by Lilly Mirren
She should take a break from the journals.
She hurried up to her room, taking the stairs two at a time. The diary sat on the doona where she’d left it. She slipped it into the box Charlie had made for Nan, pushed the box back beneath the bed and vowed not to open it again until she’d found her own path, recovered a sense of joy she’d lost when her parents’ car slid from the road all those years ago. And that could take a very long time.
32
February 1996
Cabarita Beach
Kate raised her aching feet with a groan and set them on the ottoman. She leaned her head against the fabric headrest of her new bedroom armchair with a sigh. She, Reeda, and Bindi were sitting in the newly renovated master suite after the inn’s grand re-opening. They’d all agreed Kate could have the room as her own.
Bindi had opted to keep the room she’d slept in as a teenager on the second floor, and Reeda planned to travel back to Sydney as soon as things around the inn were running efficiently enough that she felt comfortable leaving them. She was sharing Kate’s room in the meantime, sleeping on a narrow trundle bed. Her own, newly completed room was booked by a couple from Adelaide for the week.
“Today was crazy,” muttered Reeda, a cup of tea clutched between her hands.
“I can’t feel my feet,” replied Bindi, squeezing her eyes shut.
Kate reached forward to massage Bindi’s bare toes with her fingertips. “Really? Because mine are throbbing with pain.” Kate grimaced. “I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”
“Well, we got it done. And I’m so proud of all of us,” replied Reeda, grinning. “It was an amazing day, really amazing. I can’t believe we had so many people here for the high tea and grand re-opening celebration this morning, not to mention the half dozen members of the local press. It was more than I’d expected that’s for sure.”
“You made a great speech,” added Kate, nodding her head toward Bindi.
Bindi’s face flushed. “Thank you. It was nothing really.”
“No, it was wonderful. You’re an amazing speaker and a gifted journalist. We’re lucky to have you on our team, and I’m sorry if sometimes I treat you as though you’re still a kid. It’s hard for me to grasp how grown up you are, and that you really don’t need us to take care of you anymore.”
Reeda nodded. “Exactly, well said Katie; and congratulations Bindi on a rousing speech. I swear I saw tears in the eyes of some of our guests, and a couple of the hardened journalists who covered the event. Those things you said about Nan and her generosity of spirit were spot on and really touching.”
Bindi dipped her head toward Reeda. “Thank you both, that means a lot. And with that, I’m off to bed while I can still walk.” Bindi stood with a grimace and hobbled toward the door. “Good night.”
They waved goodnight and Reeda swallowed the last of her tea. She set the cup on the dresser and stood with a yawn.
“Bed sounds perfect.”
While she headed for the bathroom, Kate stayed put, sipping her own cup of tea, and listening to the quiet of the inn. Now that most of the guests were in bed, or at least tucked away in their rooms, the only sounds in the old building were the occasional creak of floorboards or the faint hum of a television set. It felt good to have a full house.
Kate walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked out. She rested her elbows on the windowsill and breathed in the still, hot, night air. Cool air escaped around her into the humidity.
There was movement on the lowest gumtree branch that brushed up against the side of the house. Cocoa waddled along the top of it and stopped close to the window. Kate grinned. She’d hoped the possum would come back to see her when she’d let her go early that morning. Her wounds had recovered nicely and would soon be healed entirely. She was ready to go back to her old life and seemed to like her new cubby. Kate had only to devise a better system for protecting the vegetable garden.
She pulled a small Tupperware container filled with slices of apple and kiwi fruit from the bedside table where she’d left it earlier in hopes she’d see Cocoa. Then tugged the lid free as she leaned out the window.
“Cocoa, come and get some apple.”
The possum studied her, eyes gleaming, then stepped closer.
Kate held out a slice of apple and the possum took it in her mouth, then rested on her hindquarters to hold the apple between her front paws while she nibbled.
Moonlight glanced off the silver fur on the possum’s underside. The sounds of her sharp teeth biting through the apple rang out over the hum of cicadas and the distant call of a sand plover.
Kate scanned the yard, then looked toward the stables. They lay dark in the distance; only the faint outline of the building was visible from where she stood.
Alex had been there this evening, taking guests riding along the beach. She hadn’t seen him of course, but Bindi told her it was going well. The guests loved the new ponies and the three quarter horses Alex had picked out for them. All the while, the older horses, including Ginger, grazed peacefully in the paddock.
Tomorrow was Saturday, so he’d be at the stables all day long, helping their guests to experience the beauty of Cabarita beach on horseback. Perhaps she should wander down to say hello, check things out. After all, it only made sense that she understood how things were working. The horses were new, and she should make sure they were gentle with the guests and easy to ride. She couldn’t do that from the kitchen where she’d spent most of today baking scones, Anzac biscuits, profiteroles, mini pavlovas, and the succulent roast beef they offered for a special, grand re-opening meal.
From now on they’d only be serving breakfast and morning and afternoon teas. Guests would have to forage for their own lunches and evening meals. But today they’d put on a full, four-course menu for every meal in celebration of the re-opening, and it’d been fulfilling and satisfying for Kate in a way that working for Marco never had been. If she were being honest, she’d never felt that kind of thrill working for anyone else. The fact that it was her own menu, served the way she wanted it, and at her own inn, filled her with excitement and pride as the meals were taken out to the dining room by their brand-new wait staff.
