***CHAPTER 7***
Scott Phillips, Kane's older brother, watched from his vantage point above, confident he couldn't be seen. He was used to walking in shadows, sizing up situations to his own advantage. He had followed Kirsty from his aunt's house and it looked like it hadn't been a wasted journey. He smiled grimly, wondering how much the Sutherland chick would pay for his silence.
*****
There is no time, nothing but each other. She draws closer.
"Kane!"
He turns and sees her and for a moment stops. Laughing and crying, they come together, two parts becoming whole. She looks into his blue eyes and knows he is her soul-mate. Electric runs through him as they touch. Without her he is nothing. He is her breath, her reason for living. She is his destiny.
"Babe, don't cry," he whispers.
Her tears mingle with his own when their faces brush. They listen silently to the music of the sea, holding each other close. They have each other and it is enough.
*****
Rhys and Shelley were arguing again, their voices carrying through from the back room. Shelley thought Rhys had behaved like a thug and Rhys thought it had been the only way to get through to Kane Phillips. The normally laid back Nick Smith tensed. A few minutes ago he and Jade had been laughing, fooling, on top of the world. Going to the Sutherlands these days was like walking a minefield.
"Fancy the diner?" he asked.
"I'd best check on Dani first. She might want to come too." Jade ran halfway up the stairs and shouted her a few times, but there was no response. She turned to Nick and shrugged, puzzled. "She must be out. Kirsty too. Wonder where?"
"You're about due to tune into Kirsty's mind, aren't you?" Nick grinned.
"Don't, Nick. It only happens when it's something bad and I don't want anything bad to happen to Kirsty."
"Hey, babe, I was only joking!" he gave her a reassuring hug.
Jade smiled. Without Nick she'd never have got through all this. "The diner it is. I need lots of chocolate. Chocolate mud cake and chocolate milk shake will do for starters."
The music crashed through Dani's earphones, drowning out all other sound. No more raised voices. No more being pulled apart. The plan came into her mind again and again she pushed it back. But still it persisted, promising and promising no more pain.
*****
Never wanting to break free. Never wanting to be alone any more. Their arms entwined around each other's waist they sit gazing out towards the timeless ocean. She rests her head on his shoulder and feels safe and loved. He strokes her hair tenderly and wishes he could take away all her sadness.
"I'm sorry. About my Dad."
"Babe, he was only protecting his family."
"No. It's no excuse, Kane, and you know it."
"I don't remember much about that night. Being tired. Walking all the way to Summer Bay to talk to Flynn only he's not available. Going down to the beach, running and running, then the storm, getting drenched, but just wanting to run. I don't know, babe, maybe being so tired all the time is making me crazy. Maybe I broke in and just don't remember."
She turns to gaze up into his eyes. "I know it wasn't you, Kane. Because I believe in you. Because I love you."
*****
Clara Denton didn't normally yell down phones, but she was furious. "Flynn, this has ruined everything! I was confident I could get Kane and Dani together for mediation. Now he won't trust anyone, least of all counsellors!"
"I thought I could stop things getting out of hand..."
With an effort Clara kept her temper in check. "I appreciate that, but where do we go from here? Yabbie Creek has picked up on the hatred of the Phillips and Kane is already on the edge. His aunt's fine about him going out, but it's still 24-7 care. I'd planned to discuss hiring a nurse to help out sometimes but Rose won't be in any mood to talk to me now."
"You want me to try?"
"No." Clara sighed. "Emotions are running too high and in my experience it's best to let the dust settle. It would get like this years ago when Richie and Joe Phillips caused some upset or other in the Bay, long before Kane or even Scott were born."
"Ah. Speaking of Richie. I looked up what action was taken after your report on him like you asked. Clara, there's no easy way to tell you this. The night you left there was a fire, no one hurt, but..."
Clara sank down in despair when their conversation ended. Her report had been careful not to betray Rose's confidence, but it would have made sure no harm came to Richie's two sons. It should have been duplicated several times and forwarded to various departments, but it was never even read... and two children were left to fight for themselves.
