Back on Track, page 26
“Rory told her he might come back to Australia to work and perhaps they could share a place.”
“Surely that’s just talk.”
“She paid for his camel ride and goodness knows what else.”
“One thing about the train, at least she doesn’t have to pay for anything on board.” Ketty made light of it but she planned to find out a bit more about Rory. Apart from his cheekiness there was something about him that didn’t gel with her either.
thirty-two
Night Two – Alice Springs
Judith was pleased Erik had agreed to join them. She’d been on edge about spending time with Ketty before they’d had a chance to reconcile, and her anxiety had ratcheted up several notches as soon as she’d arrived at the historical telegraph station. She’d eagerly taken the glass of white wine offered by the waitstaff as they entered the dining compound. And then across the sea of white-clothed tables and chairs there was Ketty with Carlos. They’d been standing either side of the table Ketty had saved, looking for all the world like a couple ready to receive their guests for dinner, and all Judith’s misgivings about Carlos had flooded back.
With Erik at her table she had someone totally different to focus on and she was pleased for the distraction.
“Your friend keeps glaring at me,” Erik murmured as he sat back from his empty entree plate.
Judith glanced across the table but Tien was talking to Ning, who was looking at her phone again. “Ignore her. She’ll get used to you.”
“I did bump into her rather hard today.”
“She’s not hurt and you’ve apologised. Please don’t worry about it.”
Erik glanced around the table. “I’m glad Carlos and Warren aren’t as dressed up as you ladies. I don’t feel quite so underdressed. I thought they might be in dinner suits.”
“Carlos has only just flown in from Spain and his case was lost. I believe he only has his carry-on baggage with him, and I suspect Warren has a polo shirt for every occasion.”
“Thanks for letting me join your table. I wasn’t sure where I was going to sit.”
Judith smiled and relaxed a little. On her other side she was conscious of Ketty chatting with Lacey. She was glad she’d had the chance to break the ice with Ketty but there was still more to say, she hoped maybe later in the night. In the meantime Erik obviously needed company and Judith was glad to be able to fill that role.
“This is an interesting place,” Erik said. “Did you enjoy the tour today?”
“Yes. Alice Springs was much bigger than I’d imagined. Will Coober Pedy be similar?”
“Nee.” He shook his head. “Very different. There is so much you can’t see because it’s underground.”
“What did you do there?”
“I was a miner.”
“For opal?”
He nodded. Judith wasn’t sure it was polite to ask if he’d been successful.
“For many years we only scraped by. A lot of opal found is potch. Little value. Then we had better luck with the opal but…my wife…” He shook his head, his lips pressed together, his look haunted.
“It must have been an awful time for you.”
“Terrible.” His face hardened and his voice dropped to little more than a mutter. “I have a plan for closure.” He stared across the table, appearing lost in some dark place.
Judith had a sudden urge to reach out and lay a hand on his but instead she shifted the topic from his dead wife. “Have you decided what you’ll do there tomorrow?”
There was a pause before he replied. “Yes,” he said finally. “I’ve asked if I can go in on the bus and then do my own thing. Because I lived there, Jade said it would be all right.”
“I see.” Judith’s anticipation ebbed. For a brief moment she’d imagined one of the bus tours with Erik as company.
“I’ll meet the bus at the end of the day to come back.”
“You won’t walk?” Some people had done that in Alice Springs. Not that Judith planned to do much more walking on this trip.
“Nee.” He shook his head vigorously and smiled. It softened his angular features. “The rail track doesn’t pass through Coober Pedy. There’s a siding at Manguri. It’s over forty kilometres away.”
“Oh?”
“We’ll be stopping in the middle of nowhere.”
Judith found it hard to imagine. Val asked Erik his suggestion for the best tour to take and Judith sat back in her chair. She hadn’t asked anyone else what their choices were for the next day’s tour. In her current frame of mind she wasn’t sure if she wanted to avoid them all or travel with them.
The people two tables away were moving off to get their main meals and Ketty knew her table would soon be asked to take their turn. Erik was in conversation with Val on his other side so Judith was free, as was Lacey. Ketty decided to seize the opportunity.
“Would you both come with me a moment please? There’s something I’d like to chat with you about. It’s to do with work. Just the three of us.”
Judith stiffened and glanced from Ketty to Lacey, her look grim.
Lacey got to her feet. “Of course.”
“Bring your drinks.” Ketty plucked hers from the table and led the way past the stone buildings to a lawn area out of sight of their workmates. “I’ll get right to the point as I don’t want to keep you from dinner. We still haven’t decided on the styles and colours for next year’s autumn/winter ready-made range.” Mainly because they hadn’t been able to agree on which direction to take. Now that she’d heard Lacey’s side of things Ketty had realised their discussions were probably being hampered by the lack of cohesion between her two key workers, Lacey and Judith. “We’re running out of time and I think this trip is the perfect place to draw inspiration.” Judith retained her poker face but Lacey’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I know you’ve already been thinking about some fabric designs and garment styles, Lacey, and Judith, you have a wonderful knowledge when it comes to sourcing fabric—”
“So do you.” Judith’s look was full of suspicion. “What’s this about? Are you taking another step back?”
