5 Peppermint Grove (23 page)

Dylan stood up and helped Gillian on with her coat.

“Where do you live, Gillian?” Odette asked.

“Beside Cabra,” she said with a shy smile.

“We’ll drop you home,” Odette said.

Gillian was upset by the ‘we’. Surely she was going to have some time with Dylan on her own?

“Odette and Craig are keen to get home to the baby-sitter,” Dylan explained.

“Of course,” she said politely. “I can always get a taxi – it’s not on your way to Malahide.”

“It’s a Friday night – best to be safe.”

Gillian was dreadfully disappointed and wanted to be as far away from the group as possible as she could feel tears threaten to well up in her eyes.

“No, honestly – I’ll get a taxi.”

Dylan insisted and the four walked to the car park.

Odette took the car keys and drove out of the city. Gillian directed her and made sure that the car was parked outside one of the large houses around the corner from where she lived. She had done this before, on the night after the quiz when Dylan drove her home. She didn’t want him to know that she came from a small corporation house.

Odette brought the car to the kerb and waited until Gillian went up to the gate.

Gillian stood at the closed gate and waved goodbye.

“She’s grand, drive on,” Craig said.

“No, I want to be sure that she’s safe,” Odette insisted.

But thirty seconds later she was still fiddling around with the latch. A dog barked loudly and Gillian began to be concerned that she had picked the wrong house.

“Go and help her!” Odette insisted.

Gillian waved them on frantically. But Dylan got out and went over. He released the latch easily and bid her goodnight again. Gillian walked up the drive nervously and the beast at the rear of the house kept barking hysterically. She managed to slip down behind a hedge at the front door and prayed that they hadn’t seen her and would drive away. A light came on in the house where she was hiding and she had to run behind another hedge before the owners came to check who or what was disturbing their animal.

To her relief she heard the car starting up and driving away. She came out of her hiding place and fled down the drive, getting to the gate before the front door opened. She ran as if her life depended on it. She had bit off more than she could chew by accepting Dylan’s invitation. She could cry and she wondered what sort of a fool Julia would think her when Odette told her all about the night.

Chapter Thirty

The next morning Julia rose bright and early.

“Are you awake, Ruth? That must have been the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.”

Ruth sat up in the bed. “Good, I’m glad I didn’t wake you. Julia. I had a crazy experience last night.”

“What – with Marty?”

“No – here in the room – I think I felt a ghost or something.”

Julia laughed. “You should have gone for the walk with Brian – he was going on about ghosts and funny feelings too!”

“I’ll be glad when we get back to Perth.”

“Well, it’s a lovely morning – do you want to hire a bike and take a look around after breakfast?”

Ruth nodded. “We can’t leave without cycling around the island and we must snorkel too, Marty was telling me. I wonder what state he’s in this morning?” She giggled.

“I’m mortified by the way Brian took me for that walk and then dumped me,” said Julia. “What was that about?”

Ruth shook her head. It was strange – Julia usually picked and chose men at her command. But then again Brian wasn’t just any man!

Breakfast was laid out across two counters and there was a good selection of fresh fruit and pastries as well as the hot dishes.

Julia ordered a pot of tea for two and took some freshly made toast and fruit.

“It’s a nice breakfast, isn’t it?”

“Brekkie!” Ruth giggled. “You’re in
Australia now!”

“Must remember that!”

“You know, it’s great here but I can’t help wondering what it must have been like when it was a prison.”

“Honestly, Ruth – what’s got into you? I’m glad we’re going back to
Perth later. Actually I can’t wait to see Michael too.”

“Yeah, that will be good.” Ruth leaned forward. “Don’t look now but the bucks are on their way over.”

“Hey, sweetheart, where did you run off to?” Marty came bounding over to the table.

“I didn’t run off anywhere – I think it was you who passed out, Marty! It was good fun, wasn’t it?” Ruth grinned.

Marty nodded. “Brian’s gone back to the mainland – caught the first ferry – asked me to say goodbye to you girls.”

Julia felt disappointed. “We’re going back this afternoon but going for a cycle first.”

“Hey, yeah, go to Parker Point – it’s great. Take your snorkels.”

With that Marty went off to pile layers of bacons and sausages on to his plate.

The girls packed their bags and left them in the holding room at reception. They went out into the bright sunshine and passed the smiling faces of young families and backpackers all going in the direction of the bike-hire shop.

Rotto was very different in daylight. Still feeling unsettled by her experience the night before, Ruth tried not to dwell on it. She took a purple mountain bike and followed Julia along the path.

“It’s a shame that Brian went home early,” Julia said. “I would like to see him again.”

“We have his business card – remember?”

“I know but we can’t really call him, can we?”

“He said he would help us find out more information about Number 5. Maybe he’s shy. I think we should call him when we get back to Perth. You do like him, don’t you?”

Julia shrugged. “I suppose I’m not used to getting dumped at the final hurdle by a guy but, yes, I liked him. I did wonder if he really liked me though. He’s quite a thoughtful bloke and into the stars. Did I tell you that he’s not a builder, he’s an architect?”

“No, I don’t remember you saying that. Marty is a postie but seems to spend most of his time surfing and swimming at Scarborough.”

“A postie?”

“Yep – a postman!”

Julia threw her head back, laughing. “I can’t get used these abbreviations!”

The signposts were clear and the two headed for Parker Point. Clouds were scattered against the cerulean blue sky which helped to take away some of the heat from the day before.  They came to their first small hill and passed a dried salt lake which was so arid the trees were pushed up by the roots and falling over on their sides – parched for some water. In the distance a bell tinkled and a small single-carriage train chugged along the old iron rails that ran in front of them. The girls stopped and watched it pass slowly.

