Tumble Creek

by Louise Forster

  An early birthday present, she told herself.

  After parking in the restaurant’s garage, Sofie dragged her parcels out of the passenger side, strode through the courtyard and headed upstairs, calling out for Claudia.

  ‘She’s with Michelle at the farm,’ Jennifer yelled from the kitchen.

  Calum’s little sister and Claudia had become close friends. And Sofie was glad of it. Michelle was a sweet, sassy, no-nonsense girl, much like her grandmother, Connie, who had helped her and Jennifer’s Uncle Bob keep his secret for so many years. Together with their uncle’s housekeeper, Shirley, Connie had dressed him for his funeral, which would’ve been a tough ask but one they fulfilled with love.

  Sofie walked into the kitchen and found Jennifer rolling out pastry. ‘Why aren’t they at school?’

  ‘Teachers are having a meeting, so years eleven and twelve are having a free day. They are expected to study of course.’

  ‘Why do I feel like I’m out of the loop?’

  ‘You’re not, it just so happened I caught sight of her rear end as she was leaving, wearing civvies, so I asked. Otherwise neither of us would know.’

  Sofie pulled out her mobile and sent Claudia a text message: It would be nice to know your whereabouts BEFORE the fact!

  Seconds later: Oops. At Mich’s.

  No kidding!

  U OK I stay the night?

  Getting grumpier by the minute, Sofie turned to Jennifer. ‘She’s asking if she can stay the night.’

  Jennifer pulled a ‘whatever’ face and shrugged.

  Sofie narrowed her eyes, and questioned her sister, ‘Calum still away?’

  ‘Yeah, but that’s not a problem. I was alone when we were here for Uncle Bob’s funeral and all that weird shit was happening.’

  ‘That’s not my point. Claud said she would be here to keep you company and now that’s suddenly forgotten, because something better came up? No—’ Sofie shook her head, ‘—that’s not happening.’

  ‘I know, but she’s a teenager. You’ve done the ground work, she’s a brilliant, sweet girl, the best. You can be very proud of who she is.’

  ‘I can’t leave this, she needs to be reminded.’ Jennifer rolled her eyes and groaned. ‘Don’t worry I’ll be nice. I won’t yell.’ Sofie’s fingers tapped across the little screen. You were going to look after Aunt Jen.

  Shit! I’ll be there.

  Sofie turned the phone around so Jennifer could read the message.

  ‘Why do I feel like a heel?’ Jennifer muttered unhappily.

  ‘That’s okay, you’ve got company.’

  ‘Text her back, tell her it’s okay, you’re staying with me.’

  Oh bugger, that would mean no time with Brock. The shoe was on the other foot now. What a fuck-up. But Jennifer was right. Sofie sent another text. I’ll stay with Jen.

  Cool. Be there for work tomorrow.

  Sofie sent kisses back and turned to Jennifer. ‘What time are they on tomorrow?’

  ‘Lunch shift. The motels are booked out, so we should have quite a crowd.’

  ‘I’ll be here to help Fiona and Ryan with the brekkie crowd and stay on until you don’t need me.’

  ‘Thanks, Sis.’ Jennifer blew her a kiss.

  ‘One great waitress down makes it so much harder. I’ll have to assume Britt isn’t coming back. I just don’t have the time to interview right now.’

  ‘We’ll manage fine, Jen. We can put the word out after the long weekend.’ With all that was going on in her life, Sofie had made another decision. ‘Sis?’ she said, her tone suggesting she didn’t like what she was about to say next.

  Jennifer stopped rolling her pastry, eyes round, expression expectant. ‘Don’t think I’m going to like what you’re about to tell me,’ she said, hands squeezing into the dough, making it curl out between her fingers.

  Sofie took a deep breath, and went straight for it. ‘We need to talk about getting more staff. You said I should tell you the moment I want to stop the breakfast. Well, I want to stop breakfast.’

  Jennifer sagged with relief. ‘Shit, Sofe, thought you were going to tell me that you and Claud were heading back to Sydney, or something horrible like that.’ She pulled her hands out of the dough, rounded the kitchen table and hugged Sofie, then stepped back to study her face and asked, ‘Is that it?’

