, after cooling her heels in a small café around the corner. Alex had been right about her being over-anxious: she’d arrived in Bendigo with almost an hour to spare.

  Tash glanced around the new restaurant. It had a cool, inner-city vibe to it with the wooden feature wall, polished concrete floor and long gleaming metal beams running across the ceiling. The overall feeling was that of an intimate, soft-lit loft.

  She spotted a woman with light-red hair behind a narrow bar at the farthest end of the café.

  ‘Hello, I’m Natasha Duroz,’ Tash said as she approached and placed the tray of samples on the bar. ‘I have an appointment to see Gilbert Sinclair.’

  The woman barely acknowledged her as she stacked a load of glasses on the shelf.

  ‘He’s with someone at the moment,’ she muttered.

  Tash waited for something more as the stacking continued.

  ‘I’ll wait over there then,’ she said and gestured to the tables behind her.

  The woman shrugged.

  ‘Whatever.’

  Tash grabbed her samples and sat down, hoping she wasn’t indicative of the rest of the staff, because impressing patrons with a highly developed sense of I don’t give a damn wouldn’t be good for business. Tash checked her watch, it was right on eleven. As if on cue, a door near the bar opened and two men walked out. One carried a tray of what Tash could only assume were samples. She didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to her that there’d be heated competition for the contract.

  Both men were smiling as they walked past. The tall blond guy clapped the other on the shoulder before shaking his hand and reaching the front door. This must be Gilbert Sinclair. He had a confident air about him.

  ‘Thanks, Jim, I’ll be in touch soon.’

  ‘You do that.’ The other man grinned. ‘I’ll be looking forward to it.’

  Gilbert watched for a second as Jim walked off down the street, then took a breath before turning around to Tash with a smile on his face.

  ‘Ms Duroz?’

  ‘Mr Sinclair.’ Tash stood up.

  ‘Sorry I kept you waiting,’ he said as he walked over and shook her hand. ‘Please come this way. Here, I’ll carry the tray.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  He looked at her for a second too long. The tray wobbled as he took it from her and Tash wondered if all of Alex’s hard work would end up on the floor.

  ‘That was close,’ he said with a fleeting smile before he cleared his throat and took a step away. ‘Right, this way then. Please, follow me.’

  ***

  At 2 pm Tash strolled back into The Gumnut kitchen. Alex looked up from wiping down the benches.

  ‘Well, did we get it?’

  Tash nodded and grinned.

  ‘We sure did. We are now officially supplying the bread to Sinclair’s.’

  Alex rushed over to give her a hug.

  ‘That’s fantastic, Tashie!’

  ‘This could be huge for us. Sinclair’s is getting a lot of exposure in all the food magazines and blogs. Our Gumnut can only benefit from it. Gilbert said that each menu will indicate that the bread comes from us and include our web link.’

  ‘Gilbert said that?’ Alex grinned.

  ‘Don’t be an arse. I’m just telling you what happened.’

  ‘So is this Gilbert hot?’

  ‘I don’t know, Alex, I wasn’t looking. It was business and nothing more.’

  Tash took off her jacket and looped an apron over her head. That wasn’t entirely true—she’d looked. She was only human.

  ‘I’m just trying to look out for you, that’s all. When was the last time you went out on a date?’

  Tash frowned.

  ‘I date.’

  ‘Yeah? When? You’ve got to get a life outside of here, Tash.’

  ‘I’m fine. And you date enough for both of us.’

  ‘I just want you to be happy.’

  ‘I am happy,’ Tash said, growing exasperated. ‘I’ve got you and the business.’

  ‘Yeah, but you need something just for you,’ Alex said. ‘Just promise me if this Gilbert asks you out, you’ll go.’

  ‘I don’t think that would be very wise, do you?’

  ‘Yeah, I do. You can’t pin all your hopes on a man who doesn’t even know how you feel.’

  Tash turned away and headed towards the counter.

  ‘Can we not have this conversation now?

  Alex held up his hands in surrender.

  ‘Fine. Just think about what I said.’

  Tash nodded.

  ‘Listen, I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Alex said as he walked over and gave her another hug.

