5 Peppermint Grove (34 page)

“Yes, you – you’re always fussing around trying to help others – you are just like your grandmother. That’s why you should find yourself a good man and do what is the most natural thing in the world.”

“But what about all that you said before to Ruth and me about travel and all that?”

“Arragh, Ruth needed to move to get away from that Ian fella.”

Julia was stunned. “You know about Ian?”

“Of course I do – your father never soundproofed the back room when he was building it and I heard you pair rabbit on about that terrible fella on so many occasions that I don’t know how I ever managed to keep my mouth shut about it!”

Julia laughed. Her grandfather was a scream but he was also a wise old man.

“Okay – I take on board all that you say.”

“Mind that you do now, Julia. And give that Dylan lad a chance.”

Julia didn’t know if she could take any more bombshells from her grandfather.

“What?”

Horatio stood up. “You know it – the way he looks at you – he couldn’t take his eyes off you at dinner this Christmas. I’ve said enough for one night.” He leaned forward and kissed his granddaughter on the forehead. “Nighty-night, love.”

Julia was left sitting speechless on the kitchen chair – he had certainly given her plenty to think about tonight.

Chapter Forty-four

Brian called on time to Ruth’s delight. She had been counting the minutes all day until she would see him again.

A misty haze
had settled over the city, taking a few degrees off the temperature. They loaded up the car with a picnic basket containing the goodies that Ruth had purchased in Coles supermarket – plus a few nice fresh salads she had made herself and some Anzac biscuits that were too good to pass. They also had an Esky, containing among other things a bottle of sparkling wine.

They had only to drive a couple of blocks before they were at the entrance to King’s Park.

The view was peeking through the high trees as they parked in one of the bays beside Fraser’s restaurant. Brian took the picnic basket and the Esky from the back of the Jeep and handed Ruth a tartan rug to carry. Then he led her along a pathway with the vast skyscrapers of the CBD to their left.

The
view of the beautiful Swan River, broad at that point, was becoming clearer and she quickened her step – eager to see more of the water.

The landscap
e was a perfectly manicured blanket of neat grass. Around the circumference giant trees and palms lined the borders. Sailing ships dotted the river and the ferry from South Perth chugged its way into Barrack Street Dock.

Children ran barefoot in front of them
, giggling.

They walked on and perched high in a corner of the park was
a towering monument overlooking the river and the city beyond.

“What’s that?”
she asked.

“That’s the State War M
emorial – in a crypt underneath is a roll of honour listing the names of all Australians lost in wars abroad, beginning with the Boer War. We call the memorial ‘The Anzac’ because we visit it on Anzac Day, our national day of remembrance.”

“Where does the name ‘Anzac’ come from exactly?”

“The initials for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the First World War.”

They had reached
a semi-circular granite wall with a stone bench running along its inner side. A different place name was etched into the wall every couple of metres, commemorating a famous battle from wars around the world where Australians had fought.

“
This is the Court of Contemplation,” Brian said and pointed to the burning flame in its middle. “And that is the Eternal Flame burning so that we never forget. But I prefer to call it the Whispering Wall!” 

Brian rested the picnic basket on the ground,
took her hand and put her sitting at one end of the semi-circle under the name Gallipoli. He then walked to the other end about twenty metres away and sat down.

He put his lips to the
smooth surface of the stone wall – still warm from the heat of the sun and whispered. It was as if he was sitting beside her and speaking directly into her ear. At first she thought it was some kind of trick but then he said it again and this time it was louder and clearer.

“
You are beautiful.”

It sounded better the second time
but she giggled. Then she winced, wondering if anyone else could hear, but the joggers running by didn’t flinch or grin.

“
I’m not being funny!” he whispered. “It’s true.”

“
Thank you,” she said quietly.

To which he replied
, “You’re welcome.”

She had never come across such a phenomenon.

Brian stood up and walked back to her. She felt the moment was almost upon them when he beckoned to her playfully to join him at what looked like a gazebo. It was another viewing point and this time the landscape below moved like a magic picture. She could clearly see all the boats on the river and cars on the freeway in detail now.

“How about here for our picnic?” he asked.

It was a beautiful spot and the sky was now tinged with pink wispy clouds that floated across the bay like torn candyfloss.

Brian shook out the tartan blanket and placed it on the grass outside the gazebo.

Ruth set about cutting the chicken and putting the salads onto the plastic plates.

“Will I open this?” he asked, lifting the bottle of bubbles from the Esky.

“Yes, please,” Ruth nodded.

It wasn’t that the food was extra-delicious but eating
alfresco
in this way made it taste sweeter.

The setting sun was shining on Brian. His tanned skin and sparkling blue eyes were so attractive to Ruth that she found it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying.

“I have to tell you something that you probably know already,” he suddenly said. “Just to come clean.”

Ruth’s heart pounded. What bombshell was he about to drop?

“I did fool around with Julia that night when we went back to your house after the Lucky Shag and . . .” he half-smiled, “let’s just say it wasn’t a lucky shag – more of a complete disaster!”

Ruth giggled. She admired him for telling her. She didn’t want to paint a dreadful picture of Julia either by telling that she already knew, so she just smiled. “That’s okay. For a moment there I thought you were going to say that you were married and I was about to get up and go!”

Brian laughed anxiously.

