“Jo!” Kate called outside, “come one, its time for church.” They had eaten an early dinner and Jo was outside playing with Benny. Kate hoped he hadn’t got his clothes dirty. He came inside and Kate sent him off to wash his hands. He was slightly dishevelled, but otherwise unscathed, and they were soon on their way. It took them just over twenty minutes and when they arrived the car park was already filling fast. Kate found a spot and followed the crowd inside with Jo in tow. Most people were casually dressed and there were kids everywhere. Kate and Jo were warmly welcomed at the door and directed to a seat on the wing. “Are you just visiting?” the woman already sitting in the pew with her family, asked. “Yes, we only just recently moved here from Melbourne.” The woman smiled and introduced her family. They were regulars and lived nearby. A youngish man stepped up to the microphone at the front and a hush fell over the congregation. The children were encouraged to come to the front, but Jo opted to stay in the pew with Kate. Several young people came to the front and picked up microphones and instruments and the music began. They were good players and the whole church was soon reverberating with the modern music. Kate joined in with the clapping. She was unfamiliar with the first few song but then they sang a carol; Jo was standing on the pew and soaking it all in. After the singing came a play and then a bible reading and a short, simple message from the young pastor. The service finished with more singing and a few notices. There were drinks and Christmas cake in the hall afterwards and children could be heard playing outside. It seemed to be a vibrant and welcoming church and Kate thought she would probably come again. The young pastor introduced himself to Julie and wished her a happy Christmas. She returned his well wishes then collected Jo and returned to the car. She was keen to get home as she had a surprise for Ben.
Alex handed her his mobile, “it’s ringing.” Kate took it and put it to her ear in time to hear it picked up. “Hi, Ben speaking, how ya going, Alex?” Kate laughed and walked outside to be out of earshot of the others, “Hi Ben, guess who?” There was a short silence, “Kate? Is that you?” Kate laughed again, “Happy Christmas, Ben, I wanted to surprise you!” “Well, you certainly did that!” he responded happily, “How are you? How’s Jo?” “We’re fine. We landed on our feet here. Things are going really well. Do you want to speak to Jo? He’s just here, playing with Benny.” She handed the phone to Jo and his eyes lit up at the sound of Ben’s voice. He laughed at something Ben said and then put the phone to Benny’s ear. The dog barked and was about to lick the phone, but Kate rescued it just in time. “You were about to be licked!” she laughed. They talked for another ten minutes or so as the sun sank below the line of the sea. It was a glorious evening and Kate could have talked for hours, but she didn’t want to cost Alex a small fortune. They farewelled one another tenderly and Kate waited a while before returning inside. Ben had promised to call again soon. Kate had been a little worried that his feelings for her would have faded, but the conversation had assured her otherwise and she was relieved and happy. She went inside and checked on Jo. He had put himself to bed and was reading. Kate finished the story for him and closed the book. She tucked him in and kissed him affectionately before turning out the light and returning to the adults. She thanked Alex for the phone when she gave it back to him. “So, he was surprised?” asked Alex. Kate smiled, “Yes, very. It was great to talk to him again. I was afraid…” She didn’t finish the sentence as Bess butted in, “as if! I’ve never known a man to be so smitten!” Kate blushed and sat down next to her friend. Bess squeezed her hand, “he really loves you, you know.” Kate smiled, she did know. If only she could see him again. Speaking to him had reminded her how much she missed him.
It had also reminded Ben of how much he missed Kate and he held the picture of them taken at the farm in his hand and stroked her face. He longed to touch her again, to just be in her presence. He had never felt so far away from her and it hurt. He replaced the picture frame on the shelf and switched on the television to distract himself. The Carols by Candlelight were being broadcast from the bowl, but it was no good. He couldn’t erase her face from his mind and he eventually gave in. The carols had finished. It was late and he was tired. He took one last look at her picture before turning out the light and going to bed.
Christmas Day was a scorcher in Adelaide. The sun beat down relentlessly and there was a hot, dry north wind blowing. They all sought refuge under a shade cloth at the beach. Lydia had packed a picnic, and Alex and Bess had gone in search of ice cream. Kate was in the water with Peter and the children. They were tossing a sodden tennis ball to each other, trying to keep it out of the children’s reach. The children were jumping up, laughing and splashing in their attempts to reach it and then the eldest girl, Katerina, found something even better. She threw it at Peter and it hit him on his bare chest. It was a large, jellybean shaped jellyfish. Fortunately it was harmless and a jellyfish fight followed. Kate ducked below the water and spied Alex and Bess when she emerged, “Oooh, I think I can see ice-cream!” The activity stopped suddenly and the children rushed out of the water. “Phew!” exclaimed Peter, “I think I was about to be annihilated!” Kate splashed him and followed the children up the sand. There was indeed ice cream, and everyone was endeavouring to eat it before it melted in the hot sun. Bess handed Kate a cookies and cream magnum. She knew it was Kate’s favourite.
