Not for a Moment, page 3
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Sarah looked at her phone for the hundredth time. 2:45 p.m. and no sign of Andi. Her fingers worried the phone case. Should she call? If she did, and Andi was pulling into her street at that exact moment, she’d seem like the nerviest parent. Andi wasn’t that sort of person. She was blunt and direct and didn’t seem to have an anxious bone in her body. She oozed confidence, from the way she strode into a room to the way she stood, hands on hips, tattoo sleeve on full display, handsome face sombre.
And Sarah still had to talk to Noa. She’d thought it might be easier with Andi there, but it seemed that wasn’t going to be an option.
Noa was in the kitchen pressing her small thumb into the top of each jam drop biscuit they’d made. “Done.” She beamed a gap-toothed smile. “Can I put the jam in now?”
“Sure. Remember, these are for Nana and Poppi. They’ll be here soon.”
“Do they like red jam?”
“I’m sure it’s their favourite.” Sarah took the raspberry jam from the fridge. “Don’t put too much or it will burn.”
“’Kay.” Noa carefully put a teaspoon of jam on the first biscuit. Half of it fell down the side.
Sarah bit her lip. A burned jam drop was nothing compared to the shitshow that was about to go down.
“Do I get the first biscuit?”
Sarah turned. Andi stood on the deck outside the rear door. Relief slithered down her spine and she closed her eyes briefly in thanks.
Noa turned and the next spoonful of jam fell to the countertop. “Hi, Andi. You can have the second biscuit. Mummy gets the first.”
“Cool.” Andi gave an awkward sort of half-wave and went across to Sarah.
“Sorry I’m late. I thought I better change to back up your story.” She gestured to her clothes: a sports top and skort, thick socks, and boots. “My hockey gear, but I doubt Rosalind will know the difference.”
“Thank you. I was worried. Come out back and we’ll talk.”
Leaving Noa to cover the counter with splatters of jam, Sarah led the way off the deck and down to the raised veggie beds at the end of the garden. “Long ears.” She nodded toward Noa. “They’ll be here in ten minutes, and I haven’t said anything to her yet. I wasn’t sure if you were still coming. It might be best if we stick to the truth as much as possible: we met through Kristin a year ago. I think that’s when we did meet. We’ve been dating since then. And you moved in…” She stared at Andi. “When?”
“Not too long ago,” Andi said. “Or Rosalind would have met me before. Six weeks ago? Will that work?”
“I think so. And as you work for yourself, you can collect Noa from school, as you told Rosalind.”
“What about Cait? Have you told her about us?”
“Um…that’s difficult. Because if this were real, I would have. But she barely has Internet or phone where she is. Hopefully, Rosalind can’t contact her any easier than I can.”
“Got it.”
Sarah looked down at the ground, then across to Andi. Her gaze ran up the hockey boots and thick socks, over suntanned, muscular legs to the hem of the brief skort. Andi had amazing legs, lean, strong, with well-defined muscles. She looked like she worked out, but more likely it was her physical job.
Job.
“I’m not entirely sure what you do,” she said. “You paint houses?”
Andi winced. “Sort of. I do…but it’s more high-end stuff. Specialty paint finishes, decorative trim work, colour consultation, and timber work. I’m more an interior designer for surfaces. Upmarket properties—probably like Rosalind’s. I haven’t slapped a coat of white satin finish on a wall for years.”
“So I better not ask you to paint my wardrobe doors?”
“As your girlfriend, you can ask. Maybe I’ll even do it.” She shot a wink, and a little frisson of feeling sparkled its way to Sarah’s fingertips. Who knew a wink could be sexy? To cover her confusion, she turned and started back to the kitchen. “I better talk with Noa.”
“Mummy, jam’s done. Can we put them in the oven now?” Noa jumped down from the stool and tugged at Sarah’s hand the minute she came through the door.
The counter was covered in raspberry jam and the empty jar was on its side.
“Sure. I’ll put them in, you look at the time and add ten minutes. That’s when they’ll be ready.”
“It’s five minutes to three so they’ll be ready at…” Noa pursed her lips. “Five minutes after three.”
