Chapter 11
Harvey
When Harvey woke up he had a feeling of dread in his stomach. His mouth was dry and his tongue felt like an old dusty carpet. He got out of bed and dragged himself over to the kitchen sink where he turned on the tap and poured himself a glass of water. He noticed his empty glass from last night, there was a small trace of whiskey left at the bottom of the tumbler. He splashed some water on his face and turned off the tap. The room was spinning and he felt giddy. He needed something to eat, something to soak up the remnants of the alcohol that was still in his stomach. The chilled air that escaped from the fridge felt refreshing and cleared his head somewhat. He grabbed the block of cheese off the shelf and decided to make himself a cheese sandwich. He ate it by the window, and glanced out at the path that led to Jane's farm. He should go and see her, and apologise for being such an idiot last night. He scratched the back of his neck and thought about Maru, and about last night. He was so relieved not to see her when he woke up... that was one awkward conversation he wasn't ready for. He grabbed his towel and headed for the shower.
Harvey locked the clinic door and pocketed his keys. He still wasn't sure what he was going to say to Jane, or how much of what happened he was going to tell her. He knew she was upset with him because of the way she had stormed off. Maru had misunderstood when Jane had suggested they find a table, but Harvey didn't mind. He liked Maru, and thought the more the merrier. Jane, however, seemed quite annoyed. It was an awkward situation, and he didn't know how to handle it apart from to just go with it. In retrospect he probably should have said something along the lines of, 'Oh, sorry Maru – perhaps another time. I'm having drinks with Jane,' but he hadn't responded quickly enough and missed the opportunity.
Harvey had been secretly in love with Maru for years, but had never mustered up the courage to ask her out. When she sat down next to him on that bench seat he had felt butterflies in his stomach as her leg touched his. His breath had caught in his throat when she leaned in and whispered in his ear. Her warm breath sent a tingle through his body, and he caught himself looking down her top at her breasts, and then eyed up her curves later on when they played pool. He hoped to Yoba that Jane hadn't seen him looking. He felt terrible and regretted his foolishness.
He saw his reflection in the glass panel of the clinic door and sighed heavily. He wondered what Jane saw in him in the first place. Yes he was a competent doctor but apart from that he didn't think he was anything special. He didn't have money... he barely had enough to pay the bills at the end of the month. He'd never wish sickness or injury on anyone, but patients meant money and he could really do with a flu epidemic! He played with his moustache, twisting the longer bits between his fingers thinking perhaps he should shave it off and give himself a more youthful look. Jane was beautiful, with her amazing red hair and her freckles. She could have anyone she wanted, and after what he'd done she deserved to be with someone better than him. He was also curious as to why Maru was suddenly interested in him. She'd never shown any obvious interest in him before, unless her eagerness to work overtime was a sign he'd missed.
As he walked towards the path that lead towards Jane's farm he saw Maru coming down the steps. He pretended not to notice and sped up pace, thinking he didn't really want that conversation so soon. She had come from the park and had a look of worry on her face as she hurried towards him She waved in an attempt to get his attention but he kept his eyes ahead and didn't slow down.
'Dr Harvey! DOCTOR HARVEY! Please can we talk?' she bit her lip as she waited for him to answer. He stopped still and nodded without turning to look at her. How could her look her in the eye?. Hesitantly he followed her up the steps towards the fountain. He looked towards the bubbling water and remembered the first kiss he'd shared with Jane. He then thought about the kiss he'd shared with Maru and felt like a bastard. 'I err... need to apologise about last night. I'm so sorry.' Her hands were together as if in prayer. 'I'm so embarrassed... After we kissed outside the saloon I couldn't stop thinking about you. I realise we had both been drinking and I was flirting with you...'
Harvey looked down at his feet unable to make eye contact. What was he going to tell Jane. He felt so ashamed. That kiss should have been planted on Jane's lips, and his hands should have been on Jane's thighs not Maru's. He coughed feeling very uncomfortable and wanted nothing more than to walk away. The image of Maru sitting on his desk had burned in to his memory. It was going to be a while before he'd forget, if he even could. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come. He kicked at the dirt with his shoe focusing on dislodging a half buried stone.
'I don't normally do things like that... get naked and exhibit myself.' Maru continued to chew on her lip. Harvey noticed she'd drawn blood. 'I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell my parents. I don't think either of them would be impressed, and my dad would probably flip out.' She took a step towards him but he stepped back and held his hands out keeping a barrier between them.
Harvey found his voice, 'I... I... I think that's probably for the best.' He felt extremely hot in his jacket despite the cold wind that blew through the park. He forced himself to look at her. 'Maru, I shouldn't have... I'm seeing Jane.' He thought that probably sounded pathetic, and it was what he should have said last night.
