the Beach Cottage, page 9
No doubt he was looking at her like that while he sat at her kitchen table, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of noticing. Instead, she busied herself filling the kettle with water and setting it to boil, then cutting another slice of the red velvet cake that she’d brought back from the wildlife refuge with her after Sam devoured three pieces. She’d have to remember to take some more substantial food with her tomorrow in case the girl showed up again. It was clear she was ravenous, the poor little thing. Never having had children of her own, she wasn’t entirely sure how much they should eat at that age, but Sam’s hunger seemed out of step with her size.
Expecting Rowan’s eyes to be on her, his smile lazy and suggestive, she spun in place, her cheeks warm, but instead found him staring at the photographs splayed over the table.
“What are you doing with these?” He glanced up at her, his green eyes darker than usual.
“Evie thought I might like to keep them, since they’re of my beach house, and this place is part of my heritage. I’m the only one in the family still living on Coral Island.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see photos of my family here, that’s all…”
Penny set the plate of cake on the table in front of him. “Yes, of course. Sorry, I didn’t think about it, but I’ll make sure to get you a copy if you like. Do you have many from back then?”
“No, none really. My parents didn’t take many photos. Although now I’m seeing these, I wonder who the photographer was, since both parents are in the images. And yours are too.”
Penny studied one of the photos. “You’re right. Who could’ve taken them?”
“Maybe it was a neighbour.”
“Maybe… Do you see your stepdad anymore?” She wanted to find out everything about this man who kept showing up in her life. She was ashamed to admit that as long as she’d known him, she’d never really asked him much about himself. He was a mystery to her.
She poured two cups of tea and put one in front of him.
“Thanks,” he said, picking up a piece of cake and taking a bite. “Wow, this is delicious. You’re a really good cook.”
“You sound surprised.”
He took another bite. “I’m going to have to come over here more often.”
She sipped her tea, revelling in his enjoyment. Nothing made her happier than bringing another person joy. Except maybe taking care of animals. It was a close race — bringing joy to humans and animals were the two things she loved most.
“In answer to your question, no I don’t ever see my stepdad. And I don’t want to. My dad left before I was even born. Mum told him she was pregnant, and he took off. They weren’t married, and she was very young. But then she met my stepdad, Buck. He was good to her and promised to take care of her. She was scared of the future. Her parents weren’t happy she was pregnant, but they fully intended to let her live at home and bring the baby up there. But then her father died, and her mother couldn’t pay the bills. They knew they’d have to sell the beach house and that’s when Penny’s family bought it. At least, that’s what Mum always said. So, she married my stepdad to have some stability for me when I was born. Of course, it turned out to be a complete disaster, and she finally had to divorce him.”
“Wow, that’s horrible. I’m sorry that happened to you and your family. That must be what these photos were about — the beach house passing from your family to Penny’s?”
“Probably. After Buck left, things got a lot better. Mum has her bakery and café, and she seems fine. She’s not the same person she was when I was little—things happen that change us, I suppose. But she’s living her life, and at least she’s not under his thumb anymore.”
“You said he still lives on the island?”
“That was the last I heard. He was living in a cabin on the other side of Blue Shoal. There are a few houses around Amity Point, and his is one of them. He’s a bit of a hermit these days and lives off his fishing and garden, I believe. But I have no desire to see him again. He ruined our lives for so many years. When he left, that was it for me. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
“Totally understandable,” Penny replied, her heart aching for what Rowan and his mother went through. It was hard for her to believe that had been his life when she’d known him all those years ago. He’d always seemed so upbeat and fun. She’d mistakenly believed he had everything going for him — he was clever, an athlete, he loved to surf and was good at it, plus he was handsome in a very typical way. He’d joked with his peers and built a reputation as one of the popular boys. Yet he’d hidden so much pain and personal strife from the world around him.
“So, if you want me to make copies of the photos, I can. Not this one, of course.” She pushed aside the photo with his stepfather in it. “But these other ones are really nice.”
“That would be great. Thanks. You’re always so thoughtful.”
Suddenly it felt awkward again. The room small, his presence so large in it. “Happy to help.”
“Speaking of help, I came by to see if you still need help with the government grant application. Anything else you need to do?”
“Not right now. I haven’t heard back. But if I get the grant, I’ll have a lot of paperwork to complete.”
“Give me a call and I’ll come over.”
She was pleasantly surprised by his enthusiasm. But the truth was, she’d need all the help she could get. If the grant didn’t come through, she had no idea what she’d do to keep the refuge running. There was no point in worrying about something she couldn’t control, but she’d need to come up with a plan soon if she was going to make it work.
Thirteen
It was a beautiful day. Autumn had arrived and with it, some slightly cooler weather. Bea loved autumn and winter on the island. The sun wasn’t as relentless, there was a slight chill in the air overnight, and the ocean had a more deeply blue tint rather than the glaring brilliance of summer.
