by Sasha Wasley
Thank you so much for helping me yesterday morning! I would have completely freaked out if you hadn’t been there. And Max/Donald says thank you for taking care of his disgraceful lapse in manners.
Obviously at work, Finn took a couple of hours to reply. Any time! You looked so upset, my heart went out to you. And Donald/Max has more than just a crap in the bathtub to answer for. Little con man!
Free chuckled. I’m glad he has a second owner. I’m going home to Patersons for the long weekend, and now I don’t have to worry about him.
Finn responded. Uh-oh. I’m going home too. Mum and Dad leave for Ireland next week to be there when Aislinn’s baby comes, so I’m going to Perth from Friday till Tuesday. I was going to ask YOU to feed Donald!
It’s okay, Free replied. I already bought one of those electronic timed biscuit dispensers for Willow’s wedding weekend. I’ll put that out for him and he can sleep on the porch.
Phew! Finn finished with a smiley face.
She badly wanted to keep the conversation going but forced herself to stop. He was dating Phoebe. Curse my mythical boyfriend. She sighed.
To her surprise, Finn was the one to keep it going. When will your car be fixed?
Friday, Fonti’s reckons.
Good to hear. I’m at work so I’d better go before Briggsy catches me messaging you. Make sure you lock up, all right?
I’ve been incredibly diligent about locking up since yesterday morning! Free replied.
She went back to the Bostons website to finish her online order for the new glazes Jay had asked her to source. She still had Jay’s cheque in her handbag, she recalled, as well as one from the school, and another one from Olly for gallery supplies. She’d better get to the bank tomorrow and put those cheques in, because she would have to pay her Bostons account within a week.
Free went to bed, rubbing the purring Max’s ears. She thought about the cat sleeping with Finn during the day and coming back to sleep with her at night-time. Time-sharing them. It made her smile in the darkness. She wished Finn were home. She would have liked to hear him singing tonight.
When Free arrived at the bank late morning, only two tellers were on. She had to queue for over half an hour among irate old-age pensioners. She hoped she wouldn’t get served by Phoebe. She liked the girl but she couldn’t help that jealousy swelling in her heart whenever she looked at Phoebe’s sweet face. Bloody bad luck, she thought miserably. If only Finn hadn’t got things so arse-about, he might be dating Free now instead of Phoebe Challis.
Of course, when it was Free’s turn, she was called to Phoebe’s counter. The girl’s dark-blue eyes brightened when she saw her.
‘Hi, Free! How are you?’
‘I’m good. You?’
‘Good, thanks. What can I do for you today?’
Free fished in her bag. ‘I’ve got some cheques to bank.’
Phoebe nodded and got to work entering cheque details on her computer. She appeared a touch more serious than usual. Maybe she was in work mode.
‘How’s the art project coming along?’ Phoebe asked, tapping on her keyboard.
‘Great! We’ve had theme approval, so we can finally get started on tile designs. The kids are so into it.’
Phoebe smiled. ‘How sweet.’
‘But I had a rough start to the week. My car got broken into.’
Phoebe’s eyes widened. ‘Oh no!’
‘Yeah. At home.’
Free’s thoughts drifted to Finn looking after her when she discovered the break-in. How big and strong he’d felt when he held her in his arms – and how tender his hands had been when he checked her bleeding foot. With a jolt, she remembered Phoebe was dating Finn, and felt horribly guilty for thinking of him in that way.
‘Um, maybe Finn told you already . . .’ she said.
Phoebe shot her a quick look. ‘Uh, Finn – he and I – we’re not together.’ Free was stunned into silence and Phoebe smiled at her tightly. ‘We agreed there was no spark.’
‘Oh!’
Phoebe sighed and stamped one of Free’s cheques in a disgruntled manner.
‘Um, do you want to talk about it?’ Free ventured.
Phoebe checked her computer’s clock. ‘Yeah, that’d be good. I’m on lunchbreak in ten. Can you wait for me?’
‘Of course. Meet you at Galileo’s?’
Phoebe nodded and handed over a receipt. Free left the bank and made for the coffee shop, heart racing. Finn and Phoebe were over? She tried to feel sorry for Phoebe and failed abjectly.
