Intensive Care: Escape to the Country (6 page)

Kate followed April back to her office to sign the necessary paperwork and pay the bond for the farmhouse. Afterward she sat in her parked car and called her mum again.

 “Are you sitting down?” Kate asked Elizabeth when she answered the phone. “The job is mine. And I said yes!”

“Oh Katie. I’m happy for you. But it’s such a big decision. You sure you didn’t want to talk it over with Daddy and me first?”

“Mum. Seriously. We’ve had this discussion many times. I don’t need to ask your permission. Anyway, I’ve already said yes.”

“So when do you start?”

“In a month.”

“That’s so soon! Where will you live?”

“I’ve had a look around already and found a house I love, so I’ve just signed a lease. I can move in whenever I like, but I’ve said I’ll take it in two weeks’ time.”

“Darling I just can’t get used to you making such quick decisions, but I’m happy if you’re happy.” Elizabeth’s voice was full of warmth and support for her daughter. “Did you sign a long contract? And how long have you taken on the lease? Just six months I hope. In case things don’t work out. You can always come back home, you know.”

“I haven’t received the contracts yet. Belinda said she’d get HR to email them to me later today. I’m sure it will be at least a twelve-month contract so that’s how long I’ve signed on for the lease on the farm.”

“Farm?” Elizabeth sounded surprised and Kate pictured her mum’s perfectly plucked raised eyebrows. She mentally kicked herself.

“Oh. I meant to say farm
house
.
The house is a cute little farm
house
.
” She emphasized the word, again omitting the fact that her new home sat on a five-acre allotment, some distance from the nearest neighbors. Or that it was ten minutes from town, and had no street number, just a property name.

Cooinda.

April had said it meant “happy place,” although Kate suspected April might have been having her on. She would have to remember to look it up.

“I’ve taken a couple of photos so I can show you when I get back to your place.” Kate glanced at her watch, surprised to see that it was almost four o’clock. “Anyway, Mum, I’ve got to go. I’m hanging out for a coffee and I need to see if there is anywhere here that makes something half decent. And then I need to call Melissa and resign.”

Kate left her car parked in the street, bemused by the reverse angled parking that she hadn’t encountered before, and went in search of some caffeine. April had been no help when Kate had inquired where she might get a good coffee. She had suggested the local McCafé at McDonald’s, which served, in April’s words, “proper” coffee. Kate laughed at the memory of April’s sincerity. Kate didn’t have the heart to explain to April what she meant by wanting a “real” coffee.

As Kate was about to give up her search and head back to her car, she noticed a small bluestone cobbled laneway lined with wine barrels cut in half and overflowing with brightly colored geraniums and seaside daisies. They caught her attention and as she got closer to the laneway, the smell of fresh coffee wafted out and drew her in.
This looks promising
.

Down the laneway was a small opening in the side of an old red-brick building. A shiny black garage roller door was pushed up, revealing a tiny, glass fronted café. Directly out the front of the small space were some upturned milk crates forming makeshift stools and small tables were dotted around the bricked pavement. As Kate got closer, she saw a sign hanging from a black metal frame in the doorway –
“
The Bean Counte
r
”
it read. Kate smiled, liking the play on words.

As she walked in, she noticed the café was empty of people and most of the chairs had been stacked on top of the tables ready for the floors to be swept. She was about to check whether they were still open for business when she spotted the barista standing behind the coffee machine. His long brown hair curled and brushed over the collar of his red check shirt and he had a three-day beard. Rather than giving him a scruffy appearance, it suited him. Around his neck was a twisted leather band and he had a similar one around his left wrist. He wore a black apron over his clothes. As Kate took another step farther into the café she caught a glimpse of long legs dressed in camel-colored pants, rolled up at each ankle, and dark tan-colored shoes on his feet.
Not my type
, but she still smiled to herself. He certainly was good-looking.

“Hello, love,” the man greeted Kate as she got closer and she blinked in surprise. It was the guy from the elevator! At the sound of his voice a sudden unexpected warmth coursed through her body, traveling down to her toes.

“Oh! Hi.” She grinned.

“What can I get yer today then, love?”

“If you’re still open, I’m in need of a proper coffee.”

