Apologies for disappearing for so long. Hope you're still enjoying the story and thanks for reading and for feeding me with feedback.
C
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"You're doing WHAT?" Nick demanded, before Zoe glared at him and pulled him into the kitchen, out of range of a snoring PJ, who had passed out on the couch.
Zoe had arrived home to find the pair of them watching a boxing match on the television, the sound turned down, and their own version of the commentary taking place instead. The trouble was that PJ kept slipping in and out of sleep, the beer and emotions of the day finally taking their toll. Zoe was pleased to see that Nick wasn't half as drunk as his mate, but still, she wasn't exactly looking forward to the talk she was about to have.
"Shhh!!" she pulled the kitchen door almost shut. "I don't want him to hear this, especially today, it would just about kill him."
"Zoe, what the hell are you talking about? What do you mean Maggie might be alive?"
"NICK!!! Will you PLEASE keep you voice down?!" she sighed, moving over to the sink and fixing herself a glass of water. All the way home, she had gone over it in her head, over and over, and each and every time it got more confusing. Nick sighed, and came over and wrapped his arms around his wife.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. It's just – well saying it's been the day from hell doesn't even come close. He may be doing ok workwise, but emotionally PJ isn't coping. He loved her so much, hell, he still does Zoe, and I don't think that will ever change. That's it for him. Maggie was it. I don't think he'll ever find a you, not like I did." Nick turned Zoe around, placing a gentle kiss on he lips, breaking away with a smile. "I love you Zoe, you do realise that, don't you"
"I know," she smiled back at him. "I love you too, and that's why I have to do this. I have to go with Tom, I have to find out what this Kay woman is on about, because if it IS her, if it is Maggie, then – " her voice tailed off as she looked over at PJ, asleep on the couch, his arms wrapped around a cushion, one long leg dangling off the edge of the couch.
Nick rested his head on top of Zoe's, before leading her over to PJ's kitchen table and sitting down. "Talk to me."
"I'm not even sure if I understand it myself." Zoe took a deep breath. "Ok, well, it seems that there is a woman called Kay Van Doorn. She lives up on the other side of Sydney with her son Luka. Apparently they used to live around here for ages before her husband died, but they kept themselves to themselves, mostly though Mr. Van Doorn's doing."
"Yeah, I think I met him once, nasty piece of work. I heard that there was a wife, but I never even met her." Nick said.
"Well, this Kay, she and her son moved away after her husband died, and they were happy. Then two years ago, they got a new neighbour, one Mel Draper and her twin babies," Zoe said quietly.
"Her WHAT?!" Nick said in a surprised whisper.
"Yes, that's what you might call the icing on the cake," Zoe said with a wry smile. 'Anyway, this Mel, she – well it seems that she had had amnesia, and was trying to rebuild her life again."
"Convenient" Nick said.
"I know," Zoe said with a small grin. "And that's what I thought as well. It's like one of those soap shows, where the missing person has been there all the time and appears just at the right time. Thing is," the grin fell away, " the pictures that Kay and Luka showed me, Nick, they're – its – " she sighed, digging around in her bag. When she'd agreed to go with Tom, she'd known that Nick would take some convincing. Placing the photograph that Luka had grudgingly lent her, in front of Nick, she smiled sadly when she heard his audible gasp.
"Zo, it – "
"Now do you see why I have to go? Nick, for PJ's sake – especially after today – I have to go. I have to find out. And, sweetheart, PJ can't know, not yet. It would kill him if he got his hopes up and it wasn't her. I don't think he would cope, he – "
"Go. You and Tom go and find out if this is – if it's – " Nick swallowed. " If this is Margaret," he said, the old nickname slipping easily from his lips, " You go and find out. Leave PJ to me." He glanced over his shoulder at his best friend who was now snoring on the couch.
"What will you tell him?" Zoe asked.
"I have no idea, but I'll think of something. Now, let's get buggerlugs over there to bed, and then we can get some sleep too. You and Tom have an early start tomorrow" he smiled, dragging himself to his feet and smiling down at Zoe.
With rather more effort than Nick had expected, he finally dragged a still snoring PJ into his bedroom, dumping him on his bed and courageously removing PJ's boots, but drawing a line in the sand at going any further. There was only so much a best friend would do when it involved putting his mate to bed, and in Nick's eyes, boot removal was enough. Luckily for PJ, Zoe was a little more accommodating, and gently removed both his jeans and shirt, covering him over with the doona, and leaving a glass of water and some headache tablets within easy reach.
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PJ rolled over, trying to block out the sunshine – and immediately regretted the move. Cranking open one eye the minimal amount to be able to see, he was inordinately grateful for the glass of water and the painkillers that swam into view. Forcing himself to move, he raised his head, took a mouthful of water, swallowed the pills and let sleep wash over him again.
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Nick stood in the doorway, his wife in his arms as they watched Tom's car pull to a stop. Neither was quite sure what to say. On the one hand there was the fervent hope that it was Maggie, that she was alive and had 'come back from the dead' – but then if it wasn't her, then they would have to deal with losing her all over again. Lying in bed last night, they had both decided not to tell PJ what was going on, not yet – if ever.
Tom got out of the car, closing the door quietly and coming over to the pair of them, a tired look in his eyes. "You two look like you slept as much as I did" he said with a small smile. "Nick mate, it's good to see you, even under these circumstances." He said as they shook hands.
Nick nodded. "Good to see you too Boss. I – well, I just hope it all works out. Listen, you get going and I'll sort out PJ when he wakes up."
"Any idea what you'll tell him?" Zoe asked. "I mean, he's going to wonder where Tom is, and why I'm not here."
"You know me, it'll come to me when I'm saying it" Nick said, reaching down and kissing Zoe before he put her bag in the boot of Tom's car. "Now, get going before he wakes up."
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This time PJ made it to an upright position, his head pounding, although not quite as much as it had earlier. Squinting, he managed to see the time, and forced himself to get out of bed. Weaving his way to the bathroom, he was soon done and headed towards the kitchen in search of - well, he wasn't quite sure what he was in search of, but he'd know it when he found it.
The radio was blaring out some nameless tune when he got to the kitchen, accompanied by the tuneless sound of one Nicholas Shultz. PJ groaned at the sound – nothing had changed, the man was still in a league of his own when it came to singing.
"Morning Patick!" Nick bellowed when he saw PJ, thrusting a glass of water towards him, grinning as PJ glared back.
"Shut up Shultz."
Nick grinned, moving over and pulling a chair out at the table. "Sorry mate, couldn't help it. Now, what can I get you for brekkie?"
"More water, and toast and Vegemite. What? It's my hangover cure. No idea why, but it woks every time. Don't be stingy with the Vegemite either, the more the better." PJ managed a grin. "And where's Zoe? Sleeping in?"
"Zo? She's, ah, one of her patients back home went into labour – and the silly woman refused to go anywhere without Zoe being there. She'll be back as soon as she can, she said to look after you and to give you a big sloppy kiss when you woke up" Nick gave his trademark goofy grin and began to advance on PJ, who was backing away, the chair scraping across the floor.
"Get lost you great oaf, " he laughed, standing up, Vegemite toast in hand. "Zoe's had a lucky escape by the sound of it. I'm going to grab a shower, then I'm going to drag you down to the station and you can earn your keep while your wifeless."
Nick grinned back at him, waiting until he heard the water start running before he breathed a sigh of relief, reaching up and massaging the back of his neck with a tired arm.
"Please let it be her," he whispered.