  ‘You didn’t,’ Tash said with a smile. ‘But why don’t you take off? Looks like it’s going to be a quiet afternoon. I’ll finish up here.’

  ‘Alright,’ Alex said, taking off his apron. ‘Thanks, sis. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  Tash watched him walk back through the kitchen before turning back to her empty shop. She was wondering what she could do to fill in the time until closing when the front door opened and Jules Harvey walked in.

  ‘Hi Tash,’ she said brightly.

  ‘Hello…Is this a running visit or are you up for a few days?’

  ‘Just a couple of days this time, but I thought I’d grab some of your delicious bread before I turned up at Matt’s.’

  Tash grinned at her.

  ‘I like the way you think. What can I get you?’

  ‘I’ll have a wholemeal loaf, a sourdough and one of those crispy-crust continental loaves that you do so well.’

  ‘Actually, I can’t take the credit for that one—that’s all my brother’s doing.’

  ‘Well, tell him that he’s doing an impressive job.’ Jules smiled.

  ‘I will. Alex does love flattery.’

  ‘Not flattery, just telling the truth. Oh, and whatever that is I think I need it as well,’ she said as she pointed to one of the sweet buns in the display cabinet.

  ‘Apple and walnut loaf.’

  The front door opened just as Tash popped the treat into a paper bag. She glanced up in time to see Nick walk into the shop.

  ‘Hi Tash,’ he said as he walked up to the counter. ‘Oh hey, Jules.’

  Jules looked up at Nick and gave him a bright smile.

  ‘Hello Nick,’ Tash said, but felt a pang of disappointment when he gave her only a brief smile before focusing back on Jules.

  ‘Well, I’m sure Matt will be glad to see you.’

  ‘I hope so!’ Jules handed several notes over to Tash. ‘Thanks, I guess I’d better be going.’

  Tash was giving Jules back her change and the bag full of bread when the front door opened again. Vivienne Parnell walked in and Tash swore that the temperature dropped by several degrees. Viv had been Sophie’s best friend and still blamed Nick for her death. She was a thin and wiry woman who would have been attractive if not for her permanent sour disposition. Her dark red hair was pulled severely back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck and her green eyes narrowed as she saw Nick standing near the counter.

  Jules turned with half a smile on her face and a look of curiosity. Tash held her breath. This wasn’t going to be good on any level. She quickly glanced at Nick; his face had shut down and he’d angled his body away from Vivienne as if he were trying to shield himself from her.

  ‘Hello Vivienne,’ Tash blurted in the hope of diffusing some of the tension. ‘What can I get you?’

  ‘Tash, how could you allow him in your shop?’ she said in a soft voice as her eyes narrowed. Tash could feel
the disappointment and accusation radiate from Viv as if they were a physical force.

  ‘I sell bread, Viv. Everyone’s entitled to it.’

  ‘He shouldn’t be here.’ Vivienne spat as she turned her head quickly and stared at Nick.

  ‘Speaking of who shouldn’t be here…Why aren’t you at work? I’m sure the council offices don’t run without you,’ Tash said.

  ‘RDO and don’t change the subject,’ Viv snapped.

  ‘Excuse me, I don’t know who you are, but is this really necessary?’ Jules asked as she faced Vivienne.

  Vivienne turned to her and pinned Jules with a look.

  ‘That’s right. You don’t know anything about this. Mind your own damn business.’

  ‘Okay, that’s quite enough, Viv,’ said Tash, holding up her hands. ‘You don’t come into my shop and abuse my customers.’

  ‘You knew Sophie. How can you talk to him?’

  ‘Enough, Viv. You’d better leave.’

  ‘God, I can’t believe this! You’re both going to protect him, after what he did?’ Vivienne said with a mixture of disgust and disbelief etched across her face. ‘And what sort of a man would stand there and let two women defend him? It only goes to prove what sort of person you are—a coward and a murderer.’

  ‘What do you want me to do, Viv? Fight back or would you prefer pistols at dawn?’ Nick said in a soft voice. ‘How will that help? I know that you hate me, but it won’t solve anything. And it sure as hell won’t bring Sophie back.’