“Not at all.” Ketty swallowed her annoyance at Judith’s response. “I’m thinking ahead. We’ve been creating two collections of ready-made garments a year for a while now. The colours of the gorge at Katherine started me thinking about possibilities for next winter and I know Lacey has drawn some inspiration from the landscapes we’ve seen. If she were to design the fabric we could get it printed.”
Lacey gasped, masking Judith’s censorial sniff.
“Really, Miss Ketty? You want me to design the fabric and the garments?”
Ketty nodded. “We’d work on the garments together. I’d like your input on the designs too, Judith, but I’d also like you to find the right linens, cottons, silks, whatever we need and somewhere to have Lacey’s designs printed.”
“We’ve never printed our own fabric before,” Judith said.
“I know,” Ketty agreed. “It wasn’t an easy thing to do in the past but now—”
“And the cost of all this?” Judith retorted.
Lacey glanced warily at her. Once more Ketty fought to keep her composure. She took a sip of her wine.
“Naturally this would be fully costed and we’d have to approve them before we committed,” she said. “I’m planning to stay on in Adelaide for a week after this trip finishes.”
“A week?” Judith’s response was sharp.
“Yes. There’s Jim and Celia’s wedding celebration and then Carlos and I will do some sightseeing. It’s a long time since I’ve been back to South Australia so I thought we’d make the most of it. Carlos was keen when I suggested it.” Ketty ignored Judith’s soft snort and continued. “I was hoping by the time I get back you might have some rough ideas for the three of us to discuss. I wanted to mention it now while we’re still in the midst of this inspirational landscape.” She smiled at Lacey. “Immerse yourself in the possibilities.”
“Oh, Miss Ketty, that would be wonderful.”
“And really, Lacey, we are a close team. I must insist on you calling me Ketty.”
Lacey opened her mouth to protest.
“Please,” Ketty said.
“I’ll try, Mi…Ketty.”
“There you are.” Tien hurried around the corner of the old shed. “It’s our turn for dinner.”
“We’re coming.” Ketty waved to Tien then looked from Lacey to Judith. “This is something to think about. It might not come to anything but I’d like us to try or we might not have a collection for next year’s winter.”
“It’s a fabulous idea,” Lacey said.
Ketty held her glass up. Lacey tapped it and smiled. Judith’s tap was slow in coming and there was no smile.
“Now our dinner awaits.” Ketty began to walk.
Lacey almost bounded ahead, her sore feet forgotten in her excitement.
“You indulge her too much,” Judith muttered.
Ketty stopped, drew in a breath and turned to Judith. “I don’t think encouraging her creativity is an indulgence and I hope you’d never say something like that to Lacey.”
Judith’s eyes narrowed. “What’s this really about, Ketty?”
“You know if we don’t get the basics done soon we’ll be too late. It’s about giving two of my most-valued employees the opportunity to work as a team.”
“Ketty Clift Couture is a team.”
“Not always.”
Judith glanced in the direction Lacey had gone. “Has she said something about me?”
“Why would you think that?”
“You were having that cosy chat yesterday in your cabin.”
“Lacey had some personal issues we were discussing. This has nothing to do with that.” Ketty hoped her face didn’t give away her lie. This had everything to do with getting Lacey and Judith working together in the hope that Judith might soften towards the younger woman, see her as Ketty did – a bright, creative spark in their enterprise. “She’s brought some fresh ideas to the business but she still has a lot to learn. She could benefit from your experience in the fabric sourcing and buying department.”
“As she could from yours, but you’re taking another week off.”
“Good heavens, I can’t believe you’d begrudge me that.” Ketty tried not to be annoyed. “Or is this more about me spending time with Carlos? He is not the monster you’re making him out to be.”
Judith’s steady gaze met Ketty’s then she let out a sigh so long her shoulders sunk with it like a deflating balloon. “It’s your business, Ketty. I’ll do whatever you need of me.” She turned away and strode back to the table, leaving Ketty floundering in a pool of despondency. She’d thought her idea had merit and Lacey was keen but Judith was proving difficult and obviously still harbouring doubts about Carlos. What was it he’d said? There were people who wallowed in their own misery or disappointments and those who were simply too afraid to try something different. Did Judith fit one of those categories or was she simply punishing Ketty for living her own life?
Lacey had a selection of beautiful meats and vegetables on her plate. It was far too big a serve but it was all so hard to resist, and it was already paid for. Since she’d come on this holiday, she’d probably eaten double the amount that she normally would. She told herself it would be rude of her not to make the most of Miss Ketty’s— she pulled herself up, Ketty’s generosity.
“Hello, Lacey.”
“Virginia, hello.” She nodded at Beau, who was seated beside his mother. “The food looks wonderful, doesn’t it?”
“My meat was a bit chewy but Beau said his was perfect.”
Lacey glanced at Beau. He raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps Mum got a sinewy piece. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”
“Do come back and see us once you’ve finished eating.” Virginia leaned closer. “Beau will enjoy some younger company.”
