by Maria Duffy
‘No, Mum,’ said Will, following her in and sitting down on one of the kitchen chairs. ‘I won’t be unpacking because I’m not staying.’
Her face fell and she looked close to tears again. This time Will went to her and wrapped her in a hug. ‘I’ll stay around until I know for sure that Dad is okay but then I’ll be heading back to Australia.’
‘Do you really have to?’
‘Yes, Mum. I do. It’s what I want, what I planned. I’m going to travel around Australia for a couple of months and then go to New Zealand and America.’
‘But William—’
‘Don’t, Mum.’ He wasn’t going to let her manipulate him. ‘I just have four months left on my visa so I’ll be home again before you know it.’
She nodded in resignation and Will knew it would be a good place to leave the conversation. ‘Actually, I am feeling a bit tired. Maybe I’ll head up and get some sleep and we can go and see Dad together later.’
He kissed her briefly on the cheek and got out of there before she said any more. He didn’t waste any time in stripping and slipping into his childhood bed. He was exhausted. He wondered what everyone was up to in Perth. It had been a whirlwind since his party and he’d barely had a chance to say goodbye to anyone. His mind flicked briefly to the girl Lexie was trying to set him up with. It was funny to think that now he was here in Ireland and she was in Australia. Life was just so full of twists and turns.
Just before he fell asleep, he reached into his rucksack beside the bed and pulled out his childhood teddy, Cookie. He stared at him and realised that his other eye was beginning to fall out too. Twenty-five years Cookie had been his companion. He was looking the worse for wear but Will loved him that way. He knew it wasn’t cool for a man his age to have a teddy but somehow it was a comfort to have him there. He was his good luck charm. He’d got him through a lot in his life and hopefully he’d continue to bring him luck in the future.
Chapter 14
November 2010
Will lay back on the golden sand and closed his eyes. It was an absolutely scorching day and he could already feel the sun burning his chest, even after he’d put factor fifty on. He’d driven to this beach a few days ago and, even though he hadn’t planned on stopping, the place had literally taken his breath away and he’d pitched his tent on the campsite right beside it.
He’d come back to Australia in September, after spending a few fraught weeks at home. When he’d discovered his mother had lied to lure him back home, he’d felt really bitter and he would have turned right around and gone back, except for the fact that his dad actually was sick. Maybe he would have gone home anyway if his mother had told him the truth. Maybe he’d have wanted to see his dad and make sure for himself that he was okay. But he’d never know because his mother had manipulated the situation, as usual.
The weeks at home hadn’t been pleasant. His mother had tried every trick to get him to stay, and when none of them worked, she’d turned on the tears. Will wasn’t used to seeing his mother cry and it had startled him, but it hadn’t taken him long to realise that it was just another ploy for her to get her own way. Part of him felt sorry for her. All she was really guilty of was doing everything she could to get her only son home. But on the other hand, she hadn’t been fair on him and he was finding it hard to forget that.
The beach was beginning to get a bit crowded and Will sat up to have a look around. The almost white sand was glistening in the sun and the still water was like a mirror. The whole area was an oasis of calm and, at that moment, Will felt like he could stay there forever. He reapplied suncream to his face and body and lay back down.
When he was going back to Perth after his few weeks in Dublin, he’d initially thought he’d go back to the same place, the same life he’d lived for almost two years. But he realised that if he did that, the chances were he’d never move on and wouldn’t get to see any of the rest of Australia. So he didn’t tell his friends he was going back but instead he decided to do his own thing. When he’d arrived back in Perth, he’d stayed in a motel for a few days, during which time he bought a twenty-year-old Ford Escort Estate and a one-man tent, before heading off on his travels.
His plan was to drive up along the west coast as far as Darwin and then drive back down the east coast, taking in the rainforest and the Gold Coast, until he reached Sydney. But he’d driven down south first to Margaret River, a wine region a few hundred kilometres from Perth. He’d really enjoyed it there. The temperature had felt a little cooler and there’d been plenty so see, including the fabulous Mammoth Cave, which was one of the most amazing things he’d ever seen.
