“You remember Teresa don’t you, Aaron? Year 9, not one of your best years was it? Remember, the party at Teresa’s place and one blown-up letter box? The things you used to do to get our attention.”
Teresa and Mackenzie laughed.
Aaron remembered. He’d been home-bound for a few weekends after that incident. He turned to Paul. “Does she still make up stories?”
Paul smiled and gave Aaron a hug. “You’re looking good, Aaron. This army life seems to suit you. I hear you’re on your way overseas soon.”
Aaron felt uncomfortable with this hugging caper and he was sure people picked up those vibes. He nodded and sipped his coffee. There were no bad vibes for Paul. The idea of Paul and Mackenzie as a couple was quite settled in Aaron’s mind—although it had taken a while for the adjustment to take place. Paul was good for Mackenzie and Aaron really only wanted the best for her.
He caught a glimpse of Mackenzie out of the corner of his eye. She was sipping a diet Coke and about to hand Paul a full-strength Coke. Those lovely blue-grey eyes turned towards Aaron.
“Did you enjoy the church service, Aaron?”
“I think so, changed a lot. Music’s good and loud.” He was sure Mackenzie wanted to press a bit deeper but she just nodded.
“The pastor who delivered the message is an ex-military man. He’s a nice man. Maybe you should catch up with him sometime. Have a chat.”
That was the press. “Why?” He hoped that didn’t sound rude because it wasn’t meant to.
Mackenzie paused and reflected. “You know, going off to war, that sort of stuff. How do you feel about going off to Afghanistan?”
“Ah, Kenz, we’re all well trained. And besides we have chaplains that we can talk to if we were that way inclined.”
“But you are, Aaron, aren’t you?”
She was pressing a bit deeper now. “Sorry?”
“That way inclined.”
Aaron stared at his coffee for a moment, raised his head and smiled at Mackenzie. He really didn’t know where he stood.
Mackenzie continued. “I’m sorry, Aaron . . . I’m being too pushy. I just worry about you and I’m probably nervous about you going to war. Sorry.”
“That’s okay, Kenz. I know the Lord will be watching over me. He has got me this far.” Now he was being politically correct. The words sounded like they came from an empty drum.
Aaron was invited to an after-church get-together at a local café. He was told his mum was going so he should too.
On the way down the entrance stairs, Aaron noticed a white government car with dark tinted windows, parked not far from the church entrance. From the side, he could see two silhouetted figures sitting in the front seat.
Aaron noticed Mackenzie staring at the car. There was something about the way she stared. Did she know the people in the car?
<°)))><
They waited to be seated. It was a light and bright large café, with two walls of glass doors opening onto extra-large alfresco patios at the front and at the back of the cafe. A row of comfortable sofas sat on colourful patterned carpet, with a large number of potted palms giving the place a breezy feel. Mackenzie advised that the noise from the road was bad at the front, so they asked for seats at the back. Paul offered to buy the coffees and started wandering towards the counter.
“Paul, remember, it’s table service here,’ Mackenzie said.
Paul turned and sat down again.
Aaron looked over at his mother. It was good for her to be out and about. She looked young and vibrant with her group of church friends. He noticed a large sophisticated man talking to his mum. Aaron remembered him from the funeral. His mum nodded to the man and he joined the group. A few tables behind his mum sat two men, one with his back to Aaron. They were also large, but their bulk was muscle.
As the waiter took their order another waiter walked past carrying a tray load of food. The smell drifted down to Aaron and convinced him that he was hungry. He ordered a steak sandwich and chips. He started watching the café staff in anticipation of their order arriving—the order came not long after. Paul and Aaron chatted about Bible references on military rifles. Apparently they were inscribed on the telescopic sights attached to some rifles. Aaron wasn’t sure if they did it anymore. The arrival of the food interrupted their discussion.
As Aaron bit into his steak sandwich, he looked over at his mum. He hoped ‘big guy’ didn’t have his sights on her. A son wants only the best for his mother. The other large men had gone. He looked around and saw them outside, and one was smoking. Big healthy guys smoking didn’t look good. The one smoking turned and stared at Aaron, as if he knew he was being watched. It was that security guy.
“Aaron.”
He turned to Mackenzie.
“Do you know that man?” Mackenzie asked.
“No, Kenz. Do you?”
“He was hanging around my mum’s place earlier today. But I think he’s a chauffeur or something for that man sitting with your mum.”
This was getting too close for comfort.
<°)))><
Lucas was glad Tag was with him tonight. He’d given in to the voices in his head and had some green stuff earlier. It was the girl’s fault. He’d got all muddled in the head after seeing her this afternoon, so he sat down and smoked a joint or three. He couldn’t remember how many.
The minister had wanted to go to church straight from work. As Lucas hadn’t been in a fit state to drive, he asked Tag to do the driving. Lucas had wanted to catch up with Tag anyway and go out later. They tended to get into mischief together, which didn’t bother Lucas too much; it was all in fun. They enjoyed the occasional fight with the low-lifes that go out in packs looking for fights. Lucas and Tag enjoyed the adrenaline rush from fighting as long as the packs weren’t too big.
At the church there was a battle going on in Lucas’s head—a voice fighting its way through the fog. The church was familiar, it was the same church they were at the other day with the funeral. He wondered if the minister came here regularly. He saw some funny things jumping off the church building when they got there, skinny bony things with torn flowing robes.
And then he saw the girl again.
The fight in Lucas’s head was a fierce one. The voice in his head was putting up a good fight, like he wasn’t going anywhere. A door was trying to close in his head but the voice thing kept pushing it open, as if he had his foot in the door. Lucas shook his head, hoping the thing would drop out of his head, fall through his ears and tumble to the ground.
