Time Will Tell (42 page)

‘Jake, darling, I think you know Emily,' Simone said, giving him a gentle push forward. He strode towards Emily and then gathered her into his arms. His grip was not nearly as firm as she remembered; everything about him seemed wan.

‘What are you doing here? I didn't know if I'd ever see you again,' he whispered into her hair. Then he was silent and Emily could feel his chest shuddering. Was he crying?

‘It's okay, Jake. It's not your fault,' she whispered. As she did, she realised how ambiguous her words were – though very apt. She felt her own eyes fill with tears, and her throat constrict. She took her hand from his back and stroked his hair. ‘Simone called and told me what happened. I wanted to be here for you.'

‘Oh God, I've been such a fool. Look at me, I'm a blubbering mess,' Jake said, releasing her a little. He kissed her softly, and then held her by her shoulders at arm's length, gazing at her.

Emily's heart twisted painfully as she studied his eyes, which had none of the mischievous twinkle she'd been so taken with the first time they'd met. The pain and anguish of the past week had taken their toll.

‘Thank you for being here – it means a lot,' he said, kissing her on the forehead and then releasing her. He dragged the sleeve of his navy blue light knitted jumper across his face.

‘And thank you, Sim,' he said, offering his sister a wan smile and giving her a hug. ‘Can I help you with breakfast?'

‘No, it's all sorted. You guys sit. Back in a sec.' Simone winked at Emily before disappearing into the kitchen.

Jake and Emily sat, and he reached across the table and took hold of both of her hands.

‘You really are a sight for sore eyes, Em. I'm sorry I left so abruptly. I called that night, but I wasn't sure what to say. And then it all got a bit… God knows what you must have thought.'

‘It's okay, Jake. I behaved badly. I'm sorry I was so touchy about you asking about my life with John. It's just that I want to make a fresh start and not dwell on it.'

‘I understand that. I was really just trying to understand you better so I'd know how to treat you…'

‘Just be yourself Jake. We all have a history. How we are together is what matters. So what's been going on?'

He sat staring at the table and fiddling with the butter knife set in front of him.

‘Well I'm sure Simone filled you in on most of it – that one of our subcontractors was killed?'

Emily nodded.

‘Thankfully we weren't at fault. I can't imagine how the poor scaffolding people are feeling,' he said, shaking his head. ‘But it is my fault he was there; he was working on one of our sites. I didn't know him very well – had only met him a couple of times – but he seemed like a good guy. It seems to have hit me rather hard,' he offered with a helpless shrug.

‘I wish I'd been here for you.'

‘I wish so too, but that's my fault for not confiding in you. At least you're here now.'

‘Thanks to Simone,' Emily said. ‘She's great; we've really hit it off.'

‘I'm so glad; she's really very special to me,' he said quietly, with a smile that was more of a grimace.

‘I can see why. You're both so lucky to have each other.'

Jake didn't say anything. He continued to stare at the table. Emily's heart ached to bring him out of whatever it was; put the light back in his eyes again. But she didn't have any idea how. Would it just take time?

‘Are you going to the funeral?'

‘I don't think I can.'

‘Simone and I think it might be a good idea if you did – you know, for closure. It does help, you know.'

‘Hmm. I guess.'

‘You don't have to talk to anyone. And it'll be hard, but I think you'll regret it if you don't at least go and pay your respects.'

‘Will you come with me?' he asked, looking back up at her, his face clouded. Emily's heart wrenched; he looked like a sad, fearful little boy.

‘Of course, if you want me to.'

Just then Simone entered wearing an oven mitt and carrying a tray with three slightly browned croissants on it. In her other hand she held a large plunger of coffee.

‘Tuck in while they're hot. There's plenty more in the kitchen, so don't hold back. There's sliced cheese and ham and plenty of jam. None of Emily's though, I'm afraid,' she added.

‘How is the jam-making business, Em?' Jake asked, putting a croissant on his plate. He unscrewed the lid from a jar of blackberry jam.

‘Not happening at all, actually. I did make a small batch after you left, but I've run out of fruit now and… Oh God, so much has happened. I'd completely forgotten you didn't know.'

