Sarah
checked her watch. “Hey, it’s about time to meet for drinks. How about I
stop bugging you and let you get into your room and I’ll head on up to the
bar.”
“Sound’s
like a plan. I’ll see you there shortly.”
MICHELA
ENTERED THE top floor bar and was captivated by the floor-to-ceiling glass
paneling that offered an unrivalled view of Hobart, its harbor and surrounds. A
collage of pleasure boats liberally dotted the Derwent River, while the
colorful Battery Row markets were full with a teaming mass of people.
She
turned around and scanned the room, finally locating Sarah and the rest of the
team.
“Hi,
guys. Sorry I’m late, but when I got to my room I found I’d been put in some
sort of hostel part of the hotel.” The others laughed and Michela joined
them. “I had to explain to them that I’d be living in a shoe box for the
next couple of months and I wanted my final days before departure to be as
palatial as possible.”
A
drinks steward approached the table. Michela sat and waited until the others
had placed their orders and then placed her own.
“It
won’t be long now before we’re finally on our way,” Michela said, after
the steward walked away. “Has everyone checked in their stowed
luggage?” The group nodded.
Rob
nudged Sarah. “So, did you manage to fit all that booze within your weight
restriction?”
Sarah
mocked punched him. “Yes, mate, I did, thank you. I suppose weight
restrictions won’t be your problem, given those blow-up dolls don’t take up so
much room do they?”
Allison
joined in the laughter. “What about you, Di? I swear you had a fashion
wardrobe in Mount Cook. Are you going to get under restrictions?”
Dianne
smiled. “Very funny, Alli. I’m prepared to meet any contingency. After
all, you never know when you may meet the man of your dreams, isn’t that right,
Michela?”
“I
don’t like your chances on Antarctica—the people who work there year round have
a tendency to become a little feral,” Michela replied. “Seriously
though, if you can’t meet the restrictions then you’ll need to fix it in the
next couple of days before we sail. And that includes any duty free you might
purchase before we go.”
Michela
took a sip of wine. “We’re also required to attend a pre-departure
briefing on the ship the day we sail.” The group groaned. “I’m sorry,
but this is compulsory. Anyone who isn’t at the meeting won’t be allowed to
sail. I’d also like you all to be on the ship and settled before the briefing.
Is everyone okay with that?”
The
others murmured agreement and Allison raised her hand. “I’ve about squared
away the stores and equipment for the expedition and I can have the cargo
manifests to you by tomorrow morning if you like.”
“Thank
you,” Michela said.
“Was
there anything else that needed doing?”
“No,
not really. But I was wondering how you all felt about having a team dinner
tonight. Nothing fancy. I thought we could take in one of the seafood
restaurants on Battery Point—a sort of last decent meal before we sail.”
Rick
snagged a chip from the bag on the table. “Sounds like a great idea,
Michela. Have you got anywhere in mind?”
“Last
time I was here there was a place called The Net. It’s casual but the food is
to die for. How about we meet in the foyer at, say, seven-thirty? It isn’t that
far from the hotel and afterwards, those who want to can hit the night
clubs.”
Ewan
rubbed his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Fine food, fine women, who
could ask for more?”
He
ducked as the group threw serviettes and chips at him.
DINNER
THAT EVENING turned out to be just as Michela promised. The finest seafood
Tasmania had to offer, complemented by wines from the Tamar Valley made the
group’s evening a pleasant one.
Michela
spent the meal silently observing the interaction between her comrades. They
all seemed in good spirits, keen to start their journey regardless of the
relative uncertainty that awaited them. As the meal drew to a close, Ewan was
good to his word, pulling the men away, less Rick, for a tour of Hobart’s
seedier hot spots.
Michela
was relieved at Sarah’s suggestion of something a little more sedate, and Sarah
guided them to a coffee shop, well known for its wonderful desserts.
The
coffeehouse’s soft musical tones and muted lighting were a welcome change from
the noise they’d left behind at the restaurant. Michela searched for a seat in
the stained wood booths that lined the walls. Before she could find one, Dianne
pulled back from the group. “I think I’m going to have to take a rain
check. I feel a headache coming on. You lot stay though. I’ll find a cab to
take me back to the hotel.”
Allison
turned to her. “Don’t be silly. You’ve never been to Hobart before and
you’re not feeling well. We’ll take you back to the hotel. We can get a coffee
in the bar upstairs.”
Rick
lightly grabbed Allison’s sleeve. “There’s no need for everyone to miss
out. How about I take Di back to the hotel and you girls have a bit of a night
of it. I’ll be fine. Ewan mentioned where the men were going. I’ll track them
down and keep them honest.”
Michela
internally cringed at Rick’s use of “girl.”
Why is it they’re men,
but we’re girls?
“Are you sure?”
He
quickly kissed Allison and patted her backside. “It’s fine. Alli, honey,
you hang onto the key and I’ll get a spare one from reception.” He gently
guided Dianne to the door. “You girls have a good night.”
Allison
pointed to a vacant booth along the opposite wall. “I’ll grab us some
menus and meet you over there.”
Sarah
made herself comfortable along the length of one side of the booth. “I
swear to God if he calls me girl again I’m going to flatten him.”
Michela
chuckled. “I thought it was just me. I wonder if he consciously does it?
As for that damn patting on the backside thing, what’s that all about? Anybody
would think Alli’s his property.”
“It’s
so bloody condescending. If he was my partner, he’d have lost his arm by
now.”
Allison
tossed the menus on the table and slid into the booth beside Michela.
“Who’d have lost their arm?”
“That
waiter at the restaurant. If he’d stroked my arm one more time I’d have decked
him,” Sarah replied.
“I
thought he was merely trying to be polite.” Allison smiled at Sarah.
“I think he fancied you.”
