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With a sigh, Cleo gave the address of a street of modern townhouses on the edge of town. Will ended the call. ‘Have to go, mate,’ he said to Martin who was clearly more concerned with how to extricate Nate from the melee ensuing in the street. ‘Catch you another time.’
It was late by the time Will found the quiet street. The townhouse at the end of the cul-de-sac was dimly lit, but there was a light outside the front door. He parked close by and walked up to the door. It opened before he had time to knock or ring the bell.
‘Hi, Owen’s dad.’ Hannah said. She looked exhausted, her hair falling across her shoulders, her eyes small with fatigue and worry. ‘Owen’s asleep and Mum’s in the kitchen. Come in.’
Will followed Hannah through the hall to a well-lit kitchen where Cleo was seated in a breakfast nook. She rose when he walked in.
‘There was no need for you to come, but I understand,’ she said. ‘I know how I’d feel if it was Han who was injured. We were having hot chocolate. Would you like some?’
Will was taken by surprise. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had hot chocolate. Certainly not since Dee died. He wondered why he’d never made any for Owen and him since then, probably because it would bring back too many memories. Now, it was exactly what he needed. ‘Thanks,’ he said.
‘I’m off to bed, now, Mum.’ Hannah gave her mother a kiss and disappeared.
Will heard footsteps go upstairs, and a door close. He gazed around the room while Cleo busied herself making the hot chocolate. It had a homely feel, something which was missing in the house he and Owen had shared for the past few years. It had been homely once, before Dee died, but somehow over the years, the atmosphere had changed. Now, it was just a place to eat and sleep, more like a locker room than a home. No wonder Owen had chosen to move out, though his new home wasn’t much of an improvement.
‘Here you are.’ Cleo handed him a mug and joined him at the table, curling her legs under her and clasping her own mug in both hands. She looked so defenceless and vulnerable with her dark hair on her shoulders, her face free of makeup.
Will had the urge to gather her up in his arms and comfort her.Where had that come from?He coughed to hide his emotion and took a sip of his drink. ‘What happened with Owen?’ he asked, more gruffly than he intended. He saw Cleo flinch.
‘From what Hannah told me, they were on their way to the protest outside the council meeting when it happened. I suspect they’d had a few drinks to gather their courage, and Owen said they were fooling around. It seems he tripped and went over on one ankle. It’s only a sprain but it can’t take his weight. I took him to the Emergency department, and they bound it, gave him a moon boot and lent him a pair of crutches. I didn’t like to think of the two of them going back to that old house so brought them here. I have a downstairs bedroom. Owen’s in that one. You can check on him if you want.’ She sounded upset.
‘Thanks, and sorry if I sounded annoyed with you. I’m not. I’m grateful you were able to help. I was in the meeting at the council and had my phone turned off. It’s probably a blessing in disguise they didn’t make it to the protest. It looked like it was about to turn nasty when I left.’
‘What’s it all about? We…my husband and I… often protested when we were young. Mostly when we saw the environment being endangered. Stan was more radical than I was.’
‘I think your daughter was the one who encouraged them. It’s about stopping the development of a mega resort at Dolphin Beach. It was discussed at the meeting.’
‘A mega resort? Here?’ Surely not? It would be so wrong. It would spoil the whole atmosphere of the place.’
‘I agree, but I also know protests like the one our kids wanted to mount, aren’t the way to prevent it.’
‘You’re right, but I’m thinking Hannah was remembering her dad, and how we often took her along when she was too young to really know what it was all about. I guess we may be to blame.’
Will thought she might be right, so said nothing. He was beginning to realise there was more to Cleo Johansen than he’d first thought. Sitting here in her kitchen, watching how her face lit up, how her expression changed with her mood, seeing her run her fingers through her long, dark hair, learning how she’d taken care of Owen. It all made him want to get to know her better.
He cleared his throat. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said. ‘This idea of Ailsa’s… I rubbished it at the time, but…’ he scratched his head, loosening a few strands of hair from the bun which had started out so neat and tidy, ‘…maybe it’s not so daft after all.’ He looked across at Cleo and waited.
For a few moments she didn’t speak, sipping her hot chocolate and refusing to meet his eyes.
I’ve blown it, he thought, and opened his mouth to back down.
‘I thought so too at the time,’ she said, putting her mug down on the table and clasping her hands together. ‘But you’re right. It might work. Worth a shot, do you think?’ She tilted her head to one side.
Will could have kissed her. But he decided to play it cool. ‘Possibly.’
Thirteen
Cleo couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this fiasco, to have dinner with Will at the surf club. Ailsa and Martin would be there, too. So it wouldn’t be like a date, but she was still unsure about it.
It had seemed to make sense last night, when they were sitting enjoying hot chocolate in her kitchen, both of their children safely tucked up in bed. It had even appeared like a good solution to Will’s problem when they both peeped in to see Owen snoring loudly in her spare room and laughingly tiptoed out again. But now, in the light of day, having seen Owen and Hannah off, Owen to go home in a taxi and Hannah to work, it seemed to be utter madness.
What on earth possessed her to agree?
Cleo did a quick tidy of the kitchen and set off for the café, wondering if she could change her mind. But even as the thought occurred to her, she knew it was too late. The relief on Will’s face when she agreed, had been intense. For a moment she’d wanted to give him a hug. Then she remembered who he was and stifled the impulse. But she had to admit he brushed up well. Last night he was wearing a smart pair of pants and shirt, the complete opposite of the disreputable surfer image she’d come to expect from Owen’s father. She’d begun to think maybe she’d misjudged him, gone on appearances instead of finding out what he was really like. She’d ignored what Bev said about him being a local hero, all the good work he did in the community. Instead, she’d decided to form her own opinion based on his appearance.
But none of that changed the fact she was due to meet him tonight at seven for dinner.
Unusually for a Friday, the day seemed to drag. The café was busy, but it was as if time stood still. Cleo would love to have shared her concerns with Bev, but Bev was the last person she wanted to know. Though, given her earlier comments, she’d probably approve. And since she was Martin’s sister, and Ailsa was her best friend, it wouldn’t be long before the news of Cleo and Will got out. Well, wasn’t that what was supposed to happen? There was no sense in setting up thispretendsituation if it was to remain a secret.
