Vivienne stopped herself pacing toward him. Whilst her heart wanted to continue to sing, it slowly lost its voice, until muted to silent.
“What’s the problem? I assume you’re not looking at the view?”
A sharp, acid tone she hadn’t heard before crept into his voice. It was raw and cutting with no softness or light.
Faced with this person she didn’t recognise, she spoke the facts; the ridiculous words rolling off her tongue. “It’s stopped.”
Without looking at her, Daniel walked around her to the front of the vehicle, making soft muttering noises all the way.
“That’s what you get for buying flamboyant European cars. Parts are expensive, need fancy mechanics. Out in the country, sturdy cars are best . . .”
The verbal diarrhoea spewed from his mouth. Each word stabbed her heart.
There was no welcome return, no where have you been or great to see you, nothing but jibes meant to inflict hurt.
Maybe she deserved his criticism. But she had enough of her own that she could lob right back at him.
For her, none of that mattered. When he’d approached, the sunshine missing from her life in Brisbane had shone again. With startling brilliance, it had confirmed what had been missing–it wasn’t the country air, Rosebrooke’s verdant green hills or the coffee—it was Daniel. But whilst she’d been blinded and all had become crystal-clear to her, the world to Daniel remained grey and bleak. As much as she wanted it to be different—she had not lit up his world.
She caught a sob threatening to rise and escape. Instead, she placed her shoes back into the compartment and closed it. The bump echoed loud around them in the absence of other sounds. Slowly, hugging her arms around herself for protection and comfort, she made her feet step one after the other to the top of the Audi.
“Bloody stupid thing! Not like a normal engine. Nothing looks wrong but with all these electrical, computer things these days it could be a disconnected micro-chip for all I know.”
He slammed the bonnet shut.
Vivienne watched him glance down the range, along the road and at his shoes. He would not connect with her.
Standing silently, she waited; her heart cracking into little pieces.
Eventually he looked up through his lashes.
Dark circles permeated under his eyes, soft skin forming bags whilst the whites of his eyes were streaked with red and his cracked lips parted as his featured softened.
For an intense second, they held each other’s gaze. One piece of her heart reattached.
Unanswered questions and requests for information swirled between them, unspoken and lost in an abyss. Hidden desire sat at the rear.
Daniel looked away first.
Bolts of electricity shot through her chest, a shock at each strike. Vivienne lowered her head.
“Daniel . . .”
“Nothing I can do for you . . .” he said at the same time.
Did these words have greater, hidden meaning?
“I can’t fix it anyway. I’m on my way to town, so I’ll stop and get the mechanic to drive out. He’ll get the tow truck, if needed.” The words becoming muffled as he moved back toward his truck.
Stopping, his back rigid, he backtracked to her with sudden speed, causing her tummy to do flips. He did want to talk!
“I suppose you’re here to take possession of my house. Yes, you and the bank have won this battle.” His words grated, like slaps to her face.
“What?”
“C’mon, you know. The house and farm is gone. There’s no money, it all fell through.” He faced her square on. “You must be happy,” it was a question that didn’t require an answer.
At her incredulous expression, round large eyes and mouth agape, he paused.
As if he’d gone too far and couldn’t retreat, he kept speaking, spittle forming in the corners of his mouth as the words rushed out.
“I’ve got a few more days yet. Don’t think you bank bullies can drive me away earlier. I have to find a place to live for me, for the kids,” his raised voice cracked, “get a job . . .” he ceased, appearing to run out of vitriol. “Don’t you worry about us, we’ll be fine.”
“Daniel, honestly, I didn’t know. I’m sorry, I thought Estelle’s money had saved the farm,” she said swatting at the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Daniel punched the air. It came out awkward and strange as if he wasn’t in control of his actions. In any other circumstances, it might have been comical.
Had he heard her?
Stepping forward, she was about to say that she’d ride with him rather than stay with the car on the side of the road; but she bit those words just in time.
The screwed-up expression of compressed rage on his face made her stop dead in her tracks. No need to embarrass herself further. He didn’t want her anywhere near him.
She nodded, her head downcast.
“Okay then,” Daniel jumped in his cab.
Vivienne kept her back to the departing vehicle as it drove away and once it was out of sight she slunk into her seat and sobbed ugly and loud.
***
Okay, appointment number 12—I’m ready.
Vivienne braced herself, knocked confidently and waited for the occupants of 811 Chester Grove to open their door.
She was unexpected—she didn’t think they’d allow her the air-time otherwise—but a bustle of noise could be heard, chairs scraping across tiles, raised voices, until finally the door creaked open.
If her previous role of delivering default notices had been difficult, it paled in comparison to wooing back disgruntled customers.
It had been an interesting experience. Human nature is fascinating and after her day thus far, Vivienne thought she could significantly contribute to studies in the area.
These interviews all commenced the same—displeased moaning and numerous specific complaints about their recent treatment by one Mr Zac Gardiner; then more generalised grumblings about the bank, its interest rates, customer service, loan applications etc, moving on to general woes in their individual lives until finally, she offered the bank’s sincerest of apologies and the icing on the cake, the clincher—one hundred dollars free credit to be used to alleviate fees or other service taxes, or to be deposited immediately into the account of their choice but not under any circumstances to be provided in cash—so said Mr Whipplegate.
