Code of Conduct

by Cheyenne Blue

  Would she want to come? It was one thing to invite a good friend like Michi, but inviting Gabriela might make it into something it wasn’t. Not yet, anyway. She hadn’t talked to Gabriela since she had made the decision to postpone retirement—maybe Gabriela would want to stay away. Maybe she would feel she had to stay away. “I’m not sure what she’s doing over Christmas.” The urge to see Gabriela again swamped her. And she had to explain. To let her know of her change of plans. “I was thinking of inviting her up for a couple of days this week, though. She missed seeing a lot of the area last time when her car broke down.”

  “I thought you were enemies? Ow!” Jack’s exclamation stopped the conversation, and he glared at his mother. “Why did you kick me? Viva said they weren’t girlfriends.”

  “Don’t make things hard for your sister.” Her mum stood. Conversation over. “Invite Gabriela, Viva.”

  Viva nodded. She would call her soon. Whether Gabriela came… Well, that remained to be seen.

  The TV crew arrived early the next morning to take some footage of Waggs Pocket before concentrating on the pub. They filmed Viva’s parents serving meals, Jack distributing plates of happy-hour nibbles to a packed bar, and Viva pouring beer. The town had turned out in force for the promise of being on TV, and a few of the locals were interviewed. Viva didn’t like to think too hard about what they might have said.

  When the crew finally left at dusk to head for a modern motel in Dalby, Viva worked the bar for a couple more hours, ate a late dinner, and went to sit by herself on the balcony with a cup of tea. The last time she’d sat here, Gabriela had been with her, eating rare steak and drinking red wine. Gabriela. Her mind skittered around the edges of what she had to say to her. She had to tell her she wasn’t retiring just yet. It was only fair that she not delay any longer. She picked up her phone and pressed the call button.

  “Hi,” she said, when Gabriela answered. “It’s Viva.”

  “Hola,” Gabriela’s richly accented tones came down the line. “Are you in Brisbane?”

  “No, Waggs Pocket. On the balcony. It’s quiet. Max wants to know if you’re coming back, Jack’s still being a dickhead, and my parents send their best to you.”

  “Please send my regards to them as well.”

  “How was Fraser Island?”

  “Fantastic.” Gabriela’s voice bubbled. “I swam in Lake McKenzie, spent a day surf fishing, and took a four-wheel-drive tour around the island. The seafood was fantastic. The local prawns were amazing. I would have called you, but the mobile phone reception is very bad there.”

  “Are you back in Brisbane now?”

  “Yes. I got back last night. I need to catch up on sleep before I decide where to go next.”

  “I wondered if you’d like to come here for a bit? There’s good bushwalking in the Bunya Mountains and a few places to explore.”

  The silence trickled down the line, long enough that Viva started to worry. “Don’t feel obliged.” She kept her tone offhand.

  “It is not that. I would like to come. I am just looking at the calendar. I have been invited to visit one of the Barrier Reef islands by a couple I met on Fraser Island. I thought I would go. They say the scuba diving is far better there than it is on the reef further north.”

  “That sounds great.”

  “Would it be too rude if I came on Thursday and stayed two nights?”

  “No! I’d love to see you anytime.”

  “Do I need to book a room?” A chuckle sounded in Gabriela’s voice. “Will the Harley Davidson Club or the Vintage Wheelbarrow Club be staying?”

  “There’s no car clubs coming.” Viva’s conscience twinged. Gabriela was doubtless assuming she would sleep in Viva’s room. Now was the time to mention she wasn’t retiring just yet. But the thought of saying it over the phone seemed callous. There would be time when Gabriela arrived. Now that the TV crews had gone, Waggs Pocket was back to being a sleepy, tiny town. No one would see them together.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Viva.” Gabriela’s voice was low.

  “Me too.” She gripped the phone as a wave of longing flooded her. It had only been a few days, but the memory of Gabriela—her compact, fit body, her easy way of talking—overwhelmed her. It would be good to sit with her on a quiet balcony and look over the street to the hills beyond, lit by a starry night. Good to hike with her in the mountains, show her the quaint little towns.

