Back on Track, page 30
She’d seen this “I don’t care” behaviour before and she hurt for him. It was always after a break-up with a girl and so Judith had been quick to blame Lacey. But if she still liked him and hadn’t called it off and Judith knew Dean was still smitten with Lacey, what had gone wrong? She wished she could ring him but there was no signal out there and it was hardly the kind of conversation she could have with him over the phone. It’d have to be over drinks and home-cooked food, that was Judith’s currency, and she’d have to wait until she got home to tackle him on it.
Now she wondered if Ketty knew that Lacey’s father was a drinker and that he’d moved away. Perhaps that had been the conversation Judith had interrupted in Ketty’s cabin. Once more Judith was sorry her relationship with Ketty was so fractured. This was something she might have talked over with her. If only Carlos wasn’t on this trip.
Judith threw back the covers and sat up. She didn’t want to think about Carlos and whatever he was planning. It was too early to go for breakfast. She’d go to the little kitchen in the next carriage and make herself a cup of tea. She might run into one of the others and perhaps go to their cabin instead of sitting alone.
Judith had just stepped through the gangway into the next carriage when Carlos came swiftly around the corner, a towel draped over his shoulder.
“Good morning,” he said with his trademark smile.
Judith responded with a brusque nod.
“Is everything all right, Judith?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You seem to be avoiding me and I wonder if I’ve offended you somehow.”
“It’s been very busy, hasn’t it?” she said. “I’ve hardly seen Ketty either.”
“I think she’s a bit sad about that.”
“Is she?” Judith studied him closely. There was no guile in his look but she was sure this was just another of his tricks to engage her and try to draw her in with the charming persona he inveigled other people with.
“She respects your opinion, values your friendship and your expertise.”
Judith’s chin went up. “I know that. It’s mutual.” Why was he telling her this? It was so awkward standing there in the small space in their sleeping apparel, the train occasionally rocking them on their bare feet and the likelihood of another passenger passing through at any moment.
“I’d hoped you and I could also be friends.”
“We are, of course.” She looked down, unable to meet his steady gaze.
“I hope so. I wouldn’t like to think my friendship with Ketty was detrimental to that between you and her.”
Was there a warning tone to his voice? Judith straightened. “You don’t need to worry on that count. I’m very loyal and I look out for her.” She lifted her chin. “I’m always here for Ketty when she needs me, whereas you’re not here to stay, are you?”
He opened his mouth and closed it again, and Judith gained some small satisfaction from his moment of uncertainty. He always seemed so confident.
“I won’t hold you up.” She stepped sideways into the kitchenette and busied herself getting a cup and selecting a tea bag until she heard the heavy clunk of the carriage door closing behind her. Then she rested her hands on the bench and took slow deep breaths to calm her thudding heart. No matter how much she told herself she no longer cared what happened between Ketty and Carlos, she knew she couldn’t bear for her friend to be hurt.
“Are you awake?”
Lacey was relieved to hear Birgit’s whisper. She hadn’t wanted to disturb her friend. She leaned over the bunk and was pleased to see Birgit smiling. “Yes.”
“Sorry I chewed your ear for so long last night.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
They’d talked late into the night. Mostly Birgit had done the talking, ranting about Rory and then moving on to unloading all the faults of her previous boyfriend and how having to move back with her cousins had been so hard after the space of his apartment. Lacey hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open and had drifted off to sleep before Birgit had, she was sure, but she’d woken early this morning with an idea brewing.
“I wonder how Judith got on last night.” Birgit yawned. “It was good of her to offer to take my cabin.”
“It was.” Lacey climbed down the ladder. She was totally bamboozled by Judith’s hot-and-cold behaviour.
“Look at your face.” Birgit laughed and sat up, making space for Lacey to climb onto the bed. “Judith’s not such a bad person.”
“The jury’s still out on that but she did make me think about something.”
“See, not all bad.” Birgit pulled a face. “Unless it was something bad of course.”
