by A Kelly
Except her hand, which was swollen and bruised from Bobby’s kick. And she didn’t have time to hide it from Scipio when he came home from dinner.
‘Summer?’
She pulled her hand away from his grip. His stared intently at her, something was boiling inside him.
‘We fought,’ she sighed and glanced at the spot where she would’ve fallen.
‘Here? In this house?’
She nodded.
Scipio turned to face the wall and screamed. Then he calmed himself down. ‘Why didn’t you call me?’
‘I’m fine, Scipio.’
‘Summer, we promised we’d do this together. Did he try to take you?’
‘He’s got over me.’
Scipio shook his head. ‘No man will ever get over you. Where is he now?’
‘I don’t know. But the fact is, money seems to be a more attractive mistress.’
‘What money?’
‘Inheritance, from my dad. Bobby found out,’ she said. ‘So I’ll use it to buy my freedom.’
‘I’m calling Varro!’
‘No!’ Summer reached for her phone. ‘Look at this! Look at this!’
‘He’s dead? Sponge Bob?’
‘He did it, Scipio,’ Summer said. ‘Don’t ignore his warning. He agreed to 70K. Once I’ve paid him, he’ll divorce me, and he will disappear from our lives.’
‘And you trust him?’
‘What choice do I have?’
‘I can contribute, Summer. Don’t do this on your own. I’ll sell up, then we can go. Go far where we can start a new life together.’
‘No. Bobby will follow us wherever we go. I want to be here, in Penguin. This place means a lot to me. And now that I’ve found you here, I can’t leave.’
‘How are you going to give him the money?’
Summer recalled Bobby’s text message after he’d left. ‘I’ll drop it off at 350m from the start of the Mt Montgomery Trail.’
‘I’m coming with you.’
‘No!’
‘I am, or you’re not doing it at all!’ Scipio said and clutched her hand. ‘I mean it, Summer.’
Summer had told Scipio the ‘transaction’ would happen tomorrow, but her plan had been to go to Mt Montgomery Trail alone before dawn this morning – as instructed by Bobby. But when Summer woke up at 4am, Scipio’s hand was firmly on hers. Listening to his breathing, she didn’t have a heart to push him away.
So they’d hugged in bed until 8am and she’d left the house when he’d gone to Sergeant Scipio. He still didn’t know of Summer’s plan; as far as he knew, the money was to be dropped off the next day and they were going to go together.
With a green canvas bag filled with $72,175, she drove to the start of the Mt Montgomery Trail. She had emptied her account, and as she’d told Bobby, she also had to borrow about $18,000 from the bank, using the Rideau’s Sydney house as collateral.
It was already 28 degrees in the sun. Summer walked the trail for 1.2km as per Bobby’s last-minute instruction after she’d told him she would be late. And he had stressed to her to come alone. She knew he’d meant it.
She found the red triangle Bobby had nailed to a tree with an S written on it. From there she walked away from the track to find a boulder large enough to hide the bag. Behind it she found a note: ‘You will get my blessing as long as you are being a good girl.’
She left the bag.
Every rustle sounded like Bobby’s footstep. She walked a further one kilometre into the trail but he was nowhere to be seen.
Summer returned to her car and drove around the streets of Penguin trying to spot anyone that remotely resembled Bobby, but there was no sign of him. After lunch she went back to the trail. The red triangle was gone and so was the money bag behind the boulder. In its place, Bobby had left the divorce papers, with a new note: ‘Good girl.’
Summer was applying aloe vera gel on her face, neck and shoulders.
‘You’re burnt! Where did you go?’ Scipio said.
‘Burnie, Devonport.’ Summer turned around to put the aloe vera away.
‘What were you doing?’
‘Looking for a job. I’ve emptied out my account.’
‘Summer, what were you thinking?’
‘Working won’t put me in danger if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘Why can’t I support you? There’s nothing wrong with relying on your man for money.’
In fact, she had found a job days ago, before she’d applied for the loan to pay off Bobby.
