Part Ten

 

 

Zoe was dressing for dinner when he walked briskly back into the suite. "Nick, where've you been? Don't forget we're due at Liam's at seven thirty..."

"I didn't." Walking into the bedroom, he pulled off his jacket and threw a folder onto the dressing table where she was sitting. "Next time, ask."

His tone was hostile and she spun round to see what it was. Inside the file was a dossier. It was detailed and contained a lot of information beyond what she had been able  to initially acquire. He knew what she'd been up to.

"Nick...I....I don't know what to say..."

He didn't answer, dropping his pants and walking through to the bathroom; she heard the shower jets. Leafing through the information, she was stunned even by the overview that it gave her and soon found herself engrossed in the background details to her father's career over the years. It went way beyond what she had imagined. She was still reading when he came out later, shaved and showered, wearing only a white towel. "Nick...please, sit down. We need to talk about this..."

"Why? You played me and then manipulated me to do something I didn't want to under the pretence of making love to me. Or whatever that peculiar little interlude was purporting to be. You need acting lessons, love..."he snapped as he rubbed another towel through his hair.

"You knew? You suspected I was just doing that to get what I wanted from you? And you still did it?" Zoe gasped.

He gave her a stony stare. "It was not quite as calculating as that. If you go back over it you may find that you were the one who was undercover and I was nothing but the fucking mark. My apologies if I worked it out..."

"I am not trying to pretend I am not to blame..."

"Good, because you were way out of line, sweetheart. I knew something was up but, like a fool, I tried to excuse it, as if I was simply imagining things. But, you weren't hard to rumble. I only had to recall the data later and there it was. Do you think I'm so fucking easy that I can be taken by a novice like you?"

Zoe wrung her hands unconsciously. She knew her behaviour had been appalling; there was nothing she could say in her defence. "I just wanted to know about Dad. I thought you'd go all top secret on me if I raised the issue. It's old stuff, Nick. No one's going to be hurt by me knowing it..."

"Then why not be upfront? You could have asked for my help."

"I thought you'd say no. In the past you always clammed up if I asked questions..."

Nick sat down on the armchair next to her. "In the past was in the past. Things have changed considerably. Look, Zoe, I understand that you're probably feeling the need for some explanations. This thing with your Mum...you and me and the future...I am not so dense that I can't imagine that you want to find out things that might lie beneath the surface. I would do anything you asked. Anything. If I could do it, I would. If I couldn't, I would try to do the next best thing. Just don't fucking abuse me, okay? I don't want to be used. It hurts to think you would play on my weaknesses..."

"Oh Nick...!" She slipped to her knees and laid her head in his lap. "I never thought of it as using you. I was just seeing how far I could push you. I know that sounds stupid and naïve and totally childish but....I didn't mean it to be like it sounds. And as for the sex...I was curious. I thought maybe we could enjoy it. I was wrong. That wasn't quite the same thing..."

He stroked her hair tenderly. "All my life, I've been used. Oh sure, I've been a user too, I'm not trying to pretend otherwise, but...don't you see? I was like a whore. Worse than a whore. I've been a tool, a weapon, a thing for people to use. Even your own father ...I was a commodity that was good for the task they wanted. You know what that does to your self-esteem? I learnt not to give a shit and to use everyone else back. I made a helluva lot of money and lived well. But there was always a cost. You and me, we're different. Don't use me, Zoe. Please, don't do that to me."

She was shocked when he put it like that. She had taken a terrible advantage of his love for her, even offering him a warped sexual image which must have twisted some knife in him if, as she suspected, he'd been following her movements these years. She wondered if he had ever been a witness to some of her excesses? If he'd been in the shadows in nightclubs when she was off her head and behaving badly, would she have even recognised him? Not if he hadn't wanted her to.

"I will never use you. I love you. But people do manipulate each other. We do it all the time...with our parents, our children, our friends...you've done it to me in the past, Nick...you can't pretend you haven't."

He nodded. "I know. That's why it has to stop. There has to be a difference for us. We have to trust each other, Zoe. Trust that neither of us will ever take unfair advantage of the other. Because it would be so fucking easy to do that with someone who loves you. Just ask me next time. Just ask."

"I'm so sorry...and ashamed...I just didn't think of it like that. I'm so selfish..." she murmured. He drew her onto his lap and she curled up in his arms.

"No more than we all are. I'm selfish too. Most of all with you. You know what it cost me to let you throw your life down the toilet these past two years? I respected your right to live as you chose - even if I knew it was a bad choice half the time. Don't make me remember how I had to watch and imagine what you were up to. Yeah, I have some bad shit in my head and some of it involves you...but don't play with those things. I might have learnt to live with the knowledge but there are still open sores...do you understand what I'm saying...?"

She didn't answer; he heard her crying silently into his shoulder. Holding up her face, he wiped away the tears. "Maybe we needed this. We haven't had time to talk. Not with your Mum and all. It's all been too fast, too intense. But we have to sit down and figure how we're going to work out this life of ours. You have your career...I've got the business in Sydney. I want to see as much of you as I can...we have to make some plans..."

"I've already made my mind up," she replied. "I don't know what I want to do exactly but I know this. I want to be with you. A job's a job. You and I are more important.  I am simply not going to waste the chance we have. You get one life, Nick, and God knows when it's going to run out on you. Either I get a transfer to Asia- Pacific or I resign. But one way or another, I am going back to Oz with you. If you want me, that is. I was just sort of presuming..."

"Want you?" He stared at her. "You mean that? Straight up? Just like that? You just made me an offer I can't refuse?" Like a sudden burst of sunlight through clouds, his moodiness evaporated.

"Well, do you want me? Give me an answer..." she smiled.

"I never wanted anything so much in my entire life," he replied. "I would give up everything I own if I had to, just to have you back in my life..."

She caressed his strong, beautiful face, hardly able to believe that this moment could be happening, that it was possible to turn back time and undo the mistakes you'd  made. "Hey, I am not asking that much...don't give anything up...I rather fancy that house on Neutral Bay..."

"Jesus Christ, Stink will crap himself...and Brenda will love you...Just you wait until you meet my Brenda...!" He was making little sense as he kissed and hugged her - and then pulled away just to stare at her. "I'm fattening you up. No more starving yourself. And the hair has got to go now. No more putting me off. Not that I'm making demands or anything...but the hair has got to go...you have to give me that one..."

She laughed gaily. "Hair will grow and I can change the colour. Feed me like you've been doing lately and we'll both have love handles. But one thing will never change. I will never stop loving you, Nick. All my life. I promise you. And I will never compromise your trust again. Maybe it is true. Maybe you can have it all...who would ever have imagined that?"