“No, I don’t think so. It might be something good for both of us.”
“Go on.”
“Well, you know how I’m living on my own now—”
“Your dad might come back.”
“Even if he did, I’ve got a spare bedroom. It’s a two-bathroom house with a big living area.”
“So what are you thinking?”
“Judith mentioned renting out a room and I was thinking that might work.”
“It’d help you with your bills, that’s for sure. You’d have to be careful though. You wouldn’t want to end up with some weirdo.”
“I’ve got someone in mind already, actually. A weirdo I quite like.”
“You said you’d broken up with Dean. Has something happened?”
“Dean’s not a weirdo.”
“I’m just teasing. Go on then, who’s this weirdo you’re thinking could take your spare room?”
“You.”
“Me?” Birgit’s eyes were as round as dinner plates.
“If you’d like to—”
Birgit squealed and leaped forward, wrapping Lacey in a hug. “I’d love to.” Then she sat back. “Hang on, you just called me a weirdo. I might take offence.” She threw her arms around Lacey again. “But I’m not going to. Oh, Lacey, it would be wonderful.”
“Don’t get too excited yet.” Lacey was glad Birgit liked her suggestion but she had no idea how to organise it. “I’ll have to do some research and see what we’d need to do.”
Once more Birgit sat back. “I had a proper agreement with my cousins the first time I moved in. It was easy to organise. We haven’t renewed it ’cos I was hoping to find a better option.” She clapped her hands. “Your place would be perfect.”
“You haven’t seen my house yet. It’s a bit run-down. You might not like it.”
“Are you kidding? I’m sleeping on a fold-out bed in a small decrepit apartment with dodgy plumbing and two other tenants. I’m going to love it.”
“Last winter I had saucepans catching the drips from the leaky roof. It’s been patched but I’m not sure how long it will last.”
“Lucky I’ve got a set of saucepans in storage. I’ll bring them.”
Birgit laughed and her excitement was infectious. Lacey laughed too. It wasn’t just the extra money that would be good but having someone else in the house again. She hadn’t been sure Birgit would be interested and she still didn’t want either of them to get their hopes up too much.
“Like I said, wait till you’ve had a look before you decide.”
Lacey was trying to be sensible about it but already her thoughts raced ahead to how she might rearrange the bedrooms. She could take her gran’s with the en suite and if her dad came back for visits he could have the middle bedroom, and she could give Birgit the front room. It had a nice view over the verandah and the street.
“It’ll be grand.” Birgit clapped her hands.
“I hope so,” Lacey said and the weight of her worries lifted just a little.
The closing of the cabin door woke Ketty and she took a moment to orientate herself. Top bunk, train still moving – she opened her eyes wider – morning light. She assumed the door had been Carlos heading to the bathroom. She lay still a moment, then leaned over the bunk. His nightwear was neatly folded on his bed beside his toiletry bag. She sat up. He must have showered already. She blinked and reached for her watch but the numbers blurred and her reading glasses were still in her purse.
“Bother.”
The door opened and Carlos peered around. “You’re awake.” He came right in, a mug in his hand. “I made you tea.”
He passed it up to her.
“Thank you. You’re very good to me and I feel as if I’ve let you down.”
“How?”
“We didn’t get our quiet drink together. I got caught with Val and Warren and shooed you away. I didn’t mean for you to stay away. You didn’t even get a sip of your drink.” She grimaced.
“They found my case.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“It’s in Dubai.”
“Oh, not such good news, by the look on your face.”
“It might take a while to get to Adelaide, that’s all.”
“Well, that’s all right, isn’t it? We’d already decided to spend some extra time there and if worst comes to worst they’ll have to send it on to Sydney. We can go shopping for any extras you need.”
“I don’t want to have to shop.”
He looked rather disgruntled and once again Ketty wondered if it was the missing case or money problems or something else that bothered him. “Let’s wait and see how things stand when we get to Adelaide.”
“Such a nuisance.”