“That’s it.” Sarah put the biscuits in the oven, then faced her daughter. “Noa, you know Andi’s my friend, don’t you?”
“Course,” Noa said. “Andi paints things, jus’ like I do.”
“Andi’s my—”
The doorbell rang. Shit. Of course they would be early. Sarah stared at Andi. “I’m not ready.”
Andi picked up the bag she’d dropped when she came in. She pulled out a flannel shirt and draped it over the back of a chair, then a builder’s tape measure and a pair of work gloves, which she dropped onto the counter, avoiding the jam splatters. “Props.” She shucked her hockey boots and left them at the back door.
Sarah stared open-mouthed for a second. She hadn’t even thought of that. She went to the front door, closing her bedroom door on the way. No need for Rosalind to see it was obviously only occupied by one person.
She threw the door open. “Rosalind, Lionel. Please come in.” She stood aside to let them pass.
“Thank you, Sarah. It was kind of you to invite us over.”
Sarah let that pass without comment. Rosalind had never been the type to offer a kiss on the cheek or even the pretence of an air kiss, and she walked past with a nod. Lionel offered a slight smile.
“Noa, darling. We haven’t seen you for a long time.” Rosalind swooped toward Noa with her arms wide open.
Noa shot Rosalind a panicked look and retreated to the other side of the kitchen counter next to Andi.
“We’re teaching Noa bodily autonomy,” Andi said. “Please don’t be offended, but she’s exercising it often just because she can.” She rested a hand on Noa’s shoulder.
Oh! Sarah glanced at Noa. She seemed comfortable next to Andi.
“Hello, Nana. Hello, Poppi,” Noa said.
“Shall I put the kettle on?” Sarah offered. “Noa’s made jam drops for you. They’re in the oven.”
“They’re nearly ready,” Noa said.
“I’ll make the tea,” Andi said. “How do you like it?”
“Sarah keeps an orange pekoe for us,” Rosalind said. “We have that weak and black.”
Andi filled the kettle. “Why don’t you sit on the deck?” She gave the counter a quick wipe, then took out mugs and set them next to the tape measure and gloves.
“You can show Nana and Poppi your flower patch,” Sarah said to Noa.
“Who’ll take my biscuits out of the oven?” Noa stuck out her lower lip.
“I will,” Andi said.
“’Kay.” Noa ran out the back door. “C’mon, Nana and Poppi. I grew flowers you can eat. You can eat one if you want.”
Sarah flicked a quick smile at Andi as she followed Rosalind and Lionel into the garden. “Okay?” she mouthed.
Andi nodded.
Noa picked an orange flower and held it out to Rosalind. “These are nass…nuss…”
“Nasturtiums,” Sarah supplied.
Rosalind took the flower and held it awkwardly.
Noa picked more and handed one to Lionel. “It’s good, Nana.” She ate one herself.
“I’m sure it is.” Rosalind balled up the flower and dropped it into the grass.
Sarah glanced back into the kitchen. Andi was opening every cupboard in turn, obviously looking for the teabags. Hoping Rosalind didn’t glance that way, she encouraged Noa to give her grandparents a tour of the veggie patch to give Andi time to find what she needed.
“This is lettuce and those are carrots and that’s spinach.” Noa wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like that, but Mummy does. And these will be cauliflowers soon.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah saw Andi put mugs down on the outside table, then return with a plate of biscuits. When Noa had finished her tour, Sarah suggested they sit in the shade.
Andi pushed mugs of tea, the teabags still inside, across to Rosalind and Lionel.
“Oh dear.” Rosalind’s mouth turned down. “This is far too strong. You only need waft the teabag across the surface. And I do prefer a cup and saucer to a mug. It really does make the tea taste better.”
Andi pushed across the sugar bowl, a plate, and teaspoons. “Take the teabag out now.”
Rosalind did, with a moue of distaste. “Can I trouble you for some fresh boiling water?”
Andi took Rosalind’s mug back into the kitchen and returned with a weaker brew.
Where would she sit? The back of Sarah’s neck was damp with sweat. If Andi was a real partner, what would she do? She moved into the corner of the two-seater. “There’s room for you here, babe.”
