5
P.J.
sat back on his couch, lacing his fingers behind his head. It
had
been a long weekend, and not just because Maggie wasn't there.
Nick
had given him no end of grief about his unusual morning
appearance
at the station, and was determined to get to the bottom
of
it all. He'd spent the weekend doing his utmost to get
something,
anything
out of P.J., which wasn't going to happen – mostly because
P.J.
himself had no idea of what was happening.
He
knew something' had happened on Friday night. He didn't know
who'd
been more astonished at his question, Maggie or himself. And
he
had been surprised at how important the answer had seemed.
Well,
maybe
not the answer, per se, more the idea. The idea that there
could
be more than friendship between them, that there could be
something
there, something incredible. For P.J. had no doubt that
should
he ever have the sheer joy of being a part of Maggie's life
in
that way, of being a – a what, partner? Lover? Boyfriend?
Whatever,
P.J. just knew that if anything ever were to happen that
way
between them, neither of them would ever want to let it go.
Bringing
his hands over the top of his head, he stretched for a
moment,
before rubbing at his tired eyes. The lack of sleep was
finally
catching up with him. Hearing a noise behind him, he lowered
his
arms and looked up to see Ben watching him from the doorway.
"Hey mate. Just got in?"
Ben
nodded. "Long day at the office. We finally got the warrant
to
search
the Hopkins place and guess what?"
"It
was all there. Everything that had been stolen' from the
shop?"
guessed
P.J.
"Aha.
The great Hopkins Superstore Robbery was nothing more than a
giant
insurance scam. Hopkins was not a happy bunny, let me tell
you."
Ben grinned, going into the kitchen and grabbing a couple of
bottles
of beer, handing one to P.J. and flopping down in the other
couch.
"So what's up with you? You look awful"
"Cheers mate!" laughed P.J., before taking a long swig of his beer.
"No,
really, you look like you haven't slept in weeks. And what were
you
doing at work yesterday? You were there at the crack of dawn
P.J.
Voluntarily – without being dragged there kicking and
screaming.
Most unlike you. So what's going on?"
"Nothing
mate. I don't know, just got a bit on my mind, is all. I
couldn't
sleep, and everyone's been on at me about the paperwork, so
I
decided to bring it down to the station. "
"Yeah,
but you were there before I was!" Ben paused. He'd promised
P.J.
that he'd be there bright and early. And he'd tried. He'd only
been
half an hour late – and Nick bloody Shultz was going to hold
that
over him for the foreseeable future.
P.J.
grinned over at him. "Have fun working your way out of that
one
too,
mate. Nick has a memory like an elephant"
Ben
grinned right back at him. "That, I am beginning to see!
Anyway,
don't
try and weasel out of it. What's wrong? Had a row with
Maggie?"
P.J.s
blue eyes flashed at the mention of her name, and his heart
sped
up momentarily. Geez, if just the mention of her name was
having
this effect on him now, what was he going to do when he saw
her
again?
"P.J.?"
Ben was no fool, and he'd noticed P.J.'s reaction.
"What?
No, nothing like that. Me and Mags are fine. It's just
something
that I need to get my head around. Anyway, shut up and
change
the Channel, the footy's about to start, and I want to
watch
Collingwood
thrash St.Kilda"
"Don't
let Maggie hear you say that, she's a St Kilda girl through
and
through!" grinned Ben.
P.J.'s
grin widened. "I know mate, that's what makes it all the
more
fun.
I love watching the footy with Mags, she goes right off the
deep
end – especially when my team thrashes hers."
"You
just love spending time with her full stop!" retorted Ben with
a
grin, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. He had
meant
that they loved spending time together as friends, but
somehow,
it hadn't come out that way.
P.J.
froze for a microsecond, before schooling his features into a
grin.
"Of course I do, mate. She's my best friend. You know that,
and
why wouldn't I enjoy spending time with my best mate?"
Ben's
sharp eyes had not missed P.J.'s reaction, and he stored it
away.