‘Know what? What's been going on?'

‘Well, the house project is no longer, I'm afraid, after you went to all the trouble doing the lovely drawings. And I've moved back to the farm.'

Simone poured three mugs of coffee.

‘God, what happened?!'

‘The Baker brothers died suddenly last week – an accident on the farm – and they hadn't changed their wills to reflect our arrangement. You remember that woman who turned up when you and Elizabeth were visiting that first time? Tara Wickham, the financial planner?'

‘Yes.'

‘Well, it turns out she's their main beneficiary. She turfed me out – didn't want a bar of selling the house and twenty acres.'

‘But you had a deal with them,' Jake said.

‘With only their signatures on it. We had
verbally
agreed to going ahead with the actual sale after the subdivision had gone through. Yes, I was an idiot not to have it all done properly,' she added with a helpless shrug.
God, just how many times do I have to admit this out loud? Enough already.
She almost rolled her eyes.

‘Ah, yes, I remember. But why did she make you leave so soon? Surely she would have wanted the rent while she was sorting things out.'

‘You'd think, wouldn't you? But no, apparently not. And she wanted me out so soon because, and I quote, “I don't like you.”'

Emily blushed slightly. It was embarrassing, even more so saying it out loud. She wished now she hadn't said it.
What must they think of me?

‘Really? That's terrible. I don't like the sound of her at all,' Simone said.

‘God, Em, I'm so sorry. And it's probably all my fault. Remember how I got into it that day with her? Oh, I feel terrible.'

‘Don't. It was just a healthy debate, if I recall. And she probably doesn't even remember it.'

‘Well, we don't know what else is going on in her life,' Jake said thoughtfully.

‘Whatever it is, there's no need to take it out on Emily,' Simone said. ‘So you just moved out, when she told you to? You're more tolerant than me. I would have dug my heels in and said, “Make me!”' She let out a little laugh.

‘I thought about it. But being in a small town… It's a bit complicated, but she could have made my life a bit difficult, and I've been the focus of enough gossip lately. It's a long story,' she added wearily. ‘I'm disappointed, of course, because I really loved the place and was so looking forward to doing it up – with Jake's help.'

‘Well, lucky you had the farm to move back to. So John's parents were okay with all that in the end?' Jake asked, looking a little sceptical.

‘Yes. I finally told them about the separation and everything. I fully expected them to contest the will or something. Which would be completely understandable given the circumstances. But they were amazing. Really supportive, actually.'

Simone looked puzzled.

‘My estranged husband – Jake probably told you he died recently,' Emily explained to Simone. ‘Well it turned out he hadn't got around to telling his parents we'd split up, or changing his will. It was all looking a little messy there for a while,' Emily explained.

‘Golly. And I thought living in the country was supposed to be the quiet life,' Simone said, shaking her head with amazement. ‘Sounds like a lot more goes on out there than here in the big smoke!'

‘It does sound a bit melodramatic, doesn't it? I think – well, I hope – things will settle down for me now.'

‘Yes, hear hear,' Jake agreed.

Emily smiled at them. ‘Thanks.'

‘But oh, Em, I'm sorry that I haven't been there for you either. But at least you had Barbara. Sim, Emily's friend Barbara is an absolute brick; you'd love her, right Em?'

‘Er, yep,' Emily said, trying to avoid eye contact.

‘What, has something happened to her? Are she and David okay?'

‘We just had a bit of a falling out, that's all. It's okay now, but…I behaved like an idiot there too, I'm afraid.'

‘Well, these things happen. As long as it's all been sorted out now.'

Emily nodded. ‘Yes, actually, that's where Grace is.'

‘And how is the lovely Grace?' Jake brightened a little more at mention of the dog, and a smidgen more colour entered his cheeks.

‘She's great,' Emily said, smiling warmly. ‘Simone, you should have seen these two together; they got on like a house on fire,' she said, ripping a piece from her croissant. She slathered jam on it and put it into her mouth.