*****
Sea spray falls with rain and a creeping tide touches their feet, but they are reluctant to move. To move will destroy their fragile world. Together they are strong. Divided they are lost.
"I wish," Kane says, "we could sail away. Just the two of us."
"You'd be captain of our ship. The wind in our hair and the sun on our faces."
"You'd be the most beautiful lady who ever sailed the oceans. They'd write songs about you for thousands of years."
A white-tipped wave breaks on to the shore, shattering the illusion. They are forced to stand, holding on to each other's hands to keep their balance, laughing, yet painfully aware reality is pushing down like a stone. Hearts beating too fast. The taste of salt from the sea and their tears as they retrace their steps. They hesitate at the top, keeping back time, and below the water is washing over the rocks.
His voice is thick with emotion. "You know I love you too much to snatch you away from your family."
Crying softly, she buries her head in his chest, drawing strength from him. "I know. Dani needs me and I...and I...Kane, it has to be alright one day. I'll wait forever for you."
The traffic on Yabbie Creek Road was reaching its peak hour crescendo, horns blaring, windscreens swishing away rain, commuters driving home. One of the cars skidded to a halt. Rhys jumped out and Seb slowly got out of the passenger side, unable to meet Kirsty's gaze. It was over.
"Is that how little you think of your sister? You'd rather spend time with him?"
"Dad, it's not like that..."
"Don't play me for a fool, Kirsty. It's either him or your family. And if you choose him, don't come near any of us ever again."
She feels Kane squeeze her hand. Silently telling her he'll always wait for her. Telling her he'll always love her, no matter what. Her hand slips unwillingly from his grasp.
So the rain falls steadily and the traffic flows on. Rhys gives Kane the look of hatred he's perfected, and climbs into the driver's seat. Seb keeps his head down. Kirsty looks back through the rain spattered window until the car is swallowed into the distance.
From the shop doorway, Scott Phillips watched the drama unfold, cursing his lost opportunity to make a fast buck. But there were other ways. His mind clicked into overdrive.
For a long time Kane stood alone, the scent of her light summer perfume still with him. Divided and lost. And a family secret about to blow wide open.
Scott Phillips, Kane's older brother, watched from his vantage point above, confident he couldn't be seen. He was used to walking in shadows, sizing up situations to his own advantage. He had followed Kirsty from his aunt's house and it looked like it hadn't been a wasted journey. He smiled grimly, wondering how much the Sutherland chick would pay for his silence.
*****
There is no time, nothing but each other. She draws closer.
"Kane!"
He turns and sees her and for a moment stops. Laughing and crying, they come together, two parts becoming whole. She looks into his blue eyes and knows he is her soul-mate. Electric runs through him as they touch. Without her he is nothing. He is her breath, her reason for living. She is his destiny.
"Babe, don't cry," he whispers.
Her tears mingle with his own when their faces brush. They listen silently to the music of the sea, holding each other close. They have each other and it is enough.
*****
Rhys and Shelley were arguing again, their voices carrying through from the back room. Shelley thought Rhys had behaved like a thug and Rhys thought it had been the only way to get through to Kane Phillips. The normally laid back Nick Smith tensed. A few minutes ago he and Jade had been laughing, fooling, on top of the world. Going to the Sutherlands these days was like walking a minefield.
"Fancy the diner?" he asked.
"I'd best check on Dani first. She might want to come too." Jade ran halfway up the stairs and shouted her a few times, but there was no response. She turned to Nick and shrugged, puzzled. "She must be out. Kirsty too. Wonder where?"
"You're about due to tune into Kirsty's mind, aren't you?" Nick grinned.
"Don't, Nick. It only happens when it's something bad and I don't want anything bad to happen to Kirsty."
"Hey, babe, I was only joking!" he gave her a reassuring hug.
Jade smiled. Without Nick she'd never have got through all this. "The diner it is. I need lots of chocolate. Chocolate mud cake and chocolate milk shake will do for starters."
The music crashed through Dani's earphones, drowning out all other sound. No more raised voices. No more being pulled apart. The plan came into her mind again and again she pushed it back. But still it persisted, promising and promising no more pain.
