Memories

‘You know Larry the lawn mower man saw a shark bite a seal in half out there,’ Kate hears as she emerges from the surf.

‘You love telling me that, don’t you Gordon,’ Kate laughs as she strides up the beach, sand squeaking under her feet.

Barking and tail wagging, her cocker spaniel Charlie, rushes forward to greet Gordon’s dog Susie as Kate dries off.

‘That shark cruises the coast. This is its turf you know,’ Gordon replies, a mischievous grin visible beneath his grey beard.

‘Sure’ Kate chuckles, ‘Yet I swim here every day and haven’t seen it yet.’

‘Luck!’ Gordon declares before tossing a treat to the dogs.  ‘Where’s your hubby?’

‘Visiting the kids,’ Kate mumbles as she buries her head in her towel, the coarse fabric rough on her skin.

‘Tell him I said hello. It feels like a long time since I’ve seen him.’

Kate nods as Gordon blows her a kiss.

Sitting on the back deck, Kate cradles a chipped cup and stares at the ocean. The familiar aromas of peppermint and salty sea air stir painful memories. Picking up the square photo frame beside her, Kate traces her finger over the smooth glass to his lips.

‘Wow, that was a big one. Out there,’ Scott points to a splash on the horizon. As she searches for the whale a slice of toast vanishes from her plate.

‘Hey, no fair.’

Taking a huge bite, he mumbles, ‘Want it back?’

At 60 Scott was still a naughty boy; it was one of the things Kate loved about him. Over the last six months, she’s learned that grief and laughter are strange companions.

A crimson rosella swoops past, landing on the Grevillea below. Closing her eyes Kate pictures the flashing lights of the police car the evening they asked her to come with them to identify “the body”.

They told her a young man had fallen asleep and crossed to the wrong side of the road. He was badly hurt but survived. His fatigue was the reason her husband was no longer with her.

The friendships she forged have kept her going and her thoughts drift to Gordon. He was one of the first people she and Scott made friends with.

She picks up her phone and taps out a message.

Hi Cathy. He forgot again. I didn’t say anything. Didn’t want to ruin his good mood.

I’m sorry, Kate. He’s in the garden now. I can call.

Kate chokes back the lump forming in her throat. No need. I’m fine. I just wanted you to know.

Gordon’s shared the shark story countless times but still she laughs with him.  It’s a silly habit she can’t break. What she can’t do is keep telling him about Scott. The flicker of recognition on Gordon’s face that somehow he knew tears her apart.

Yet, she knows Cathy is dealing with so much worse. Not a sudden loss but the slow torture of watching someone you love, slip away.