The Winter Sea

by Morrissey, Di

  ‘The guy who lived here before used to run a café here. Served coffee and hamburgers. It was a bit of a mates’ hideaway and he only charged mates’ rates, so the place went broke and he walked out when he couldn’t pay the rent.’

  ‘Is there a laundry?’ asked Cassie.

  ‘Yes, there is a laundry. Small but functional. Do you want to look?’

  ‘I like the kitchen,’ said Cassie, looking at the cooking area, which was separated from the main living space by a counter.

  ‘There’s a barbecue tucked away somewhere. It was sometimes used out on the deck. Those awnings wind out over it. Good for shade and they keep the rain off, too. The place has been empty for some time. And you have to be careful on the jetty. There are a few planks rotted away. Do you have a boat?’

  ‘No,’ said Cassie with a laugh. ‘But it’d be fun to get a tinnie.’

  ‘There used to be a small boat, I think, but it doesn’t look as though it’s here anymore.’

  ‘That’s not important. How long is the lease?’ asked Cassie. ‘And is my dog allowed?’

  ‘Six months or a year, with an option to extend. The dog’s not a problem.’ Karen looked at Cassie and Bill. ‘What do you think? It gets busy here in the summer. Not quiet like now.’

  ‘I like the peace and quiet,’ said Cassie. ‘How noisy does it get?’

  ‘Jet skis have been banned from the lake, thank goodness, but there are a lot more people around. Bit different from Whitby Point. Holidaymakers come here for the fishing, the park and the lake, but this place is less about families and more about relaxing.’

  ‘What’s the rent?’ asked Cassie.

  Karen told her.

  ‘I just love it here. Okay, how do I apply for it? How soon will I know if I’ve got it?’ Cassie could hardly believe herself. On a practical level it was daft to take on the lease of the boatshed, but on another level it was an opportunity too good to let slip through her fingers. The place was captivating. She could afford six months rent and, she told herself, she deserved a bit of peace and quiet and a place to relax while she made decisions and plans for her future. Yes, it was definitely the right decision.

  ‘I’ll talk to the owners but they’re keen to lease it. I’ve got the forms with me. If you put your application in today, I reckon they’d approve it pretty quick. When would you want to move in?’ asked Karen.

  ‘As soon as possible,’ said Cassie. ‘I can’t wait.’

  Cassie enjoyed the easy routine of her mornings: the sound of the sea; the salty tang in the air; the rustle of the wind in the casuarinas; Bill’s amiable yawns and stretches before he licked her hand to hasten her move from bed; and later the smiling faces who greeted her on the walk to the newsagency to collect her newspaper, where Bill had become something of a celebrity.

  ‘This is a beautiful new world,’ she murmured to the dog as she buttered their shared piece of morning toast. Her life here was so different from the hectic pace and stress of living in a city, working under pressure in a law firm, not to mention the unsatisfactory nature of her marriage to Hal. Only now, as she felt so calm and relaxed, did she realise the extent of the daily tension she’d been living with before she had fled to her south-coast hideaway.

  ‘Well, Bill, now I’ve made this mad decision to move into a boatshed, we’re going to have to live with it, but it won’t be stressful, I can guarantee you that,’ she told the attentive dog.

  That morning, she and Bill walked into town as she wanted to share her news about the boatshed with someone and as her mother was still not contactable, she headed up the hill to the lovely old house where Michael had his veterinary practice.

  Tara, who doubled as veterinary nurse and receptionist smiled at Cassie and Bill. ‘It’s lovely that you decided to adopt Tom Woodward’s dog. What’s his name?’

  ‘Bill. I’ve come to make an appointment to have him microchipped.’

  ‘Hello there, Cassie. Hiya, Bill.’ Michael came out of the examination room and greeted them both cheerfully.

  Bill, who had been sitting quietly, leapt up at the sight of a friend.

  ‘I’m just making an appointment to have Bill microchipped.’

  ‘I think I have a small window before the next appointment. Come on in.’

  Michael lifted Bill up onto the examination table and Cassie held him. The chip was put in so quickly that Bill barely noticed a thing.

  ‘Do you just want your mobile phone number on the database? No address?’ asked Michael.