Maybe this was what she’d been looking for. She’d always dreamed of opening her own restaurant but had never wanted to take the risk while she had a prestigious job as head chef at one of the most renowned restaurants in Brisbane. But now everything was different.
She wished she could talk to Alex about all of this. She longed to hear what he thought about it all, to share her heart with him and hear his. But she couldn’t — it wouldn’t be fair to him now that they’d broken up. Still, she missed him. Missed talking to him, hearing his deep voice as he studied her, amusement in his sparkling eyes. Missed the feel of his full lips against hers, the scent of saddle oil and old spice tickling her nostrils.
Cocoa finished the piece of apple and her head bobbed up and down, then side to side, as she searched for more. Kate handed her another piece, and this time she carried it in her mouth down the length of the tree branch and sat in the darkness to eat it.
Kate watched her go, then pulled the window shut and headed to bed.
33
February 1996
Cabarita Beach
Kate slung the dish towel over her shoulder and smiled. It was the day after the grand re-opening, and everything at the inn was running like clockwork.
She and Mima had served a full hot breakfast to the guests. The wait staff served with a smile, then ferried all the dirty china and silverware back to the kitchen where a single kitchen staff member washed and stacked it all away again.
Each time one of the dishes from the buffet in the breakfast nook was emptied, a waiter returned with it for Kate and Mima to refill. And finally, the last guest had left, the last dish had been washed and it was time for Kate to do the rounds, to make sure everything else was as it should be at the Waratah.
She almost whistled as she walked around the inn,
checking on linen supplies, the progress the cleaner was making on the rooms where the guests had already left for the day, and the menu.
Mima had gone to her room to lie down. Kate hoped the cook would have the energy to keep up with the pace of the newly minted inn. Now that it was full to the brim with guests, it might be more than Mima could manage. Thankfully, Kate was there to help for now. But when, or if, Kate returned to Brisbane they’d have to consider hiring a replacement.
Kate stood by the back door and looked out through the small, square window in the top half of the door. A line of horses walked past the stables and on toward the trail that would take them to the beach. Alex rode Ginger at the head of the line. Kate swallowed, her heart skipping a beat.
The bell at the front door chimed and she hurried to answer it. She met Reeda and Bindi, both rushing to the door as well, and laughed.
“I guess we’ll have to figure out who answers the door, so we don’t all drop what we’re doing every time someone rings the bell,” she said, then stopped with her mouth agape when she saw who it was.
“Howard Keneally,” offered the man, sticking out his hand toward Reeda. “But you can call me Howie.”
Reeda’s lips pressed into a straight line and Bindi hovered behind her, both hands linked together. Kate sat across from Howard, her eyes darting between his face and her sisters.
The last thing they needed on the second day of operation was a visit from the developer who wanted to level the inn and build a resort. They had work to do, guests to tend to, an inn to run. She’d forgotten all about Howard and his resort for a time and thrown herself into managing the Waratah. And she’d had more fun doing it than she could remember.
“I hope you received my offer for the place,” said Howie, glancing around the small office. “I like what you’ve done, although, I think you’ll find my offer will more than compensate you for the work you’ve put in.” He grinned, revealing a set of gleaming, white teeth that contrasted with his deep orange tan.
Kate opened her mouth to respond, but Reeda interrupted her. “Thank you so much for your offer, Howie. We appreciate it and we’re happy to be neighbours. Please let us know if you ever need to borrow a cup of sugar or a glass of milk. But as for buying the Waratah, well I’m afraid it isn’t for sale; not now, and not ever.”
Bindi’s eyes widened and Kate’s stomach did a flip. Was she hearing things? Did Reeda just declare that they’d be keeping the inn, that they had no intention of ever selling it?
“Reeda… do you mean it?” asked Bindi, a smile disrupting the worry lines that’d formed above her nose.
Reeda squeezed Bindi’s hand. “I do. We’ve done something amazing here. Honestly, I wasn’t sure we could pull it off. I was pretty certain we wouldn’t manage it, that we’d fight too much or run out of money, or that no one would want to holiday here after all the construction work we’d done. But that’s not what happened. We worked well together, we’re a great team. I have loved almost every single minute of this project with the two of you.” She reached for Kate’s hand as well and the three of them smiled at each other, every set of eyes glimmering with unshed tears.
Kate’s throat ached. “I’ve had the best time as well.”
“Me too,” declared Bindi.
“And this is Nan’s inn. We’re not going to get rid of it. I believe in it, and I believe in us. Nan knew we could pull this off, and she was right.” As Reeda finished her speech her voice trembled.
Kate squeezed her hand. “After running from it all these years, and the pain of being here after everything with Mum and Dad, I can honestly say that the Waratah feels like home to me now. Especially after finding Nan’s diaries, and reading about all she went through, I’d hate to give the place up. There’s so much of her and Pop here, in every room, every squeaking floorboard, and so many memories…”
Howie cleared his throat and stood to his feet. “Well, I guess that’s it for me then.” He laughed. “Never mind. You can’t blame me for trying. All the best, ladies.” He touched two fingers to his forehead, as if in salute, then showed himself out of the office.
