Ebb Tide

by Leah Murray

  `First off, he’s a hell of a lot older than you and very far from a boy. Second, he hasn’t done a damn thing and even if he had it would be none of your business. Third, I have an appointment in five minutes. Unless you came in here for a reason other than trying to needle me, get the hell out of my office.’

  Laura’s eyes narrowed to slits. `I see we’re done pretending to be friends. Fine, be that way. Just a little warning Jo, dear. Your man isn’t quite what he seems. Maybe you should try asking him about Helen.’

  Jo sighed. `He’s already told me you’re friends with her so if you think that’s going to work it won’t. Now bugger off.’

  Laura frowned and stalked out the office, slamming the door. She’d looked surprised that Jo had known about Helen. Jo sighed, rubbed at her temple. Only one thing still bothered her. What the hell had Laura meant by Will not being all he seemed to be?

  Jo was sitting at her desk, typing up case notes for an operation scheduled for the following morning, when Will walked into the room. She looked up, about to yell at Laura for barging in unannounced but smiled when she saw him.

  `Oh hello.’

  `Hi.’

  `I’m just finishing typing this up. Won’t be a sec, take a seat,’ she said, indicating the brown leather armchair at the corner of her desk. He pulled it up and dropped himself into it, stretching his arms above his head.

  `Busy day?’ she asked and he nodded.

  `Yeah, glad I’m not doing the night shift. I take it you’ve calmed down then.’

  She smiled, didn’t reply and returned to her typing.

  He sat forward, started leafing through some papers on her desk and chuckled.

  She turned, raised an eyebrow.

  `What?’

  He grinned, sat back in the chair.

  `Nothing, Doc.’

  Rolling her eyes, she turned back to the computer.

  `I’m a vet. It goes with the territory. Now, do we have to take anything to Grant and Shelley?’

  `Oh shit. I forgot about that. Um, I don’t know to be honest.’

  `God help me,’ she muttered, not quite under her breath and he laughed again.

  `I’ll give her a call and see.’

  She smiled, sweetly. `Good boy.’

  He raised an eyebrow and wagged a finger at her, flipped his mobile open and wandered over to the window to make the call. She shut down the computer and stood up, grabbed her bag and went around the desk, where she leaned against the armchair, waiting for him to finish on the phone.

  `Okay, she says to just bring some wine and a fancy bread,’ he said, turning back to her. `I’ll get them when I go back down to the pub. Thing is, now we have to decide what to do with you,’ he continued, walking over and pulling her into a hug.

  `Uh, I thought you were dropping me at your place?’

  `Could do. Or you can come to the pub and hang out for a few hours. Up to you.’

  He pressed his lips to her forehead, started playing with her hair and she shook her head, stepped back to try and keep her focus.

  `I think I’ll go back to your place. I need to get showered and changed and my aunt is going to call me there. I still can’t get hold of my parents.’

  He frowned. `Are you sure they haven’t just gone on holiday or something?’

  `Maybe. It’s not like them to go off without telling me though.’

  `I’m sure there’s some reasonable explanation.’

  `Hmmm, most likely’ she replied, heading out the door. She waved a goodbye to Ian, deliberately ignored Laura and walked out to his car.

  Will got in, turned to look at her without starting the engine.

  `What’s up with you and Laura?’

  `Nothing,’ she replied, turning to look out the window.

  There was a long pause before he started the engine and backed out into the road. They sat in silence for a few minutes. She knew he was thinking about Laura and it bugged her. Obviously there was more to this than what he’d told her.

  Finally not able to take it anymore, she turned to him. `She warned me about you.’

  His jaw clenched and when he spoke, his tone was angry. `What the hell did she say?’

  `That you weren’t what you seemed. What would she mean by that?’

  `I haven’t a fucking clue.’

  She didn’t reply, just sat staring at him and he pulled the car over to the side of the road, turned to look at her.

  `Are you having second thoughts about this?’ he asked and she sat back against the window, stunned.

