The Lawson Boys: Alex (4 page)

“Yeah.” Paul
looked soberly at Alex. “You’re right. I’d forgotten about
that.”

“I
haven’t.”

“I’m not
surprised. You always chose her amongst the first when we played
team games, when she was there, that is.” Paul scratched his chin
thoughtfully. “Reckon you always had a soft spot for Harly.”

“In some ways
she reminded me of Cindy.”

“Your sister?”
Paul guffawed. “Not freakin’ likely! Cindy would punch you if you
didn’t choose her to be on your team. That girl didn’t know the
meaning of the word ‘shy’ or ‘self-conscious’.”

“That hasn’t
changed,” Alex said dryly.

“Heard she
collared the Playboy Vet.”

“They’re
getting married in a couple of months.”

“True? Will you
still be on leave then?”

Alex shook his
head. “Probably be back in Afghanistan.”

Paul looked
curiously at him. “You ever want to give up the Army?”

“No. I like it
too much.”

“Dangerous
work.”

“I could be all
manly and say, with quiet dignity, of course-”

“Of
course.”

“That I’m
fighting for our honour and freedom.” Alex grinned widely. “Oh,
sorry, that’s what I
am
doing.”

“You are so
modest!” Paul reached across the space and clinked his can against
Alex’s. “So humble.”

“So
sensitive.”

“That’s
bullshit.”

“I’m hurt.”

“That’s not
proof at all.” Laughing, Paul nodded towards the car that pulled up
in the driveway. “Looks like Jack and Will have arrived. Time to be
the dutiful host.”

“You mean you
don’t just throw raw snaggers and tinnies at the guests as they
pass you?”

“Becky has been
partially successful at civilizing me.”

“Girl needs a
medal.”

“I reward her
most nights.” Paul leered. “And days if I call in.”

“Not that
civilized, then.”

“Parts of the
wild-man me she does like.”

“I think I’ve
heard enough.”

Jack and Will
came up onto the veranda bearing an esky between them.

“Brought extra
drinks,” Jack said cheerfully.

“A mix of beer
and soft drinks, just as Becky ordered.” Will pulled a face.
“Though why anyone would want soft drink at a BBQ, I’ll never
know.”

“Yeah, I wonder
why,” Jack retorted dourly.

“Let me guess,”
Paul said, opening the front door to let them proceed him inside.
“You both tossed to see who the designated driver was tonight and
Jack lost.”

“Soft drink
man.” Jack shook his head in disgust. “And you can be sure Becky
will do everything but give me a breathalyser test at the front
gate before we leave.”

“She’s a
stickler for no drinking and driving,” Paul informed Alex.

“Wise girl.”
Alex held up his Coke can. “I’m driving tonight, so I’ll be
sticking to soft drink.”

“Driving?”
Paul’s eyebrows rose.

“Taking Harly
home, remember?”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Paul’s lips
pursed thoughtfully. “Reaeeeeally?”

“Yeeeeeeah.”

Paul grinned.
“You dog.”

“Just being
polite.”

“Right.” Paul
elbowed him in the side and chuckled. “Woof woof!”

“I’ll muzzle
you in a minute.”

Another car
bearing four occupants saved Alex from Paul’s sly digs, and he was
busy greeting the two men and women he’d known from years before
when he’d come on holiday.

Another two
people arrived before Paul led him out to the backyard where the
BBQ was already fired up, and Becky immediately collared Alex,
handing him an apron and tongs.

“If memory
serves me correctly, you do a mean sausage on the barbie.”

“I thought I
was the guest of honour?” Alex slid the neck tie over his head.

“Nothing is for
free.” Becky grinned. “Work for your supper, boy.”

“You’re a hard
taskmaster.”

“Don’t worry,
I’ve commandeered you an assistant.” Becky waved to where Harly was
coming through the back door with a tray of raw meat.

Harly chose
that moment to look up, and in the soft glow of the back light her
eyes shimmered with shadowed secrets.

Secrets he
meant to expose, to get her to confess.

This was as
good a chance as any to get her to relax, right before he sprung
the trap.

Smiling at her,
he crossed over to the BBQ amid the cheers of his friends. Tapping
the tongs on the hot iron plate, he announced, “The cooking has
begun!”