He was now in Monkey Mia, a beach nine hundred kilometres north of Perth. It was funny how kilometres didn’t mean as much here as they did back home. In Ireland, two hundred kilometres is considered to be a huge distance, requiring a number of stops and a packed lunch, whereas here you could drive for five hundred kilometres without seeing a single soul, stop for a rest and drive another five hundred without batting an eyelid.
He suddenly heard a commotion down at the water and sat up to see what was happening. A crowd had gathered at the edge of the shore and Will’s first thought was that somebody had gotten into trouble in the sea. But then when he heard the excited chatter, he realised it must be the dolphins coming in to greet the beach-goers. He’d read about it but hadn’t really thought he’d be lucky enough to see it. He jumped to his feet and headed down to join the crowd.
He’d never seen anything like it. It was amazing. A school of dolphins were right there in the shallow water and were happily swimming around the legs of the delighted holiday-makers. He was even able to reach down and touch them and it felt like one of the most powerful moments of his life. He’d seen dolphins in captivity, dolphins that had been trained to entertain crowds of people at water parks. But this was different. These dolphins lived in the wild and came to this shore of their own free will. He envied them as he watched their majestic bodies twist and turn in the water. It was almost as though they were smiling. And why wouldn’t they be? They could choose whether to come to shore or stay away. They could be alone and yet they had each other. They were free to live the life they wanted.
Just then, as the magnificent animals began to disperse, Will noticed a girl in the crowd. She seemed to be on her own as she just stood and watched the dolphins swim back out to sea. He felt drawn to her somehow. Maybe it was just that they were both alone in a crowd that seemed to be chatting excitedly all around them. It was a long time since he’d been with a woman. Ages since he’d felt the warmth of a woman’s touch. She looked at him then and their eyes met. It was as though everyone else melted into the background and there was just the two of them standing at the water’s edge. He knew at that moment that their lives were going to be linked in some way. Without further thought, he walked across to where she was standing.
‘Hi there. Amazing sight, isn’t it?’
‘Unbelievable. It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen.’
She was beautiful. ‘So are you just passing through?’
‘Yes, I’m doing a bit of travelling. You?’
‘Same here. Do you fancy grabbing a bite to eat?’
‘I’d love to.’
‘Great.’ They walked up onto the golden sand. ‘Will is my name. It’s lovely to meet you.’
* * *
Donna felt tears running down her cheeks as she stood in the water, the dolphins lapping around her feet. Ever since Lexie had sent that postcard of Monkey Mia some years ago, Tina had said that it was her number one place to visit. She’d googled the place and had squealed with excitement as she showed Donna the pictures of the dolphins swimming around in the clear sea. And now she was here – without Tina – and it was bittersweet.
There were crowds of people standing knee-deep in the water, the dolphins swimming animatedly around them. Nobody dared make any sudden movements and the silence echoed the respect everybody had for the magnificent creatures. There’d b
een initial shrieks of delight when they’d been spotted coming to shore but, after that, everyone seemed to know instinctively not to startle them or scare them away.
She moved back to the sand and sat down, her feet just touching the lapping waves. Closing her eyes, she pictured Tina sitting there beside her, her face lit up in awe at everything she was seeing. Her sister would have adored this place. And so would Jan. Donna smiled to herself and made a mental note to buy some postcards later and send them on to Jan. She’d made a promise that she’d send one from every place she visited.
Thinking of Tina made her feel lonely but, in a way, she was happy to be travelling alone. She’d had a lovely few months with Lexie but had begun to feel a little stifled. She’d been dying to move on but Lexie had begged her to stay a bit longer. Donna suspected that if Lexie hadn’t been married, she’d have packed her own bags to join Donna on her travels.
