Finally it was sorted. A single ticket to Adelaide. A cabin booked, two carriages down. Yes, there was a bar on the train. Yes, there was food available. Possibly there was a seafood roll or a tuna sandwich, he answered, in response to the woman’s sudden question. And certainly she could get a glass of milk from the bar. What was she on? he wondered. The Eat Like a Cat Diet?
Mad bloody tourists, he thought as he went on his way.
Joseph shut the door as the conductor left.
‘Was I too obvious?’ Eva asked at once. ‘Do you think he guessed?’
‘That we had a stowaway kitten?’
She nodded.
‘No, of course not. I’m sure lots of people are as interested in fish and milk as you were.’
‘Lucky he went when he did, then. I was about to ask if he had any toy mice.’
Joseph unlocked the door to the small bathroom and retrieved the basket. Rex was awake, peering out through the bars, bright-eyed. Eva watched as Joseph opened the hatch, reached in and gently lifted Rex
out. He stroked the kitten’s head. ‘He’s a nice little fellow.’
‘Actually he’s not any more. Not since about two hours ago.’
Joseph winced. ‘Ahh. That’s why you were at the vet’s?’
She nodded.
Joseph held Rex even more carefully. ‘So he’s been in that basket since then?’
‘He has, I’m afraid. We’ve had a hectic afternoon.’
‘And do you usually carry him around with you everywhere you go or is this a special occasion?’
‘It’s a bit of a long story.’
‘Later, yes? Over a glass of wine? You’ll tell me everything then?’
‘Everything, I promise.’ More than you’re expecting, Joe, she thought with a sudden sinking heart.
Just then Rex leapt out of Joseph’s hands and made for the bathroom. He seemed to be walking quite gingerly. No wonder, Eva thought, given what he’d been through that afternoon. As she watched in some horror, the kitten crouched in a corner of the shower cubicle. An unpleasant noise was followed by a very unpleasant smell. Seconds later Rex stepped delicately out of the cubicle, sat down and started to give himself a good wash, all over.
Eva was mortified. ‘Oh God, Joe, I’m so sorry. If I’d known he was going to do that I would have made him do it in my cabin.’
‘It’s fine,’ he said, laughing. ‘I had a cat when I was a kid.’ He leaned into the bathroom, lifted Rex out, turned on the shower to full strength and heat and firmly shut the door. He was trying not to smile. ‘We’ll let it run for a while, what do you think?’
She nodded, too embarrassed to smile back. ‘I think that’s a very good idea.’
Half an hour later, Eva had forgotten all about Rex’s bathroom habits. She was sitting with Joe in the lounge car. They had enjoyed a glass of complimentary champagne and shared some sandwiches. A good portion of the filling was now wrapped in a serviette in her bag, ready to be fed to Rex, who was now in his basket in her cabin.
They sat opposite each other, a bottle of red wine between them. Outside, the countryside lay in darkness, interrupted occasionally by the lights of a town or a car on the nearby highway. The noise of the train was like a soundtrack to their conversation, a constant reassuring clacking sound. The other tables were filled with passengers, their talk and laughter a constant hum around them.
‘Did you have something in South Australia you really wanted to see tomorrow, Joe? I hope I haven’t spoilt your plans.’
He shook his head. ‘Oh no, you haven’t spoilt my plans at all.’ He’d wondered how to bring this up.
‘Actually, I need to go to one of the wine regions. To the Clare Valley. It’s a couple of hours’ drive from Adelaide.’
She smiled. ‘You need to go to the Clare Valley? It’s a burning ambition? A dare?’
He wanted to tell her why. He wanted to tell her all about his father. But it would change the mood between them, surely. And the fact of the matter was, he didn’t want to say or do anything that might change what was happening right now. He had that lovely drifting feeling back again. Some of it was the wine, but most of it was the feeling that he and Niamh were floating slowly toward each other. Getting closer and closer. He wanted to kiss her. Touch her …
He realised he hadn’t answered her question. ‘No, it’s not a dare.’ He thought quickly. ‘I’ve just heard the wine is really good.’
‘All this way to buy some wine? You are keen.’
‘I’d like to see where it comes from, I guess. Like buying milk from a farm, rather than a supermarket.’ He stopped there. ‘Would you like to do that, come to the Clare Valley tomorrow?’