  ‘Not quite. I’ve done a cost analysis on opening for breakfast. It’s making a profit, but I’m wondering if we really need to keep it going. Initially it was to feed the blokes in town, who told their wives, wives made bookings for dinner, and all kinds of celebrations. Word got around your menu was to die for. But are we keeping it on so we don’t disappoint the early morning regulars?’

  ‘Probably. We need to find a breakfast chef. Leave it with me, your days of getting up at sparrows fart are nearly over.’ Jennifer grinned. ‘What about the bookkeeping, you happy doing that?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ She smiled. ‘You should come with me next time I visit the vineyards, see how they’re managing.’

  ‘Sure, would love to.’ Jennifer slapped her hands over her chest, a cloud of flour hit the air between them and Sofie sneezed. ‘You know, I still can’t get my head around what Uncle Bob left us.’ She wrapped her dough in cling film and put it in the fridge.

  ‘Yeah, it’s real though. No more struggle street … in fact we are a wealthy little family.’

  ‘Kinda scary and kinda brilliant all at once,’ Jennifer said softly.

  ‘Yeah …’ Sofie said on a breath, ‘you’re not wrong.’

  It was a good thing she stayed. The day fled, yet at the same time, she couldn’t wait for it to end. Everyone was run off their feet. Too tired to do anything other than have a soothing glass of wine with Jennifer, then a hot shower and bed. Sleeping in Bob’s old room should’ve been the same as any other time, but it wasn’t. After spending one night with Brock’s arms wrapped firmly around her on a couch, she missed him. Shaking her head, she shoved the thoughts aside and, grumbling to herself, snuggled deeper under the quilt.

  Sofie fell into a deep, restful sleep.

  Chapter 5

  ‘Calum, you on your way home?’ Brock asked, mobile at his ear.

  ‘Yeah, finished earlier than expected, just turning into Main Street, what’s up?’

  ‘Had to work late. Sofe is staying with me—’

  ‘What?! When did that happen?’

  ‘Yesterday. Look, I’ll fill you in later. She wasn’t there when I got home. Tried her phone, no answer. Don’t want to ring your place or hammer on the door and wake everyone for no reason.’

  ‘Er … she’s a big girl, Brock.’

  ‘Mate—seen too much not to make sure.’

  ‘Gotcha, meet me in the back lane.’

  As soon as Calum parked and turned his lights off, Brock uncurled out of his car, locked it and followed him through the garage to the back door and sunroom. Calum opened up, the alarm beeped, and he punched in the code to reset it. ‘When you leave you’ve got five seconds to key in the code and …’

  Brock gave him a look.

  ‘Right. Pay no attention to me, I’m beat,’ Calum whispered, ‘and I smell like cow dung.’

  ‘Cow dung makes you think weird?’ Brock fought back a grin.

  ‘Nah, dung is good stuff.’ He chuckled and tiptoed down the hall, Brock at his side. They both peeked in the spare room. ‘Sofie’s here. What’re you doin’?’

  ‘Making sure it’s Sofe, then I’ll go home.’

  Calum pointed at the human shape under the quilt. ‘It is Sofe,’ he mumbled as if to say, are you blind?

  ‘It’s a bunch of lumps under a quilt, Cal.’

  ‘Right,’ he said slowly, nodding but nevertheless looking confused. Then his brow furrowed, and eyes questioning he asked, ‘What’re you waitin’ for? When’re you goin’ to make her yours?’

  ‘Soon as I feel Sofie’s not mourning her house and everything in it.’ For the most part that was true; as for the rest, well, his
friend didn’t need to know, yet.

  Calum raised his chin, and said, ‘Good call. Takin’ a shower, so I’m not thinking weird when I hit the sack,’ the humour in his voice unmistakable as he sauntered down the hall to Jennifer’s room.

  Silently, Brock moved into the room. Of course it was Sofie, but before he hit the sack, he needed to see her face. He peeked under the thick quilted mound Sofe was buried in up to her eyes and nose, breathing softly. He dared to smooth a few stray curls away from her forehead. She stirred; he was about to back away when her arm snaked out and wrapped around his neck. She pulled him down. He grinned, kissed her cheek, moved her arm away, slid it back under the covers, and said, ‘We’ll have words tomorrow about communication.’

