Always With You

by Hannah Ellis

  I was about to jump in; I hated the tension. I’d never seen any animosity between Cam and Joe before and I didn’t like it. Luckily, Leslie got between them.

  “It could have been way worse,” she said, looking at me. “Imagine if you’d landed on your arse. That’d be some birthday – Joe pulling a hook out of your backside!”

  I smiled as Leslie sat beside me and patted my leg. Joe took one more look at my hand, removing the tissues and swapping them for a fresh wad. “The bleeding’s stopping,” he said. “But you need to get it looked at and properly dressed.”

  I nodded and he moved back to the tiller. The atmosphere was strained as we headed back the way we’d come. I was annoyed to have caused drama.

  I’d expected it to be a nice quiet day on the boat.

  Chapter 18

  EVELYN – July 1994

  Leslie came to the clinic with me, where a nice young doctor cleaned the wound and patched me up. She wasn’t concerned and said it would heal fine in a week or so. I might have a little scar if I were lucky.

  “Well, that ruined my birthday,” I said to Leslie as we wandered back to the Croc.

  “Why?” she said with a laugh. “Is that your drinking hand? We can still go to the Tav, can’t we?”

  “I guess so,” I agreed. “I just feel bad that Cam and Joe argued.”

  “They’ll get over it,” she said. “They never really fall out about anything. No way they can stay angry at each other for long.”

  “I hope not. Will they still come out tonight?” They hadn’t said much when they’d dropped us off at the health centre – just told me to call if I needed anything. Joe and Cam hadn’t spoken the whole way back to town, and the atmosphere was horribly tense.

  “I don’t know. I don’t really care either. We can go out without them for once. See if we can find some hot guys without them around cramping our style.”

  “Sounds good,” I said. It didn’t though. I wanted the boys to come out and celebrate my birthday, and I really hated to think they were arguing because of my clumsiness. Hopefully they’d be over it and come out later.

  I tried my best to ignore their absence and have fun with Leslie in the pub. It was full of familiar faces, and people made a fuss of me, wishing me happy birthday and buying me drinks as I explained my bandaged hand repeatedly. I bumped into Johan, who I’d met on the farm, and spent some time chatting to him and laughing about the day I threw a sandwich at Len Jenkins.

  All in all, it wasn’t a bad evening, and I was wondering whether I might be able to catch Mel for a quick chat before bed. We always seemed to miss each other’s calls with the time difference. It was frustrating; I was sure I’d feel better for a good natter with her. Plus, it was my birthday and there weren’t many birthdays in my life that I hadn’t spent with her. Not even talking to her would be really weird.

  I decided I’d try to call her before bed and was just about to tell Leslie I was leaving when Joe and Cam walked in. The sight of them made me emotional; it hadn’t seemed right that they weren’t in the pub on my birthday. I flung my arms around Joe and squeezed him tight.

  “All right,” he said, laughing as he hugged me back.

  “I thought you weren’t coming,” I said as I moved on to Cam, who lifted me off the floor when he squeezed me.

  “We wouldn’t miss birthday drinks, would we?”

  “I can’t really imagine you ever missing out on any drinks,” Leslie said, appearing beside me.

  “Sorry about the hook,” Cam said sheepishly when Joe went to the bar.

  “It’s fine.” I lowered my voice. “Sorry Joe yelled at you.”

  He rolled his eyes. “He’s a right bloody drama queen that one! And I still reckon it was all his fault!”

  “But you’re friends again?”

  “’Course!” he said. “It was only a bloody hook in yer hand anyway. You’ll thank us for your scar before long. Just remember whose fault it was then, won’t ya?”

  “Here,” Joe said, arriving with beers. “Stop yakking, start drinking!”

  The boys were back to their usual banter as though nothing had happened. It was a great end to my birthday, and to make it even better, I managed to chat to Mel too. I told her all about my birthday, standing at the payphone outside the Tav after we’d been kicked out. I was very drunk and my friends stood around me singing “Happy Birthday” as I laughed down the phone with Mel.

