by Annie Seaton
Ginny Silver was someone he’d like to spend more time with—as a friend of course—and tonight at Johnno and Kitty’s was a good start.
There was a parking spot outside the shop, and Greg pulled his work ute into the spare space and turned the engine off before reaching across to the passenger seat and picking up the flowers he’d bought on the way over.
Ginny was sitting near the doorway, but the closed sign was facing the street. As he walked across the footpath, she looked up and smiled, and something hit Greg in the chest. For a minute, he thought he’d actually bumped into something, and then he knew that hadn’t happened. It was the sight of Ginny’s smile that had sent his heart thudding. His smile grew wide and anticipation tickled at him.
She opened the door and ushered him in. When he handed her the flowers, her cheeks blushed a pretty pink and she buried her face into the sweet-smelling blossoms.
‘Thank you, they’re gorgeous.’
So are you, he wanted to say, but held the words back. She looked fresh and cool and pretty in her red dress. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked instead.
‘I am. I’ll just put the flowers into a vase, and the shop will smell sweet tomorrow.’
Greg waited while she picked up an old-fashioned vase from the shelf near the counter and disappeared into the back of the small shop. Pipes creaked and clanged as water ran and he smiled. A bit like the old house on the hill.
She quickly arranged the flowers and then picked up her bag and turned with that sweet smile. ‘Ready to go.’
Greg took Ginny’s arm and led her outside and waited while she locked the shop door. She brought out the gentleman in him. Even in small ways, he wanted to make sure she was okay. Opening the passenger door, he waited until she was settled inside and hurried around to the driver’s side.
Chapter Nine
They talked nonstop, through the inner city, across the bridge and into Mosman. Ginny was surprised when Greg pulled up in a quiet leafy street overlooking the harbour. The trip had gone by in a flash.
‘This is where Johnno and his wife, Kitty, live,’ he said as undid his seatbelt. Ginny waited until he came around and opened her door. Her nerves had kicked in big time, and she wished she was at home, sitting in her tiny living room listening to Lee bang around in the bakery downstairs.
‘Um, I didn’t get a chance today, but maybe I should have bought some wine or something?’ She swallowed; she even sounded scared.
Pull yourself together, she chastised herself. It’s about time you got back into life.
‘All under control.’ Greg helped her out and, leaving her waiting on the footpath, went to the back of the ute and with a flourish, produced a bottle of wine, and another bunch of flowers. ‘Voila!’
‘That’s lovely. You’re very thoughtful’
‘Come on, come and meet my friends. And please don’t be nervous, but best to be prepared. Kitty will put you through the twenty questions spiel.’
He held out his arm, and Ginny tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow as they walked up the path, and into a modern foyer.
The wall facing the harbour was made of glass, and the lights twinkling on the boats below bounced off the walls in rainbow colours. Ginny looked around fascinated by the light play.
‘This is amazing, so pretty,’ she said.
‘I like it too. This is one of my apartment blocks. Johnno and Kitty bought the penthouse when I did it a couple of years ago.’
Ginny was surprised; it was a very upmarket complex in a posh area.
‘It’s very swish,’ she said. ‘And modern.’
Greg shrugged. ‘I like nice things. A bit of colour makes all the difference.’
She looked at him curiously as they waited for the lift. ‘So this is the sort of thing you’d do with the house at the beach?’
‘Maybe. I haven’t got my head around that interior yet. It’s a hard one. I’d like to keep as much of the interior as I can. After noticing that fancy ceiling rose last night, I’ve had a few different ideas.’
The lift arrived with a ding, and Greg stepped back and let her step in first. They were quiet as it raced smoothly up to the top floor. Ginny was trying to push away the nerves that were dancing in her tummy and resist the urge to hang onto Greg. All too soon the doors opened, and this time Greg took her hand as he led her along a wide corridor with a skylight in the middle. He paused underneath and pointed up. ‘You can see the stars at night, and in the day time it brings in beautiful light.’