She climbed out of bed with a smile on her face, pushed her feet into her slippers and padded into the kitchen to make herself a fruit salad with yoghurt for breakfast, along with a giant mug of cappuccino from the lovely espresso machine Aidan had bought her.
Not only was it autumn, but it was the first Sunday of the university break, and she expected both of her children on the afternoon ferry. It was the first time the two of them would visit her cottage together, and she was more excited than she’d thought possible. She couldn’t stop smiling as she made coffee, then carried everything out onto the back verandah to sit looking out across the beach as she ate.
She spent the day getting chores done around the cottage. After a full week in the café, she was exhausted, but happy. She’d had customers every single day, and some were becoming regulars. She’d found a couple of high school students to help after school and on weekends, which was how she was able to take the day off to prepare for her children to visit. She did the laundry and tidied, cleaned and scrubbed. She even took an hour to lie in the bathtub with a mud mask on her face and a pillow under her neck while she listened to an audiobook.
Finally, it was time to collect them from the ferry. She hurried to the car and picked up Dad on the way there. He must’ve been excited, but didn’t show it. His entire face was passive. Only his grey moustache twitched as though he wanted to laugh or smile, but was holding it in.
“You looking forward to seeing them?” Bea asked.
“Can’t wait.”
She smiled to herself. He’d always been stoic, but she could read his emotions after years of practice. The way he folded his hands in his lap as she drove showed he was tense. He stared out the car window at the landscape and didn’t speak — that meant he was thinking, anticipating seeing the kids again. She wondered if he’d heard anything back about his medical tests yet. He might not tell any of them if the news was bad. She’d have to ask him if he didn’t say something soon, although she knew how much he hated anyone to prod for information.
“There they are.” She pulled into the parking lot to see the ferry already docked. Harry and Danita walked across the tarmac with bags slung over their shoulders. Dani waved a hand at the old station wagon as Bea parked.
Danita’s blonde hair shone brilliant under the heat of the sun, her fedora tipped forwards over dark sunglasses. Harry’s peaked cap had a mass of brown curls protruding beneath it and his lanky frame ambled towards her, shoulders slightly hunched.
She climbed out and ran to throw her arms around first Dani and then Harry, who lagged behind. She kissed his cheek.
“Finally! You’re on the island. I can’t wait to show you around.”
He smiled through a grimace. “I’ve been here before, Mum.”
“I know, but I was visiting then. Now it’s home and you haven’t seen the renovated cottage.”
“It’s good to see you, Mum,” Dani piped up as she threw her bag into the boot of the car. “I feel like I’m home as well.”
Her words warmed Bea’s heart. She’d been afraid the children wouldn’t cope with her selling their childhood home in Sydney. That spending holidays on the island or with their father in Melbourne would make them feel ill at ease, as though they had no roots. But so far, they seemed relaxed about the change in their family’s circumstances.
As she drove back to her father’s house, Dani and Harry took turns talking. They chattered about everything going on in their lives, at university, with their friends. Harry had joined the university soccer team. Dani was loving her new area of study. She’d made friends with a large group of girls who socialised together on the weekends. Plus, she’d found a job at a local café and was keen to use her newfound skills to help Bea over the holidays.
“I can’t believe you have your own business, Mum.” Harry studied her reflection in the rearview mirror. “And you’re so tanned and fit. It’s like you’re a whole different person.”
“I had my own business in Sydney, if you recall.” Sometimes she wondered how much attention her children had paid to the life she lived when they were young.
He grunted. “Oh, yeah. That’s right. But it wasn’t the same thing.”
“No, that’s true. I have to be on my feet all day long now, serving customers. It’s taking me a bit of getting used to. I’m definitely feeling fitter and stronger after the renovations and now the café, but I’m also exhausted all the time. I’ve been falling asleep in my armchair at nine o’clock every night.” She laughed. “Just like Pa.”
Her father quirked an eyebrow. “Hey now, don’t bring me into it.”
“Never mind, Dad. You’re fit as a fiddle. Only you like a good sleep in your armchair—there’s no denying it.”
“True enough,” he admitted. “Although it’s the gardening that takes it out of me. That and my spearfishing.”
“Did I tell you I went fishing with Betsy Norton yesterday?”
His eyes narrowed. “No, you didn’t mention it. I wasn’t aware the two of you knew each other.”
“She gave me a music box Mum dropped years ago. Said you told her to hang on to it to give to me, since I’d appreciate it more. Does that ring a bell?”
He sighed. “Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.”
“Mum loved that thing and carried it in her pocket. She used to pull it out and stare at it going around and around. The music drove the rest of us batty.”
Dad laughed. “Yes, it did. I’m glad Betsy kept it all this time. I didn’t want it—too many memories. And besides, I’d probably have lost it long ago.”
“It was very kind of her. We had fun together.”
“That’s good.” Dad fell silent, his brow furrowed. Bea wondered how he felt about her getting to know Betsy and what his relationship was with the florist. But she didn’t want to pry. If he cared to tell her, he would.