‘I’m not looking for a job as a full-on lawyer.’
He nodded. ‘Did you find one?’
‘Yeah,’ Summer said.
Scipio grabbed her shoulders. ‘You’re burnt. Where did you go?’
She couldn’t stay mum for long. ‘I dropped off the money this morning.’
‘Aaah!’ Scipio bellowed. ‘Why? Why?’
‘I’m sorry. I couldn’t let you come with me.’
‘Summer, you looked me in the eye and promised we’d do this together.’
‘He would hurt you, Scipio. He was very clear in his instructions. And look at me, I’m safe. He took the money and he didn’t harm me.’
‘Did he meet you there?’
‘No.’
‘How do you know he took the money?’
‘I went back to the trail after driving around.’
‘My God, Summer.’
‘He wasn’t there but the money’s gone. And he left this,’ Summer said and showed him the divorce papers.
‘What are you gonna do with those?’
‘I can’t sign them. Paying ransom because your life is in danger is forgivable – especially after the police’s pathetic effort to protect us. But finalising a divorce from a fugitive in the middle of it all, it means I know where he is. I could go to jail for conspiracy to defeat justice.’
He looked at her regretfully.
‘He’s married to Summer Washington, Scipio. Not to me.’
This time his eyes were teary.
Summer begged. ‘I’m yours. Do I have to prove it in these documents?’
He kissed her lips as if asking for her confirmation. And she gave it to him.
Scipio rested his forehead on hers; they were nose to nose. He said, ‘No. You don’t have to prove anything. I know. I understand.’ Then Scipio took her hands. ‘Summer, if you really love me, please promise me one more time you won’t, you won’t, do this kind of thing behind my back.’
She squeezed the hands that had been holding her. ‘I won’t stop protecting you, Scipio. I can’t promise I won’t hide things from you when it comes to Bobby. In everything else, I am, and will be truthful to you.’
25
Black cockatoos
It was over with Bobby. No blood spilled. Scipio didn’t mind a period of peace, although he wondered how Bobby had reacted to Summer not filing the divorce papers. He guessed he would never know.
In the meantime, Summer took a role as a legal secretary in Devonport. He wondered how exactly she’d got the job, given she was massively overqualified. He’d found out about her past career as an international lawyer back in Washington DC. ‘I don’t want that kind of life anymore,’ she had said, like it would actually be possible to have such a high-profile job here. Not even the Chief Justice of Tasmania would come close to the role she used to take on. Then she’d told him, ‘For once in my life, I want a menial job.’
He’d thought then, if being a legal secretary was menial, what would a pet supply owner be?
Scipio believed it was human nature. Her looks, like it or not, would qualify her for anything. Since she’d joined the firm, Oliver & Scotts, he often picked her up, dropped her off or surprised her with a visit bearing his homemade lunch. Usually he would find her alone or with a conveyancing clerk, and he’d never met her boss. He couldn’t help feeling like a spy, but he wanted to know she was safe, and being seen with her outside Penguin made him euphoric – the ‘world’ knew that beautifu
l woman was his fiancée. It was like taking a happy pill; he wanted to have it again and again (he’d hinted at Summer he’d love to whisk her to France to attend Carlton’s wedding, but Summer always said no).
Tonight, Scipio was picking up Summer just like any other night, but this time she had told him there would be a small party at the office. He was going to dress up for it but in the end he simply wore a fresh T-shirt and khaki pants. He wanted to show those lawyers that Summer, an overqualified legal secretary, whom they probably looked at with some degree of lust, was partnered with a pet supply owner from Penguin. If he could, he would’ve told them how she took him as he was and let him shine when they made love – every time.
When Scipio arrived at Summer’s office, a flock of suited men turned to him simultaneously.
‘This is Joseph, my fiancé.’ That was the first time he heard her saying his real name. Summer introduced him proudly, hanging on to his arm, rubbing his biceps. The best... yeah, he was full of that.
