Ember Flowers

by April Worth

  “Captain..I don’t know what you think happened, but I guarantee you don’t know shit.”

  The older man shook his head and snorted softly as he regarded him. “Surely. You know Myers, I’ve never liked you.”

  Owen’s lips grew taut as he pushed his glass away, eyes still sneaking glances at the door. “Why?”

  Pursloe sipped from the tonic water that had just arrived. “Because I think any man who puts bruises on his wife isn’t fit to fill a uniform. You were never Detective material.”

  The teeth at the back of his jaw locked together. “You? You were the one who kept blocking my promotion?”

  The Captain nodded. “Far as I could tell Joanne was covering for you. Denied it even to herself, said it was ‘from the job’. But I saw the marks, you’re not as smooth as you think. Then something changed, didn’t it? Bet you didn’t see that coming?”

  Though he said nothing, the skin along his stubbled neck grew a ruddy pink. Pursloe observed the change. “Patterson make you feel like less of a man? That why you threatened her, burned her place down?..Killed her pet?”

  There was a long pause as his ego fought for attention. “She took everything from me.”

  “So you returned the favour? Though, you tried to go one better didn’t you? Finish things off for good? Lucky she wasn’t home.”

  Pursloe wasn’t sure if he saw anger or relief. After a moment of grinding teeth Owen’s voice was gruff and short. “Here say, from a bitch who has a hard-on for making my life hell. Prove it.” There was a sudden smugness as his tone hardened. Some part of him still believed he had control. He hadn’t been arrested - yet. So far Pursloe had nothing but accusations. The pistol was long gone.

  The Captain sighed as he pulled a small red carton from his pocket, tapping it once on the polished veneer. “Myers, you got a light?”

  His hand went to his bag on autopilot, a ring of untanned skin on his finger.

  “Actually..I don’t think you can smoke in here, can you?” The older man’s eyes watched him coolly.

  “..No. Probably not.”

  Pursloe glanced down at the pack, then handed them across to Joanne’s ex husband, dropping them casually on the bar. “You’d better keep these then..seeing as you misplaced yours.”

  The smugness disappeared and was replaced by piercing crystal shards, the distinct demeanour of a liar cornered.

  The precinct head continued on. “..Yeah. Windy weather up in those hills. Seems they must have fallen out of your car at the scene. Your prints were all over them Myers. Far as I’m concerned, that seems like evidence, don’t you think? Seems you were too angry to remember the little things..like this..and policing your brass.”

  Owen scowled, his glare without warmth. His dry mouth took a moment to form words, and they too were laced with anger. “What’s your interest in this Captain? You went out of your way to do this personally. My wife screwing you too?”

  Pursloe’s belly shook slightly as he laughed, amused. “No, Joanne is one of my best Officers, and besides - I’d be more interested in who does her hair..”

  The look of shock was written all over Owen’s face, and quickly replaced by disgust.

  They rose at the same time, the senior Officer bristled at the raw look of contempt reflected back at him. For a moment he thought Owen might run, a part of him hoped the bastard would try. Another Constable joined them, Owen sighted more uniforms from his unit by the door. Cold glares and hands hovering over weapons.

  Thick fingers rested on his shoulder, Pursloe suppressed the ghost of a smile. “Let’s go. We have a lot to talk about.”

  Chapter 46 - Epilogue

  The four year old girl pressed her nose against the glass, a ring of condensation forming. The sales clerk looked at her with a warm smile, waiting with the key to the pen clasped in her hand.

  “That one!” The girl pointed, looking back over her shoulder with an excited smile.

  “You’re sure?”

  The little blonde girl tugged on her hand, grinning from ear to ear. “Can we have two? Then they could be friends.”

  The brunette ruffled her hair. “No sweetheart, you have to pick just one. We don’t want to give your mother a heart attack.”

  Annabelle smiled up at her. Jean raised a dark tapered brow. She got the sales girl’s attention, then pointed in the same direction as the little one beside her. “We’ll take him.”

