Ember Flowers Read online

  They sailed around the cove, with Jean pointing out landmarks as they traded turns at the wheel. When they slowed down, the gardener would take time to explain what the different ropes and fixtures did. Joanne nodded, taking mental notes.

  Presently, her hands were rested on the wheel, steering them around a couple of nautical miles offshore. Jean stood beside her and pointed her toward a leafy looking part of the bay dotted with picturesque scenery.

  “Hungry Jo?” She hadn’t even noticed that she’d abbreviated her name.

  The blonde had, however. “Sure Jean, do we need to do anything?”

  Another grin. “Nope, swing into that flat bit of water over there and we’ll drop anchor.”

  She found herself smiling too, she was feeling confident, the sun was shining. The boat slipped through the water like a graceful bird.

  ***

  The older woman dangled her legs over the back of the boat. The blonde was looking through the cooler and setting lunch aside for the both of them. A cold can of diet soda was passed to the brunette, along with a plate loaded with suspiciously healthy looking contents.

  Jean rested her sunglasses beside her, and found Jo doing the same. The policewoman joined her, they watched the blue ripples move along the tide.

  The dark eyes met hers as Jo pointed to different things. “Coleslaw, salad, grilled chicken.” Jo moved her lunch around with a fork.

  “Like to live healthy, don’t you?”

  A nod because her mouth was full. Jo swallowed. “Yes, it helps me relax, time in the gym, running some mornings.”

  “Fair point.” A mouthful of food, a sip of her drink.

  “So what do you do on an average day Jean?” The grey eyes looked blue with the sky reflected in them.

  She placed her plate to the side, taking a few sips of the icy cold beverage. The day had grown warmer.

  “I wake up early and feed the horses, then I get organised and make the daily commute. After that, it’s all shrubbery and shovels.”

  The blonde smiled gently as she watched the waves. “Horses huh? How many?”

  “Two, both girls. Recent additions.”

  A nod as she took a bite of chicken, musing as she stared out at the waves. “I always wanted to ride, so much of the countryside is beautiful, just waiting to be explored.”

  “That’s what I thought, besides, the two of them keep each other company when I’m not there, and there are worse places for an animal like that to get around.”

  Jean leant her elbow on a bent knee. It was tempting to jump into that cool refreshing water. The horizon stretching out into a sparkling carpet of crystal blue.

  “And yourself Joanne? When you’re not out saving the world?”

  The blonde looked at her with a droll raised brow. Her life was pretty busy at the moment just getting by. “Huh. Saving the world? No. Well, at the moment I’m looking for a new place. That’s more time consuming that I thought.” She skewered a piece of chicken with her fork.

  “I see, well, there’s a lot out there, are you renting at the moment?”

  Downcast eyes and a scowl. “No, I own, but I want to get rid of it. Find somewhere new.”

  “Ah. Need a change of scenery?”

  A tussle of her pony tail as she shook her head. She wasn’t sure why she was telling her this. Her gentle eyes just seemed to make her look like she’d understand.

  “No. My ex.” She didn’t elaborate, she was by nature, guarded.

  “Ah.” A nod of understanding.

  She slipped her sunglasses on to hide the look in her eyes. It was too nice a day to be miserable. “Ever been married, Jean?”

  A barely audible sigh, the older woman got up and busied herself. “Once.”

  They pulled up anchor, sensing conversation was over.

  ***

  A few hours were well spent in good company, expert hands guided the boat back into the slip. The blonde looked on, impressed.

  “Thanks again Jean, this was much more fun than I anticipated.”

  A little smirk bedded in olivey skin. “You weren’t expecting it to be fun?”

  “Well, no I didn’t say that..”

  Jean chuckled. “C’mon, it wasn’t that bad, gotta relax Jo.”

  She found herself smiling, she seemed to do that around the older woman. She looked at her watch. “Damn. I gotta go. Jean, thanks again, I really did enjoy myself.”