Some disappointed faces made Scipio smile on the inside. But it only lasted a few seconds for soon their eyes were soon focused on her left hand. No, Scipio hadn’t bought Summer a ring, and he felt cheap.
They stayed for one round of drinks. On their way home, watching him drive Summer said, ‘You look so handsome.’
‘How?’
‘You just do,’ she said, resting on his shoulder. Then she angled her face to look at him. ‘Hey… what’s up?’
Scipio smirked, tossing up whether to tell her about his ‘fiancé insecurity syndrome’.
‘I haven’t got you a ring,’ he said.
‘Oh, Scipio! I don't want you to spend money on jewellery,’ Summer said.
‘It’s not just a piece of jewellery.’
She held his hand and squeezed his ring finger and said, ‘Hey, our bond is stronger than a diamond ring, you know.’
He hadn’t expected such response and it melted him. He pulled the car up and turned to her. Under the dim streetlight, he imagined her rosy cheekbones in her beautiful face.
He quipped, ‘Who said anything about a diamond ring?’
She chuckled.
... the gap between her teeth, her full lips...
He kissed her, and without words they scrambled to the back seat. She might’ve torn her skirt as she rushed to pull her panties down. His name, which she sighed out repeatedly, bounced off the Toyota Prado ceiling. She wanted him, a pet supply owner from Penguin, not those shiny, stressed-out lawyers. As he was close, her legs wrapped around him tightly. By now he was sure she had torn her skirt. Then she threw her head back and screamed. Scipio could only imagine how she could do all that in such a confined space, it was like doing yoga in a crate.
Having nowhere to go, Scipio paused as his second rush raced through his system. Summer was still panting, her head leaning back against the seat. Perhaps 16 hours of her ‘menial’ job today had taken its toll, and just now she’d been squashed and penetrated in a space that could barely take two adults. Slowly he pulled out and Summer nudged herself to give him room. Then he moaned softly. Not softly enough as she heard him.
‘Hey… you ok?’ she said and reached for his cock.
Scipio lifted his leg.
‘Scipio… after all this time you still want to hide your erection?’
‘Ssh…’ Scipio sighed and stroked her hand.
‘Why?’
‘No, I’m not hiding it. You’re tired. It’s okay.’
‘No, I’m not.’
He kissed her and nodded. ‘Yes, you are. I’ll deal with it later.’
‘But it will give you...’
‘It’s okay.’
‘I have always made love to you again. Why does tonight have to be different? Because we’re in a car?’
‘Yeah… my back isn’t as nimble as yours.’
Summer laughed. ‘Well, my hand can come to the party.’
She was about to reach his cock and this time he lifted his knee higher to make sure she didn’t get there.
‘See… you’re hiding it!’
‘Summer… please,’ he said and squeezed her hand. ‘You know, when I have my second, I… um… how…’
‘Scipio, just tell me.’
‘Before you came into my life…’
‘Before your pha–– cock knew me?’
What was she going to say before the word cock? He parked his question as he wanted to get his explanation over and done with. ‘When I had my second, I always sorted it out myself. I was ashamed of it. This humungous thing just… It’s out of my control. Giving me no break! Before I knew you, it hurt, okay, it hurt. But it was still better than a migraine. When I’m with you, in you, you’re… soft, you’re comfort.’
‘Then make love to me again.’
‘Then I’ll hurt you.’
‘Scipio… you need to stop that.’
‘I know I do. Your screaming and writhing. I know it’s not just pleasure. You do it for me.’
‘There’s a fine line between pain and pleasure. When you’re in me, the pain doesn’t hurt, it pleases me. It pleases me immensely. So no, you don’t hurt me. I always want you. No erection, one erection, two, or however many.’
She kissed him and effortlessly swung her leg to his other side – no panties, no skirt. So he entered her again. Those familiar push-backs, the squeezes – tender and comforting. When she screamed, he really listened this time.