  ‘Mmmm,’ she moaned, and snuggled into her bed.

  ***

  By seven-thirty, with Fiona and Ryan helping, Jennifer and Sofie had everything prepared for breakfast at Veronica’s. The expected tourists were already wandering in, chatting about the eerie fog and the mournful sound of Scottish bagpipes. The conversations in the heritage-listed Edwardian building that was Veronica’s soon became a discussion about which was the best song the pipers played. Was it ‘Mull of Kintyre’ or ‘Scotland the Brave’? Laughing and teasing filled the restaurant with happy vibes. The decorations and fairy lights in the big picture windows, plus the wood fires crackling in the old hearths on opposite walls, gave the restaurant atmosphere and warmth. Veronica’s Christmas celebration was like any depicted on many Christmas cards sent from England or Europe.

  Delicious aromas of hearty eggs, bacon, sausages and muffins filled the air and wafted out the door every time someone came in or left with a full belly. It cheered Sofie and Jennifer, and carried them easily through the morning.

  Sofie had just taken a tray of empty plates to the kitchen when Claudia and Michelle walked in, fresh faced, and already dressed in white shirt and black pants.

  ‘We’re here,’ Claudia announced.

  ‘Both of you give me a hug,’ Sofie ordered.

  ‘Mum!’ Claudia complained, then whispered, ‘The customers.’

  ‘I don’t care and I’m sure they don’t.’ She hauled Claudia into her arms and hugged her, then gave Michelle the same treatment. ‘Girls, I love how you’ve twisted the tinsel through your hair and the little sprigs of holly, perfect for today.’

  Claudia dug in her pants pocket. ‘Got these for you and Aunt Jen,’ she said, handing over two pairs of Santa earrings that lit up with tiny lights. ‘What’s the lunch menu?’ she asked, scanning the chalkboard in the kitchen while Michelle peered over her shoulder. ‘Hearty minestrone soup. Hmm, marmalade glazed, succulent roast turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, and cranberry sauce, pudding …’ she trailed off.

  ‘Elliot will chef during lunch,’ Jennifer told them. ‘Your Mum and I need a break before the dinner crowd.’

  ‘How’s Elliot working out?’ Sofie asked.

  ‘Really good. I hope he sticks around. We can’t keep doing all the shifts, it’s not possible. The restaurant is running at a healthy profit. Like you said, we need to get organised, and get more staff. ‘

  ‘Yeah … what if you fall pregnant or something,’ Sofie winked.

  ‘That’s right, like any day now,’ Jennifer shot back.

  Hand on her heart, Sofie gasped. ‘Are you?’

  ‘Not yet, but we’re having fun trying.’ Jennifer laughed.

  Elliot, a tall, sinewy man in his early forties with laughing brown eyes, long auburn hair greying at the temples and tied back in a ponytail, came in through the back door. ‘G’day!’ He went straight to the kitchen, studied the menu and started preparing.

  ‘The turkeys have been roasting for two hours and the turkey pieces are all prepared ready to go in, same with the potatoes,’ Jennifer told him.

  ‘T’riffic,’ Elliot mumbled, turning to check on the birds.

  Sofie turned to Jennifer and made her eyes go big. A non-verbal sisterly message, saying, Wow! He’ll do.

  An hour later, after tossing and turning in Bob’s room, her thoughts bouncing from Brock to building a new home, then back to Brock and unable to think of anything else, Sofie finally gave up. She went downstairs to see if they needed help just as lunchtime diners started to arrive. Soon Veronica’s didn’t have a spare table and some had to share with strangers. Which turned out to be a good thing as Claudia made sure introductions were made and conversations started.

  Around one-thirty, four diners left and two walked in. Claudia went out behind the counter to grab a couple of menus for the new arrivals.

  A nasty vibe prickled inside Sofie, travelling up her arms and the back of her neck. Her gut instinct had never failed her before, so she went out into the short hall, staying within its shadows, and stopped in her tracks. Skids, Claudia’s first boyfriend, the one that had broken her young heart, had walked in with his new girlfriend, Sissy, clutching his arm. Sissy was a year eleven student from Claudia’s old Sydney school.

  How bloody brazen, and cruel, she thought.