  The brunette looked back at her with a pleased grin, lifting her sunglasses. “Anytime.”

  A last glance and the blonde was jogging athletically back toward her car, her feet barely skimming the boardwalk. Hands full. Already late, she hadn’t realised the time.

  Jean turned around to see her go. “Wait! Jo you forgot your phone!”

  Chapter 9

  Jean got back to the house with Jo’s phone in hand, she sat it down on the night stand by the fireplace, concerned, just looking at it.

  She had no real way of contacting her to give it back, she was aware of how important a phone was to a policewoman. Perhaps Jo would call her?, her details were on the card.

  As she got up to get herself a coffee, she heard it go off, vibrating across the varnished wooden surface. For a moment she just looked at it, she didn’t want to invade Joanne’s privacy, but the thought did occur to her that perhaps it was Joanne calling using a different phone. Maybe Jo thought she had lost it somewhere and was ringing to see if it was active? Maybe she thought it was at the bottom of the ocean?

  She frowned as she picked it up, turning the cover over in her hands, a lacquered deep red. A picture of a blue eyed man appeared on the screen, ‘Owen’.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello? Who is this? Where’s Jo?”

  “Hi, sorry, I’m not Jo - she forgot her phone, I was actually waiting for her to call so I can give it back.”

  “…”

  “Hello?”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m a friend of hers, well..yeah I suppose a friend of hers. Listen, she’s not here, but I’ll try to give her phone back as soon as I can. Maybe try her on another number?”

  The call abruptly hung up. Perhaps Owen had a bad day. She shrugged her shoulders dismissively.

  She waited by the fire, sitting on a leather sofa, the balmy night was calling to her outside. She took her cup and sat outside on the porch for a while, just listening to frogs and crickets. When she came back in the phone hadn’t rung. She’d been listening for the noise. An annoyed frown. Jean knew Jo was going to be at that race event tomorrow, but she really didn’t want to intrude. She had little choice.

  The poster said six thirty a.m. at the marina where she took her for her lesson. She would hopefully catch the policewoman then, could swing by and give her the device on the way through to the job site. Hopefully Jo wouldn’t mind.

  ***

  Jean hummed along to 70’s rock as she sat waiting in traffic, it was early, earlier than she normally got in the car. Luckily she was avoiding most of the peak hour congestion. The drive from her home was pleasant enough. Down the crunching gravel drive, and an easy turn onto the curved road. From there a blanket of trees covered the hills, sometimes enveloped in morning dew and mist if it got cold enough. It was late November, the dew had long been replaced by a dry heat, it made for spectacular colours at dawn.

  From there, the trees thinned out into paddocks and vineyards, turned gold by the summer sun, the vines swollen with fruit.

  Eventually, the city, and currently, she waited at a slow set of lights. Fingertips drummed the wheel along with the beat. She turned onto the coastal road, it would take her to the marina. Jo seemed like the punctual type. She’d arrived here yesterday ahead of time. With any luck she’d be there early. Hopefully she could give her the phone and be on her way. She looked out at the calm water and sighed to herself.

  The marina elongated out from the end of the road, running along the bank, the car park was pocketed at the end. She felt a flutter of nostalgia.
There were a handful of diehard sailors already walking the boardwalk some distance away. A couple of cars. But for this time of the morning there was little activity. Jean could see Jo’s car. It looked as though she was the first one here amongst her colleagues. As predicted, she was here early, she could give her the phone, perhaps say hello, then be on her way.

  The scene she interrupted was the last thing she expected to see. She pulled into the car park a few bays away, and quickly threw her seat belt aside, leaving the engine running.

  “Hey!!”

  Whoever he was he had her bailed up against the door of her own car, and was clamping her wrists with rough hands. Jo was struggling, her low voice growling threats through gritted teeth. A pink mark had welted on her arm, he was gripping her so tightly.

  He looked up and let go as Jean approached, tense all over with a dark look on his face.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She tried to seem bigger, louder than she really was. Her own voice was unfamiliar in her ears.