'Dr Harvey... I really don't know what came over me. My mother would be so ashamed of me if she knew how I'd behaved.' She brought her arm up in front of her face and held it across her eyes. Harvey instinctively took a Kleenex from his pocket and handed it to her. She dabbed at her tears. 'Thank you. I never realised how much I liked you until I couldn't have you. I know that sounds stupid.' The floodgates opened up and the tears came streaming down her face. Harvey's eyes widened and he froze on the spot. His lips moved silently repeating her words as he processed what she had said. Demetrius had been telling the truth. Maru really did like him back!
Harvey sat her down on the wall and squatted in front of her. He handed her another tissue. 'Hey, come on please don't cry Maru. I won't say anything to your parents, I promise.' He smiled cautiously.
Maru jumped up from the fountain and threw her arms around him. The action knocked Harvey off balance and he fell in to a seated position with Maru practically in his lap. She hugged him so tight that she compressed his ribs, causing Harvey to groan in pain. Her sweet shampoo filled his nostrils and he relaxed against her, closing his eyes and remembering how she smelt last night. Harvey abruptly tensed when he spotted Abigail strolling past and scrambled free of Maru's hold. He stood up brushing leaves and bits of twig from his clothes.
Abigail wolf whistled. 'Maru? Doc! When did you two become a thing?' Abigail let out a deep laugh, throwing her purple hair behind her. She blew a pink gum bubble and it popped leaving a sickly sweet odour in the air. Harvey felt his stomach roll in response to the sugary scent. He never saw the appeal in bubblegum. 'I can't wait to tell Sebby!' She meant Sebastian, Maru's half brother. She thumbed behind her in the direct of Maru's house, indicating she was going straight there.
Harvey felt his cheeks get warm as the panic rose in his chest. He waved Maru's hands away from his arm. 'No, it's nothing like that! She's upset, and I was comforting her.' He spoke with urgency, needing her to believe him.
'That's not how it looked from where I was standing, and you also seem a little jumpy... like you have something to hide.' She laughed and continued on her way without giving Harvey the chance to say any more. Harvey heard the recognizable popping sound as Abigail blew another gum bubble ad it burst across her Shane been spreading gossip? Harvey did not want to be the talk of the town. He frowned and kicked at the hard dirt and finally managed to dislodge the stone from the compacted ground. It bounced away and Harvey wished he was able to bounce or even run away from the situation he'd found himself in.
He turned to face Maru. As he spoke to her, she could clearly hear irritation in his voice. 'I suggest you speak to your brother before this gets out of hand. Neither of us needs this kind of gossip.'
She nodded in agreement and turned away from him. She hid her face. 'Yes, I will talk to him. Hopefully he won't be an ass about it.' Fresh tears had begun to fall again.
'Good, that's good.' He removed his glasses and rubbed the space between his eyes. He was getting a headache. 'Look, I really don't like seeing you upset like this but I've got to go and talk to Jane.'
She forced a smile but her lip trembled. She sniffed and tried to compose herself but the tears ran down her cheeks. She took one last look at him, her eyes were red from crying, then she nodded and trudged off home.
He popped his glassed back on and dashed down the steps. He decided to visit Pierre's grocery store before continuing to Jane's farm. It would probably be best not to turn up at Jane's door empty handed. He felt his cheeks go warm again when he asked Pierre if he had any flowers.
'Flowers... hmmm... one moment, I'll be right back!'
Whilst Harvey waited for the shop owner to return, time seemed to slow. He glanced around the room, his eyes wandering from one thing to the next not really taking in what he was looking at. He noticed the charity box on the counter and reached in to his pocket for his wallet. He found some loose change and pushed the coins in to the slot at the top of the rubber teddy bears head. The charity was for disadvantaged children as Harvey liked to donate a few coins whenever he could spare them. He leaned an elbow against the counter and rested his cheek on his fist. What's taking Pierre so long? The digital clock on the wall displayed 10:40. Time was getting on and Harvey wanted to get to Jane's before she went foraging or mining or whatever it was she busied herself with. Harvey involuntarily tapped his foot against the tiles and when he realised what he was doing he stood up and walked away from the counter. He stretched his arms behind his neck and yawned loudly.