The kids were busily talking to each other in the back seat as Bea parked in front of Dad’s house, updating one another on their semester, their results and how hard their assignments had been. Comparing notes.
“I can’t believe you’re back in first year,” Harry said. “Just like me. I’m going to graduate at the same time as you.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “I’m far more experienced than you, though, since I’ve already done two years of study.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll be graduating in four years, just like me.”
“You still have ages to go if you study medicine.”
Harry shrugged as he climbed out of the car. “That’s true. But we’ll graduate undergrad together.”
“Maybe we can wear matching robes,” Dani said.
He laughed. “I think they make you wear specific ones depending on what you study.”
“You’re no fun,” Dani quipped.
They walked into the house without their luggage. They’d be staying at the cottage, but Bea thought they might like to eat dinner with their grandfather in the big house on the point before heading down.
Bradford was there, waiting for them in the kitchen. He was slicing tomatoes when they walked in. He hugged both the kids and then carried a bowl of fresh salsa with a plate of corn chips out to the back deck.
“Let’s sit outside,” he said. “It’s such a beautiful evening.”
When they were all seated, Bea dipped a chip in the salsa and ate. The fresh taste of cilantro, tomatoes and onions filled her mouth and delighted her taste buds. “I can’t believe you made fresh salsa. What has happened to you, brother?”
He sat opposite her with a bottle of beer. “I’m domesticated these days.”
“You’ll make someone a fine husband one day.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I think I blew my chance at that.”
“I’m sure you’ll get another shot.” Dani filled a plate with chips and salsa. “This is amazing, Uncle Brad.”
Bea got everyone a drink and sat again. The cool evening breeze lifted her hair from her sweaty neck. She looked out at the setting sun and listened to the cacophony of birds as they settled in the trees around the property for the night.
“I love it here,” she said.
Harry spoke around a mouthful of chips. “It’s the best. Can we go snorkelling tomorrow?”
“Maybe not tomorrow,” Bea replied, “but soon.”
Dad joined them on the deck, his face pinched. He sat with a glass of water and stared down at his hands.
Bea leaned forward. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drawn together. “I got my test results back.”
Bea’s stomach churned, and her heart rate accelerated. “What did the doctor say?”
“I have to go in tomorrow to talk about it, but it looks like I may have had a stroke.”
His words sucked the air from Bea’s lungs. Everyone fell silent. After a pause, Bradford spoke first.
“It’s going to be okay, Dad. You’re a fighter.”
Dad offered him a wan smile. “You’re right, of course. And it was a mild one, obviously.”
“We’ll all help,” Bea said, reaching for his hand to squeeze it even as her eyes filled with tears. “Whatever you need. I can’t believe we didn’t know.”
“I had my suspicions. But I seemed to recover, so I thought maybe I was wrong.” Dad ran a hand through his grey hair, standing it on end. “They’re concerned I might have another one, a worse one, so there’ll be medication.”
“That’s good — I mean, that they have something you can take,” Dani said, her voice small.
Dad offered both children a look of confidence. “They’ll take care of it—don’t you worry. I’m going to be just fine.”
But Bea knew his words echoed hollow because his hands were clenched into fists, one around her own. He’d stay strong; she knew him well enough to understand that. But she was afraid. She didn’t want to lose him or for him to suffer long-term health complications. Anxiety fluttered in her chest.
Fourteen
The issue of bills sat heavy on Penny’s mind. Bills to pay. Bills on her desk at home. Bills in her email inbox. Running an animal refuge was expensive, and she still hadn’t heard back about the government grant. She should’ve applied for it months earlier, but she’d been so busy. And now, the process was slow, and she would fall behind on her payments and who knew what might happen? Once again, she cursed her own lack of organisational skills. If only she had someone else to do the things she was terrible at managing.
She turned the wheel of the car, downshifted to go up a rise and then coasted along the downhill slope past a neighbourhood of small, squat homes. Up ahead, a girl played in the dirt on the side of the road. Her long brown unkempt hair gave her away. It was Sam, the little girl who’d helped feed the wombats a few days earlier. She was all alone again, and a little too close to a road for Penny’s comfort.
She pulled over and climbed out. The heat of midmorning was like a slap in the face as she walked through the wispy sea grass and sand to where Sam stood, peering at her like she knew she was in trouble.
“I stayed home sick,” Sam said, her eyes darting from Penny’s face to the ground and back again.
“I hope you feel better soon.” Penny crossed her arms over her chest. “Where’s your dad?”
“Work.”
“Who’s taking care of you?”
The girl didn’t answer.
“Where do you live?”
She pointed over her shoulder at the neighbourhood behind them.
“Come on. I’ll take you home and we can call your father.”
She followed Penny to the car and climbed inside. The air-conditioning was a welcome relief. Penny leaned back, eyes closed for a moment to soak it in.
“Don’t call Dad. He’s busy. He says not to call him at work because he can’t take time off to talk.”
