Sunshine Reservations, page 3
Aaron had told her more about his time in the military and what he missed most about it. The friendships he’d made there were rock solid, he’d said. He kept in touch with two of the other men who he’d served with. Both were still in the military, and one planned to stay—a career soldier, as he liked to put it. He was happiest that way, Aaron explained. He’d had a rough upbringing before he signed up, and the military had given him a new family, one he didn’t want to give up.
She’d enjoyed getting to know him better. Hearing about his experiences before his return to Sunshine helped her feel closer to him. She pondered all of this as she drove up the highway to the island. The bridge across Pumicestone Passage was the only thing that joined the island to the mainland. As she traversed it, she glanced over the side to the clear, sparkling water below. A sea turtle bobbed to the surface for a moment, then was gone again. There really was no other place in the world quite like Sunshine. It would always be home to her.
Joanna’s house was in the centre of Sunshine, not far from the beach. She could see the waves curling to shore as she parked in Joanna’s driveway. There were other cars parked in the street outside her house. Debbie and Gwen must already be there. Gwen was the one who decorated for each potluck lunch, and Debbie took photographs to keep as a memory. They’d used many of her photographs in their cookbook, and it’d been fun to browse back through all those memories when they were putting the book together.
Today’s theme was Nepalese. Emily had never eaten Nepalese before. But she’d been tasked with bringing the steamed rice, and since she had a rice cooker in her dormitory, preparation had been a breeze. Her rice cooker wasn’t big enough for a crowd, but she ran it a few times and then stowed the rice in a container to bring with her. It was still warm, and she’d wrapped it in a towel to help seal in the warmth. She hugged it to her body as she strode up the driveway, then stopped before awkwardly tapping on the front door. It felt strange not to be a resident there anymore, with her own key. She was a visitor now, so she waited a moment before turning the doorknob.
The ladies were all in the dining room and hadn’t heard her knock. Gwen stood by the table, looking at it with one hand pressed to her chin. She was studying a set of silver candlesticks.
“What do you think?” she asked. “Yes or no to the candles?”
“Hi, everyone,” Emily said.
They all shouted greetings and embraced her.
“It’s been such a long time,” Joanna said, wiping her eyes. “It’s good to see you, honey.”
Emily laughed. “It hasn’t been that long. But I’m glad to see you as well. It’s good to be home.”
“How’s university?” Debbie asked after taking a photo of the three women hugging.
“It’s going well. It’s harder than I thought it would be. I haven’t studied science much before, and it’s wearing me out.”
Debbie grinned. “I can’t even imagine. Good on you for taking on such a big challenge.”
They all helped set the table. Emily’s bowl of rice took the central place. There were small dumplings filled with meat, called momo. There were three different curries: beef vindaloo, a potato curry, and ginger chicken with mushrooms. Finally, there were plates of naan bread, papadam, pickled cucumber, an eggplant dip and a spicy tomato sauce.
“This looks delicious,” Emily said, and her stomach grumbled in response to the scents wafting up from the table. “I’m looking forward to trying it all.”
“Me too,” Debbie replied. “I love Nepalese.”
“I haven’t tasted it,” Emily said.
“Oh, there’s a darling little restaurant in Kingscliff me and Duncan always go to whenever we visit,” Gwen said as she fussed with the place settings. She caught herself and looked up. “I guess I’ll be going by myself from now on.”
Emily squeezed her arm. “I’ll come with you.”
“Thanks, honey,” Gwen said with a tight smile. “There are a lot of things I’ll have to do on my own now. I never thought I’d grow old alone. I dedicated myself to my husband and family, and now my twilight years will be me, myself and I. It’s hard to believe. I still have some adjusting to do.”
They all sat down to eat once the drinks were poured. There was a lovely Shiraz from Western Australia and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Emily chose the white, since she didn’t like the way red wine made her head feel the next day.
“Let’s have a toast,” she said, raising her glass. “We’re all in a stage where things are changing. We’re embarking on new adventures. And I, for one, am very glad that I have the three of you to lean on. To new beginnings!”
“To new beginnings!” they all said in unison as they clinked their glasses together.
As they ate, they chatted about what each of them had been up to. Suddenly Gwen’s face lit up. “I have something I want to discuss with you all.”
“Go ahead,” Debbie said. “But first, I have to commend Joanna on these dumplings. They are incredible. I don’t think I could ever get enough of them.”
“Thanks,” Joanna replied. “I love them too. Tell us what’s on your mind, Gwen.”
Gwen cleared her throat. “I was taking a walk on the beach when I came across the block where your restaurant used to be.” She nodded at Joanna.
Joanna arched an eyebrow. “Oh, yes. The poor old empty block. If only someone would do something with it. I hate driving by it and looking over at the forlorn mess that’s been left behind. It’s so depressing.”
Gwen nodded. “I’m glad you feel that way. The place next door, that run-down bed-and-breakfast, is on the market. And I’m considering buying it, along with the restaurant block, and turning it into a boutique inn. What do you think? Am I crazy? Or is it a good idea? I honestly don’t know. I don’t trust myself to make a good decision.”
Emily crunched into a papadam.
