Georgie Harvey and John Franklin Collection

Chapter 18

Georgie lay with her hands behind her head. A smile unfurled, then dropped. She chewed her bottom lip.

Fear for Ruby, curiosity about Roly, connection with Susan; these had merged into a primal need for the most basic comfort of s*x. Indeed, amazing s*x. Did that make her amoral? Did it matter?

Her hands slid under the doona and over her body, reviving the night before.

The front door banged. She met him in the hallway. An aura of cold air clung to his clothes and hair, along with tinges of beer and aftershave. He wound his footy scarf around her nape, drew her close. They melted into each other and kissed, their tongues probing. He pushed her against the wall, pinned her arms wide. Intense hazel eyes stripped her n***d. Her hot n*****s stood erect. Their breaths were ragged. Impatient fingers tore off clothing that dropped to the floor. His sweater, her black turtleneck, his blue jeans entangled with her moleskins. His sleeveless grey T-shirt pulled against his chest and hard biceps. As his fingers traced her belly, his cold bracelet shocked her skin. Her breasts swelled inside the lacy black b*a. She almost came when his lips trapped a n****e; he nipped and teased. He lifted her by the arse so she straddled his hips. As her legs circled his back, he thrust inside. Like a first liaison, the s*x was hard and fast and virtually wordless, though far from quiet. They moved instinctively. It was animal, orgasmic, perfect.

The front door banged. She met him in the hallway. An aura of cold air clung to his clothes and hair, along with tinges of beer and aftershave. He wound his footy scarf around her nape, drew her close. They melted into each other and kissed, their tongues probing. He pushed her against the wall, pinned her arms wide. Intense hazel eyes stripped her n***d. Her hot n*****s stood erect. Their breaths were ragged. Impatient fingers tore off clothing that dropped to the floor. His sweater, her black turtleneck, his blue jeans entangled with her moleskins. His sleeveless grey T-shirt pulled against his chest and hard biceps. As his fingers traced her belly, his cold bracelet shocked her skin. Her breasts swelled inside the lacy black b*a. She almost came when his lips trapped a n****e; he nipped and teased. He lifted her by the arse so she straddled his hips. As her legs circled his back, he thrust inside. Like a first liaison, the s*x was hard and fast and virtually wordless, though far from quiet. They moved instinctively. It was animal, orgasmic, perfect.She moaned.

‘Was it as good for you as it was for me?’ AJ asked, in his Bogart–Casablanca voice from the doorway.

Georgie grinned. ‘Maybe. But I vote we practise more.’

‘Raincheck, kid.’

Sometimes he went too far with the Bogart thing.

‘Some of us have to work.’

She bridled, as he’d intended. ‘Writing is working.’

is ‘Sure, sure. I bet you play all day instead of writing.’

‘No, I don’t,’ she lied. It was only a little white lie.

He dug through the wardrobe. ‘So what’s on the agenda today?’

I was hoping you wouldn’t ask.

I was hoping you wouldn’t ask.Six years ago they’d had a fling at the law firm – literally at the firm. They’d been on-again, off-again since and had cohabited here in Richmond for the past three years. AJ then to now had become more responsible and oppressed by his parents’ expectations and the conservative men’s club of law. He’d be up in arms over her first search at Abergeldie and her borrowing of Susan’s effects, let alone a return trip. Even her promise to Michael wouldn’t count. AJ’d say it’s black and white: none of her business.

Ruby and Michael filled the terrible gap left by her dad and Grandma Harvey, and she hated to think about their mortality. So if they were worried about Susan, it was her business.

was Georgie frowned.

With her neighbour in intensive care, she couldn’t ask the myriad pressing questions. What happened to Roly? Who was this secret admirer, Jack, and how did he fit in? Had Ruby recalled the names of friends or siblings? Could she elaborate on the disturbance that preceded Susan ringing off?

AJ tilted his head. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Just thinking about Ruby. And Michael.’