He saw a wooden crate filled with red apples and picked one up. He tossed it in the air and caught it. He looked up at the clock again which read 10:42, and then looked towards the door. He wished Pierre would hurry back. He picked up two more apples and began juggling. Juggling had been one of his talents he liked to show off at medical school. He would juggle all sorts of things, but stopped when a fellow student had dared him to juggle three urine sample containers. He had been so eager to impress her. She was a pretty girl, blonde, with blue eyes and a lovely smile. It had been a prank and the moment he threw them in to the air he'd realised the lids weren't screwed on properly and got covered in urine. The girl who'd tricked him was known for being spiteful, although to look at her she seemed like sweet and angelic. He joined in with the laughter, but really he felt humiliated and never spoke to blonde-girl again.
The door opened and Harvey took his eyes off the apples. They hit the ground with a thud, thud, thud. 'I hope you are going to pay for those!'Pierre's voice boomed across the room. Harvey scooped the bruised fruit up in his arms and brought them over to the counter.
'Yes, of... of course!' Harvey stuttered. 'I was just checking how firm they were.'
The shop owner handed him a large bunch of sunflowers and Harvey cringed. 'Haven't you got anything smaller?' he asked struggling to see past the flowers and fancy wrappings. 'Something... umm... less fancy? Don't you think the pink bow is a bit much?!'
'I've got a bundle of onions?' Pierre pointed to the basket in front of the counter and chuckled. Harvey rolled his eyes and breathed out heavily. 'I had my wife Caroline put these together for you. She's quite handy with flower arrangements. I guess I'll tell her you aren't keen.' Pierre chuckled.
'No need to do that! They are great! Please tell her I said thank you.' Harvey did not want to upset anymore of the women in Pelican Town! He handed over a wad of cash, subtly forgot about the apples, and carried the enormous bouquet of sunflowers out in front of him. He almost bumped in to Evelyn, the elderly grandmother who lived with her husband George and grandson Alex, who he didn't see enter the store. She laughed and asked who the lucky lady was. Harvey went bright red and couldn't make his escape quick enough.
He'd almost tripped twice on the way towards Jane's farm. The sunflowers obscured his view and his foot had got caught on a rock and then he lost his footing when his shoe went in to a pothole. He gritted his teeth feeling hot a bothered. He was perspiring and his arms were getting weak from holding the flowers.
As he approached the farm he saw Jane heaving her pickaxe in to the ground. She was uprooting the plants that had come to the end of their season. She picked up the mess of scraggly root and branches and tossed them in to the wheelbarrow. She grabbed the wooden handles and manoeuvred the barrow over to her compost bin where she tipped out the plant waste. On her way back to the patch of land she was clearing she saw him and stopped. She lowered the wheelbarrow and let go of the handles. She walked in to the house without a word. Harvey silently followed her in and held out the sunflowers to her. The wrappings were crumpled from being carried but the flowers were still fine.
She clearly is upset with me!
Jane grabbed a bottle of ice cold water from the fridge, and unscrewed the cap. She took a long drink, and then wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her forearm leaving a smear of dirt in its place. She gestured towards the bouquet with a nod. 'Are they for me?' Harvey nodded slowly and Jane took them from him. 'I'd have given you a better price if you've come to me directly. Pierre most likely sold them to you for double what he bought them off me for.'
Harvey's eyes gazed towards his feet. 'Oh...' He looked up when she took them from and he saw her smirk as she noticed the pink bow.
Jane filled the sink with tap water and placed the stalks in to the cold liquid. 'Thanks Harvey. Do you want a drink? I can make you a coffee, or there's diet cola in the fridge.' Harvey opened the fridge and crabbed a can of cola.
'Cola is fine, thanks.' The can made a 'Tsk' sound as he lifted the ring pull. His throat welcomed the fizzy cold liquid as he gulped it down.
Jane watched him as he set the can down. 'Are you here to help? I could do with a second pair of hands.'
Harvey smiled, 'Yeah sure.' He shrugged his jacket off and undid his tie. Jane took them from him and threw them on to her bed. Harvey looked at the bed wondering if Jane would share it with him again if she found out about his and Maru's antics. Jane caught him looking which made him blush. She opened the door, and he followed her outside.
Outside it was so cold without his jacket on. He shivered and rubbed his arms. 'You'll soon warm up Harv.'
Harvey closed his eyes and groaned. 'Please don't call me that. I don't like it.' When he opened his eyes he saw her shrug her shoulders. She picked up her pickaxe again and swung it in front of her where it broke a hole in the earth. She lifted it and swung it again. She was definitely annoyed at him, and she was taking her anger out on her wilted vegetable plants.
'You didn't seem to mind last night, when Maru said it.' Jane knelt down and pulled forcibly at the base of the corn plant and ripped it out of the soil. She breathed heavily as she stood up, and placed her hands on her hips. Harvey's mouth moved like a goldfish's. He didn't know what to say to her comment. 'Are you going to help or just stand there gawking?'