  Chapter 19

  LIBBY – August 2017

  I’d grown accustomed to hostel-living; people coming and going at all hours no longer disrupted my sleep. It didn’t even register as odd when Yvonne nudged me awake the next morning. She was sitting on the edge of my bed, looking perfectly put together.

  “Do you want to sail around the Whitsunday Islands on a yacht?” she asked eagerly.

  I squinted and tried to get my eyes to focus. “That sounds expensive.”

  “Not really, it’s a last-minute deal. Two days and two nights on a luxury yacht. It will be fantastic! Come on, let’s go.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, hurry up!”

  “What’s the catch?” I eyed her suspiciously, but she just shrugged.

  “It just seemed like such a great deal. There was a guy in the bar last night and they had four spots left and said we could take them for half price.”

  She gave me a smile that was part wince.

  “You’ve already signed me up for this, haven’t you?”

  “It just sounded so great. But Simon was worried about Andrew feeling like a spare wheel so we thought with the four of us . . .”

  “Yvonne!” I complained. “Andrew would probably rather be left alone than get dragged on an awkward double date.”

  “It won’t be awkward, I promise. Just say you’ll come, otherwise I’ll have to cancel it all.”

  “I don’t know . . .”

  “Come on. It’ll be so much fun.”

  “I’m sure it will be, for you and lover boy. But what if Andrew doesn’t want to be on a double date with me? Then I’m stuck on a boat—”

  “It’s a luxury yacht,” she corrected me, her eyes dancing in excitement. “With an endless supply of champagne!”

  I’d actually been looking into sailing trips and had decided it was just a little over my budget. Half-price tickets were hard to say no to. “When you put it like that . . .”

  Yvonne clapped her hands together, delighted. “Quick then, the boys will be here to pick us up soon.”

  The thought of cruising around the many islands of the Whitsundays excited me more and more as I got organised. When I climbed into the jeep and Andrew didn’t look like someone who was being forced to spend time with me, I decided I was in for a fun trip. Meeting Yvonne had been a stroke of luck.

  It was a ten-minute drive to the impressive marina. Boat masts swayed in the breeze, tinkling gently. I breathed in the salty air and braced for the weight of my backpack as I hauled it onto my shoulder. It was surprisingly light.

  “I can take that for you,” Andrew offered, a hand already lifting my bag.

  The feminist in me broiled. I’m quite capable of carrying my own bag. “It’s okay. I ca—” I stopped and slipped my arm out of the strap. “Thanks.” Apparently my poor aching muscles had over-ridden that little feminist voice in my head. Well, he can carry it if he really wants to.

  Again, I felt scruffy in my shorts and T-shirt. Yvonne looked stunning in a white sundress and oversized sunglasses. Following Simon along one of many jetties, we stopped in front of an impressive white yacht and were greeted by four crew members, all dressed in tailored white shorts and polo shirts.

  A quick tour had me coolly nodding my head in approval. Inwardly, I was awestruck. It was like something from a film, and I wanted to jump up and down and squeal with delight. Yvonne and I were sharing a room but it was a far cry from what I’d become used to over the past few weeks. The beds were deliciously soft, and the crisp white linens smelled wonderful. There was eve
n a dressing table and mirror squeezed into the room; everything looked brand new and decadent.

  The fresh fluffy towels were the ultimate luxury. The towel I’d been travelling with was old and worn to begin with and seemed to be constantly damp and musty.

  When the boat pulled out of the marina, the four of us sat on sunloungers on the deck, sipping champagne and nibbling on appetisers. There were four other people on the yacht: two young couples. It seemed like a couples’ cruise, and I felt slightly awkward.

  “So is this it for two days?” I asked, ignoring my hesitations and focusing on the positives: I was on a luxury yacht, drinking champagne. “Just sitting around here, eating and drinking?” I clinked my champagne glass against Yvonne’s.

  “Not a bad way to spend a couple of days, is it?” Simon said.

  “Not bad at all,” I agreed, beaming.

