Short and Sweet (7 page)

‘It’s nice to have good neighbours,’ she said carefully.

‘We’re more than that, I hope. I’d really like to get to know you better.’

‘I’m happy to pretend to be engaged, if that will help, John. I’m really fond of Kerry. And I’d like to get to know you better too.’

His voice grew gentler. ‘Why don’t we give it a try, then?’

She nodded. She knew what she hoped for and she rather thought he felt the same way, but there was no need to hurry. He was still wary and she wasn’t going to push him into something he wasn’t sure about. Let him find his own way.

Anyway, living next door made it simple to take things easy as they got to know one another better.

Just then a dolphin swam past, swishing its tail and looking as if it was smiling at them in approval. She smiled back.

Suddenly, she felt sure it would all work out as she wished.

The Pelican Affair

Anna’s Notes

This is based on another personal experience. In my little seaside town, pelicans really do mug tourists. They’re big birds.

When we first moved here, they used to try to get inside the houses. They knew where the catches were for the doors, but those huge beaks are no use for opening them. Thank goodness.

We have stood outside watching the sunset, though, and been joined by a pelican, who stood with the circle of people, quite at ease. He (or she) was as tall as my shoulder.

T
he West Australian sun shone down brightly and seemed to be winking at her, telling her to stick to her decision. Sarah Lawson took a deep breath and tried to recapture the tone that used to make her daughters do as they were told.

‘You won’t change my mind, Jan. I’m going to hire a holiday flat for a week and give you and your family a bit of a break.’ She just had to get away from her kind but bossy daughter for a while, if they were to stay friends.

‘But Mum, there’s no need. We love having you here. I’ve been wanting you to visit us in Australia ever since Dad died.’

‘Two months is far too long for any guest. You and Tony could drive me down to Mandurah, though. Or no – perhaps I should hire a car.’

‘No need for that. It’s a small seaside town. You can walk everywhere you need to if you get a place near the Foreshore. We’ll drive you down and see you safe.’

What did they think was going to happen to her in a rented holiday flat, for heaven’s sake? She’d been living on her own in England ever since Bill died, and managing very well, if she said so herself.

But Jan, dear fussy Jan, was treating her like a third child, one who needed watching and guiding every moment. The trouble was, Australia was a long way to come from England for only a short stay. But a week was long enough for any guest to stay, and she should have known better, should have planned a visit to Sydney for a week or two in the middle, perhaps.

The drive to the small holiday town passed in a tense silence. But the flat was lovely, with a balcony overlooking the water.

When Jan had stopped fussing and left, Sarah sat in the living area of the flat, relishing the silence. She loved her grandsons, but they were a noisy pair.

Now to make herself more comfortable and get into a holiday mood. She’d seen a liquor store at the end of the road and decided to buy herself some wine.

She chuckled as she left the flat, feeling like a rebellious teenager. Not looking where she was going, she bumped into someone and ricocheted back against the wall. ‘Oh, sorry. My fault. I was miles away.’

The man smiled at her. ‘I was too. You look happy. I hope you enjoy your holiday.’

‘I intend to make the most of every blessed minute.’ She continued down the stairs, humming an old Abba song that had been running through her head for two days, ever since she’d heard it on the wireless. She didn’t care if she was old-fashioned, she’d always loved that song.

After a short walk, she found the liquor store, bought two bottles of Chardonnay and a bar of chocolate, and carried them home in triumph.

When she opened the fridge to chill the wine, she saw the casserole Jan had insisted on making for her. ‘It’ll last two days, Mum, save you money.’

It wasn’t going to last even one day. Jan’s cooking hadn’t improved over the years and because the children were small, she made everything very bland. Not feeling even slightly guilty, Sarah scraped it into the rubbish bin.

She went out again for a walk along the foreshore, looking for somewhere to eat. This was such a lovely little town, built along the sides of an estuary.

She found a Chinese restaurant and had a delicious meal, then, since it was getting dark, strolled back to the flat. Sitting on the balcony she sipped her wine, now nicely chilled, and watched the town’s lights reflected in the water. She didn’t even switch on the TV.

