much time with her as he could, though sometimes,
he knew she missed him.
When his little
angel came along, he was never more in love with her. For a while
she stayed home and they played happy family. Then Jo went stir
crazy and went back to work part time. The old dragon looked after
his girl during the day.
He still didn’t
forgive himself for treating her like that. But it seemed every
time, he couldn’t stop it. Seeing his actions as an observer, not
in the moment. Left regretful afterwards. Didn’t know what came
over him. Possessive, obsessive. Flowers and chocolates couldn’t
make up for it. They ended up unopened in the trash. He went and
talked to someone, his colleagues wouldn’t have understood.
He tried to
change, finally, he knew he’d crossed the line.
She left. He’d
slapped her, thrown her against the fridge and his little girl had
seen. A finger pointed in his face. A mother’s protective
instincts. “Don’t you come near her!” “Don’t you dare!” Her grey
eyes were cold, like mercury.
They’d tried to
patch it up since. But she had a long memory. He hated himself, it
only made him miss her more. He saw less and less of his little
girl. Soon she’d be two, he didn’t want to miss her birthday. She’d
served him papers, he didn’t want to sign, sure there was something
else they could do. He still loved her, desperately. That hadn’t
changed. He wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. Sometimes he
thought he saw a glimmer, other times, it was just going through
the motions. Strangers.
He’d gone to
the marina knowing she’d be there early. Jo was precise, punctual,
controlled. She’d rolled her eyes as he’d approached. Looked like
she wanted to drive away. It started out civilised, pleasantries,
they were both attending the same event. It was acceptable for him
to be there.
Somehow, things
dissolved, and he was grabbing at her. Desperate to make her
listen.
Dark glasses
watched his side mirror. He saw the brunette get into her car.
Wondered if he should follow. Probably no point. Jo wasn’t a
queer . He knew that for sure. But he didn’t like her sniffing
around. He’d keep tabs. Make sure she stayed away.
Chapter
12
She followed
her GPS, it led her up a winding road, vineyards, paddocks brittle
and golden. Her sedan was tinged brown with the spray up of earth,
wheels coated in the reddish dust.
Turning into
the driveway she felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Curiosity, trepidation, it was quickly dismissed. A beautiful home,
seated at the top of the gradual incline. Old world charm, a porch
wrapping around, and a thready wisp of smoke coming from one
chimney. She pulled up in front of a bed of red roses and shorter
cottage plants. Two horses looked her over from a nearby fence,
leather saddles slung over the railing.
As she stepped
out of the car, a face appeared at the front door. Jean was wearing
her customary denim and a well-loved cotton shirt. A smile as she
welcomed her in. Jo looked around, it was newer inside than she
imagined from the outside. Renovated, polished. A stairwell by the
entry went up to another floor. They walked together toward the
kitchen, through a wide hallway. Glancing to her left, Jo saw the
lounge room. A working fireplace and a leather recliner. It
explained the smoke when she pulled up. The house smelt like baking
bread and old wood. A set of glass French doors led out to a
beautiful view.
A dark red
glazed kettle lifted off the stove, Jean poured her some tea.
Remembering she took one sugar. They sat together at an oiled
wooden table, large earth coloured tiles underfoot. She kept
looking at the view over Jean’s head. Eucalypts, pale limbed in the
distance, snaking over a golden hilltop, gravel and dirt trails
winding through. She could smell the fresh air, the banksia and
honeysuckle.
The brunette
smiled. “Found your way here OK?”
The voice got
her attention. “Yes, used my GPS. Not too far out of the
he knew she missed him.
When his little
angel came along, he was never more in love with her. For a while
she stayed home and they played happy family. Then Jo went stir
crazy and went back to work part time. The old dragon looked after
his girl during the day.
He still didn’t
forgive himself for treating her like that. But it seemed every
time, he couldn’t stop it. Seeing his actions as an observer, not
in the moment. Left regretful afterwards. Didn’t know what came
over him. Possessive, obsessive. Flowers and chocolates couldn’t
make up for it. They ended up unopened in the trash. He went and
talked to someone, his colleagues wouldn’t have understood.
He tried to
change, finally, he knew he’d crossed the line.
She left. He’d
slapped her, thrown her against the fridge and his little girl had
seen. A finger pointed in his face. A mother’s protective
instincts. “Don’t you come near her!” “Don’t you dare!” Her grey
eyes were cold, like mercury.
They’d tried to
patch it up since. But she had a long memory. He hated himself, it
only made him miss her more. He saw less and less of his little
girl. Soon she’d be two, he didn’t want to miss her birthday. She’d
served him papers, he didn’t want to sign, sure there was something
else they could do. He still loved her, desperately. That hadn’t
changed. He wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. Sometimes he
thought he saw a glimmer, other times, it was just going through
the motions. Strangers.
He’d gone to
the marina knowing she’d be there early. Jo was precise, punctual,
controlled. She’d rolled her eyes as he’d approached. Looked like
she wanted to drive away. It started out civilised, pleasantries,
they were both attending the same event. It was acceptable for him
to be there.
Somehow, things
dissolved, and he was grabbing at her. Desperate to make her
listen.
Dark glasses
watched his side mirror. He saw the brunette get into her car.
Wondered if he should follow. Probably no point. Jo wasn’t a
queer . He knew that for sure. But he didn’t like her sniffing
around. He’d keep tabs. Make sure she stayed away.
Chapter
12
She followed
her GPS, it led her up a winding road, vineyards, paddocks brittle
and golden. Her sedan was tinged brown with the spray up of earth,
wheels coated in the reddish dust.
Turning into
the driveway she felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Curiosity, trepidation, it was quickly dismissed. A beautiful home,
seated at the top of the gradual incline. Old world charm, a porch
wrapping around, and a thready wisp of smoke coming from one
chimney. She pulled up in front of a bed of red roses and shorter
cottage plants. Two horses looked her over from a nearby fence,
leather saddles slung over the railing.
As she stepped
out of the car, a face appeared at the front door. Jean was wearing
her customary denim and a well-loved cotton shirt. A smile as she
welcomed her in. Jo looked around, it was newer inside than she
imagined from the outside. Renovated, polished. A stairwell by the
entry went up to another floor. They walked together toward the
kitchen, through a wide hallway. Glancing to her left, Jo saw the
lounge room. A working fireplace and a leather recliner. It
explained the smoke when she pulled up. The house smelt like baking
bread and old wood. A set of glass French doors led out to a
beautiful view.
A dark red
glazed kettle lifted off the stove, Jean poured her some tea.
Remembering she took one sugar. They sat together at an oiled
wooden table, large earth coloured tiles underfoot. She kept
looking at the view over Jean’s head. Eucalypts, pale limbed in the
distance, snaking over a golden hilltop, gravel and dirt trails
winding through. She could smell the fresh air, the banksia and
honeysuckle.
The brunette
smiled. “Found your way here OK?”
The voice got
her attention. “Yes, used my GPS. Not too far out of the
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