  We spent the day lazing in the sun and marvelling at the beautiful scenery as we cruised through the islands. The yacht’s chef brought us a tray of sandwiches for lunch, and we were introduced to the other couples, who were very pleasant but didn’t seem interested in socialising.

  It was fun getting to know the young crew and learning about sailing. We anchored in the afternoon and took time for a dip in the tranquil waters. It was sheer and utter bliss.

  “Are you coming for a dip?” I shouted up to Andrew when I swam around the stern – I was catching all the nautical terms from the crew. He was leaning over the side, lost in thought. “The water’s gorgeous.”

  As he climbed down the ladder into the water, I said, “I had you down as a perfect dive kind of person.”

  “I didn’t want to embarrass you after your graceful entrance into the water.”

  “I’ve got that dive-bomb down to perfection,” I said.

  He smiled back at me. “It was quite impressive,” he agreed before disappearing under the water. His features seemed softer when he reappeared, like the stress was being washed away. Closing his eyes, he floated on his back.

  “I told you it’s lovely, didn’t I?”

  “It’s nice,” he said, pausing before shifting his gaze to me. “I hope you don’t think it’s weird. I didn’t know it was some sort of romantic cruise . . .”

  “Me neither,” I said quickly.

  He gave me a funny look. “I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

  My mouth twitched into an awkward smile. He clearly thought I was interested in him. What is it with good-looking people that they always assume everyone fancies them?

  “I just heard yacht and champagne and didn’t think anything more about it!” I said, my words coming fast. “Yvonne left out the other details. I’m sure it will be fun though.”

  “It’s just that I’m not looking for any romance or anything.”

  Oh, my God, I’ve got the message, let’s stop going on about it. Something odd came over me then: a confidence that came from him stating so bluntly that he wasn’t interested in me. I could have some fun.

  “You say that now,” I told him with a smirk. “But you’ll probably change your tune after a couple of days with me.” I swam away from him, pulled myself back up the ladder and turned to see the perplexed look on his face.

  I winked and walked away, amused by my self-confidence.

  Chapter 20

  LIBBY – August 2017

  “I can’t figure Andrew out,” I said to Yvonne as we got ready for a starlit dinner on the deck. “He told me he’s not interested in any romance. That’s a bit presumptuous, isn’t it?”

  “You have been flirting with him a lot! Maybe you’re scaring him.”

  “I only started that when I realised how uncomfortable it makes him. I’m just having a bit of fun.” And it was so much fun.

  “Well, he just got dumped and came to Australia for a holiday to get over his ex, so that’s probably why he’s a bit awkward.”

  “Oh, that explains things,” I said thoughtfully. Maybe I shouldn’t tease him so much. But then again, I really was enjoying it.

  Yvonne seemed amused as she carefully applied her make-up. Since my choice of outfits was limited, I’d opted for one of my two sundresses and had been ready and waiting for her for ages. I’d been drinking champagne on and off all day and was feeling giddy.

  “Come on,” I said, impatiently. “Let’s go!”

  With a final blot of her lipstick and a pout in the mirror, she stood and grinned.

  Three small tables were set on deck. We joined Simon and Andrew at our table for four, which was elegantly decked out with white linens and tall candlesticks.

  “Well, this is very romantic, isn’t it?” I said to Andrew cheekily. “Don’t get any ideas, will you?”

  He shook his head and although he seemed amused, I decided I should tone down the teasing. I was probably walking a fine line between being funny and annoying.

  “Look at that sky,” Yvonne said, drawing the attention away from Andrew. “It’s just stunning.”

  “Almost as stunning as you look tonight,” Simon said, slipping his hand into Yvonne’s.

  Andrew and I made vomit noises that were so in sync it was like we’d rehearsed it. I looked at him in surprise before we both fell about laughing.

  “Sorry, mate,” Andrew said, slapping Simon on the shoulder. “That was cheesy!”

  The food arrived, saving Simon from his embarrassment. It was divine: three delicious courses comprising succulent seafood and the most mouth-watering hot chocolate brownie I’d ever tasted.

