Back on Track, page 31
Virginia paused as their food was delivered.
“The tropical salad for you, Virginia.” Simon placed the dish in front of her. “And the eggs Florentine for you, Ketty.”
Virginia took a small spoonful of her fruit then went on. “I’ve never felt that mother guilt people talk about. That was just how life was but…” She studied Ketty across the table. “Telling you now…I feel…sorry.”
Ketty swallowed the delicious morsel she’d just put in her mouth with a gulp. “Why?”
“It should have been you. You’d have been a much better mother than me.”
“How do you know that? If my baby had survived who’s to know what choices I’d have made? I couldn’t be with the father of my child so I’d have been raising him or her alone. Like you I’ve worked long hours, had to sacrifice a lot to build my business.”
“Which is in Sydney?”
“Yes. After I’d recovered enough to work—”
“Dear god, they made a mess of you in that hospital, Ketty. It was as if they’d cut you in half and stitched you back together again.”
“It was that or I died. Advanced sepsis due to an ectopic pregnancy wasn’t easy to treat.” Ketty put her hand to her stomach, where the scar snaked across her abdomen. “I thought my life was over for a while but I got a lucky break in Sydney and reinvented myself. I chose to live my life in a different way to the one I’d imagined. My scar is my daily reminder of how lucky I am. I’ve no regrets.”
“I wish I could say the same. I’m proud of the modelling career I had.” Virginia tossed a look over her shoulder. “Not so proud of my mothering.”
Ketty pondered that and couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she had a son sharing this journey with her.
“Don’t misunderstand me,” Virginia said. “I’m impressed by the man Beau’s become. He’s kind and intelligent, a much better human than me. He has a PhD in computer science and spends most of his time lecturing at university and working on his research, which is something about randomised algorithms and machine learning. Don’t ask me any more than that – it’s all too science fiction for me.”
“And you’re holidaying together?”
“His idea, not mine. As I said, he thought I’d benefit from a change of scene. I think he regrets it now.”
“Surely not.”
“I struggled for so long with this knee.”
“What happened?”
“Simplest thing. I was at the local shops and a blasted dog tripped me up. I fell and landed awkwardly across a bike rack. I was pretty banged up, but my knee was the worst. And to add insult to injury it was assumed it was a fall.”
“I can relate to that.” Ketty held up her pale right arm. “Broke my wrist after a bit of a tussle with a shop mannequin. It was assumed I’d had a fall too. Why is there this sudden change from ‘she fell over’ to ‘she had a fall’?”
“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? And in my case the dog and its owner didn’t even stop to help and no-one else saw it happen. Anyway, I’ve suffered with the knee ever since. Then Beau’s marriage broke up. They’d drifted apart. She and I never got on, so I wasn’t sorry to see her gone and I don’t think Beau was terribly distressed in the end.
“When I finally decided to have a knee replacement he moved in to help me at home. It’s taken longer than I’d thought to recover. He suggested a holiday might…” She put up her fingers to make air quotes. “‘Get me out of myself’, I think were his words. I thought a day lounge by a pool with a bar nearby would be the thing but he decided on this…” she flipped a hand out, “antiquated caravan on wheels.”
“I must admit to being a sceptic when this trip was first suggested but I’ve discovered I love the train,” Ketty said. “It’s all about the journey, isn’t it – the experience, the people you meet.” Ketty smiled. “And the staff go out of their way to make it special. There’s something romantic about traversing our country in a train.”
“But they keep making us get off.” Virginia huffed. “I asked if I could stay aboard today instead of taking the tour but Jade said it wasn’t possible.”
“I suppose the staff need us out of the way so they can refresh our cabins et cetera. Anyway, I believe Coober Pedy will be very interesting.”
Virginia gave an exasperated snort. While they’d been talking they’d finished their meal and Simon came to clear their plates. “Can I get you anything else, ladies?”
They both ordered more coffee.
Virginia studied the waiter as he walked away. “I do admit the food is rather good and the staff have been mostly helpful. I suppose there is a rustic elegance about it.”
“There’s always a bright side.”
“You’re sounding like Beau.”
“Oh no.”
“What is it?” Virginia twisted and tried to look back to where Ketty was watching.
“Rory’s seen Birgit and he’s heading towards her.”
Virginia turned back. “There’s always drama with young people.”
“It’s all right. Beau’s stepped in. He’s talking to Rory and now Rory’s heading back to Rhys. They’re leaving.”
“Beau’s calm in a crisis. Does your Lacey have a boyfriend?”
Ketty was surprised by Virginia’s change of tack. “Oh…no…at least…I think she might be a bit young for Beau.”
“One of the reasons I agreed to come was to address Beau’s lack of female companionship.” Virginia twisted her head to glance back again. “What was it all about anyway?”
Ketty filled her in on Birgit’s brief holiday romance and Rory’s lack of honesty about his marital status.
“Oh, I see.” Virginia nodded. “Married men were a line I tried never to cross but some men…” She shrugged. “When I discovered their deceit I ended it and moved on. Like you with that man who fathered your child.”
