The walk was indeed more strenuous than the one I had been on with Cindy and Caz the week before. Garry and I helped each other up steep bits and stopped at various lookouts to sit and admire the view. I opened up about my family and Garry talked about his job and how he was taking fewer cases than previously to give him time to write.
"What sort of writing?" I asked as Garry offered me some trail mix from a packet in his backpack.
"It's fiction, sort of."
"Like crime fiction?" I could imagine a barrister having a little knowledge of crime and intrigue.
"No, not exactly. It's, well it's about a guy who grows up too fast and then discovers he can sort of un-age again but realises that any dreams he might have once had sort of evaporated as he lived the life he did."
"Sounds interesting. I'd like to read it sometime."
"It's not finished yet. My therapist put the idea into my head." I sat and listened as Garry spoke, wondering if there were some autobiographical elements in this story after all. "Sort of more like you can't dwell on the what-ifs because they may stop you from seeing that the reality isn't so bad after all."
"So, your current reality is all good then?" I asked as I sipped some water from the canteen I carried.
"It's got its good parts, yes. I mean, I have a job I still love, an amazing daughter and, I suspect a daughter-in-law to be, a dog who still rests his head on my lap and comes running with me. I live in a beautiful home and I'm financially secure."
Garry stood, indicating we were going to continue our walk. I was not convinced by his declaration of life is good. Cindy and Caz had told me that they planned to move north, and I sensed this would make Garry lonely.
As we walked down towards the car park after taking in the amazing views from the top of the waterfall, I could sense something was troubling Garry. Several times he looked as though he was about to say something but decided against it.
"I'm so glad I bumped into Cindy at that pub," I ventured as the car park came into view. "I have often thought about the two of you and wondered how you were getting on."
"I'm so glad too, I really am. I tried to get her to talk to you, but she was just so angry. Babs wasn't the easiest of people to be around and she and Cindy often butted heads. The fact they did it the night she chose to kill herself did not help things."
"I get that."
"I don't regret the time we spent together though, even if it was with Vanessa and not Libby, but, I was, no, never mind."
"I was wondering if you'd let me shout you a late lunch in town on the way home? The pub should be open."
"I-I'd love that as long as you wouldn't mind being seen with an old man like me."
"Cut it out! You are not old! Just, for the record again, it would be lunch with Libby. Vanessa doesn't exist anymore."
"I'd like that," Garry smiled as we climbed into his car and made our way into town.
~*~*~*~*~
"Mith Cartwright, Mith Cartwright!" I could hear my name being screamed from across the street as we pulled up in town. "Did you get school holidays too, Mith Cartwright?"
"Hello Jenny, Dr Ng, Mr Matsi, sorry, no, I've got this, Mr Matsubotu. I'm sorry, I don't know why I always butcher your name."
"We told you at the interview, it's Di and Kai— you should remember that!"
"Mith Cartwright, is this your boyfriend?"
"Jenny, this is my friend Old McDonald!"
"Does he have a farm?"
"Why yes, I do, young miss!"
"We're going camping in a tent!"
"We're going to try camping in a tent, but I suspect we'll end up in a hotel!" Di laughed as she ruffled her daughter's hair.
Di was expecting their second child and I was not sure how camping would go whilst pregnant. It was all Jenny would talk about— the imminent arrival of her new baby brother.
Walking into the pub I saw a few locals nod their heads at Garry and he gave a small wave back.
Cindy was working behind the bar and poured her father a beer and a white wine for me.
"How was the walk, you two?"
"Strenuous!" I replied.
"Dad, you'll have the regular, Libbs, you'll have what I would have, which is a chicken salad, right?"
"What's your usual?" I asked Garry.
"Pulled pork burger and chips."
"I'll have what he's having, thanks!" I laughed.
"The salad is really good— you're missing out!"
"Yeah, well perhaps my tastes have changed."
As we sat at our table Garry had a huge smile on his face. It took me a while to realise that I did too.
"What are you smiling about, Mith Cartwright?"
"I'm smiling because you're smiling, Old McDonald!"
"It's going to stick, isn't it?"
"You're the one saying how old you are, after all!"
"Yeah, I suppose..." Garry's smile faded as he took another sip of his beer.
"No, I didn't mean that, I'm just, well you've got a farm and everything, so if the cap fits! Say, I've been thinking about reflecting on past dreams and having to push them aside and wonder if you need to do that? I mean, I still want to travel and would have done it through uni if the borders were open, but now they're opening up again and I was hoping to head to Thailand in the next holidays. It's not too late for you to start travelling too."