  ***

  The return trip to the house was a quiet drive. Jean watched the road as they slowly left the city and crossed into the countryside.

  Snuffles from the back seat, little paws tapping the floor of the carry box. Annabelle’s burbling voice as she spoke to the puppy as though it were a small furry person.

  “Looking forward to Mummy’s birthday honey? Alex will be there.” Annabelle smiled, Jean could see her in the rear view. The two children got along famously, along with Scott’s young daughter, now almost two.

  “Yes. When does Mummy get her present?” The little dog was licking her hand through the air holes.

  Jean smiled to herself. “You can give him to her tomorrow morning honey, before her party.” The party wasn’t to be a surprise, Joanne was looking forward to cooking lunch for everyone, in her recently installed kitchen. The woman grinned to herself. She did have plans for the statuesque Officer. Hopefully it would be the best birthday yet.

  ***

  One grey eye cracked open, and then the other. Beside her on the sheet lay a small posy of blood red roses wrapped in ribbon and paper. She guessed correctly that they came from the porch outside. Underneath them a box, beneath that a card in a pretty envelope. She heard footsteps coming back up the stairs.

  Joanne smiled, running her fingertips over the velvet petals, lifting the flowers to her nose with a crinkling of the paper wrap.

  A grin from the doorway as her companion leant her sleeveless shoulder against the recently painted frame. Spring weather, soft cotton pyjama pants over her legs. Jo smiled back from her warm repose on the bed. A neat nail running along the tab of the envelope. The brunette smiled, crossing the room to sit beside her on the mussed sheets, passing her a mug of tea.

  Jo set it down on the bedside table, opening her arms.

  “Happy birthday.” A nuzzle of her neck.

  The blonde kissed her, it took a while to come up for air. Painted fingertips brushed against her lover’s tan cheek. She returned her attention to the envelope, opening it with a mild smile.

  “Where did you go?”

  Jean brushed a lock behind her ear, running her thumb over Jo’s high cheekbone. “Making you breakfast. Your daughter insisted on helping.” They shared a knowing smirk. Joanne could probably expect unusual colours or textures.

  The policewoman pulled the card from the envelope. A simple inscription inside.

  Happy Birthday,

  I can’t compare with the gifts you’ve given me, so I hope this will do.

  Loving you

  Jean xx

  The blonde smiled. “I love you too.” Jean kissed her soundly. Baby you have no idea.

  Jo sat up as she picked up the box, wrapped in embossed paper. She smiled at Jean, not sure what to expect. The box was flat and slender, once the wrap came off it became clear it was something expensive.

  “Oh Jean..you’ve been bad.”

  The older woman smiled. Jo clicked open the box, white gold and diamonds.

  “For that beautiful neck of yours.”

  The policewoman shook her head, smiling. It would have cost a fortune. Sighing. “Jean.. “

  “Try it on.” She stood, holding out her hand. A short walk to the dressing table. Joanne lifted her hair up with long fingertips as Jean unclipped the chain, laying it gently over the blonde’s chest, doing it up behind her neck. Jo touched the pendant, her silk camisole seeming all the more under dressed under the glittering stones.

  “Beautiful.” Jean slid her arms around her waist. Jo smiled at her in the mirror. She never coul
d get quite used to being lavished with attention, affection, honesty.

  Clinks and noises from downstairs as they walked down the hall, Jo’s hand still holding hers. Passing by photographs and Annabelle's framed scribbles. Soft padding over the carpet and onto the kitchen tile. Annabelle ran to hug her mother.

  “Happy Birthday!” A child’s happy squeal.

  “Thanks sweetie. Jean said you made breakfast for me?” Annabelle nodded.

  Jean pulled the chair out for her, Jo sat down, giving the brunette a chiding look. In front of her was..something. Jean whispered in her ear. Jo smiled at the little girl, trying to look like the forkful was enjoyable.

  “Annabelle sweetheart, why don’t you go get Mummy’s present?” Jean winked at the little blonde, who had already turned and started running at the mention. Rapid footfalls as she headed up to her room.