P.J. liked Maggie. Well, why wouldn't he, they wouldn't be
best
friends if they didn't like each other. But, Ben suddenly
thought,
what if it were more than that? What if P.J. really liked
her?
Where would that leave me?
6
Nick
Shultz sat snuggled up on the couch, holding his very pregnant
wife
carefully in a hug. Zoe was so pregnant that Nick could only
just
get his arms around her, and the due date was fast approaching.
She
was on maternity leave, and was bored silly. They'd moved back
to
Mount Thomas because they wanted the baby to grow up in the
country,
and as happy as she was with the decision, Zoe missed
working.
She missed the hustle and bustle of the hospital, the
nervous
energy of it all, never knowing what would happen next,
never
knowing what would be around the next corner.
At
the moment, she was living vicariously through the man who
was
wrapped
around her, and she had to make do with the comings and
goings
of the Mt Thomas Police Station.
"So, what WAS P.J. doing there so early?"
"Well,
if you'd let me get a word in edgeways, I could tell you"
Nick
teased.
"Me
let YOU get a word in! You're the one who hasn't shut up for
the
past half hour Nicholas. Now talk. P.J. Why was he there at the
crack
of dawn?"
"You
know what? You look so sexy when you pout like that" tried
Nick,
back pedalling fast. Zoe was not the type of person to back
down,
and pregnant Zoe even more so.
Which
was why Nick's eyebrows shot through the roof when she
snuggled
in closer and grinned up at him. "Good try Nick. You're
getting
better. You'll never succeed, but you're getting better. You
have
to know by know that you can never hide anything from me. Now.
Tell
me about P.J. There's something going on there, and I want
to
know!"
Nick
shook his head in mock despair. She was right on both counts.
He'd
never fool her about anything – and he never wanted to, either.
And
on the second count, there was most definitely something going
on
with P.J. Hasham.
"Ouch!"
he yelped, nursing his ribs where she'd just elbowed
him.
"Ok, I guess I should start by – Zoe, listen, you have
to
understand
that you can't repeat this. This cannot go any further,
please
Zo," he said, gazing down at the woman he loved more than
life
itself. He was pretty sure he had no need to say this, but he
wanted
to make sure.
Hearing
the worry in his voice, Zoe looked up, nodding. "Nick,
don't
worry.
I won't tell a soul."
Nick
sighed. "Maggie and P.J. are in love. At least" he
managed,
holding
a squirming Zoe in place, "At least we think so. Well, P.J.
is,
but - Zoe! Keep still! I promised I'd tell you everything and I
will,
but getting all fidgety won't help!"
"But
Nick! Maggie finally told P.J. then? And he told her? This
is
fantastic!
Nick – "
"Slow
down woman! What on earth are you on about? What do you mean
they
finally told each other?"
"Nick,
how can you be so dense? You just have to look at them. P.J.
adores
her – he's always there for her, she's the first one he looks
for
when he gets in in the morning, and they always sit together in
the
pub, and they just suit each other so well, and she always looks
out
for him, and Maggie can calm him down like no-one else can, she
just
has to look at him in that way and he's putty in her hands,
and
– "
"Bloody
Hell woman, you have been bored haven't you! Where on earth
did
you get all of that?" said an almost speechless Nick,
secretly
rather
proud of the deductive prowess of his beautiful wife.
Zoe just grinned back at him. "So – why was P.J. in early?"
Nick
closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to seven o'clock
Saturday
morning.
OOO
Nick
was back at the tiny kitchen area by the time P.J. came back
inside.
There was no sign of Ben anywhere, and Nick had checked the
rota
again, Stewart was most definitely meant to be there.
"So,
Ben sent you in this morning then, did he? What's wrong, too
tired
after his long drive?" he asked sarcastically, but
not
maliciously.
"Might have to drive down your road later, and test the
sirens
– but wait a minute, we can't, because thanks to you matey,
we're
one car down and we may have a herd of rampaging elephants
that
need corralling, and when they find out we're a car down, all
hell
will break loose!"
