Authors: Jane Corrie
`If he's who I think he is, then he's certainly not my boy-friend,' Sarah replied crossly. There was only one person that could have been, and it somewhat dismayed her to learn that he was in Sydney. She had thought Canberra was the place he would have been summoned to.
Viola gave her a pitying look. 'I think you'll find that he's got other ideas. Margaret and I felt that he was giving us the once over. You know the sort of thing—were we fit company for his woman. Not that we minded, mind you, and we only wished he'd stayed longer.'
Sarah was only too happy to escape from Viola's garrulous wanderings and get to the flat. One part of her leaped for joy, and the other, the sensible side of her, reasoned that it was just the sort of thing Sean would have done. It had been entirely his fault that she had been denied her freedom, and he had probably got an eye on the future, because she could still make things difficult for him should anything come out.
As she let herself into her room and surveyed her familiar belongings, she felt an unaccountable desire to weep her heart out. She hated Sean for what he had done to her. She had been so comfortable before. All she had ever wanted was her work, nothing else had mattered to her.
She gave a ragged sob. He had only to lift his little finger and she would have rushed into his arms. She didn't care about her job any more, the only thing that mattered was that she should be with him until the end of time.
Why couldn't he have left her alone? Hadn't he done enough damage? She caught her breath. Apparently not, if he had taken the trouble to visit the flat. And it hadn't been her who had sent that rent money, either. He must have got her address from Eddie on some excuse or other.
This thought reminded her that she had still to make her visit to the paper, and it depressed her even more, but it had to be done.
She made a determined effort to pull herself together, and changing into a light cotton dress and dashing cold water over her eyelids, she combed her hair, then surveyed the result in her mirror.
As far as she could see, she was the same
person who had left her room all that time ago on an assignment. Outwardly, there was no difference; inwardly—she grabbed her shoulder bag and was out of the flat and on her way to the Daily's offices before she allowed herself to wallow further into the depths of misery.
It was the same as she had remembered, which was somehow surprising to her altered state of mind. Typewriters clacked in the news room, telephones rang, and the frenzied activity that was always present hit Sarah with a discordancy that shook her. Once she had belonged to this world; now she felt an alien.
Someone spotted her on the way to Eddie's office, and shouted a welcome, but Sarah after giving a wave of the hand in acknowledgement, resolutely marched on to the editor's office.
Eddie was on the phone when she walked in, but after giving her a surprised but welcoming grin, he waved an airy hand towards a chair, ended his conversation, then sat back surveying her. 'Who's a clever girl, then?' he said teasingly. Not only comes up with the scoop of the year, but lands the famous boffin at her feet.'
Sarah felt like hitting him with his Out Tray, but managed to quell this unkind thought. They had all been taken for a ride by that 'famous boffin', and it was about time a few facts were aired. 'I haven't got the famous boffin at my feet,' she declared between her teeth, 'and what's more, if I had, I'd kick him!' she added ferociously.
Eddie's eyes showed his amusement, which annoyed her even more. 'I take it there's been a slight hitch?' he said mildly.
`It's more in the line of a volcanic eruption,' Sarah said darkly. 'Look, you know I didn't write that story. Why did you give me the credit?' she demanded.
Eddie's plump features sobered and he looked at her over the top of his spectacles. 'You were on the spot, weren't you?' he said comfortably. `Besides, if the big man boss hadn't taken such a shine to you, we wouldn't have been the first with the news, would we?' he pointed out reasonably, then added hastily, 'By the way, your man's at the Civic Hall today, and it's the last chance he's giving the press to interview him. After that, I gather he intends to retire back into obscurity.'
Sarah's eyes went to the In Tray. It was heavier than the Out Tray. 'He's not my man!' she ground out furiously. 'And as for retiring back into obscurity, the sooner that happens the better, as far as I'm concerned,' she declared fervently. Eddie sorted vaguely through the papers in front of him. 'Then you don't want to cover it, I gather?' he said mildly.
So he'd got there at last! Sarah thought, as she replied, 'No. Have you anything else for me?' she added hopefully.
Eddie studied her thoughtfully over the top of his glasses. 'Well, everything else is covered,' he said carefully. 'Now look here, Sarah, you go back to the flat until things are sorted out. I wasn't counting on your coming back, you see. Cartier sounded pretty definite as far as your future was concerned, and—well, he's not the type to play around, is he?'
Sarah's eyes widened as she caught the drift of his thoughts. 'Are you telling me I haven't got a job here now?' she demanded.
Now look here,' Eddie said quietly. 'See it from my point of view. I don't want to lose you, or rather I didn't want to lose you, but I know it's just one of those things. One minute you're on the staff, the next, you're whisked off the job by a determined male who doesn't believe in working wives.' He shrugged his plump shoulders. `If what you say is right and you have finished with Cartier, then come back and see me in a fortnight's time, and we'll discuss terms.' He fished in a drawer and drew out an envelope. `There's two months' pay there, plus a small token of gratitude from the big chief.' He gave her a grin. 'Either way, you're covered,' he said. `All I want is the proof that Cartier is out of the picture where your future's concerned,' he added kindly. 'Miss Dalway's retiring at the end of the month, and I'll be looking for another features editor on the women's page,' he tacked on meaningly.
Sarah wanted to throw the envelope back at him, but had to concede miserably that he had been more than fair with her. The fact that he didn't know the real reason why Sean Cartier had formed a sudden attachment to her, made things all the harder to bear, and for a moment she was tempted to reveal all, but at that precise moment the phone rang on Eddie's desk, and he was soon immersed in the daily routine once more, dismissing her with a wave of the hand.
As Sarah made her way back to the flat, she
recalled her earlier thoughts on how things would go when she presented herself back at the newsroom. Not once had she imagined herself being unable to convince Eddie that the fictitious engagement was over. People got engaged every day of the week, didn't they, and got unengaged just as fast. What was so very different with her? Why shouldn't Eddie have accepted her story?
