The Kookaburra Creek Café Page 23

  Joey grinned and bowed as he left the café.

  What did single mums wear on dates? Alice had no idea. Nothing in her cupboard seemed right. Not that she knew where he was taking her. It was hot out, so maybe a summer dress. She picked one out at random and checked herself in the mirror. This one would have to do.

  ‘Mummy looks pretty.’ Tammy stood in the doorway patting Shadow’s head. ‘Can we come too?’

  ‘We have our own fun planned for tonight,’ said Hattie, coming up behind her. She wrapped the little girl in a tight hug. ‘He’s here, Alice. You’d better go.’

  ‘This isn’t what I imagined when you said date.’ Alice looked around the kitchen of Moretti’s Bread House. Granted she didn’t have a lot of experience with dates – any experience, for that matter – but weren’t there supposed to be roses and candlelit dinners? Not flour and butter and stainless steel benchtops. Joey tied an apron around Alice’s waist, his fingers brushing against the small of her back. ‘I thought this might be more fun,’ he said, as though he could read her thoughts.

  *

  ‘Don’t be afraid to throw it down hard,’ Joey said, showing Alice how to stretch the dough. ‘That’s better.’

  ‘This is kind of fun.’

  ‘I thought you’d like it.’ He flicked some flour at her.

  She flicked some flour back. ‘How do you know when you’ve kneaded it enough?’

  ‘That pretty much comes down to experience. You kind of get a feel for it.’

  ‘Ah, see, I knew there was a catch. You’re not going to tell me because you don’t want me to get as good as you.’

  ‘Sorry to tell you this, Alice,’ he shrugged, ‘but, when it comes to bread, you will never be as good as me.’ He took some dough and threw it at her, the sticky mix landing in her hair.

  ‘Is that so, Joseph Moretti? I accept the challenge.’ She threw a big lump of dough, smacking him right between the eyes and he stumbled back and fell to the ground.

  ‘I’m so sorry.’ She took the three steps to get to him, trying not to giggle.

  ‘No worries. But when I retell this story it’ll be a rolling pin that knocked me down and not a lump of dough.’

  Alice reached out her hand to help and the laughter she’d been holding back burst forth.

  ‘Oh, that’s charming.’

  ‘S—sorry.’ She doubled over, unable to stop.

  Taking her offered hand, Joey pulled her down to the floor beside him, rubbing flour into her hair.

  ‘That’s nice. Make me look like an old woman with white hair.’ She smiled.

  ‘You look beautiful.’ He touched her cheek. ‘You are beautiful.’ His hand reached behind her head and he pulled her closer to him. ‘And amazing,’ he whispered. His lips were so close. She tilted her head. With a gentle touch he parted her lips. Softly, slowly, he drew her lips into his. Softly, slowly he released them.

  Alice felt a tingle at the bottom of her spine and leaned into him.

  His kiss slowed and he cupped her chin in his hand, breathing deeply.

  ‘We’d better get these rolls in the oven, before I take advantage of you.’

  ‘You think you have the advantage?’

  ‘Oh, I know I don’t.’ He kissed her again.

  Joey’s hand slipped further down her back. Lower, lower. He squeezed her bottom, lifting her into his embrace.

  Alice’s skin burned with desire as she pressed herself against him. Pleasure filled her. Joy. Then in rushed fear.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be.’

  ‘It’s just . . .’

  ‘What is it, Alice?’ Joey stroked her hand.

  ‘This is all . . . the only guy I’ve ever kissed is Tammy’s father. And, well, that didn’t quite turn out the fairytale.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Long story short? Dean didn’t have room in his life for Tammy.’

  ‘His loss.’

  ‘Well . . .’ Alice told him the whole story. Most of it, anyway.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Alice.’ He hugged her tightly. ‘I can’t promise you a fairytale, but I can promise you this. You and Tammy mean the world to me. However fast or slow you want to take it, that’s okay. I’m in.’

  Alice leaned against him. ‘You might just be one of the good ones, Joseph Moretti.’

  ‘Might be?’ He kissed Alice deeply and she felt her desire rise again.

