Paycheque (23 page)

She felt a little guilty at how easily she'd been able to hand over the keys to Keith's pride and joy. When she and Bernadette had gone down for a weekend to get some more clothes and check all was in order, she'd noticed how detached she felt about the place – like she was checking on the home of a friend, not her own. She'd also noticed the contrast to her father's cottage – realising it was not just tidier and more orderly, but cold, sparse and almost unwelcoming.

On her way over to Bernadette's shop, Claire decided to get a cat or two for company when she got settled. Then she checked herself – it could take her months to find the right house. December could be a tricky time to buy. She was setting herself up for disappointment if she thought she'd find the perfect thing so easily. And she certainly wasn't going to settle on the first one she saw.

‘Right,' Bernadette said, ushering Claire into her office at the back of the shop. ‘Have a Tim Tam or three while we wait for the coffees. Now I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of collecting the brochures from the local real estate agents, though there's not really much around. So, what exactly do you have in mind?'

‘Oh, you know: whitewashed stone cottage, picket fence, garden full of roses, a couple of acres…'

‘Jeez, don't half want much, do we?'

‘“Discerning”, I think they call it in the industry.'

‘Oh
industry
is it? Well don't go getting all high and mighty on me – the rental accommodation has never been very flash out here – unless you fancy cream brick or falling-down rustic.'

Claire was busy perusing the brochures. ‘Here, what about this one?' she said, turning the page around for Bernadette to see. ‘ “Just move in and enjoy the country life”, it says.'

‘That one's for sale, silly, not lease.'

‘And the problem is?' Claire challenged with a gleam in her eye.

‘What? You're going to buy! Oh goody. But are you sure? Have you thought it through? Don't you think you…?'

‘Shut up Bernie, you're rambling like a pessimistic old woman – two things you are definitely not! And yes, I have thought things through. I've done the figures – ballpark, of course – and I've even got a list of requirements, from “absolute musts” to “I wish”.'

‘Ah, you and your lists. That's my girl. Here, give me a look.'

Claire handed her the piece of lined paper.

‘Uh huh, right, yep, seems okay to me,' Bernadette said, and then handed it back. ‘But the real estate agents will tear their hair out.'

They raised their heads at the subtle aroma of milky coffee. Moments later, David appeared in the doorway carrying a takeaway box with three cardboard cups in it.

‘And what are you devilish women cooking up this morning? Must be serious to require delivery. It's not secret women's business, is it?'

‘No, of course you can join us.'

‘Thought you'd never ask.'

‘Now, what do we owe you?' Claire asked, fishing in her handbag for her wallet.

‘On the house.
If
you'll let me in on your little dalliance. I need a bit of excitement this morning.'

‘You might change your mind about that.'

‘Try me.'

‘House hunting for Claire – she's going to
buy
. Isn't it fantastic?'

‘Absolutely. Sure you wouldn't rather rent for a while first? It's a pretty big commitment.'

‘God. What is it with you two? You sound like parents.'

‘Just want the best for you, that's all,' they said in unison and burst into laughter.

‘So, are you in?' Bernadette asked David.

‘Only if it's okay with Claire. I don't want to be the third wheel.'

‘It'd be good to have a third opinion, won't it Claire? You can be the voice of reason, the objective one.'

‘Wouldn't bet on it,' David smirked. ‘I'm a bit of a love-at-first-sight kind of guy, but I'll do my best to curb my enthusiasm.'

Claire tried to ignore the private look that passed between Bernadette and David. What was it with those two?

‘Well we can't have her signing up for the first one she sees,' Bernadette said, her blush subsiding.

‘Now where would the fun be in that? No, she has to experience the full range of emotions househunting brings – disappointment, disappointment and disappointment.'

‘Hey guys? Excuse me, I'm still here you know.'

‘Voices. Do I hear voices?' David said, pretending to search the room.

Bernadette laughed.

‘Very funny. I'll have you both know I've had my share of real estate nightmares. This is not my first purchase.'

‘Right then,' David said. ‘Back to being serious – the requirements. I'm guessing whitewashed solid stone, picket fence, roses, cottage garden; not too untidy, set on a couple of acres; not too much to manage, but not too close to any neighbours.'

Claire was wide-eyed. ‘How did you know?'

‘Isn't that what we all want? I keep forgetting you still haven't seen my little place yet. So how about dinner? My place, Sunday night? You'll need taking care of after a day of househunting. I say we sweet-talk the agents into opening privately for us. Then we won't have to be ushered through like cows with everyone else.'

‘Oh David, you are cheeky.'

‘Besides, you're off to the races at Morphettville tomorrow, aren't you?'