He put a finger on her lip and made a sign. "My mother used to do that. 'Don't let the devil hear you,' she would say. Except she'd say it in Greek, of course. Men apheste to diabolo na sas akousei...Never let him hear you, Zoe...." Then he grinned and chucked her chin. "Take no notice of me. The devil got me long ago...what have I got to fear?"

 

*

 

Liam had not spared any expense for this little gathering. On the lawn was a beautiful marquee awash in flowers and candles under which was set out a table for twelve. He had catered from Marco Pierre White with everything served by elegantly turned out waiters. It was to be a celebration of life and family emerging from the stormy events of the past few weeks. It was also a way of putting an end to that inglorious chapter of their lives. Annie was getting better. They had to move on with their lives in the certain knowledge that they could entrust her to Terry's care in the near future. Everyone was holding their breath at what might come of this new development but the pair in the middle of it all were surprisingly cool about it.

Annie seemed calm and serene, Terry happy but guarded. There were no miracle cures or simple solutions to be had and they were not about to try and pretend otherwise. They might never be able to return to where they were - but they were going to at least re-establish a friendship. They both deserved to give the other that much respect.

Upstairs Zoe was sitting in the music room; she had followed Liam into the house while he had been setting up some music equipment downstairs and had run up for a few amplifiers; there were things she wished to discuss with him.

"Can we get together before you leave for the States...just an hour or two? I want to show you something."

"Sure. Why all the cloak and dagger?" He said as he tuned a guitar and hummed to himself.

She sighed. "It's about some stuff Nick and I want you to see. About Dad...when he was younger...nothing bad or anything...just...look, not tonight, Liam. But I want you to read this. It sort of helps. You never thought about their past? There's so much we never knew about them..."

"Yeah, I know. But, isn't it like spying on them? They'd tell us if they wanted us to know..." he observed.

"I don't know. This is stuff they probably don't even think about much. After what's been going on, I just wanted to know. And it explains a lot. Some of it's pretty serious shit. Mum put up with a lot.. I need to share it with you, Liam..."

He smiled at her. "Sure. I'll be there. We can talk about it. Tomorrow? Your hotel? Will Nick be around?"

"Possibly. But I reckon he'll leave us alone and give us space. He knows it all though. I tell him everything, Liam..."

Liam grinned. "...Even who smashed the sound system in Dad's study? Bet you never told him that..."

"It was not me..."

"It bloody was...you threw that brass thing at me and I ducked..."

"Well, you shouldn't have annoyed me then...God, you remember how he went crazy about it and we just acted all innocent? Who - us?  He blamed the cleaner, you know?"

"Mum knew. But she knew he would have killed us both had he had concrete proof...we must have driven them both nuts. I remember Mum once crying when I broke this pottery thing she had. She said was I only going to be satisfied when everything she owned was destroyed..." Liam added.

"That 'pottery thing' was a fourth century BC terracotta amphora that Dad had paid shitloads for..."

"Was it? Looked like a bit of old junk to me," Liam chuckled. "I was just demonstrating my golf swing in the lounge..."

They both giggled at the memories of their teenage years. When they hadn't been fighting each other they had been ganging up against their parents. "Remember how I covered up for you when you had that girl in your room all night? That tarty Philippa who'd shagged the entire rugby team...?"

"She was a nice girl," Liam protested and then ruined it by snorting at his own lie. "Well...maybe not...but she sure knew how to give head...Well, she'd had a lot of practice by the time she got round to me..."

"Did I hear a girl's voice in Liam's room? Says Dad. 'Yes, me', says I, lying through my teeth. 'I went into borrow a calculator for my Maths homework'....I have so saved your arse in the past..."

"...That time Mum found condoms in your schoolbag and you told her they were mine..." Liam reminded her of his own cover-ups on her behalf.

"She gave me such a look. She knew they weren't yours. But she didn't tell him. He'd have gated me for the rest of my life if she had. You know what he was like. I brought that Gavin round and Dad met him in the TV room. He said: 'Who are you?' in his most hostile manner and Gavin tried unwisely for charm. "I'm Zoe's boyfriend, Gavin, mate...' Dad gave him this look like he wanted to slit his throat and replied. 'This is not a schoolyard. And I am not your mate...mate...'"He was such a bastard to blokes I brought home. Yet he was so charming to all your girlfriends...the dirty bugger..." Zoe giggled.

"Come on, we better get down and join the others. Hey, what do you think of Pilar?"

Zoe gave him a wry look. "Well, she's an improvement on Philippa..."

"She's a really classy woman...you be nice to her," Liam warned.

"Course I will. And I won't tell her about that time you and your mates had a wanking competition and Dad burst in on you..." 

They ran down the stairs goading each other, carrying the music equipment. Down in the kitchen, Fliss was busy with something and Nick was sitting on a counter by her; they were both laughing. "OH MY GOD! Nick is so good at this! You should see how much juice he can get out of one lime!" Fliss was shrieking. She was mixing margaritas and Nick was providing his right hand as a juicer.

"You should see what I can get out of a..." Nick began.

"Don't you dare, Nick..."Zoe warned.

"...An orange....you've got a dirty mind, love..." He jumped down and took a taste from the jug. "...Bit more Cointreau, I think...Fliss and I are mixing up the world's best Daiquiris here...I knew I'd find a use for this hand one day..."

Zoe smiled to see Nick and Fliss together. She'd liked her straight away and so had Nick who had fallen into an unusual pattern of behaviour for him. He had become rather charming and big brotherish. It was a side of him Zoe hadn't ever really seen. Fliss had taken to Nick too and now they were happily messing round in the kitchen, not a location Nick normally had much time for.

"Just look at those two. If I asked Nick to squeeze limes he would just give me that look. She's got him eating out of her hand already..."

"That's typical Fliss. Everyone wants to be her big brother..."Liam retorted as they made their way through to the garden.

"I very much doubt it," Zoe added with a grin. "Men only do that when their libidos are engaged. She's an attractive girl. Cute. Friendly. They're all rolling over on their backs waiting for their tummies to be tickled like pet dogs...don't you get it?"

All she got in reply was a bemused grin from Liam who was not at all on her wavelength, it would seem. She left him doing a sound check and wandered off back into the kitchen. She didn't want Nick to get too comfortable....

 

While the younger members of the family flirted around setting up, the older ones sat on the patio sharing a bottle of champagne. The night was humid and warm with a threat of thunder rumbling in the distance. The break in the weather would almost be welcome; England was always uncomfortable in a heat wave. They were a party of seven: Terry, Annie, Mel, Dino, Harry, Jackie and Penny. Surprisingly, considering the rather odd grouping, the conversation was as warm as the evening, sociable chat, clink of glasses, laughter and wise cracks. A closer analysis, however, revealed that Annie was fairly quiet, listening, smiling, but still a little remote, intimidated by the gathering in her honour. Terry appeared to be in the thick of the banter but it was misleading. He was an expert at throwing in a remark and then pulling back. His real attention was on Annie.