*****
Never wanting to break free. Never wanting to be alone any more. Their arms entwined around each other's waist they sit gazing out towards the timeless ocean. She rests her head on his shoulder and feels safe and loved. He strokes her hair tenderly and wishes he could take away all her sadness.
"I'm sorry. About my Dad."
"Babe, he was only protecting his family."
"No. It's no excuse, Kane, and you know it."
"I don't remember much about that night. Being tired. Walking all the way to Summer Bay to talk to Flynn only he's not available. Going down to the beach, running and running, then the storm, getting drenched, but just wanting to run. I don't know, babe, maybe being so tired all the time is making me crazy. Maybe I broke in and just don't remember."
She turns to gaze up into his eyes. "I know it wasn't you, Kane. Because I believe in you. Because I love you."
*****
Clara Denton didn't normally yell down phones, but she was furious. "Flynn, this has ruined everything! I was confident I could get Kane and Dani together for mediation. Now he won't trust anyone, least of all counsellors!"
"I thought I could stop things getting out of hand..."
With an effort Clara kept her temper in check. "I appreciate that, but where do we go from here? Yabbie Creek has picked up on the hatred of the Phillips and Kane is already on the edge. His aunt's fine about him going out, but it's still 24-7 care. I'd planned to discuss hiring a nurse to help out sometimes but Rose won't be in any mood to talk to me now."
"You want me to try?"
"No." Clara sighed. "Emotions are running too high and in my experience it's best to let the dust settle. It would get like this years ago when Richie and Joe Phillips caused some upset or other in the Bay, long before Kane or even Scott were born."
"Ah. Speaking of Richie. I looked up what action was taken after your report on him like you asked. Clara, there's no easy way to tell you this. The night you left there was a fire, no one hurt, but..."
Clara sank down in despair when their conversation ended. Her report had been careful not to betray Rose's confidence, but it would have made sure no harm came to Richie's two sons. It should have been duplicated several times and forwarded to various departments, but it was never even read... and two children were left to fight for themselves.
*****
Sea spray falls with rain and a creeping tide touches their feet, but they are reluctant to move. To move will destroy their fragile world. Together they are strong. Divided they are lost.
"I wish," Kane says, "we could sail away. Just the two of us."
"You'd be captain of our ship. The wind in our hair and the sun on our faces."
"You'd be the most beautiful lady who ever sailed the oceans. They'd write songs about you for thousands of years."
A white-tipped wave breaks on to the shore, shattering the illusion. They are forced to stand, holding on to each other's hands to keep their balance, laughing, yet painfully aware reality is pushing down like a stone. Hearts beating too fast. The taste of salt from the sea and their tears as they retrace their steps. They hesitate at the top, keeping back time, and below the water is washing over the rocks.
His voice is thick with emotion. "You know I love you too much to snatch you away from your family."
Crying softly, she buries her head in his chest, drawing strength from him. "I know. Dani needs me and I...and I...Kane, it has to be alright one day. I'll wait forever for you."
The traffic on Yabbie Creek Road was reaching its peak hour crescendo, horns blaring, windscreens swishing away rain, commuters driving home. One of the cars skidded to a halt. Rhys jumped out and Seb slowly got out of the passenger side, unable to meet Kirsty's gaze. It was over.
"Is that how little you think of your sister? You'd rather spend time with him?"
"Dad, it's not like that..."
"Don't play me for a fool, Kirsty. It's either him or your family. And if you choose him, don't come near any of us ever again."
She feels Kane squeeze her hand. Silently telling her he'll always wait for her. Telling her he'll always love her, no matter what. Her hand slips unwillingly from his grasp.
So the rain falls steadily and the traffic flows on. Rhys gives Kane the look of hatred he's perfected, and climbs into the driver's seat. Seb keeps his head down. Kirsty looks back through the rain spattered window until the car is swallowed into the distance.
From the shop doorway, Scott Phillips watched the drama unfold, cursing his lost opportunity to make a fast buck. But there were other ways. His mind clicked into overdrive.
For a long time Kane stood alone, the scent of her light summer perfume still with him. Divided and lost. And a family secret about to blow wide open.