Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [108]
‘Seems it’s just the two of us,’ she smiled. ‘Sit down, John. I wanted my respected business partner—and friend—for company. He’s been missing lately.’
‘You tricked me. I don’t like that.’ His tone was affable.
‘You wouldn’t have come otherwise and we need to talk.’
‘We talk all the time.’ He lifted the bottle of champagne and poured two glasses.
‘No, we don’t. Lately we’ve been arguing, disagreeing, and if we do communicate sensibly it’s for business. I thought it time we started off on a better foot. Rebuild our relationship.’
‘What’s that mean? I don’t like beating round the bush.’ He handed her a glass.
She twisted the crystal stem in her fingers and spoke softly without looking at him. ‘We’ve both suffered a loss and while yours is only temporary, I think we need to offer each other a bit of emotional support.’ She looked up at him. ‘I get lonely and there isn’t anyone I can really talk to about how I feel. I miss Conrad’s company. I know I am always the subject of speculation in town and while the ladies are well meaning I always feel I have to be on my best behaviour. I can’t be myself.’
‘Like running around in Chinese pyjamas,’ he grinned.
They both laughed and clinked glasses. ‘That was a wonderful trip,’ sighed Olivia. ‘I think I must have the sea in my blood too.’
It suddenly occurred to Tyndall that the first time they went to sea together helped her come to terms with the loss of baby James. Maybe another sea trip would help with the grief she hid so well most of the time.
‘How about coming out for a couple of weeks on the Shamrock? We’ll get the rest of the fleet out, take a run up the coast and do some diving, resupply the fleet. The company might do me good, too.’
Relief swept over Olivia. ‘I think that’s a wonderful idea. Yes, I’d like that. Rosminah could help Minnie look after Hamish.’
‘He’ll be cranky at missing out.’
‘Too big a trip. Besides, he’s in school.’
The houseboy served the food and Olivia passed on what she’d read in the recently arrived London newspapers. Talk then moved on to the possibility of expanding the company.
As the dessert plates were taken away, Minnie appeared to say goodnight, looking concerned.
‘What’s up, Minnie?’
‘Bin lookin’ at the signs. Big wind comin.’
‘Can’t be a cyclone, too late in the season,’ said Tyndall.
‘Signs say big blow,’ said Minnie stubbornly and wished them goodnight.
Olivia lifted her eyebrows. ‘You don’t normally reject “the signs”. What do you think?’
Tyndall rose and looked at Olivia’s barometer hanging on the wall beside a brass ship’s clock. He tapped it and looked thoughtful. ‘It’s dropping. But not enough to panic.’ He walked to the verandah, picking up his skipper’s hat. ‘Thanks for a lovely dinner. And for … being a friend. Don’t worry. Star of the Sea is back on course.’ He put his hat on at a jaunty angle and stepped into the night, casting an anxious glance at the sky.
By morning the first clouds were scudding in on rising winds, the seas were building up, the barometer still falling. Olivia gave Minnie a rueful smile and headed to the office. She noticed some of the shopkeepers were shuttering their premises and people were taking precautions, stocking up on water and provisions, lashing down what they could. There was an oppressive heaviness in the air.
She pulled out essential working files and documents to put in the safe only to find Tyndall had the keys. While she was kneeling beside the safe pondering the problem a high wind screeched in, rattling the wooden shutters and blowing an empty drum into the side of the building. It jolted her into action. She bundled the papers together and ran to the foreshore camp. All along the shore of the bay was frenzied activity as men climbed over boats securing gear and putting out additional anchors. On the coast the ocean rolled in a slowly heaving mass as if building up to regurgitate the very depths of the seabed.
Olivia paused for a moment, listening. Above the noise along the foreshore she heard a distant moan which sent a shudder through her.
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