Kate let Jo open one of his presents. The rest would have to wait until Orthodox Christmas. He chose the big box and unwrapped the board game. He eagerly opened it and unpacked its contents. He then invited his new friends to play it with him and it kept them all amused until dinnertime. After dinner they went for a walk. The wind had died down and the evening sun wasn’t quite as hot as it had been that afternoon. The children splashed around in the shallows and then built a sandcastle while the adults sat and looked on. It had been a pleasant day, though the sun had left them all feeling decidedly lethargic. Kate put Jo in the bath once he had said goodbye to his friends, and then put him to bed. He fell asleep quickly and Kate watched him for a little while. There was a light knock at the door and Kate looked up. It was Bess, “Ben’s on the phone,” she informed Kate quietly. Kate got up and followed Bess down the hall. Alex handed Kate his phone and she took it outside. “Happy Christmas, my love,” Ben said and she smiled. “Happy Christmas to you too. Have you had a good day?” Ben said he had. It had been a perfect day in Melbourne and he had just left his parent’s home and was about to head to work for the night shift. Everyone had gathered at his parent’s home for the celebrations. “How was yours? Alex said it was hot there.” Kate nodded, “yes, very. We had a pretty quiet day. The real celebrations won’t be until Russian Orthodox Christmas.” They talked for a little while longer as Kate watched the sun set over the ocean. “It’s beautiful, Ben. I wish you could see it.” “So do I,” replied Ben wistfully, “so do I.”
They spent the next few days in quiet relaxation. The hot weather continued and sapped everyone’s energy. Though they still had enough to enjoy late afternoon visits to the beach. The men were glued to the television watching the Boxing Day Test. It was the Ashes and the Aussies had their dignity to reclaim. Most afternoons Jo and Kate had a nap after lunch. Kate was really enjoying the quiet, lazy days, and she was now speaking to Ben every night. They alternated calling one another on either Alex or Bess’ phones. Kate looked forward to the call every evening, but it made the pain of their separation more acute. She longed for him with every fibre of her being and it ached. She was sure that Ben felt the same way. One evening nine o’clock came and went and Ben still hadn’t called. Kate didn’t notice at first because she had been playing cards, but now she wondered if something was wrong. She was tempted to call him, but it wasn’t her turn. At last Bess’ phone rang, it was twenty to eleven. Bess answered it and handed it to Kate. “Hi Kate, sorry it’s late. I can’t talk long tonight. I’m at work and it has been busy.” “What’s going on?” asked Kate. “Oh, its just the usual cricket hooligans!” It had been the final day of the test today and the ** had won, so the ** were letting of steam. They barely spoke for five minutes that night, but Kate understood. Ben had warned that he might not be able to talk tomorrow night either. He would be on night shift again and New Year’s Eve was notorious for trouble. “But you know I love you, don’t you Kate?” he said. Kate nodded, “I know, Ben. I love you too. Goodnight.” She hung up and gave the phone back to Bess, then disappeared to her room. She didn’t feel like talking anymore tonight.
She woke with a start very early in the morning. It wasn’t yet dawn and the clock blinked three twenty am. Kate had woken from a nightmare. Ben had been involved in a small riot and had been stabbed. He hadn’t died, but was in a coma when she woke. Kate remembered that he was on night duty and got out of bed. She hesitated a moment before dialling his number from her mobile. It was answered on the second ring, “Melbourne Police. This is P.C. Coombes.” Kate asked for Ben and he came on the line. “What is it?” he asked, concerned. Kate told him about her dream and urged him to be careful. He assured Kate that nothing like that had been reported and he would be careful. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you, Ben,” she told him. “It won’t Kate, it won’t. Don’t worry. Go back to sleep my love. I love you.” Kate had already returned to bed, “I love you too, Ben. Goodnight.” She eventually fell back to sleep and awoke with Jo in her arms. He had climbed into her bed as dawn broke and was still asleep when Kate woke. It was eight am, and Kate could feel that it was going to be another hot day. “New Year’s Eve,” she said to herself quietly. She could never have imagined this life for herself at the beginning of the year. She had a son, and was on the run, living under a false identity. It was beyond belief and sometimes even Kate hardly believed it. She held onto Jo a little more tightly, “I’ll never let anyone hurt you again,” she promised him softly.
