5 Peppermint Grove (35 page)

Ruth smiled and let him hold her hand gently. They were getting closer as each day passed and she was loving every moment that they spent together.

“Fancy coming for a sleepover in Subiaco tonight?”

“Yes, please – and I have a treat planned for tomorrow night if you’re free.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Just going to bring you somewhere nice so you can dress up and let me spoil you.”

Ruth beamed. She had been so used to going only to places where Ian wouldn’t be spotted by his wife or her friends and now she was with a man who clearly wanted to show her off and, to top it all, he even wanted to meet her mother. Was she actually sitting with the love of her life?

Chapter Forty-five

Coco
’s restaurant had without comparison the best vantage point of the CBD and city skyscrapers at night. Brian had arranged a taxi to pick them up at Ruth’s and they took the last ferry crossing over from Barrack Street Jetty to the south side of the river. The sun was still in the sky but only just. It was the most romantic form of transport for a date.

Brian held out his hand and helped her onto the jetty when they arrived on the southside. The Bellhouse restaurant at the quayside was filling up and picnickers were lining the promenade along the river.

He didn’t let go of her hand for the short walk across the road and up the steps to Coco’s restaurant. It was a huge glass-fronted building with an
alfresco
veranda accommodating large round tables and some smaller more intimate ones. Each had a square parasol overhead.

Ruth looked back at where they had come from – the skyscrapers formed a beautifully symmetric pattern on the pond-still water. Twinkling lights added to the magic that surrounded them.

The maitre d’ was friendly and took them to their table which had a perfect view.

Brian was wearing a pale blue shirt and cream jeans. Ruth was pleased that she had an opportunity to wear her special white embroidered cocktail dress that she had only worn once before. It had been at
Dromoland Castle on the only weekend away that she’d had with Ian over the last three years. She felt confident that she would have plenty more opportunities to wear the dress, now that she was with Brian.

They scanned the menu and Brian ordered a bottle of champagne.

Ruth’s heart danced as he held her hand and kissed her fingertips. This was possibly going to be the best night of her life. 

They started the meal with some Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters and Ruth managed to keep any juice from splashing on her dress.

Brian recommended the Angus scotch beef and Ruth ordered it also.

“That was delicious!” she said when they’d finished. “Is this the best restaurant in
Perth?”

“Maybe – but it certainly has one of the nicest settings.”

“I’m so happy to be here. Selfish of me, maybe, considering what Julia is going through right now.”

“So how are things in
Dublin – how are they all after the terrible tragedy?”

“Oh, I don’t know what it must be like over there. Horrific, I would imagine. I do miss Julia though – we did so much together.”

“I’d say. But Julia’s loss is my gain. When is your mum coming over?”

“I’m expecting her next weekend.”

Brian sat upright. “Must be on my best behaviour then. What does she like to do?”

Ruth shrugged. “What a great question! I’m ashamed to say I don’t know. Now Julia’s mother likes to play bridge and go shopping – but my mum  – that’s difficult. She does keep a diary and I’ve often told her that she should write.”

“Maybe she’ll be inspired when she comes here.”

Ruth wasn’t so sure. “If you knew how she felt about
Perth in the seventies you certainly wouldn’t say that but then again you never know. I think there is something about telling your story and all Irish families have plenty of emigration stories.”

“My mum told me that I had Irish ancestors but I
never looked up my family tree – I guess I should.”

“There are websites now apparently that can make it easy for you. Especially if you have English ancestors.”

“I must look into that. You can help me.” He clinked his glass against hers.

The way that he spoke, making plans and including her in his, made her heart dance.

“Does your mum live in Perth?”

Brian lowered his head put his glass down solemnly. “My mum passed away a couple of years back.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks,” Brian said with sad nod. “I miss her so much. You see, I never met my father.”

“Is he still alive?”

“No, he passed away when I was six – he was . . . let’s just say he was no good for my mother. She was relieved when she heard that he had died because he used to bash her around. She was always afraid that he would come looking for me when I was little.”

“Oh, that’s so sad. I’m sorry. Have you any brothers or sisters?”

“No – my mum and I lived with my granny and grandpa when I was a kid. I’m an only child!”

Ruth felt her heart fill with emotion. She wanted to wrap her arms around Brian and love him forever.

Brian paid the bill and left a handsome tip. Ruth was utterly satisfied and feeling slightly merry after sharing a bottle of champagne and some beautiful Australian white wine.

“Would you like to go for a walk along the esplanade?”

“Sounds divine,” Ruth smiled. She felt a thrill as he took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly.

They ran across the road but settled into a stroll on reaching the esplanade.

“That was a fabulous meal!” she said.

“Come here early on a Friday and you’ll see all the local TV and media people having a long lunch.”

“There’s a restaurant in
Dublin like that – it’s called the Unicorn.”

“I’d like to go to
Dublin some day.”

“Well, why don’t you come with me when I go home? I don’t have any plans to go at the moment but maybe next year?”

“Great idea!”

Ruth was thrilled that he didn’t seem to flinch when she mentioned ‘next year’.

How different it was being with a man that you could make plans with – someone who regarded you as important! She didn’t think of Ian but she did think about all the time that she had wasted being second fiddle and she would never play that role again.

Brian wrapped his arm around her gently and they kissed now and then as they meandered along the water’s edge.