Simone slapped her hands down on the table as if she'd suddenly had a good idea. ‘I know,' she said, ‘why don't you go back with Emily, Jake, recuperate in the fresh country air for a few weeks, play with the dog, do some photography? You're not much use at work at the moment anyway,' she added.

He looked sideways at Simone. ‘Thanks a lot.'

‘Seriously, you need some time away from everything. What do you say?'

‘I'd love to. But, um, I haven't been invited,' he said.

‘Oh for goodness sake; it's an open invitation, you know that,' Emily said, looking at him. She wished she'd thought of it first. ‘I'd love you to come back with me – and to stay for as long as you like. But it's entirely up to you.'

‘Simone?'

‘I just want you to get better; you've been so down. I'm sorry if I've overstepped the mark. I just didn't think you were in the right frame of mind to decide it for yourself,' Simone said.

‘No, you're right. I think it's a good idea, and I'm so glad you called Emily when I couldn't.' Jake patted both the girls' hands. ‘I'm lucky to have people in my life who care about me.' He smiled sadly at Simone and then Emily.

‘All that matters is that you go and clear your head,' Simone said. ‘And I couldn't think of a better person to recuperate you than Emily.' She got up from the table and pretended to wipe her hands. ‘Well, it seems my work here is done. Who's for another croissant and more coffee?'

‘Yes, coffee thanks,' Emily and Jake said in unison.

‘Fancy going me halves in another croissant, Em, or do you want a whole one?'

‘No, a half would be great. Let me help,' Emily said, getting up, retrieving the coffee pot, and following Simone out to the kitchen.

‘Well, so much for needing all my powers of persuasion,' Simone said, putting two more croissants on a tray and sliding it into the oven.

‘Hmm,' Emily said. ‘He obviously trusts your judgement.'

‘He loves you.'

‘You think so?'

‘Absolutely.'

‘I see what you mean about his emotional state – he's not his usual self at all,' Emily said.

‘Well, hopefully that will change with some fresh country air and good old-fashioned TLC. And time.'

Emily might have skipped back into the dining room if it weren't for the pot of hot coffee in her hands. She returned Jake's smile as she sat back down. No words seemed necessary. They were silent as they put milk and sugar into their mugs and glanced at different sections of the paper.

A few minutes later, Simone reappeared carrying the hot tray. Jake broke a croissant apart and put half on Emily's plate and the other half on his own. They settled back into silent consumption.

‘So, are we all going to the funeral, or would you rather it be just you and Emily? I don't mind if you do, honestly.'

‘Not at all. More the merrier. Oh, no, that's a terrible thing to say,' he said, looking stricken. ‘I meant, safety in numbers.'

‘We know what you meant,' Simone said, laying her hand over his.

‘When would you like to get back home, Em?' he asked.

‘Whenever you want to go.'
The sooner the better.
‘I'm sure it will take you a few days to sort things out with work and everything – I'm happy to wait if you'd like to travel together.'

‘How does Monday sound? Thanks to Simone here, the business hardly needs me. And I'm sure you're keen to get back to Grace and get yourself properly settled. Being available by phone will be fine for a while.'

‘Perfect. I probably should at least phone Elizabeth while I'm in Melbourne,' Emily said, thinking aloud. She didn't feel any enthusiasm for catching up with her cousin, but it was the right thing to do.

‘She's in London – won't be back until Thursday week. Conference about the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis,' Jake said. ‘She emailed me. Don't worry; between the two of us, I'm sure we can keep you entertained for the weekend. It's only tomorrow really.'

‘I would have loved you to meet my friend Billy,' Simone said, ‘in case you decide to get back into making jam. She's the one who's just started the boutique produce shop. But unfortunately she and her partner, Tom, have gone away.'

‘You would have liked them, Em. They're nice, but Billy can be a little full-on,' Jake said. ‘Let's keep things low-key for Em on her first trip.'

‘Fair enough. It's probably quite a culture shock for you.'

Bless you for being so thoughtful.
‘It's okay. Really, I'm fine,' Emily lied with a shrug. She felt far from fine; she was missing Grace and the sanctuary of the quiet farm. She was relieved she wouldn't have to sit down to lunch with more new people; she was feeling far from bubbly and sociable.