Andi came over and sat, picking up Sarah’s hand and resting it on her own thigh then covering it with her own. A frisson of heat rippled through Sarah’s hand. Andi’s bare thigh was warm, surprisingly soft over firm muscle. Nice. How long since she’d touched a woman’s leg? She couldn’t remember. For a moment, she fought to regain her composure, curling her fingers around the inner surface of Andi’s thigh.
They hadn’t discussed this, whether they would touch when Cait’s parents were here. But then, there had been no time to discuss much of anything. They were winging it more than a flock of lorikeets.
“So, Noa, do you like living here with Sarah and Andi?” Rosalind stirred her tea and fixed Noa with what she probably thought was a kind smile. It reminded Sarah of a shark.
“Yeah.” Noa wrapped both hands around her glass of water. “Can I have a jam drop?”
“Offer one to Nana and Poppi first,” Sarah said.
Noa slid from her chair, took the plate in both hands, and walked around to Sarah. “You get the first one, an’ Andi gets the second one.” Then she carefully took the plate to Lionel and Rosalind. “I made them. It’s raspberry jam.”
“I don’t eat sugar, darling,” Rosalind said. “And you shouldn’t either.”
“I’ll have one,” Lionel said. “Thank you, Noa.” He took two, ignoring Rosalind’s glare.
“Do you have lots of friends at school?” Rosalind asked. “What are their names?”
Sarah bit her lip. Most grandparents would already know the answer to that.
“Seb an’ Opal an’ Billie an’ Lahn an’ Mia an’ Jamal.” Noa finished her biscuit. “Can I have one more, Mummy?”
“Yes,” said Sarah at the same time as Rosalind said, “No.”
“It’s not good for her to eat so much sugar.”
“She’s fine.” Sarah crossed her legs, forcing herself to appear relaxed. “She has a healthy diet.”
Lionel reached for another biscuit, earning himself a glare from Rosalind.
“We have a proposition for you,” Rosalind said. “While Cait’s away, we suggest that Noa attends St Philomena’s. It’s a private girls’ school in Hawthorn. It has extremely high standards and the girls receive a well-rounded education. If she likes it, Noa could remain there until Year 12, after which she’d go to university.”
“Noa’s happy at her state school,” Sarah said evenly. “Besides, I can’t afford the fees.” She dug her fingers into Andi’s thigh.
“We’re offering to pay the first year’s fees.” Rosalind smoothed down her pencil skirt over her bony knees.
“It’s a kind offer, but it’s not necessary. Cait and I are extremely happy with how Noa’s schooling is going. Her friends are here. If she had to travel to Hawthorn, she’d be disconnected from her social group.”
“She’d soon make new friends. Suitable friends.”
“Still. Thank you for the offer, but the answer is no. It would be too hard for me—us—to take her there.”
Sarah glanced at Noa. She was staring at Rosalind with a stormy expression. “I don’t want to go to a new school. I won’t.”
“You don’t have to, sweetheart. I promise.” Sarah forced a smile through stiff lips.
“You should reconsider,” Rosalind said. “We thought this was something we could do to help while Cait’s away. Noa could come and live with us in the school term. She—”
“No.” Sarah fought to keep her voice calm. “Rosalind, the answer is no. I also would appreciate if you didn’t upset my daughter by discussing things like this in front of her.”
“We hardly see Noa at the moment, and we’d love to see more of her. We’re in a position to do so much for her, and we’d really like to. Not only education, but she could have—”
“Enough, Rosalind.” Sarah’s pulse pounded like a jackhammer. “You’ve been able to see Noa as often as you want—you chose the fortnightly visits, not me. Now, please drop the subject.”
Rosalind’s face smoothed like a bedsheet. “Of course. Noa, would you like to go to the shopping centre? We can see what you’d like as a present?”
Noa hesitated. “Only if Mummy comes too.”
“I’m sure Mummy and Andi have things they want to do,” Rosalind said. “What do you call Andi, Noa?”
“Andi.” Noa looked confused.
“I think it’s better if we go to the park, sweetheart,” Sarah said. “Maybe we can get an ice cream on the way home.”
“Mummy, can you come to the park too?”
