Author's note: This chapter contains no case elements but quite a lot of gratuitous romance!
Barbara stared at him, barely believing her ears. He had made his offer sound almost innocent. She waited for him to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. She willed him to kiss her. Tommy did not move. His eyes remained fixed on hers but he made no attempt to move closer.
As soon as he made the suggestion he regretted it. What would Barbara think of such a forward proposition? He knew as he looked in her eyes she desired him as much as he wanted her but if they bathed together it could only lead to one place and he did not want her to think his feelings were only lustful. He needed to woo her and let her see he loved her.
After a minute he finally looked away. "I mean we both have sore legs. We could both sit on the edge and dangle them in the bath while we talk about the case."
"We could," she replied curtly, "but I'm hungry. I think I'll go out for something to eat. You can come if you want to or you can dangle your aching legs in the bath!" She turned and walked out leaving Tommy cursing under his breath.
He changed quickly into jeans and a casual shirt and met her in the living area. They said very little as they left the hotel and headed towards the Quay. They turned the corner into George Street and saw people thronging towards the harbour. "Oh Vivid," he said, "I forgot."
"Might be fun," she replied, determined to ignore what had just happened. She was confused by his mixed signals and embarrassed that she had probably let him see in her eyes how much she loved him. It had frightened him. She could not blame him, he had probably just thought of her as a distraction, a dalliance while they were away from London. She might have been prepared to accept that. It was not as if she planned to marry him and run away to Cornwall but the tension between them needed resolution, or at least she had thought so. Well he could forget all about his fancy hotel rooms and petty jealousies; he had had his chance and ignored it so that door was now firmly closed.
They followed the crowd towards the Harbour Bridge. A sign proclaimed the area as The Rocks. "They even do that "the" thing with their suburb names," she said with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
Tommy read the sign. "Seems it was established during the First Settlement from 1788. Many of the buildings come from sandstone that was quarried locally on the hill behind us which is what gives it its name. Makes sense. It was once an area of wharves and slums frequented by 'sailors, prostitutes and rats'. Oh it says here this was the site of a plague outbreak in 1900 and that led to the demolition of many buildings. More followed when they started construction on the Bridge after the First World War. It was one of the areas protected by union Green Bans in the 1970s and that led to the development of the area as a tourist attraction."
"Fascinating, does it say where to eat?"
"Don't be like that please Barbara."
"Like what?" she snapped.
"Dismissive. I like history and I like to understand more about the places I visit. I didn't mean to bore you. I was hoping you might share my interest."
"Why?" she asked, genuinely confused as to why it would matter to him. She understood he was more intelligent and far better educated than her but he did not have to continually rub her nose in it.
"Because I enjoy talking about ideas with you. We do it at work with cases but I'm interested in your opinion on a range of matters and part of the joy of travel is discovering new things together and discussing them. Helen was never interested either so if you don't want to that's fine. I'll keep quiet."
Barbara looked at him and frowned. Why am I being compared to Helen? "Sorry, I'm just tired and I thought you were…doesn't matter. What sort of plague? Bubonic like the Black Death of the Middle Ages?"
"Yes, so it seems." As they walked down the street passed convict built cottages and bigger warehouses that were now full of vibrant little stores, Tommy continued to talk about fleas, the plague and its effect on Europe and how modern outbreaks that are treated with antibiotics. Barbara made a conscious effort to listen and be involved as their conversation drifted onto the architecture and finally the light displays that were beamed onto the sandy facades of the buildings. The crowd was growing steadily but they fought their way into a pub crammed with people all trying to order a beer or a chardy.
"What's a chardy?" she asked him.
"Chardonnay I think. Nothing here is ever called by its real name."
"See, that's what I mean. They're odd."
"Yes, they're a weird mob*," he said chuckling at his own joke. He saw her puzzled expression. "I'll explain later."
When Tommy asked for a menu they were escorted out the back by a dark-haired woman dressed as a nineteenth century serving wench complete with mop cap. Her bodice was laced so tight Barbara wondered how she breathed but the effect of pushing her assets up and almost out of her white muslin blouse reminded her of a show she had seen on the BBC about the underclass of Dickens' London. As they walked Barbara saw that the narrow, crowded front bar area hid a gem. Through a narrow door they entered a large beer garden with rows of trestle tables flowing down across five terrace areas. There was a large open barbeque area on the middle terrace where patrons cooked their own steaks.
The buxom wench escorted them to a spot on the end of one of the trestles on the terrace above the barbeque. The heat from the fire drifted up making dining outside cosy. The wench dumped a sloshing jug of beer and two pint jugs before them. "Sorry but with Vivid on everythin's packed. It's fixed price up front for a jug, two steaks and salad from the salad bar. If I were you I'd send one for the salad while one of yers waits here and then do the same for the steaks."