"Maybe. I hadn't considered it I suppose. I always wanted to see parts of Asia, also Africa, Europe, and America. Geez, I still want to see everywhere."
"I'm sure you've got other goals and dreams that you can still fulfil, too?"
"Yeah, I had one that was more a fantasy I think, and I really stuffed up unloading it on, or should I say, in Vanessa. It was, well, there's no other word really, it was creepy."
I thought back to that time and the memories of the night we spent together. I often reflected on that night as I stroked myself to orgasm.
"Well, you still could find the right woman and pop out a huge number of little McDonalds, I'm sure you've got equipment that still works!"
"Wow!" Garry almost spat out his mouthful of beer, "What about you? I guess you've changed a little from when you were 19?"
"Yeah, I have. I don't regret stripping and, well, prostituting myself, but I think I was punishing myself too, not feeling worthy of love or respect. My parents never showed love at all, and I think stripping helped me open up sexually and discover a sensual side I never really knew I had."
"Still smoking joints with my daughter?"
"No!" I laughed, "We did that only twice and I think she needed it after Babs died."
"You were saying yesterday you're single, but there must have been guys along the way?"
I told Garry about the guy I'd seen the year before, but that the relationship lacked something. It had been pleasant, but I looked for more than just pleasant.
"What about you? Malcolm said all the ladies were throwing themselves at you!" I laughed as Cindy put our burgers in front of us.
"Thanks, Sweet-Pea," Cindy kissed her father on the head before heading back to the bar, "No, I've had to work on me before I could admit I was ready to accept anyone into my life. I mean, a few months after Babs died, I went into the city and picked up a woman, but it was pretty awful. I ended up giving her a false name and made up a number to get her out of my room. I, um, I think I was spoilt by Vanessa."
We had both been edging around each other in conversation. I knew I was physically attracted to Garry, and I had thoroughly enjoyed our time together, but I was still not convinced if entering into anything with him was the right course of action. Eating our meals in silence I wondered what Garry was thinking.
I excused myself to the bathroom and returned to find Cindy in my seat.
"You can choose whose lap to sit on!" Cindy joked as I pulled a chair to the table from an empty adjoining one. "Party pooper. Sorry, Dad, I tried! Now ask her already!"
"Ask me what?"
"It's nothing..."
"No, Dad, it's not. I'm working and I found it incredibly boring last year, sorry Libbs, but ask her!"
"Libby, um, Friday week, well, it's the Law Society Dinner in the city and Malcolm and Robyn and I are going, and I was, well, I was wondering if you'd like to come as my date."
"Oh, I see!" I stated as I looked between Garry and Cindy.
"You don't have to, it was Cindy's idea and I get it would be awkward, so let's leave it."
"No, I, um, that sounds nice actually."
"Really?" Garry looked excited almost, "Robyn's folks are looking after the boys and we thought we'd spend the weekend in the city, but I'll arrange a room or something for you, or, whatever, or, not, or, um..."
"No, it sounds lovely. I'm not sure I'd be able to trust myself in a room by myself with you though!"
"I'm not sure I'd trust me in a room with you either, and I get that you probably aren't looking for that or anything, so it's all good and all."
"Bloody hell you two! Get it out of your systems and spend a weekend in the city shagging!" Cindy laughed as she stood and took our plates away. "And yes, Libbs, you have my approval, not that you need it!"
The drive back to the farm was mainly in silence, both of us with huge grins on our faces.
"Um, cuppa before you go?" Garry asked as we parked the car. "Or not, I mean, no obligation, or anything."
"That sounds lovely. Hey, it's been a lovely day and I've liked getting to know Old McDonald."
"Yeah? It's been great getting to know Libby Cartwright, she seems like a pretty remarkable woman."
"She's not Vanessa."
"I know, she's a hundred times better!"
"Hey! I thought you liked Vanessa!"
"Mmmm, but I think I like Libby more."
As we got the step up to the back door, Garry grabbed my hand and I turned to face him. He lowered his mouth to mine in a kiss that was as sensual as it was steamy.
"Wow!" I whispered as I ran my fingers through his hair and nibbled at his bottom lip, "Do you think the tea can wait?"
"Um, no, because I don't have any rubbers and I know I'll never be able to pull out."
"I'm on the pill and I'm clean..."