It had been lovely to spend time with her old friend again. And she was glad to have gotten to know Brendan. He was a good guy and Lexie seemed really happy with him. Her life had changed completely when she’d left Dublin in 2004. She’d gone from being a troubled teenager, unsettled and unhappy, to marrying a man she loved and doing a job she adored. Lexie had had a troubled upbringing too but she’d always been so determined and headstrong that Donna had never had a doubt that she’d turn her life around as soon as she was old enough. Donna envied her. Her life was sorted whereas Donna still felt lost. She knew she was happy doing her job in the bakery in Dublin, but there was just something missing from her life. She hoped that she’d find out what it was while she was travelling.
She looked out to where the crowd was still enjoying the company of the dolphins and noticed how tanned everyone looked in comparison to her own milky-white skin. The only thing she was able to gain from the sun was more freckles and, no matter how much she tried, her skin just never turned brown. But she’d been surprised at how much attention that pale skin had gotten her. Men in Perth seemed to have been drawn to her freckled face and red hair because she’d been asked out on numerous occasions when she was out with Lexie. She’d gone on one or two dates but none of the men had taken her fancy.
She noticed the crowd seemed to be dispersing so she stood up in salute to the dolphins who were heading back out to sea. She watched them so as to etch the picture in her mind forever. And then they were gone. The water was still again and the crowd were chatting animatedly to each other. She stood alone and suddenly felt sad. It seemed almost everyone had someone. With the exception of one or two, who probably had loved ones waiting for them on the beach, most people were chatting to friends or holding hands with lovers. Sighing to herself, she turned and began to walk back to where she’d left her towel on the warm sand. She’d never forget this place.
* * *
Her name was Silvia and she was perfection. Italian-born but living in Perth since she was ten, she had a face that Will felt needed to be painted. He watched as she chatted on the phone in her native tongue and he was fascinated at how her deep brown eyes changed shape as her voice raised and dipped throughout the conversation. He wondered if she was aware of how much attention she was getting from the men around her as she flicked her long chestnut hair over one shoulder and laughed at something the caller was saying.
‘Sorry about that,’ she said, replacing her mobile in her bag. ‘That was my cousin, Arlo. He’s a school teacher and rings me every week to get an update on my travels so he can talk to his class about the places I’ve been to.’
‘So you’re on the school curriculum? That’s really cool.’
‘His curriculum. I’m not sure what the principal would say about it though.’ She laughed, displaying a mouthful of perfect white teeth.
Will shoved a Coke in her direction. ‘Here you go. I got ice in it. I hope that’s okay?’
She took a long slug of the drink. ‘Perfect, thanks. So, do you come here often?’
Will was about to laugh at that until he realised she was actually being serious. ‘I’m just passing through. I was working in Perth for the last couple of years so I’m just going to see some of the country before I head back to Ireland. How about you?’
‘Something similar. As I said earlier, I’ve been living in Perth for the last twelve years but I’ve never been to any other part of Australia. I’ve just left college so am taking a year out to spread my wings before entering the workforce.’
Will felt smitten. ‘It’s a great thing to do. I started a job straight after college and never felt comfortable with it. I’ve always wanted to travel so I kept feeling I was missing out on something.’
‘So you left your job then?’
‘Yes. It took a pretty big event in my life to get me to make the decision. Otherwise I’d probably be still in the same job and feeling unhappy with my life.’ He took a sip of his Coke and thought about Jack. It was really down to him that he was here, doing what he’d always hoped to do.
‘So this big event? Was it a happy or sad one?’
‘Sad. Very sad. A friend passed away. It made me think about my own life and living it to the fullest.’
‘Oh God, that’s awful. I’m really sorry. But I can understand how it made you rethink things. So are you travelling alone?’
Will nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve just two months left on my visa so I’ll be heading up towards Darwin and back down to Sydney. How about yourself?’
‘I’m heading up north anyway. I’m not sure after that. I’ve only been gone a few weeks and I already miss my friends and family. It was something I really wanted to do on my own but, to be honest, I’m not sure I’m cut out for the loneliness.’