Like a pair of thieves, they stole along the sides of the car to get back to the front seats. There were no souls around, but he could hear short screams from the branches overhead. Red-tail Black Cockatoos – he recognised their calls. Scipio smiled. Learning Summer was simple. All he had to do was listen. After decades of living in embarrassment, he finally felt being well endowed was a blessing.
26
Family
Joseph watched Cornelia interacting with Scooter as if they’d known each other for a long time.
‘Who’s a good dog? Who’s a good dog?’ Cornelia said.
Scooter barked at Cornelia then play-bowed with her fluffy butt in the air and docked tail wagging excessively.
‘You should so adopt her, Dad.’
‘Maybe. At the moment we’ll keep her as a foster dog.’
Cornelia sat next to Scipio. She’d come to Penguin for Christmas, and this time she was a couple of weeks early, thanks to her extended break. Adding to his excitement, his daughter would stay in Tasmania for the spring season at Hobart’s Theatre Royal.
‘Come, Piper… sorry, Scooter,’ she invited the mutt to lie next to her feet. Scooter accepted the invitation while sniffing her shoes.
‘Dogs are colour blind, but I swear so many dogs like these red shoes.’ Cornelia chuckled.
‘You’re all set for your brother’s wedding?’ Scipio asked.
‘Pretty much. How about you?’
‘Not sure if I’m coming.’
‘Not sure? Dad!’
‘Summer isn’t keen.’
‘Why?’
‘Well, you know your brother. He can’t help himself, that playboy. I think Summer was a bit uncomfortable with him. You know they’re the same age.’
Cornelia rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah… Carl is like that but I’m sure it’s changed now that he’s gonna get married. Oh wait… Carl actually hit on Summer while with Laura?’
‘He flirted with her in a car park.’
‘I’m gonna punch him in the gut!’ said Cornelia.
‘She was alone at the time and he had no idea who she was.’
‘Still!’
‘Don’t tell him anything! I haven’t even told him about me and Summer – well officially anyway,’ said Scipio. ‘And I guess you and I haven’t talked about it much either. When I told you on the phone you said you were happy for me, I guess...’
‘I am happy for you, Dad.’
‘I know. It’s just that, Summer is complicated.’
Cornelia nodded. ‘When I saw her the first time, he was so a
ngry with you I thought she was going to kill you. But, boy, she’s so beautiful. I can’t blame you for falling head over heels. Are you sure you can handle her?’
‘I’m still learning. But Summer and I need each other.’
‘You never told me why she wanted to kill herself.’
Where would he begin? ‘She had a difficult relationship with her dad. Unfortunately he committed suicide and she believed it was her fault. I guess her guilt just snowballed and that night she saw the end of the road.’
‘It sounds scary,’ said Cornelia.
With both Summer and her dad being associated with the word ‘suicide’, it was, in fact, terrifying. Scipio decided that it was enough for his daughter to take in, so he kept Bobby out of the conversation.
Cornelia shook her head. She said, ‘If you look at her, you wouldn’t think…’
‘I know.’ Scipio held her hand. ‘Are you worried?’
‘A bit.’
‘Me too.’ He smiled. ‘Look, Cornelia, marriage is about working hard for each other. It will never be perfect – you have to know that. Summer may not be like other women, she is almost impossible to deal with, to be honest, but there is something in her that overrides all that, and I’m willing to fight for it,’ Scipio said. ‘And… it’s mutual. She wanted to leave so many times, because she didn’t want to hurt me. But I couldn’t let her go, and she stayed. She stayed because she wanted to fight for me, too.’
‘If there’s anyone who could make a woman like Summer happy again, it would be you, Dad.’
He’d taught his daughter well about life; or he’d like to think so.
‘Just don’t sabotage your own happiness,’ Cornelia said with a wink.
‘She drives me crazy, but I can’t imagine life without her.’
‘You have to convince her to come to Carl’s wedding. Make it super official!’
Scipio smiled. ‘All right, I will.’
‘Where is she, by the way?’
‘Still at work.’
‘So we’re going to have Christmas dinner together?’
‘Yeah. Although…’
‘What?’