He refilled her glass. "You tired?"

"A little. I'm lethargic all the time. Don't ply me with too much wine or I'll probably nod off here. We haven't even had dinner yet."

"I think I'll go and give Liam a kick up the backside. These kids eat so late. It's already eight thirty..."

Annie stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm. He looked down and followed it with his eyes; she blushed and withdrew it quickly. "It will be Pilar. She likes to make an entrance. The others are all in the kitchen fooling about waiting for her to show. You would think a woman as beautiful as Pilar could get ready in less than three hours, wouldn't you? The girl just spends her whole life pampering herself and Liam hangs around waiting for her, late for everything."

"He can fill in the time signing her bills," Terry muttered gruffly. "She seems to do nothing but shop."

Annie rolled her eyes. "She's such a little cow. He doesn't seem to see it. Of course, when he's around she's all docile and adoring, hanging off him and touching him all the time. It just seems so false to me. I can't bear to think of her playing him. He's such a softie..."

"...Well, you're his Mum. There's bound to be that little competition thing going on. He was your baby for a long time and now he seems to prefer her."

She hunched her shoulders. "Maybe. But don't tell me you don't have a bad feeling about this. God, Terry, what's the matter with them? I thought they were two grounded and mature kids. Zoe ups and marries Brook Preston after knowing him a few months and Liam is moonstruck over Pilar Carrera-Lopez, if that's her real name.... And neither is good enough for them!"

He chuckled. "No one is going to be good enough for our babies. Not to us anyway. We just have to accept they'll make their own mistakes. However, I think we should both keep our wits about us and hang on in there on this one. Liam's a smart kid. Let him root himself blind for a while and then the cracks will start to show. Just pray that she's on the pill or whatever's the favoured method for young ladies these days....if she gets knocked up then she'll really have him by the bollocks..."

"I know. Imagine that?" Annie patted his arm. "Go get them moving. I'm starting to feel drunk...not enough food..."

 

Pilar finally swanned down the main staircase wearing a tight white sheath dress liberally adorned with chunky gold jewellery. Her long brown legs were bare and finished off in a gossamer fine pair of stilettos. As she turned the last few steps into the hallway, Nick Costello strolled past on the way back from the bathroom off the hall. "You must be Nicholas. We haven't met. I am Pilar..."

He stopped and gave her a smile, extending a hand to shake hers. "Yeah, Nick Costello. Very pleased to meet you..." It was hard for Nick to keep the seductive cast from his eyes or the husky quality from his voice. Pilar was stunningly lovely and he was quite a collector of beautiful women. Her aura drew him in instinctively.

"You are Zoe's boy friend?" She asked coyly but there was a note of surprise in her voice as if she was really saying, "A man like you with her?"

"Yeah, we're....partners, you might say," he answered, never much liking the juvenile girlfriend/ boyfriend tag. It simply wasn't him.

"I expected someone younger. Not that you're old, of course, I just didn't expect her with such a....mature man. She seems very girlish..."

Nick dropped his head to the side, beginning to listen to her game-playing more carefully. He smiled lazily and started to tease her out. Pilar thought she had him snared. She had no idea she was loitering outside the spider's lair. "Zoe's a sweet girl. Now, I would have imagined a woman like you would be with an older man. Somehow you and Liam...you know?" He knew she would go for that opener. And she did.

Pilar tossed her hair back and leaned alluringly on his arm. "I like men of all ages. And they usually like me... Perhaps we could have lunch tomorrow? Get to know each other better, Nicholas....now that we're almost family?"

Bingo. He had her in a few moves. With a conspiratorial jerk of his head, he pulled her towards the small bathroom under the stairs. She slipped in beside him and he bolted the door. Pilar immediately put her arms around his neck and drew close; he rested his left hand on her shapely buttocks and ground against her softly, fingering her hair with his right sensuously. All at once he grabbed a handful and jerked back her head roughly.

"Got your attention now, puta?" he whispered. Letting go of her hair, he traced a line down her bared throat threateningly; Pilar began to look a little unsure and tried to pull away. It was useless; he just tightened his grip. "Don't ever try to play me, baby, okay? You're so far out of your league with me that you're in a different ballgame. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but you are the girlfriend of my mate Liam, are you not? Enjoying the hospitality of his home and cheque book? That means, in case you are in any doubt, that you take your sweaty little hands out of my pants and keep them in his. Got it? And here's a warning that you should heed, darlin'. If I so much as get a whisper of an idea that you are fucking about behind his back, I will take your life apart, love. Guaranteed. I've ruined many a slut in my time. Don't get your name on my 'to do' list, hey?"

He slung her back against the wall and unlocked the door, giving her another meaningful look before leaving. Pilar took a few deep breaths to stop her heart from beating. She had never felt so afraid of any man in her life.

But what a man! She'd found him attractive on sight but now he had raised himself even higher in her estimation. This was the man a woman like her should be with - passionate, leaking machismo from every bone in his body, arrogant and dangerous. It didn't matter what he said. She would work on him. They all folded in the end. This was the ultimate challenge to get a man like Costello in her bed and groveling at her feet.

 

*

 

After dinner, Liam took a seat on the small stage he had set up and was joined by a few of his band members. They were going to give an impromptu concert. Everyone settled back, drawing their chairs around the small dance area.

"Okay, this is not going to be the usual thing...not sure my stuff is the right sort of vibe for this gig..." Liam announced with a little shrug of his shoulders. His material was for the main quite deep and philosophical. Tonight was not about angst and navel-gazing. "So we've put together a few old favourites that even my Dad will have heard of. See if we can get him on the floor..." Terry raised an eyebrow as if to say: 'No chance'. No one was fooled.

The band launched into a completely manic selection ranging from old Abba numbers, with Fliss and Zoe jumping up to do the girly bits, Beatles,  Rod Stewart, Stones, 70s disco favourites... The place was soon hopping with Dino and Terry muttering about "Decent music for a change..."

"Okay, he's stayed welded to that seat so far...time to bring in the big guns...this will get him going....I'm ashamed to say I know every fucking lyric to this stuff, courtesy of Dad playing this CD endlessly in his car when we were kids....I give you....The Eagles...."

Liam picked up his guitar again and gave a little bow before launching into the upbeat tempo and singing enthusiastically:

 

 

Terry groaned but folded his arms and laughed at his son's country impersonation. The band members began to do a lazy synchronized walk, crossing feet and dipping their guitars hammily. Annie was shaking her head laughing at their antics and she caught Terry's eye. They both just stared across at each other. There's nothing quite like an old song to tap into memories and take one back almost in a flash to how things once had been. He made a motion with his head as if to ask her up on the floor but she shook hers in response.