  ‘I have an address but it might be only temporary.’

  ‘Oh? You’re moving back to Sydney? We can always change your details.’

  Cassie shook her head. ‘No, I’m not going back to Sydney. You’re the first person to know. I’ve signed a lease on a boatshed at Blue Crane Lake . . . Am I nuts?’ she asked with a smile.

  Michael burst out laughing. ‘That sounds terrific. The lake is a gorgeous place. Is the boatshed habitable?’

  ‘It’s totally liveable, though it needs a few bits and pieces done. The previous tenant used the front part as a small café, but that doesn’t matter. I love the whole set-up. I’ve leased it for six months. I’d love you to take a look at it.’

  ‘I can do that. I know I’ve got no late appointments, so if nothing else comes up we can run over and you can show me later this afternoon. If there is an emergency, Tara, the vet nurse here, can ring me and I can get back here pretty quickly. Is it furnished?’

  ‘Yes, the furniture is not too great but it will do, so I can move in soon. I’d love your opinion.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll ring you as soon as I’m free, stay in mobile range.’

  *

  They picked up the key from the real estate office. While Cassie opened up, Michael walked around the boatshed. Bill went straight to the doors leading onto the deck, waiting for them to be opened. Michael picked his way along the jetty, startling two blue herons sitting on the pylons. At first Bill lay on the deck looking for fish, but the tide was too low and the fish had disappeared from the ankle-deep shallows. Scrambling off the deck, he followed Michael to the end of the jetty.

  Cassie was investigating the kitchen as Michael and Bill came in.

  ‘There are a few broken planks on the jetty – nothing that can’t be fixed. Now let’s see this interior. You could always live out on that deck. It’s very pleasant. There’s a nice breeze, even though it’s a bit cool, and there’s no mud so you won’t be plagued by mozzies or midges.’ Michael gazed around at the dining and sitting area, the counter and the kitchen and the front entrance where tables and chairs were stacked. ‘This is interesting. Planning on a lot of parties?’

  ‘The furniture’s left over from the café.’ Cassie opened what she thought was a cupboard but it turned out to be a small pantry. Looking up she could see that above the existing kitchen cupboards was extra storage that went right up to the high ceiling. ‘Wow, this is more compact than a ship’s galley, but it’s been well designed,’ she exclaimed. ‘I’ll take you upstairs and show you that, if you like.’

  ‘This is great,’ said Michael, looking around the loft. ‘It’s very cleverly thought out, and I love the view. I think you and Bill will be very comfortable here.’ He paused. ‘Have you made any other plans?’

  ‘Like a job?’ she replied. ‘I’m thinking about it.’

  ‘Actually, I meant social plans. Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate your boathouse? Bring Bill of course.’

  ‘Thank you, Michael. That’d be lovely.’ They smiled at each other.

  *

  The following evening, Cassie found she was looking forward to going to Michael’s for dinner that night. She took her time dressing, paying attention to her hair, clothes and makeup.

  ‘Not that it’s a real date,’ she said to Bill. ‘He’s just so easy to be with.’

  She checked herself in the bathroom mirror. She’d put on her best jeans and teamed them with a cashmere jumper. Wishing tha
t she was tall and willowy rather than petite, she added a pair of black high-heeled boots. She bundled her dark auburn curls into a knot on top of her head, leaving some tendrils falling around her face. Finally, she added a little mascara to highlight her green eyes. Then she tied Bill’s bandanna around his neck and drove up the hill to Michael’s house.

  The sun had well and truly set as Cassie and Bill walked to the front entrance. Bill seemed relieved they had bypassed the surgery.

  ‘Hello, you two,’ said Michael as he opened the front door. Bill darted inside and instantly the dog screeched to a halt as a large tabby cat marched down the hall towards him.

  ‘Don’t worry, Cassie, the cat is used to dogs. He hangs around the surgery. Bill, this is Toledo the tabby.’

  Cassie watched Bill lower his tail and ears and start to tiptoe around the large cat, which ignored him. But as Bill crept past with apparent relief, the cat took a swift swipe with his paw and struck a lightning blow on Bill’s tail. The dog took off down the hall while the cat casually strolled away.