  He glowered, looking back and forth between them. He’d never been sprung before.

  “Mind your own business.” Joanne’s wrists were released and she rubbed the sore skin with a baleful look.

  “I am, leave her alone.”

  “Jean..?” An embarrassed look from the policewoman pleaded with her to leave.

  He was looking her over suspiciously. Jean saw the emblem on his t-shirt lapel. A shield..another cop.

  He took a step toward Jean, as she stood by the rear of the white sedan, Jo’s arm shot out to stop him but he pushed it away. He must have meant to intimidate her. He would be too smart to leave a mark, and soon the car park would be full of cops.

  “Like I said, fuck off. Nothing to see.” The tendon in his jaw bunching.

  She knew if he swung that would be the end of her, she couldn’t fight her way out of a wet paper bag. Jo seemed to be in shock, or utterly embarrassed beyond words, perhaps both. She had to think quickly.

  “Jo? Come with me?”

  Grey eyes flitted between her and the imposing figure.

  “Jo, c’mon? Lets go get coffee.” At least an exit avoided further confrontation.

  The blonde seemed frozen, then she caught her breath and straightened, until he turned to her. “We aren’t done talking.”

  Jean answered for her. She’d never seen her look like this, not that she knew her well. “Yes you are. C’mon Jo?”

  A trailer load of tools, some of which looked more menacing than they were bolstered her bravado. It was all hot air, but he’d made enough of a scene. If it came down to it, she could make one too. Other cars were pulling into the parking area. The tall woman gave him one last glare as she rounded the bumper. Hopefully her car would be in once piece when she got back.

  ***

  The blonde stared out the window silently as Jean drove. The older woman looked between her new friend and the road.

  A hesitant voice, not sure what to say. “You want to talk about it?”

  A shake of a blonde head, half a hand cupped over her mouth. Jean wasn’t sure if she was crying.

  Silence for a few moments. Obviously it was something Jo hadn’t wanted anyone to see, and was doing her best to contain. Jean could see her retreating.

  She pulled into a car park of a small street side restaurant, under the shade of a tree away from the road. A pull of the hand brake, Jo was looking out the window, probably trying to compose herself.

  “I take it you know that guy?”

  The policewoman wouldn’t look at her, her voice was softer than Jean had heard her speak before. Usually so confident and business like. The Officer’s usual self assurance eluded her now. “Ex husband.”

  Jean sighed. “I can see why you’re no longer together.”

  A sniffle from the passenger seat. Jean reached across the blonde’s lap across to the glove box, pulling out a travel pack of tissues.

  “Thanks.” Jo dabbed at her eyes.

  Brown eyes looked even softer under long delicate lashes. The policewoman looked at her then looked away, shaking her head. “I just had to start something, he wanted to talk..” She blamed herself, he had a way of making her feel it was for her own good. She knew deep down it wasn’t the truth.

  Jean unclipped her belt and turned toward her, not sure what she could do to comfort the younger woman in what was obviously a very distressing situation. A situation she had been pulled into, she had no idea.

  “Jo?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you need anything? A place to stay? Money?”

  “No..it’s OK. I just need a minute.”

  “OK.” She reached out and gently rubbed her shoulder.

  “So he won’t take no for an answer? I noticed you don’t wear a ring?”

  Jo looked down at her hand, her nails were painted a translucent pink.

  “No, I told him I wanted a divorce. Months ago..it’s just..“ She looked over at the older woman who was nodding, just listening.

  “God, I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this. I’m so sorry Jean, this is so embarrassing.”

  “It’s OK. Nothing to be embarrassed about.” No judgement in her eyes, just concern.

  Jean looked over Jo’s shoulder, sensing the blonde just needed a moment to breathe. “Listen, would you feel better if I got you something? Coffee? Tea?”

  “Tea please. Black, one sugar.”

  She smiled sadly. “Right, health nut. OK, be back in a minute.”