Ginny looked up at the stars that were appearing in the early evening sky, and then back to Greg as he led her towards the end of the corridor. ‘You’re more than a simple builder, aren’t you? You add beauty to everything. It gives me more hope for the house at the beach.’
‘What do you mean hope?’
‘I don’t really have a right to an opinion, because the house is nothing to do with me, but the thought of those lovely rooms being turned into modern apartments is ...’
‘Is what?’ Greg’s tone was a bit cool.
‘Unappealing I suppose. But you know me. I love old things, and like I said, it really isn’t any of my business.’
‘I’m always happy to listen to opinions.’ He pressed the bell on the door of the apartment they had reached. ‘I’m going to put a couple of apartments on each floor, but I’m still trying to get a feel for the place. Now that I know the sale’s going through, I’ll give it a lot more thought.’
Ginny nodded slowly. ‘That’s good.’ She waved a hand as the door opened. ‘It’s nothing to do with me.’
A petite blonde woman pulled the door open, and ushered them in. Greg handed over the flowers and received a kiss on the cheek in return, before the woman stepped forward and took Ginny’s hand in hers.
‘I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m Kitty.’
Greg intervened. ‘And this is Ginny, if you’d give me a chance to do the introductions, Kit.’
‘Oh, don’t be a grouchy pants, Gregory. Come in, both of you. Ginny, it’s so good to have you here.’
Ginny drew a breath but couldn’t get a word in as Kitty chattered on. ‘John’s out on the deck, checking the Weber.’ She lowered her voice and put her hand to her lips. ‘He watched a home and garden show on TV the other night, and now he thinks he’s Jamie Oliver. He’s been in the kitchen all afternoon, mushing herbs in the mortal thingo.’ Her laugh tinkled across the huge living room as she led them to the glass sliding door. A tall man came out of the kitchen.
‘Not a mortal thingo. A mortar and pestle, darling.’ He dropped a kiss on the top of his wife’s head before he turned to Ginny. ‘Hi, I’m John. Welcome. It’s good to meet you. Any friend of Greg’s is welcome in our house. Now what would you like to drink?’
Ginny was a little overwhelmed by the nonstop talk. Living alone, the only conversation she heard was on television. All of a sudden everyone was quiet, and she looked up as each of them looked at her.
‘Sorry, I wasn’t listening.’
‘Greg and I are having a beer, Kitty will have a wine, what would you like, Ginny?’
‘A wine would be good. Thank you.’
Kitty looked at her with a frown as they walked out to the balcony. ‘Have we met before, Ginny? What school did you go to?
Greg smiled and shook his head, answering before Ginny could reply. ‘Kitty, poor Ginny has already been through the whole school thing with me.’
‘I’ve only been in Sydney for a few months.’ Ginny crossed to the balcony with Kitty and they looked over at the water. Greg lifted the lid on the Weber and gave an appreciative sniff.
‘Smells pretty damn good, Jamie’ he called to Johnno through the open kitchen window.
‘I think you might have been in my shop,’ Ginny said. She thought Kitty had looked familiar when they’d walked in.
‘What sort of shop?’
‘Shabby-Chic at Paddington.’
‘Yes,’ Kitty exclaimed. ‘That’s where it was. I love the shop. I was
there with my sisters a couple of weekends ago. And now that I know that, I bet that gorgeous dress you’re wearing is vintage.’
Ginny nodded, but before she could speak Kitty was off again.
‘So where on earth did you meet Gregory. I noticed your shop hours, and I know he never goes out anywhere. Don’t tell me he was in there buying a present for his mum?’
‘No, we um... we met out on a job.’
Kitty looked across at Greg and beamed. ‘Wherever it was it’s wonderful to see Greg here with someone. We’ve been worried about him.’
‘Kitty.’ Greg’s voice held a note of warning, but Kitty waved a dismissive hand.
‘Don’t worry about him, Ginny. Greg knows I’m a stickybeak so come and sit down and tell me all about yourself.’
Ginny caught Greg’s gaze on her, and he rolled his eyes.
‘Go and help John, Greg, and leave us to some girls’ talk.’
