‘It might do some good…if there’s an appropriate moment. Don’t make a big thing of it,’ Tammy quickly advised.
‘Right! I’ll wait and watch and choose my moment. And thanks for opening up to me, Tam. I can see I need to re-think quite a few things.’
‘You and Fletcher are brother and sister. I’d like it if you could be friends, too, Celine.’
‘I’ll really make an effort,’ her friend promised.
Tammy came home from work the next evening to another surprise. Fletcher told her that his mother had telephoned, saying she was looking after Celine’s daughter for the Saturday and the Sunday of the Blue Mountains trip and would love to look after John, as well, arguing she hadn’t seen much of her grandson and it would be good for him and Tammy to have some free time together.
Celine at work behind the scenes, Tammy instantly thought. ‘What did you say?’ she asked warily.
‘I said I’d have to consult with you,’ he replied, a hard challenge in his eyes.
It meant they would be alone together in the hotel room, without their child as a buffer between them—the child whom Tammy had so bitingly stated was the only reason she was staying with Fletcher.
A self-conscious flush heated her cheeks. Agreeing to the plan would mean she wanted the more-intimate situation. If he still turned away from her when the time came…But the risk of being torn up emotionally had to be taken if this rift was ever to be bridged. He hadn’t rejected his mother’s plan outright. Maybe this was his way of reaching out to her.
She forced a smile. ‘I think it’s nice that your mother wants to have John. Mine would hate owning up to having a grandson.’
‘You’re happy to go along with the arrangement?’ he bored in, not prepared to assume anything.
‘Yes,’ she said quickly, then in a moment of stomach-roiling panic, added, ‘If you are.’
He nodded, his eyelashes lowering, but not before Tammy glimpsed a dark blaze of satisfaction. ‘I’ll let her know we’re both fine with it,’ he said in a flat tone, apparently intent on waiting to see how well the party with her friends went before committing himself to any further attempts at sharing her life.
Tammy liked Celine’s parents. It was relatively easy to remain relaxed with them during their brief visit to pick up John on the designated day, but as soon as they were gone, tension started mounting in her so badly, she dreaded the drive up to Leura with Fletcher. They loaded up the Lexus with their overnight bags, the fancy breads she’d bought, and the selection of sweets Fletcher had decided was better than just one choice. Once in the car and on their way, they didn’t talk at all. Fletcher played a selection of music, which was some relief because negotiating any conversation with him seemed perilous at this point.
Everyone arrived at Adam’s cottage more or less at the same time. The business of taking in their provisions for the party covered any awkwardness over greetings. Grant, whom Fletcher didn’t know, immediately went into a friendly ‘Hail fellow, well met,’ routine, clapping him on the back, smiling broadly as he said Hannah had told him Fletcher shared his passion for meeting the challenge of untamed nature, and suggesting the four of them do a trek tomorrow morning, taking on the famous rock formations of the Three Sisters at Katoomba.
‘Are you up for it, Tamalyn?’ Fletcher asked as though he was interested in the offer.
‘I am if you are,’ she answered.
‘Deal!’ he said, grinning at Grant, and Tammy started to relax.
Jennifer was effusively welcoming, especially when she eyed over the sweets Fletcher had brought. ‘Wow! This is a dream. A man who cooks delectable desserts!’
‘I’m only good for erotic stuff like oysters in the shell,’ Adam drily commented.
‘Having read and been very engaged by your first book, I don’t think you’re limited to oysters in the field of erotica,’ Fletcher remarked, making everyone laugh and toss excerpts from the book at Adam, showing appreciation of his wicked imagination.
It set a happy mood for the party and Tammy relaxed enough to enjoy the company of her friends.
The weather was kind to them. It was a lovely mild sunny afternoon, no mist obscuring the view of the Jamieson Valley—the blue haze of its massed eucalypt trees and the stark cliffs of the mountains strikingly beautiful. They sat outside, feasting at a long tressle table loaded with fine food and wine, chatting companionably on many topics. The only time Tammy’s stomach clenched with concern was when Paul brought up Fletcher’s work.
‘Max tells me you’re spearheading a new project. He visited Kirsty and me when he was in Sydney, meeting up with you and your other colleagues,’ he said with an air of keen curiosity. ‘No sitting on your laurels, Fletcher?’
‘I’ve never actually worked for laurels,’ Fletcher answered with a shrug. ‘It’s more the fascination of the challenge, beating the problems. The laurels are a by-product I’m not particularly comfortable with.’
There were a few moments of silence following this quiet declaration—whether from the shock of it or simply a pause for consideration Tammy couldn’t tell. She fiercely hoped no-one would say they could live very comfortably with a few billions.
Thankfully, no-one did.
‘So what is it you’re working on this time?’ Paul pushed. ‘Max wouldn’t say since the concept is yours.’
It put Fletcher right in the spotlight, everyone looking at him expectantly, and Tammy held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t freeze them out. They were simply interested, not viewing him as a tall poppy they wanted to cut down.
Fletcher shook his head, a wry little smile twitching his lips. ‘I’m no longer interested in creating some global change in technology. Having John has made me want to make things better for children. It struck me that computer games can be very powerful tools for teaching skills that will be useful to them, an easier path to learning if the learning is subtly mixed with entertainment. Maths is a mystery to a lot of children, but it needn’t be if the basic principles are packaged in a way they absorb while playing a game.’
‘Do you mean maths would become a more natural tool to them if they were drawn into it by the computer games?’ Andrew asked.
Fletcher nodded. ‘That’s what we’re aiming for.’
‘Well I think it’s marvellous!’ Celine said, looking admiringly at her brother.