“It will once
you actually get the meat on,” Will yelled.

“You wanted
your steak charred, right?”

The comaradie
among the group was easy as they sat at the two wooden tables that
had been placed against each other. The backyard was well-lit, the
potted plants adding greenery to the veranda. The leaves of the two
big trees in the backyard rustled in the gentle night breeze.

It was
peaceful.

His attention
was diverted by Harly appearing at his side, the tray of raw meat
in her hands. The breeze couldn’t stir a hair on her head due to
her firm ponytail, but the ends of that ponytail swayed with her
every step.

“How do you
want to do this?”

“Pardon?” He
looked from her ponytail to her face.

She looked up
at him, the brilliance of her eyes caught in the lights. It didn’t
take a genius to recognise the wariness in those eyes, and he
mentally cursed himself for putting her on guard.

Or maybe she
was just as intuitive as Paul; though that was one trait he didn’t
remember her having in the past.

Smiling easily,
he tapped the iron BBQ plate. “Let’s do sausages on one side, and…”
He bent down a little to see what else was on the tray. “Chops on
the other side.”

“Okay.” Using
her fingertips, she quickly placed the meat as instructed and
immediately the smell of meat hitting the hot plate filled the air,
the sizzle a welcome sound.

When she went
to move away, he placed one hand at her waist. “Where are you
going? I thought you were my assistant.”

“I am. I’m just
getting a clean tray to put the cooked meat on.” She moved away
quickly.

Too
quickly.

Hiding the
frown that threatened to slide across his face, Alex instead smiled
as Shaun and Stacey approached.

“Good to see
you, man.” Shaun gave him a firm handshake.

“Long time.”
Stacey stood up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Too long. You need to
come back more often.”

“I try.” Alex
flashed an easy grin as he rearranged the chops on the hotplate. “I
find that trying to divide time between home and work cuts back on
other things.”

“So what brings
you back here now?”

“Just visiting,
having a little R&R.”

“Reckon things
have changed much?”

“You’re all
older.” Alex winked.

Stacey punched
him on the arm. “Not polite.”

“I can see that
hasn’t changed.” Alex rubbed his arm. “You never did punch like a
girl.”

Grinning, she
flexed her arm to show a play of well-toned, feminine muscle. “I do
kick-boxing and weights.”

“Gym junkie
like Marty.”

“Your brother
still hits the gym?”

“Ever since you
told him what a scrawny bloke he was the last time he came down
here with me.”

“He
was
scrawny.”

“He didn’t
think so.”

“So I gather
he’s still a bit of a conceited jerk?”

Alex
laughed.

“Answer
enough,” she said.

“So,” Shaun
said. “What’s it like overseas?”

“Define
overseas,” Alex replied, being deliberately obtrusive. “It’s a big
place.”

“Afghanistan.”

“Hot and
dusty.”

“And
dangerous.”

“Yep.” Not
wanting to discuss it, he inspected the chops and glanced around.
“Where’s my assistant?”

A warm presence
was suddenly on his other side, a clean tray held out. “Here,”
Harly stated.

“Guess you
don’t have many BBQs in Afga,” Shaun continued.

“Not really,”
Alex said.

“Be a worry, I
suppose.” Shaun shook his head. “Takes a brave man to go over there
and face what you’re facing.”

Uncomfortable
with the turn of the conversation, but used to being questioned,
Alex just shrugged.

“So, Stacey,”
Harly drawled, “Manage to talk Shaun into letting you have a baby
yet?”

“No.” Stacey
sent a glower in Shaun’s direction.

For the first
time, Alex noticed the wedding ring on their fingers. “When did you
two get married?”

“Awhile ago.
Long enough to have a baby,” Harly answered.

“See?” Stacey
sighed. “Even our friends think it’s time to have a baby.”

“Thanks,
Harly,” Shaun growled. “Thanks a lot.” He walked away with Stacey
right behind him talking about having a baby.

Alex watched as
Harly turned back to the BBQ with a small smile on her face.
“Thanks.”

She shrugged.
“No worries. Shaun doesn’t always know when to stop asking
questions.”