Harvey jumped at Jane's tone. 'Yes, I'm waiting for my instructions.' Jane raised an eyebrow and handed him the pickaxe. Harvey fumbled with it and almost dropped it on his own foot. Jane shook her head and exhaled. Maybe I should go home and stay out of her way.
Harvey felt Jane watching him like a hawk as he lifted the axe on to his shoulder. It was heavy, but she made it look so effortless. He swung his arms and the axe dug in to the ground. Jane's frown softened and Harvey felt relieved that he was doing it correctly. He swung the axe again and then bent down and dragged the plant from the earth.
'She's never referred to me as 'Harv' before. It's always been Dr Harvey.' Harvey could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't remember the last time he did physical labour. He placed the plant in to the wheel barrow and started removing another with the pickaxe. Again he reached down and dragged it in to the wheelbarrow. Jane grabbed the handles and wheeled it over to the compost bin. She tipped it out and went to fetch some secateurs. Jane handed a pair to Harvey and took him over to the pumpkin patch. She held the thick vine and showed him where to cut it. She snipped the pumpkin, freeing it from the plant, and carried it over to her barn. Again Jane made the task seem effortless. Harvey did as Jane had shown him; he held the vine and cut it with the secateurs. He then scooped the pumpkin in to his arms and carried over to the barn. He breathed out heavily as he held it to his chest. He wondered how Jane managed all the farm work on her own, because the small amount he'd helped her with had made him feel exhausted.
Where's your dog?' Harvey asked, suddenly noticing the dog's absence. 'That huge matted beast that came barging in to my clinic... I can't smell its lovely odour.'
'I took it to see Marnie. She's going to clean it up and give it a haircut. When I see what he or she looks like I'll choose a name for it. Perhaps I'll call it Harvey,' she scoffed, 'it could be Harv for short.' Harvey frowned.
Harvey groaned at her successful attempt at teasing him, but chuckled because he did find a bit funny. 'Har har har... you think you are hilarious don't you!'
'So... what happened after I left the bar Dr Harvey?' Jane asked, sharp secateurs in her hand. The snip snip sound they made as she opened and closed the blades unnerved him. Harvey swallowed.
'Nothing!' he said a little too fast. 'We played a game of pool and then we went home.' He was perspiring from the farm work but also from anxiety.
Jane watched the sweat drip down his face. She sighed and chewed on her thumbnail. 'Is there something going on Harvey with you and Maru?'
Her words made him take a step back. The pumpkin he was holding slipped out of his hand and hit the floor where it split open. The fleshy innards and seeds made quite the mess around their feet. 'Oh fuck! Shit, I'm sorry!' He tried to pick up the pieces but she told him to leave it and kicked some of it away with her boot.
'Just tell me Harvey! Are you seeing her?' Jane frowned and waited for him to answer. She folded her arms across her chest, and didn't seem bothered at all by the mess he'd made.
'No I am not seeing Maru,' he said firmly. 'What a ridiculous thing to say!'
Jane scowled at him, eyed him suspiciously. He felt worried. Had Shane told her that he'd seen him with Maru? 'She was all over you last night, leaning in, whispering in your ear. You were like two high school lovers giggling away at one point.'
'Jane...' Harvey tried.
Jane gritted her teeth. 'Did you sleep with her?' Her eyes pierced in to his, searching for the truth.
'I can't believe you're asking that! Is that the sort of man you think I am?
'You haven't answered my question Harvey. Did you sleep with Maru? Did you take her back to your apartment and have sex with her?' Her voice was firm and she was close to shouting.
Harvey felt his chest getting tight. 'No Jane, I did not sleep with Maru. Why would you even ask that?' He didn't know where to look. He hoped the feeling of guilt he had in the pit of his stomach didn't show on his face.
Jane studied his face, and for a moment Harvey thought she was going to question him further but instead she sighed and her serious expression was replaced with a strained smile. 'I'm sorry, I'm just being paranoid. We haven't been dating all that long and Maru is so pretty and I'm-
'-you are beautiful Jane.' Harvey leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. Jane blushed and bit her lip. Harvey eyed the muddy smear on her forehead. 'You are also muddy too.' He chuckled.
'Maybe I should take a shower then?' Jane smirked, 'and wash some of this mud off.'
Harvey scratched his elbow. 'I'll just get my jacket and I'll get going then.'
Jane looked at him bemused. 'Perhaps I wasn't being clear enough... that was an invitation for you to join me.' She covered her eyes with her hand and laughed at him.
Harvey felt his cheeks go warm. 'Oh! Well, why didn't you say that?'