  ‘Aren’t you even going to tell me I’m wrong?’ Vivienne goaded.

  ‘What would be the point of that? You haven’t believed anything I’ve said, let alone listened.’ Nick turned to Tash. ‘Sorry about the disturbance.’ He reached over and touched Jules on the arm. ‘I’ll catch up with you both later,’ he said before he spun on his heel and walked out of the shop.

  Vivienne stood with a smug expression on her face as the door banged shut and Nick walked further up the street.

  ‘Get out, Viv, and don’t ever bother coming back,’ Tash said. ‘You can’t come in here and upset my customers just because you have a personal vendetta.’

  ‘You should be ashamed of yourself,’ Vivienne snapped back. ‘Don’t worry, I’m going—I don’t want any of your shitty bread, anyway. At least I know whose side you’re on.’

  ‘There are no sides, Viv. I liked Sophie, but she’s been gone a long time, which sucks because she didn’t deserve it. But this grudge you have for Nick isn’t healthy—not for anyone. You don’t know what happened that day, you weren’t there. For your own sake, let go of the hate.’

  Vivienne had begun walking towards the front door.

  ‘It’s all I’ve got,’ she said, and Tash and Jules both flinched as the front door slammed shut.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ Tash said. ‘As you can see, Viv has issues.’

  ‘Wow, that was kind of intense,’ Jules said with a shake of her head. ‘Is she always like that?’

  ‘She was always outspoken and a bit of a bully at school. But since Sophie’s death, she’s got worse. I feel sorry for her, but that’s no excuse to publicly hound Nick wherever he goes.’

  Jules leaned on the counter.

  ‘So what happened?’

  Tash shrugged.

  ‘I don’t know. I mean, we have the basic details, but no one knows exactly what happened on the day. Sophie and Nick had been married a while, she was pregnant and they were happy. It was the middle of summer. A fire was deliberately lit by a firebug. It took out several farms and a heap of bushland. It blew towards Nick’s place and Sophie died.’

  ‘Did they catch who lit it?’

  ‘Yep. He’s in jail and going to be there for quite a while, which is really the only satisfying part about the story. People lost a lot because of him: their homes and property, their pets and their stock. But Nick lost more—he lost everything.’

  ‘So why would that woman blame him?’

  ‘Sophie and Viv were best friends. Vivienne had a rough upbringing and the Telfords looked out for her. I think she considered Lana Telford more like a mother—the whole family was tight. I suppose Viv needs someone to blame to make sense of the tragedy, so she guns for Nick.’

  ‘So, has she always balled him out whenever they cross paths?’ Jules asked.

  ‘Nah. For years Nick barely left his place. It’s only been in recent months that he’s started going out. I guess now they’ll keep bumping into each other—White Gum Creek is a pretty small place.’

  ***

  Nick hurried back to his ute that was parked a little way down the street. Once inside he slammed the door shut. A ball of tension expanded in his gut until it seemed to encompass his entire body. He dragged in a raggedy breath and sat back against the seat. Damn everything to hell. Just when he thought there was a chance of something more it explodes into tatters.

  Did he deserve another chance at life? Probably not, but over the last couple months he’d begun to think that maybe he was going to get one anyway. Maybe not a happily ever after but one that at least was filled with a handful of people who gave a shit about him. But even as he took a step forward the past dragged him back. He’d have given anything to change what happened to Sophie, to replay and erase that awful day, but he couldn’t. And for years he’d led a shadow life out of guilt or penance or both.

  Nick wound down the window and let the warm breeze blow over him. It didn’t help.

  The worse thing was that Vivienne had decided to take him out in front of Jules and Tash. But then again, that’s probably what she wanted—a grand public spectacle. Tash was such a sweetheart and had tried to defend him and diffuse the situation. But Viv was hell bent on having a scene. Of course the whole thing would raise more questions, especially from Jules. God, how was he even meant to face them again?