“Everyone is
curious, it’s natural.” Alex grimaced. “But I don’t always like to
talk about it. I’m here for R&R, not to rehash what’s happening
over there.” He hesitated before adding, “And I have to be careful
what I say.”

“All the more
reason to change the subject,” she said. “How long are you planning
on staying?” Her gaze remained on his hands as he deftly put the
last sausage and chop on the tray.

“A week or
so.”

“Oh.”

“Maybe more.”
He couldn’t gauge her reaction, not when she kept looking down.

“That’s nice.”
She turned away. “I’ll get the next lot of meat and the
onions.”

“We’ll have to
meet and have coffee while I’m here,” he added.

Her pause was
brief but unmistakable. “Sure.”

Yeah
,
Alex thought, watching her return to the veranda and put the meat
on the table to the accompaniment of delighted cheers.
Sure
.
And I have a feeling you’ll avoid it. You, Harly Bentley, are
walking on eggshells around me. And so you should be.

To his rescue
she undoubtedly had come, but it didn’t change the facts of why he
was in Whicha.

More
acquaintances from his school days came up, effectively cutting off
any further conversation with Harly as she busied herself
collecting the cooked meat and helping Becky set the table.

By the time
Alex took his seat, it was to find that Harly was seated at the
opposite end of the table. Chatting to those sitting nearest him,
Alex was able to cast a glance her way now and again while looking
around the table.

Harly laughed
and joked with those around her, and he marvelled at how she’d
changed. A shy child and teenager, she appeared to now be at total
ease with herself, confident, something she’d obviously developed
as she’d matured. He admired that, wondering at the same time how
far that confidence went, if she was as confident in every aspect
of her life.

In the
bed
. No sooner had that thought trespassed into his mind than
he frowned and thrust it away.

“You okay?”

He glanced
around to see Paul watching him in concern. “Fine, why?”

“You didn’t
look really happy about something you were thinking.” Paul studied
the faces at the table, trying to see who’d had Alex’s
attention.

“It was
nothing.” Observing Paul’s searching gaze, Alex added, “The Jeep
was acting up a bit on the way here.”

“Really?” That
immediately drew Paul’s attention.

“I checked it
at a service station,” Alex replied hurriedly, wary of the
anticipation that lit up his friend’s face. “Nothing, and it’s been
fine since.”

“Still, it
should be looked into.” Paul tapped the table with one finger.
“Book it into the workshop and-”

“It’s fine.
Honestly.”

“Just to be
safe-” His words were cut off by Becky’s hand coming over his
shoulder to clap over his mouth.

“He said it’s
fine.” Becky shook her head at Alex over her husband’s head. “I
swear, do
not
let Paul get his hands on your engine or it’ll
never go again.”

“Hey!” Paul
pulled her hand from his mouth amidst hoots from his friends. “I
own a mechanic shop, lady.”

“Owning and
knowing are two different things,” Jack said.

“Amen.” Will
nodded.

“Listen here,
I’m the boss-”

“And we’re the
workers.” Jack leaned forward. “
Workers.
The
mechanics
.”

“I’ve never
broken a car engine yet,” Paul stated.

“Never got one
to work, either,” Becky said.

Hooking his arm
around her waist, Paul yanked her around and onto his lap. As she
shrieked, he leered. “I get
your
engine going every time.”
And he kissed her soundly and deliberately loudly.

Becky struggled
in Paul’s arms, but it was very clear she wasn’t trying very hard
to escape.

The guests
hooted and whistled, and laughing, Alex looked down the table to
see Harly smiling.

At least, her
lips were smiling, but her eyes held a hint of…wistfulness?

At that precise
second her gaze shifted and caught his, and the wistfulness was
gone so fast that he wondered if he’d imagined it. As he looked at
her, the sound of the laughter and teasing vanished into the
background.

The years
seemed to slip away to another time, another night, and a lonely
teenager in tears. Tears that had touched his heart and made him do
something he’d never otherwise have done.

Abruptly Harly
looked away, breaking the spell, and Alex blinked and sucked in a
deep breath, his mind clearing instantly.

He’d never have
done it, it would never have happened, and the subsequent results
would never have unfolded in secret. But he’d found out, and now he
was here to get the answers. Answers only Harly had, and he’d get
them from her.