“Yeah love, we’re still open. My name’s Joel.” He smiled and his blue eyes twinkled. “Joel O’Connor.” The dimples she remembered formed on each side of his mouth.

“Well, hello there, Joel O’Connor.” She smiled in return. When it was obvious he didn’t recognize her, she felt strangely disappointed. “I’m Kate.”

 “So where are you from then, Kate?” he asked, his bright blue eyes dancing.

Do I have something written across my forehead? How do they know I’m not from around here?

“Sydney,” she replied.

“Well Miss City Chick, I make the best coffee in Birrangulla.” He smiled again, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. “And when I say I make the best coffee, I mean it really
is
the best coffee. I’ll even bet it tastes better than any coffee you’ve ever tasted from that city of yours.”

“Oh yeah?” she teased him. “How about I let you know once I taste it?” She laughed softly before stopping herself and covering her mouth with her hand. God, it sounded like she was flirting.

“It’s a deal,” he replied. She was surprised he didn’t reach over to shake her by the hand.

“I’ll have an espresso for starters and then a latte please,” Kate told him, handing him a crumpled ten-dollar note. Her fingers tingled slightly when they touched his.

“Ah, a real coffee drinker. I like you already City Chick! Grab a seat and I’ll bring it over.”

Rather than pull one of the chairs down from the tables dotted around the café, Kate chose a spot at the long timber bench situated at one end of Joel’s work area. She perched on the high stool and crossed her legs, her right leg swinging slightly in time with the music that was humming through the speakers. Her position allowed her to watch as Joel ground some fresh coffee beans and packed them into the small filter basket. As water dripped through into the cup below, a rich aroma greeted her.

With an upturned face, Kate inhaled deeply. “That smells incredible.”

“I told you I make the best coffee in town. I think you’ll love this one. It’s got a really sweet taste. A bit of citrus spice with berries and tropical fruits. Single origin, straight from Ethiopia. Fair trade and all that, too.”

Kate took the espresso he offered and brought the cup to her nose and breathed in her favorite smell. “Wow. You obviously know your coffee. I’m impressed.”

She looked up at Joel and for a brief moment they locked eyes. He stood with one hand on his hip and in his other hand was the towel he used to wipe the milk from the steamer. He rested his arm on the bench in front of her and didn’t take his eyes off her face. He was so close that even from the other side of the bench Kate could just detect the fragrance of his aftershave over the strong aroma of coffee beans. It had the same hint of lemon she remembered. She tilted her head back and in one long gulp allowed the thick rich blackness to slide down her throat.

“Wow,” she said again. “Okay, you win. That is hands down the best short black I’ve ever tasted.”

Joel made a small bow, sweeping the towel in front of him. “I aim to please.”

Kate laughed at his gesture and he turned back to the machine and repeated the action of grinding and packing the beans into the filter basket. At the same time he tested the steam and heated the milk in the stainless steel jug ready for her latte. The sound of the steam frothing the milk brought with it a sense of familiarity. Kate looked around and knew she wasn’t going to have to look elsewhere for coffee. She had just found her new “place” and it didn’t hurt that the guy who worked there was rather pleasing on the eye.

“So what brings you to Birrangulla?” Joel’s question broke into her reverie.

“I’ve just had an interview and been offered a position at the hospital,” Kate answered.

“Ah.” He smiled. “At the Base Hospital or the Private?”

“The Base. In ICU.”

“ICU?”

“Intensive care unit.”

“Doctor?”

“Nurse.”

“Well you have my congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Kate answered.

He frowned then and tilted his head sideways to look at her. “We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Kate nodded. “The Royal Sydney Hospital. About a month ago.”

“Ah yes.” He smiled then, his face brightening, and she could see he recalled their meeting. “I was visiting me mum. You were the girl with the guilt roses.”

“Turns out you were right about that.” Kate dipped her head.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Kate shrugged. She didn’t want to ruin the moment by bringing Marcus into the conversation.

“So this is a bit of an escape plan then, is it?” Joel asked.

“Something like that.” Kate was ashamed to admit he was right.

Another customer arrived then and Joel got busy making her order. They were clearly good friends and by the time Kate was ready to leave Joel was engaged in a deep conversation with the other woman. Kate found that she was strangely disappointed that he hadn’t come back over to chat with her and once she had finished her coffee she stood up to go. Catching his eye and hoping she wasn’t interrupting, she gave him the thumbs-up sign.