“I must come up to Karrinyup sometime and see your house. Are you near the beach?”

Brian stopped walking. “Eh, that’s kinda awkward at the moment.”

Ruth was puzzled – it had never occurred that it would be an issue. Surely if he was willing to meet her mother he could bring her to his home?

“Why is it awkward?”

Brian sighed deeply and turned to face Ruth, the lights from the CBD the only source helping her to see his expression and it was pained.

“Ruth, I’ve been putting off telling you this because I wanted to see where we were going and then you said something in King’s Park that worried me . . .”

Horror struck at Ruth’s core – what could he possibly be hiding from her? She felt numb but said nothing as she waited to hear.

“I share the house like I told you before but it’s a complicated house-share – you see, the person I’m sharing with is my wife.”

Ruth heard the word
wife
in slow motion – his lips moved and she heard the word like it was bellowed from a loudspeaker. Her head started to spin and she felt her flesh turn to jelly.

“But you told me that you weren’t married – I asked you!”

“Look, I know it sounds bad but we don’t get on – it’s been a terrible relationship for years . . .”

But Ruth was jogging away from him. He stood there stunned and then set off in pursuit. She was almost back at
Coco’s before he caught up with her but this prompted her to run faster and she darted on to Mends Street barely able to see through her tear-filled eyes. A taxi almost ran her over but she hardly noticed. She pulled at its door frantically and jumped in.

“Where to, sweetheart?”

“Subiaco – as quickly as you can.”

Brian was left standing at the side of the road watching in despair as Ruth was driven away. He dialled her number frantically – he had to explain the situation.

Ruth sat in the back of the cab, utterly deflated. Brian’s call came through but she fumbled with the buttons and switched her phone off. Her tears were choking her. The concerned taxi driver offered her a handkerchief which she took gratefully.

Brian had been too good to be true – and she had to ask herself why did she always attract married men? But Brian was worse than Ian or Steve because he had lied – she felt like the most gullible stupid woman on earth.

Chapter Forty-six

Julia was almost sorry that she hadn’t agreed to go out with Gillian that Saturday evening. She had been on more familiar terms with her since she’d given her more responsibility in the company and Gillian had risen to the challenges that came with them. But Julia felt her employee was overstepping her boundaries. Her obsession with Dylan was more than irritating and Julia did not feel right discussing her sister’s brother-in-law with a woman that wasn’t part of her family.

When Gillian had suggested earlier that week that they go out on Saturday night, Julia was quick to respond.

“I’m not in form for socialising yet – it’s been too soon since Craig passed away.” Julia felt that she was being generous but Gillian found it difficult to conceal her disappointment.

“Has Dylan got a girlfriend, do you know?” Gillian had pried further.

“It really is none of my business what he does with his private life,” Julia snapped, “but at the moment I think he’s in too much grief to be thinking of such things – much the same way as myself!”

Then she felt terrible as Gillian winced and skulked out of the office.

Julia was too emotional right now to deal with such stress and couldn’t understand her own emotions either. She was confused and all around her had changed dramatically since Christmas which – it was hard to believe – was only two short
months ago!

But now a long lonely evening stretched ahead. She decided to call Ruth – it had been a ridiculously long time since they had spoken and she needed to be cheered up.

Ruth was online so Julia quickly skyped her and waited to see her friend’s lovely face.

When Ruth came into view Julia was concerned. Her friend’s red puffy eyes and running nose were not what she’d expected to be greeted with.
Despite the fact that they were thousands of miles apart, Julia could feel her friend’s pain.

“Oh Ruth, what’s happened?”

“Julia, you must be fucking psychic – I’ve never needed a call so badly in my life. I’ve had it with bloody men – they are all the same – fucking bastards!”

Julia was startled to hear so many crude words in one sentence from her friend who never cursed.

“Ruth, you look like you’ve been crying forever – what is it – is it Ian?”

Ruth threw her head back and rolled her eyes indignantly. “Another fucking bastard – boy, do I pick ’em!”

“Who – what is going on?”

“You were right about Brian – he is a dead loss and wait for it – he’s married!”

“
Brian the architect?
”

“Yep – I’ve had a couple of dates with him and I put off telling you because I was so damn happy. That’s my fucking problem – what a dope I am! Do I have ‘
Come screw me, all ye married men!’
tattooed across my forehead?”

“He’s married?” said Julia, stupefied with amazement.

“Yep, and living with his lovely wife while he was screwing me and trying to screw you! What do I have to do to get a decent man, Julia?”

Julia was so shocked that she was glad of the time delay in their conversation. She really didn’t know how to console her friend.

“I think the world has gone crazy over the last couple of days. If you want to know how to get a man maybe you should take up bridge!”

“Huh?” Ruth squinted in to the screen to see if Julia was joking. “What’s bridge got to do with men?”

“Carol has gone and met herself a man – I swear, Ruth, we are hopeless cases – my mother has Gerry from Northern Ireland running up and down the country after her.”

Ruth wondered how Julia was coping with such a dramatic change in her mother.

“Are you okay about it?”

Julia smiled and nodded. “You know, after all that has happened to us since Christmas I feel like just saying ‘Bring it on!’ – I mean, what can happen next?”

Ruth shrugged. “I can’t say but I do know that I’m a disaster when it comes to men.”

“Looks like we both are. And, by the way, Dylan has practically moved in with Odette.”