The House at the Bottom of the Hill (21 page)

Now
, she begged him silently.
Pick me up and take me now
. Her arms trembled and the note fluttered in her hand.

He took the note from her, crumpled it, let it fall to the floor and lifted her off the ground.

‘S
o what do you love about being a redhead?’

Charlotte met Julia’s eyes in the chrome-framed salon mirror. ‘The jokes.’

Julia laughed as she put another giant Velcro roller into Charlotte’s washed and trimmed hair. Apparently the rollers were to give lift. Julia promised her the hairdo would fall and settle but Charlotte had doubts about that, given the seven barrel-sized rollers already in place.

‘What did your friends call you as a kid?’

Charlotte fingered the lilac nylon hairdresser’s gown draping her shoulders, wondering how she could answer without making too much of a deal of it. She hadn’t had friends at first because her classmates had stayed clear. Probably at their parents’ requests. She remembered being called weirdo a few times as she was taken from class for one of the numerous meetings with a counsellor or psychologist. But things had got better after that first year of torture.

‘Is your mother a redhead? Or your father?’

‘My mother. But she died when I was six.’ Charlotte couldn’t say anything about her father.

‘I’m sorry, that’s awful.’ Julia paused. ‘I lost my mum when I was fourteen.’

They were silent for a few moments. Charlotte pondered Julia’s loss, and wondered if Julia was pondering the same. She glanced in the mirror to the back corner of the salon. Julia’s folded stroller rested against the umbrella stand.

Julia picked up another Velcro roller and wound strands of Charlotte’s fine hair over it.

‘I like that it’s rare,’ Charlotte said. ‘That I’m not part of a crowd.’

Julia smiled into the mirror. ‘I knew you’d find a reason to start loving yourself.’

Charlotte tensed. ‘What makes you think I don’t?’ She’d been in the beauty parlour for nearly three hours, getting pampered, tweaked and buffed. She and Julia had built a connection but Charlotte hadn’t realised her new friend had been sussing her out.

Julia shrugged. ‘Takes one to know one.’ She put the comb she’d used to section Charlotte’s hair into the tiered trolley by her side and pushed the trolley away. ‘You’re nearly done. Just got to dry your hair.’

Charlotte studied her reflection. She didn’t often wear her long fringe swept back, so she took a good look at her face in the mirror. Since when had her pale skin taken on such a dewy glow? She looked like she’d been standing on a hilltop catching a sunlit breeze. Julia had been right about the deep blue dress she’d made Charlotte try on and parade around in. Lagoon blue against her vanilla skin. She wiggled her fingers, the nails manicured and bright red after all, despite a multitude of excuses for not wanting polish.

‘Yeah,’ Julia said, catching Charlotte unawares. ‘You’re a redhead and you’re beautiful.’

Charlotte sucked on her bottom lip, trying to hold on to the smile wanting to form. Let it go, she told herself. She looked Julia in the eye and smiled. ‘I am, aren’t I?’

‘It’s a sin,’ Julia said, walking across the room and picking up a garment bag on a wooden coat hanger, ‘not showing off all that riveting glamour you’ve got. What are you planning to wear to Grandy’s birthday party next Friday?’ She unzipped the garment bag, pulled it off then held the hanger high.

‘Not that,’ Charlotte said, staring at the silvery gown Julia held up.

‘Oh yes you are.’ Julia shook the hanger. The sleeveless, floor-length dress shimmered, the sparkles on the bodice lighting the silvery cloth like fireflies around a moonlit stream. ‘We’ll all be dressing up and I’m not letting you go in one of your white and beige ensembles.’

‘I couldn’t wear that.’ The pull of wanting to tore into her. What would Daniel say if he saw her in that dress? Would he speak or would his thoughts be readable from his expression?

‘It’s vintage,’ Julia said. ‘Stand up.’

Charlotte stood. ‘Wow.’ Julia held it against Charlotte’s body and turned her to the mirror. ‘Wow.’

‘I bought it in Canberra. Haven’t worn it though. Haven’t got the bust for it. Haven’t got the hips either, come to that. I’m a sexy twig, you’ve got sexy shape.’

‘It’s amazing.’ Charlotte held the beaded bodice against her breasts with one hand, lifted the soft fabric of the floor-length skirt with her other hand, and ruffled the material. It rustled like soft tissue paper. ‘This dress has anatomy.’

Julia tipped her head to one side, her gaze questioning and the kink of a knowing smile on her mouth. ‘Anyone in town given you a double-take when you smile like that?’

‘Like what?’

‘Like the sun just lit your world.’