“Awesome coffee. I’ll see you again soon.”

“I’ll look forward to that, Miss City Chick,” Joel replied, smiling at Kate and giving her a small wave in return as she walked out of the café into the late afternoon sun.

Checking her watch again, she knew it was time to leave if she planned on being back at her parents’ house before eleven o’clock. She didn’t want them worrying unnecessarily. Putting her shoulders back, she walked purposefully toward her car. It was time to sign off from her old life.

As the sun finally began to break through and push aside the early morning fog, Kate stood shivering beneath the gum trees at the open front gate of her property. She had driven to Birrangulla the day before and had stayed overnight in a motel. She was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her dad with her new furniture and belongings. She had a quick check of her watch. Nearly eleven o’clock. He couldn’t be far away. 
The sun caught and reflected the dew on a massive spiderweb that had been spun between the strands of wire on the fence that surrounded the property. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, causing drips of cold water to rain down on her uncovered head.

From where Kate stood, she could see the fog gradually lift and the sky roll overhead in a seemingly never-ending azure blue. It was a magnificent backdrop to the canvas of the hilly countryside that stretched out beneath it – large, neatly fenced paddocks of greens, yellows and browns as far as her eye could see, sprinkled with towering gum trees and the pinpoint outlines of sheep and cows in the far distance. All it needed was a windmill or two and a horse grazing in the foreground to complete the picture. She took slow and easy breaths as she leaned back against the rusty old gate, surveying the view. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so contented. So far she could think of nothing that would make her regret her decision to make this tree change.

She hugged her navy woolen coat around her a little tighter and re-wrapped the pale blue scarf around her neck, trying to ward off the cool autumn morning. Stomping her feet to warm herself up while she waited, Kate wished she had thought to wear thicker socks inside her new leather boots, but even the cold couldn’t detract from her good mood. She had been warned by the real estate agent that it often snowed in winter. At first she hadn’t believed it, but seeing how cold it was already considering it was only the middle of May, Kate wasn’t going to be surprised if snow was only weeks away. Coming from the city and always having lived near the coast, Kate couldn’t imagine what a real winter was like. It was something she was excitedly looking forward to, although right at that moment the idea of snow seemed a romantic notion in her head. She shivered again. She couldn’t believe how cold she was.

Thankfully she didn’t have to wait long before she saw the removal truck come round the final bend and slow down as it approached her driveway. Waving excitedly, she was surprised and pleased to see her older brother Nathan in the passenger seat. Nathan had been working in the mines in Western Australia for the past five years, earning incredible money, but much to Kate’s dismay he was showing no signs of coming back east or of finding a partner and settling down. She hadn’t known he was even back in the state and she hoped there was nothing wrong.

It would have been an early start and a long drive for her dad on his own and Kate was glad Nathan had made the trip with him. She wondered whether her mum had been behind that decision because she couldn’t imagine Nathan offering, nor would her dad have thought to ask. Either way, she was thrilled to see her brother in the cab of the truck.

The truck rattled as it drove over the cattle grid and Michael pulled up slowly beside her. Before the van had come to a complete standstill, Nathan jumped down from the cab and gave Kate an enthusiastic bear hug and kiss on the cheek. His build was slim, like Kate’s, but he towered over his sister. His long legs were clad in jeans and he was wearing his old school rugby jumper that had seen better days. It was obvious they were related and an observer would have seen the close bond they shared.

“Great to see you, sis. So, this is it, eh?”

Nathan scanned the area, looking ahead up the gravel driveway between the rows of agapanthus and gum trees toward the house. Kate wondered what he was thinking. She knew if Marcus were standing in Nathan’s spot, he’d be splitting the pants of his expensive suit, hightailing it out of there as quickly as possible.

“I can’t believe you’ve finally escaped to the country!” Nathan chuckled at his own wit and at Kate’s expense. Nudging the tip of her immaculately clean brown leather R.M. Williams boots with his own well-worn work boots, Nathan grinned again. Kate knew she was about to be in for some serious teasing. Assuming an accent typical of an Australian farmer, Nathan said, “Ah, we’re gonna make a country gal out of you yet! You’ve even got the boots to prove it. All you need now is a Drizabone and a dog at your side and you’ll be the perfect catch at the next B and S.”

