Fuck, this morning was unnerving.The ease with which we could work around the kitchen together, felt so familiar.Like all those years we hadn’t been close, faded away, and we were right back to being in each other’s lives an inordinate amount of time.It was our pre-university days’ inseparability.Before my accident.Before uni started.Before Court came into the picture.Before Wes swept Rayna off her feet.Before our motorcycle teams, before kids took up all our time.Just the two of us.
The two of us.When I was petrified of telling Rayna how I felt about her.Worried I’d lose her and her friendship.But I lost her anyway.The moment I introduced Wes to her.I saw it all over their faces.I missed my chance, but I could see they were remarkably happy.No way I was going to come between them.I had to step away.
Rayna veers around the left corner, and the best view comes into sight.Bronte Beach.It’s always breath-taking whenever I see it.Magnificent in its simplicity.Small yet powerful.
Rayna takes another left onto my street.“You’ll have to point out your place.I haven’t been here.”
I instruct her which house is mine, and she parks in front of my garage.Exiting the car and coming to stand next to me, she surveys the brick frontage.A garage is at street level, with stairs leading to the house on the side.An open patio area on top of the garage.A common set-up for the area.
“Lovely,” she comments.
“Thanks.I don’t need much.”I shrug.
She smiles and continues, “Lead the way.”And she motions for me to go ahead of her.
I open the door and let it swing inwards.I don’t know what I was preparing myself for, but I brace anyway.The stillness of no one inside was deafening.Peeking my head in, my eyes go straight to the floor.In the bright daylight, the different shade of the soaked carpet is clear.
“Don’t come in.It’s going to be sopping wet through the carpet.I can see it already.”
I feel the soft warmth of her palms on my back as she gently moves them down a little and shoves me into the room.
“Just get in there.I won’t dissolve.”
Staggering into the room, I quickly right myself.Adding in a clearing of the throat to hide the surprise of the sudden movement.
Looking around, I'm grateful I have raised furniture.Hopefully, the damage won’t be as severe.
“Are there any sentimental items you can think of that need to be checked?”Rayna offers.
Taking a moment to ponder, I remember a box of family things.Shit.Racing to the back of the house, Rayna’s squelching footsteps behind me.
Entering my office, I go directly to the glass-door bookshelves that line two of the walls.Opening the last place I remember the box sitting.Peering in, there doesn’t appear to be anything watery inside.I open a glass-door, patting around a medium wooden box, hoping to not feel any water surrounding it.The box is simple.No designs carved into it.Just red-tinted maple for the bottom part and a lid with the same wood as a red-tinted border, highlighting a light brown rectangle in the middle that has been varnished clear to display the natural markings of the wood.Gripping it in my hands and bringing it out, I touch all over it to make sure it has no water on it.My head tips back as my eyes shut, letting out a relieved sigh.
Opening my eyes to Rayna, I smile, “Pirate treasure is safe.”Popping open the lid to show her, there is an assortment of Aria’s childhood possessions and a few items my parents handed down to me.I lift out a small plush koala Aria would give to me when I travelled, and she stayed home with Court.All safe.
“Aww, I remember when Koa the Koala used to come on the road with us.I can’t believe Aria let you keep it.”
“She doesn’t know I still have it.”
“Crafty.”
I place Koa back in the box, and the box onto the shelf.
“You’re not going to take it with you?”
“I should, shouldn’t I?”
She shrugs.“Just to be safe.”
Taking the box back off the shelf, I find one of my duffle bags and place it in.
“Now you can collect your loot on the way through the house, as needed,” Rayna quips, continuing the pirate motif.
“Arrgghh,” I reply in my most piratey voice, contorting my face to match my pirate ways.
She giggles and slaps my arm.“Don’t pull that face again.Does not agree with you.”
“Copy,” I say, straightening myself up with a smile plastered across my face.