Maybe . . . Now that there was no imaginary boyfriend in the way . . .
Free reined in her thoughts. She must not go there. She might just be setting herself up for disappointment again and, anyway, what kind of friend was she to rejoice in Phoebe’s misfortune? She stepped into the cool air of the café and sat in a booth to wait, fidgeting with her hair, thoughts spinning.
What if . . .?
No! Stop it, she scolded herself.
Within minutes, Phoebe appeared in the doorway, searching the tables. Free waved until she caught Phoebe’s eye.
‘Hey.’ Phoebe plumped herself down opposite, and gave Free a look of heartfelt gratitude. ‘Thanks. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who’s not in the circle, you know? I mean, you’re in the circle, but not in the circle. Not super in.’
Free nodded. ‘Yep. I know what you mean.’
Phoebe looked relieved. They agreed to order first, then talk, so they queued up at the counter to select Turkish rolls and drinks.
‘It was weird, the thing with Finn,’ Phoebe said when they were seated once more. ‘I mean, I told him I agreed that there was no spark between us – but honestly, what else can you say to someone when they’re breaking up with you? Not that we were even together, not really. It was just two dates. But I actually thought it was going quite well. I mean, he seemed a bit shy. A bit slow to make a move, you know? He hadn’t even tried to kiss me. But I figured he might be working up to it – being a gentleman.’
A secret part of Free was deeply glad that Finn had not kissed Phoebe. She stomped on the thought and focused on Phoebe’s words.
Phoebe rested her chin in her hands, elbows on the table, and gazed at Free. ‘But then on Tuesday afternoon, he showed up at my place after work and said he wanted to talk. He said he’d been doing some thinking and realised we’d be better as friends. You know, the usual crap. “I really value your friendship, Phoebe. You and I work so well as friends, and I’m just not getting a romantic vibe, blah-blah-blah.”’ Phoebe attempted a laugh but it died quickly and tears came to her eyes. ‘Sorry. It’s not really him I’m upset about, specifically. It’s the whole dating game. Sometimes I think there must be something wrong with me.’
Free’s own eyes filled in response. ‘Are you crazy? You’re fun, cool, beautiful and altogether lovely! Any guy would be lucky to have you.’
That just made Phoebe gulp a sob. ‘Then why can’t I just meet someone? This isn’t the first time Briggsy’s tried to set me up with a guy, you know. It never works out.’
‘I know he sent you on a date with Tom, but sheesh, Pheebs. Tom was a lost cause.’
She sniffed. ‘I know. Briggsy told me how Tom had been after Willow forever. He always tries to make me feel better when it’s another bust. I’m up to five.’
‘Five what?’
‘Five failed set-ups.’
Free’s mouth fell open. ‘What?’
Phoebe nodded again, colouring. ‘I told you, there’s something wrong with me. I’m cursed.’
‘They can’t all have knocked you back. They’d have to be blind and stupid.’
Phoebe laughed gratefully. ‘Well, there was Mick. He moved down to Perth for work after two weeks. Alex. He wanted to take me ’roo shooting for our second date. Not my scene. Then Tom. He was in love with your sister. Then Ty. He seemed like a nice guy. Decent job, good sense of humour, and not in love with anyone else – but then Briggsy caught him selling pot to his workmate
s, and banned him from seeing me. And now Finn. Good-looking and sweet but apparently we have no spark.’ She grimaced.
Free was growing more and more horrified. ‘Are you saying Briggsy set you up with all these guys?’ Phoebe shrugged. ‘What the hell? How can you be expected to meet a guy you like if you’ve got some interfering, big-brother type – the local sergeant, for God’s sake – hovering over your shoulder, trying to force you into a relationship? That’s not how it works! Love is random. Accidental. You just live your life and then one day it’ll hit you with the right person.’
Free realised with shock that she was giving relationship advice. She cringed inwardly. What a fraud. But Phoebe was gazing at her with a peculiar expression of hope. She sat back and shook her dark head.
‘I don’t know, Free. It’s so hard to meet a nice guy. If Sean does the vetting for me . . .’
