Crashing Waves (18 page)

"No security?"

"Nope. I guess not. I swear I'm tired of chasing these fruit loops. Bloody hell."

"Bloody hell what, you ankle-biter!" The deep voice startled Austin and Rory turned into the outstretched arms of her uncle.

"Uncle Mick!" she squeal as he picked her up off the ground.

"What's got you mad as a cut snake? You look like you're ready to wallop someone."

"Yeah, my security guard. What did you do with him?"

"Angelina Zane's daughter was coming home for the first time in nearly five years. Did you think she was going to let some useless dingo's donger protect you?!"

Rory laughed. Austin was surprised at how similar Rory was to the man. They didn't look much alike, but their mannerisms were almost identical. She didn't however, understand a word the man was saying.

"Who's the Sheila?" he asked, turning towards Austin.

"This is my mate, Austin Tinsley. Austin this old bloke is my uncle, Mickel Zane."

"She's a beaut! Is this the ankle-biter you told me about?"

Rory grinned.

He extended his hand. "Please call me Mick."

Austin shook his hand and smiled.

"Your mum's waiting at the house. You know she's expecting you to stay with her while you're home."

"That figures. How is the old rat bag anyway?"

"Steady on. Rory, do your uncle a solid and chew the fat before you shoot through. She's your mum and you only get one of them."

"Yeah yeah, take me to her I guess. I'm not promising that we'll stay there," she said.

Rory put her hand in the small of Austin's back, urging her to follow Mick. Austin jumped at the light touch. Rory bent close to her ear, whispering, "Be prepared. We're headed to the family house. My mother is expecting us to stay there, well me at least. She doesn't know about you, yet. Anyway, it won't be too bad. She won't battle with me in front of you, but just be prepared. She can be a real bitch sometimes. I've never…I mean…she may act a little weird around you."

"Great." Austin grinned.

"I'll get us out of there and into the hotel we were supposed to be staying at," she continued.

Mick walked them towards the waiting limo. The driver immediately stepped towards Rory. "Welcome home, Rory."

Rory smiled, "Hello, Bob."

~ ~ ~

Austin watched through the dark window as the city went by. They drove for nearly half an hour before she saw the gorgeous mansion up on top of a hill, completely surrounded by an iron gate with a lot of trees and shrubs. As they pulled around the u-shaped driveway, she noticed large columns on either side of the entry way, leading to the double front door.

Rory took a deep breath as she climbed out of the car. "Here we go," she sighed.

Bob carried their bags inside, setting them in the foyer. Austin followed Rory and Mick through the doorway. She was amazed at the vast amount of artwork covering the beige and crème colored walls. The floor was covered in large white tiles. They'd barely stepped inside when a short, plump woman came running up to them.

"Rory, welcome home."

Rory smiled, hugging the woman. "Thanks, Matilda."

"Oh and who do we have here?" Matilda asked.

"God my manners, I swear I left them over the ditch. I'm sorry. Austin, this is Matilda. She's my mother's housekeeper. Bob, the driver, is also the butler and Matilda's husband. They live in the guesthouse on the other side of the property. They've been working for my family as long as I can remember. Matilda, this is my mate, Austin Tinsley."

Austin smiled and felt Rory stiffen next to her as she looked up to see one of the most elegant looking women she'd ever seen, walking down the long winding staircase. She was wearing black slacks and a white blouse and had shoulder length brown hair. Austin could definitely tell the woman was related to Rory. She was attractive, with a slender build and she was just about Rory's height. She stepped off the staircase and onto the tile. Austin noticed her eyes were green instead of baby blue like Rory's.

"Step aside, Matilda. Let me see my daughter." Angel walked up to Rory, stopping to look deep into her eyes.
My God, she looks just like you Randall.
"Hello, Rory."

"Hello, Mum." Rory said inwardly, trying desperately to play nice

Angel bent forward, wrapping her arms around her daughter's shoulders, before quickly stepping back. Rory barely returned the embrace. Austin felt the coldness in the room and she was sure it wasn't because of the air conditioner.