He nodded. Concern flooded his face as he stripped to shower. She liked what she saw.

‘So what’s on today?’ he asked again.

Damn. Thought I’d side-tracked him.

Damn. Thought I’d side-tracked himShe rolled over and mumbled, ‘Oh, not much.’ That wasn’t a little white lie but a black one.

‘Must be nice being a lady of leisure.’

Georgie exclaimed ‘Huh’ on rote. Yet, for all AJ’s teasing, he sympathised with the pressures of sometimes unreasonable deadlines and the tedium of bread-and-butter work. He knew her writer’s dreams and the challenges.

She flipped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. If all she’d amount to as a writer was scribe and editor of mind-numbing works, maybe they should try for another baby.

She squirmed, inside and out. The motherhood idea freaked Georgie and explained why the recent loss of their unplanned baby sparked confused reactions of relief and grief in her, whereas AJ grew more determined to get married and try again.

Qualms about the birth and not being blindly in love with her kid were small concerns compared with her real fears.

I drink, smoke, swear and speed too much. And like AJ says, I get one-track-minded about whatever I think’s important at the time. What if I forgot all about my kid and didn’t pick it up from day-care or something?

I drink, smoke, swear and speed too much. And like AJ says, I get one-track-minded about whatever I think’s important at the time. What if I forgot all about my kid and didn’t pick it up from day-care or something?The picture was too vivid, and Georgie felt a wrench of guilt.

See, I’m not cut out for it. Ask me again in five or ten years.

See, I’m not cut out for it. Ask me again in five or ten years.Did they have five or ten years?

If they ditched all talk of weddings and nappies, would the old Georgie and AJ reappear? Would they fall back in sync? Could they regain the closeness they used to enjoy but lately she shared with Bron, Livia and even Matty? Might AJ shed his conformity and appreciate that her defiance, unpredictability and dedication to her current project were exactly what he used to admire in her?

Georgie and AJToo many unknowns.

Too many unknowns.Georgie closed her eyes and resolved to pick up her game and make this the year she got noticed as a real writer.

‘Already dreaming about your lazy day?’ AJ chuckled. He snapped her legs with his towel.

She sighed in relief when he didn’t press the point, forcing another lie. Instead, he donned suit and tie and joined other commuters in their rush to work, many afflicted by acute Mondayitis.

Under the shower, she reflected smugly. Despite its Big Dipper ride in emotion and income, freelancing ousted dread of the first day of the working week. Periodically, it was more akin to play than work. Not that she’d ever admit it to AJ.

was Daylesford topped the day’s agenda. But before that, Georgie made a call.

‘Mrs Padley is in a serious but stable condition.’ The ICU ward nurse was helpful but professional, saying the requisite minimum. ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but visits are limited to immediate family at this stage. Perhaps in a few days. Yes, I believe her husband is with her. Of course, you’re more than welcome to call again.’

‘Mrs Padley is in a serious but stable condition.’‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but visits are limited to immediate family at this stage. Perhaps in a few days. Yes, I believe her husband is with her. Of course, you’re more than welcome to call again.’While her fingers were in the mood, Georgie tried Abergeldie. As before, the call rang out.

She sat on the back step with coffee mug and cigarette and contemplated the complexity of life. Around her, Molly played solo soccer, Phoebe groomed herself in readiness for a cat nap, and a russet leaf fluttered down to soak in a puddle.

Clearly it was people who made life complicated: relationships, ambition, greed, even—or especially—s*x. That was the crap that cluttered things.

She retrieved the Spider from next door and headed for Daylesford. Facts and images churned in Georgie’s brain during the long drive.

Ruby’s heart attack triggered by anxiety for her missing friend.

A community that turned on Roly after he vanished, with many of them believing him capable of assaulting his wife, of embezzlement, of a double life as a secret agent or bigamist.

Georgie’s impression that he and Susan were kind-hearted souls.

Her growing angst for the missing woman.

Missing woman. When did I make that jump?

Missing woman. When did I make that jump?