  “I will bring my running gear. I would like to go for a run along those long, dusty roads of yours.”

  “We’ll go at dawn and look for kangaroos.” She had to tell her about the change of plans. It wasn’t fair not to. No matter that it was over the phone, she couldn’t let Gabriela assume nothing had changed. “Gabriela, I—”

  “Viva!” Jack’s shout came up the stairs. “Can you mind the bar for a few minutes? I’ve got to move kegs in the cellar. Now if you can.”

  “Just a moment,” she yelled back. Then to Gabriela, “I have to go.” Telling her would have to wait.

  “I heard. I think all of Brisbane did. Send my best to Jack.”

  “He doesn’t deserve your best, but I’ll do that anyway.”

  “Go. I will see you in a couple of days.”

  Viva hung up and went bounding downstairs to find Jack.

  “You look happy.” He pushed his floppy hair out of his eyes. “Girlfriend decided not to dump you?”

  “Very funny. At least I can get a girlfriend if I want one.”

  “Only because you’re famous. Once I’m on television, the women will be falling all over me.”

  She looked pointedly around the bar. The only woman under thirty was Molly, who was chatting animatedly with her husband. “I’ll step aside so I don’t get crushed in the stampede.”

  “Just you wait. I’ll come to the Brisbane International, and they’ll be lining up. Jelena Kovic will be at the head of the queue.”

  “Don’t hold your breath.” She nodded to Molly and went to get her another glass of wine.

  Jack returned a few minutes later, bringing with him some leftover pizza slices.

  Viva finished serving a customer and returned to where Jack leant against the fridge, munching pizza. “What would you say if I told you I wanted to spend more time here once I’ve retired?”

  “I’d say about bloody time. Thought you were getting too good for all of this.”

  “So you don’t mind? You don’t think I’m muscling in on your territory? The pub’s always been Mum, Dad, and you. I just come and go occasionally, do the celebrity barmaid gig for a couple of hours.” She tilted her head and eyed him, watching for his reaction. She never knew with Jack; his jokey manner hid all sorts of things.

  “Nah.” He balled up the tinfoil from the plate of pizza and aimed at the bin. He missed. “The pub’s mine. Or it will be, one day. You know that, right?”

  She didn’t, and the knowledge gave her a momentary pang, a twinge of sadness that maybe she wasn’t loved as much as joker Jack. She swallowed, and when she could speak, she said, “I didn’t know. But it’s fair. You were here when I wasn’t.”

  Jack came around to stand in front of her. His face wore an uncharacteristic sombre expression. “You’re always welcome here, sis.” He took her hands and clenched his fingers tight around hers. “Always. I mean it.”

  “Hey!” The shout came from the bar. “Less of the soppy stuff. There’s people dying of thirst out here.”

  “Aw, shut it, Thommo. You can wait while I hug my big sister.” He gathered Viva in his arms, pressing his cheek against hers for a second before releasing her and spinning around. A ruddy blush crept up from his T-shirt.

  Viva went to pour Thommo a beer and glanced around the bar. The paint from Jack’s last decorating attempt was peeling in places, and there was a water stain above the door. The furniture had a shabby look. It was
like every other country pub in Queensland struggling to keep a community together and to keep the local feel. She could make a difference here, with her money, and some work and elbow grease, even if she wasn’t here full-time.

  “I’ve been away too long,” she said out loud.

  “That you have, lovely,” Thommo said as he took the pot. “But you’ve had reason. We gunna see you win Brisbane this summer?”

  “Not likely. I’m old and slow compared to—”

  “Jelena Kovic.” Jack came up to stand next to Viva. “She’s my tip this year, Thommo. Don’t waste your money on old Viva here.”

  “I don’t know who that Jelena person is.” Molly leant across. “My money will be on Viva, same as always.”

  “Thanks, Molly.” Viva flashed her a big smile. “You get more wine for the vote of confidence.” She tipped the rest of the bottle into Molly’s glass.

  “Hey, that’s my inheritance you’re frittering!” Jack nudged her in the ribs.