Chapter Ten
Greg left the balcony reluctantly and headed back into the kitchen. Johnno was about to head outside with two wines, but he handed them to Greg.
‘Here, take these out to the girls, and then come back for your drink. I’ve got a couple of finishing touches to put to the salad, and you can keep me company.’
Greg took the two glasses and made a disparaging noise. ‘You could at least be honest, mate, and say you’re going to grill me about where I met Ginny.’
Johnno’s grin was wide and innocent. ‘Moi? Never. Now hurry up and get back here. You can peel the avocado.’
After he’d delivered the drinks, Greg wandered back into the kitchen. The girls had barely noticed him as he’d put the drinks in front of them, and he was pleased to see that Ginny seemed relaxed. He worried about her; she had such an air of fragility and vulnerability, but if he was honest, he guessed that was just what the world saw.
Anyone who moved to Sydney with no family, or friends to support them, and started up a business, had to be tough.
Greg stood at the sink and stared outside as Johnno bustled about. The view from the penthouse over the harbour to the city was incredible, and he wondered if his friends would stay here after they started a family. Lights lit up the water ruffled by the constant traffic on a Saturday night. Ferries, charter and party boats, and even small fishing boats dotted the harbour.
It wasn’t as good as the view from the house at Bondi Beach, though. He wouldn’t mind living there for a while when he finished the development. A niggle of doubt tugged at him. Ginny had been vocal about leaving he house as it was.
Maybe he could refurbish it as a house, and not turn it into apartments? It would be less expensive to do that, but the long-term returns wouldn’t be there.
He could do a total period renovation—and his mind kicked in—he could get Ginny to help him with the interiors. They could scour the markets together, looking for suitable fittings, and that way he could spend more time with her.
‘What are you mulling over, mate?’ Johnno walked over to join him and leaned back against the marble bench top.
‘Thinking about the development at Bondi.’
‘I knew you’d be up working when I rang you.’
‘Yeah, sort of. Did you get any sleep last night?’ Greg took a sip of his beer.
‘No, but Kitty and I had a long sleep this afternoon.’ He winked.
‘Too much information, mate.’
‘You should try it some time. Although it’s good to see you with someone finally. Where did you guys meet? I didn’t think you were out and about on the social scene.’
Greg chuckled. ‘At the house on the hill. We were actually there when you called at three a.m. I’ll tell you one day.’
Another wink. ‘Too much information? You have me intrigued.’
‘You’ll have to stay intrigued.’ Greg lifted his beer and held it out to Johnno. ‘Anyway, mate, cheers. Thanks for your work on the Bondi deal. I know it was a complicated one.’
Johnno clinked glasses and shook his head. ‘It was a different one, that’s for sure. They were reluctant to do the proxy signing even at the last minute. I’ve never seen anyone so attached to a house in all the conveyancing I’ve done.’
‘I got that impression.’ Greg frowned. ‘With that, and Ginny’s ideas, I’m having second thoughts about the apartments.’
‘What, you’re not going to do the development?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve got some ideas rattling around in my head.’
‘Whatever you do with it, you have a prime piece of real estate.’ Johnno’s voice was curious. ‘What happened to your plan of doing this and then taking a holiday? Sounds like my bet is pretty safe?’
‘Could be, mate.’ Greg couldn’t help his wide grin. ‘Sydney is looking pretty damn good all of a sudden.’
‘I’m really pleased to hear that, and not just because of losing a bet either.’
A timer on the bench dinged and Johnno moved away towards the door. ‘Meat’s ready. You grab that salad and bring it out.’
Greg appreciated the affectionate tap on the shoulder from his mate as they walked out to join the women.
GINNY WAS ENJOYING herself. The meal had been superb, Greg’s friends were welcoming, and she smiled as contentment filled her. Her limbs were relaxed, and the peculiar feeling that hit her tummy every time Greg caught her eye was unfamiliar, but pleasant. Kitty had organised to come and have coffee with her at the shop one day next week and she was going to bring a few friends over as well. Business was looking good.