Vivienne had shrunk at her first exchange, finding the Bank’s offer an insult. However, money talked, even the pathetic amount of one hundred dollars. The peace offering had her lapped up by each person she’d consulted and all had vowed their ongoing loyalty to the bank. Many, on the condition that Zac Gardiner was strung, quartered, tied to a horse and dragged through the main street, naked. Vivienne enjoyed the image and engaged in the laughter.
Phenomenally, her strike rate sat at one hundred percent.
Only the rest of the town to go.
In the three days since she’d been back, she’d worked her arse off; methodically ticking off individual disasters that had been created, and cramming her days with back to back appointments.
Intending to get this shit done as swiftly as possible, she needed to get back to her life in Brisbane. Things needed to return to normal and being in Rosebrooke wasn’t helping.
“Thank you so much, dear, for dropping by. You know, I’d told Robert that it was a good and trustworthy bank and we needed to rely upon its good trade in the past, and I was right.” Martha smiled at Vivienne. “Another scone?”
If Vivienne ate another home-cooked treat on this round of visits, she would literally explode. But how could she refuse?
***
“I saw Vivienne today.”
Ned turned toward Daniel, his attention caught.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s it, yeah. That all you’ve got to say?”
Now, Daniel twisted in his chair, surprised at the sass in Ned’s voice.
“What do ya mean?”
Ned rolled
his eyes toward the heavens before proceeding.
“You’ve been moping around here, for what, four weeks, she’s been gone, and you see her today and all you can say is, yeah?”
Daniel listened, but words didn’t form, not sure what Ned meant.
“This is the first woman I’ve watched you take any interest in, finally, letting yourself move on. It’s been years since Sarah died. What happened? How did you stuff it up?”
“Me? What makes you say that?” Daniel placed his beer down to avoid spilling it as they sat on his veranda on a Sunday afternoon watching the sun go down.
“Last time I checked, mate, she was stealing my house, my business, my life . . .”
“Aw, c’mon. Are you kidding? Where was Vivienne when you made the decision to convert to modern robotic farming practices against everyone’s advice? Where was she when you neglected the farm for years after Sarah died? Where was she when you didn’t prevent the industry from eating you up? Where was she when you redrew your mortgage to survive, racking it up even higher, accumulating more debt? Where was she when you were poorly managing this place, hiding away from the world? Where was she when you should have been out working?”
“You’d better stop right there, Ned,” Daniel’s voice grew thin.
“Stop! I’m just getting started. And you’ll hear me out. It wasn’t her or the bank that caused this mess, it was you! She is not to blame,” he yelled at Daniel close to his face.
Instead of retaliating, Daniel retreated in the knowledge, though he would not say the words out loud, that it might be true.
“You are a bastard, you are,” he said with a half-smile. Ned returned it but just as quickly turned solemn again.
“You can be attracted to other women. You do not deserve to be punished for ever—”
“But, it was my fault . . .” Daniel interrupted.
Ned held up his palm. “I don’t want to hear it again. An accident. End of story.”
Dropping his hand, Ned continued, “I’ve observed you together, Daniel. She’s hot for you and you’re hot for her. What’s not to like—she’s stunning with all that gorgeous red hair, those legs, cheek bones and...” he held his hands to his chest imitating melons... .
“Okay, that’s enough of describing her body parts!”
“But, seriously, mate, why not give it a go? She’s a smart chick, can birth a cow and seems to know her way around the farm.”
“I’m frightened.”
“I know, it’s scary as shit. That’s why I’m still single, got my eye on a girl though, but I don’t know if she even likes me. But you do know, and yes, Vivienne likes you. I’d stake my life on it.”
“A girl huh, who?”
“Don’t get distracted, we’ll talk about me later.”
“Don’t you think, Ned, that I have more serious things to concern myself with? Like for example, the farm, oh and maybe where I’m going to live?”
“Yeah, I do. They are important. But when troubles are shared, it’s so much easier, huh!”
“I don’t know what to do, Ned.”
“Yes, you do. You just need to do it,” he said slapping his friend on the back. He skulled his beer and stood up to replenish their supply, their heart to heart over.
***
Strong arms embraced Vivienne as she sobbed. Whilst she relished the comforting touches to the back—just like her mother used to do—it only made her cry harder.
Having achieved her work goals and having maintained a tough façade for the duration of her return to Rosebrooke, back in her safe happy place of Bec’s home and with her loving support, Vivienne couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Is it Daniel?” Bec whispered softly in her ear.
Vivienne nodded.
“Is it work?”
Vivienne nodded again.
“Is it everything and life just sucks right now?”
“Yes,” she hiccupped through tears.
Bec held her until the blubbering dried up.
Pulling back, Vivienne wiped at her wet cheeks. “I must look a mess!”
“Yes, but you’re allowed. How serious are we talking—is it gin and tonic or a cup of tea sort of sucks?”
“Definitely gin and tonic, Bec.” And despite it all, Vivienne smiled.