Joanna tipped her head to one side. “I think it’s a great idea.”
“Are you sure you want to take on such a big project?” Debbie asked. “There’ll be a lot involved.”
“I know it’s big. But I’ve never done anything like it. I don’t want to end my days without having achieved a single thing.”
“You’ve raised four beautiful children. I think that’s a massive achievement,” Emily said as she dipped a piece of naan into the spicy tomato sauce.
“I know it is. And I’m very proud of that. It’s my biggest achievement for sure. I wouldn’t change that for the world. But I want something that’s just mine. Something I can look at and say I did that. I think this could be the type of project that rejuvenates me. But maybe I’m expecting too much of it. Maybe I’ll fall on my face. I honestly don’t know.”
“If you fall on your face, then you fall on your face,” Joanna said. “You have a dream—you should follow it. But can you afford it? That’s the big question. You don’t want to send yourself into financial ruin at this age.”
Gwen nodded. “I have more than enough to squander on this project. If it fails, I’ll still be able to retire comfortably. Duncan has been a good provider, if not a loyal husband.”
“You should do it,” Debbie added. “If you want to, I say go for it. And if you need any legal help, I’ll be happy to do that for free.”
“And I can put together a menu and work with you to hire staff for the restaurant,” Joanna added.
“I don’t really have any expertise, but I’ll help in whatever way I can,” Emily said.
Gwen’s eyes shone. “Thank you. I knew I could count on you all. I’m going to do it. I’m going to develop the best inn and restaurant in Sunshine.”
Chapter Six
On Sunday, after church, Joanna returned home for lunch and a rest. Then she and Chris headed to the Bowls Club to meet Debbie, Caleb and Gwen to play a round of lawn bowls. Joanna had never played before, and she didn’t consider herself to be the type of woman who would don an all-white outfit to slide a black ball down a green causeway. But she’d agreed to do it for a bit of fun with her friends, and she was looking forward to it with a mixture of dread and excitement.
Chris was with her when Debbie called and invited her to play for a bit of a laugh, since she and Caleb were staying in their beach house in Sunshine for the weekend. So, she’d asked Chris if he wanted to join them, and he said he’d be delighted.
She’d found a lovely pair of white slacks to wear and a white silk singlet top. Then she’d slathered herself with suncream and added a wide-brimmed hat plus a pair of oversized sunglasses to complete the ensemble. Chris was dressed for the part, since he played regularly in a team.
They drove together in his car. He had a comfortable Volkswagen he’d purchased a few weeks earlier. It still had the new-car smell, along with leather seats and a very impressive-looking touch screen that Joanna wasn’t game to use.
“You can put on music if you like,” Chris said.
She studied the controls warily. “I wouldn’t know where to start. Why is the screen so big?”
“It’s supposed to be helpful.”
“Well, I’m not sure I can deal with all that right now.”
“That’s fine. We can talk instead.”
She laughed. “That sounds good to me. Let’s make sure we’re on the same team today.”
He smiled. “Fine by me. I’m glad you want to join the winning team.”
“You’re a bowler. It’s not really a secret that I like to win. So, I’m hardly going to be on the opposing team. Besides, this way you can teach me how it all works. I’ve never bowled—not on a lawn, anyway. I’ve done ten-pin bowling, but I have a feeling that’s somewhat different.”
“It’s very different,” he replied. “And I’d be happy to show you a few tricks. It’s really not complicated, although it is fun. I never considered myself the bowling type, but I always loved sports. And when you get to my age, bowling is one of the few sports you can continue to play without injuring yourself.” He chuckled. “It gives my competitive side some satisfaction without the drama.”
“That’s a good way to put it.”
“Who will be there?”
“Debbie and Caleb, as well as Gwen.”
“It must be strange not to have Duncan involved in your group outings anymore.”
She sighed. “It’s very strange. We’ve all been friends forever, and Duncan has been a part of that. I’ve known him for decades. We’ve been on holidays together, parties, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, birthdays—all of the major celebrations and milestones have included him. And now suddenly he’s not around any longer. Obviously, it’s harder for Gwen, but we all have to deal with the separation. I’m sure he’s struggling a little too. Although, maybe not. I think his girlfriend probably keeps him well occupied.”
Chris grunted. “I find it hard to imagine dating someone so much younger than me. What on earth do they talk about?”
She shrugged. “Maybe they don’t do much talking.”
“Fair enough. So, we should be sensitive to Gwen today, I suppose.”
“Yes, I think we should. And yet, it’s okay to talk about Duncan. As I said, he’s been a big part of all of our lives, and I know she doesn’t want us to pretend he never existed. I’m simply confused as to how I should react if I see him in public. I mean, we live in a very small town. I’m sure he’ll be around and I’ll run into him sometime. What then? Do I shun him? Shout at him? Turn my back on him? Slap him across the cheek?” She frowned. “I want to be a good friend, but I’m not sure of the protocol.”
Chris laughed. “I think you should avoid physical violence. But anything else is okay.”
She grinned. “I can get on board with that.”