The band moved on, going through the Eagles back catalogue in a sort of medley of oldies but goodies. Feet were tapping. Terry shrugged and pulled Penny up; she tried to protest but it wasn't very convincing. One glance over towards Annie, who grinned back her encouragement, and Penny let him drag her onto the floor where they danced together much to the amusement of the rest of the onlookers. Annie looked over at Harry's face and saw the expression there; it was worth a whole lot to see how much it pleased him to witness this moment when his parents recaptured a little of the love they must once have felt for each other. It was uncanny how smoothly they came together, still familiar with the feel of each other even after all these years. She watched them and felt happy. It was the first real awareness of happiness that she had felt in a very long time.

 

 

The song ended and Penny kissed his cheek fondly before darting back to her place., blushing, nothing like her normal composed cool chic. Terry was left standing there on the floor, and whirled around as Liam and the boys struck up the next song.

"But this is what really used to push his buttons...and I don't think Mum would have said no to Bono either...." Liam interjected before launching into a U2 cover. At that Terry held out his hands and gave Annie a look that said she could not say no to this. She paused, grinned - and then stood up and crossed the floor to where he was.

 

 

There was a frisson of expectation around the room as the couple danced; Dino took Mel's hand aware that Terry and Annie needed not to be the centre of attention right now. Nick got the message too and hauled Zoe up; the small floor was soon full.

Terry and Annie didn't speak. He held her close but gently, his fingers interlinked with hers; she rested her head on his chest as they danced. He felt her deep sigh and heard his own answering one. There was still a long way to go but a corner was being turned and he knew they were going to get there one day soon. For now all that mattered was that she was in his arms and he was going to catch her if she fell.

 

 

The music died away and the band stopped to have a beer. Terry walked her back to her seat and he backed off. It was enough for now. She was flushed. Her eyes looked moist but she held it together and gave him a smile. "That was fun..."

"It was."

"The fucker can dance..." Nick said as he took his own chair and twirled Zoe to sit down on his knee. "Didn't know he had it in him..."

"You'd be surprised, mate...you don't know everything about me," Terry grinned. "Okay, princess...let me show you how real men dance...the king of cool here just doesn't have the moves.... Liam...from the top...Something slow..."

Liam stuck the cigarette he was smoking onto the top of the piano, sitting down and tinkling the keys as he huskily sang:

 

 

Liam looked across at Pilar; Fliss looked across at him. Zoe looked up into her father's eyes and he grinned down at her, his eyes sparklingly. Dino took Mel's hand and kissed it, she stroked his face. Penny squeezed Harry's hand; he slipped his arm around Jackie. Nick observed them all, playing thoughtfully with his bottom lip. Annie sat back and watched the room, feeling a peaceful, easy feeling of her own. The chips that had been falling so badly suddenly seemed to be tumbling back into a sane order. Maybe her irrational act of madness had had a purpose after all if it could achieve a miracle like tonight, she thought to herself.

Nick stood up and walked over to where the rest of the band members were still sharing a beer while Liam finished out his solo piano number. He engaged them in conversation and then was joined by Liam himself. Next minute, they all went back to their instruments, chuckling and laughing amongst themselves; Nick hung around the edge of the stage.

"Looks like the karaoke's starting...there's always one big head who embarrasses himself, hey? I take no responsibility for what this dickhead does... next...I give you... Nick Costello...our next Australian Pop Idol...not.....take it away, Nicholas...."

With a grin, brazenly posing, Nick let the band lead him in. Zoe just buried her face in her hands in embarrassment. Terry rolled his eyes. "Might know he'd have to get in on the act..." Harry banged his glass on the table and started heckling. Nick just took aim with an imaginary gun and blew his head off. Then he started singing.

 

 

He hammed it up, singing in an arch, precious style, strutting Jagger-like, but he could sing. There was no doubt about that. And he could put a number over. But then, why wouldn't he be able to? Costello was a born show man - and show off.

"The fucker can actually sing..." Terry chuckled. Zoe squealed at his display. Nick rolled his eyes and licked his lips before launching into the second verse.

 

 

You could not fault his choice of song. This was pure Nick. He was in his element and as the audience became caught up in the performance, he became more and more outrageous, flaunting himself before both the men and the woman, flashing his eyes and pouting.

 

 

At that point he stopped and put his false hand in his pocket, posing provocatively.

 

 

Zoe clapped her hands together at that and stamped her feet on the ground whistling loudly. Nick bowed and then went into the coda, throwing himself onto his knees and sliding along the floor until he stopped at her feet.

 

 

She stroked his face; he gave her a soft smile. Harry shouted raucously: You romantic bastard...!" The room all erupted as Nick jumped to his feet and carried on.

 

 

Then he put out his hand and drew Zoe off the chair, grinding crudely against her as he went on:

 

 

He ended by tossing her back over his arm dramatically, tango-fashion, and then kissing her passionately. Liam and the band members threw cigarette butts at him and told him 'don't call us, we'll call you' - but not to get his hopes up. He took his bow and grinned wickedly, fielding the catcalls with his usual arrogant swagger. Annie thought he was completely adorable. And he loved Zoe so totally that it seemed to shine out of him. Was there anything quite so beautiful in this world than to see your own child find the partner for life that she needed? If only she could shake this sense of foreboding that Pilar was not the one for Liam.

Leaning over, Annie called Fliss to her side. "Sing the song. Do it now. Sing it for Liam here and now. It's the perfect opportunity to showcase it...you'll not get a better chance to introduce it naturally...." Initially Fliss objected, shaking her head and colouring up, but Annie pressed her and she could see the girl was considering it. "Go on! I insist!"

Fliss stood up, straightened her shoulders and went up to the stage, asking Liam for the piano and if he minded if she did a little something. He looked surprised, shook his head and sat down at the foot of the stage curious. She had a decent voice, he knew, and had fooled around with backing vocals with him from time to time. He had heard her strum on the piano and was aware her degree was Music. But he had never really considered her as a performer.

She sat down a little shyly, cleared her throat and then addressed them. "Seeing as we're all making tits of ourselves tonight, I thought I better join in...feel free to throw anything - but not the glasses...they cost a bloody bomb..."

 

 

It was the song she had sung for Annie. Her breathless, pure voice was unexpected; normally Fliss was matter-of -fact and rather brash. This revealed a softer, more dreamy side to her. Liam listened enraptured, deep and intense in his concentration. Half way through he picked up a guitar and began to strum an accompaniment, harmonising a backing.

 

 

The whole group burst into applause at the end, all except Pilar who watched with a petulant pout, her eyes narrowing. Nick glanced over and widened his eyes in amusement at her annoyance. 'Smart girl,' he said to himself, looking back at Fliss. 'That's the way to reel our Liam in...'