“Thank you for the tea.” Ketty took a sip, hoping to distract him. “I could get used to being waited on each morning.”
His customary smile returned. “Once you’re ready we can have breakfast. Perhaps just the two of us this morning.”
“Oh, Carlos, I’m sorry. I’ve organised to have breakfast with Virginia. We haven’t seen each other for forty years so there’s a lot to catch up on.”
“That’s all right.” His face said otherwise but Carlos was too polite to make demands.
“We’ll be together on the tour today,’ Ketty said. “And then it could be just us for dinner tonight. I’ve given up trying to organise my staff. Oh, and you’ll never guess what they got up to last night.” She filled him in on the cabin swaps and then Ning and Tien’s attempt at being protection for Lacey. She was pleased he was laughing with her by the time she’d finished.
“I’ll go for breakfast now then,” he said. “Leave you to get ready.”
“What time is it?”
He looked at his watch. “Seven forty-five.”
“Oh dear. I’d better get a move on. I said I’d meet Virginia at eight thirty.”
Ketty chose a pair of linen pants and a silk shirt from last summer’s ready-made collection. Her thoughts strayed briefly to Judith and Lacey and her request that the next winter collection be based on their travels, then she quickly pushed them from her mind. She’d told Carlos she was giving up on her staff but it wasn’t completely true. Seeing the way they’d all looked out for each other the previous night, comical as it was, reassured her that they were a good team. She just needed to smooth out a few kinks. What to do to help Ning was top of her list.
She glanced at her watch. That would have to wait though. It was time to meet with Virginia.
thirty-seven
Day Three – Travelling South
Ketty had barely tapped on the door when Virginia opened it and slipped out.
“It’s still very chilly in my cabin,” she said.
Ketty frowned. “I’ve found the temperature very comfortable.”
“I’m referring to Beau. He gave me a bit of a telling-off last night after I complained about the food.”
“Didn’t you like it?”
“It was fine,” Virginia huffed. “I’ve been a bit down over the slow return to normal with my knee. This holiday was supposed to be about revitalising and taking a fresh outlook. Beau doesn’t think I’ve been trying hard enough.”
“I see. Well, if it’s any consolation this trip was supposed to be about building relationships with my staff and I’ve not been all that successful with that either.”
Virginia was ahead of Ketty but she stopped suddenly. “Blast, I’ve left my stick. I’d better get it just in case.”
Ketty stood aside as Virginia slipped back into her cabin. While she waited she heard a familiar Irish accent. Rory and Rhys were heading her way along the passage. She turned so that there was space for them to pass.
Rory’s eyes narrowed when he saw her, just as Virginia stepped out with her stick.
“Good morning, Rory.” Ketty nodded. “Rhys.”
“Well, well, two old grannies for the price of one.” Rory’s smile was smug.
Ketty decided it best to ignore him but Virginia stepped closer, the handle of her walking stick resting on her shoulder.
“I’m curious, Rory,” she said. “Is it your notion that you’re going to be young all your life? You could be wrong about that, you know…” She leaned closer. “Or you could just be unfortunate and die young.”
Rory gaped at her. Virginia strode on, tapping her stick as she walked but not appearing to lean on it as Ketty followed in her wake.
“You certainly put him in his place,” Ketty said as soon as they reached the lounge car.
“I simply won’t put up with the Rorys of this world any longer.” Virginia’s defiant look once more reminded Ketty of the young woman she’d known so briefly all those years ago.
Jade greeted them with her usual warm smile although Ketty thought there was a tiredness in her eyes. The staff worked long hours and keeping all these people happy wouldn’t be easy. Jade sent them through to the dining car where they were seated at a table by themselves as requested. Ketty paused beside the table where Ning, Tien, Lacey and Birgit sat.
“Good morning,” she said. “I hope you all managed to sleep well.”
“We did,” Lacey and Birgit chorused then laughed as if they’d said something funny.