The following day she went for a ride round the canals in a large tourist boat, looking at the houses of rich people – to her anyone who owned a large house right on the water was rich. She envied them the beautiful views, but it was no use longing for what was out of reach, so she’d just borrow their scenery while she was here then go home to her small English terraced house.

When the boat returned, edging slowly into place alongside a jetty right in the town centre, she wondered what to do with herself next. She saw some people sitting by the water, eating chicken and chips out of boxes, and suddenly she was hungry. OK, it was junk food, but there was no harm in having it occasionally. She joined the queue.

She took her box further along the foreshore and sat down to eat, opening it and sniffing in appreciation.

Suddenly something large and soft landed on the grass next to her. She let out a squeak of shock, then realized it was a pelican. It didn’t seem at all aggressive, just stood watching her. She forgot her food, entranced by being so close to an exotic bird. When she was sitting down, it was the same height as her.

It edged slowly forward and she sat still, not wanting to frighten it away. Then suddenly it lunged at her and before she could move, it snatched her box of food.

Fleeing in a clumsy run, it jumped off the walkway and lifted up into the air, crossing the water, still carrying the box.

‘Are you all right? It didn’t hurt you?’

It was the man she’d bumped into at the flats.

She burst out laughing. ‘Oh, they’ll never believe me when I go back to England. I’ve been mugged by a pelican.’ The more she thought about it, the more she laughed, and he did too.

Then her stomach rumbled and reminded her of why she was sitting there. ‘I’d better go and get something else to eat. I’m ravenous.’

‘Since you’re a visitor to our town and a resident has stolen your lunch, would you allow another resident to buy you a replacement?’ He swept a bow. ‘James Brennan at your service.’

‘Oh. Well, that’s very kind. But there’s no need.’

His disappointment showed clearly. ‘I’d enjoy some company, but I’ll not impose myself on you.’ He turned to leave.

‘No, wait! I’d enjoy some company too. But I’ll buy my own meal.’

She felt a bit shy as they walked back to the café strip, but the sun was shining and he had an infectious smile.

‘Let’s eat indoors,’ he said. ‘You’ve caught the sun a bit today.’

‘That’s because I haven’t got my daughter here to tell me off and nag me into the shade. I do love to feel the sun on my face.’

‘Are you staying with your daughter?’

‘I have been. She lives up in Perth. It’s the first time I’ve been abroad since my husband died. Do you really live here in Mandurah all the time? How wonderful that must be.’

‘I love it. Look, this is a good café. I’m a regular here and I promise you their chicken is much nicer than the fast food stuff.’

He took her to a table by the window, from which they could see the estuary and the boats going up and down it: big ones, little ones, and suddenly a group of fins.

‘Dolphins!’ she exclaimed, leaning forward. ‘Oh, how wonderful! Dolphins
and
pelicans in one day.’

They lingered over the meal, finding they had a lot in common: films, music, a love of the sea. When they eventually left the restaurant he hesitated. ‘I’ve really enjoyed your company. May I see you again?’

She felt suddenly shy. It’d been nearly forty years since a man had asked her for a date – and that man had become her husband. She was so out of practice at what to reply, she settled for the plain, unvarnished truth. ‘I’d like that. I’ve enjoyed your company too.’

‘I’ll walk you back to the flats. How about a trip out for lunch at a restaurant up the river tomorrow?’

She beamed at him. Even Jan couldn’t say that was unsafe as a first date, if she ever told her daughter, which she probably wouldn’t. ‘I’d love to do that.’

‘I’ll pick you up at ten o’clock.’ He pulled a card out. ‘Here’s my phone number and address.’

‘I’ve got a mobile. My daughter bought it for me, just a very basic one. I’ll give you my number, too, in case you change your mind.’

‘I won’t.’

His smile made her feel breathless.

That evening Sarah sat on the balcony again, sipping her wine, then went inside and tried to read a book of Jan’s that she’d borrowed. But it was a dreary tale, even if it had won a literary prize. Thank goodness for the magazines someone else had left in the flat. She settled down to a crossword.

