And Gabe.
He just needed to make sure he didn’t give her more money.
He sighed and tapped the countertop a few times with his fist. ‘Fine, you can stay two days, that’s it. But no drinking. At all. You come home drunk, you’re gone. Got it?’
‘I promise. No booze. I want to get clean, you know.’
He’d heard that before.
‘I’ll make up your room. And for God’s sake, take a shower.’ He stalked off to prepare for the two-day visit and started to think of all the valuables he’d have to remove in case she tried to steal them.
Chapter Seventeen
Gabriel walked into Milk’n’Honey to meet his boss, wishing he’d worn a trench coat and dark glasses. Andrew was in Brachen to discuss the redevelopment plan’s progress with the council. He should have said no to a catch-up but he’d decided to tell Andrew face to face that he was quitting. He’d been out of the office for over three weeks and he had no intention of going back to Sydney, even once Sofia was better.
As soon as he entered, Andrew called out and waved. Gabriel fashioned a smile, nodding hello to Dasha.
He shook Andrew’s hand and they got through their greetings. Dasha took their orders for flat whites, with a query in her eyes for Gabriel. He should have suggested a different meeting place. Gabriel wiped his palms on his thighs. At least they were at the back of the cafe and not out on the deck. He didn’t recognise any of the customers but that didn’t mean they weren’t watching.
‘How have you been, Gabriel? How’s your mother?’
The hairs on the back of his neck prickled from imagined attention on him but he tried to focus on Andrew. Maybe if he was quick enough, he could quit his job and be on his way all in the space of time it took to finish his coffee.
Maybe before.
Were there always this many people in the cafe?
‘I’m alright, but she’s not doing so well at the moment.’
And if she knew who I was meeting that would be the death of her.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. We miss you at the office but we understand that family comes first. You take as long as you need.’
Sympathy glinted in Andrew’s eyes and it caused a crackle in Gabriel’s throat. Most firms might say these things but few actually believed them. Anywhere else, they would have wanted him to work from home at the very least, or more likely they’d make it painfully clear that taking time off was unacceptable. Andrew and Y Studio had been nothing but supportive, which only made this harder.
‘That’s really generous of you. I appreciate it.’
‘Don’t mention it. I’d rather have you back with us firing on all cylinders than wishing you were home and worrying about your mum.’
Dasha delivered the coffees and asked if they wanted anything else. Her gaze darted between Gabriel and Andrew. She knew something was up. He pumped up his smile as best he could and waited for her to leave. Who would she tell about this? They were close to the theatre. Too damn close. But Andrew had chosen the venue for its proximity to the council chambers, and when Gabriel had taken the phone call, he couldn’t think fast enough to suggest an alternative like the Edgy Veggie.
‘The other reason I wanted to see you was to tell you the developer and the council loved your designs.’
His panicking heart shuddered to a halt like a train on wet tracks. ‘My designs?’
‘Yes, the ones you were working on before you left. They were inspired. I knew you’d come up with something good, I just hadn’t expected them to be so good.’ Andrew moved the cups out of the way and reached down to pull a bound proposal out of a folio propped against his chair. ‘I think the personal connection must have been what did it.’
Gabriel didn’t move, his body frozen. What had he done? What had he drawn? They were just sketches. They weren’t meant to be taken seriously.
Andrew opened the proposal to the drawings. They’d been digitised and redrawn but there was no mistake. They were Gabriel’s through and through. He flicked roughly through the pages, each one worse than the one before. He didn’t remember having drawn so much.
‘They’ve turned out great, don’t you think? You should have seen how happy they were. Of course, I made sure to mention your name and that you were from here.’
His head snapped up. The council knew? His name had been mentioned?
‘They like that local angle so once it goes ahead, they’ll probably want to use you for the media in helping to promote the project. You know the sort of thing. “Local architect’s dream for Rivervue revitalisation”.’
Oh God. He was going to hurl.
‘Are you okay, Gabe? You look a bit green.’
He shut the proposal, as if it would be enough to put the genie back in the art deco bottle.
‘Ummm, yes, I’m fine, it’s just …’
He had to tell him the truth. He had to quit. No-one else must know he was involved.
‘Gabe?’
His spine seized at the sound of Bruce’s voice. Steel replaced flexible vertebrae but he had to move. He had to hide what he’d done. He rocketed out of his seat and his knee hit the underside of the table, spilling coffee over the pages. Andrew jumped back while Bruce leaned in with napkins to mop up the mess. Gabriel didn’t move. If he stayed still, they might forget he was there.
But Bruce wasn’t looking at him.
‘What’s this?’ Bruce turned the proposal around.
‘Excuse me, who are you?’ Andrew said.
‘Andrew, this is my … friend … Bruce.’
Bruce flinched.
‘Bruce, this is my boss. He’s here from Sydney.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ Andrew reached for the proposal, but Bruce picked it up off the table.
‘Y Studio?’ He pointed at the logo on the bottom