Tommy paid her and suggested Barbara fetch the salads. When she returned he smiled at her. "You know I don't know how you like your steak cooked."
"We rarely go places that actually ask," she replied laughing. All the tension from earlier had gone and she was relaxed and enjoying herself. "Medium."
Tommy jostled amongst the other patrons to find two juicy steaks and a spot to cook them. From where he stood he could watch her. A few times he caught her watching him. He regretted not kissing her in the bathroom. He had certainly wanted to and he had seen Barbara would not reject him but he wanted to make love to Barbara properly; slowly and in a manner that honoured her and how he felt about her. The tension in the bathroom had been too great. He knew that it would have resulted in a passionate, hasty and lustful encounter. It was not right to give in to temptation like that and have sex on the bathroom floor, no matter how much both of them might have wanted to do exactly that. The thought stirred his desires and it was only when he noticed his steak burning that he recovered.
He gave Barbara the best looking steak. "Sorry it might be a bit overdone. It was hard to judge the heat."
"Perfect," she said as she cut it. He was relieved to see the steaks were succulent inside a slightly blackened crust.
As they ate a bush band struck up and everyone started to sing heart renditions of Bound for Botany Bay and even Danny Boy. Barbara had a beautiful voice and he sat transfixed as she joined in the choruses ignoring her elbow in his ribs to make him sing. "This is like an Irish sing-a-long at a German beer festival," he said leaning close to her ear when the band moved further away.
"I've never been to either so can't say," she replied, "you can take me one day."
Tommy grinned into her ear. "I will."
Back out on the street they pushed their way through the crowds gathered around the market stalls that sold old photographs of Sydney, a myriad of styles of artwork and timber craft and a range of unique knick-knacks. Tommy took Barbara's hand in an area where jostling bodies were threading through an intersection, some trying to head to the water and others into the city. When the swarm of people thinned he kept hold of her hand and was pleased when she made no attempt to wriggle free of his grip.
They negotiated their way to the water and stood at Campbell Cove looking up at the Bridge. All the arches and lines were lit in a kaleidoscope of swirling colour. Images of famous Australian paintings, some of which Tommy recognised, were projected onto the pylons in an ever-changing show interspersed with bold abstract patterns that were rather hypnotic. Behind them the three levels of the solid old warehouse was illuminated with photos of old sailors and three masted riggers that once carried goods a record speeds between the East End docks and here. "It's a smaller world than you think."
They slowly wandered around towards the city, caught in a shuffling column of camera-wielding visitors. Opposite the Opera House a space opened up and Tommy skilfully and politely pushed to the front. The white, tiled sails of the Opera House shone in the spotlights.
"You'd think they'd light that up," Barbara said, bewildered that such a canvas would be ignored.
"They do, just wait."
They both looked out across the water. Ferries moved past swiftly carrying more visitors into the city while tourist boats and pleasure craft bobbled in their wakes waiting for the light show to start. As the crowd pressed in tighter Tommy dropped her hand and stood protectively behind her. He snuggled in close and leant his arms on the railing in front of her. It had the same effect as if he had wrapped his arms around her but if she questioned it he could say he was just keeping her safe.
Taking his hand in the crowd had been sensible. It would have been awkward to be separated. What she had not expected was how comforting and calming it was to be physically connected to him. It seemed almost natural, just as it did when he stood behind her. They were not quite touching except where their arms brushed each other on the railing but she could feel the warmth of his body through her shirt. Despite her promise to herself earlier that she was not going to succumb to his mixed signals she shifted her weight so that her back made contact with him. She heard his sharp intake of breath.
When Barbara nestled into him Tommy leant forward and wrapped his arms firmly around her and lent his chin lightly on her head. The loudspeaker crackled and then noise and light erupted around them. The white sails were filled with a dazzling swirl of colourful images and the buildings lining the quay came alive to the music. The edges of the skyscrapers turned green and then blue then red then aqua before merging onto a rainbow of movement. The pounding beat of the music was perfectly timed with the lights and the effect was surreal and almost hypnotic. When the show finished ten minutes later the crowd applauded raucously but Tommy had lost focus on the show. For the last few minutes he had been kissing Barbara's neck and nibbling playfully on her ear.