"Er, Nick?"
"Sorry,
long night. Zoe takes up most of the bed now, and the couch
is
not that comfortable for a man of my stature!"
(At
this point on the story he found himself apologising to his
wife,
and praying that she'd move her elbow, right NOW!)
P.J.
grinned. "Sorry mate, you're stuck with Ben this
morning.
There's
no reason for me to be here, I just couldn't sleep, and
thought
I might as well bring the reports in. Just like I said. "
Nick
looked over at him. Really looked. There were dark rings under
P.J.'s
normally bright eyes, and he did look tired.
"Want
to talk?" he asked, knowing that P.J. wouldn't, but wanting
to
put
the offer out here anyway. P.J. Hasham and Nick Shultz were
friends,
good friends. In fact, Nick would go as far as to say that
apart
for Margaret, he and P.J. could be termed as best friends, if
grown
men still had best friends.
All
of that meant that Nick knew P.J. pretty well – and therefore
knew
that he wasn't one to talk. He kept his private life close to
his
chest preferring to work things out by himself, however long it
took.
The only one who'd ever even come close to cracking the shell
that
P.J. had perfected was Maggie, but this time, Nick was pretty
sure
she was the cause rather than the solution.
P.J.
closed his eyes for a second, wanting – needing – to talk,
but
unable
to let go. "Nick, I – nah, its nothing mate. " he
said,
before
wandering into his office and slumping in the chair behind
his
desk.
(Nick
had stopped at this point, needing a bathroom break and in
Zoe's
humble opinion was spending way too long a time washing
his
hands.
"Nicholas
William Shultz, get that gorgeous body of yours out here
right
now and tell me what happened next! Did P.J. talk? Is that
how
you know? What did he say? Is he going to tell Maggie? What will
the
Boss say?"
"Now,
now, Zoe, all in good time, " grinned Nick, as he wiggled
down
behind
her again, stealing a quick kiss as he did so.).
7
Saturday
had been good, and catching up on news with Ellie and
Sophia
had been fantastic. Neither had changed, and despite the
distance,
the job and the increasingly long time between catch-ups,
the
friendship was still as strong as ever. She'd caught up on all
of
the news, Ellie was pregnant again, and Sophia had just been
promoted
to regional manager and was in the first stages of a
romance
with The One'. At this, Maggie and Ellie had rolled their
eyes,
and even Sophia had to join their laughter. Sophia was
always
starting
relationships with The One', who just as quickly turned
out
to be The WRONG One'.
"So
how about you then Maggie? Any men on the horizon? Any gorgeous
guys
out there in the back of beyond?" Sophia asked, getting her
own
back.
They
both noticed the miniscule hesitation and pounced before Maggie
could
do anything.
"There is!" squealed Sophia in delight.
"Spill!" commanded Ellie.
"There's
nothing to tell. There's no-one to tell you about" said
Maggie
defensively.
"Now
Margaret Doyle, we know you. We've known you since you were
seven
years old and first arrived at St Christopher's Primary
school
– "
"And
Mrs Temple gave you to us to look after" Ellie and Maggie
joined
in, Sophia's words a familiar litany.
"Yes,
well, that may well be true, but it still doesn't mean I
have
anything
to tell you." Said Maggie, knowing that they would get it
out
of her eventually, but not at all sure quite what it' was.
"Oh yes it does, " said Ellie, seeing the emotions in Maggie's eyes.
"Who is he?" asked Sophia.
"Guys
– "at Maggie's hesitation, Ellie glanced over at Sophia.
This
wasn't
like Maggie. Sure, Maggie wasn't a great one for throwing
her
emotions
out there for all to see, but she was equally not usually
this
– tongue-tied wasn't the right word – worried?
Reticent?
"Maggie,
listen. How about we promise to listen and not judge? How
about
we promise not to tell a soul, and besides, if it's a guy from
Mt
Thomas, who are we going to tell anyway?" said Ellie, with
a
smile.
