The Road Home Read online

  “I don’t know about you but Angus Steakhouse screams steak to me.”

  “I get that impression too.”

  We take a seat and wait for the waitress to take our order. When she saunters over she eyes Gabe off with a look like she would devour him whole.

  “What’ll it be folks?” She asks in a Texan drawl.

  Gabe orders the pan fried gnocchi whilst I order the house special.

  “You’re at a steak house and you’re not even eating steak. That goes against all that is good in this world. What’s up with that?”

  He tips up his juice to take a sip before shrugging and answering, “I don’t eat meat.”

  “You’re a vegetarian?” I fail at hiding my shock and it earns me a chuckle from Gabe. “We could’ve gone somewhere else, Gabe. I feel terrible now ordering the steak.”

  He chuckled again, the sound helping me to relax a little. “It’s fine, Emmy. I don’t expect you to change what you enjoy eating just because you’re here with me. You didn’t know and we had a deal. Caviar for steak remember?”

  “Yeah, but that was before I knew you preferred caviar to steak.”

  “No one prefers caviar over steak,” he leans forward and whispers to me, “No one prefers that shit. It is disgusting.”

  I laugh too, “I still feel bad.”

  “If I knew you were going to feel anything but satisfied with your steak I wouldn’t have told you. It’s not a big deal. Seriously.”

  I change the subject, “So where is home for you?”

  I can see he’s thinking over my question, which strikes me as odd until he answers. “I haven’t decided yet. My family are scattered all over now and none of those places really feel like home to me. My sister and mum live in Cairns, my brother in Auckland, my dad lives in Perth with his new wife and my two step-sisters.”

  “That must make Christmas get-togethers really difficult.” I try to make light of the situation but the faraway gaze on Gabe’s face has me thinking he didn’t even hear me.

  The waitress returning with our meals is the perfect distraction from the conversation. My steak smells so delicious my mouth begins to water.

  “I don’t remember the last time we all got together for Christmas, we’ve never really been big Christmas-y people you know? My parents divorced when I was only twelve and before that we travelled around a lot because of dad’s work, so it was kind of hard to get together with cousins, aunts and uncles. I had resented the moving and wished we’d just settle in one place. My mum used to school us but I just wanted a regular school with regular friends, not my mum for eighteen hours a day and a teacher for the other six. When she settled it was all I could do to get out of there. I guess the lure was I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I did and then I left too, travelling anywhere and everywhere.”

  “Having a Christmas sometimes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in the family feel good holiday special type movies either.” I cut into my steak and fill my mouth with the taste of its perfection, it’s all I can do not to moan and roll my eyes. “So tell me some of the places you’ve travelled. Overseas?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been to some pretty incredible places. I’ve seen the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, bungee jumped in New Zealand, ridden camels in Egypt. I’ve done all the touristy things all over the world and some not so touristy but not once has it made me miss home.”

  “And yet, after seeing the world you still haven’t climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Shock horror!”

  ~ CHAPTER four ~

  Gabe argued to take the first driving shift, which was going to have him driving through the night. It was already dark before we left the restaurant, but the stroll along the promenade was nice with the lights of the city twinkling around us and on the opposite side of the harbour. The chill from the night causes my body to shiver involuntarily.

  “Are you cold, Em?” His voice filled with concern to match the slight frown on his lips.

  “Yeah, a bit.”

  Gabe drapes his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close to him. The warmth of his body wraps around mine, his heat biting into the freshness of the air.

  “Did you want to check out one of the bars along here before we head back to the car?”

  I was torn, I was having fun with Gabe but I also knew we could get on the road sooner if we left now. Looking up at him, and the hopeful look in his piercing crystal blue eyes helped make my mind up.

  “Sure, we’ve got time for one drink,” I hold up one finger to him, “One.”

  “Atta girl, Emmy.” Gabe pulls me in tighter to him as we continue down the promenade. It isn’t long before the bass greets us and the chatter coming from within the bar is inviting. “It’s my shout.”

  “No way, Gabe. You got dinner, I’ve got this. So what’ll it be?”

  “Light beer, I’m driving after all.”

  He props himself up on a stool while I go to the bar for our order. I watch him while I wait for my turn. He rests his forearms on the table in front of him as he glances around. Catching me watching him, he smiles. For a moment all other surrounding noise is muted. Only when the bartender pats the bar in front of me does my attention come back to placing our order.

  Miraculously, the car starts for Gabe on the first turn of the key. We grin at each other like idiots as the engine roars to life. Plotting the GPS I search for the nearest petrol station so we can fill up before leaving the outer suburbs of the city.

  Our luck with the car is short lived when it only whines when trying to start at the pump, Gabe curses under his breath as he climbs back out of the car, “Em, you’re going to have to scoot over and when I say, try to turn it over, okay?”

  I nod and wait for his instruction. There are cars behind us waiting to get to the bowser while Gabe tinkers around under the bonnet.

  “Try it now.” I hear him calling from the back of the car, right before the car coughs and dies. He lets out another curse before forcefully closing the bonnet. “Em, I’m going to get some help to push us out of the way of the pumps. Hang in there and I’ll be right back.”