And her social life was looking up.
She leaned back and inhaled deeply. Jasmine tumbled down from a pot high on the wall at the side of the balcony. The sweet smell took her back to her childhood in Brisbane, when her mother was alive. She’d only been small when Mum got sick, and she and Brent had been shipped off to their grandparents, but she could still remember crouching next to the garden beds with Mum, and how happy Mum had been when the jasmine had first flowered each spring.
There had been happy times before she and Brent had been orphaned. Dad hadn’t coped when Mum had passed; he drank himself to an early grave.
She’d coped, but Brent hadn’t been able to and he’d taken off and had never come back. Somewhere, Ginny had a brother who was lost to her as well. It had all left Ginny feeling unloved. No one had loved her enough to stay.
‘Are you ready to go?’ Greg’s warm breath brushed her cheek as he leaned over to her, and she looked up, pulled out of her thoughts. Cross that she had let her thoughts take a maudlin turn, she forced a brilliant smile to her face.
‘Yes, whenever you are.’
‘We both have to work tomorrow, so I guess an early night is in order.’ Greg turned brick red and she loved the way he tried to get over what he’d said. ‘An early night for each of us, in our own places, I mean...’
Johnno stood and pushed his chair in and then held his hand out to Kitty. ‘It’s okay, mate, you’re all grown up now and you don’t have to explain anything.’ His words were innocent but the wink he directed at Greg had him spluttering again.
‘I-I...we.’
Ginny took pity on him. He was such a good guy. ‘Don’t stress, Greg. You can drop me home and still be home in time for a not-too-late night. Where are you working tomorrow?’
‘Now that contracts have been exchanged’—he had recovered his equilibrium, but Ginny caught the dirty look he directed towards his mate—‘I’m going back to Bondi and have a really good look at the structure.’
They said their farewells, and Kitty hugged her and extracted a promise that Ginny would come back and visit again.
Ginny was touched when Johnno took her hand and kissed her cheek.
‘Any time, Ginny. A friend of Greg’s is a rare thing, and you are most welcome here. We’re having a bit of a do on Saturday week, and would love you to come.’
‘Thank you. I’ll check my diary and let you know.’ She didn’t want to seem too keen. Even though it had been a good night
, she was not going to rush in and risk getting hurt.
Greg pushed the button for the lift, and Ginny rubbed her stomach. ‘After that meal I feel as though I should jog home.’
‘I don’t think your shoes would be up to it.’
‘Maybe not.’ She loved how easy it was to talk to Greg. Even after only knowing him — she glanced at her delicate rose gold watch— just over twenty-four hours, she felt as though she’d known him for much longer. She knew instinctively he was a good person, and from what he’d told her last night he’d done it tough too.
‘I liked Kitty and Johnno,’ she said quietly as the lift descended.
‘They’re good people and they were there for me when I needed friends. I’ve been slack, I don’t see them as much as I should. But that is going to change now that I have three friends!’
‘I guess I do too. We’ve had a big social week.’
Greg took her hand as they stepped out of the lift and headed towards the ute. The silence was comfortable, and even the mournful hoot of the ferry crossing the harbour didn’t make her feel sad like it usually did.
‘One day I’m going to get the ferry across to Manly, and have fish and chips on the beach,’ she said.
‘You’ve never been there?’ He sounded surprised.
‘I haven’t had time. I only take a half day off on Sundays and I’m usually doing my accounts then.’ She slowed her pace. ‘Speaking of which, would it be okay if I came back to the house tomorrow if you’re going to be there. It would give me a chance to go through some more of the rooms.’
For a moment, she was worried that he was going to say no, and awkwardness filled her. Letting go of Greg’s hand as they approached his ute, she folded her arms across her chest.
‘On two conditions,’ he said slowly.
‘Yes?’ She tipped her head to the side and her earring tinkled.
‘You come early enough, and we’ll have a fish and chip picnic on the beach. It mightn’t be Manly, but Bondi fish and chips are good.’
‘Sounds good to me. What’s your second condition?’