‘Vetting! What is this, a bloody cattle show?’ Free was forced to pause while the waiter served their lunch. As soon as he left, she burst out once more. ‘Phoebe, it’s really wrong of Briggsy to mess with your love-life like this. Who does he think he is? Maybe he should try to fix his own screwed-up relationship before he interferes in anyone else’s!’
Phoebe was startled. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You know, the stuff with Kate. The commitment stuff.’ Phoebe waited and, too late, Free realised she’d spilled a secret. ‘Forget I said anything. I’ve probably got the wrong end of the stick.’ Free steered them back to the topic at hand. ‘Anyway, your love-life is yours. Tell Briggsy to butt the hell out, or I’ll tell him for you.’
Phoebe burst into laughter. ‘Okay, Free. Maybe you’re right.’ She wiped her eyes and chuckled again. ‘I can just imagine you shouting down big, burly Sergeant Sean Briggs.’
They discussed work and friends while they ate their lunch. Free asked Phoebe to come along to the Herne River wildlife talk, and Phoebe looked much brighter when they hugged goodbye.
Free headed for her ute in the bank car park. It was so hot inside that she burnt her hand on the seatbelt buckle. The air conditioning had barely kicked in by the time she arrived home, and her dress was stuck to her skin.
Her mind kept wandering back to Phoebe’s story. So Finn had shut things down with her on Tuesday evening? Tuesday morning was when he’d discovered Free was single. But she could be making a connection where there wasn’t one. Maybe he’d already been planning to end the dating trial with Phoebe. It was probably just a coincidence. Free packed a bag for her weekend at Patersons, since she wouldn’t be coming home after work the next day, but her thoughts crept back to the night Finn had driven her home from the station after the wedding. The night she’d asked to go inside with him. Where’s Max? Finn had asked her. Where’s your boyfriend? He’d been reminding her that she was otherwise committed – at least in his head. What would have happened if he’d known then that the only Max she lived with was a greedy tabby cat?
She forced her thoughts back to the present. Finn wasn’t home, as far as she could tell. Probably working. Free paced her house, practically bursting to know the truth. Had all her first instincts about him been correct? She didn’t hear the telltale noises of Finn arriving home until it was so late she couldn’t casually visit any more. She snatched up her phone and, seizing on the easiest opener she could think of, messaged him.
Hey, Finn, any word on the car break-ins? Any suspects?
He replied a couple of minutes later. Hi, Free. Nothing yet, sorry. Probably not worth holding your breath.
Free garnered her courage and typed. Can I pop around for a minute?
There was a pause. Now’s not a great time. Can we take a raincheck?
She frowned. I just wanted to ask you something.
Ask away.
Uh, nope. She wasn’t going to do this via direct message. She ignored his raincheck request and grabbed her house key, locking the door behind her and scrambling over the divider railing. She knocked.
When Finn opened the door, he looked like a different man altogether. His face was pale and strained, and those pebbly-creek eyes were shadowed, as though a storm cloud hung overhead.
‘Finn!’ she said, shocked. ‘What’s wrong?’
He paused, indecisive for a moment, then moved aside and indicated she should come in.
‘Do you want a coffee, or . . .’
‘Finn.’ She grabbed his arms and forced him to look at her. ‘What’s happened?’
He sagged slightly. ‘I just spoke to my dad. Mum had to fly to Ireland early because Aislinn went into labour. It’s a boy. I’m an uncle.’
Free released him. ‘Is your sister okay? The baby?’
‘Yeah, they’re both fine.’
‘Well, congratulations.’
‘Thanks.’ He sank into a chair and Free hovered nearby. ‘It’s just, Dad told me something. They were going to wait until I visited this weekend to break the news but because Mum had to fly out, Dad decided to come straight out and tell me.’ His gaze stayed on the floor. ‘They’re going back. For good.’
‘Back – to Ireland?’
‘Yeah. They want to be close to Aislinn and the baby. And future grandkids, I suppose.’
‘Oh wow.’ Free was left almost breathless with the brutality of it. ‘What about you?’
Finn shrugged. ‘Mum and Aislinn have always been really close. I guess I was a bit more independent than Aislinn. They’re encouraging me to consider moving back too, but they know that I love Australia. My friends and my career. My life. They’re all here.’
