SHATTERED FALLS, page 5
“Thanks, so much Matt. I know it had nothing to do with you. Tate is lucky to have a good friend like you.”
“Not really a friend. Hardly know the guy, but us Queenslanders got to stick together.” Matt went quiet for a moment, just giving Rebecca a smile, almost as if he was studying her. “Anyways, we got to get back before Nashy goes off his head.”
“Ok, thanks again Matt.”
Rebecca watched as Matt and Tate both turned and began to head back toward the mill. Rebecca felt an urge to yell after them and hesitated a moment.
“Matt.” The two men stopped and turned, looking at Rebecca.
“Where can a girl get a decent feed on a Friday Night?”
Matt’s face was suddenly lit up by a huge grin.
“Well Friday nights I usually have a sit down at the pub. Not a five-star establishment but it beats the sausages and beans I cook up in the van the rest of the week. You’re welcome to join me if you want, as long as you don’t mind Tate tagging along.”
Rebecca almost said ‘No thanks’ straight away but the smile on Matt’s face was infectious, and she felt herself smiling as well.
“Ok.”
“See you there at seven then.”
Matt turned around again walking over to Tate, who punched him in the shoulder and spoke through quiet laughter. “Seriously. You got a date?”
Matt slapped Tate in the back of the head and the two of them headed once again back to the mill.
Rebecca stood on the veranda watching them for a moment and jumped ever so slightly when the phone rang inside the house.
“Non-stop action here, isn’t it?” She mumbled to herself.
A deep voice on the other end of the phone blurted out a line before she could even say hello.
“Have you checked the children?”
“What?”
The line crackled with a sound like radio static before a different toned voice spoke.
“Ma’am we’ve traced the call. It’s coming from inside the house.”
“Jake, you little asshole.”
“Hey sis. Whatcha doin’?”
“Why aren’t you at school? Does Gran know you’re at home?”
“Whoa…what are you? A Narc. She knows Becsta. I’m home sick …or hurt.”
“What have you done now dimwit?”
“Skateboard accident. Tree ran out in front of me. Twisted me ankle, scraped some bark off, but the girls dig scars you know. Gives me the ‘gangsta’ look.”
“You are such a dufus.”
“Yeah I know…but just wanted to chat and there’s something you need to know.”
“Really?” Rebecca rolled her eyes.
“Serious for a tick sis. Okay. I was talking to Renee at Woolies.” Renee was an old school friend of Rebecca’s.
“And?”
“She was talking to one of Zak’s mates.” Rebecca felt herself draw a deep breath. Zak was her old boyfriend, the one that had gotten involved in drugs and run out on her when she had gotten pregnant.
“Yep, that crazy piece of shit. He knows Bec…. He knows where you are.”
The remainder of the call continued with Rebecca ignoring any further mention of Zak. Jake must have sensed the apprehension in her voice and avoided bringing it up again. Instead he had what seemed like a million questions about the house, the mill and one other thing. Excited as he was about owning half of the house and property, and part of the mill, he only wanted to know about the one thing that Pop had specifically given to him in the will.
“So…Bec…Did you check it out? The car…My car.”
“I went to the shed with Uncle Paul.” Rebecca was careful not to mention anything about why she had gone there in the first place.
“Is it okay?”
“I didn’t take the cover off, but I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Fine. It’s a 1951 FX Ute. It’s a classic. How is that fine? It’s awesome.”
“Okay, okay. It’s awesome. So, when you coming up?”
“Couple of weeks. Grandad wants to come up and see how you’re doing, so we’ll all be coming.”
“That would actually be great.”
After more small talk, some immature brother to sister insults and a ‘you hang up first’ standoff, they finally said their goodbyes.
Ten
10
It was almost noon and Rebecca was beginning to feel hungry, but she had a call to make. She wanted to check in with Aunty Meg just like she had promised Uncle Paul. The phone was answered almost straight away, as if the call had been expected.