  `About what?’ she asked, hesitantly.

  `Us.’

  `Um. Will …’

  `Don’t play damn games Jo. No point pretending there’s nothing going on here. Now, are you having second thoughts or not?’

  She frowned, not quite sure how she’d suddenly landed in the middle of a minefield of a conversation. He looked angry and she wasn’t sure if it was directed towards her or Laura.

  `Um. No. Not really.’

  He relaxed slightly. `What does not really mean?’

  God, weren’t men supposed to avoid this sort of conversation? She suddenly realized how they must feel.

  `Will, why are you so upset?’

  He slammed his fist against the steering wheel in frustration and she jumped.

  `Sorry,’ he said, looking across at her, `but that little bitch and her … friend … have caused enough shit in my life. I’m not going to have them mess this up too.’

  He looked inexplicably hurt and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. He always seemed so in control, together. She hadn’t thought anything could affect him like this.

  `Hey, calm down,’ she said finally, laying a hand on his arm.

  He turned to look at her, his frown lessening a bit.

  She tried to sound reassuring. `I asked you what she meant didn’t I? I don’t believe everything she tells me, so don’t worry.’

  He stared at her for a second then nodded, started the car again. It was only a few minutes before he pulled up outside his house.

  `Jo?’ he said when she opened the door to climb out the car.

  `Yes?’

  `Thanks. And make sure you lock the doors.’

  She smiled, leaned over to kiss him goodbye. `Okay, I will.’

  `See you in a bit,’ he called, reversing the car out the drive and she waved, stood watching him drive away as the dogs came rushing up to greet her and wondered how exactly her life had managed to turn around quite so completely in such a short space of time.

  Dinner with Grant and Shelley was great. Lots of food and fun and laughter; Grant entertaining her with stories about Will and his attempts to come to grip with life on a farm while Will simply sat back, smiling, happy to be mocked by a man he obviously trusted and respected a great deal.

  There was almost a father-son relationship between the two men and Jo wondered about his own father, what he was like. Neither Will nor Julia mentioned their parents very often.

  Shelley, being closer in age to both Will and Jo, had far more in common with them and she kept the conversation flowing with her warm, bubbly personality. In fact, she rather reminded Jo of an older version of Hayley. No matter how reclusive Will seemed to be on occasion, he was definitely surrounded by a number of good friends, a fact which had to say a lot about his character and did a great deal to balance out the small doubt Laura had planted in her mind.

  Even though Will seemed to be relaxed, she could tell he was still brooding over what Laura had said. There was a certain tightness about his mouth, a weary gleam in his eyes that wasn’t usually there and she wasn’t surprised when he made the excuse of an early start to head home around nine.

  `What’s wrong?’ she asked as they walked back.

  He shrugged. `I’m okay.’

  She frowned. `Are you sure?’

  `Yeah.’

  They’d arrived at the front door and he unlocked it, went out back and whistled for the dogs in what she’d realized was a night
ly ritual. She stood at the bottom of the staircase, waiting for him as he settled the dogs down, for some reason not wanting to leave him alone.

  He turned from the baskets, saw her waiting.

  `I thought you were going up to bed,’ he said in surprise, walking over to stand in front of her.

  `In a minute. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You look a bit tired. Do you want me to make some tea?’

  He smiled slightly then nodded, followed her into the kitchen.

  She busied herself setting out two cups, finding some tea bags and boiling the kettle. He sat at the table watching her and smiled when she handed him a steaming cup.

  `Hmmm, smells good. What is it?’

  `Chamomile. It’ll help you sleep.’

  He frowned. `I had chamomile tea in the cupboard?’

  She laughed. `No, I brought some home from work.’

  He grinned, almost his usual self. `Oh, I got a bit worried for a second.’

  She smiled, sipped at her tea and watched him. Yes, he definitely looked drained.

  `You haven’t slept well the last few nights, have you?’

  He looked down at the tea, swirled it around in the cup and shrugged.