"Never heard that...who's it by?" Liam asked Fliss. 

"Me."

"What?" He looked amazed. "You wrote it?"

"Yeah. I do a bit of writing," she blushed and looked at her feet.

"You never said."

"You never asked." Fliss faced him up and answered him meaningfully. Liam frowned, opened his mouth to say something but she stepped off the stage and went to help herself to a drink leaving Liam watching her with an enigmatic smile on his lips. Terry jumped up and poured out the wine for her. "That was really good...you've got a lot of talent there, Fliss. You should be doing more than picking up his dirty clothes and answering his fan mail..."

She blushed. "Thanks. It's nothing much really. Just a few ideas I've had recently..."

"I'm no judge but hang on in there. You got his attention then, love. Make sure you keep it, eh?" Terry winked at her, helped himself to a beer and clinked her glass. Fliss looked over at Pilar. The other woman appeared as though she would have liked to have strangled her. 'Now you know how it feels, you stupid cow,' Fliss mused as she sipped her wine and let her heartbeat fall back to its normal rate. That had been her first official live performance. And it had felt good.

 

*

 

"You think he'll stay over tonight, then? Slip one in when the mood's right?" Nick asked with a snort as they rode home in a cab. Zoe slapped him.

"That's my Mum and Dad, you're talking about! 

He grinned and pulled her close to nuzzle against her neck. "So? Like he doesn't want to?"

Zoe rolled her eyes. "My Mum is still in recovery. Actually he's going back with Dino and Mel. They were calling a cab when we left. Mum still has a long way to go before she's ready for all that and he knows it. But tonight was a big step forward. She looked so happy, even in that distant dreamy way she has at the moment. And he looked like a new man. You just feel they're on the brink..."

"Yeah...great night, hey?"

"You were just an embarrassment."

"Oh good. I would hate to be boringly well behaved..."

"I asked Liam round tomorrow. I wanted to show him the stuff you gave me..."

Nick breathed out in exasperation. "Fuck, Zoe...let the whole world know, why don't you?"

"I have to let him know! He has just as much right as I do! And we all share everything. Liam and I are really close, you know, whatever it looks like. Especially now. We need it. We were at each other's throats a while there. I need to clear the air with him..."

"I want to see him as well actually. Not thrilled with his security team. I noticed too many areas for mistakes and slipshod surveillance. They need training properly. I want him to put one of my guys as head of the team for a couple of months. This new bloke I interviewed last week - bloody hard man. Jamie Farrow. Ex-SAS and as scary as fuck. He'll put the fear of god into them..." They sank back against the leather seats of the hotel limo he had called and gave into the urge to make out. These days neither could keep their hands off the other for long - and a whole evening of relative good behaviour with the parents had tested their resolve...

 

Liam threw down the dossier and ran his hands through his hair. "Jesus...I knew there must have been some bad stuff - he was really out on a limb at times. Must have been pretty bad shit in Ireland..."

Zoe lit a cigarette and poured out a cup of coffee for them both. "He was a killer, Liam. I was so unfair to Nick. Dad was no different really. My own naivete. Soldiers kill people. Especially supersoldiers. It's something you just have to accept..."

"It wasn't the same thing," Nick interjected. "He was a sniper with specific targets, men who were never going to be brought to trial but were guilty of numerous serious terrorist attacks all over mainland Britain and the Province. It might have been unorthodox but he was doing the world a favour. I was hunting down simple brainwashed fanatics and taking them out whoever they were. Some were just illiterate peasants....it was not the same..."

"...You do what they order you to. Dad was in it at a different time..." Liam observed. Nick shrugged, still hardly convinced. He knew the difference.

"Why did he leave the army? I mean there he is decorated for bravery, taking out a whole cell of terrorists alone...then he ups and resigns? Surely he would have been promoted for that little junket?"

"And divorced Penny. Straight after he returned, he filed for divorce. I always thought it was her..." Zoe added.

"Sounds like he was at some crossroads..." Nick mused.

"Maybe the Irish thing was the last straw? They had him strung out there...he'd been undercover for weeks...some pub called O'Malley's..." Liam looked up the name again.

"O'Malley's? Wasn't one of the dead IRA called O' Malley...?" Zoe picked up the sheet and read out the name 'Niamh O'Malley'. "That's a girl's name, isn't it? He killed a woman?"

Nick snorted. "If she had a gun then she was going down, love...I don't know...is Niamh a girl's name? They're pretty weird those Gaelic names..."

"Not like Greek ones, of course, which are so easy to pronounce..." Zoe grinned.

"They are for me..." he muttered. 

"You reckon he was involved with this woman? If he was undercover, he must have known her well..." Liam wondered out loud. "He'd been living in her place for months. They might have been lovers..."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to get your target in bed..." Nick said.

"Pretty cold-blooded though..." Zoe frowned.

"Hey, he was after a terrorist cell who would have tortured him to death had they found out who he was. I don't think the normal rules apply somehow..." Nick reminded her coolly.

"God, if he had to kill her in the end....that would be enough, wouldn't it? Wouldn't that destroy a guy? Say he had fallen in love with her...then had to remove her...could you do something like that, Nick?"

Nick drew deep on a cigarette; the other two watching him. "Depends...Mostly you don't let yourself get in that deep. When you do, you're in the shithouse...who knows, hey? But if he did, it'd be enough to screw his head up. So he did his duty and then walked out...that sound like your Dad?" He had neatly sidestepped the fact that he knew full well that Terry was exactly the sort of bloke who would be inclined to make that mistake. He had done as much in SE Asia - and at earlier times. His tendency to romantic delusion was a factor in his makeup that Nick himself had observed. Come to think of it, Liam was much the same at times.

They both nodded. "Poor bastard then," Nick observed. For a while they contemplated that fate.

"What's this rider at the end about a later SAS action years later? Seems to have been some K and R rescue but it was SAS sanctioned..." Liam read out a quote from the text. "T. Thorne and D. Lapenti. Action with Boat Troop B off the coast of western Ireland. Successful retrieval of female hostage. No prisoners....Look at the date....that was years after he'd resigned from the Regiment...."

"Must have been some high profile kidnap. The year or so before they were involved in a US assault in Tecala...that's on the back page....sometimes guys in that business stumble on something that the big boys are interested in...This could  have had a state connection... Royalty? Government minister? Kept out of the media? They could have been brought in as consultants, experts in the field... although it's unlikely. Special forces usually handle their own way....they're not famed for sitting down and negotiating and they don't usually let outsiders in, even if they're ex-members..."

"Unless, it was the other way round? Maybe they asked special forces in...?" Liam wondered out loud.

Nick exhaled sharply. "Unlikely. They'd have had to call in a good few markers there...the Brits are very strict about private arrangements...It's possible, I suppose if they had something they wanted off him...wonder who the cargo was...? Let's see if we can find out, eh...?"