“Nath, you know me well,” Kate laughed back, “and that means I will
never
be attending any Bachelor and Spinster balls.” At school Kate had heard plenty of stories about country B and S balls, often also referred to as “beer and sex” balls, and they held no appeal. “If you think I’m interested in sleeping in a swag in the back of some farm boy’s car, then you don’t know me at all. Let me assure you that if I was ever going to do that, I might as well sign up for one of your Contiki tours!”

Nathan groaned theatrically as Kate referred to the numerous infamous tours he had taken over the years. He held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, truce,” he laughed. 
“So have you heard from Marcus?”

The question sounded innocent enough but Kate knew there was more to it. She looked intently at her brother, waiting for him to elaborate. He tipped his cap back and returned Kate’s gaze.

“He keeps ringing me. I told him to rack off and stop bothering me.”

Kate groaned. “I’m sorry, Nathan. I didn’t think he’d call you.”

“He reckons you won’t even speak to him. Is that true? You haven’t even had it out with him?”

“I just want to move on, Nath, that’s all. I don’t want to see him or have anything to do with him ever again.”

“But surely you need to confront him about the affair. You can’t leave it just hanging.”

Kate felt herself clenching her jaw as she often did whenever Marcus was mentioned. “It’s over between us. Full stop. End of story.”

Nathan looked across at her and she felt the intensity of his gaze once again. “Is he giving you a hard time?”

“Not anymore,” Kate answered. “I finally changed my phone number because he was texting me dozens of times every day trying to find out where I was.”

“So he doesn’t know you’re moving here?”

“I have no idea.” Kate shrugged her shoulders, hoping her brother would just drop the whole topic of Marcus. “I doubt it though.”

“So, what does the name mean?”

Nathan pointed to the sign on the open metal gate and Kate was relieved at his change of subject. He always stopped before pushing her too far and she was grateful. The timber sign was gray and weathered and it was hard to make out the word. As she looked at it, Kate promised herself that her first job would be to paint the letters white.

“Cooinda,” she replied. “It means ‘happy place’ apparently.” The irony was not lost on her.

“Is it Aboriginal?” Nathan asked.

“I actually have no idea. I haven’t had time to look it up yet, but I think so.”

“I like it.” Nathan nodded as he took another slow look around him.

Michael sat up high in the cab of the truck with a smile on his face, watching his two children banter and catch up before turning the key and re-starting the engine.

“Come on! Jump in, kids!” He always referred to Nathan and Kate as “kids” even though they were both mature adults, Nathan being two years older than Kate.

When they pulled up out the front of the house, Michael and Nathan held back as they waited for Kate to unlock the front door. Nathan was holding the plastic cat carrier containing her beloved Matilda and he handed it to her as he walked past her through the open door.

“Here you go. I suggest you lock her up somewhere quiet. And well away from me. Five hours of her incessant meowing has driven us mad!”

“Be nice to my cat.” Kate tried to punch him again but he jumped out of her way in time.

“Stop mucking around, you two. Let’s get this truck unpacked then Kate can show us around this farm of hers.”

As Michael and Nathan helped unload Kate’s new furniture, she set about unpacking the boxes and putting her things away in cupboards. While doing so, she reflected on the whirlwind of the past month.

After accepting the job, Kate had returned that night to her family home and officially resigned from the Royal Sydney the next day. She was able to finish up two weeks later. She then spent the next week making the necessary arrangements for her big move to the country.

She had used her final paycheck to buy furniture for her new home and had enjoyed a full day shopping at IKEA where she ordered her new bed and mattress, couches, coffee tables, bookcases and a dining table and chairs. She had felt slightly rebellious as she chose things she knew Marcus would hate, including the cream-colored sofas she had always eyed off lovingly in the catalog. Later on she knew she would need to purchase other things to make her house feel like a home but it was easy to get all the basics in one place. Yesterday her new furniture had been delivered to her parents’ home and Michael had loaded it directly from the delivery truck into the truck he had hired himself.