"And besides, if it's who I think it is, then I win a
thousand
points in the Ellie Romance Stakes!"
"The what?"
"Ok,
so I made that bit up. But I still reckon I know who it is!"
said
Ellie. Maggie was staring at her friend, half hoping she didn't
know
what the hell she was taking about, and half hoping that Ellie
had
hit the nail on the head. Maggie knew she needed to talk, and
these
two really would be the perfect people to talk to. They lived
in
the City, never came to Mt Thomas and had known Maggie since she
was
knee high to a grass hopper. And neither of them had met
P.J..
Except
that Ellie had, Maggie suddenly remembered. Two years ago,
after
a row with her future husband, Ellie had turned up on
Maggie's
doorstep,
whereupon Maggie had had a long talk with her and finally
got
her to go back to the City and to Scott. What she had forgotten
about
was the fact that a certain dashing detective had also turned
up
on her doorstep, swathed in black and white and ready to watch
the
footy. Ellie, sharp-eyed at the best of times, had seen the
look
Maggie
gave her while she mock-flirted with P.J. – and what's more
had
seen the look that P.J. gave Maggie when he mock-flirted back.
Not that Maggie knew that last bit.
"It is him, isn't it?"
Sophia
looked from one to the other. "Er, hello? Anyone care to fill
me
in? Who's him'? Him who?"
"Maggie?"
Ellie said, reading Maggie's expression. "Listen, forget
it,
lets – "
"No, you're right. I do – it, you're right, it is P.J."
"P.J." said a now thoroughly confused Sophia.
At Maggie's confused silence, Ellie was the one to explain.
"P.J.
is a friend of Maggie's back in Mt Thomas. Good looking bloke
too,
with seriously gorgeous eyes. Supports Collingwood, if I
remember
rightly, but that can't be helped. "
"So
what's the problem, Maggie? You've got a hot guy back there in
the
sticks, why haven't you made a move?"
Ellie
was rather confused by this too. "I agree, Maggie.
What's
stopping
you? And if I read him right, he was interested too, so
what's
stopping you going out and making mad passionate love under
the
stars and gracefully growin – Maggie?"
Maggie
wiped at the tears, cursing herself and grabbing at the
tissue
Sophia held out for her.
"What
is it? What's wrong? I'm sorry Maggie, " stumbled Ellie, "Me
and
my big mouth. He's married, isn't he?"
Maggie had to laugh at that one. P.J. married! As if!
"Ellie,
I'm sorry, it's not that!" she smiled, composing
herself.
"It's – well it's just that I work with him."
"And?" confusion was written all over her friends faces.
"And
there are rules in the Police Force. You are not allowed to
become
romantically involved with another member at the same
station,
and if you do, one of you will be transferred. So, no
matter
how much I love him – " and she stopped, a hand clasped
over
her
mouth, eyes widened in surprise.
"And
I guess that'll be the first time you've said that out loud!"
smiled
Sophia.
"N-no
matter how much I love him," and this time she said it in
a
good,
strong voice, her love for P.J. evident in her words, "
it
doesn't
matter, because if I ever told him, and if – IF – we ever
made
anything of it, then one of us would be transferred, and I
couldn't
cope without him. I know how weak and pathetic that sounds,
but
that's how I feel. I need him where he is, by my side everyday,
and
if that means keeping it all to myself, then that's how it'll
have
to be. "
"But what if he loves you too?" Ellie asked softly.
By this time, Maggie's emotions were at breaking point.
"He
doesn't Ell, he sees me as a friend, a best friend, but that's
it.
Guys, listen, I'm sorry, but I can't – can we change the
subject?
I can't think about this anymore, " she stopped, and ever
the
true friend, Sophia jumped in.
"Guess
what? Myers has a 50 sale on. All of this talk has given me
a
serious shopping craving, and I've decided it's time for a new
me.
And
you two are just the people to help me create my new look. Come
on!"
she said enthusiastically, pulling them both to their
feet.
"Let's go shopping!"