‘I’d love to,’ she said. The way she was feeling she’d visit a canning factory with him.
She had never felt this alive in a man’s company. This was a million miles from how she had felt with any other boyfriend she’d had. And it was a trillion miles from how she’d felt with Dermot. As for
telling him the truth about the Niamh story tonight - well, she’d ruled that out completely. They’d gone beyond talking about what she did for a living, or what he did for a living, for that matter. Or where they lived. He hadn’t been talking to fake Niamh tonight as far as she was concerned. He’d been talking to Eva, who just happened to be called Niamh at the moment. So there was absolutely no reason to change the mood and bring up a subject like that, was there? No reason at all. Yes, there is. It’s called the truth. She ignored the voice. ‘And after that, Joe? Is there something else you’d like to do on this trip?’ He didn’t say anything out loud. But she instantly felt as though she could read his mind. I’d like to touch you. Kiss you. Make love to you. At that moment she became completely physically aware of him. She felt like her skin was sending off vibrations in response to his. Every part of her had sprung to life. It was as though an electric current had been switched on between them. She knew he was aware of it too. His expression had changed from the warm, interested look she had enjoyed all evening. His eyes had darkened, his face was still. She knew she wanted to kiss him. She’d had to stop herself all night from leaning forward to touch his arm. But she hadn’t expected this … This what? she wondered. This absolutely intense longing for him.
Their next moves were all unspoken between them. He asked for the bill. She paid, as she had insisted she would, and he didn’t protest. Didn’t speak. They weren’t communicating to each other in words any more.
The walk back to her carriage was tense with anticipation. Eva led the way, conscious with every part of her of Joseph’s closeness behind her. They still hadn’t touched. They moved along the narrow curving corridors, crossed over the swinging join between each carriage. They still hadn’t spoken.
They reached her cabin. She turned to him. She could see the longing in his eyes. ‘Will you come in for a coffee?’
He knew she didn’t have any coffee. He didn’t want any coffee. ‘Yes, please.’
Her hands were shaking as she unlocked the door. She had folded down the bed before she went to dinner, telling herself she was just being organised, knowing that she hoped exactly this would happen. That Joe would come into her cabin with her.
She switched on the lamp and jumped in fright. Rex had managed to get out of his basket. He was stretched full length in the middle of her bed, fast asleep.
The charged mood between them relaxed slightly. Joseph smiled. ‘Would you like me to pick him up?’
‘Do you mind?’
Shaking his head, Joseph picked up the sleeping kitten and draped him over his right shoulder. Rex wriggled, then fell asleep again. How could he do it? Eva thought. But at least Rex had got them past the first awkward moment. She felt unsure of what to do next. What to say. ‘Would you like a seat?’ The polite enquiry was ridiculous, she knew. They were standing in less than two metres of space, with the bed the most dominant feature. Joseph sat down on the edge. Eva sat beside him. They were both looking straight ahead. The only thing to look at was the bathroom door. Then they both turned toward each other to speak at the same time. Their faces were just inches apart. And then much closer. And then even closer still. For a long moment she couldn’t speak. She looked into his eyes, the dark irises getting darker as she watched. She gazed at his skin. His lips. He met her halfway. The first kiss was soft as silk. Just a brush against each other’s lips. They both pulled back. There was another long look. Then they leaned in again. Eva put her hand to the side of his face, loving the feel of his skin, of his hair, bringing his face closer to hers, his lips harder against hers. She felt like her blood had turned effervescent. They moved closer against each other, their bodies pressing tight.
Then Eva yelped and sprang back. She’d felt sharp teeth on her ear. Rex. Still on Joseph’s shoulder, the kitten had been squashed between them. He was now hissing, his nails dug into Joseph’s shirt. Now Joseph yelped.
‘Sshh.’ Eva was relieved to be laughing, her head still spinning from the kiss. ‘The conductor will hear you.’
Joseph was trying to untwist Rex’s claws and was laughing now too. ‘You’ll have to help, Niamh.’
‘I can’t,’ she said, hardly able to speak for laughing. ‘I can’t touch him.’
Joseph finally untwisted the kitten’s claws. Eva had the basket ready and Rex was unceremoniously dropped into it. She’d have to try and fix that broken latch in the morning. Basket and cat were moved into the bathroom again, the door left slightly ajar to give him air.