“You know I ran into him again a few years ago.”
“I hope he was suffering from the pox.” Virginia gave her a devilish look.
“No.” Ketty pictured Leo as she’d seen him last on her cruise aboard the Diamond Duchess. “On the contrary, he’s matured well as far as looks go. He was keen to rekindle our relationship.”
“The bastard.”
“He was no longer married and very charming. Thankfully I soon discovered that behind the sparkle and the eloquence nothing had changed. He was still a liar.”
“So there hasn’t been anyone else for you?”
“A few close calls.” Ketty smiled.
“What about that Spanish man.” Virginia wriggled her eyebrows. “The friend you’re with?”
“Carlos? We’re good friends and that’s all.” Ketty adjusted the glass of water in front of her. “There was a time years ago when I was tempted but our friendship was too important to mess it up with a holiday fling. And that’s all it could ever have been. He sailed the world, and he’s now based in Spain and I live in Sydney.”
“If you’re not interested I might be. I’m not averse to a holiday fling.”
Ketty felt a sudden stab of jealousy but she pushed it away as ridiculous. “We’re old friends, as I said. He was a maître d’ with a cruise line and now that he’s retired he’s visiting Australia. He’ll return to Spain eventually.” Ketty didn’t want to think about how she’d feel once he was gone.
“And sharing your cabin, I hear.”
“There was a mix-up with Carlos’s booking. Since he was the one to suggest this holiday in the first place and he also generously gave me a voucher towards it for Christmas, I couldn’t leave him behind so I offered him a spare bunk. That’s all there is to it.”
“Does he know that?”
“Don’t be silly.”
Simon brought their coffees and Ketty fiddled with the cup. Virginia was very direct, probing a relationship Ketty didn’t want disturbed but if she’d been the blushing type, her cheeks would have been glowing red.
Judith drank the last of her tea and set her cup neatly back on the table.
“Orange dirt as far as the eye can see but it seems to be more brittle, rockier than yesterday.” Carlos turned back from the window to Erik. “How do you know where to look for opals?”
Over breakfast Erik had been explaining how he’d mined for opal. “It’s more about luck than anything. You have to dig a hole and search. When you get closer to the town you will see the mullock heaps everywhere.” His hands moved in an arc. “Mounds of loose stones, white and brown, dug out of the earth. I went on a flight over the area once. From above it looks like white ant holes erupting out of the flat red earth.” His smile fell away. “In the scheme of things it’s all we are…scurrying insects.”
Carlos appeared to ignore Erik’s bitter tone. “I’m looking forward to seeing it.” Once more he turned to the window. “We’re slowing now.”
Erik lurched to his feet, bumping the table and making their water glasses wobble. “I must go. I have things to do before we get off.” He rushed from the carriage, pushing past one of the stewards and almost crashing through the door when it didn’t open with the same speed he was moving.
Judith folded her napkin. She didn’t want to be left alone at the table with Carlos.
“Please stay a moment longer,” he said as she started to rise. “There’s something I need to talk with you about.”
It was the last thing Judith wanted to do. She glanced around. The dining car was thinning out but all of the members of her party were still there.
Belinda came to clear their table. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked.
“I would enjoy a coffee, please,” Carlos said. “Would you like another tea, Judith?”
She glanced from his expectant look to Belinda. “A cappuccino, please.”
Once Belinda had moved away, Carlos settled back against the chair.
“Such a very different life Erik has led,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing these opal mines. I find it hard to imagine even though I’ve seen photographs.”
“Yes,” Judith murmured.
“And he lives on his own?”
“He had a wife. I gather she died and that might be why he moved away.”
“Too many memories perhaps?”
Judith gave another murmured response, wishing she’d left instead of agreeing to the coffee.
Once the drinks were delivered she took her time sprinkling sugar into her cup and stirring it slowly with her spoon.
“You’ve known Ketty for a long time,” Carlos said.
Judith glanced up at his earnest expression. “Not as long as you have.”
“But you’ve been more constant in her life – a friend, a confidante.”
“I have.” She met his gaze squarely now.
“Ketty is such a good person. She has many friends in her life. I’ve enjoyed meeting them.”
Judith nodded and picked up her coffee. She took a small sip and placed it carefully back on the saucer. The train was moving slowly now but the occasional bump made the table vibrate.
“My case has been found.”
She glanced up, surprised by his sudden change of topic.
“It’s in Dubai so it still may be some time before I get it.”
Judith waited, not sure why he was telling her this.
“I had something in it for Ketty. Something special. It was stupid of me to put it in my case. I’d meant to have it in my carry-on but in the frenzy of last-minute packing I made a mistake.”
Judith took another sip of her coffee. Fancy Carlos making a mistake and admitting to it. She hadn’t thought it his style.
“I’d planned to give it to Ketty on the train, perhaps over dinner, but as I don’t have it, I wondered if you…I had a quick look in the shops yesterday but didn’t see anything that seemed just right. Perhaps you might suggest something?”