Lacey glanced at Beau but he’d gone back to his meal and didn’t appear to have heard his mother’s last words. “I might see you later,” she said and went on to her own table. No sooner had she sat than Ketty tapped her on the arm.
“Who was that woman you were talking to?”
Lacey glanced back. She could just see the soft grey fluff of Virginia’s hair. “Her name’s Virginia. I met her this morning before the tour began.”
“Do you know her last name?”
“Something French sounding.” Lacey screwed up her nose. “Dumond…no, Dupont.”
“Do you know anything else about her?”
“She’s travelling with her son, Beau. She’s pretty hard on him but I think her knee’s bothering her. She was pleasant enough to me. Oh, and she said she was a model but her knee must have caused her a lot of trouble because she’s had a replacement and…” Lacey stopped talking. Ketty had sunk back against her seat, staring in the direction of Virginia.
“M…” Lacey swallowed the word. “Ketty?”
Ketty blinked and turned to Lacey.
“Do you know her?” Lacey asked.
“I’ve noticed her a few times on the train.” Ketty tapped a finger to her lips. “There’s something about her but I can’t…Her cabin is in our carriage. I thought perhaps Beau might be her husband.”
“Oh no, he’s much younger than her, although I do agree he looks older at first and…” Heat flooded Lacey’s cheeks. “Not that it matters about age, I suppose.”
Ketty picked up her cutlery. “We should eat before this food goes cold.”
Lacey ate several mouthfuls and there was certainly nothing chewy about the meat, which melted in her mouth, but it churned in her stomach with a mix of excitement and nerves as she thought over Ketty’s proposal.
When she’d first mentioned the idea of a new winter collection with some of the fabric designed by Lacey, Lacey had been excited by the possibilities but as she’d stood in the serving area the cold chill of reality had set in. It sounded like Ketty wanted her to work closely with Judith. That was odd, given Lacey’s revelations to Ketty about their rocky working relationship. And Judith’s sharp reaction to the idea had left Lacey in no doubt she wasn’t happy either. Even worse, Ketty wasn’t going to be back at work for another week and Judith would be in charge.
A waiter came with another tray of drinks. Lacey accepted some more champagne and took a large gulp hoping the bubbles might dissolve the mire of worry in her stomach. A band was playing and Tien asked if she knew the song. She listened so she could catch the melody over the hum of voices and chink of cutlery against china. It was country music, a song Dean had on his playlist.
Lacey took another gulp of champagne. “It’s a Lady A song. ‘What If I Never Get Over You’.”
Ketty picked at her food. On one side of her Lacey chatted with Tien and Ning was tapping on her phone. And since they’d come back with their food it was Erik who was now on Ketty’s other side. She assumed Judith had put him between them so she could avoid talking to Ketty. Across the table Carlos was obviously enjoying the conversation around him. The table was too wide and the background noise of the band and people talking made it difficult to converse with anyone more than two seats away.
Not that Ketty was taking in anything at her table anyway. Her thoughts were on Virginia. Now she knew why she’d seemed familiar. They’d known each other forty years ago. They’d met under the worst of circumstances, had only spent a few days in each other’s company and not kept in touch, but they’d bonded.
Gasps and exclamations brought her back to the group at her table. They were looking up at something beyond her.
“Here comes the moon,” Erik murmured.
Ketty turned. The light was fading and the three-quarter moon had risen, a single brilliant glow in the cloudless sky. Phones were brought out for photos but something else had caught Ketty’s eye and she slipped away from the table. Virginia was making her way towards the toilets and Ketty wanted to catch her alone.
Ketty wandered along the verandah of one of the stone buildings, looking in windows and studying the architecture and the restoration work while keeping an eye out for Virginia exiting the toilet block. Finally she stepped out, leaning on her stick across the uneven ground. She moved slowly and Ketty intercepted her easily.
“Hello, Virginia.”
Virginia paused, peering at Ketty in the fading light. “Who are…oh, it’s you from our carriage. The snooping woman.”
Ketty forced her lips up into a smile. “I’ve only just realised who you are. We met a long time ago.” She lowered her voice as two women walked past. “In the hospital. I’m Ket…Kathy Clift.”
Virginia’s eyes widened. “Kathy Clift?” She leaned closer. “It is you.” She dropped her stick and wrapped Ketty in her arms.
“Yes, it’s me,” Ketty murmured into Virginia’s shoulder as they hugged. In that moment Ketty was transported back forty years to the desolate young woman she’d been when they’d last met. The delicious meal roiled in her stomach at the powerful memories.
Virginia let her go. “I can’t believe it, after all these years. I have glasses but I’m too vain to wear them. Beau tells me I often miss the small details.”
Ketty picked up the stick and offered it back.
“Oh, damn thing,” Virginia said. “It’s been with me far longer than I’d thought.”
“It’s rather a statement piece though. Like a fine fur or a smart hat.”
“Trust you, Kathy.”
“I’m Ketty these days. I wanted a fresh start and Ketty sounded better than Kathy for a couture dressmaker. And you used to be Virginia Pontifex. Did you marry?”
“Good god, no! But Virginia Dupont had a better ring for a modelling career.”
They both laughed.
“And did it work? Did you break into the big time as you dreamed?”