“I really feel like I’m in
Australia now – this is what I imagined the outback would be like.”

“It is, sort of – Steve brought me up to the Pinnacles the week after I got here and the drive was amazing – so much vast desert. I noticed a lot of the trees were parched along the way. I think water is an issue here and the summers are very dry.”

Julia grinned. “We could give them some of our rain from Ireland – although January in Dublin wasn’t as bad as usual – much milder than everyone expected.”

They cycled on to a crossroads and kept left on the path for Parker Point. They came to the first scenic stop where ‘Henrietta Rocks’ was printed on a signpost. The view was breathtaking and in the distance a sheltered cover and beach beckoned. They continued along the meandering road where they met gentle hills followed by long runs taking them quickly to a hidden glade with bare carcasses of trees that seemed to be hissing loudly with noise, the tap-tap of birds against some of them almost drowned out by a shaking sound that resembled a shaman’s rattle.

“What is this place? It gives me the creeps!” Ruth shouted out.

“Come on! Hurry up in case there are any snakes!” Julia cried and the two raced on until they came to another stop where many people had dumped their bicycles and the bus waited for passengers.

“This is Porpoise Bay – let’s stop here – I’m dying for a swim,” Ruth begged.

Julia was just as keen to dive into the beautiful clear azure sea. They had to negotiate many decked steps before they reached the beach. A welcoming party of two quokkas waited at the bottom of them. The girls found a private spot to strip off but already the daytrippers had arrived and the beach was getting crowded. Some small yachts bobbed a short distance away on their anchors.

“It’s idyllic, isn’t it?” Julia said, wading up to her thighs in the warm clear water.

Ruth followed with snorkels in hand. Tiny colourful fish flitted by in massive shoals.

“Here, Ju – put this on!”

Julia put on the snorkel and the two dived into the crystal-clear water. It was freedom and beauty at its best and the girls were swimming in unison – so happy to be together again.

After a while they took a rest on a couple of boulders at the edge of the reef.

Ruth lifted her snorkel and shook out her wet hair.

“I forgot to tell you that an American fellow was eaten by a shark here last year!” she said.

Julia shrieked. “You’re not serious?”

Ruth nodded. “I know, hard to imagine but it happened. He was diving alone.”

“You’d better not tell Angela.”

“Oh, Angela was the one telling me about the sharks –
don’t go into the water
!” Ruth mimicked her mother’s concerned tone. “It’s another of the things that used to unnerve her about Australia.”

“Oh, Ruth you have to find out more about that letter. I wonder why she never posted it? You’re sure it was in her hand?”

Ruth nodded. “Most definitely. It’s hard to remember life without email, isn’t it? Letters are so much more romantic – waiting for them to be delivered by a postman.”

“Like Marty!” Julia said with a giggle.

Ruth put her snorkel on again. “Eh, yeah, just like Marty!”

“I’m not sure I’d like Marty handling my post after what you said!” Julia giggled and followed her friend as she dived back into the water.

They swam to shore and went over to a sheltered rock where they had left their belongings. It was coming up to lunchtime and they were aware that the boat would be leaving in three hours for Fremantle.

As they dressed, Julia’s phone bleeped. She read the message. It was from Odette. She wondered why Odette was up at
four o’clock in the morning.

Hope u r having a gr8 time. miss u x O

It was worrying for Julia to get a text like that. She didn’t like this feeling of distance from her sister while she was going through a difficult time. She wanted to chat with her but Odette didn’t do Skype or technology very well. So Julia simply texted her back.

All good here. Hope
mum and granddad are well. Gillian told me she had a date with Dylan! Any news?

She received a quick response.

Not a date really! Craig and I were with them! She’s nice. Don’t think Dylan that keen on her!

Julia read the text again. What were Odette and Craig doing with them? It was very strange. What was Dylan playing at?

“Everything okay in Dublin?” Ruth asked, seeing the concern on Julia’s face.

“Yeah, I just can’t figure out why Odette and Craig would have gone out with Dylan and Gillian.”

“Julia, you are a control freak – you are on your holidays – let them be until you get home at least.”

Julia nodded. “You’re right. Okay, race you back to the bike shop!”

But as Julia pushed up the hills and flew down the other sides she couldn’t shake the thought of her sister and the others all going out for drinks together.

Marty was at the bike shop when the girls arrived.

“How ya going, girls?” he beamed. “I’m on my way to the Hotel to meet some of the guys. Care to join me?”

“Hi, Marty,” Ruth said politely. “Julia and I are going to have a bite to eat at the bakery, thanks.”

“Ah, yeah, good grub. Pity you’re rushing off Rotto so soon.”

“Well, as I told you, Julia’s brother is flying in from Singapore tonight so we’re going to pick him up.”

“Maybe I’ll see you when we get back to
Perth. I could give you my number?”

Ruth didn’t want to see Marty again and Julia knew it by the way she was being so diplomatic.

She took out her phone. “Give it to me now and then I can text you?”

Marty had a massive grin on his face as he called out the ten-digit number.

Ruth put it in her phone but didn’t press save. She courteously smiled and waved goodbye and, after getting their deposit back from the teller in the hire shop, the two ran laughing in the direction of the Rottnest Bakery.

“I don’t know what to pick – everything is too yummy!” Julia said, eyeing a pie and some delicious
Rocky Road cake. “Eh – I’ll go for the pasty.”