There was, she told herself bitterly, as she let herself into her room in the flat, a very simple answer. Sean Cartier! Not the type to play around, was what Eddie had said.
She threw her shoulder bag on the bed. The wretched man had them all mesmerised. She sat down wearily on the bed. Well, he'd wanted to put a stop to her career, and he had very nearly succeeded, only not quite, she thought, as she recalled Eddie's hint of a job in features.
Sarah took a deep breath. It was the only high spot in what would otherwise be a dismal future. She shook her head. What on earth was wrong with her? Features editor was a plum job, and Eddie must have thought she was capable of managing it if he had bothered to mention it to her. He was not given to vague meanderings on any subject. So in point of fact, she told herself, cheering up somewhat at the thought, the job was as good as hers.
In a very short time Eddie would have all the proof he required concerning her future where Sean Cartier was concerned. Within a day or so he would be heading back to the homestead, for Sarah was certain that that was where he would be going. As Kathy had said, the place was ideal as a haven from publicity.
Thinking of Kathy reminded Sarah of her promise to ring her, and as it was now almost lunchtime, she thought it was likely that she was now back at her home, and fishing out her address book for the number, she gave her a call.
After being assured by Sarah that all was well, Kathy said, 'Sean's coming to dinner this evening, Luke should be back by then. It ought to be a nice family evening, we don't see that much of Sean these days, and I was a bit put out when he said he was bringing someone with him. I've no idea who. I just hope it isn't one of those professor friends of his, or the whole evening will be spent in talk way above my head—Luke's too, come to that. On the other hand, it could be Pauline, although I sincerely hope not. She rang me a little while ago, so I know she's in Sydney—for obvious reasons, I'm afraid.'
Sarah listened politely, and after promising to ring Kathy now and again to keep in touch, rang off.
She wished Pauline all the luck in the world in landing her man. She certainly deserved some success for perseverence, she thought dryly, and wouldn't it be wonderful if their engagement could be announced before they left Sydney, because she couldn't have any better proof than that to show Eddie!
SARAH went to the small Italian restaurant that
she and the other girls had patronised since
moving into the flat, as it was only a street away.
Mario, the short stocky proprietor of the restaurant, welcomed her as a long-lost friend, and deferentially showed her to a table near the window.
The warm spring sunshine shone through the lace-draped windows and shot blades of light in between the tables, and the crisp blue and white checked tablecloths seemed to sparkle in competition with the silverware.
Sarah had no sooner started on her lasagne, a speciality of the house, and which Mario had brought her without an order, when Viola and Margaret joined her.
`Thought you'd be down at the Civic Hall,' Margaret, a tall, slim brunette, who had always to watch her figure, said, as she stared hungrily at Sarah's plate, adding, 'I wonder if I dare,' as Mario walked towards them.
Sarah was now well aware that Margaret and Viola knew the identity of the man who had called at the flat the previous evening, and she replied, 'I'm having a fortnight off.' Later, she told herself, she would put them in the picture, but she had no wish to go over it now.
B
ut surely
---
' began Viola, after casting a
doubtful glance at Margaret, 'if he's there, oughtn't you to be there, too?'
Sarah gave her an exasperated look. 'Look, apart from my having to put up with his company for the past few weeks while I was on the job, there's absolutely no reason why we should ever see each other again. It was very good of him to make sure that I had somewhere to go when I came back home, but that doesn't mean that he's my keeper,' she ended flatly.
Margaret shook her head. 'I don't get this,' she said. 'Do you?' she appealed to Viola. 'Somewhere we've missed out. By the way he acted last night, we started thinking of advertising for someone to take your room, didn't we, Vi?'
Viola nodded as she attacked her food, and there was silence for a minute or so while their appetites were assuaged. Then Margaret returned to the attack. 'Do you mean to tell us there's absolutely nothing between you and that gorgeous specimen?' she demanded.
Sarah wondered if she was ever going to be allowed to forget Sean Cartier. 'Definitely not!' she stated firmly, as she applied herself to her food again, then before any other questions were asked, she went on with, 'I'm sorry to disappoint you both, but you'll have to put up with me for some time to come, and if you don't mind, let's change the subject, because—'
Viola, who had just glanced round the room at this point, said in an awed whisper, 'I'm afraid the subject has just walked in, and unless I'm very much mistaken is heading this way.'
Sarah followed her gaze and to her intense
annoyance saw Sean walking towards them. She felt a ridiculous urge to take off, but she couldn't because it would mean asking Viola to get up too, as she couldn't get past her.
`Eddie said I'd probably find you here,' said Sean, his blue eyes on Sarah, giving her the impression that she was the only one in the room, let alone at the table!
`You've met Viola and Margaret, haven't you?' she said stiffly, inwardly furious with Eddie for his helpful suggestion as to where Sean might find her.
Sean nodded casually at the girls, and without asking permission drew another chair up to the table and joined them, making Sarah's eyes flash. `I expected to see you at the Civic Hall,' he said, ignoring the warning signals.
`Oh, she's on a fortnight's holiday,' Margaret supplied helpfully, now finding Sarah's fire directed at her.
`I expect I shall read all about it tomorrow,' Sarah managed to murmur casually. 'Are you off now?' she asked hopefully. 'Eddie told me you're not going to be available after today.'
`That depends,' Sean said casually, and Sarah felt rather than saw Margaret's swift glance at Viola, that made her dig a little too ferociously into her fruit salad.
Mario then appeared on the scene, and Sean settled for the same as the girls, leaving Sarah to bide her time, because the girls would soon have to depart back to work, and she filled in the time by surreptitiously studying the man who had blighted her life.