  The older woman got out and Jo watched her disappear into the building. She took a moment to wipe her eyes. It was so humiliating. Owen had gotten rough with her before, but never had it been witnessed by someone else.

  The stupid thing was she spent time telling women not to tolerate behaviour like this. It made her feel like a hypocrite, telling battered women to seek help, not to stand for it. But that was work, when her walls were up. The mask of a confident strut and the shining badge. But when it was so close to home, it was easy hide herself away, to rationalise excuses for it. This latest outburst would only make things worse.

  A creak and a dull clank and the brunette settled back into the driver’s seat, passing her a cardboard cup.

  “Careful. Hot.” A caring tone, watching her take a sip.

  “Thanks.”

  Jean watched the cars go by. Morning peak hour. Soon Scott would be calling and asking where she was. She pulled out her phone and tapped out a quick text.

  Jo had noticed. “Jean, I’m sorry, you probably need to get to work, and I’m bothering you with this. Take me back and I’ll let you get on with your day.” That reminded Jean why she was there in the first place, she pointed to Jo’s phone sitting in the centre console, it was retrieved with a relieved sigh.

  Jean smiled gently. “Was just telling Scott I’m with a client, that I’ll be late - he won’t bother me this way. Take all the time you need.” Her phone went back into her denim pocket.

  Bunched blonde brows. “So I’m making you lie for me now too? Great.”

  A snicker. “No, just a very..casual use of the truth. Maybe I can talk you into doing your house or something? Then technically you’d be a client.” She looked away as Jo watched her. “No, if I said I was in the car with you he’d want photos so..” Jean tried to make her smile.

  A shake of a blonde head and a faint grin despite her mood. Tapping her nails on the door. An amusing thought came to mind.

  “You know I overheard you that time, right?”

  Jean cringed, pulling her sunglasses on, to help hide the blush, a rosy tint on her light olive skin. “I thought you might have. You must get that all the time?”

  A raise of a brow. “Not as often as you probably think. People are usually intimidated, or they think they know me before I even say anything.”

  “I understand, their loss. You’re a good person Jo.”

  The blond felt herself feeling flushed. “Thanks.”

  Jean looked at the folde
d tissue in the younger woman’s hand, the somber mood returned. “Why don’t you get a restraining order?”

  Another sigh. “He’s aggressive sometimes Jean. But not all the time. It’s just because I’ve been blowing him off.”

  “That’s no excuse to put your hands on someone.” Jo thought she heard a little fire in the older woman’s voice. She obviously felt strongly about it. Her new friend had stepped in when she could have just driven away.

  “He’s a cop too Jean, and..well..he could make life very difficult for me.”

  “Why?”

  A deep breath, she rested her arm on the upholstered door, fingers playing with the lock. “Because no matter what I do, he’ll always be my daughter’s father.”

  Chapter 10

  She sat outside, long legs under a small table. The other chair had been broken. Destroyed during some fight that replayed in perfect clarity like the others. Exhausting. The grass was dying in her yard. It had been a week since she’d been back here. No one had watered. Her thoughts dwelled on yesterday. Owen. Angry blue eyes, spittle in her face. Their trip in Jean’s car.

  She’d spent all night tossing and turning. A restless mind that didn't sleep.

  The gardener had dropped her off here once she felt settled. Jo needed a moment to gather her thoughts, to wash her face. Then she headed back out to the marina. She wouldn’t let him ruin that for her. The experience with Jean had been fun. It would be good to go out on the water again. He’d been on another vessel throughout the day, that was a relief at least. Competing precincts. It was unfortunate that he knew her habits. Knew she would be there early.

  The Sergeant left quickly once the event was over, not giving him a chance to upset her again. He was staying away, no calls on her phone. Relief for the moment, worry for what would undoubtedly be coming. She was glad to have her phone back, but had seen the thirty second call in her history. Probably her friend thinking it was her. If she’d talked to Owen, she probably owed her an apology for that experience too.