This story is a spin off from the Taking Chances series I did some time back. In chapter four I made reference to a woman called Heidi who'd caught Jodie's eye, but Heidi was too taken by Kelly to notice. Kelly does mention that Heidi is most likely straight but curious and so I decided to explore Heidi a little more. This gives me a chance to visit my old friends, Kelly and Jodie, who will play a part in this series. The story is set in the mountain suburb of Belgrave in Melbourne, a place I spent a lot of time in over the years. I hope you enjoy the new series.
Shaima.
*
Heidi had always tried to maintain a positive attitude to life, despite the setbacks she faced. The motivational poster in her kitchen basically stated that the sun still shone from behind the clouds. It had been a present from a guy she'd once dated. If she'd been willing to go along to his church she might well have become Mrs. Heidi Adams, but the thought of becoming a Christian just to get a guy down on one knee was too much for her. They'd parted on friendly terms and she still thought of him as a hell of a nice guy.
She thought of Peter the week her housemate moved out of their rented home in Belgrave, it was one of those thoughts that pops into your head and despite your best efforts to ignore it or push it to the back of your mind it keeps coming to the fore. There was no way she could afford the rent now that Raelene was gone, the house was located a mere five minutes walk from the main street of Belgrave and the train station. It was in a prime location, something the landlord had no doubt factored into his calculations when he set the rent so high.
There were plenty of queries over the next month but the price was a little on the steep side and she began to seriously contemplate moving back to her parents' home in Chirnside Park. It wouldn't be the first time and yet she didn't make that call yet, it would mean travelling even further to work and yet on balance she admitted she'd be better off with a reduced rent. She privately conceded it was pride that stopped her. This was a place she'd fought to get and for the last few years she'd managed to stay here and in that time she'd been through three housemates. The high rent wasn't the only factor though, her first housemate was working in the city at the time and the travel was killing her. When you added in the isolation factor it made life harder, Belgrave was the last stop on the Belgrave line, so owning a car kind of went without saying.
Nevertheless, the thought of calling Peter did stay with her for that month and she didn't act on it until a potential applicant suddenly called to tell her that she'd found a cheaper room. She didn't know why that angered her but it did and she stared at that bloody poster as she ended the call and leaned on the island bench in the kitchen.
"Okay, God," she directed her voice at the poster, "I give in, I'll call him."
Despite her desperate straits she tried to make it sound like one of those, 'how ya going, calls and now I've got you by the short and curlies, Raelene has moved out and did he know of anyone who might like to rent a room?' There was a momentary pause and she actually thought the call had dropped out and then he let out one of his 'well that's an answer to prayer.'
"Sorry?" Heidi moved closer to the window.
"Um, yeah I know someone, hang on, let me call you back in five."
He hung up and she waited for a few minutes. Who could he have in mind? Someone from his church? It brought a slight frown to her face. Raelene was a white witch, now she was calling on a Christian.
I've gone from one to the other,
her eyes shifted as the phone rang again and she swiped the screen and put the phone to her ear.
"Peter."
"Sorry, just had to call my cousin. She's interested, but there's a slight problem," he paused, "although it might not worry you so much."
"What's the slight problem?" Heidi pictured some theological student or pastor.
"She's gay, she just broke up with her partner and right now she's staying at a friend's place but it's a temporary thing, she's looking for six months at least, maybe more."
"Oh," Heidi smiled and put her back to the window.
"I'm not homophobic," she went on, "when you said slight problem I thought she'd just lost her job or had multiple personality problems."
"No, nothing like that. Zoe is thirty six, she's a database manager at Swinburne TAFE in Croydon and very stable. I know I'm biased but it's true. You couldn't meet a nicer woman."
"Okay, so bring her around. It's been a while since we caught up."
It took another call to Zoe before he came back with a time.
"Friday night? About sevenish?"
"Perfect, I'll order a pizza."
"Don't worry about that I'll pick it up on the way through."
She managed a smile when she put the phone down. Sometimes giving in to urges paid off and other times it went nowhere. So the woman was gay? She pictured Kelly as she touched the tattoo. Kelly had wound up with Jodie, another woman at her gym and yet despite the fact that Heidi had harboured a crush on her they all remained friends. Kelly and Jodie were just one of three gay couples the other two were in Olinda. This past year had seen her circle of friends widen a little more to include these couples, and yet she always felt as if she was just skirting around the edges of the gay community. So far no one had suggested she dip her toes.
This should be interesting,
she mused that night as she slipped under the duvet.
That week was busier than normal. Heidi worked as a manager at a beauty counter down at Knox City and that Friday saw her dealing with a regional manager she'd come to hate with a passion. The woman was a classic example of someone promoted way above her abilities and there were times she suspected the woman knew it. Heidi managed to satisfy her and keep the girls from staging a revolt and then she was heading home.
She did think of Zoe as she drove past Kelly's tattoo studio in Upwey and wondered if she should drop in and see if Kelly knew someone called Zoe but the traffic behind her was too heavy and she still had to get changed and make sure the house was as tidy as possible. She'd done her housework the previous night but this was something she couldn't afford to screw up and so she checked and double checked that everything was in place. She changed out of her uniform and into blue jeans, white top and mottled brown jumper, Ugg boots completed the Mountain Girl look.
She contemplated herself in the mirrored, floor to ceiling wardrobe door. Her long blonde hair hung halfway down her back, framing a squarish face with a firm jawline and blue eyes. She didn't have her mother's petite figure but she didn't carry as much weight compared to twelve months ago, a regular gym routine had taken care of that. Her attire was a deliberate attempt to dress down and reflected a relaxed country look but should she dress up? She peered at the door, picturing the clothes hanging behind it, there were plenty of outfits to choose from if she wanted to put on a good impression.
This is who I am,
she finally decided,
be yourself because no one else can.
She didn't know where that saying came from but it seemed to fit, she ran a brush through her hair one last time, sprayed some perfume on and then it was time to throw some wood into the pot-bellied heater and start a fire. The pot-bellied heater was one of the more attractive features she thought, although getting wood for it could put a dent in your budget.
Peter pulled up just after a quarter past seven in his white, 1978 Holden ute, a few seconds later a red Holden Commodore pulled up behind him and Heidi stared at the car. He'd said she was stable, she certainly drove a much newer car than either Peter or herself, it looked brand new.
"I asked for five loaves and two fishes but all they had was two pizzas and garlic bread," Peter greeted her with a smile.
"They'll have to do," she stepped aside just as Zoe came to a halt on the verandah. She had a two litre bottle of Coke in her hand and a handbag. She came to a dead halt and Heidi felt her stomach drop away as she stared at her.
He'd said she was thirty six. What he'd failed to tell her was that she was absolutely gorgeous, although she would have thought it weird if he had mentioned that at all she managed a wry smile. Zoe was a few inches taller than her and dressed in a dark brown, satin blouse with a mandarin collar and structured ruffles covering the buttons. It was tucked into black trousers accessorised with a white belt and silver buckle. Her hair fell to just past her shoulders in cascading waves, framing an aquiline face with delicately formed cheekbones and bow shaped lips that parted in a smile to expose perfect teeth.