Angel raised an eyebrow, giving Austin a quizzical look. "Who's the yank?" she said, stepping around her daughter. Rory countered her, stepping closer to Austin.

"This is my mate, Austin Tinsley. Austin, this is my mother, Angelina Zane."

Austin stepped forward, offering her hand, which Angel shook politely.

"Please, call me Angel." She smiled, giving Austin a once over.
I have no idea why you're standing in my house, but I will get to the bottom of it. Trust me.
"Martie didn't cross the pond? I figured your best mate would be with you."
 

"She was busy."
Although, I wish she was here.
 

"Well, stop mobbing around the door and move into the lounge," Angel said, shooing everyone into the living room. "Bob, run those bags upstairs please."

Rory rubbed her temples.
I'm so in the shit!
"I wasn't planning on staying at the house."

"You always stay at the family home when you are visiting. I'll not have it any other way," Angel replied, ending the conversation. "Matilda will be along with tea soon."

Rory wanted a stiff drink, but settled on a cup of tea like everyone else. She'd often wondered what it would be like to be home again and then she remembered why she hadn't returned in the first place.

Austin sat next to Rory, casually sipping her tea. When Mick smiled at her, she returned the gesture.
At least he seems nice. Those two look like they're itching to kill each other.
She thought, referring to Rory and her mother, who sat across from each other.

"I'm bushed from the flight. Do you mind if we continue this at dinner?" Rory was no longer in the mood to argue with her mother.

"I don't see why not. You two go get settled in."

Rory tipped her chin to Austin. They both stood and walked towards the staircase in the foyer. Halfway up, Rory turned to her. "I'm really sorry. I should've known it would be like this."

"It's not a problem, Rory. Your family seems nice."

"She's being civil because you're here. Trust me, it's not over yet and she's liable to give you the third degree before our trip is over."

"Oh," she replied, not knowing what to say. She knew nothing about Rory's family beyond the fact that they were obviously rich.

 They turned down the main hallway and found their luggage outside of two rooms that were opposite each other.

"You should be pretty comfortable in there. Let me know if you need anything. Matilda is a godsend; she'll help you out with Angel if we get separated while we're here. Trust me, I don't plan to be here the entire time. I'll appease her tonight, but tomorrow we're out of here."

"Okay. I think I'll study until it's time for dinner. I slept a lot on the plane."

"Sounds good. I need to set up my laptop and call the office. I'll do anything to keep her out of my hair."

Austin laughed. "Hey, Rory, uh…would… Do you think you could maybe show me around later?"

Rory chuckled. "It depends on how much time you have. This estate is nearly a hundred acres."

"Wow!"

"How about after dinner? I'll take you on the grand tour."

"Sounds great."

~ ~ ~

Dinner couldn't have gone by slower for Rory. She sat in ice cold silence and ate her three course meal while her mother tried desperately to talk to her. Mick did his best to intervene. Austin answered every one of the twenty questioned that Angel had asked her.

"I'm going to take Austin on a tour of the property and we'll probably been gone for a while, so I'll see you in the morning," Rory said to her mother and uncle.

"I would like to speak to you in the library before you step out, Rory," Angel replied.

Here we go.
"Sure. Austin, if you will excuse me. I'll come up and get you in a few minutes." Rory followed her mother into the spacious room with floor to ceiling shelves full of books. Angel walked over to a small glass and steel cart, pouring two glasses of Brandy from the sifter. She handed one to her daughter, and then sat down across from her in one of the antique leather chairs.

"You've hardly spoken to me since you blew-in." Angel sipped the warm liquid.

"What do you want me to say to you? Hi, how are you, how's life? I really don't care."

"Rory, I wish you weren't so hostile with me. Every time I speak to you, you're pissing vinegar."

"How would you prefer me to be?"

Angel sighed, sipping her Brandy. "I see your company is doing well."

"Did you expect it to fail?"

"I never said that. I have a prezzy for you."

"Why bother?"

"Rory Zane Eden, last Sunday was your birthday. That's a date I could never forget."