“Coming right up.”
With the cool drink running through her veins and the calm surroundings and only dry sniffles left, all seemed marginally improved.
“Are you back in Rosebrooke?”
“Yep.”
“Okay, how did that happen?”
“My replacement, Mr Zachary Gardiner, Operations Manager— ”
“Oh, impressive—not!”
“—ruffled various feathers during his time in Rosebrooke, the whole town’s feathers and there were threats of massive departures from the bank. Some talked with their feet and did withdraw all their funds and went elsewhere. That all happened quickly and couldn’t be prevented, but one client was one too many and Zac was thrown out of the post fast. Did I tell you about him?”
“Bits and pieces . . .”
“He was an incredible control freak. When I first met him, he told me how he was strategically climbing the corporate ladder and he’d get there too!”
“Confident.”
“Yes, very much so,” Vivienne retold of the meeting in the bank and of her immediate deployment back to Rosebrooke and how hard she’d worked over the last few days to patch up relationships with clients.
Todd refilled their glasses twice during her story whilst he held the children ransom by watching E.T.
Vivienne smiled in gratitude at his kindness.
“And where is Daniel in all of this mess?”
Unexpectedly and without warning, pools of water escaped and spilled over again. Somehow, in between the weeping, Vivienne told enough of her car breakdown escapade to be understood by Bec.
“It wasn’t until I saw him standing there Bec, like an apparition come to save me, that I realised how much I’d missed him. How much I care for him.”
“What about that incident when you left?”
“Yeah, I know. Well, I don’t obviously. I don’t have any answers about that because he’s not going to talk to me now, but I don’t know what I saw. I don’t know what they were talking about. My running away was dramatic at the time, I accept. It just looked so intimate!”
“Yes, but they’ve been neighbours for years.”
“Yes,” Vivienne nodded, looking away into the distance, “you are always so sensible.”
“No, just objective, I think.”
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter now because he hates me, Bec. You should have heard the loathing in his voice. It was evil, his eyes shot daggers at me!”
“Vivienne, put yourself in his shoes—for a start he lost his wife in tragic circumstances, has two small children, a failing business or one in trouble at least, he’s in default on his mortgage and about to be turned out of his home with nothing. It’s not great. Stressful, I’d say.”
“Hm, yes, it is, but it’s not my fault!” Even as the words came out she knew she sounded like a petulant child.
The look Bec gave her told her she thought so, too.
“You know what I think?” She continued before waiting for a response. “You like him and I think that’s wonderful. You have not sat across from me the whole time we’ve known each other and cried over a man! Stress at work, friendship issues, sad stories from the shelter, all of those issues, but never about a guy! I don’t even know how that is possible, but Vivienne you have developed a thick skin and built a wall around yourself where no one’s ever allowed to enter and finally I can see it cracking and as your sister who loves you, I couldn’t be happier. Not that your heart is breaking but because your heart has opened to the idea of loving a male, trusting a man, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see it happen. So, in one way, I am enormously relieved and happy, but in the other, I’m so sorry that I can’t fix this for you or make it any bett
er. And I’m not sure you can either.” Bec paused letting this all sink in.
But she wasn’t finished. “I know how damaged you are by our father and the unspeakable things you saw, the way he treated your mother, but he isn’t all men. They are not all like him.”
“I know they aren’t. It’s just that I lost faith in my ability to tell the good ones from the bad.”
Bec nodded.
“And now that I’m open to it, I think I’ve identified a keeper, he doesn’t want to know me!” she wailed.
“Plus, the enormous guilt I carry over my role in his current situation. I know it is my job and I know he hasn’t paid his mortgage. But life does get in the way, anyway, this isn’t about defending him or me, but I gave him the default notice, I am the figurehead from the bank, I am the bank to him and part of the institution that is creating havoc in his life. Despite the justice of it, the rights and wrongs, I just feel tremendously shit about that.”
“I understand, of course. That is a difficult role to play in anyone’s life. No wonder you’ve hidden away in that corner office drafting, writing, or whatever else it is that you do, and not on the frontline. I wouldn’t even want to be a teller at the bank, these days. But, Daniel is rightfully angry. What will he think when he calms down?”
“What? When he’s homeless and has no income do you consider he’ll reflect more highly on me?” The sarcasm dripped off her words. “I’m sorry, Bec, I’m not angry at you either, nor Daniel just this situation I find myself in.”
“I get it, I do. But I just wonder when everything settles down, maybe you two can seek each other out again and it might be different, or not,” Bec shrugged, “perhaps there’s too much to overcome. I’m not sure.”
The tears continued to roll but Vivienne shrugged too, “maybe,” she said, “but by then I’ve returned to my life in Brisbane where everything is grey and dull.”
“If you’re more accepting of matters, maybe it won’t be so bad.”
They nibbled on nuts, cheese and crackers and refilled their drinks. Wonderful aromas of dinner cooking wafted into the living area.
“Todd does remember I’m a vegetarian, doesn’t he? I can smell lamb.”
Bec threw a cushion at her, hitting the side of her face.
Unexpected Delivery Page 21