They spoke for the next half hour and even though Rebecca could hear the smile in her voice, she could also sense something else behind it all. It sounded like someone that had accepted their fate and abandoned hope. By the time the call ended Rebecca felt exhausted herself and felt the need for a mid-day cup of coffee and something to eat.
She stepped to the pantry, opening the door, and sighed as she looked inside.
“Seriously Uncle Paul, where did you shop? Okay time to go buy some stuff myself and get some real coffee.”
Rebecca grabbed a smaller ring of keys from on top of the fridge, threw on a jacket, grabbed her purse and headed outside. The garage near the front of the house had a lock painted red on the side door, and she knew that it matched the red key on the ring. The shed with Jake’s Ute was further toward the back of the yard. The front garage was just two rooms, one big enough to park a car in and a workshop behind that. When she stepped inside there was plenty of light coming through the old windows, and she smiled when she saw Pops car. It was a white Suzuki four-wheel drive. A Suzuki Sierra and Rebecca knew it was a manual, which was fine with her. She had driven it a few times before. Once she had driven Pop to Newcastle for Grandma and Grandads fortieth wedding anniversary, and then back again two days later. They had driven the long way that time, via Wauchope and back along the Pacific Highway which added almost two hours to the trip and Rebecca had caught a train up there and back, but Pop understood, and it gave them time to chat about everything.
She jumped in and was surprised when it started first time but then remembered that Pop would have had it no other way. The garage door was one of the few luxuries that Rebecca had been able to convince Pop to install. She pressed the button on the keyring and the door rolled up. She reversed out and turned around in the front yard before pulling out onto the road.
Eleven
11
The drive into town only took five minutes, which had hardly been long enough for the heater to kick in. She pulled into a parking spot almost in front of the store, locked the car and climbed out.
The main street was quiet, a few cars parked along it and not another person visible. She stepped through the rainbow-coloured plastic strips that hung over the front door of the store and immediately felt at home. Apart from a change of paint on the wall and the neon that lit the glass fronted fridges, the store seemed exactly as it had been almost fifteen years ago. Rebecca closed her eyes for moment, taking in the smell of freshly baked bread, and she half expected that when she opened them, she would see her oldest friend come running through the door from the residence out back.
She didn’t have to open them.
“Oh my god. Rebecca, Rebecca Ford.”
Rebecca opened her eyes and spun around. Standing behind the counter, still sporting what Rebecca swore was the same ponytail from all those years ago stood Tracey Pearce, the friend she had just imagined, several years older but still a welcome face.
Tracey yelled, “MUM. Get out here. It’s Rebecca Ford. MUM. MUMMMMM.”
“Hi Tracey.”
“Don’t you Hi me bitch. Get here and give me a hug.” Tracey stepped from behind the counter and wrapped her arms around Rebecca. “Oh. My. God. It’s been forever. We were such besties. You should have come visit me sooner.” Tracey let Rebecca loose from her grip and yelled out again. “MUM.”
An older woman stepped through the residence door, and Rebecca recognised her as soon as she saw the striped tunic wrapped around her waist.
“Hi Mrs Pearce.”
“Becky Ford. Now there’s a whole bunch of memories and aren’t you the spitting image of your mum.” Mrs Pearce stood and stared at Rebecca for a moment before turning to Tracey. “And you, young lady, don’t you go calling ANYONE a B word in my shop.”
“Mum. We’ve been calling each other bitches since we were eight years old.” Tracey wrapped her arm around Rebecca’s shoulder, “and I don’t think we’re going to stop now. Ain’t that right Becky.”
Rebecca feeling a touch overwhelmed by the enthusiastic reunion could only manage “I guess so.”
“I was so sorry to hear about your Pop. Mr Ford was, well everyone loved him. He was such a sweet old dear, and he loved you, and your brother. Broke his heart when your mum and dad passed.”
“Mum. Seriously. Do you have to be such a downer?” Tracey gave her a mum a stern look. “Bec. You and me are going to have a bite to eat and catch up, Mum can watch the shop. Okay Mum?”