  “For that, I’ll have a glass of your best red.”

  Jack came up and gave her a huge smacker on the cheek. “For you, dear sister, only the best. And I didn’t breathe a word to the TV crew about that whole trip-wire thing.”

  “Was that supposed to be a secret?” Molly’s eyes opened wide. “Because I may or may not have mentioned it to that nice presenter.”

  Jack sniggered, and Viva glared. “No wonder Jack didn’t mention it. He didn’t need to.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much.” Molly patted Viva’s wrist. “The presenter was more interested in the details of your last crazy girlfriend than he was in Jack’s busted arm.”

  It was late by the time Viva made it up to bed. Was this what life would be like after the Australian Open, a crazy whirl of family and small-town friends? That didn’t seem so bad. What would Gabriela have made of this evening? Viva turned restlessly onto her other side. Jack’s interruption meant that she hadn’t told Gabriela that her retirement was postponed.

  Guilt nagged her. That was something she should have done, not only as a lover and friend, but as a professional courtesy. Gabriela was conscientious. Would this delay have any bearing on their fledgling relationship? If what they had could be called a relationship. Viva gripped the sheet and pulled it up over her shoulders. Hopefully not. After all, she was still retiring.

  Chapter 14

  Gabriela pulled her rental car into the area behind the pub and killed the engine. It was later than she’d expected. Roadworks on the highway out of Brisbane had delayed her, and then she’d been distracted by a country market in one of the small towns she’d passed through.

  She exited the car and made her way in through the rear door of the bar. It was quiet. Max sat on a stool in the corner, and Jack was behind the bar. Rather than be caught by Max, she took a seat on the far side.

  Jack came over. “Hello again. Can I get you something, or do you just want my annoying sister?”

  “Just your annoying sister, please.” Her lips twitched. Good-natured sibling insults had never been a part of her family, but they seemed to the be currency of language in Viva’s.

  Jack nodded towards the door to the kitchen. “Last I saw, she was trying to talk Dad into letting her do the meals tonight. That will probably change now that you’re here.”

  She smiled her thanks and went through to the kitchen.

  Lindy and Ethan were sitting at the table, heads together, studying papers, but her gaze went to Viva, who strode from oven to workbench, a deep dish of something in her hands.

  Gabriela stopped at the door, unwilling to interrupt.

  But Viva turned and saw her hovering there. A wide smile flashed across her face, and she set the dish down carefully before coming over to Gabriela. Her hug was hard and tight, a brief press and release.

  “I’m so glad you came,” she said.

  Lindy also smiled. “Come in, darl. Sit down. Kettle’s on, or do you want something stronger?”

  “Tea would be nice, if it’s not too much trouble.”

  “Viva. Get on to it.” Ethan snapped his fingers, but his smile gave away the joke. “That daughter of mine needs to learn to move quicker.”

  “Nothing wrong with my footwork,” Viva grumbled, but she flicked the kettle on and grabbed mugs from a shelf.

  Lindy gathered the papers and pushed them to one side. “Good drive?”

  “Too nice. It’s peaceful out here. I stopped for the market at Rosella Creek.” She pulled a jar of mango jam from her bag and handed it to Lindy. “This looked too good to pass on.”

  “Thank you. It looks delicious.”

  Viva brought mugs of tea over to the table. “I’m rescinding my offer to cook tonight. Something better has come along.”

  “No surprise there. You enjoy the time together,” Ethan said. “But sit for a minute first, Gabriela, and tell us how you’re enjoying Brisbane.”

  Gabriela sat and cupped her hands around the mug of tea. “I enjoy it a lot. After all my time there, I feel as if it’s a home away from home. But every year I go somewhere different too. I have just spent a few days on Fraser Island, and last year, I spent a bit of time on the Sunshine Coast. I learnt to surf.”

  “You’ll be able to do that soon, Viva.” Ethan’s smile at his daughter was affectionate. “When you’re retired and don’t have to worry about injury.”

  “I intend to.” Viva pulled the tea bag from her mug and set it aside. “There’re lots of things I intend to do.”