She had managed to avoid Marcus by refusing to take his phone calls or reply to his numerous text messages. She didn’t even satisfy her curiosity by listening to the voice messages she assumed he was leaving. It was easier to just delete them and not have to hear his voice. Eventually she had changed her phone number and the calls had stopped. He had continued to drive past her parents’ house on a number of occasions but her car was hidden out of sight behind the garage doors. Thankfully he hadn’t knocked at the door asking where she was. She didn’t want to have to see him. She knew he didn’t like her parents so she wasn’t surprised when he didn’t come looking for her at their home. Yet somehow this made him seem even more unworthy in her eyes.

There were days when she realized she didn’t even miss him but other days she found herself crying unexpectedly when a memory of their time together hit her unsuspectingly. She had been deeply in love with him. Every time she thought of him, her heart felt like it was shrinking, and a painful lump formed in her throat. She knew she was spending too much time obsessing over why things had happened the way they did and berating herself for not noticing the subtle changes in his behavior. Her initial anger over his betrayal had morphed into a sense of defeat and worthlessness and she could only hope that this move to the country would give her back her usual energy and vitality. Constantly replaying past events in her mind certainly wasn’t making things any easier. Kate shook her head and straightened her back. If she wanted to move on, she was going to have to stop thinking about him.

If only it were that easy.

She finished unpacking the boxes in the kitchen and looked around with a sense of satisfaction. While she was going to have to make a long list of the little things she still needed to purchase, for the moment she was pleased with how everything looked. Through her kitchen window Kate could see that the sun was now in the middle of the sky and all evidence of the morning fog had disappeared, and she marveled yet again at the way the season felt so different from the city. She looked at her watch and was surprised that it was after two o’clock. She realized guiltily they hadn’t even stopped for lunch.

Folding the last box flat, ready to be sent back with the removal truck, Kate went in search of her dad and brother and found them tightening the final bolts on her new bed. Leaning against the doorway, she watched as they cut the plastic off the heavy new latex mattress and lifted it into place on the bed frame. She surveyed the room and knew immediately that she was going to love waking up in it. Her bedroom had a window that faced east, and Kate had positioned her bed so that the morning sun would stream through the window across it. Another window faced north, looking out over the paddocks. A wide veranda ran along the length of the back of the house and Kate knew she was going to be grateful for the shade it would provide in the summer months. Glancing around the room, she saw a box marked “bedroom” and mentally praised herself for her excellent organizational skills, knowing that this box would contain all the new linen needed to have her bed ready for her to sleep in later that night.

Michael straightened up and brushed his hand across his brow, dramatically pretending to wipe the sweat off. “Well Katie, that’s the last job done,” he said. “You just need to find your sheets and you’ll be ready to go to sleep.”

“Thanks Dad. It means so much to me that you and Nath have helped me out today.” Kate hugged Michael warmly and smiled at her brother. She knew that constructing flat-pack furniture wasn’t her brother’s favorite activity, yet he had done it uncomplainingly and seemingly willingly.

“Ah sis, don’t go getting soppy and emotional on us,” Nathan good-naturedly teased. “How about you make us blokes a cup of tea and get us something to eat and then let’s take that tour of the property you promised. Then we’d better head back. Don’t want Mum to worry about us driving back through the mountains at night.”

Kate led the way to the kitchen, feeling a sense of pride in her new surroundings. She walked through the living room and sighted her brand new overstuffed sofas and smart white bookcases, ready to be filled with her books and knickknacks, and she was filled with pleasure. Decorating had always been Marcus’s domain and she was looking forward to experimenting with her surroundings and learning how to make her new place feel like a home.

With a satisfied smile, Kate grabbed her shiny new stainless steel kettle and filled it with water. She flicked the switch before reaching up and pulling out three red mugs she had already placed on the shelf above the kettle. From the large pantry she pulled out the apple and cinnamon twist she had purchased earlier that morning from the bakery before heading out to the farm. Kate knew she was going to have to get used to not being a five-minute walk from the shops. Here, she was a minimum ten-minute drive away from anything. She had planned on bringing out the bun for morning tea and she still couldn’t believe they’d missed morning tea
and
lunch. She was amazed her brother hadn’t complained. The kettle boiled and Kate made cups of tea for the three of them. They each took their mug and a piece of the sweet bun covered in butter out onto the veranda and stood surveying the view.