Page 50 of The Side Road
‘Yes,’ Blanche agreed. ‘We’d have to sell you at a discount. That won’t help our retirement fund.’
Mia offered them a gentle smile. Turning, she gazed through the French doors. The back patio was wet. She didn’t realise it was raining. Gardens all over town needed the water, and she couldn’t remember the last time it had rained in town. In the distance, thunder rumbled. Her trip home on the bike might be hazardous. If she left now, she might make it before the downpour began.
15
A DARK NIGHT
A storm was predictedon Sunday evening. After Tash had gone to bed, Oliver opened a bottle of the local Montepulciano wine. A nostalgic choice, it reminded him of the Abruzzo region in Italy, where he had spent some time. Finding a bottle in the bottle shop was a welcome surprise. It also offered a pleasant change from the cleanskin wine that he had been drinking. A dark and earthy variety, the first sip of Montepulciano didn’t disappoint.
The new outdoor furniture on the front veranda beckoned. Not skimping on quality, Oliver had selected large, comfortable pieces that suited his stature. Its solid teak frame, wicker inserts, and padded cushions made it the ideal spot to put his feet up. A light rain had begun to fall, and in the distance, thunder hinted that more was coming. Oliver loved the anticipation of a storm, especially at night. The low hum of electricity in the air, the scent of rain on the soil. The notion that he was safe and protected from the elements. Tash, secure in her room, where nothing could happen to her.
Next door, Mick and Helen’s place was dark – perhaps they were out for a romantic dinner. But Carol and Linda (five doors down) were here for the weekend. A dull glow emanated from the other houses in the street.
Above, the sky had clouded over. The trees and houses surrounding him shifted to shades of grey and inky, midnight colours. The gentle rhythmic drumming of rain on the roof was a comforting counterpoint to the wind, which had picked up.
After a light rain, the roads would be slippery, but a good downpour would clean the tarmac, leaving the road base sharp and pristine, great for riding. He hoped the old house didn’t spring a leak. He once owned a car that leaked in heavy rain. But only if the windscreen faced into the wind. If he parked it in the opposite direction, it was fine.
The wine was working. His body reclined further into the chair.
A metallic drip. Probably the gutter. As he turned, a small brown frog jumped from the downpipe onto the veranda rail. Frozen in fear, it caught his eye. After offering a smile, Oliver turned away. It was good to know he wasn’t alone on the veranda.
Against the chill of the evening, a quiet hum of accomplishment settled over him. The bike repairs were progressing. He had stripped the Black Shadow, washed, bagged, and labelled every piece. His repair and spare parts list totalled eighty-eight items. Some parts he could salvage from specialist garages, but many would come from the UK. He hadn’t yet budgeted for the expenses. In the coming days, he would add these to his financial spreadsheet.
Soon, he heard the BMW approaching town. He recalled Leo mentioning a Sit & Knit meeting at their house; Mia must be returning from the gathering. Her safe arrival homebefore the full force of the storm pleased him. Oliver knew the route she would take. A right turn onto the main street. Across the bridge, and then a sharp left. Second gear, up the hill to the old convent.
As the sound of a clunky gear change reached him, he knew Mia had slowed to cross the bridge. In the distance, his eyes followed the single headlight as it wound its way up the steep rise on the far side of the river. He hoped she was warm enough.
About halfway up, the light disappeared. Concerned, he squinted into the darkness, but there was no sign of the light.
Odd, he thought, with a pang of concern. Perhaps it wasn’t her. But who else would it be? His attention shifted to her loosely fitting helmet. Her lack of stability and inexperience. It was a moonless evening, and the roads were wet. Gazing up at the night sky, it struck him as unusually dark.
‘Fuck!’ Now he was worried. Should he get in the car, drive up the hill and make sure she was safe and not lying in a ditch on the side of the road with two broken legs and a fractured pelvis? No, no, that would be absurd.
He thought about Snood. There was a sharp left turn halfway up the hill. What if she flipped the bike, trapping the dog underneath? It could happen. Too easily.
He watched and waited. The light didn’t return. He put down his wine. Ran his hands through his hair. Took a deep breath to calm himself. Recited the list of parts he needed to order for the Black Shadow. Nothing worked. His niggling sense that something was wrong switched to acute alarm. He was worried about her, and now he was obsessing about being worried.
What if he called Blanche? She could call Mia. Then, to put his mind at ease, someone could call him back. It was aridiculous plan, but Mia rode a motorbike, and she lived alone.
He had another idea – he could contact her through social media. Then he remembered Mia had called him. About a month ago, while she was collecting Tash from school, she had called him twice. He hadn’t answered because he was on a plane to Perth. Oliver headed inside and found his phone in the kitchen. After a quick scroll through his history, he pressed the redial option on the anonymous number.
She answered. ‘Oliver?’
‘Hey, yes, I wanted to make sure you got home safe.’
A pause. ‘You were worried about me?’
‘It’s dark!’ he exclaimed and then immediately regretted his words. ‘I saw a light on the hill, and then it vanished. I was worried.’
She stifled a laugh. ‘Are you spying on me?’
‘Of course not. There was this light – it was there one minute and gone the next…anyway…how was the Sit & Knit…thing?’
‘It was okay. But Leo told me that when I talk to men, I should speak slowly, use short sentences, and maintain eye contact.’ She giggled.
Oliver laughed. ‘That’s hilarious.’
‘I know. I’m also supposed to ask lots of questions.’ She couldn’t stop laughing.