“Yes. Of course. I’m sorry Becky. I didn’t mean no harm. You girls go have some time to yourselves.”
“It’s okay Mrs Pearce. Umm...I was going to get some things to fill the cupboards.”
“You just write me a list. I’ll get it sorted for you.” Mrs Pearce pulled a pencil from the front of her tunic and pushed it along with a small notepad toward Rebecca. It took her a few minutes, but she scribbled a list of things she wanted, all the while Mrs Pearce watching over her. She was sure that the supervision made her forget some things but if she had decent coffee, she could get the rest another time.
“That should do it.” Rebecca handed the note and pencil back. “Uncle Paul got me some stuff, but…”
“Yes. Don’t think he had any idea when he was in here earlier in the week. I’ll get it sorted. Go catch up.”
Tracey reached out her hand and grabbed hold of Rebecca’s arm.
“C’mon. We’ll sit out on the back deck, while the suns still shining. C’mon.”
For the next two hours Rebecca sat on the deck that overlooked a long yard which dropped away suddenly at the far end to the river. Massive weeping willows hugged the deeply eroded riverbank. The heavy fog that had blanketed the countryside earlier had now burned off and the plains that stretched out beyond the river were dotted with bunches of what Rebecca assumed were cattle and occasional houses.
Tracey had put together a lunch of crusty bread rolls and a creamy pumpkin soup, which Rebecca had noticed was listed on chalkboard out in the shop as a ‘Mum’s Special Lunch’, but it was just what she needed to fill her empty stomach and shake off the stress of the morning.
“Thanks for the soup Trace. Your mum still makes the best pumpkin soup, just never ever tell my Grandma I said that.”
“Yeah it’s good. One day she might even give me the recipe.”
“You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Tonight. What are you doing tonight? I want you to meet Tony. My boyfriend.”
“Well…I’ll be at the Pub having dinner.”
“What? On your own?”
“No. No. Two of the guys at the mill. Long story but they’re sharing a meal with me tonight.”
“A date. You work quick.”
“It’s not a date. Just making friends. I know it sounds a bit weird, but they are nice guys.”
“Well, I tell you what. Me and Tony will meet you there as well. Make it a bit less weird for you.”
“Ok. Let’s lock it in then…. Bitch.”
“That’s more like it.”
After more catching up, laughter and general time wasting, the girls finished up and Rebecca paid for the groceries that Mrs Pearce had organised for her. She got a big hug from both Tracey and Mrs Pearce and as she was leaving noticed one thing on a shelf that she grabbed and paid for before leaving.
“Is this for you, young lady?” Mrs Pearce gave her a motherly look as she asked.
“No. No but I know someone who needs it.”
“Let her be mum. You’re such a busy body.”
For that comment Tracey got a glare, which she just laughed off.
“Ok Bec. See you tonight.”
“See you then.”
Twelve
12
Rebecca climbed back into the car and headed toward home but instead of continuing to her house she turned down the road that went into the mill. It was almost four o’clock, which she knew was knock off time, and she wanted to catch Nashy before he called it a day. She parked the car beside an enormous, weathered log that lay along the length of one of the larger sheds that made up the mill. Rebecca remembered trying to climb it when she was young. She had never been able to manage it and looking at it now, she doubted she would have any more luck today.
Stepping inside the mill she smelt the sawdust and the burning fuel from the old diesel driven motors that powered the saws. A set of metal stairs were to her left as she moved inside the shed, and she headed up them to the office that overlooked the work area. Nashy was on the phone and gave Rebecca a questioning look, raising his eyebrows and squinting his eyes. Rebecca just shrugged her shoulders and waited patiently for him to finish the call. She stepped to the big window that looked over the mill, its outside covered in a thin film of sawdust and webs, but still clear enough for her to make out the men below. It looked like they were cleaning up, with two men sweeping down the aisles with wide brooms and another two pulling dust covers across the machines. She heard the phone being placed down and turned around just as Nashy stood.
“What is it now?”