The first game was a fun one. None of them, besides Chris, knew what they were doing, so there was a lot of laughter and mistakes made. Debbie bought the first round of drinks, and Joanna sipped on a grapefruit-based cocktail with a large paper umbrella poking out the top of it while she watched Chris bowl a perfect hand.
She set down her cocktail and picked up her ball then aimed it down the green. The ball only made it halfway. She’d have to throw harder next time. But she hadn’t wanted to overthrow and had held back too much.
“Try turning your wrist this way,” Chris said beside her. He reached for her arm and turned it slightly.
“Okay, thanks,” she said.
He smiled. “You’re welcome. You’re doing fine. It’ll take a little while to get used to the feel of the ball and the way it moves on the grass.”
“Yes, it moves more quickly than I expected, so that’s why I slowed it down this time.”
“It’s very fast.”
Joanna went to join Debbie and Gwen, who were seated at a round table, under cover, with their cocktails in hand.
“You and Chris look very close,” Gwen said. “What’s going on there?”
“Nothing, really. We’re neighbours and friends. I’m feeling a bit lonely now that my house is so empty, and he’s in the same boat. We like to spend time together. But he doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for me.”
“What about you?” Debbie asked. “Do you have those kinds of feelings for him?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve often considered it. We had a moment once, or so I thought. But I realised I was imagining things. He’s a lovely man, but he has never shown an interest in me other than as a kind and thoughtful neighbour and friend. And I don’t want to ruin that. I’m happy to keep things as they are. Besides, I’m not sure I want to head down that road all over again.” She laughed.
“I know what you mean,” Gwen replied. “It’s a whole can of worms. Although it would be nice to be loved and held again, even if it opens us up to hurt and heartbreak.”
“How are things going in your divorce?” Debbie asked Gwen.
Gwen shrugged as she took a sip. “It’s fine, I suppose. I’m still feeling sad about the whole thing.”
“Of course you are,” Joanna said. “That’s going to be true for a while.”
“And I keep seeing him around town with his girlfriend. Now that things are out in the open, they hold hands when they walk. Can you believe it? And she wears these little crop tops with her yoga pants all the time. Doesn’t she own anything else?”
Joanna huffed. “That’s awful. I’m sorry. He doesn’t have to rub your face in it like that.”
“I suppose he doesn’t think about it. Not really. He never was particularly thoughtful. But still, I would expect better from my children. They held a family dinner to meet the girlfriend. A family dinner? Without me! I could cry. But I’m trying to be mature and hold it all together.”
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Debbie said. “That was very hurtful of them.”
“I get it, though,” Gwen replied. “I understand. They want their father to be happy. And I do too. Of course I do. But he betrayed me. Betrayed all of us, really. We were a family, and he broke that.”
“You’re right, he did,” Joanna replied. “But I know you’ll get through this. You’re strong and you’re capable. And I think this inn project of yours is just what you need to help you focus on something else, something creative and positive.”
Gwen’s face brightened. “You’re right. It does make me feel better thinking about it and planning it. I’ve already called the agent to request a walk-through. And I’ve enquired with my bank about the process involved in purchasing a property. I put my cash into a term deposit, so I’m waiting for that to expire before I withdraw it to make the purchase.”
“It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” Debbie replied. “But make sure you get an inspection from a professional before you make an offer to see whether or not it’s a viable building and something worth renovating.”
“Good idea. Thanks,” Gwen replied. “I’ll get on that this week.”
Chapter Seven
Monday morning, Debbie was back in the office. They’d had a lovely time in Sunshine, but now it was back to her real life. She and Caleb had bonded over their lazy weekend, and she felt a lot better about everything. He’d dropped the idea of selling her partnership in the legal firm when she suggested she’d begin looking into it, but it would take some time to arrange, and had been very sweet and romantic for the rest of the weekend.
She dropped her purse into the bottom drawer of her desk and checked her voicemails. There were quite a few, so she promptly responded to each of them. Then they had the morning staff meeting. The room was full of partners. Phillip was there. She needed him to be fully invested in their business so he’d take the ownership seriously if he decided to buy the firm from her. And he seemed to have grown in maturity in recent years, even if he still ranted far too often about dirty coffee cups being left in the kitchen sink.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming today. I’m grateful to have such a supportive team as I’ve transitioned into a part-time role. It’s fantastic to know that I can trust your judgement when I’m out of the office. But as always, if there’s anything you need to talk about, please don’t hesitate to knock on my office door or give me a call at any time.”
The meeting proceeded smoothly. There were pastries and hot coffee for anyone who wanted them. Debbie nibbled on a Danish as each partner ran through the list of items they wanted addressed and provided an update on each of their clients.
The firm was called Holmes, Parkes & Ogden, named after the three principal partners. Several others had joined since—one senior, the rest junior. Wendy Ogden was in charge of their family law department, which essentially meant she spent a lot of time in mediation meetings over divorce proceedings. Sarah Nguyen managed corporate law and had recently acquired a large and prestigious client who would improve the visibility and reputation of their firm substantially. Phil Parkes managed their litigation department now that Debbie had taken a step back. Litigation was their primary breadwinning division, since it was the one Debbie had begun the firm with.