Sarah
shifted. “He’s bloody-well not my type.”
Michela
laughed at Sarah and the three took time to peruse their menus. After the
waitress finished taking their orders, Michela glanced up and found her eyes
locked on the blonde headed woman heading toward their table.
The
woman stood head and shoulders above the other patrons, her confident walk
testimony enough to acknowledge the eyes, both male and female, that followed
her. Michela’s body instinctively responded to what she saw and she barely
managed to school her features before the woman stopped in front of them.
“Sarah
Knight, as I live and breathe, don’t you ever get enough of this place?”
Sarah
propelled herself from her seat and into the woman’s outstretched arms.
“Maddi Walker. The things you see when you don’t have a gun. What are you
doing here?”
Maddi
cast an appreciative eye at the two women at the table. “Just having a
drink with some of the old crew. What brings you to this part of town?”
“Shit,
where are my manners. Maddison Walker, meet Dr. Allison Shaunessy and Dr.
Michela DeGrasse. We’re part of a team going down to the Finlayson site.”
Maddi’s
hand lingered in Michela’s. “Maddi will do fine. Pleased to meet you both.
That means you’ll be on my territory, so you better behave. I’m the Team Leader
for Wills Station and I’ll be your immediate backup during your stay. So,
Sarah, all the crew are here from your last tour. Got time for a quick
hello?”
Sarah
was torn between catching up with old friends and deserting her new team.
“I’m
sure Alli and I can look after ourselves. Go and see your friends and we’ll
catch up with you later,” Michela said.
“Are
you sure?” Sarah asked.
Allison
stood and sat where Sarah had been. She stretched her legs out on the bench.
“There. Now you’ve got nowhere to sit, so you’re going to have to
go.”
Nodding
her thanks, Sarah took Maddi’s hand and they wove their way around the tables
and across to the group of women.
Maddi
looked back at Michela’s booth, nearly causing her to run into one of the
tables. “So, are they a couple?”
Sarah
laughed. “No way. Allison’s straight. Her partner’s currently out with the
boys. As for Michela, she’s family but let’s just say she’s not out and
proud.”
“What,
she’s not closeted is she?” Maddi asked.
Sarah
shook her head. “No. She just doesn’t see the need to share her private
life with those who don’t need to know about it, that’s all.”
Maddi
laughed. “Ooh, I’d like to share her private life with her. By the way, that
young biologist who you were all over last year is here, so be prepared for a
heartfelt welcome.”
“Sarah.”
A young woman stood and pulled Sarah into a long kiss and hug.
Sarah
chuckled to herself.
Well, I never said I was discrete.
MICHELA
WATCHED ALLISON’S curious eyes follow Maddi and Sarah as they approached a
crowded table. Allison’s expression turned to surprise as she witnessed the
display between Sarah and the short woman who greeted her.
Allison
returned her gaze to Michela and struggled to conceal her embarrassment.
“Are
you all right? Do you want to go home?” Michela asked.
Allison
picked at a paper napkin. “No, I’m okay. Surprised that’s all.”
“About
what?”
Allison
motioned toward the loud group on the other side of the room. “I didn’t
realize she was gay. I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t met gay people before,
it’s, well, it came as a bit of a surprise.”
Michela
accepted her coffee from the waitress and directed Sarah’s coffee to where she
was now sitting. She sweetened her drink and looked at Allison. “Each to
their own, I suppose.”
Allison
silently sipped her coffee. She surreptitiously looked at the group and then
turned back Michela. “Doesn’t it bother you? You know, to know you’ll be
bunking with her when we get to the continent?”
Oh,
if only you knew the full story. I wonder what your reaction would be.
“Firstly, I haven’t finalized the accommodations
arrangements and secondly, no, it doesn’t bother me at all.” Allison
tilted her head. “Just because Sarah’s gay doesn’t mean she’s interested
in every woman she sees. For example, do you like Rob? Would you like to take
things a little further with him?” Michela laughed as Allison’s lip curled
up in disgust.
“You’ve
got to be joking. I mean he’s nice guy and all but, well, he’s not my
type.” Allison smiled and nodded in understanding. She took a sip of her
coffee and boldly regarded Michela. “So what’s your type?”
Michela’s
features sobered. While she’d had occasional partners, Natalie had been her one
and only long-term relationship.
If only I’d spent more time at home.
Allison
touched her on the arm. “Michela, is everything alright?”
Michela
put her hands to her face and rubbed it vigorously as if to scrub away sad
memories. “It’s okay, I’m fine. It’s just I had a bad breakup after
four-and-a-half years of what I thought was love ever after. I think your
question shook me, that’s all.”
“When
did it happen?”
Michela
smiled in resignation. “Oh, not long before I flew out to Christchurch.
Not the best timing I’ll admit.”
“I’m
terribly sorry. It can’t have been easy coming all that way, when there was
unfinished business at home.”
Michela
shook her head. “That’s the good thing about high paid lawyers. They
managed to come to an agreement that suited us and didn’t involve too much
financial acrimony. No, coming to New Zealand happened at the right time.”
A
comfortable silence descended between them as they retreated into their own
thoughts.
“I’ve
never really thanked you for saving me that day,” Allison said.
Michela
frowned before realizing Allison was referring to her fall at Mount Cook. She
shrugged. “There’s no need to thank me.”
Allison
took Michela’s hand. “No, I’m serious. I don’t know what I’d have done had
you not acted so quickly. I was a right royal pain in the backside over there
and you never once lost your temper. I’d hate for you to think I was ungrateful
as well.”
Michela
looked at the smaller hand softly clasped around her own. Despite the lightness
of touch, the heat between them was palpable, forcing her to wonder if Allison
could also feel it. She locked eyes with Allison, seeing something there she
couldn’t readily discern.
Was it recognition or fear?