Just don’t take any chances. Don’t tell him where you live.”
“I know where he lives, or at least, where his surgery is. He gave me his card.”
“Could be a fake.”
“Viv, you thought he was hunkalicious a minute ago, now you think he’s a pervert. You’re just jealous.”
“Damn right, I am.” Viv grinned. “Seriously though, Jo. You don’t know anything about him.”
“He’s a doctor. A GP with a practice in Rozelle.”
“Nice. What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know. Visiting someone. I’ll find out shall I, and report back to you? Anything else you’d like to know? Star sign? Shoe size? Just give me a list.”
“No need to be sarcastic.” The bead curtain rattled as Viv pushed it aside and went into the workroom. Joelle followed her.
“It’s only a cup of coffee,” she said.
“I didn’t say a word.” Viv sat on the high stool by the bench and began twining ivy stems together. “Only three of these to go,” she said. “Trace should be back any minute. I’ll get her started on the flowers for the church, okay?”
“Fine.” Joelle watched her friend assembling the table centrepiece with deft fingers. Viv was thirty, one year married and apparently content to be under Joelle’s charge in the shop. She didn’t seem to have any ambitions beyond keeping this steady job and making Mark happy. Joelle had been appointed over her and she hadn’t minded one bit, she said. Joelle believed her.
Joelle found this lack of career drive perplexing. She didn’t want to remain in Sunshine Point managing someone else’s shop forever. She wanted her own shop or at least some sort of floral design business. Japan beckoned, China beckoned. The world beckoned.
Paul didn’t understand that either. He couldn’t see why she would want to give up the solid position she had for something nebulous and potentially poverty inducing. He didn’t have a creative bone in his body and had an imagination to match his sex appeal. He did know how to make money selling and buying real estate, however.
“It’s only fair to tell Paul,” said Viv.
“I don’t see why having coffee with someone needs to be reported to Paul,” snapped Joelle.
“Not that. How you feel about him.”
“I think I already have. Kind of. He asked me to go out with Adam and co on Sunday and I said it’s Mum’s birthday. He actually assumed we would automatically go with Adam as a couple—or Adam did, along with everyone else—and then he said he should come to Mum’s as if we’re an inseparable entity.”
“It’s not entirely his fault,” said Viv.
“I know. I’ve led him on without realising. Now he’s upset and angry.”
“Joelle. Grow up!” said Viv sternly. “You have to be straight with people.”
“I hate saying no when he’s so keen and enthusiastic. I enjoy going out with him but not…I just want to be his friend. He says he loves me,” she finished miserably. “I don’t like to disappoint him. But I did suggest he invite someone else for Sunday.”
“My God!” Viv shook her head. “Miss Tact strikes again. No-body likes disappointing people but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Just how far would you go? Marry him so as not to disappoint him?”
“No! We’ve already had this conversation. Anyway I think he’s got the message now.”
“You’d better make quite sure, Jo. Specially if you’re going to start seeing Fabio.”
“His name is Shay,” said Joelle. “And he’ll be here soon. Where’s Tracey?
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” muttered Viv.
Joelle was standing by the counter when Shay pushed open the door at four-sixteen. She looked up and smiled and his doubts about seeing her melted away.
“I’ll be right with you,” she said. She stuck her head through the bead curtain and he heard a muffled conversation finishing with, “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
He held the door for her. Joelle paused outside the shop.
“Where would you
“I know where he lives, or at least, where his surgery is. He gave me his card.”
“Could be a fake.”
“Viv, you thought he was hunkalicious a minute ago, now you think he’s a pervert. You’re just jealous.”
“Damn right, I am.” Viv grinned. “Seriously though, Jo. You don’t know anything about him.”
“He’s a doctor. A GP with a practice in Rozelle.”
“Nice. What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know. Visiting someone. I’ll find out shall I, and report back to you? Anything else you’d like to know? Star sign? Shoe size? Just give me a list.”
“No need to be sarcastic.” The bead curtain rattled as Viv pushed it aside and went into the workroom. Joelle followed her.
“It’s only a cup of coffee,” she said.
“I didn’t say a word.” Viv sat on the high stool by the bench and began twining ivy stems together. “Only three of these to go,” she said. “Trace should be back any minute. I’ll get her started on the flowers for the church, okay?”
“Fine.” Joelle watched her friend assembling the table centrepiece with deft fingers. Viv was thirty, one year married and apparently content to be under Joelle’s charge in the shop. She didn’t seem to have any ambitions beyond keeping this steady job and making Mark happy. Joelle had been appointed over her and she hadn’t minded one bit, she said. Joelle believed her.
Joelle found this lack of career drive perplexing. She didn’t want to remain in Sunshine Point managing someone else’s shop forever. She wanted her own shop or at least some sort of floral design business. Japan beckoned, China beckoned. The world beckoned.
Paul didn’t understand that either. He couldn’t see why she would want to give up the solid position she had for something nebulous and potentially poverty inducing. He didn’t have a creative bone in his body and had an imagination to match his sex appeal. He did know how to make money selling and buying real estate, however.
“It’s only fair to tell Paul,” said Viv.
“I don’t see why having coffee with someone needs to be reported to Paul,” snapped Joelle.
“Not that. How you feel about him.”
“I think I already have. Kind of. He asked me to go out with Adam and co on Sunday and I said it’s Mum’s birthday. He actually assumed we would automatically go with Adam as a couple—or Adam did, along with everyone else—and then he said he should come to Mum’s as if we’re an inseparable entity.”
“It’s not entirely his fault,” said Viv.
“I know. I’ve led him on without realising. Now he’s upset and angry.”
“Joelle. Grow up!” said Viv sternly. “You have to be straight with people.”
“I hate saying no when he’s so keen and enthusiastic. I enjoy going out with him but not…I just want to be his friend. He says he loves me,” she finished miserably. “I don’t like to disappoint him. But I did suggest he invite someone else for Sunday.”
“My God!” Viv shook her head. “Miss Tact strikes again. No-body likes disappointing people but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Just how far would you go? Marry him so as not to disappoint him?”
“No! We’ve already had this conversation. Anyway I think he’s got the message now.”
“You’d better make quite sure, Jo. Specially if you’re going to start seeing Fabio.”
“His name is Shay,” said Joelle. “And he’ll be here soon. Where’s Tracey?
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” muttered Viv.
Joelle was standing by the counter when Shay pushed open the door at four-sixteen. She looked up and smiled and his doubts about seeing her melted away.
“I’ll be right with you,” she said. She stuck her head through the bead curtain and he heard a muffled conversation finishing with, “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
He held the door for her. Joelle paused outside the shop.
“Where would you
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