  She broke the kiss. ‘I think you’re right.’

  ‘About?’ Joey panted.

  ‘Getting these rolls in the oven.’

  ‘Of course.’ He nodded, pulling himself up slowly to standing. ‘No point doing the hard work and not reaping the doughy rewards.’

  Alice smiled, reassured by his response.

  She really didn’t want to stop kissing him. Yet she knew she couldn’t let things go any further. Not yet. Not so fast. This, whatever it was with Joey, had to be right. Pure. If only they could stay there on the floor in each other’s arms and just be.

  He helped her to her feet and they put their rolls in the oven. They cleaned up the bench, sticking to small talk and idle gossip as they waited for the timer to ding.

  The first batch of rolls came out perfectly cooked, but the fruit loaf they were making for dessert was a disaster. It might have had something to do with the fact that neither one of them could concentrate on baking when they were concentrating so hard on not falling into each other’s arms again. Alice was determined to do this right. Take it slow. Build something worth hanging on to.

  ‘I know they’re not traditional,’ said Joey as he reached below the bench, ‘but I hope you like them.’ He handed her a bouquet of rolls shaped like roses, tied with a red gingham ribbon.

  ‘How did you do that? They’re wonderful.’ She put the bread bouquet up to her face. ‘And they smell divine.’

  ‘Ordinary roses just wouldn’t do. Can I walk you home?’

  Alice held out her hand and together they walked through the quiet streets, moonlight guiding their way.

  Kookaburra Creek, 2018

  lice had never seen Becca take so long to get ready. While she never would have admitted it herself, the girl was obviously excited. And nervous. Freddy had won the bet fair and square and Becca had been moaning for days about not being able to back out of their date. Alice knew Freddy would have let Becca call it off, but she suspected Becca didn’t actually want to.

  Becca came into the living room, a new red blouse sitting over jeans, her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail that allowed the world to see her bright blue eyes for once.

  ‘I look stupid, don’t I?’ she grumbled, pulling at her shirt.

  ‘You look fantastic.’ Alice smiled, a sense of pride welling up inside her. ‘Too late to change now anyway,’ she said as Freddy appeared at their door.

  ‘Have fun,’ Alice said as she ushered Becca outside.

  *

  Alice looked at the clock. It had just gone nine – far too early to expect Becca home just yet. She opened the yellow envelope she’d been keeping by her bed. She’d been looking at the photos every night lately. Reliving happy memories. Sad ones, too. She pulled out her favourite shot of Tammy and Shadow playing by the creek. They both looked so happy, so carefree.

  She stared at it a while and smiled.

  Beside her bed there was a picture of Becca, taken in secret as she sat on the jetty. Alice took the two photos and put them side by side into a frame.

  ‘Alice, petal? You in?’ Hattie’s voice called from the top of the external staircase.

  ‘It’s cold out here, girl. Let a couple of old fuddy-duddies in before we catch our death,’ Betty barked.

  It was a balmy twenty-four outside tonight.

  Alice met them at the door. ‘Evening, ladies. To what do I owe this pleasure?’ She let them in.

  ‘Hattie here had some notion that we should march these papers over to you right away.’ Betty handed Alice a wad of papers from the bank. ‘But you and I bot
h know she’s simply sticking her nose in where it isn’t needed. I told her the young love-birds wouldn’t be back yet. Why she had to drag me into this, I do not know.’

  ‘We need a witness to sign the documents.’ Hattie shook her head. ‘Even you know that, Betty.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what I know, Harriett Brookes.’

  ‘Cuppa, anyone?’ Alice held back her laughter as best she could.

  ‘Thought you’d never ask.’ Hattie sauntered over to the sofa and Betty followed.

  That was weird.

  It was nice. But it was weird. And I was a mess.

  I thought dates were supposed to be all romantic and stuff. Stumbling on the chair leg as your date pulls it out for you? That’s not romantic. Neither is realising you have toilet paper on your shoe when you get back from the loo, or spilling your dessert down your front. Definitely not romantic. But he did pretend not to notice. That is kind of sweet, I suppose.

