“How did you know?” Charmaine asked.
Bea laughed. “He used to visit the previous resident, a woman who worked for Betsy years ago. Watson’s family got a dog recently. The kids are loving it, but he’s not very happy about the new arrangement. He’s been doing the rounds—he even comes by the café and makes himself at home sometimes. I have a little bowl I put milk into when he looks hungry. He’s not feeling the love at home anymore and has taken to searching elsewhere for it.”
Charmaine smiled, but inside she identified with the cat even more. She’d never felt so feline in her life. Watson was lonely and rejected, and so was she. Perhaps Watson was grieving too — the loss of his status as king of the castle, the peace and tranquility of a dog-free home.
Whatever it was that’d pushed him to explore other options, she understood the need to find a place of his own. Somewhere he could relax and be at peace, without worrying about the past, or what others might think. They were alike, the two of them—perhaps that’s why he’d settled into her flat so easily. She’d decided after his first visit to leave the cat door unlocked so he could come and go as he pleased, and he’d been to visit her almost every day since.
Charmaine rested her bike against a tree, grateful to see there was no damage done by her fall. Then she followed Bea and Fudge down the winding, sandy path to the small beach in the cove. The cove itself was hidden by a thicket of bushes and trees — gums and she-oaks, seagrass and wildflowers. Rainbow lorikeets and rosellas flitted amongst the branches, squawking and calling. Seagulls dotted the beach, running as a group away from Fudge who tore towards them, tongue lolling, yapping like a mad creature.
“He loves it down here. I feel bad for the seagulls, but he needs the exercise.” Bea watched the dog with a grimace.
“At least they can fly out of the way.”
Beatrice called Fudge back to her side and tied him up to a small tree. He lay in the shade, panting.
Charmaine put on her mask, snorkel and flippers. She waved hello to Aidan, who sat on the sand beside a large surfboard. There were no waves to speak of, and she doubted he’d be able to do much more than float on the board if he took it out. She waddled to the water’s edge and stepped into it. The cold took her breath away at first, but she soon grew used to it and found that the water was warmer than it’d seemed at first.
The reef was as spectacular as she remembered. She spent the next hour swimming slowly around it, revelling in the feel of the water on her skin, the sun on her head, the sight of the coral and the fish who swam so close she could almost reach out and touch them, but when she tried, they were gone before her fingers closed around a fistful of water.
Finally, she dragged herself out of the ocean, reluctant to leave. She could snorkel all day and still not get enough of this place. Bea and Aidan had already waved goodbye and left. There was nothing to show they’d been there other than some indents in the sand where they’d sat together, snug up against one another with the afternoon sun golden on their wet bodies. They’d talked together and laughed, Bea looking up into Aidan’s handsome face with a kind of adoration Charmaine had only wished for herself. She’d never been in love, and often wondered if she ever would be. She was awkward and uncomfortable around most people. It made meeting new people difficult for her.
She dried herself off and cycled home, feeling tired and satisfied. When she opened the door and pushed her bike inside, she found Watson curled up in her armchair. She squatted beside the chair and stroked his back. He purred and stretched out so she could scratch beneath his chin and around his ears.
The sight of the cat, completely at home in her flat, warmed her heart. He didn’t have anywhere he felt comfortable in the world, and neither did she. But perhaps both of them could make a home together here, the misfit woman and the wandering cat.
“I know you have a home, but I heard about the new dog. If you want, you can stay here with me or visit whenever you like. If the dog gets particularly annoying or it eats your food or something, I’ll feed you, and you can steal my armchair. We can be alone together.”
The animal purred more loudly, and she squeezed onto the armchair beside him. He made room for her, letting one of his legs dangle across hers. His pink paw flexed, and his eyes blinked shut as she continued stroking his face gently. For the first time in a long time, she was happy.
Eight
EVER SINCE PENNYand Rowan’s engagement party, Bea had been troubled by allergies. She sniffled as she padded about the kitchen to make her morning coffee. With a tissue pressed to her nose, she sneezed three times, then blinked back the tears to reach for her cup and carried it into the living room. Usually she’d drink her coffee sitting on the back deck, looking out over her semi-private beach, but not today. With allergies giving her so much grief, she’d chosen to sit indoors and turn the air-conditioning on instead.
If she kept the windows shut, she should manage to get through the day without too much difficulty. It was her day off from the café, and she had nothing to do. She’d promised to spend the day with Aidan, but if he wanted to go bushwalking or swimming, she’d have to turn him down. It wouldn’t be very attractive for her to spend the entire day red-eyed, sneezing into a handful of tissues and sniffling all over him. Usually her allergies didn’t last long, there must’ve been a particular tree on the island that flowered at that time.
Things between them were going well. Really well. She couldn’t recall a time in her life when she’d felt so peaceful about a relationship. With Preston, she’d always been a little on edge — he didn’t like it when she was emotional or needy. She had to make sure everything was just right, since he preferred a tidy house and liked a plan on weekends. But with Aidan, she could be herself. He had no expectations, didn’t get upset at her if she reacted emotionally to something. Didn’t mind if she spoke throughout the movie. Laughed when she told silly jokes. And happily made Sunday plans for the two of them on her day off without requiring any input from her.
She sipped the coffee while flicking through a magazine that showed images of perfectly styled houses that appeared to have no one actually living in them. Then she got changed into a sundress with large yellow flowers on a midnight background.
When Aidan’s truck pulled into her driveway, she met him at the front door with a kiss, then sneezed into a tissue in her hand.
He backed away, eyes widening. “Are you sick?”
“Allergies,” she explained with a cough.
“That’s no good.” He followed her into the cottage, but kept his distance. “Are you sure you want to go out today?”
“I can’t,” she explained as she filled the espresso machine. “Coffee?”
“I’d love one,” he replied, then rubbed her back as she made it. “So, would you still like to do something, or do you want alone time?”
“I was looking forward to spending time with you. But as you can see, I’m not very good company today.”
“I don’t mind if you don’t. I’m sure we can come up with something we can do together.”
She handed him a cup of coffee, and the two of them sat at her small kitchen table.
“I’d like that, as long as it doesn’t bother you to see me sneezing and weepy all day.”