  Worried, Sofie turned to see Claudia straighten her back, gather her resolve and, head held high, walk towards them. Hiding in the shadows, Sofie nervously waited for the drama to unfold.

  Treating the pair as properly as any other diner, Claudia politely asked, ‘Table for two?’

  ‘That’s my girl,’ Sofie whispered quietly, proud of Claudia’s mature approach.

  ‘Isn’t that …?’ Sissy began. ‘It is! It’s Clorrd-ia,’ Sissy giggled. ‘I hardly recognised you without all that white Goth crap on your face.’ She giggled again. Sissy was tall, blonde and attractive. Except for now, the way her lip curled, appraising Claudia with an unattractive scowl. Plus clinging to Skids like a barnacle, or better yet, a sea slug, made her look like a parasite.

  To Sofie’s delight, Skids stepped away from Sissy. With her leaning post missing, she stumbled. ‘Skids,’ she whined, and moved on him again, hands pawing at his jacket.

  Skids glared down at her as if she’d grown another head.

  Oh-oh, this wasn’t good. Sissy turned her attention back to Claudia. ‘I see you’re serving now. I guess that’s about your style. You never were good at anything. No wonder you’re waiting tables.’

  Diners stopped to stare, forkfuls of food halfway to open mouths, glasses of wine poised.

  Sofie gasped at the painful jibe Claudia had to endure, and was about to step forward when a strong arm wound around her waist and pulled her back into his front.

  Brock!

  He leaned over her shoulder and whispered into her ear, ‘Have faith in Claud, leave her be. This is her moment to shine.’

  Tears pricked Sofie’s eyes and the lump in her throat ached, but she stayed put and from their darkened vantage point let the scene play out.

  Claudia moved in until she was about a foot away from Skids and Sissy, then speaking quietly but succinctly she directed her salvo at Sissy, ‘You are ugly inside, and out. You can’t survive unless you’re clinging to Skids or some other sucker.’ She pointed at Skids. ‘And he can’t stand having you too close, I wonder why that is? You’re both ugly, malicious people. I have to wonder why he lets you hang around—like-minded perhaps.’ Claudia moved right in to Skids’s personal space, and hitched a thumb at Sissy. ‘There has to be something in it for you. Would it be that Sissy’s dad is coaching the under eighteen soccer team? Hmmm?’

  The restaurant door opened and Takumi walked in wearing faded jeans and a white, snug, long-sleeved T-shirt stretched across his wide chest, every muscle well defined. With a playful smile, he headed straight for Claudia. Brock’s chest moved behind her, he was chuckling of course. Sofie held her breath. Takumi had assessed the situation, and when he reached Claudia’s side, he put his big hand on her head and planted a kiss there in passing. Elation filled Sofie, she wanted to throw her arms around Takumi and give him a big motherly smooch. Sissy’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Claudia didn’t bat an eye and behaved as if Takumi did
that every day.

  Sofie wanted to shout, Go Claudy!

  ‘I suggest you leave,’ Claudia told them. ‘This is a reputable restaurant, therefore you’re not welcome here.’

  Sissy’s hands fidgeted over her expensive leather jacket, pulling, straightening. A red flush crawled up her neck and into her face, as her eyes darted over the diners, hoping for backup. When none was forthcoming, outrage made her face turn scarlet. Nose in the air, Sissy grabbed Skids by the arm and pulled him out the door, with difficulty as Skids was straining to look over his shoulder at Claudia the whole time.

  The door shut behind them and the restaurant broke out in wild applause. Claudia hurried to Takumi and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. A big-brother grin played his mouth as he caught her up. And he kept walking with her hanging off him all the way to the kitchen.

  She gave him a big smoochy kiss on his cheek, and said, ‘Thank you, Tak, you made my day, my week, my forever!’

  Oh, shit! Sofie hoped that ‘forever’ was said in the moment of elation when common sense was someplace else.

  ‘Not a problem,’ Takumi whispered to Claudia. ‘Saw your face through the window, that bitch was giving you hell, in a public place where you couldn’t let fly—not cool. Just gave you a helping hand. The best part for me was watching them squirm on their way out. You did well holding onto your anger, kiddo.’

  Claudia giggled and eased away. ‘Yeah, I did, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yeah, no shit!’ Takumi grinned.