‘We could stick together for a bit, if you like.’ Will cringed. Had he really said that? He’d been thinking about it but it had just come out. She seemed like a lovely girl and it would be nice to have some company along the way.
She didn’t say anything at first and Will thought he’d completely ruined his chances with her. Then she looked at him. ‘Maybe we could.’
‘Really?’ Will said, hardly able to believe his luck. ‘I mean, we wouldn’t have to be together all the time or anything. Just if we’re heading in the same direction, we could team up … well, I don’t mean … I mean we could just keep each other company …’
Silvia grinned then and her face lit up. ‘It’s okay, Will. I’d love to spend some time with you. How are you travelling?’
He breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’m driving – it’s nothing fancy. A banger actually. But it gets me from A to B.’
‘Well, if you didn’t mind having a passenger, it would be great. I’ve been bussing it so driving in any sort of car would be pure luxury in comparison.’
‘Right, that’s settled. I was planning to leave here tomorrow but if you want to stay on any longer, I don’t mind waiting around.’
‘Tomorrow suits me fine. How about we meet up later and have a look at a map – decide where we might stop next.’
They exchanged phone numbers before Will headed back to his tent. He felt excited. It had been a while since he’d felt those butterflies in his stomach. Silvia was his ideal woman – intelligent and beautiful, with a fabulous personality and a body to die for. He’d loved his time in Perth but something was telling him that these next few months in Australia would be the most interesting yet.
Chapter 15
‘I literally think we’ve found paradise,’ said Will, as they sat on a rock looking at the magnificence of Florence Falls. ‘Isn’t it amazing?’
Silvia reached for his hand. ‘It’s beautiful. I could sit here forever.’
It was less than three weeks since they’d met, but Will and Silvia had already sealed their relationship and were very much a couple. It had started tentatively. Will hadn’t wanted to appear too forward so, although they’d driven together from place to place, they’d made their own arrangements for sleeping at night. Mostly Will had still pitched his tent whereas Silvia had rented a room in a nearby host
el. But that had lasted just a week.
It had been at a place called Kununurra that things had begun to move in a more romantic direction. They’d been told that one of the highlights of the area was Ivanhoe Crossing, a beautiful picturesque spot where a causeway runs over the Ord River. They’d headed down with a picnic and had planned to have a dip in the water – until they’d seen the sign. ‘Beware of the Crocodiles’ it had said. And yet there were people knee-deep in the water, as though taunting the creatures to come and get them. They’d both laughed their heads off at the sight and had decided that a swim probably wasn’t the best idea after all.
There’d been something about how she’d laughed. Her head thrown back in abandon and her face contorted into happiness. He’d really fallen for her at that moment and she hadn’t balked when he’d leaned in for a kiss. She’d shared the tent with him that night. It had been wonderful and it had grown from there. It was still early days but Will was enjoying her company and hoped it would last for at least the rest of his time in Oz.
Silva grabbed his hand suddenly and pulled him off the rock into the crystal water. ‘Come on, we need to cool down.’
‘Jesus, it’s freezing!’ Will wrapped his arms around himself and shivered for a few seconds before plunging himself completely into the water. ‘Right, your turn.’
‘I think I might just stick to the paddling,’ said Silvia, wading away from Will’s grasp.
But he wasn’t letting her off the hook. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her underneath the water with him. They both came up spluttering and laughing and swam closer to where the water was cascading down from the double waterfall.
Silvia stopped and looked up, her eyes open wide, droplets of water glistening on her face. ‘Wow. I’m so glad we came here, Will. And I’m so happy I met you.’
Will cupped her face gently in his hands and kissed her. ‘And me too – on both counts.’ And he meant it. Silvia had come along at just the right time for him. She’d given him a renewed sense of hope. A sense that he’d figure out his purpose in life and having her by his side to do it was a bonus. They were kindred spirits and, as they walked hand in hand back to the car, he wished he could freeze this moment in time and not have to think about the future.