  ***

  After almost a week of hiding back out at Winters Hill, Nick finally mustered enough confidence to head back into town. Besides, as the days passed he realised he was sick to death of his own company. One night as he sat with only the cat to answer his rhetorical questions he decided that he wasn’t going to wallow in self doubt anymore. Instead of contemplating his sad lot, he’d stand up and look to the future. Vivienne’s words had caused him to turn tail and run and spend five days hating himself. He was annoyed with himself that he’d allowed that to happen—but no more.

  ***

  ‘Oh, I’ve caught you at the wrong time,’ Nick said as he walked through Matt’s front door. Bec was standing on a ladder tying a bunch of coloured balloons on a hook near the ceiling. Boxey had his front paws on the first step, ‘helping’.

  ‘Hey Nick,’ Bec called out. ‘It’s not the wrong time. We’re just decorating the house to give Jules a surprise.’

  ‘Oh? Did I miss her birthday?’

  ‘Nah,’ Matt said, handing him a packet of balloons. ‘We’ve just found out that she passed her teaching degree. She’s on the way up to celebrate.’

  ‘That’s great.’

  ‘Hey, is everything alright with you? Jules told me that you had a bit of a run in with Vivienne Parnell.’

  Nick shrugged. ‘I’m okay, Viv and I just don’t get on—that’s all.’

  Matt stared at him for a moment. ‘Alright then. But hey, don’t just stand there—get blowing.’

  Nick looked down at the packet of balloons and grinned.

  ‘Hey, did you need a hand, Bec?’

  ‘I’m right, though you two are going to have to finish. I’m off to the bakery. I twisted Alex’s arm until he gave in and promised to make me a cake.’

  ‘You can do that?’ Nick asked.

  ‘I’m Tash’s best friend—which translates to Alex’s other and bossier big sister. He wouldn’t dare say no.’ Bec got down from the ladder and rubbed Boxey behind the ears. ‘There, I reckon it looks pretty good, don’t you, boy?’

  ‘It looks fantastic and Boxey thinks so too. You really are so talented,’ Matt said as h
e gave her a kiss.

  ‘And don’t you forget it.’ Bec kissed him back before she walked towards the door.

  ‘I’ll be back soon. I’ll pick up a few things from the general store too.’

  Two hours later, Jules breezed into the cottage. She was all smiles until Matt told her he was so proud of her for getting her teacher’s degree and she teared up and hugged him tight. For a second or two, Nick was worried that she hadn’t passed after all, but as he helped Bec carry in the cake and a bottle of champagne she assured him that everything was okay.

  ‘Jules gets teary when she’s happy. Nothing to worry about.’

  Much to his relief, the tears disappeared. Matt popped the champagne and Nick passed around the glasses. Matt raised a toast.

  ‘To my brilliant, baby sister, Juliet, who will make an extraordinary primary school teacher.’

  They all toasted Jules and took a sip.

  ‘Congratulations honey,’ Bec said as she hugged Jules. ‘You deserve it. All your hard work paid off.’

  ‘Thanks, Bec,’ Jules said as she hugged her back.

  ‘Congrats Jules, you must be very pleased,’ Nick said trying not to notice that it sounded a bit off. Very pleased—I mean, who says that?

  Jules didn’t seem to notice. Instead she walked over to him and gave him a hug.

  ‘Thanks, Nick.’

  Nick swallowed hard as Jules’ body pressed against his. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so good, and he put his arms around her. It felt warm, and Nick was disappointed when she finally stepped away.

  Chapter 8

  The year was almost over. The school holidays were about to begin and Christmas was just around the corner. It was one of the busiest times of the year for Tash and The Gumnut Bakery.

  Added to the bakery’s normal daily turnover and the standing orders were new seasonal products. From early December, mince pies had been flying out the door, which certainly put Tash in a festive mood. The bakery was also offering Christmas cakes and puddings on an order-only basis. But the order book was filling up and Tash was beginning to think she, Alex and Joey may not get any sleep between here and Christmas Eve. And it wasn’t just the orders that had increased, the bakery itself was turning over a brisk trade. More people were stopping by each day and lingering over coffee. Tash and Meg were run off their feet serving at the counter, so much so that she employed young Hannah Davis part-time to help out.