  Cassie giggled. ‘Cats! They rule the world.’

  ‘You look very nice,’ commented Michael as he led her down the hall.

  ‘Thank you. I brought some wine. I hope you like it,’ she said in a rush to cover up the pleasure she felt at the compliment.

  ‘You didn’t have to do that, but thank you. I have a nice champagne chilled. Would you like a glass of that first?’

  Cassie nodded as she cast a curious glance around Michael’s living room at the eclectic mix of furniture, paintings, books and antique rugs. Through the plate glass windows she could see out into the pitch-black night.

  ‘I bet this has a great view to the beach in the daytime,’ she said.

  ‘It certainly does, although it can get a bit breezy out on the verandah at times. But it is relaxing. Your new abode has a great outlook over the lake. And you can throw a line in and catch dinner.’

  ‘Do you like to fish?’

  ‘I haven’t fished for a while. Too many years slogging away on my great-uncle Ricardo’s fishing boats when I was young, I’m afraid. I’m over cleaning fish for pocket money.’

  ‘I know you told me that your parents had moved to the Blue Mountains, but are there other members of your family still here? Do they still fish?’

  ‘Absolutely,’ said Michael. ‘In our family, it is expected that you follow your father and your grandfather. Respect your elders and wait your turn, that’s the Italian way. My great-uncle Ricardo is nearly ninety, but he still runs the family fishing fleet, although it’s a lot smaller than it used to be. It’s his son and grandson who do all the fishing now. Cousin Frank is a great at selling the fish, too.’

  ‘It’s good they’re keeping up the family tradition,’ said Cassie. ‘You say your family’s Italian, Phillips isn’t a very Italian name.’

  ‘My mother is from the Italian side. She was an Aquino. But my father was the local accountant and worked for my grandfather before he married my mother. Whitby Point is a small community.’

  Michael picked up the ice bucket with the champagne bottle in it. ‘Do you mind coming into the kitchen while I throw the last bits together? Bring your glass.’

  Cassie sat on a stool at the long kitchen counter. ‘Can I help?’

  ‘No, thanks. Everything is under control.’

  ‘It smells fantastic. What are we eating?’

  Michael lifted the lid of the large casserole dish on the stove. ‘Sicilian fish stew. Old family recipe from my great grandmother, one of the nonnas.’

  ‘It must be wonderful to belong to a big extended family. It’s just Mum and me in my family now that Hal and his relations are history. It must be nice to have a heritage and a family like yours.’

  Michael laughed. ‘I suppose so. A lot of the old ways persist but now everyone considers themselves true-blue Aussies. If you throw in that parsley, we’re ready.’

  Michael served up the stew in the kitchen and took the plates out to the dining table.

  ‘Do you like cooking?’ he asked Cassie as she ate.

  ‘I do. But I didn’t do a lot in Sydney. Too busy. My father was the chef in the family. Michael, this stew is delicious.’

  ‘Are you going to tell your mother about the boatshed or is it going to be your secret hideaway?’ asked Michael.

  ‘She’s arriving back from overseas in a day or so and I can’t wait for her to come down and see the boatshed. Knowing my mother, she’ll think it’s a terrific place.’

  ‘What about your girlfriends? I bet you’ll be overrun with Sydney mates wanting to come down for weekends on the south coast when they hear about your new place.’

  ‘I don’t think so. Either they are having babies, or working crazy hours, or both. Anyway, I worked such mad, long hours over the last few years, I hardly saw them. I feel a bit out of touch.’

  ‘I think that even if you move back to Sydney, you should keep the boatshed as your idyllic retreat.’

  ‘It does feel a bit like that,’ agreed Cassie. ‘I can’t wait to move in.’

  Much later, curled in her bed at the cabin with Bill sleeping solidly alongside her, Cassie thought back over the evening, marvelling at what she had been missing for so long: the easy warmth and company of an interesting man. Michael and she had talked about so many things from music and art to food, travel, friends and books. She had found herself laughing and feeling relaxed. It was such a good feeling. Bill had slept on the floor by her feet, waking occasionally to cast a wary eye at Toledo who was curled in a ball on a nearby armchair. When she’d left, Michael had opened her car door for her, staying in the driveway until she turned out of it and onto the road. It had been a lovely evening and she hoped it would be repeated.