At first Barbara did not notice Tommy move his head. When he nuzzled his face into her neck she had been too shocked to react. She stayed perfectly still watching the colour dancing before her. When his teeth nipped at her earlobe she had groaned involuntarily. From the wave of pure joy that washed through her it seemed her ears were directly connected to areas deep within her. She turned her head towards him and expected him to finally kiss her. The music and the lights stopped. They were looking intently at each other, neither quite wanting to break the spell. Someone pushed into them as they rushed past and the moment was lost.
They sauntered back to the hotel swept along at the lumbering pace of the crowd. At first Tommy had his arm around her shoulder but closer to the city, as people dived across their path darting for trains and buses, they had reverted to holding hands. Tommy had so much to say but for once was lost how to start. Besides, telling someone you had been friends and partners with for years that you were now in love with them was not a conversation for a noisy footpath.
Barbara was scared. She knew without doubt that Tommy's intentions were physical. She still had no idea if they were temporary or more serious but in a few minutes she would have to decide if she was prepared to risk everything on either prospect. Kissing was one thing but consequences would follow. She was still undecided when they stepped out of the lift and Tommy opened their apartment door.
"I enjoyed tonight," she said dropping his hand and breaking the awkward silence.
"So did I," Tommy answered. He walked to the window and looked out over the Bridge and Quay where they had been.
Barbara moved up next to him. "My feet are still sore though, what about you?"
Tommy was not sure how to answer. "Mmmm," he said non-committally.
Barbara decided. "Is your offer still open?"
He looked across at her and smiled. "Yes."
"Go and get changed then."
He stood in his room pondering whether to wear his underwear which was more form hugging or his sleep shorts which were more forgiving if his thoughts strayed but which might reveal more than planned if they got wet. He settled for his underwear. He grabbed the robe from his bathroom and wrapped it around him protectively.
As she changed into a tee-shirt and fresh underwear Barbara wondered what was in Tommy's mind. He constantly gave off signals that he wanted to deepen their friendship but stopped short of doing so. Watching the lightshow had crossed some sort of line but if he kept vacillating she would simply kiss him and see how he reacted.
Tommy knocked on her door. "Come in."
They were both wrapped in their robes. Tommy put his hand gently on her back as they entered the bathroom. He adjusted the light to a very low glow that was just enough to move around safely but allowed the lights of the city to dominate. Barbara turned around to face him as he undid his robe. She had expected him to have a tee-shirt on and when she saw his naked chest she momentarily stopped breathing fearing he might be completely nude. As the black shape of his shorts appeared she began to breathe again and undid her gown. Tommy hung the robes on the hooks then sat on the edge of the bath and allowed his feet to slip into the steamy water. He held up his hand and Barbara took it as she lowered herself next to him.
Tommy held her hand firmly but not uncomfortably, making no attempt to let it go. "Oh that feels good."
Barbara presumed he meant the water but so much of the last few hours had been different to her perceptions. The city, lit by streetlights and the patterns of Vivid, created a soft, ethereal light in the room. "The city looks amazing."
"Yes, almost as good as you did in that green blouse."
She looked at him in surprise. "I thought you were just being polite."
He let go of her hand and turned to her. "No, I meant it." He brought his hand up and placed it gently on her cheek. She shivered under his fingers as he stroked her face gently. "You're beautiful Barbara and when you dress like that the world can see it too."
She waited, thinking that surely this time he must kiss her. He was still watching her but made no move towards her. Enough was enough! If he wouldn't kiss her she was going to kiss him! She moved her weight to her right to reach him. "Whoa!"
Splash!
At first Tommy thought she had jumped into the deep bath to avoid him but then he realised she had slipped off the edge. She stood up and wiped the water from her face and hair. Her wet tee-shirt clung to her enticingly and he tried to look away. Tonight was not about his physical desires. He had been about to tell her he loved her. Somehow he thought that was the right thing to do before you change forever a friendship that had endured through the stresses of the last decade. Now watching her spluttering about in the water he ignored the niceties and slid in after her sending a wave of water across the marble floor. They both started to laugh and splash each other. Tommy moved closer slowly and she edged back against the edge of the bath.
When his hands closed over her waist Barbara knew something was going to happen but instead of kissing her he lifted her up and sat her on the ledge. "I think you were about there."
Barbara placed her hands on his shoulders, partly to touch him but mostly to stop him hopping out and sitting next to her. This time he inched his face closer at a speed that was for her agonisingly slow. Her hand knotted behind his head. This had better be worth it after this build up!
"I love you Barbara," he said tenderly before this time he finally kissed her.
"They're a Weird Mob" by Nino Culotta (John O'Grady) is a classic Australian comic novel about an Italian who is sent to Australia after WW2 to write articles about the Australian way of life to help Italian immigrants and is totally bewildered by the local idioms.