  Then there was the kiss on the cheek in front of the café under the moonlight. That was pretty romantic.

  But finding out Alice was watching the whole bloody thing from the window above and enduring her hundred questions when I got inside?

  Mortifyingly not romantic.

  But I guess it was still a good night, all things considered.

  I can’t seem to get to sleep, though. And it’s not just because of the date, or the kiss, though I can’t stop thinking about that. Freddy told me the rest of Alice’s story over dinner. He was only little when it happened, but it’s kind of a part of town history, a horrible part, and people don’t forget that sort of thing. Even if they don’t talk about it.

  I mean, holy cow. No wonder the woman hasn’t let Joey in.

  This is a lot more complicated than I first thought. Fiona Harris is nothing. Even I can see that, though it seems Alice can’t. But this new revelation, well, I get it now, why she and Joey are the way they are with each other.

  So, now I have the big picture, what do I do with it? I can’t change the past. I know that. And wishing things to change doesn’t work.

  But maybe there’s another way I can help Alice somehow.

  Freddy and I talked about it a bit and I think together we can come up with something. As long as you know someone cares, you have hope. At least that’s what Freddy said and I reckon he’s right.

  There’s something in his eyes, you know. When he looks at me he’s simply . . . looking at me.

  He’s the closest thing to a real friend I’ve ever had.

  Kookaburra Creek, 2018

  lice woke coughing, her head pounding, her mouth dry. She coughed again. Why was it so hard to breathe? Her eyes started to sting. Then she recognised it. The acrid taste in her mouth. The bitter odour in her nostrils. Familiar terror gripped her and she jolted upright.

  ‘Becca?’ she screamed, running into Becca’s bedroom. Empty. ‘Where are you?’ Her voice hoarse.

  Thick black smoke filled the living room. She blinked, unable to see. ‘Becca!’

  She could hear whooshing and cracking below her, and the sounds of things crashing.

  She had to get outside and downstairs. She pulled the neck of her nightie over her mouth. It didn’t help much, but it was better than nothing. She fell to the floor and crawled on hands and knees, feeling with her fingers as she made her way along the hall, past the living room and kitchen. The floorboards radiated heat. Floorboards. The door was to her right. No, left. Stop. Think.

  She coughed. Left.

  Her knees slid along the floor, not carrying her fast enough. Just ahead was the door. She reached up. She fumbled for the handle. Using all her weight to push forward, she shoved it open. She tumbled out into the early morning light, smoke streaming behind her. She slipped down the stairs, wet with morning dew, and landed hard on the deck. She stood up. Where was Becca? Maybe she had gone for help. No, her bike was leaning against the ancient gum.

  A scream cut through the silence and Alice spun round.

  Black smoke and orange flames danced in the windows of the café in a menacing waltz.

  The windows exploded.

  Alice wrapped her arms around her head as shards of glass shredded her skin and blood dripped onto her nightie.

  No, no, no. This wasn’t happening.

  ‘Becca!’ Tears ran thick down her ash-coated cheeks.

  Behind her a car skidded to a halt. Joey raced out, his mobile up to his ear. ‘You’d better get here quick, Carson,’ he shouted, dropping the loaves of bread he was carrying.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ He gripped Alice’s shoulders. ‘Where’s Becca?’ He shook her. She stared back into the building.

  Part of the top floor caved in, crashing into the café.

  ‘She’s inside?’

  Alice nodded.

  ‘Bloody hell.’ He raced back to his ute and put on his protective Rural Fire Service jacket.

  ‘I’ll get her out. I promise.’ He kissed Alice on the top of her head.

  ‘Stop,’ she shouted, but the word had no sound.

  Shadow jumped from the tray of the ute and stopped beside Alice. She watched Joey leap through the space where the window was just moments ago and fell to her knees. Shadow lay his head in her lap.

  Gulping sobs escaped from deep within her chest.

  ‘Did he go in?’ Carson shouted as he pulled up. He yanked on the handbrake and jumped out without turning off the engine.

  ‘Alice, are you okay? There’s blood everywhere.’

  She couldn’t answer.

  ‘Can you hear me?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Did Joey go inside?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Idiot!’ He shook his head.