  *

  Cassie had just walked out of the newsagency the following morning when her mobile phone rang.

  ‘Hey, Mum! You’re back. How was it?’

  ‘Unreal. Stunning. It was a really hard climb, two days, but I made it to the top. Now I want to go back and see more of Borneo. It’s so beautiful. How are you? You’re still down on the south coast? You must be liking it,’ said Jenny enthusiastically.

  ‘Love it. But Mum, I want you to come down. You have to see this place. When do you think you can come?’ asked Cassie.

  ‘Really? It’s that good? Your father was right about it then. He always said it was lovely,’ said Jenny. ‘Cassie, I’ve only been home a day. You’re hard to reach on that mobile. There must be a lot of black holes. Are you coming back home soon?’

  ‘I don’t feel in any rush. Mum, I really want you to come down here and see if it’s just me, or if you think the place is as nice as I do. You could just come overnight if you’re busy,’ pleaded Cassie.

  ‘I do have a bit of catching up to do. But you’ve got me curious. I’m having dinner with Donna and Dave to tell them about my climb so I can’t stay long, but I can drive down now, spend the night, and come back the tomorrow,’ said Jenny.

  ‘That’d be fabulous, Mum. I’ll give you directions to my cabin here at Pelican Cove. You won’t have any trouble finding it.’

  *

  Jenny and Bill bonded immediately.

  Bill had barked when the strange car pulled up, standing protectively beside Cassie, but when she ran to hug her mother, he too hurried forward, tail wagging, waiting for pats and endearments.

  ‘Mum, this is Bill.’

  ‘Well, you’re a fine specimen, young man,’ said her mother, scratching behind his ears. ‘Does he come with the cabin?’

  ‘He does now. He’s mine. I’ve adopted him.’

  Jenny raised her eyebrows. ‘So he’ll be joining us when you come back to Sydney?’

  ‘I’m not sure. It’s a bit of a story. Come on in, and we’ll get you settled and then I’ll take you on the tour of the area and tell you all about it.’

  Cassie drove her mother around Whitby Point to show her the little town, stopping off at one of the local shops to buy some che
eses and olives, and, over coffee in the solitary café that was open, she explained her plan to rent the boatshed for six months.

  Her mother stared at her. ‘Cassie, this is a lovely spot, but it’s a holiday place. Could you live here full time? What would you do? You can’t just bury yourself here. You were the gal working fourteen hours a day! What would you do with yourself in a quiet backwater like this?’

  ‘I guess it does seem strange,’ said Cassie easily. ‘But it’s the first time in my life I’ve had time to take a breath. I went from school to university, then to work and marriage. I’ve never really done anything on my own, never even considered any life other than in the fast lane.’

  Jenny nodded. ‘I do understand. Maybe you should travel. I’ll lend you the money till the apartment sells, if you like.’

  ‘Thanks, Mum. I’ll think about travelling but I don’t need to borrow money at the moment. I’ve got weeks of holiday pay left, so I’m fine. Now, I really want you to come and see the boatshed. It’s only a ten-minute drive away. The place isn’t expensive and I’m only renting it. Mum, I want my own space to call home.’

  ‘Between my place in Sydney and your retreat down here, I suppose this could be a nice arrangement for me, too,’ said Jenny. ‘Let’s go and have a look at it.’

  As Cassie drove into the little settlement of Blue Crane Lake, her mother became instantly enthusiastic.

  ‘This is gorgeous,’ exclaimed Jenny. ‘What a pretty area. Seems different from Pelican Cove. Maybe a bit more upmarket, but in a low-key way. Some of those houses over there look pretty classy. But you can’t beat being close to the water. Where’s your place?’

  Cassie parked outside the blue boatshed and Bill jumped out and raced around the front to the jetty, giving the herons a warning bark.

  ‘What do you think?’ asked Cassie as her mother stood thoughtfully, regarding the front entrance.

  ‘How can I tell if you don’t open up?’

  Cassie unlocked the front door and started to chatter, ‘It needs work, but Geoff – you’ll meet him – will do it and . . .’

  ‘Cassie, just let me get in the door and wander about!’