An Endless Summer(96)

Just as the trash talk began about who had stacked it on the lake and who was the champion waterskiier, Toby’s mobile rang.

“Sean! What’s up, mate?”

I stiffened. My eyes instantly flew to Toby at the mention of Sean’s name.

“Yeah, no, you’re right, there was a change of plans; we’re not having lunch now.”

My concentration faltered as I caught Tess eyeing me as she thoughtfully chewed on the straw of her drink. I quickly busied myself by filling up a pot of beer for Stan.

“So, a slab of VB? Yeah, no worries, fix me up later. Do you want anything else? All right, no dramas. See you tonight.” Toby pressed ‘End’, tucking his mobile back in his pocket.

“Drink orders from our gracious host,” Toby said.

“You guys coming?” Ellie asked Chris and I.

“Shouldn’t be a late one here – we’ll be there.” Chris said.

It was the first time Chris had ever spoken for me as an attendee. I was impressed – maybe things were finally changing.

“Don’t go thinking you can write yourself off tonight just because your mum and dad are home to hold the fort, though,” Chris said to me in all seriousness.

I knew it had been too good to be true. Chris always was the big brother I never had. Or ever wanted.



***



As our friends drank, Chris and I kept an ear out to the conversation in the dining room. We all listened, waited, until we were certain Dad had gone back up to the apartment. As soon as we heard the heavy-footed steps stomp up the stairs, everyone rushed towards the restaurant, elbowing and nudging each other out of the way, fighting for pole position to see what was going on. Chris cut them off at the pass, motioning for everyone to cool it as he pressed his finger to his lips for silence. He then motioned me forward and pushed me through the partition. I stumbled into the restaurant … Real smooth.

Melba had her back to me as she flicked a tablecloth out over a table. The sign that she was still in the building was surely a good one. I tentatively crept towards her, wary, extra nervous, since I had an audience.

I cleared my throat and Melba paused briefly before continuing what she was doing.

“You can tell them all to come in if they want,” she said. “Herd of elephants thundering around. Honestly, I could have heard you lot all the way from Perry.”

I turned to glare at the partition that slowly peeled open as they stepped sheepishly into the restaurant. Chris came and stood beside me.

I shook my head at him. “Remind me never to do a bank job with you lot.”

Chris just shrugged his shoulders.

“Everything okay, Melbs?” I asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” She moved to the next table and flapped the tablecloth in the air before spreading it evenly across the wood.

“So, you and Dad …”

“He is as pig-headed and self-centred as ever,” she bit out.

Oh dear, this is bad.

Her sharp eyes narrowed on me before briefly softening. “And never in my life have I ever seen that man admit he was wrong or say he was sorry.”

My shoulders slumped. She was right: he was as stubborn as a mule when it came to admitting defeat; maybe there was something in people saying I was my father’s daughter.

“Never in all my life,” she said, “but today … he did both.” Her eyes had a light sheen to them.

Chris and I looked at each other as if we had both mistaken what Melba had just said.

“I don’t know what’s happened to that man since he’s been gone – detoxing, health scare … maybe seeing this place brought back to life, who knows? But any man who knows when he’s wrong and says he’s wrong, well, that’s the kind of man I want to work for.”

“Dad apologised?” A smile broadened across my face. “So you’re staying?” I tried not to get too overwhelmed by the possibility.

Melba suppressed her own smile as she continued to work. “Try to get rid of me.”

We all grinned like fools, relieved that whatever had been exchanged between Dad and Melba was a means to a peaceful resolution. Maybe Dad had changed, and if this was a sample of what the new, improved Dad might be like, then I approved.

In all the confusion, no one had thought to relay to the McGees that our lunch had been cancelled, but in true good-natured spirit they soldiered on anyway and worked instead on surprise feeding Mum and Dad with samples of the new menu. A none-too-subtle work of genius on their part to show my parents how well the kitchen was functioning. Of course, the McGees weren’t going to be able to run things forever, but that was where Melba came in. She had spoken of a lady and daughter she’d met through the local Rotary Club who were looking for kitchen work. A shy, single mum of five who had worked as a shearer’s cook and in RSL clubs around the state; and her daughter Penny was sixteen and looking for some part-time work around school. Melba had scheduled to give them a trial next weekend, but she said they were keen to be trialled mid-week.