  Before I realise what is happening the driver’s side door is being pulled open and Gabe is pushing the pillar, he must have realised he’d startled me and apologises before flashing me that killer smile. Guiding the car over to the end of the service area, he reaches in across my lap to engage the handbrake. “Won’t be long and we’ll be back on the road. I promise.”

  Gabe thanks the other men for their help before returning to the back of the car to tinker further. There is the sound of metal on metal before he calls for me to try the key again. This time success!

  I let out a little squeal of excitement before shuffling back over to the passenger’s side as Gabe climbs back in behind the steering wheel.

  “That was intense, I thought we were stuffed for sure.”

  “Did you doubt my usefulness, Emerson?”

  “No, Gabe. Not in the slightest.”

  The lights of the city begin to fade behind us as we make our way further away from the city. The houses we pass are further apart and there is less traffic on the road. Fences give way for bushes and trees.

  “It’s after eleven, you should try to get some sleep.” Gabe’s voice is soft but it fills the car in a soothing tone. Following his suggestion, I reach over to dig my pillow out from the cluster of our things spread across the backseat. I fiddle with the recline lever on the seat whilst Gabe adjusts the heater, filling the car with warmth. It doesn’t take long before I fall asleep, as comfortable as possible in my cramped little car with the knowledge that Gabe is sitting right next to me. Fleetingly, I wished we had decided on a hotel room for the night but I wasn’t prepared to trade the fun we had in Sydney together for it.

  The creaking of the door jolts me from sleep. Dazed it takes me a little while to get my bearings. The car is idling at the curb under a street light.

  “Oh hey, did I wake you?”

  I murmur in re
ply, “Where are we?” Yawning, I stretch before coaxing the seat to its sitting position.

  “Canberra.”

  “Did you say Canberra?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why are we in Canberra?” The panic in my voice was beginning to rise, the schedule didn’t allow for a stop in Canberra, so there was no logical reason as to why we were not kilometres down the highway and closer to home.

  “I needed the bathroom. What do you suggest I should’ve done? Was I supposed to just pull over and take a leak on the side of the road?” Gabe was irritated now as well, “Or maybe you would prefer I just piss into a bottle so not to disrupt your precious schedule? Come on, you’re being unreasonable.” I know what he says is right but I’m too stubborn to admit it. “We’ve not lost any time, I promise you. So cut me some slack, yeah?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I said I was sorry.”

  “I know, I just wanted to make you say it again.” Gabe indicates before pulling back on to the deserted road. “We’ll be back on the highway in twenty. Talk to me till then?”

  “Talk about what?”

  “I don’t know, anything. Tell me about the dream you were having?”

  Confused I turn to him, I don’t remember having a dream, in fact, I don’t remember falling asleep but I wondered why Gabe thought I had.

  “You were calling my name, Gabe, Gabe.” He whispers while mocking me before bursting out laughing.

  I swat at his arm. “You’re such a liar.”

  “Okay, I’ll admit it if you just stop hitting me. But you were snoring a little. It was kind of cute.”

  “Snoring is never cute and I do not snore!” I roll my eyes at him in the dark.

  “You should try to get some more sleep, it’ll be dawn before we know it.”

  A yawn escapes me as if to make his point. Snuggling back down in the seat I realise Gabe had covered me with his jacket. It smelt like him and that made me smile. Maybe with his scent invading my senses I will dream of him.

  “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  “Hi,” I croak out before clearing my throat. “What time is it?”

  “Just after seven.”

  The sun had risen but was still low in the sky. The landscape had changed and was now more crowded by building and houses.

  “Where are we?”

  “Just coming into Albury. I thought we could grab some breakfast and do a driver change? I’m wiped.”

  “That sounds good, I could really do with a good stretch. I really need somewhere to wash up too. Why does travelling always make you feel grimy?”

  Gabe shrugs just before he lets out a yawn; my heart went out to him. He looked tired.

  Gabe pulls the car into a space outside a bakery that boasts the biggest rolling pin, I can’t dispute it because it really was the biggest one I have ever seen, the pin – not the bakery.

  Climbing from the car my eyes are drawn to Gabe’s exposed skin, as he stretches his t-shirt rides up, putting on show all the naked, tanned and muscled flesh that has been concealed beneath its wrinkled fabric. I can’t help but stare and I can’t help the burning of my skin when Gabe notices I’m checking him out.

  “Shall we?” He’s smirking at me when my eyes finally make their slow climb to his face. His own eyes sparkle.

  “Huh?”

  “Coffee?” Raising an eyebrow at me, he asks.

  I hadn’t realised how hungry I was until we walked into the café, the smell of freshly brewing coffee, baked bread and cinnamon had my mouth watering at the mixture of aromas. Gabe insisted on buying breakfast, which we took to sit at the outside tables. The arm was warm, with the slight breeze carrying the scents of the spring blossoms. The streets were busier than I had expected at this time of morning. A couple with two small children were holding hands, heading in our direction.

  “How did you sleep?” Gabe asks before biting into his cinnamon roll.