  Between them the breakfast went into the dustbin without the small girl knowing. Jo sat with a cleaned plate in front of her. Jean was getting wise to her parenting tricks.

  Annabelle became visible around the kitchen door, the little blonde girl had spent much of the morning suspiciously in her room. It had been painted with the girl’s favourite colours and filled with toys, and a certain furry friend. She tugged on a black lead, tied with a red ribbon. She looked up at her mother with an exasperated huff and big blue eyes.

  “C’mon?..C’mon doggie?”

  With a patter of clawed paws the birthday gift became visible, standing on the glazed terracotta tiles. Joanne smiled, her heart melting at the sight of the retriever puppy’s floppy ears. A black nose stood out amongst the pale fur, a wagging tail slapped against Annabelle’s skirted leg.

  Joanne smiled at Jean, giving her a raised brow. How she had managed to hide the dog from discovery she couldn’t be sure. Her long legs bent at the knee as she knelt on the floor, her daughter brought the dog over, handing her the leash. It snuffled over Joanne’s bare knees.

  “He’s yours Mummy. I picked him, but he’s yours. Hope you like him, he’s really friendly.”

  Joanne reached out, wrapping one arm around her daughter’s small shoulders. She pressed a kiss against her cheek. “Oh honey I love him, he’s so cute. Thank you.” A fingertip on the girl’s nose and another kiss. She smiled as the dog yipped excitedly. Jean watched the scene with a look of contentment. Joanne was still a poker-faced enforcer of the law, but there had been more and more moments like this. Her partner walked taller, smiled frequently. Love like this sustained the soul.

  Jo smiled at her from the floor, a brilliant flash of white teeth. “Thanks babe, I don’t know how you kept this a secret?”

  The brunette smiled at the little blonde girl, they shared a conspirational grin.

  “I had a helper.”

  Annabelle ran to the older woman, hugging her leg as her hair was ruffled by olive fingertips. “Jean, can I get some milk for the puppy?” Little blue eyes looked up at her expectantly.

  “Sure sweetie, just be careful OK?”

  “OK.” Annabelle was already reaching into the fridge, then looking for a suitable dish in the cupboard. Joanne picked up the friendly little animal in her arms. She walked over to Jean. The older woman slid her arms around her waist, the little dog pressed a wet nose into his owner’s neck, overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

  Grey eyes looked at her affectionately. “Thank you. He’s a sweetheart.”

  Jean pressed a soft kiss on her lover’s lips. “Annabelle picked him out. I think she made a good choice. I hope he can keep up with you in the mornings..” She reached out to tweak the little dog’s paw. It barked in a soft little wuffle.

  The policewoman smiled. “I think his legs need to be longer first..”

  ***

  Scott looked over at his dearest friend as they pulled into the car park of the retirement village. Jean’s father would be waiting for the ride in his Sunday best, he always dressed up for Joanne. The policewoman turned thirty today, having never been happier.

  Jean unclipped her seat belt, a broad grin under her sunglasses as they climbed out of the sparkling utility. A new car purchased after the old one was destroyed. Jean had been saddened at the old ute’s farewell, Joanne not so much.

  Wearing her casual pair of cargos and a more presentable fitted shirt the duo walked down the leafy pathway on their way to picking up the dashing René. Indeed, he had been somewhat smitten with Joanne the first time they met, taking her hand and kissing it with his weathered lips. Ever the Don Juan he made himself out to be. Brown lashes fluttering, doe eyed and wide as he flattered her. Her lover had responded with a slight blush and a good natured smile.

  It prompted his daughter to tease him whenever she got the chance. Insisting that Joanne was taken. Of course, René had also relished the opportunity to dote on Annabelle, treating her as the grandchild he’d never had. The little girl seeming to take after her mother in both looks and personality.

  Scott smirked, his lips curling through his downy blonde beard. “Jo cooking up a storm huh?” The tall blonde had invited them over for dinner on numerous occasions. Firstly at their rented house, and now at the newly completed home, standing on the same hill where the old one perished. It was somewhat of a house warming.