  Curiosity piqued, Gabriela studied her. “Let me guess. Write your memoirs?”

  “Too obvious.”

  “What, no kiss and tell?” Gabriela winked.

  “No.” A slant-eyed glance at Ethan and Lindy. “I have nothing to share about that.”

  “We’ll let that pass.” Lindy patted Viva’s hand.

  “What, then?” Gabriela asked. “Take up macramé? Learn a language?”

  “The second actually.” Viva’s smile was infectious, and Gabriela’s lips stretched automatically in response. “I know a few polite words and how to say ‘She was the better player today, congratulations’ in several European languages, but I’d like to become more fluent. I was thinking of either French or Spanish.”

  “Spanish is easier. And I could teach you a bit. If you want.”

  “Sí. Me gustaria eso.”

  Her accent was terrible, but Gabriela smiled. Viva wanted to learn Spanish—Gabriela’s own native tongue. Was that part of the reason Viva picked that language? An image flashed in her mind of the two of them, in a café in Spain maybe, and Viva testing her new skills on the wait staff.

  Jack stuck his head around the door. “Is anyone cooking tonight? There’s been two food orders on the counter for the last few minutes.”

  Ethan rose. “Guess it’s me, seeing as our substitute cook has decided she’s having the night off.”

  Gabriela rose too. “I am interrupting. Let me get out of your way.”

  “Go.” Lindy drained her mug of tea so fast she must surely have burned her mouth. “We’ll be fine here.”

  “Are you parked out the back?” Viva too had finished her tea. It would seem the entire family had asbestos mouths.

  Gabriela nodded, and they went out to the car park. Once away from any curious eyes in the pub, Gabriela tugged Viva behind the mango tree, positioning her so that her back rested against the wide trunk. She trailed her fingers down Viva’s cheek and felt her smile grow. “I’m glad I came.”

  Viva’s eyes were serious. “Not as glad as I am to see you. You must believe that.” Her hand captured Gabriela’s fingers and held them to her chest.

  Gabriela touched Viva’s lips with her own.

  Viva hesitated, a swift indrawn breath that ended on a soft sigh as she leant into the kiss.

  Gabriela sank into the touch, the sweet tas
te of Viva, and a kiss that was already becoming a special kind of familiar.

  Viva stepped back. “Let’s get your bag.”

  “Leave it for the moment.” Gabriela took her hand, linking their fingers together. The heat of Viva’s palm reminded her of the magic in her hands. “I’ve been cooped up in that car for hours. Can we walk for a bit?”

  “Sure. I’ll show you the creek path. I’ve been running there most mornings. I thought maybe we could run there tomorrow—if you want to.”

  The gravel path led through the camping area, scattered with caravans and trailers, and over the footbridge that connected the two sides of the town. Gabriela’s fingers curled around Viva’s, joining them even more tightly. The sun was low, a red haze in the sky, and somewhere in the bush a kookaburra cackled its maniacal laugh. They walked in silence for twenty minutes before turning back to where the lights of the pub shone through the gum trees.

  Through the window, she could see Ethan and Lindy busy in the kitchen.

  “We should put our dinner order in,” Viva said. “Before the only thing left is deep-fried lasagne.” She led the way through the back door to the kitchen hatch, where she handed Gabriela a menu.

  “Roast chicken, please.” Gabriela set the menu down.

  “Want to eat upstairs on the balcony?”

  “Yes, that would be good.”

  Viva poured two glasses of red wine and led the way to the balcony. Once Gabriela sat, she raised her glass. “To us, to summer, and to the Australian tennis season.”

  They clinked glasses and drank.

  “I’ve missed you.” Viva set her glass down on the old wooden table. “I’ve been busy: with Deepak, with all sorts of crazy happenings since we were last together, but despite the busy times, I wished you were here.” She fiddled with her fork. “Is that weird?”

  Gabriela’s skin prickled, a frisson of desire. “No. I missed you too. I loved Fraser Island, but I wanted you there to share it.”

  “Things have changed for me in the last few days.” Viva’s expression changed. The playful, open expression now had a serious cast.