  Simon and Yvonne moved to look out over the water after dinner, leaving Andrew and me alone, candlelight flickering between us. It was such a romantic setting that it was hard not to think about Andrew in that way. I was tired, and my previous confidence vanished.

  “I think I might turn in,” I said, removing my napkin from my lap.

  “Okay,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, fine,” I said. “Just tired.”

  He stood when I did. “I’m sorry about earlier,” he said, suddenly awkward. “I didn’t mean to sound arrogant.”

  “It’s okay.” I moved past him and then stopped. “You did sound a bit arrogant . . .”

  “I know,” he said with a frown. “It wasn’t anything personal, I’m just dealing with some stuff at the moment.”

  I smiled lightly and wished him goodnight. The last thing I needed was someone else’s problems. I had enough issues of my own.

  ***

  The next day was the same glorious weather and the same luxury of lying around the deck and being spoilt with delicious foods. We dropped anchor at a lovely little cove, swimming over to the beach for some sunbathing.

  “One of the crew told me about a party tomorrow,” Yvonne said as we soaked in the rays. “It’s a full moon party on Magnetic Island. We could head up there tomorrow when we leave the boat.”

  She looked at me expectantly. She’d clearly already discussed it with Simon, and they’d no doubt need me to keep Andrew company. Andrew must have had the same thought and looked less than impressed with the idea.

  “Sounds tacky,” he said, lying back on the sand.

  “Oh, it’ll be so much fun,” Yvonne insisted. “You’ll come won’t you, Libby?”

  “I guess so. I’m heading north anyway.” Although at that point, the idea of finding my father seemed less and less appealing, so I could probably head in any direction.

  “You’ll enjoy it,” Simon said to Andrew, with the implication that it wasn’t really up for discussion.

  “It might actually be fun,” I said to Andrew when Yvonne and Simon moved back towards the water. When he didn’t comment, I asked, “You really don’t want to go?”

  “It’s not that,” he said huffily. “I just thought I was coming over here to hang out with my brother . . .”

  “And instead you’re stuck with me,” I said with a smirk. “That does seem really awful!”

  He caught my eye and couldn’t help but laugh himsel
f. “I sound like a spoilt brat, don’t I?”

  “Yeah, you do!” I agreed. “I kind of get it: you came here to get over a breakup and thought your brother would be all attentive, but now he’s found Yvonne and wants to spend all his time with her.”

  “Simon’s got a big mouth,” he remarked.

  “What I don’t understand is why you came all this way just to mope around? Why not have some fun?”

  “I am having fun,” he said.

  “No, you’re not. You’re staring into space half the time, thinking about your ex. You’re on this amazing trip in Australia. Enjoy it!”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” he said, sitting up. “I feel like I’m surrounded by all these people who haven’t got a care in the world and are only interested in getting drunk and hooking up with strangers. Sorry I’ve got other stuff on my mind.”

  My forehead wrinkled as I frowned. “You split up with your girlfriend. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but it’s not really the end of the world.”

  “I don’t expect you to understand—”

  “Why?” I shot at him, annoyed. “You have no idea about my life.”

  “You came here on a gap year after uni to have a good time. And that’s nice for you . . .”

  My eyes bored into him and my words came out of nowhere. “Actually, I came here because my mum died and I wanted to find my father, who I’ve never met but who lives in some little town in the outback.”

  The corners of Andrew’s mouth twitched before he laughed.

  I kept staring at him. “It’s not a joke,” I said quietly as tears formed in my eyes. Standing, I headed to the water, intent on getting back to the boat as quickly as possible.

  “You okay?” Simon called as I passed him and Yvonne.

  I nodded and dived under the water.

  The furious swim back to the boat was helpful in getting rid of my pent-up emotions. I sat up on deck, staring into space. Andrew’s laughter had made me realise how ridiculous it all was. How ridiculous my life was at that moment. I’m definitely not going to find Joe Sullivan. He’d probably just laugh at me too. What had I been thinking? How did I ever think this was a good idea?