Page 41 of Nothing Without You

Chapter Forty-Six

The next day, she acted as if the conversation the day before hadn’t taken place. At least today his mood was lighter, and she was careful not to mention love bites or Swedish backpackers. They discussed the bait shop and how they would work there and make good money. She kept her tone light, and was careful about what she said to avoid antagonising him. ‘I can serve customers. I could also do the paperwork and that sort of stuff,’ she said enthusiastically.

‘Sounds good, babe. I’ll do the heavy stuff and make sure the stock’s there. There’s a lot of people who fish in Yeppoon. We should make good money.’

Bob’s mate, Ziggy, welcomed them when they arrived at the shop. There were even a couple of customers buying bait when they walked in. Ziggy was an older man of about forty, and Evie was fascinated by the number of tattoos adorning his arms and legs. He was tall and solid, and she thought how skinny Bob looked beside him. Bob had known Ziggy for years and was going to lease the business from him. Ziggy said he would help him out for the first year by only charging a small rent. ‘You know mate, there’s always favours you can do for me.’ He cast a look Evie’s way and she stayed silent. There was something about Ziggy that told her not to say too much. He directed his conversation towards Bob, ignoring the fact that she also was also going to be working in the shop.

When she mentioned later that night to Bob that she didn’t think Ziggy was very friendly, he immediately stuck up for him. ‘He’s had a tough life and his wife left him. He’s done time in jail, and don’t ever get him when he’s in a bad mood. He’s got the worst temper I’ve ever seen.’

Evie stored that information in the back of her mind, Bob’s words adding to the bad feeling she already had about his friend. Three other men called around that afternoon and, apart from saying hello, she made herself scarce by keeping busy in the living area behind the shop. Before they arrived in Yeppoon, it had been exciting to think they would have a flat to call their own. Now, however, the description Ziggy had given of a flat with two bedrooms and a view of the beach, wasn’t exactly what they had found.

Sure, the flat had two bedrooms, but one was so small she doubted a bed would fit. The other room did have a double bed, but the mattress was old and the entire place stank of cigarettes and stale beer. Opening up the windows, she laughed. The view faced west. If she stuck her head out the window and peered to the left, she could just glimpse the ocean. The entire view was really of a concrete building that backed onto theirs.

At least cleaning and setting up the space kept her busy. Although she crept down the stairs that led to the shop a couple of times, to see if the men were still there drinking with Bob, she was happy to keep to herself in the flat. His friends were older than her father, and not the sort of people she wanted to hang out with. They did seem to be on best terms with Bob though, and their voices drifted up to her.

It seemed that Bob was not only to run the bait shop, but the men had other jobs lined up for him. She stood silently, holding her breath as she heard the directions given as to where he was to make deliveries and pickups. Drugs, she thought. More drugs. She had hoped they had left all of that behind.

Chapter Forty-Seven

When they first arrived in Yeppoon, Evie wrote to her mum and dad to let them know where she was. Her dad was furious, then horrified, then heartbroken. A series of letters arrived from him, and she was pleased she didn’t have a phone so he could ring. It was easier if she couldn’t hear his voice, only read his words. His work was busy and he had just taken on a new managerial position, otherwise he would have driven to Yeppoon to talk her out of leaving school. She wrote back and told him it was too late. She was nearly eighteen and she could do what she wanted.

Layla also wrote to her. She had run into Evie’s mother in Cairns when she was there on holiday, and was shocked to discover where her best friend had ended up. Her letter was long and Evie kept it tucked away in her tin where she kept items of importance. The tin was hidden at the back of her cupboard where Bob wouldn’t find it. He was sneaky, and she had caught him several times going through her personal belongings, probably looking for money or cigarettes.

The days in the bait shop were long and hard, however from the very first day she worked there, she felt like she now had a purpose. Most of the customers were pleasant and she soon came to know the locals, who came in regularly. Soon she and Bob were in a set routine, and for the first time since she met him, he seemed to pick his act up and show some motivation for something other than his music and bad habits. Evie no longer smoked dope. It didn’t seem so much fun anymore without her friends. She would, however, still have a cigarette whenever she got the chance. The shop kept her busy and she preferred to work alone on the weekends, while Bob did other jobs for Ziggy and his friends.