"You called, or rather had Uncle Mick call so I'd talk to you, wasn't that enough?"

"No, it's never enough. I haven't seen you in two and a half years."

"Whose fault is that?"

"You won't see me, Rory. What am I suppose to do? Then, when you finally blow-in out the blue, you have some new mate with you…"

"Don't even put her in this. She's a friend and in case you haven't noticed, I'm here on business."

"Why isn't Martie with you? I thought you two were…uh…"

"Martie is my best friend and the vice president of my company."

"Who is this girl, Austin?"

"She's…I really don't want to get into this with you. My life and my friends are none of your business."

"Here," Angel said, changing the subject and handing Rory a small box wrapped in silver and gold paper.

Rory opened the box. She was speechless as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"It was…" Angel started to speak, fighting back her own tears.

"I know…why now…after all this time?"

"He was your daddy. No one else will ever understand the bond between you and that man and you deserve to have it. He wore that pendant around his neck until the day he died. I'd fought with his family for years to get it for you. After uh…your grandmother sent it to me after the accident and the last time you were here all we did was fight. I guess I've been waiting for the right time when I saw you again to give it to you."

Rory took the heavy, solid gold Irish Celtic Cross out of the box. It was attached to a short gold rope chain. She closed her eyes and held it tightly in her hands.

"I know now's not the time to open the wounds of the past between us, but we really do need to talk, Rory."

"We will. I need some time."

"You look just like him. It's like looking at a ghost as you get older."

"I know. I'm starting to see him in the mirror looking back at me."

~ ~ ~

Austin walked around the foyer admiring all of the artwork. She hadn't noticed the man behind her until he spoke, startling her.

"Our parent's were big art collectors. Don't let it fool you, Angel and I are true-blue under all of this."

Austin smiled at him, not understanding a word he was saying to her.

"Come on, Angel won't let me light a lung-lolly in her house." He smiled, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

Ah, I get it. He's going outside to smoke. Does this place come with a translator?
Austin shook her head, following the man outside. He stood next to one of the large columns and lit his cigarette. "So, Rory tells me you're a surfie. Is that why she brought you?" he asked, offering her the pack.

Austin shook her head. "No thanks. I don't smoke. I do surf though. Rory's actually…"
Do I tell him she's training me? I better not start anymore drama here.
"We're friends and she invited me along to show me how things work at a pro competition."

"She's one hell of a surfie herself. Have you ever seen her in the water?"

"No, well I used to keep up with her back when she did surf. I was huge fan."
Still am.
 

"She's always been a lot more than just a wax-head, but she's a bit of a bushranger around here these days."

Austin smiled.
What the hell is he saying?

"You must be a pretty good mate for Rory to bring you into the blue between her and Angel."

"Lay off my mate, Uncle Mick. Is he being a ratbag?" Rory spoke as she walked out the front door. "I thought mum made you quit those."

"Yeah, pig's ass!" he replied.

Rory's eyes met Mick's and they both smiled. He stubbed out his cigarette and turned to go back inside. "We were just having a chin-wag. She's a ripper." He winked and smacked her arm.

"Yeah and you're a stickybeak," she called over her shoulder as he walked back inside. Austin stood there staring at Rory, wondering what the hell had just happened.

"Come on. You'll get the lingo down eventually," Rory said.

 They began walking towards the enormous garage on the side of the house. Rory punched in the code and the first bay opened up. A black Ford Model T Roadster was parked inside. Rory walked up to the car, opening the passenger door. She waved for Austin to get in, waiting as Austin scampered into the car. She admired the dark blue crushed velvet upholstery as Rory shut her door and walked around to the opposite side. Rory climbed in and turned the key. The old car sputtered to life.

"Rory, this is too cool!"

She met Austin's smile, shifting the car's three speed manual transmission into reverse and backing out of the garage. Then, she easily pushed in the clutch and slid it into first gear as they took off down the long driveway.

"I'm glad you like it." Rory said, driving along slowly.

"What year is it?"

"It's an original nineteen twenty six. It was my grandfather's. He gave it to me when I turned sixteen and he and I completely restored it.