Rebecca laughed. “Nothing. Honest. Just came to say thanks and to give you this.” She placed a small packet onto the table. “I grabbed it at the store.”
Nashy just stared at it for a moment before picking it up.
“Seriously girl? Not you too.” He tore open the pack and lifted it to his nose.
“You’re not supposed to inhale them.”
“I know, but most of this stuff smells like shit. Truth is I’ve almost picked up some myself……OK. I’ll try it but no bloody promises.”
Nashy popped out a strip of nicotine gum and threw it into his mouth. His face twisted in a grimace for just a second, and he gave a cough, before finally giving Rebecca a sly grin. “I’ll try.”
“Good, and now I’m outta here. I’ll drop in Monday and see if I can help out here doing something.”
“Not much to do. Been quiet. The joinery shop is open tomorrow. We get a few people from out of town come in looking for handmade furniture and stuff. Might be able to help out there, I’m not fantastic with customers.”
“OhhhKay. Guess I could give it a go.”
“Anyways if you turn up you turn up, if not that’s okay too. Nine thirty start.”
A bell rang throughout the mill and Rebecca knew that it meant it was knock off time.
“I’ll be there.”
“Sounds like a plan. Oh, and by the way, I hear you’re going to the pub tonight. Don’t ask how. There are not many secrets around here. It gets rowdy there later so be careful.”
“I will Nashy. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Rebecca almost felt embarrassed but headed down the stairs before the flush showed in her cheeks. As she headed into the parking lot, she saw a few of the employees heading off home in their utes, four-wheel drives, motorbikes and even one jumping onto a pushbike. One of the four-wheel drives slowed down as it passed her, its passenger window rolling down. Grinning at her was the familiar face of Tate, and he gave a casual wave before the driver lent forward and yelled out.
“See ya later Bec.”
Rebecca could see that it was Matt and waved back as the car drove off, leaving her standing in what was now a deserted car park. Only Nashy’s old Commodore and her Suzuki remained. Even though it had just turned three in the afternoon the sun was getting low and the evening chill was beginning to set in. Rebecca climbed back into her car and drove the short distance home.
As soon as she stepped inside, she headed to the bathroom and began to fill the bath. The water seemed to be taking ages to fill the tub, so she turned the radio on in the kitchen and turned it up loud, put away her groceries, found something to wear to dinner tonight amongst her small wardrobe and brought some firewood inside. When she stepped back into the bathroom, the bath was still only half full.
“Bloody hell. You wouldn’t want to be dying for a bath. Water pressure is crap. Might have to call my Plumber friend.”
She sat on the side of the bath, dangling one hand in, testing the temperature, and adjusting the taps to suit with her other hand. The radio was blaring songs from before her time, but she knew the tunes well. Her mother and father had always had music playing wherever they were. The car, home or out on a picnic, and they always sang along. Right now, she found herself singing and tapping her foot to ‘Sugar Sugar’ and surprising herself that she knew all the words.
The bath finally filled, and she slipped out of her clothes, climbed in, and let the heat soak through her. The old tunes on the radio continued and Rebecca slid down further into the bath, just her head sticking above the water. For a moment she thought she was going to fall asleep, as her head nodded forward but a splash of water on her nose kicked her back awake. Not wanting to drift off again, she quickly washed her hair and slid under the water, scrubbing the shampoo from her brown hair. As she popped her head back above the water, she found herself engulfed in silence. The radio had gone quiet and the lightbulb in the bathroom had gone out.
“Seriously.”
She climbed out of the bath dried herself off, wrapped the towel around her chest and pulled on the pair of slippers that had been amongst the things she had bought at the store today. She knew the power box was on the side of the house opposite to the garage and headed out the back door. Even though she was in the country she did not want to take any chances of going out the front door and having someone drive by and see her half-dressed. There was a line of mature citrus trees along that side of the house, and they would block anyone seeing her, beyond that there was an overgrown hedge of camellia that nobody would have any chance of seeing through. Rebecca made her way onto the veranda and was surprised at just how dark it had gotten, and cold.