Judith was momentarily speechless. Was that what he’d been doing in a pawnshop? Looking for something rather than selling something? She was surprised the all-knowing Carlos would ask her what Ketty might like, then felt guilty that she had the scarf he’d tried to purchase for her back in Katherine. If she admitted it she’d have to explain why she bought it. She could say she got it for Ketty to spite him. What would the saintly Carlos think of that?
“We’re going to Coober Pedy,” she said. “It’s supposed to be the biggest producer of gem-quality opals in the world. Perhaps you could find her something there.”
“I did do some research on that last night but we lost phone signal and we still don’t have any. I wondered about a ring?”
Judith’s eyebrows arched. “That’s very personal. What about a brooch?”
“Would she like that?”
“She doesn’t have many.” Because she never wore them, but Judith wasn’t going to tell him that.
“I don’t have any idea if Ketty even likes opal.”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“Ask me what?”
Carlos started and then composed his face quickly. Judith had seen Ketty and her breakfast companion approaching but with his back to them Carlos hadn’t.
“Carlos wants to know if you’re a fan of opal?” Judith slipped from her seat. “I’d better get ready. I think they want us to get off fairly soon.”
She made her way out of the dining car without looking back. She knew what Carlos was up to. He thought by engaging her in conversation and playing on her friendship with Ketty that he could win her over under the pretence of buying something for Ketty. Judith wondered again about his trip to the pawnshop. Whatever it was that he was up to, she wasn’t going to be fooled by Carlos.
thirty-eight
Day Three – Manguri Siding
Lacey, Birgit, Ning and Tien were all in the one cabin, waiting for the announcement to leave the train. Lacey was seated on the couch between Birgit and Ning while Tien paced up and back like a caged tiger.
“Why don’t you sit?” Lacey said. “We can make room.”
Tien shook her head. “I prefer to stand.”
“The staff are quick to pack away the bunks and return the cabin to day use,” Ning said, smoothing her hands across the couch.
“When we first came on board I thought working on the train seemed like a dream job.” Birgit leaned across and pulled up the blind. “Now I’m not so sure.”
Tien bent to the window then spun back, a look of horror on her face. “We are in the middle of nowhere. There’s not even a waiting room or an office.”
“Perhaps there’s one further along,” Ning suggested. “Remember our carriage is nearly at the end of the train.”
Tien began to pace again. “It’s like that TV show The Tourist. That man woke up in the outback with no memory and his friend got buried alive.” Tien shuddered. “And there were scorpions!”
“I can put up with a few scorpions if your man Jamie Dornan comes with them,” Birgit said.
“Was he in that?” Lacey asked.
“Every hunky bit of him.” She winked and leaned forward to look out the window. “Hang on a minute. Isn’t that your man there now?”
“Where?” Tien leaned beside her and pushed her face to the glass.
“Gotcha.” Birgit laughed.
“Stop worrying, Tien,” Ning said. “Come and sit down. We’re all perfectly safe and I’m sure there won’t be any scorpions.”
Lacey moved along and both Birgit and Tien squeezed in beside her. They’d had lots of laughs this morning. The possibility of sharing her house had lifted the cloud of worry that had hung over Lacey. They’d told Ning and Tien about it over breakfast and, apart from Tien wanting them to make sure they did all the paperwork so they didn’t end up in court like the tenants from hell program she’d seen on TV, the other two women thought it a good idea. There was still her dad to track down but with fresh hope she’d check her phone for messages and her bank balance as soon as she could find some signal.
A voice came through the speaker announcing it was time to head to the buses.
“Judith’s not here,” Tien said.
“She was ready when I saw her last.” Ning stood. “She might be next door in our cabin. I’ll check.”
She let herself out while the others collected their things and was back quickly. “I think she’s already gone. Her bag’s not there. We should go. She’ll probably meet us at the bus.”
They stepped out into the corridor and followed other passengers heading forward along the train.
Jade greeted them in the lounge car and ushered them further. They walked on through the dining car and even the kitchen.
Tien, who was in the lead, stopped part way along the galley lined with stainless steel cupboards and benches. “Are you sure this is the right way?”
“Yes.” Ning nodded. “Caryn said there’s no platform here. We’re almost at the end of the train and there’s not a path so we have to walk some of the way inside.” She shooed Tien forward and they kept going through several carriages like theirs before they reached a door that was open.
From there they climbed down onto a dirt track running parallel to the train. Overhead a brilliant blue cloudless sky stretched wide to infinity in every direction and the brightness of the sun had them all searching for their sunglasses, Tien adjusting hers while scrutinising the ground.
“It’s a fair walk.” Birgit pointed forward where several buses waited in the distance, looking like matchbox toys. “How’re your feet?”
Everyone looked down at Lacey’s feet safely covered by Ning’s spare pair of canvas slip-on shoes.
“Fine so far.” Lacey patted her bag. “And I’ve got extra socks, more plasters and my flip-flops if I’m desperate.”