When her mobile phone rang, she saw it was Jan and nearly didn’t answer. But if she didn’t, her daughter might come rushing down to check on her, so she picked it up.

She loved Jan dearly, but she and her husband were so earnest about life. They stared at her sometimes when she laughed at things.

The next day was even hotter. Sarah wore a light summer dress. She didn’t even think of taking a cardigan because there wasn’t a single cloud in the blue sky.

There was a knock on her door at ten o’clock and she opened it to James’s smiling face.

‘We can walk to the jetty if those pretty sandals are comfortable enough,’ he said.

‘They are and I love walking.’

The boat was large, capable of taking about a hundred people, but it was only half full. They sat on the upper deck and James pointed. ‘Look, some of your friends.’

Sarah shaded her eyes with her hand and watched four pelicans riding a thermal current in the sky above some more waterside houses. ‘It’s amazing to think that such huge birds can be so graceful.’

The boat took them down one of the residential canals and stopped. ‘Ladies and gentleman, a shoal of fish must be up here today, because there’s a group of cormorants fishing and if you watch very carefully, you’ll see some pirates attack them.’

Sarah looked at James in puzzlement. ‘Pirates?’

He grinned. ‘You’ll see.’

Suddenly several pelicans landed and pushed into the group of diving cormorants. One took hold of a cormorant by the neck and shook it till it dropped its fish.

Sarah gasped. ‘I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes!’

James chuckled. ‘They don’t only mug humans, they mug other birds as well.’

‘And here was me thinking how romantic it was to see them.’

The boat set off again, stopping at a waterside restaurant, where they had lunch.

‘I’ll never eat again,’ she said as she pushed her empty plate aside. ‘It was so kind of you to buy me crayfish. Such a luxury.’

On the way back she said, ‘Do you live in one of the flats, or were you just visiting someone when I bumped into you.’

He hesitated.

‘You don’t have to answer if I’m being too nosy.’

‘No, it’s all right. Only don’t let it put you off me. I own the block of flats, actually. I was just checking that some repairs had been finished properly.’

So he was rich. Well, he was by her standards, which put him way beyond her reach. And wasn’t she silly even thinking that sort of thing about a man she’d only just met?

‘You looked a bit sad then. Are you all right?’

She forced a smile. ‘Yes, of course.’

When they got off the boat, he walked back to the flats with her and hesitated. ‘Would you come and have dinner at my house tomorrow? I’ve got to go up to Perth during the day but I’ll be back by five.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Certain. I’m quite a good cook, actually. Is there anything you can’t eat?’

She hesitated. So far she’d managed to hide it, because some people got upset when they found you were a coeliac. She explained that she couldn’t eat wheat and was lactose intolerant, and he nodded.

‘A friend of mine’s the same. I’m used to catering for that.’

The evening seemed too quiet after her lovely day so she put the television on. But she spent more time daydreaming about James than watching the programme.

The following day as five o’clock approached, she got ready, determined to enjoy this brief holiday flirtation. She wondered what James’s house was like. He hadn’t told her anything about it.

The knock came just before five and there he was, beaming at her. He had such lovely brown eyes. ‘Are you ready?’

‘Yes.’

His car wasn’t large but it was luxurious. Her son-in-law would have known what make it was, but she hadn’t a clue.

‘This is the most comfortable car I’ve ever ridden in.’

‘That’s exactly why I bought it.’

He stopped at a large house, a strange-looking place, with a garage and high walls being the main street features. It was like a miniature fortress. The garage door lifted up and he drove in.

When they went into the house she couldn’t help exclaiming as she realized it was on the water. ‘This is one of the houses we sailed past!’

‘I’m afraid so. Don’t hold that against me. Let’s go and have a cocktail on the patio.’

‘Nothing too strong.’

‘OK. I’ll do a strawberry surprise. Help yourself to some nibbles.’ He pulled a platter out of the fridge and set it on a low table outdoors, right on the edge of the water.

The only thing wrong with the evening was that James didn’t kiss her. She’d have liked to have Prince Charming kiss her, even if this was only a holiday flirtation.

He kissed her the next night, though, and the one after that. And very good kisses they were, too.