  Sirens sounded and the RFS truck screeched to a stop. The volunteers jumped out.

  ‘Sam, you get the hose. Reverend Harris, you ring Glensdale for backup.’ Carson continued barking orders as the men sprayed water onto the café.

  Alice stared ahead. She was back there, back to that black day when her life stopped once before.

  No. She shook her head. Not Becca. Not Joey. She rose slowly. Not this time.

  A spare jacket hung inside the RFS truck. She pulled it on over her bloodstained nightie and tightened the buckles. She put one foot in front of the other towards the café.

  ‘No way, Alice.’ Carson grabbed her arm.

  She turned and glared at him. ‘That’s my family.’ She didn’t recognise her own voice.

  ‘I said, no way.’ He tightened his grip.

  Shadow barked and through the rain of water falling from the café roof Becca stumbled out, coughing. She made it down from the deck and fell to the ground.

  Alice ran towards her and hugged her tightly. ‘Are you okay? Where’s Joey?’

  ‘He was right behind me. I was trapped,’ she rasped. ‘He freed me. He pushed me out the door.’

  Alice looked up, but Joey didn’t emerge.

  Becca began to cry and Alice cradled her against her chest.

  Carson ran towards the building and Alice and Becca gripped each other tighter, staring into the flames, searching for Joey’s silhouette to appear.

  Every second felt like hours.

  Carson disappeared behind a wall of black smoke. Every inch of Alice’s being wanted to run after him, to help find Joey. But the sobbing, crumpled girl in her arms wouldn’t let her go.

  Through the smoke Carson backed out of the café, his shoulders slumped as he dragged Joey along the deck. Carson fell down the steps, pulling Joey with him to get clear of the fire.

  ‘He’s not breathing,’ he shouted.

  The reverend and Sam ran to Joey’s still body. Alice watched on helplessly as they tried to revive him.

  Kookaburra Creek, 2010

  lice was pulled from a heavy sleep by Shadow’s incessant barking. What was his problem?

  ‘Quiet, Shadow,’ she called, but as consciousness dawned an acrid smell filled her nose. She forced herself out of bed and went to the window. In the
distance she could see an amber glow.

  There was a moment before it hit her. Bushfire. Not far to the north. She ran into Tammy’s room, forcing her little girl into the first clothes she could get her hands on.

  ‘I don’t want to get dressed,’ Tammy whined.

  ‘We don’t have time.’ Alice rushed her downstairs, Shadow leading the way.

  Standing in the middle of the café she didn’t know what to do. She’d seen bushfires on the news before, and she’d read about them. But they were always so far away, so they never seemed real. In Lawson’s Ridge there was never enough bush to catch alight.

  Joey. She’d ring him. He’d know what to do. As she picked up the phone the bell above the café door rang.

  ‘Good morning. How are my two favourite girls?’

  Alice spun round. There was an urgency in Joey’s voice, concern in his eye, not matched by his happy words.

  ‘Is it close?’ Alice stepped towards him.

  ‘Close enough and moving fast.’ He leaned close to her ear so Tammy wouldn’t hear. ‘Best get you out of here.’

  He turned to Tammy. ‘How about a little adventure?’

  Tammy frowned. ‘I’m not a baby. Something’s wrong.’

  ‘You always were too smart for me.’ Joey patted her head. ‘There’s a small fire and we just need to head to school to make sure everyone’s safe.’

  ‘I don’t want to go to school.’

  ‘That’s where everyone is going to be. It won’t be for long.’ Alice forced a smile. She turned to Joey. ‘What do I do?’

  ‘You’ve got one minute. Grab a few things and we’ll head. I’ll start the car.’ He turned and walked out.

  Alice shoved the spare flour jar with her hidden stash of cash in it into a plastic tub. She looked around. What else was there? Did she have time to run upstairs? She could hear Joey outside calling her name. She decided against it, and headed out, locking the café door behind her. ‘Where’s Tammy?’ she asked.

  Joey looked around and started calling her name.

  Alice ran to the back of the café and found Tammy standing in front of Shadow’s water bowl.