Page 45 of Taking the Heat

The door saved me. A series of gentle knocks sent my team into a frenzy.

‘She’s not ready!’

‘What’ll we do?’

‘Oh god! Oh god!’

Mama Ruby sorted us all out. ‘Quick, girly, into the bathroom with you. Get changed and we’ll let your feller in.’

‘Thanks, Mama,’ I murmured.

In the sunny bathroom, I pulled on the waiting outfit: black skinny jeans and a translucent top in shiny peacock colours. With a brilliant cobalt bikini top underneath and matching sandals, I looked the way I felt—dark and blue.

Opening the door, I called out, unenthusiastically, ‘Hello?’

A nervous voice answered from the balcony. ‘Tara? Out here!’

‘Henry.’ I knew his voice before I saw him. He looked somehow familiar and safe, after my days of self-imposed solitude, and I smiled, a genuine smile. ‘Hi.’

‘Hullo. I’ve missed you terribly.’ Backlit by the morning, Henry’s hair glowed gold like a halo. His warm brown eyes were wide with concern. ‘They wouldn’t let me see you. How are you feeling?’

Surprised by my own answer, I said, ‘Better. Much better.’

‘Good! You look… really good.’

I laughed, the noise sounding strange. ‘I look like hell, but thanks anyway.’

‘You look like heaven to me.’ Only Henry could pull that line off and not sound corny.

‘So, what are we doing today?’

‘Well, I thought you probably wouldn’t want to do anything extreme, like mountain climbing or parasailing.’

‘You would be right.’

‘So, I’ve secured us a catamaran for the day. No pressure, no schedule, just you and me on a big boat. How does that sound?’

‘Heavenly.’

He grinned happily. ‘I’m so glad. Shall we?’

***

Just past the turnoff for the swimming pool, the path led us to a long jetty extending out to sea. A shiny white catamaran awaited us, complete with a two-man sailing crew, a camera team and a waiter, who offered us champagne and strawberries as we stepped aboard.

The fresh air felt good whipping around my face, as the cat pushed off from the jetty and we headed for the open sea. A little table was set for lunch, and Henry pulled my chair out for me as we sat. Prawns in a cold seafood sauce glistened on my plate, and I felt my appetite flare for the first time in days.

Scooping up a pink crustacean, I let it explode in flavour inside my mouth. ‘Oh … that’s great.’

Henry said, ‘It’s good to see you eating. You look like you haven’t been doing much of that lately.’

‘Well, you know hospital food,’ I deflected, spreading a yellow pat of butter on a slice of sourdough.

‘Tara, forgive me if this is too personal, but … I can’t help but notice you do your best not to enjoy anything.’

‘That’s not true.’ I felt my walls slam up.

‘Perhaps I’m wrong,’ Henry said, flustered. ‘If I am, I’m sorry. I just wanted to tell you that whatever it is that makes you feel like you don’t deserve to be happy, could you try to forget it? Just for today?’ He leaned towards me, his pale blue shirt falling open at the neck, revealing acres of creamy skin down his defined chest.

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