He booted up his laptop and played around for a while. "The report names a military hospital in the north of England. Let's look up their records for that date...here we go..... female admissions on that day, there can't be many...in a military hospital...? Jesus Christ....!" Nick stared at the screen as he found what he was searching for..

"Well?" The others shouted and ran forward.

They both read the name together. Anna Dwyer. Their eyes were drawn to the detailed medical report of her injuries; it made very uncomfortable reading. Their mother, then a young woman in her late twenties had been severely beaten, gang raped, her hair shorn and had sustained major injuries  which had resulted in a spontaneous abortion amongst other things.

"Oh God!" Zoe whispered, her hands flying to her face in horror. "That must be what Harry meant by the 'accident'. He said Mum had had an accident and was in hospital for a long time! After that, he said Dad had proposed...imagine what he went through? Nearly losing her. They lost a baby too..."

"Who would have been a brother or sister for us..."Liam exclaimed rubbing at his hair. He looked physically hurt by the revelation, breathing deeply as if to steady himself. Zoe put her arm around him and rubbed his back gently. As hard as this was for her to assimilate, coming on the back of recent traumas, this would hit Liam even more.

Nick said nothing, closing down the screen and walking away to stare out of the window. "Wonder why? Why would anyone take Annie? Had to be to get at your father. That's the trouble with guys in that game...you got attachments...someone's always gonna use it against you..." He was almost thinking aloud. A change had overtaken him. This story had affected him deeply too - and it wasn't just a matter of what had happened to Annie, moving as that was.  It was too close to home for him where he was here and now. Compared to Terry Thorne Nick Costello had made dozens more enemies in his time, any of whom would gladly take his revenge on his nearest and dearest. A cold chill ran through his bones as he turned to watch the two siblings pouring over the information and talking quietly to each other. Zoe was stroking Liam's hair; it seemed a maternal kind of touch; he was pale faced, his eyes limpid and bruised. But Nick was not concerned with Liam's pain just at that moment. His priority was Zoe.  Did his presence in her life make her vulnerable? What a question - he knew it did.

"It must have been someone he  had crossed, you mean? During his time as a K and R negotiator? I suppose they make enemies...? Or maybe it was unrelated?" Zoe  was trying to make sense of it.

Liam shrugged. "Can't see how a lecturer at a university upsets someone that much...no, it had to be Dad...You know it had to be..."

Nick turned a page. "Three weeks later ex-president Auguste Morimbe was shot dead in Libya. It was a professional assassin. A highly experienced sniper. They claim here that there has never been source credited for the hit. Morimbe had thousands with reasons to kill him but....British intelligence linked the name Terrence Thorne...why? What made them draw that conclusion?" Nick gave them a look. "They know it was him. But he must have been acting independently on their behalf. That was the deal. They got your mother back - he did a job for them...this might be the source of the connection...let's look deeper..."

"Who's Auguste Morimbe?" Liam asked.

"An African dictator who was deposed about twenty five years ago..." Zoe began; the men looked impressed. "This is my field, boys, international politics. I'm very well up on contemporary Africa actually. Democratic elections replaced him after a long presidency. He was foul - but supported by the west for many years to stop him from slipping back to his Communist origins. But when they were ready to ditch him, they arranged the elections and he was voted out. There's always been a bit of a mystery about what happened next. Morimbe had this mountain fortress stocked with a private army and state of the art weaponry but it was stormed by government military forces after the election went highwire. There were always rumours that the force was UN sanctioned and may have included UN so called peace keeping troops in a proactive assault. But again, no proof has ever been brought to sustain that speculation. Leastways Morimbe was ousted, went on the run and then disappeared until he was murdered in Libya six months later..."

"...By your Dad....I'll bet there's a K and R link somewhere. Dig a bit deeper and I'd stake money we'll find he was in charge of the original assault though God knows why. Morimbe blamed him and made it personal...." Nick added.

Liam whistled. "Only one way to find out for sure. Ask Dad some day. No wonder he was always so protective of Mum. Imagine what he must have feared when he rescued her? She could have died because of him. And this is a guy who is probably guilt-ridden over having killed a former mistress in the line of so called duty...It's a wonder he emerged sane...Imagine how what had happened to them must have placed strain on their relationship though...? How does something like that effect your sex life...? Not to mention every aspect of your life..."

"Harry said after the accident, Dad seemed to wake up. Before that he never seemed inclined to marry again...Suddenly he settled down and started a second family..."

"Something like that would rather concentrate the mind..." Nick observed ruefully.

The doorbell of the suite rang, interrupting them before they could delve further. Liam and Zoe looked up, surprised to be disturbed. Nick explained. "It'll be Jamie. Jamie Farrow. The guy I told you about. Your new head of security. At least for the next couple of months. He can whip your men into shape and it gives him a fairly easy first assignment for us. He's quite a character is our Jamie...."

Nick strode to the hallway and they heard him welcome someone, leading him back into the lounge. "This is possibly your new boss, Liam Thorne, and...Zoe..." Nick introduced them both casually giving Farrow a few moments to take in the scene before him.

The man who had entered looked to be in his early thirties, muscular and fit, handsome in a rather pugnacious way, his head shaved close: his fair hair was receding but it was a look that favoured him. Zoe thought he had that deliciously bad boy East End gangster look - or maybe the working class belligerent cool of a Premier league footballer. Farrow stepped forward into the room, nodding at them all, a little uneasy, obviously not used to the sort of situation that required deference of this sort.

"Jamie Farrow. Pleased to meet you." Farrow shook hands with Liam and gave a darting look over to Zoe, obviously trying to assess who she was.

"You too. My sister, Zoe..." Liam clarified, not missing the predatory stare. Farrow grinned, a cocky expression crossing his features, automatically appraising the woman whom he must now have considered up for grabs.

"She's my girlfriend, too, Farrow, so rein it in, hey?" Nick tossed over nonchalantly.

"Yes, sir." Farrow mumbled still looking appreciatively at Zoe who winked back at him cheekily.

"And drop the sir, hey?" Nick added

"Sorry, sir..." Farrow winced. Fourteen years in the military was hard to undo overnight.

"So, you're ex-army then?" Liam asked as they sat down and Zoe offered him a coffee. Farrow smiled up at her knowingly. 

"I'd prefer a cup of tea, love...if you don't mind..." His voice was husky Thames Estuary. Zoe rolled her eyes but went to make him a cup anyway. Another caveman here, she thought to herself.

"Yeah, mate. Paras and then SAS. Captain. I've got the chops, mate..."

"Why did you leave?" Liam asked curiously, not giving anything away.

"I didn't. I was sacked. Well, they gave me the chance to resign so I wouldn't get a dishonourable...small compensation for all the years I gave them..."