‘Meanwhile, some of us have to work for a living,' said Bernadette. ‘Might as well make the agents do the same.'

‘Exactly. They wouldn't know what it's like to have to do the hard sell – this place has been selling itself for years. So, how about you leave it to me? I'll make a couple of calls and pick you girls up around ten from here.

‘Oh, and if the weather's good we'll put the top down, so you might both want to put your hair up or wear secure scarves. We don't want any Bridget Jones moments, do we?'

‘No.' Claire and Bernadette groaned and then laughed.

‘Well I'd better get back to my customers before they think I don't love them – they're already jealous of you two getting all my attention. So, just be here at ten o'clock Sunday unless you hear otherwise. It'll be such a treat to be out with two gorgeous girls.' David got up, kissed them each on the cheek, grabbed a Tim Tam, and left.

‘See ya,' he called. Both women watched in silent admiration until David was out of sight.

‘So Bernie, you're spending a lot of time with David these days.'

‘Isn't he just the best fun?' she said, and shook away the dreamy expression beginning to creep across her face. But Claire had noticed it – they'd been friends too long, shared too much of the good and bad for her not to.

‘There's more to it than that.'

‘Don't be ridiculous, Claire. He's gay, remember? So, are you excited about the races tomorrow?'

‘Don't remind me, I'm nervous as hell.'

‘Ah, you'll be right.'

‘I'm not sure the horses are really ready.'

‘But you can withdraw them if they totally freak out or something, can't you?'

‘Yeah, but we've paid entry fees. And it wouldn't look good.'

‘To whom, Claire? Withdrawing would look a damn sight better than a horse wiping itself and its jockey out on the rail – not to mention all the other horses.'

‘Jeez, you really know how to put a girl at ease.'

‘Sorry, but you know what I meant. Anyway, who are you taking?'

‘Paycheque and Howie.'

‘And?'

‘And what?'

‘Their form – do they have any chance? Should I be putting some money on?'

‘Howie, maybe. The rate we're going Paycheque will be withdrawn because of his temper. The son of one of Dad's mates came by the other morning to have a ride – we were hoping he'd be our jockey – but the poor lad nearly lost a chunk out of his skinny little arse and now he won't go anywhere near him.'

‘So will you find someone else on the day?'

‘Hopefully, but most of the half-decent jockeys are already booked. Whatever happens, it'll be good to judge ourselves by what everyone else is doing. I'm learning to lower my expectations these days – less distance to fall.'

‘Though there's a fine line between not having faith and setting the bar too high,' Bernadette warned. ‘Remember, Claire: a step forward is a step forward, even if you end up taking two steps back. It's still a learning experience.'

Claire wanted to tell Bernadette there wasn't time in her twelve-month grand plan for any steps back. But she didn't get the chance.

‘Want me to come? Be strapper, moral support, coffee carrier?'

‘Would you?'

‘Yeah, why not?'

‘The shop for one – I feel guilty taking you away so much.'

‘Now how am I going to be semi-retired at forty-five if I can't leave my trainee manager in charge a few days a week? Anyway, it'll be a fun day out.'

‘If that's what you call dodging teeth, hooves and horseshit, and getting covered in dust, snot and slobber.'

‘Actually, that doesn't sound unlike running a nursery. I'll wear my steel caps and wet-weather coat then, shall I?'

Claire let out a huge sigh, unaware she had that much breath to let out. ‘You're a lifesaver.'

‘I know, I'll just add it to your IOU.' Bernadette laughed, got up
and made a show of going to the whiteboard on the wall and picking up a marker. They both chuckled.

Claire drained her cup and got up. ‘Well I'd better get back and get these monsters at least washed and presentable so I can have an early night.'

‘Yes, it's going to be a whirlwind weekend, what with the house-hunting on Sunday as well. We might like being chauffeured around like ladies.'

Claire was secretly pleased she'd have Bernadette to herself tomorrow at the races. She really did like David, but it was true about three being a crowd.

That afternoon, Paycheque was a completely different horse to the one who'd bared his teeth and tried to grab Claire by the ponytail a few hours earlier. He stood patiently in the sun to be washed, doing nothing more than closing his eyes and putting his ears back to stop them filling with water. He even allowed his mane and tail to be vigorously shampooed.

Claire was stunned when he lowered his head to waist level to be dried and gave a contented sigh. Normally, she had to fight to get a towel anywhere near his face. If she hadn't seen it for herself she would never have believed it.

Jack wandered past and she expressed her surprise, only to be greeted with a shrug. ‘Told you he wasn't that bad.'

Claire stood with the horse and soaked up the sun for a few minutes before starting on the big chestnut, Howie – also known as Hazardous Waste – who was never any trouble.