  Jean grinned, brushing her fingertips over a fern frond as they walked along. “Yes, expect it to be the most elaborate lunch you’ve ever seen. She and her mother have been cooking since this morning.” It had taken a long time, and more than a few awkward family gatherings, but the two of them had found common ground. Pamela realised that Jean was right for her daughter, and that Joanne had made a good choice, as unconventional as it seemed.

  He touched his hand to her elbow as they walked along, halting her a moment. He lifted his sunglasses to look at her eyes. “Jean, you’re glowing, what’s going on?” The sight made him happy, she hadn’t stopped smiling all day. He had a suspicion there was more to it than their recent happiness in moving into the new house.

  Her brow raised above the rim of her sunglasses as she took them off. She released a held breath, still grinning, effervescent. “Can you keep a secret Scottie?”

  He shook his head, amused. “No.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Can you keep a secret until later this afternoon?”

  The man chuckled softly. “I’ll find a way.”

  Jean reached into her thigh pocket, pulling out a small black box. She twiddled it between her fingers.

  Scott grinned in surprise. “Is that what I think it is?”

  The brunette popped open the box, revealing a delicate engagement ring, sparkling white gold with a single large diamond in its centre.

  Scott clasped her hand looking at the jewel. “You’re gonna make her so happy Jean.”

  “I hope so. I hope so.”

  They continued on, René’s unit in sight at the end of the lane. They walked along the large slate coloured pave. “So when are you popping the question?”

  “Tonight, when the stars come out, and it’s just us.”

  ***

  It was a pleasant sight. The little golden dog bounding around on the grass after the kids, Joanne the hostess in her summer dress, their friends and family around the table outside. Jean watched from the porch doorway, having been sent inside to find something. They were still unpacking.

  René sipped his wine, telling Pamela and Kerry about the good times of his youth. Amid the noise Joanne cast her a fond look, making a beckoning motion with her hand. Jean smiled, having just remembered what she went inside for, the view had distracted her.

  She stood by the kitchen cupboard, pulling a bottle opener out from the drawer. Taps of sandalled feet as a child ran in from the porch outside. Annabelle stood beside her, her cheeks flushed pink from running around. Jean looked down at her as the girl wrapped her arms around her hips.

  Jean returned the hug, squeezing the girl around the shoulders with one arm.

  “Jean, can we have ice cream?”

  The brunette
chuckled softly, walking to the freezer. It was a special occasion, Joanne wouldn’t mind. She pulled open the door, gathering up the cold treats and passing them to the little blonde.

  Annabelle took the popsicles and turned on her heel. “Thanks Mum!” She called over her shoulder. The patter of her sandalled footsteps over the path outside.

  Jean stood perfectly still, smiling to herself.

  ***

  Jo smiled wryly, shaking her head at the amount of cleaning she’d have to do to make the lawn look like less of a shambles, the table littered with empty glasses and plates. Their new yard had just had the finishing touches watered in. Fruit trees and roses already blossoming.

  Their home took the best from the old with a few new additions, a larger kitchen for Joanne, a bigger bedroom for Annabelle. Other rooms added for storage and guests. McKenzie grazed outside with two new friends, one a good natured pony named by the girl.

  She gathered the plates together, stacking them in neat piles. Her lover wandered over to her, a broad smile on her face, slipping her arms around Jo’s waist. Their guests had left not long ago.

  “Don’t think you’re getting out of this Jean Patterson, I’ll wash and you can dry..”

  Jean merely shook her head. “In a minute, there’s something I need to show you first.” Jo looked down at the little golden puppy that seemed to follow her like a shadow. There was a lot of cleaning to do.

  “It won’t take long?” The brunette was being very coy and mysterious.

  The tall blonde was led around the back of the house, a rolling green dale greeted by uninterrupted dusk over the trees. The first pin pricks of starlight over the setting sun and darkening sky. A deep mirror of reds, sinking into an ether of royal blue.

  They stood together at the crest of the hill. Joanne smiled, bright eyes looking up at the ribbons of colour. “You’re right..that is beautiful.”