"What did you do?" Zoe asked, her curiousity aroused now too.

He snapped his head round to look at her. "Classified, love."

"You're not a soldier now, sweetheart," Zoe replied as patronizingly as he had earlier spoken to her. "I doubt that potential employers normally happily re-employ candidates who have admitted to being thrown out of their previous job..."

Farrow continued to stare at her coldly but Nick just laughed in the background. "She's not just eye candy, Jamie. Tell her what you did...she has a hard on for tough guys, you see...and you never know, you might just get lucky..." But his tone belied his words; Farrow's face relaxed. Even he didn't imagine that Costello's woman would be interested in anyone else. Or that Costello would let either of them live if he did make a move. But she was one good looking woman all the same.

"I was in charge of a company. We had a ship under surveillance in a southern port in England. It was believed to be from the Middle East by way of Turkey...intel had it carrying a nuclear warhead...Some dick of a port authority jobsworth started sniffing around while we were staking out... and there was a bit of a stand off between her and the sailors. They went for their weapons. I ordered loud. She got wasted in the cross fire..."

"Not your fault if they fired first...." Liam observed. "You were trying to save her life..."

"I haven't finished. I shouted: 'British army. Hold your fire...' They didn't. We just took them all out.  She was hit by one of ours. Kept on firing until we ran out of ammo. Blood bath...then we start raking through for survivors. Turns out half of them were French special forces who had infiltrated the terrorists. They conveniently never thought to inform us before using a British port for their little undercover lark. Cut a long and rather boring story short - it went to a public tribunal. The media demanded answers. The civilian's Mum and Dad were after our bollocks, excuse me Miss... and the French told a different story. They said no warning shout and that we fired first. Hard to prove. Their word against ours. So scapegoats were required on both sides. The Frogs canned a junior cabinet minister and a colonel...we got away lucky. Just the one fall guy..me...it was my watch...that's the way it goes..."

Zoe blew air out. "Read about it. They described the SAS action as like 'mad dogs for blood'. It caused a public outcry. Alongside recent charges of torture and the humiliation of prisoners of war, it has left a very bad smell around the Regiment."

"Too fucking bad. What do they think we're there for? They train us to kill for the security of the country and start crying when we do? Give me a fucking break, darlin'"

"That's enough. She is giving you a break. You might get this job if you learn to doff your cap and say please and thank you, you bastard..." Nick observed but you could see he was amused by the whole scene. Farrow might be a thug but he was way down Nick's list of mad dog killers - and Zoe knew it.

"I take it the final decision's mine?' Liam reminded them of his presence. "Nick knows what he's on about. I'll give you a whirl, Farrow. But, Costello, I want preferential rates, seeing as we're almost family...We're leaving for California end of the week. See my agent to sort out your work permit - and be at my house nine sharp tomorrow. Or should that be 0900 hours? But I'm a warning you...you better not think you can tote a gun like some homie...you got me? I'm not exactly a rap star, know what I mean?"

Farrow gave his assent and shot Costello a nod. 

"I'll call you later. We'll talk details then. This is family, mate. You better do a good job here..." Nick reminded him

"You got it, s...boss..." Farrow jumped up, almost appearing to be on the brink of saluting but managed to control the instinctive urge. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Mr. Thorne...and it was a pleasure, Zoe..." He winked back this time before taking his leave, swaggering out a lot more jauntily than when he had come in.

"Class soldier. Don't be fooled by the manner. He's done his bit. Crappy treatment but pretty par for the course in the army. They drop anyone if there's a hint of scandal these days. The days of cover up and standing by your own are long gone. Look how they let your Dad go..."

"What? He resigned, didn't he?" Zoe asked, surprised my the remark.

Nick grinned. "I meant Aussie army. Years later. My time. After the show we were on together...now treat me right and I just might tell you all about that one day..."

"Nick!"

"Later...that's enough for one day...I've got work to do..." Nick left them to it and went off into the bedroom to make some calls.

"Tip of the iceberg, if you ask me, Zoe," Liam observed, gathering up the documents that he had been reading. "Mind if I hang onto these? You get anything else, let me know. I need to get off. Pilar wants to meet me for lunch. What you two planning on doing next?"

"Berlin tomorrow arvo after seeing Mum and Dad. Nick's going back to Sydney next week. Not sure what we're gonna do about that. Let you know when we work it out, okay? We still have some talking to do, Liam..."

Zoe went over and hugged him; he squeezed her tight. "Take care of yourself, Zo...and be happy. I'll see you as soon as I can. Use your brain with Nick this time, hey?"

"I intend to. And maybe try using yours with Pilar...?" She rolled her eyes as Liam groaned.

"You should try to get to know her better..."

"I don't think she's very simpatico to me. Okay, it's none of my business but she's not the kind of girl that other women like...she doesn't exactly make any effort..."

Liam laughed. "...Bit of jealousy going down there, sis? Try putting some weight on and smartening yourself up..."

"You are such a bastard!" Zoe screamed at him.

"Stop fighting, you two..." Nick shouted from the inner room.

They burst out laughing and hugged again. "I don't know why I love you so..." Zoe whispered. Liam kissed her gently.

"Yes, you do. 'Cos I love you just as much..."

 

*

 

Terry had woken up that morning with her on his mind. Pulling himself to a sit, he glanced at his watch; she would probably still be up so he chanced a call. It was a few days since he had contacted her and he knew he'd been avoiding this particular conversation but it wasn't right. Gillie had a right to know what he was playing at.

"Hey, Gill...it's me. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, I was reading in bed. How are you, Terry?  Good to hear you."

"Sound. What you been up to?"

"Well, actually I went to Perth earlier this week. To a clinic. They said I was suitable so it's all systems go from now. I have to take some stuff to stimulate my fertility so that when they do the IVF, I've the best chance of catching first time..." She continued explaining the procedure to him; he rested his head back against the pillow in thought. "You still there, Terry?"

"Yeah, yeah...just listening..."

"Is everything all right? Look, if things over there are different...I'll understand if you want to change your mind..."

He pursed his lips in thought and then made a decision. "Course not. I was planning to transfer the money today. Give me your details and I'll arrange the payment..."

He took down the account number she gave him and began to do the transaction in another window of his PDA. Gillie was his friend. Nothing changed that or anything they had said or been to each other in the past. She had been there for him when no one else had been. He was not about to forget her affection and kindness to him whatever else was happening in his other life.

"...That should clear next time you check your account, love. How you feeling?"

"Terry...thank you so much. I feel a bit sickly but they warned me the injections would make me feel like that. Otherwise fine. Excited. Positive. This is what I want, Terry...It really is..."

"You're taking on a lot. I won't let you down, Gillie. I promise you. But things are changing here. Annie and I are talking again. I'm taking her away for a month or two to recuperate in Spain. I'm not going to be around for a while. Is that going to be a problem?"