  “Better than I expected actually.” I answered him truthfully. I had never been able to sleep in the car, not even as a kid on the long road trips and vacations we had gone on as a family. I had never been able to completely relax expecting I would miss something. There were times when I was so dead tired I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow but being in the car was completely different and I fought the sandman with everything I had.

  “You were talking in your sleep a little. It kind of sounded like you were arguing with someone.”

  It wasn’t the first time I had been told I talked in my sleep, Mark had reminded me of it on multiple occasions, I’d become paranoid of what I had been saying without knowing it. Mark had always been the jealous type, so sometimes he would wake and interrogate me about what I had been saying. I never had any type of recollection. I must’ve had a look of horror on my face.

  “It’s okay, Emmy. Don’t worry, you didn’t say anything bad. You didn’t plot my murder in your sleep so it’s okay. Relax.”

  He rests his hand awkwardly over mine holding the takeaway coffee cup. His words and touch were comforting and reassuring all the same time.

  “Should we get back on the road?” I do my best to change the subject, still feeling a little uneasy about talking in my sleep. “I figure we should be in Melbourne in,” Calculating the distance to travel and estimated speed limit in my head. “About four hours. We’ve got time to stop for lunch.”

  “Do you think we’ll have time to check out Bells Beach? We could drive the coast road.”

  “I don’t know Gabe, it could add extra time on to the trip.”

  “Oh, so you’ve seen Bells Beach before? What’s it like?” He leans forward to rest his chin on his palm, batting his eyelashes at me, again.

  “I don’t know. You’re hell bent on ruining the schedule aren’t you? Do I need to remind you of my overbearing mother who is eagerly anticipating my arrival with a lecture I’m sure will stem no less than four pages in her notebook.”

  “Emmy, there is nothing you can do to change how you mother is going to react, whether you arrive there on schedule or delayed by a couple of hours. Take advantage of what we have right now and enjoy it. The choice is yours.”

  The choice? He’s twisted my words to suit his argument, but he does have a point. I should take advantage of where I am in the now; my mother has no reach to me out here.

  “Fine. We’ll go to Bells Beach.”

  Gabe jumps up, nearly tipping the chair over to rush around to me. Pulling me carelessly from my chair he wraps me up in his arms.

  “You won’t regret it, Em.” He pulls back and I can see the colours in his eyes. They aren’t only blue but violet flecks like I’d never seen before. For a heartbeat, we both just stand gazing at each other. “You know what I want to do?”

  My eyes drop to his mouth before returning to his eyes. I have no words. All I can do is shake my head.

  “Hire a board and go out on the waves. What do you think?” It hadn’t been what I was thinking he wanted to do and I had an overwhelming feeling of disappointment that the thing he wanted to do wasn’t to kiss me.

  “I think it’s crazy.” Finally finding my voice.

  “It’d be fun. How many people do you know have surfed the iconic and world famous Bells Beach?”

  “I can honestly tell you that I know no one. You would be my first.”

  “That settles it then, we’re doing it together.”

  I don’t get a chance to argue it any further with him. Gabe drops his arms back to his side and skips off in a kind of uncoordinated way back to our waiting car. I rejoice slightly that I have finally found a flaw in the Gabe package. If the man can’t even skip the chances of him successfully riding a wave was pretty minimal. I stand by my statement of this being crazy. He was also wrong, I was already beginning to regret it.

  Gabe is asleep before we are even ten minutes down the road. Glancing over at him I couldn’t help but feel jealous of the incredible set of eyelashes he had that bru
shed his cheeks. He was snuggled up on my pillow in much the same way I had been, he looked so peaceful while he slept.

  Turning down the static that had become the radio station I occupied myself by humming some of my favourite songs. Songs I regularly sang the wrong words to but loved all the same. There was an obvious difference to driving with someone occupying the seat next to me than it had been when I was on my own. Gabe had a presence that filled the car and it was nice.

  ~ CHAPTER five ~

  Gabe stirs slightly at the sound of horns blasting as I nervously make my way through the city traffic. I bite my lip to hold in all the curse words I’m trying not to unleash. Checking my mirrors I try again to merge lanes, the panic starting to manifest itself while I try to negotiation the traffic without missing our exit.

  “Just let me in, arsehole. For hecks sake.”

  “You okay?”

  Hearing his voice my eyes are drawn to him and momentarily off the road ahead.

  “Oh, hey. Yeah, fine.” I dismiss his concern before turning my attention back to the road, it had slowed to merely a crawl now. Since when was middle of the day peak hour traffic?

  In an attempt to release a knot from my shoulder, Gabe gently massages me. It is more of a distraction than a help. I want to close my eyes against the movement of his firm and assertive hand.

  “Find somewhere to pull over, I can take over driving again.”

  “No, it’s fine.” I snap at him, more out of frustration than his offer. “Sorry, I’ve been stuck behind this idiot for the last twenty minutes and no one will let me merge to pass him.” The repetitive motion of Gabe’s hand causing some of my tension to dissipate causing me to sigh.

  “Em, just indicate and merge. They have to let you in.”

  His suggestion makes me nervous, gingerly I follow his instruction, repeatedly checking and double checking my mirrors whilst gripping the steering wheel and turning my knuckles white.