Secrets in Pelican Crossing (Pelican Crossing #2)

Twenty-five

It was almost a relief to get back to work on Tuesday. Finn’s Easter weekend had been full on. Seeing how exhausted Adele was, he had taken it on himself to spend time with Sandy and, much as he loved his grandson, the young boy was a ball of energy which Finn had trouble keeping up with.

They’d played with Bluey in the back yard, throwing balls for the dog to fetch, till Finn had called a halt, neither the dog nor the boy seeming to tire of the game. Then there had been more trips to the beach where Sandy proved willing to venture into the shallow water as long as Finn kept a firm grip of his hand.

Adele seemed grateful for the respite, but Finn worried about her, noting how the lines beside her eyes and mouth appeared to be deepening. He wondered if she got much sleep, but had given up asking, as she always said she did and told him to stop worrying about her. How could he? She was his daughter, and he hated to see her still so enmeshed in her grief.

Today, she was taking Sandy to an event at the library, so the pair of them should be kept busy. Then he’d promised to meet them for lunch at Books and Coffee and to buy Sandy a new book. He might buy one for himself too, though he didn’t know when he’d find time to read it. He still hadn’t finished the Chris Hammer one.

The office was humming with the sound of voices when he arrived, his staff sharing their Easter stories, the air filled with the aroma of coffee and the doughnuts they liked to bring in to work after a holiday .

‘Good weekend, boss?’ one of them asked.

‘Yes, thanks. Hectic. I’d forgotten how busy Easter is with a six-year-old – and a small dog.’

There was a burst of laughter, and someone muttered, ‘You’re not as young as you used to be.’

Finn nodded. ‘Too right.’

The morning passed quickly as he met with staff to discuss the week’s news and how best to feature the upcoming ANZAC day celebrations. There were still a few weeks to go, but one of his reporters suggested interviewing the few remaining Vietnam war veterans in the town. Stan Ross was a neighbour of his who had recently moved into The Haven . Finn agreed. It would provide a fresh slant on the day. He suggested taking along a photographer and doing a then-and-now feature.

Lunchtime arrived before Finn was ready for it. He closed his computer and hurried along the street to the bookshop-cum-café where Adele and Sandy were already waiting.

‘I chose a book already, Grandy,’ Sandy said, holding up a copy of a book with a photo of a golden cocker spaniel on the cover entitled, Cocker Spaniel, fun facts on dogs for kids . ‘See Grandy, the dog on the cover looks just like Bluey but he’s a different colour… and it says it’s for kids.’

‘So it does, Sandy.’ Finn’s amusement at Sandy’s choice of reading matter sent the worries of the morning out of his head. He caught Adele’s glance.

‘He was determined to get a book about looking after Bluey,’ she said. ‘I managed to steer him to this one. The others were designed for adults.’

‘Maybe we should get one for me,’ Finn said, half in earnest. ‘Let’s pay for your book, then we can organise lunch,’ he said to Sandy.

By the time they had ordered and sat down, half an hour had passed, and Finn could see himself having to stay later than he intended at the office if he was to get through the day’s tasks. But he’d promised Adele and Sandy this time, so put work to the back of his mind again to concentrate on his daughter and grandson.

Finn was juggling his coffee with Sandy’s book, the little boy intent on showing his granddad the photos inside the book, when he heard a voice he recognised. Turning quickly, he saw Liz enter the café with two younger women who must be her daughter and granddaughter. As he was deciding what to say, the book fell to the floor and the younger of the two women picked it up.

‘Is this yours?’ she asked, handing it to him.

‘It’s mine!’ Sandy said, grabbing his book. ‘I was showing it to Grandy.’

‘Hello, Finn,’ Liz said. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’

‘You’re the lady from the clinic,’ Sandy said.

Adele smiled.

‘Liz.’ Finn stood up, unsure whether to shake her hand or give her a kiss on the cheek. He did neither, seized with a sudden urge to take her in his arms. ‘And this must be…’

‘My daughter, Julie, and my granddaughter, Tilly. This is Finn Hunter, the editor of our local newspaper.’

So this was how it was going to be? Finn’s heart plummeted.

Then she smiled, a smile that lit up her face and sent shivers down his spine.

‘And a very good friend of mine,’ she added.

‘Thanks, Tilly,’ he said belatedly, but the words fell on deaf ears. Tilly had already wandered off into the bookshop.

‘Sorry,’ Liz said. ‘We’d better…’ She gestured to where Tilly was already rifling through a display of new releases. ‘I’ll call you later.’

When Liz and her daughter had disappeared to follow her granddaughter, Adele looked at Finn, her eyes wide with surprise. ‘Her daughter? I thought she only had two daughters. I’ve met Tara and Mandy. Where did that one come from?’