He heard the slight pause as he told her the 'difficult' part of what he needed to say. Whatever he pretended to others, he knew that Gillie and he had been moving closer to some level of commitment and that she had probably had some dreams of her own in that direction. It wasn't in his nature to excuse himself from responsibility for how she might feel. Whatever he did or said, the girl would feel let down by him to an extent. Would it appear he was just paying her off with this money? It wasn't his intention. He would stand by her and help with this child, just as he had promised. If Annie and he made a go of it in the end then he would have to make that clear to her. His life had moved on and Annie would have to understand his new obligations.

"Er...how is your wife?" Terry noticed she didn't say Annie's name and read the subtext there.

"She's doing fine. Fragile but making great strides. It's been good to have the family gathered. We all needed that."

"Yeah. I'm sure. How are your children?"

"Better now. They love their Mum. It was hard on them. But we're all cool now. Gillie, do you understand what I'm saying to you? I do not want you to read things wrong..."

She laughed wryly. "I think I get the picture. And I don't blame you. You and your ex-wife are going to try and sort things out. The kids are rooting for you. Everything is turning out well. You deserve that. I'm happy for you."

"Gillie, that is not what I mean..."

"You and I are mates. Just that, Terry. You are going to help me have a child but it is strictly a friends relationship from now on. No more...sex...." Her voice dipped away towards the end of her comment. He winced.

"I don't know where Annie and I are heading. But yeah, if we can, I would like to try and see if we can patch things up. But Gillie, you and me...nothing has changed. I still feel the same about you. I want you to understand that."

"If she takes you back, would you ever sleep with me again?"

He took a breath. "No."

"Good. You wouldn't be much of a man if you thought you could revive your marriage and keep me on behind her back. Terry, I'll be honest with you. I'd have liked us to have made a go of it. My feelings for you are pretty deep. But it isn't like you lied to me. I knew you loved her. It leaks out of you whenever you mention her name. You've done right by me and then some. Go and make it work with her. Be happy. And when you have your life back on track, then we'll make some arrangements. Just make sure my presence doesn't damage what you two are trying to achieve. Tread carefully, Terry. I'm not sure she'll see this as you do..."

He smiled. Typical Gillie. Even now she was concerned about him. If he had ever doubted the rightness of his decision, she had just given him the confirmation he needed.

"You know I will. And stop worrying about me. Concentrate on yourself. I'll check in regularly. Anything you need to talk about, I'm always here. Call or mail. You promise me that?"

 

*

 

A few days later, Nick sat at a pavement café sipping espresso and reading Berliner Zeitung. He was struggling with the text, German not being one of his strong points, but gamely making some headway and gleaning the general gist. It was a habit of his, always to try and absorb the news in a local paper instead of relying on CNN or online newspapers. It was also a way of reinforcing his knowledge of a language and sometimes picking up local material he might not otherwise have accessed. Deep in concentration he did not see Zoe dashing madly across the road calling his name. "Nick! Nickie!!"

His head shot up and he smiled. She already looked better, face fresh, skin and eyes clear, bouncing with energy and excitement. He lay back in his seat and let her come to him, unable to stop his face light up at the sight of her. God, this love thing felt good, he told himself. Waking up with her curled up next to him and her teddy every morning - she hid him under the pillow if they were having sex, saying she didn't want to scare him - and welcoming another day full of wonderful mundane joys like chatting in the bathroom, eating breakfast together, kissing her goodbye and knowing she would be back in the evening and they would stroll around the summer streets, find somewhere to eat and sit there all night just talking, holding hands and being together. He was going to find the return alone to Sydney hard.

"Nick! Guess what! Guess what!!' she ran up panting, trying to catch her breath.

"Sit down. Let me get you coffee...." He called over a waiter and gave their order. Zoe was wriggling about on her seat like an eager child. "Well, go on tell me before you wet your knickers..."

"Guess what the boss said?"

"Er....transferred you to their Sydney branch....?"

"No! Better than that even..."

"Better than that, huh? I give up..."

"Sacked me!"

"This is better how?"

Zoe giggled. "He went on about how unreliable I'd been of late, all this compassionate leave (boy, is he full of compassion!), now I was asking for a transfer to a more conducive location? Then I got the lecture about paying my dues and private life taking second place to my career if I want to make it in this business...so I told him either he transferred me or I resigned. He told me there was another option and fired me. Isn't that great?"

Nick frowned. "How is it better to be sacked than resign with dignity and then overturn the fucker's desk?"

That made her snort. "Because now I can blame him not you! That means I can't at some future date be all unreasonable and hold you responsible for my failure to keep a totally ace job like the one I had..."

"...Women have such fuckwit logic...you could still blame me for making him sack you..."

"No, I couldn't...that wouldn't be fair... So all we have to do is pack up and go...home! Back to Sydney, unemployment and suburban enslavement in your kitchen...!"

"You make it sound almost desirable," he observed laughing. "But let me tell you now, I'm not keeping you. Get out and get a job...I'm no meal ticket...ya gold digger..."

"I will. I have loads of plans. I made them on the way over. I am going to get on a Sydney daily by selling myself as this high-powered foreign correspondent. I am also going to learn Greek. Then I will actually understand all those things you mutter under your breath when you get mad at me..."

"That so? Made these plans on the way over? That's really giving it thought, love..." His eyes twinkled in amusement. "Okay, you want to come live with me? There's one deal breaker. Keep that hair cut and the offer is no longer on the table..."

She tossed a hand through the shaggy curls. "My hair will grow. I promise to dye it back to something like my own colour. I will put on ten pounds in weight and you can buy me a new wardrobe... but here's my condition..."

"...That I get even more handsome than I am already? It isn't possible, love..."he teased wickedly.

"That you grow yours. I am not into this smart back and sides, Nick...it's a bit creepy to see you so respectable...like a lounge lizard or something..."

"Nothing wrong with my hair," he replied.

"Or are you afraid it will show up the grey?"

"I have no grey."

"Your beard has."

"My hair hasn't."

"...bet you dye it."

"I do not! Do I look like a man who would dye his hair?"

"Yeah, you so would! You're the vainest man I know...Grow your hair, Nick! For me! You look so sexy when you grow it..."

"As opposed to not looking sexy when I wear it short?" he answered her with an eyebrow raised. "Okay...okay...I'll grow it...a bit... and stop trying to control my life...you are such a bully...I feel like you're crowding me...I am just a sex object to you...I need more space..."

The coffee arrived while they both laughed at his remark then settled back to plan their future. Everything was turning out after all. Maybe it was true that you could have everything.

As long as the Devil doesn't hear you....

 
To Dawn Book II


*Make Me Pure by Robbie Williams can be heard here.

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