Eva and Joseph were back to square one, sitting side by side on the bed. Joseph turned to her and spoke in a quiet voice. ‘Can we try that again? Without Rex?’
She nodded, her eyes closing in pleasure as she felt his hand stroke the side of her face, come around to her neck and move her face closer to his. The kiss was silk again. Long and slow and languorous. Then a little harder, faster. Eva felt herself move slowly back against the bed, felt the beautiful heavy weight of Joe on top of her. Their lips stayed together, her arms wrapped tightly around his back.
The blood seemed to be rushing in her ears. She felt every sense start to shimmer, felt her body start to open toward him as the kiss went on and on, slow and strong. She wanted this. It was all happening quickly but it felt so right. The barest touch of his hand on her arm sent a shiver of pleasure through her. She heard herself moan as he moved his lips from hers and started to gently kiss her neck.
He gasped as she worked her hand under his shirt, her fingertips hot against his bare skin. Then they both heard a hammering at the door.
‘Good evening. Conductor.’ Another sharp knock.
They both sprang up, feeling like teenagers caught out by their parents.
‘What does he want?’ she whispered.
‘I don’t know.’
There was another sharp knock. ‘Conductor.’
‘Just a moment,’ she called. She stood up, straightening her dress. Turning around, she saw Joe, lying there, watching her every move. It was all she could do not to ignore the conductor and fall straight back into his arms. She touched the side of his face. His hand came up to meet hers. The electric charge rippled between them again.
Smoothing her hair, she opened the door.
‘Evening, Miss,’ the conductor said. He looked beyond Eva to Joseph, now sitting upright on the bed. ‘Evening, sir.’
‘Hello there.’
‘Sorry to disturb you, Miss. But I didn’t get your order for the morning.’
Eva tried to get her thoughts straight. ‘My order? For breakfast? Uhm, toast? Eggs?’
‘Breakfast is served in the lounge car, Miss. I supply just the tea or coffee.’
‘Oh. Good.’
‘Well?’
‘Sorry?’
‘Which would you like?’
‘Oh. Tea, please. No - coffee, please. Either.’
He gave her an odd look.
‘Coffee,’ she said firmly.
‘The time?’
Eva was puzzled. She wasn’t wearing her watch. ‘I don’t know, I’m sorry.’
The conductor sighed. ‘I mean, what time would you like your coffee? We arrive at Adelaide at seven thirty. Do you want to be woken at six, six-fifteen, six-thirty or six-forty-five?’
Each of them. Anytime. Not at all. I don’t mind. Could you please just leave us alone? About to answer him, she realised that the conductor was staring over her shoulder. He seemed to have lost interest in her waking time. Eva turned around to see what had caught his attention.
On the bed, Joseph turned to look too.
Coming out of the bathroom was a small black kitten.
The CONDUCTOR ruled his train like a fiefdom. And a serious fiefdom rule had been broken. No live animals in the carriages.
‘Madam, it is not only completely unhygienic to have a cat in your cabin, it is against the law.’
Eva was no longer Miss, she noticed. She was madam. For a moment she thought about pretending that the conductor was having hallucinations. Cat? What cat? Or perhaps she could say she’d never seen that cat before and couldn’t begin to imagine how it got there.
Then Rex came up and started winding between her legs, purring loudly, as though she had hand reared him from birth. She took the defensive option instead. ‘He’s not really a cat, he’s just a kitten. And he’s just had a very serious operation.’
‘On his deathbed or not, he will have to travel in the goods carriage. It’s not ideal but it’s the only
option. And there will of course be an extra fee. There could even have been a fine but I’m prepared to waive that, on account of the animal being a small one.’
Just as well Lainey didn’t have a pet elk, Eva thought.
Behind her, Joseph stood up from the bed. It was getting very crowded in the small cabin. ‘Niamh, do you want me to look after this? Take Rex down?’
‘Thanks, but no. I’ll take him and get him settled myself.’
The conductor was standing there waiting to escort her, as though she was a criminal. He was clearly displeased that Joe was here too. Would he send Joe down to the goods van as well? No live animals and no funny business in my carriages, young lady.
Eva desperately tried to communicate as much as she could to Joe in just a long look. ‘I wish we hadn’t been interrupted. I want to keep kissing you all night. Please wait here and I’ll be back as soon as I can.