“I thought I’d let you know I’ve just seen the two fellows. They’re probably headed this way.”
“They better not try to talk to us.” Tien screwed her face up in a fierce frown.
“We’ll be fine, won’t we, girls?” Birgit said.
Lacey nodded emphatically and she and Birgit laughed again.
“That’s the way.” Ketty was pleased to see they were being positive but she did wonder if they’d both had champagne with their breakfast.
To Ketty’s surprise, Carlos was at a table with Erik and Judith. He smiled as she passed and went on talking to Erik. Judith stared studiously out the window. Of Warren and Val Ketty had seen no sign but she hoped they’d found some common ground after she’d left them the previous night.
She joined Virginia a few tables further on. They sat opposite each other by the window. Simon wrote down their coffee orders and Ketty took out her glasses to check the menu.
Their food order had been taken and their coffees delivered when Ketty noticed Rory and Rhys enter the dining car. “Thankfully our young gentleman friends have been given seats near the entrance,” she said.
“Are you worried?”
“No, but I’m not sure your response was quite the right way to tackle Rory. He strikes me as being the vindictive type and we’ve still got some time to go on this train.”
Virginia snorted. “I’ve become intolerant of intolerance. Sometimes it just has to be called out. In my profession I’ve been running into it for years. I worked harder than younger models, I had chemicals injected into my skin, I dyed my hair, I constantly reinvented myself. Then I injured my knee and there was suddenly no work.” She threw a hand in the air. “I felt…useless, like I’d been thrown on the scrap heap. I had to use a walking frame or a stick for years before I had my operation. A walking aid is like a homing beacon for jokes about aging. The last straw was just before my birthday. I treated myself to a manicure and this young woman passed me on her way out, patted my shoulder and said ‘how wonderful to see an old lady getting her nails done’.”
Ketty gasped.
“She beamed at me like an idiot. For once in my life I was speechless. It bothered me for days. I thought about it a lot and decided I might not be able to model any more but I wasn’t totally useless and I’d no longer laugh or be silent when it came to put-downs about my age.” She grinned. “I’ve developed quite a repertoire of comebacks.”
They fell silent as they sipped their coffees.
“And there’s not a lot of work for a sixty-five-year-old model with a limp so I’ve plenty of time to ponder it.” She looked up. “If you ever needed a second career, Ketty, you could be a model. The way you enter a room, the fit and style of your clothes.”
“You can keep that idea. Lacey has trotted me out a few times when we’ve been photographing new lines but I don’t enjoy it at all.”
“Is that outfit something you’ve made?”
Ketty glanced down. “We do a small range of ready-made for our online boutique. This is from last summer’s collection.”
“They look good on you.”
“I’m very happy with the design and the fabric. They seem to flatter a variety of ages and shapes.”
The door to the dining car opened and Beau was shown to a seat at the table across from Lacey and the others.
“Your son has arrived for breakfast,” Ketty said.
Virginia didn’t look around. “I thought he’d get moving once I was out of the way.”
Ketty glanced down the carriage. Beau appeared to be chatting to Lacey.
“He’s been a good son,” Virginia said. “We have a few spats but he’s very patient with me.”
“It must have been a shock to discover you were still pregnant.” Ketty spoke gently, being careful of her own tender memories as well as Virginia’s.
“It was, and I’m not looking for sympathy but life was a struggle in Beau’s early years. I got work but it was catalogue stuff, not regular and not paid well. And then I got my first big opportunity but it was in Sydney – Beau wasn’t at school yet, I left him with a friend. I was only gone for a week but then more offers came and it became a regular thing. I moved us to Sydney and my hours were crazy. I was forever juggling childcare and work and then eventually he was old enough to stay home alone. Not when I was doing the overseas stints, of course. I had someone come and stay with him then. We moved around a lot – rental places, the first apartment I bought, then various houses. He didn’t have a lot of close friends. By the time he went to uni I think we were both relieved. He got student digs and I could come and go without worrying about him.”