She decided that all of Bob’s mates were shifty, and the less she spoke to them the better. They referred to her as the ‘little wifey’, and as much as she wanted to tell them she wasn’t his wife and she wasn’t little, she sensed they didn’t have much respect for women, so she kept her mouth shut.

The first few years in Yeppoon passed quickly. There were phone calls back and forth to her mother, and she even rang her father on Christmas day and for his birthday. After a while, her parents would come around and realise she was no longer a kid. At least they remembered her birthday, not like Bob who never bought her a present, or even took her out for a meal.

As one year passed and then the next, Evie worked harder and put in longer hours in the shop. She was proud of some of the changes she had made and spent long hours on the phone finding new stockists and different products to sell. Bob worked in the shop in the morning, helping to set up and serve the early morning fishermen, who were often heading out on the charter boats that ran out of the harbour.

It was a relief when he left, and she could talk to customers for as long as she wanted. Nothing was surer though, than he would return just as she closed up shop. Heading straight for the till, he asked her how busy she had been and what the takings for the day were. Then he emptied the money into his calico bag and headed to the bank. ‘Hope you haven’t wasted time with customers. You talk too much. You know they just want to get in and buy their stuff.’

She ignored him and didn’t reply. He had a jealous streak that scared her. Often, he cut in and interrupted when she got into conversations with some of the male customers, so she was careful what she said and who she talked to when he was there. He was possessive of the takings and never let her do the banking. At least he did put some money in the top drawer at home for groceries and bills, and also a small amount for clothes or personal items.

She didn’t need much, just the basics. They rarely went out, and when she coerced him into having fish and chips down on the jetty one Sunday afternoon, it didn’t take long to regret making him go out. A kid had ridden too close to where they sat on the old timber slats, and not only had Bob yelled and sworn at him, but he had also picked up a beautiful shell she had found and pelted it at the retreating rider’s head.

Luckily it had missed, but a group coming in the other direction noted the altercation and soon a burly policeman, who Evie knew as Baker, stood over them, asking if there was any trouble.

Baker was a regular in the shop and Evie knew him well. He was part of the local Aboriginal families who lived in the area, and his dark skin and formidable stature made him stand out as part of the town constabulary.

‘G’day Evie,’ he said, bobbing his head in greeting before turning his gaze to Bob. ‘Do you have a problem?’

To her horror, Bob kept shoving chips in his mouth, totally ignoring the question. Baker crouched down beside him, his voice low so that only Evie and Bob could hear. ‘Stand up when I’m speaking to you, otherwise I’m going to drag you up by the scruff of your scrawny neck.’ Baker placed his hand on Bob’s shoulder, glaring at him as he slowly stood up and crossed his arms in defiance.

‘Ain’t got no problem. Just telling a kid who nearly ran us over to piss off.’

Evie decided she should also stand. She didn’t want to show a lack of respect, and Baker was always so nice to her when he came into the shop. He had dark eyes and long eyelashes set in a handsome face, and she sometimes thought she would be interested in him as a boyfriend, if she wasn’t with Bob. He didn’t take his eyes off Bob though, and she sensed antagonism in his words and stance.

Bob usually used terrible words when he talked about people with dark skin, and she held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t let loose with his usual crude, racist vocabulary.

Baker was a good foot taller and he leaned over, speaking clearly. ‘This is a peaceful place and I won’t put up with anyone disturbing the peace. You could have taken that kid out with whatever it was you threw.’

Puffing up his chest, Bob pushed his chin out and looked up. ‘Why don’t you chase the kid? He’s the one in the wrong. Probably one of your brothers or cousins though.’

Evie had heard enough and could see the conversation was going to escalate. Why hadn’t she just gone for her usual walk along the beach by herself. ‘Sorry, Baker. It won’t happen again. Bob just got a fright, that’s all.’

‘I never got no fright,’ Bob turned to her, his eyes angry. ‘That kid should be flogged.’

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