Tears ran down her cheeks, and when Finn noticed, he reached a hand out to take hers. ‘Don’t, Free. Don’t cry.’
‘Sorry. Your heart must be breaking. I can’t stand it.’
The darkness lifted from his eyes momentarily, and his expression softened. But then his mouth became tight and he dropped his gaze again.
‘Dad’s leaving for Ireland tomorrow. He’s coming back in a month or two to pack everything up and get the house ready to sell. I’ve cancelled my trip back to Perth this weekend. Lucky I got travel insurance, huh?’ He gave a half-hearted smile. ‘Briggsy’ll be pleased. He was spewing about having to work this long weekend, but I might as well take his shifts now.’
Looking at him sitting there in pain, she just wanted to take all his sadness away. Free stepped forward and put her arms around him, pulling him close so his head was resting against her chest. She couldn’t stop her tears. After a tense moment, Finn relaxed and slipped his arms around her, holding on in silence.
At last he pulled away, getting up to put the kettle on. She thought she saw him brush an arm across his eyes, and her own tears continued to fall unabated.
‘Tea? Coffee?’ he said.
She shook her head. ‘No, thanks.’
‘What did you want to ask me about?’
‘Um, I forget.’
He glanced back at her, and seeing her tears, grabbed a handful of tissues and passed them to her. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as empathetic as you, Free Paterson.’
She caught her breath and seized the moment. ‘Finn, don’t cancel your leave. I’m not letting you stay here to be miserable all by yourself. Come with me to Paterson Downs for the weekend.’
He smiled and opened his mouth to argue, but she kept her eyes on his, willing him simply to agree. The words died on his lips.
‘I’ll be looking after my dad because Willow and Tom are on their honeymoon,’ she added, knowing he would only agree if she pretended she was the one in need. ‘Will you come? Help me out and keep me company?’
All Finn’s awful pain was in his eyes. She wanted to pull him close and sob against him but kept her gaze locked on his, silently pleading with him to let her help.
At last, Finn gave a half-shrug. ‘Sounds good. I’m in.’
Finn drove the farm ute behind Free in her newly repaired car. The only reminder of the break-in was that her car was unusually clean inside, and there were no mint wrappers or spa
re change in the centre console – or crystal cat blu-tacked to the dash. Her heart thumped every time she glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw Finn in the blue ute.
A whole long weekend with him.
She wouldn’t be so insensitive as to have the talk about their potential relationship this weekend. That could wait. The poor guy was grieving. He was losing his whole family in one hit. She could hardly believe his parents would do it to him. But then, she understood it a little bit, too. They had to choose: the daughter with their new grandchild, and the added bonus of returning to their extended family back in Ireland – or their more recent life in Australia, and the son who had moved thousands of kilometres away from home for work. She couldn’t blame them, but she still hated seeing Finn’s pain.
So no – she wouldn’t raise the Phoebe issue or the boyfriend mistake yet. She would just give Finn the best time she could, and be there for him if he wanted to talk. She would be his friend. That was what he’d always wanted, even when she was offering him more. ‘I just want to stay friends with you,’ he’d said at Talbot Gorge while she was treading water just inches from his body. She melted a little inside. He was so honourable.
She pulled over at a floodway and Finn pulled in behind her. Free hopped out and he called through the open window, ‘Everything okay?’
‘Do you mind if I just stop to grab a photo?’
He smiled. ‘Of course not.’
She reached into the passenger seat for her camera and scrambled down the bank of the Herne. It was still flowing, but it was smooth and slow rather than the hedonistic rush of the month before. Free crouched beside a piece of dried, cracked mud that was lifting at the edges like bark. She took a photo then peeled the mud back with one finger, and her heart jumped when a red, worm-like larva came into view. Gross. But amazing. She focused the lens and snapped several shots, trying to capture its vivid scarlet against the browner red of the sticky mud. Glorious. Free replaced the dinner plate of dried mud and stood up. She snapped another couple of photos of the gently moving surface of the river and made her way back to the car, waving at Finn. He waved back and they got on the road again.