‘It’s a long story and not for little ears,’ Finn said, even though Sandy was engrossed in his book and deaf to anything they might discuss. ‘Later.’ He wasn’t sure how much of Liz’s story was his to share. Maybe Adele would forget about it. He was heartened by Liz’s promise to call him later, hoping she might have figured out a way for them to meet.

That hope carried him all through the afternoon, until he was about to leave the office. It was close to seven o’clock, and Sandy would be disappointed he’d missed his story time. When his phone rang, he assumed it was Adele wondering what had happened to him. She did tend to worry. He put it down to her having lost Tim. Finn was all she had left, him and Sandy. And she worried about losing them too.

‘Hi, Finn. Sorry about lunchtime.’

It was Liz.

‘No worries. How are you? I thought I was seeing double, no, triple!’

Liz laughed. ‘They do look like me, don’t they? Apart from the grey hair and wrinkles on my part.’

‘I love your grey hair and wrinkles. I love every part of you. In fact…’

Liz laughed again. ‘I love you too.’

Her words made Finn’s heart sing, even though he knew the use of the word love was done jokingly. ‘It’s good to hear your voice,’ he said. ‘Dare I hope…?’

‘We’re having lunch with my mother tomorrow, all three of us. Don’t ask,’ she said, as if expecting him to question it. ‘But as a result, Julie and Tilly have decided to have an early night. They’ve gone back to the motel, so I have some free time…’ Her voice trailed off as if she felt she was being too forward.

Finn didn’t immediately reply, wondering how he could explain to Adele that he might not be home till much later.

‘I realise you may be busy,’ she said, a note of what might be embarrassment or regret in her voice.

‘No, I mean yes, I’d love to drop by. I assume this call is an invitation?’ He thought it best to make sure it wasn’t his imagination working overtime telling him what he wanted to hear. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m still at the office. I need to make a call. Half an hour?’

‘I’ll look forward to it.’ Her voice was low and husky sending a sudden rush of desire through his entire body.

Finn should have predicted Adele’s response when he haltingly told her he had plans for the evening.

‘About time,’ she said down the phone. ‘I saw how you and Liz Phillips looked at each other in Books and Coffee . It’s how I remember Tim and I looking at each other in the early days of our relationship. Go for it, Dad.’

‘No, Adele. It’s not. We’re not…’

‘Do you think I didn’t notice how you glowed when you arrived home from your picnic with Liz last Sunday?’ she asked. ‘As I think I may have said, you need a life of your own. Sandy and I are fine now, but I worry about you.’

‘There’s no need, honey. And you know you and Sandy will always come first with me, no matter…’

‘That’s enough, Dad. Have a good evening. Sandy has had his story – from his new book – and is tucked up and asleep. I plan to pour myself a glass of wine and watch a soppy movie, one of those you hate. Don’t worry about us.’

‘Thanks, sweetheart.’

‘Just make sure you don’t wake the dog when you come home.’ She ended the call before Finn could reply.

*

Liz was waiting for Finn, dressed in a loose tentlike dress, her hair curling around her face. Unable to resist, he took her in his arms and kissed her, a kiss that released all the pent-up emotion of the past week. She felt good, her soft lips, her hair brushing his face, her body melting into his. All he wanted to do was to pick her up and carry her to bed, but…

‘Have you eaten?’ she asked, making Finn realise it was some time since lunch. ‘Food first,’ Liz said, taking his hand and leading him to the living room where on the low coffee table a feast of bread, cheeses, paté, and fruit was set out, along with a bottle of wine and two glasses. ‘When you said you were still in the office, I suspected you’d be hungry.’

‘A woman after my own heart,’ Finn said to see Liz blush.

While Finn ate his fill, Liz sipped a glass of wine and told him all about Julie and Tilly, finishing with the lunch with her mother.

‘At least she agreed to meet them,’ he said, when she had described Joan’s reaction.

‘Yes, and that’s not all. My mother has a man friend, a new resident in the village, someone called Stan.’

Finn chuckled. ‘She’s a lively old duck,’ he said, then something clicked. Stan… The Haven … Where had he heard these two linked today already. He snapped his fingers.

‘What is it? ’

‘In our news conference today, one of the reporters put up the idea of interviewing some Vietnam vets for an ANZAC day feature article. He mentioned one called Stan who’d recently moved to The Haven .’

‘There couldn’t be two of them, and he’d be the right vintage. Wow, what a coincidence. I bet Mum would love to see him in the local paper. Wonder if he was a war hero. Wouldn’t that be something?’

‘You don’t mind… about her?’

‘Why should I mind? I only hope I haven’t given up hope of love and companionship when I reach her age.’ She blushed again.

‘Well, let’s see what we can do about it right now.’ Finn drained his glass and moved closer to Liz on the sofa, reaching one arm around her shoulders and pulling her towards him. As their lips met, everything else was forgotten.