Charlotte laughed, pleasure reverberating in her chest and bumping against her heart. ‘I could have an affair with this dress. Just me and it, forevermore.’

‘I doubt you’d be alone for long,’ Julia said. ‘Who are you going to show the new you off to after you leave the salon?’

Daniel. Definitely Daniel
.

‘It’s Saturday, you should have a date for tonight.’

‘No date,’ Charlotte said. ‘But I’m having dinner tonight at Sammy and Ethan’s place.’

‘Daniel’s going, isn’t he?’

Charlotte nodded.

‘I hope he’s behaving himself.’

Not in the least
. She could already feel his hands on her back, unhooking the beaded bodice of this exquisite gown. Slipping it off her shoulders. Staring down at her, looking deep into her eyes for a burning second before he let the dress fall to the floor.

‘How are his mediating skills?’ Julia asked.

‘He’s got a knack for expressing himself.’ Charlotte didn’t remove the blooming smile on her mouth. Julia would think she was still wrapped in pleasure by the dress. ‘Are you sure everyone will dress up for the party?’

‘To the nines. Wait until you see what Mrs J wants me to do with her hair.’

‘But am I invited?’

‘Why are you so troubled with yourself, Charlotte?’

Charlotte shrugged. ‘I’m not. Not really.’ Could she open up and tell her new friend, her bright, city-smart friend, about the burdens she carried through the night?

Julia grinned. ‘Maybe next time.’ She turned and headed for the corner of the salon. ‘Of course you’re invited. You’ll have the guest of honour at your house. Grandy will want to walk you to the Town Hall.’

Charlotte’s thrill and pleasure subsided a little. Daniel wouldn’t be able to take her to the dance. They weren’t in a real relationship, they were embroiled—for the moment—in covert sexual encounters.

Julia wheeled a cumbersome black leather seat-cum-hairdryer contraption forwards. The type of chair a person sank into, with a huge beehive-style hairdryer on top. A metal helmet that would come down on Charlotte’s head and cover her brow, maybe her eyes. Fear shock-waved through Charlotte’s system, stiffening her limbs, narrowing her arteries and bringing pain to her chest.

‘Let’s get that hair dried and out of rollers before someone walks in. Wouldn’t want your mediator to catch you looking like you’re wearing a plum tart on your head.’ Julia plugged the lead into a wall socket. ‘I know it looks old-fashioned, but believe me, it works beautifully. Dries your hair, sets the style and doesn’t—’

‘Sorry, Julia but I can’t sit in that.’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m …’
Afraid of being confined. Scared of the dark. Terrified of small spaces
. ‘Claustrophobic … I don’t like being shut in.’ Trapped with nowhere to go. Backed against a wall, gripping her mother’s clothing in the wardrobe. Hiding while the terrifying noise of murder happened outside the flimsy plywood door. A gagging sound from her mother. A hard hiss of breath from … him.

‘Hey, are you okay?’ Julia rushed forwards and caught the dress as it tumbled from Charlotte’s hands.

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s all right. Sit down.’ Julia hooked the dress over her arm and pulled the chair Charlotte had been sitting in earlier to the back of Charlotte’s knees.

Charlotte couldn’t sit. Her muscles had stiffened, her limbs locked. ‘I can’t be stuck. I can’t be stuck in a small space. I can’t be—’

‘It’s all right, Charlotte. Take it easy. Breathe.’

Charlotte took hold of Julia’s hand and managed a smile. ‘Got a little lightheaded. Must have been sitting down for too long.’

Julia frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

Charlotte nodded, desperately trying to bring herself out of the panic attack.
Count
.
One. Two. Three
…
Breathe
.
Count. One. Two. Three
…

The door opened behind them, the bell tinkling in its brass housing.

‘Hi,’ Ethan said as he stepped inside. ‘You girls busy?’

Julia glanced at Charlotte, concern in her eyes, and back to Ethan. ‘A woman’s work is never done,’ she said with a smile. ‘But we can take a break. What do you need?’

‘Sammy wanted me to pick up some product you’ve got for her.’

Charlotte took the moment and settled the terror inside. She was here in order to clear the past and get a life. No, she’d never forget and neither was she supposed to.
Face the fear without reliving it
.
Deal with the negative emotions in the light of reason
.

‘Excuse me, Ethan,’ she said, her voice still wobbly as the panic subsided.

‘You’re looking a bit pale, Charlotte. Are you okay?’

Charlotte nodded. ‘Yes, I’m fine. I just wondered if I could have a private word with you some time.’ Sometime soon. ‘Whenever you get a moment.’

‘Of course you can.’ Ethan seemed to lapse into an unsettled frame of mind. ‘And I can guess what it’s about.’