“Of course, sweetie.” Sarah’s smile felt more like a grimace. There was no way she was leaving Rosalind and Lionel alone with her daughter now.
Noa nodded. She sat down again and swung her legs.
“Will you come with us also?” Rosalind directed her words to Andi.
Andi’s brows lowered momentarily. “I’ll stay here. I need a shower after…soccer…practice. I cut it short to be back for your visit.”
“You don’t appear very dirty,” Lionel said. “When I used to play rugby, I’d return home covered in dirt and sweat. Maybe ladies play more gently.”
“We don’t. It’s as tough as it gets,” Andi said. “But I spent a lot of time on the sidelines today. I hurt…my knee a couple of weeks ago.”
Sarah blew out a careful breath. There were so many traps for the unwary in this, from non-stinky soccer kit that was actually for a different sport, to showers. Was Andi actually going to take a shower and change, or was she just going to disappear while they were at the park?
“Then we’ll see you when we return.” Rosalind inclined her head. “I look forward to getting to know you better.”
Sarah widened her eyes and stared at Andi. “Will you be here? Didn’t you say you had to go to the yard to get ready for work tomorrow?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Andi’s thigh pressed against hers and Sarah removed her hand.
“Don’t let us hold you up, babe. I’m sure Rosalind and Lionel will understand.”
Rosalind’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she made no comment.
“Thanks, doll.” Andi stood. “I’ll get in the shower now.”
Doll. Really? Sarah snorted quietly.
Andi turned to the others. “I’ll probably be gone before you’re back from the park. It was good of you to drop around.” Picking up the sports bag, she marched inside, down the hall, and into Sarah’s bedroom.
What now? Did she actually have a change of clothes and a towel in her bag? Was she just going to hide until they went to the park? Sarah bit her lip. Maybe Andi had presumed there was an ensuite. How long would she wait in the bedroom before Rosalind became suspicious? She jumped to her feet. “Let’s go to the park.”
“Yeah!” Noa jumped up and came around to tug at Sarah’s hand. “Let’s go!”
“What’s the rush?” Rosalind picked up the disdained mug of tea and took a cautious sip. “I haven’t finished my tea yet.”
Sarah sat back down and willed Rosalind to finish quickly.
Chapter 4:
An Emerald-Green Towel
Andi pulled open the only other door in Sarah’s bedroom. It was a wardrobe, not the ensuite she’d been hoping for. She hadn’t brought a change of clothes anyway. Hopefully, everyone would simply leave, and she could head home. She looked around. Sarah’s room was tidy, and rather cosy: queen bed with a sky-blue quilt, an eye-catching abstract print on the wall, and some books by the bed. The only thing out of place was a pair of Noa’s shoes by the window and a tangle of phone chargers on a chair. Andi sat on the bed and looked at the books. Both were sapphic romances: A Breathless Place and Amy’s Rest. Oh well, if she was stuck in here for a while, at least she’d have something to read.
She crept back to the door. Voices echoed from the living room, but they didn’t seem to be going anywhere. She couldn’t stay in Sarah’s room forever.
Andi opened the wardrobe. A pile of bright towels caught her eye. Without thinking further, she stripped off, left her kit in a pile on the floor, and tweaked the top towel from the pile. It covered her from nipples to butt—just. If no one looked too closely, she’d be decent. Wrapped in emerald-green towelling, she lifted her chin and flung open the door. Hopefully, no one would notice her. She might as well have a shower before putting on her still-clean hockey kit to head home.
Two steps into the hall, Sarah appeared out of the living room, trailed by Rosalind, Lionel, and Noa.
“Oh!” Sarah stopped dead, her eyes widening as she took in Andi’s naked limbs. Her pale face gained a rosy hue and her lips twitched.
Andi shot them all a jaunty grin, gripped the towel tighter over her breasts, and took another two steps down the hall and into the first room. Shit and fuckity fuck. The room was obviously Noa’s. Even though she’d been to Sarah’s house dozens of times, she’d never actually been to the bathroom, only ever used the separate toilet at the rear. She looked around. What the hell was she to do now? Spying some discarded clothing on the floor, she grabbed it and exited back to the hall. Sarah’s face looked…amused or annoyed. Andi really couldn’t tell.