  `Not really.’

  `Why?’

  He sighed, took a sip before replying. `No particular reason’

  `Will, are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here? I don’t want to be causing more trouble for you.’

  He frowned. `Why would you cause more trouble?’

  `I don’t know. It just seems you were fine and then I moved in and now you can’t sleep.’

  He hunched down in his chair, stared down at the cup. `It’s not you. I get flashbacks sometimes.’

  She suddenly realized what he was referring to. `Of the accident?’

  He nodded, stared at his cup for a long moment then swallowed the rest of the liquid in one gulp. `And then some. Anyway, it’ll pass. I’m going upstairs, want to come watch TV for a bit?’

  She hesitated before nodding, sensing he didn’t want to be alone.

  One of the channels had a special marathon viewing of old eighties sitcoms, programs like MacGyver and Magnum PI, and they sat watching them in comfortable silence, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest.

  After an hour or so she yawned, tired. `I think I’m going to go to bed.’

  His grip tightened on her shoulders. `Don’t.’

  She sat up, looked at him, surprised, but he didn’t meet her gaze.

  `Will?’

  Finally he looked at her and she could see the unconscious plea to not be left alone.

  `Please Jo. Just tonight. Don’t leave.’

  She hesitated but concern overcame fear and she nodded. `Okay. I’ll go get changed.’

  He smiled slightly, looked relieved. `Thanks.’

  She frowned at herself in the mirror while she was brushing her teeth. Something was very wrong here. This was more than some simple accident if he could be reacting like this. How long ago had it happened? Where? Why? What did Laura and Helen have to do with the situation? God, there were so many questions but he clammed up whenever she tried to ask any of them. What was she meant to do?

  She spat out the toothpaste, rinsed her mouth out. Nothing much she could do except exactly what he asked. Not leave him alone tonight.

  So she went down the hall to his room and climbed under the bedcovers while he had a shower. When he came back she held out her arms and he crawled in next to her, lying with his head on her chest, hugging her tight against him while she ran her fingers through his hair.

  It only took a few minutes before his breathing became regular and his grip on her relaxed. She was happy to see him pass out so soon, almost as if some spring that had been tightly coiled inside him had suddenly snapped and come undone. But she lay awake for a while longer, trying to work out what could have happened to him and why her aunt hadn’t called her back yet.

  She woke just after dawn to the sound of birds singing and cows lowing in the paddock closest to the house. She smiled to herself, kept her eyes closed as she enjoyed the peace of the moment.

  `Morning.’

  Surprised, she turned her head, opened her eyes to see him propped up on one elbow watching her.

  He smiled and she rolled over onto her side, facing him.

  `Hi,’ she said, returning the smile.

  His eyes slid down from her face and she groaned, pulled the bedcovers up as she realized her movement had emphasized her cleavage.

  He met her gaze again, his eyes dancing. `Spoilsport.’

  She stuck her tongue out and turned onto her back, closing her eyes again. `Obviously you’re feeling better,’ she said.

  He laughed and lay back down next to her. She felt him running a hand through her hair and smiled slightly.

  He was silent for a minute then reached out and pulled her into a hug, her back against his chest. She laced her fingers through his and snuggled up, content in her cocoon of blankets and warm male.

  `Thanks Jo,’ he said against her hair.

  She smiled, squeezed his hand but didn’t reply.

  After a minute or two, he moved away and she cried out in surprise when he suddenly rolled her onto her back and straddled her, bent down to kiss her neck.

  `Will!’

  `Hmmm?’

  `Will, what are you doing?’

  `What do you think?’ he murmured against her mouth, pressing kisses along her jaw, the nape of her neck and down along the line of her pajama top. She felt her heart start racing as he sat up, met her gaze and started unbuttoning the top. She tried to will herself to stop him, push him away or even start yelling but she couldn’t move. Worse, she didn’t actually want to.

  She swallowed nervously as he finished unbuttoning, pushed the pieces of blue silk aside and ran his hands over her, his eyes still fixed on hers.