Charlotte stilled.

‘I’ve told Sammy she’s meddling in something that might be bigger than she is.’ He grinned, and warmth flushed on his face, as it always did when he mentioned his wife. ‘It’s about Dan, isn’t it?’

‘Daniel?’ She forced herself to think. Too many cumbersome thoughts were swimming in her head. Did he know about Daniel?

‘It’s all this matchmaking she’s been doing,’ Ethan continued. ‘I imagine you find it embarrassing.’

She exhaled in some relief. If Ethan or anyone else guessed half of what was happening between her and Daniel, her embarrassment would be acute. But at least her panic attack had subsided. ‘Actually, it’s not about—’

‘But here’s the thing,’ Ethan continued, his eyes riveting a hole into Charlotte’s. ‘Dan’s a decent man.’ He lifted his hand. ‘I’m not pushing you into anything, Sammy’s doing enough of that. But Dan’s a friend. A good friend, and I can tell you that if anything did …’ He looked lost for a moment. ‘… Happen to happen between you,’ he continued, ‘I can vouch for him. And I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it.’

Julia clapped her hands. ‘Oh goodie! Things are really starting to heat up in this town.’

More than she knew. ‘The only thing that’s heating up is your sit-in hairdryer,’ Charlotte said.

Julia unplugged it. ‘And your cheeks,’ she said with a smirk.

The doorbell dinged and all three looked around.

‘Good morning.’ A tall, thin man with a glowing smile entered La Crème Parfaite. ‘I’m looking for Ethan Granger. Must be you,’ he said to Ethan. He hooked a thumb behind him. ‘Saw the ute outside with the vet’s signage. I’m Ira Maxwell.’

‘Isla?’ Ethan said, stepping forwards.

‘Ira.’

‘Aren’t you supposed to be a woman?’ Julia asked.

Ira paused, looking across at Julia. ‘Last time I looked, I was definitely a man.’ It was surreptitious but Charlotte caught him giving Julia a quick once-over; head to toe and back to head.

Julia laughed. ‘I’m sorry. Our mistake.’

Ira beamed at Julia. ‘Not a problem.’ He bounced on his heels, his smile an umbrella of warmth.

Ethan reached out and shook Ira Maxwell’s hand. ‘Good to have you here. You can follow me and I’ll show you the surgery and the unit where you’ll be staying.’

‘Sounds good.’ Ira turned to Julia. ‘And where do you stay?’

Julia opened her mouth and blinked but didn’t appear able to speak.

Ethan cleared his throat. ‘This is Julia Morelly, and this is Charlotte Simmons. Charlotte runs the B&B.’

Ira stepped towards Charlotte and held his hand out. ‘You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t recognise you next time we meet.’

‘How do you do?’ Charlotte shook his hand, liking him instantly and forgetting about the plum tart image she portrayed with all the rollers in her hair.

‘And Julia Morelly,’ Ira said, turning to Julia. ‘You must be the crème part of le parfait.’

Julia still looked like a stunned gazelle.

Ira rubbed his hands together. ‘I like this town already.’ He dragged his gaze from Julia to Charlotte. ‘Am I staying at your B&B?’

‘No.’

Ira clicked his fingers. ‘That’s right—I’ve a unit of some sort, haven’t I?’ He turned to Ethan. ‘I knew you had accommodation for me but I half expected it to be the local hotel.’

‘The unit’s comfortable but it’s not a hotel or anything fancy,’ Julia said.

‘We don’t have a hotel in town,’ Charlotte said.

Ethan made a slight grunting noise. Julia laughed and looked over at Ethan. He queried her with a frown.

‘Yeah,’ Julia said. ‘Caught wind of that a couple of weeks back.’

‘Right,’ Ethan said. ‘This makes the playground of Swallow’s Fall a little more interesting than usual.’

‘Sure does,’ Julia said.

They were talking about Daniel and his seven shower units. The twins had been right. Daniel was going to open up Kookaburra’s as a hotel. It was a brilliant idea. Why hadn’t he told her? She really should have asked him yesterday but they’d … got distracted.

‘We will have a B&B up and running soon though, won’t we Charlotte?’ Ethan asked.

Charlotte looked at Ira and smiled. A smile communicated nothing, except pleasantry. No further embellishment about the B&B and its prospective opening day necessary.

‘I helped Ethan’s wife, Sammy, decorate and furnish the unit,’ Julia told Ira. ‘And I dare you not to be comfortable in it.’

Ira turned his attention back to Julia and bowed his head. ‘If you’ve had a hand in the furnishing, I’m sure I’ll be more than comfortable.’