Ruth was taken aback by his reaction. “Don’t laugh – you aren’t married – are you? Because I’ve been there in the past and now I wouldn’t contemplate a relationship with a married man – period!”

Brian paused. “Of course I’m not . . . Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Eh – I think first impressions matter but sometimes it takes a while to get the timing right.”

Brian nodded. “Timing is important. I’m glad Julia is gone back to Ireland too. You see, I fancied you from the first time I saw you in Peppy Grove.”

Ruth was startled. She’d had no idea.

He continued. “When I saw Julia on Rotto I was keen to see if you were there too but then good old Marty butted in – like he does!”

“I’m
flattered. It doesn’t matter what happened before – Julia won’t mind either.”

“Good!” Brian said. “Because I’d really like to spend more time with you, Ruth, and get to know you better. I feel you see things the same way as I do.”

Ruth was blushing. Brian took her plate and placed it down beside the rug. Then he took Ruth’s chin gently in his hand. Neither spoke – they just stared into each other’s eyes. The setting was perfect for the prelude to their first kiss.

When their lips touched, gently at first, neither wanted to close their eyes but it happened naturally and they sank onto the rug in a close embrace.

Ruth felt her arm crunch the Anzac biscuits into crumbs but couldn’t care less – she never wanted the kiss to end.

The birds sang in the trees and the balmy warmth of summer enveloped them. Ruth pulled back first and for several moments they starred into each other’s eyes. The silence between them was heavy with desire and passion and they kissed some more before they returned to eating – but this time fed each other grapes and other titbits.

The sun was gone from the sky before they packed up and strolled back to his car. They almost walked over a couple who were entwined in rapture next to an empty
ned in rapture after before eral moments they starred into each others eyes.
pizza box and four empty bottles of beer. Ruth turned to Brian and smiled. It was good to see others feeling the love on this special night.

The first stars of evening were shining in the sky. Brian took the picnic basket and Esky out of the boot and didn’t wait to be asked inside. It was a given that he was going to spend the night there. Flushed with anticipation and desire for each other they went into the kitchen and Ruth took a bottle of sparkling wine out of the fridge.

“Shall I open?”

“Looks good.”

She fumbled with the wire and foil at the top of the bottle and he came over and helped her. The cork went pop and flew out, hitting the ceiling.

“Oh, I hope we haven’t marked it!” she giggled.

“No worries, I’ve a team of painters that can fix that!”

They clinked their glasses together and went out into the back garden where a couple of crickets and small birds croaked and tweeted.

It occurred to Ruth that Brian had never mentioned who he lived with. She didn’t want to pry but if she was going to get into a relationship with him she would like to know more.

“Do you live on your own?”

He paused and she saw a hesitation in his eyes.

“Nah – I’m sharing! But not for long. I’m looking for somewhere else.”

“So you rent?”

“Eh – no, I’m looking for somewhere new to buy – houses prices keep jumping – that’s what’s taking me so long to find a new place.”

But Ruth didn’t want to talk about house prices and neither did Brian. He put his glass down on the table and walked over to her. He kissed her more forcefully now and put his hands under her soft strawberry hair until he cupped her head perfectly.

She was out of control. Melting inside and longing to feel his tongue in her mouth again. This was how she wanted to be kissed. It was passion so different to what she had felt with Ian. He picked her up in his strong arms and carried her through the kitchen and into the hallway.

“First on the right,” she said.

Inside, he gently placed her down onto the bed and started kissing her again.

Ruth arched her back – she was in agony and ecstasy, longing for more. Brian didn’t disappoint. He lifted her top, revealing the lacy lingerie that she had specially picked out for the evening, hoping that this would be the night. He peeled the straps down from her shoulders and kissed her
breasts. She was aching for him now and urgently kicked off her jeans as he undid his shirt.

He slipped out of his trousers and fell onto the bed beside her where they kissed with such desire that Ruth thought she would pass out. His
breathing was becoming heavier as she reached inside his underwear – longing for what was coming next.

She groaned in ecstasy as he entered her. He was a slow and passionate lover – moving in a rhythm that suited her needs perfectly. She wanted to come several times but didn’t want the moment to end. They released together amid a torrent of pleasurable sighs.

Ruth was speechless. Brian continued kissing and hugging her gently, stroking the side of her cheek and telling her how beautiful she was. She had never felt so loved – ever!

Ruth was walking on air the next morning and couldn’t conceal the grin on her face as she entered the office. Kai and Helenka stood at the water cooler trying to draw information from her about what had her in a buoyant mood. But she was keen to keep her private life separate from work and instead told them that her mother was coming to visit and that was why she was in such good form. But she knew that they didn’t believe her!

Later at lunchtime she slipped out to meet Brian who had come into the CBD to enjoy a sandwich with her at the Dome Café.

She told him that her mother was coming over to visit in a couple of weeks and was startled by his response.

“Oh, that’s great – I’d love to meet your mum – is she as beautiful as her daughter?”

Ruth blushed and rolled her eyes.

“Hey, why don’t you ask her about the house in Peppermint Grove then? We haven’t got any more leads or info and I’m sure there’s a story.”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if there was no big story and it was just some sort of courtesy or business letter about the rent?” Ruth said.

“Well, I think it was fate that we met and we have Number 5 to thank for that.”