  Then the phone rang.

  He groaned as she suddenly came to her senses and pulled the edges of her top back together, pushed up at him.

  `That’s probably my aunt.’

  He sighed, rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling while she jumped out of the bed and raced downstairs.

  `Hello?’

  `Hi Jo?’

  `Hilda! Did you manage to get hold of them?’

  `Yes, yes I did. Jo, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. There’s been a fire at the farm.’

  Jo sat down hard on one of the kitchen chairs.

  `What do you mean?’

  `Someone broke in and set the house alight, they tried to get the barn too but your parents woke up to the sound of smoke alarms, managed to put that one out in time. Unfortunately, they couldn’t do much with the house. It was too far gone. The whole of the far end, where the kitchen and lounge area are, is gone now.’

  `Shit. Do they know who did it?’

  `The police aren’t sure. They’re thinking it may be some teenagers or someone your dad’s laid off in the past few months and who may be holding a grudge.’

  `Why didn’t they call me?’

  `They didn’t want to worry you. Plus they’ve been running around like mad with the police and arson inspectors and insurance, that sort of thing. Your mum says she’ll give you a call at work in the next few days, once they’ve got everything sorted. She says not to worry about them; most of the damage should be covered by insurance.’

  `Damn. I don’t believe it.’

  `Anyway Jo, I have to run but you keep in touch, you hear? Hope you’re having a good time over there.’

  `Yes, okay. I’m fine, it’s great.’

  `Why the new number?’

  She paused, not wanting to let anyone know about Jack because they would only start worrying.

  `Oh, um. I’m staying at a friend’s house for a few days.’

  `That wouldn’t happen to be a male friend, now would it?’

  `Um anyway Hilda nice speaking to you again. Talk soon.’ Jo replied, hanging up to the sound of her aunt’s l
aughter and turning to see Will leaning against the door jamb, clad only in a pair of boxer shorts.

  `What’s up?’ he asked.

  `Someone set fire to my parents’ house.’

  …

  `Fuck! I told you to finish the job properly. I didn’t pay for a half-burnt farm. That’s the second time you’ve fucked up in the past week. What do you think I pay you for, you damn screw up.’

  He gritted his teeth, held the phone out the window and didn’t bother to listen to the excuses. When he heard the whine stop, he held the phone back against his ear.

  `You have one last chance, do you hear me? If you screw this up, you’re finished. Now listen carefully, write down this address …. Yes, it’s just past Hannafore Road. Tomorrow night. And remember, fuck this up and you’re a dead man.’

  CHAPTER 14

  `Will. I want to talk to you.’

  He groaned at the sound of his mother’s voice, balanced the phone between his ear and shoulder as he turned the wrench to tighten the final screw of the bracket to hold the flow meter for the new beer line and tap he was installing.

  `Why?’ he asked, annoyed at the interruption.

  He gave one final twist and stepped back, wiggling the bracket with his thumb and forefinger and smiling with satisfaction as it held fast.

  `William Fletcher. Don’t you take that tone of voice with me.’

  He sighed, put down the wrench and sat down on a stool.

  `Yes mother.’

  `I don’t hold with sarcasm either.’

  He rolled his eyes. `It’s nice to hear from you too. How was the trip?’

  She sighed but gave in. `Good. I loved Yellowstone, don’t know why we haven’t been before now.’

  He grinned. `Hang on. You loved Yellowstone? What happened to not slumming it in some dirty campground with no access to decent loos?’

  `Don’t make me sound so shallow Will. I was simply worried it would be a bit …. rough. But we had a log cabin right next to the river and the food was absolutely divine. It was a lot of country stuff like your father likes doing, you know all that walking, but really it was amazing scenery. Stop changing the subject.’

  He grimaced, knew what was coming.

  `I take it you’ve spoken to Julia then.’

  `Yes, a few minutes ago. Now who’s this girl you’ve got shacking up with you?’