Chapter 12
Six weeks later – one week till competition day
‘Mum, you’re dying to ask, so just ask.’
Rebecca dumped the tray of burned croissants into the bin. It has half full of wasted baking. She went over to the oven, frowning at her error. Turning the oven down to the correct temperature, she checked on the fresh batch she’d just sent to a fiery death. Luckily, they might just survive with a bit of a tan. She needed to get some of it right, or she’d have nothing left to serve.
‘Have you heard from him?’ Her mother was looking at her from her phone, which was propped up on the chicken timer. She could see Dad in the corner, reading in his chair and pretending not to listen. The man had floppy ears that were dog-like, so she could see that he was earwigging. Every now and then, he’d turn the page.
‘No. He’s spoken to Hans a bit. His dad’s getting better all the time, they’re even talking about him going home soon. Luke’s staying at his dad’s I guess, or his place. I dunno.’
We’re both alone. I know that. He’d been away from her a lot longer than she’d known him in life, but it felt like forever. On both counts.
‘Have you tried to call him?’ Her dad looked at the screen as his wife spoke, turning the newspaper page to cover his tracks. Rebecca wiped down the surfaces, clearing away as she went.
‘No, and I’m not going to. I don’t know what’s going on with his dad, and … I’m still mad too.’
Her mother tutted loudly.
‘Rebecca, if I hear that one more time! You were going to go to Holly’s and get him back!’
‘He broke my trust!’
‘You told me you were already going to apply! You were going to send it in, weren’t you?’
‘No.’ She crossed her arms, pouting like a teenager. ‘Was not.’
‘Yes you were, you told that bloody flash Herbert ex of yours you were! You could have corrected Luke at that party, you didn’t for a reason.’
Rebecca stamped her foot.
‘So!’
Her dad turned the page again and huffed, blowing the pages out. Rebecca rolled her eyes.
‘The jig’s up Dad, I can tell you’re listening. Do you have something to say?’
He ignored her, turning the page again and suddenly looking very absorbed in reading.
‘Dad, it’s upside down.’
Cecilia turned to look at him, laughing her head off.
‘You’re such a berk, Mick! Come here!’
Mick, who was still in his dressing gown, put the paper down and came to sit next to his wife. She giggled, and he stuck his bottom lip out.
‘It nearly worked. You’re a berk,’ he said this to his wife, who just laughed in his face.
‘Oh, so you are listening. Tell your stubborn daughter to ring Luke!’
‘Do as your mother says.’
‘Not like that!’
‘I did what you said!’
‘You’re a total berk Dad, but I love you. I can’t call him, I don’t want to bother him.’
‘The poor boy is probably feeling very alone right now, sat at the hospital all those hours,’ her dad retorted.
‘Frank’s not in a coma, Mum, he had a stroke. He’s in recovery.’
‘Still, it’s not nice. You know that.’ She bit her lip. Progress like that had been gradual all month, but now she was on a somewhat normal level with her parents. They even spoke every day, or rather she and Mum did. Dad was usually pretending to screw something into a wall, or grouting tiles in the background. Now, he sat right next to her. Progress.
‘Hospitals are strange places. They hold so many emotions.’ Her mum’s voice went a bit floaty.
Mick looked at her, his face aghast.
‘That line was on Grey’s Anatomy last night!’
‘Shut up, Mick! It was not!’
‘Yes, it was! Her that was married to Derek what’s-his-face said it to the other one.’
‘It was not! Go back to your paper! You are no help!’
‘No help! I’m here, aren’t I?’
‘Guys, I really need to get cracking. The café’s due to open and I need to get changed.’
‘Okay love, well ring him, okay?’
Her dad said something else, but the door opened and Hans came running into the café. He nearly took the door off and was halfway across the café before he managed to stop himself. He looked at her, startled, his beard and hair all over the place. He looked like a lion with serious bed head.
‘Hans?’
Wild-eyed, he tried to speak. ‘Bay! Bay!’
‘What? Listen guys, Hans is here. Better go. Love you!’
She clicked off the call, shoving her phone in her apron pocket.
‘Hans? What the hell are you talking about?’
‘Bay! Bay!’
His needle was stuck. All he needed was a set of cymbals to bang together monotonously and the look was complete.
‘Bay-beee! Car! Holly!’ He jabbed his hands in the direction of the windows, and she could see Holly taking deep breaths on the back seat.
‘Shit! Baby!’ Rebecca said, twigging on.
Hans nodded, jumping and pointing at her. ‘Baby! Fuck! Baby!’
‘Okay, okay!’ Switching everything off, she grabbed her coat and keys, running out of the door. A second later, she realised that Hans wasn’t with her. She ran back in and dragged him out outside.
‘Go to the car, I’ll lock up!’
‘Okay! Baby! Coming!’ He dashed to the car, and she locked up, flicking the sign closed. She’d text for cover from the car. She ran around the far side of the vehicle, and jumping in, she reached for her friend’s hand. Holly looked as gorgeous as always, relatively unruffled, if a little sweaty.
‘You okay?’ Rebecca asked. ‘How bad is it, from walnut to watermelon?’
Holly squeezed her hand tight, making her nails dig into Rebecca’s skin. From the look she was giving her, Rebecca wasn’t quite sure that she didn’t mean it.
‘If I ever have sex,’ she said vehemently, pointing to the back of Hans’s head as he navigated their drive to the hospital, ‘with that man ever again, shoot me. Please.’
Rebecca laughed, but it turned into a shriek of pain when Holly’s grip tightened.
‘Laugh again, and