Reeda stood and pulled Kate and Bindi into a group hug. Kate wound her arms around her sisters and pulled tight. Tears streaked her face and the faces of her sisters, as they grinned at each other.
Bindi shook her head. “I can’t believe it. I’m so happy.”
Kate laughed. “Me too, although I never would’ve imagined that keeping the Waratah Inn would be the thing to bring me that happiness.”
“So, what are you going to do?” asked Reeda. “Are you going to stay or go back to Brisbane.”
Both sisters watched for her reaction. Kate’s heart rate accelerated. She knew exactly what she was going to do, what she longed to do with everything inside her. She’d turn the inn’s kitchen into the restaurant of her dreams. She’d make it everything she’d hoped to achieve, and she’d do it with family by her side.
She smiled through a veil of tears. “I’m staying.”
Reeda cheered and Bindi bounced up and down in place, jostling both her sisters. “Yay!”
She couldn’t wait to tell Alex. Wait. Alex — if she was staying there was no reason to keep him at arm’s length. Unless he didn’t want her. Unless he was settling for her because he couldn’t have the one he truly loved. But maybe Mima was right — Nan had loved Pop. She’d grieved Charlie and then spent a long and happy life with Paul Summer. They’d raised a family together, then grandchildren. They’d weathered the highs and the lows of life and they’d done it side by side. Wasn’t that what she wanted? Someone to share her life with? Someone she could love, who’d love her back? Maybe Alex could love her the way Nan had finally loved Pop. Maybe it wasn’t a second-class kind of love, but a real, passionate love that could weather the storms of life with two people coming together as one.
She let go of her sisters, her heart racing.
“What is it?” asked Bindi, her brow furrowed.
Kate sucked in a quick breath. “Alex — I’ve got to tell Alex I’m staying.”
Reeda’s lips curved upward.
Kate flung the dishcloth onto the bench as she ran by. She slapped the back door open with the palm of her hand and kept running. The horse-riding group had returned from the beach. She could see them, milling about, helmets in hand as they chattered and giggled over their adventure. Horses relaxed around the yard, reins looped over fence posts and heads lifting and dropping as they reached for the handfuls of hay scattered on the ground in front of them.
Where was Alex?
He stepped out of the stable and across the yard, then reached out to stroke Ginger’s neck.
“Alex!” she called, huffing into the yard.
He faced her with a start, eyes wide. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
She leaned her hands on her knees, catching her breath as thoughts tumbled about inside her head. He reached her in two long strides and lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers until she was staring into two, deep hazel eyes.
She sighed and linked her hands with his, winding her fingers through his own, strong calloused ones. A crease formed between his eyes.
“What’s going on?”
She smiled. “I’m staying.”
“What?”
“I’m staying here, at the Waratah. I’ve decided not to go back to Brisbane, I’m going to run my own restaurant here at the inn.”
“You’re staying… for good?”
She nodded.
His lips curved into a half-smile. “Is that so? Well, I’m happy for you.”
“And I was hoping, since I’m not leaving, that you’d maybe give me another chance.”
He huffed. “Oh? I don’t know… you kind of broke my heart.” Her pulse quickened. She’d hurt him? She hadn’t realised his feelings for her ran so deep.
She cocked her head to one side. “I did?”
“Yeah, cause I’m in love with you. If you didn’t know that already.”
Her heart leapt into her throat and she inhaled a sharp breath. He loved her? He loved her. Why had she pushed him away?
“I was worried…” she began.
His eyes narrowed. “Worried about what?”
It sounded stupid now, even in her thoughts. It was immature, childish. She sighed. “That you’d never love me the way you loved your wife.”
His eyes widened. “What? Why would you…? That’s crazy.”
“Is it? You loved her, she died, and it shattered you. Understandably of course. I mean, I get it. But what if you’re never able to love me the way you loved her? I don’t want to be the one you settle for.”
He shook his head. “It’s official. You are crazy.” His eyes twinkled. “I love you. I’m not settling… you’ve given me hope that I can be happy again. I am happy when I’m with you. You’ve given me a second chance at life. It doesn’t change how I felt about her, it doesn’t erase the past. But my future is with you, if you’ll have me.”
Relief swamped her. She laughed, and threw her arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe to reach for his lips. “I love you too.”
34
March 1996
Cabarita Beach
Kate brushed the hair from her eyes and rested her hand above her forehead as she peered out through the inn’s front door. Reeda’s hire car waited in the driveway, engine idling as Jack wrested an enormous suitcase into the boot.
“I’m going to miss you,” said Reeda, her arms wrapped tight around Bindi’s thin frame.
Bindi sobbed. “I’ll miss you too. It’s been amazing having you here for such a long time, but I know you must miss Duncan. Please tell him thank you for lending you to us.”
Reeda nodded and released Bindi, then dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I don’t know how I’m going to settle back into my life in Sydney after this. It’s been exactly what I needed.”