Page 36 of Obsession Under the Southern Stars

“So why did your dad call you?” I ask. “Did he want you to do something about Linc?”

“No… he wanted to know whether I knew he’d sent Linc away. I think he was nervous about my reaction.”

“Whatwasyour reaction?”

“I was angry with him, but I didn’t say that.”

“Why not?”

He shifts in his chair. “It’s not the way I was brought up.” He watches my expression, and the corner of his mouth curves up. “That puzzles you.”

“I understand that you respect your father, but I don’t quite get why you wouldn’t express your frustration. I respect my dad too, but I’ve yelled at him many times when he’s made me mad. You shouldn’t bottle up your feelings. That just leads to resentment and stomach ulcers.”

He rubs his abdomen as if he can feel one forming, his brows drawing together. “Yeah.” he sighs. “He was worried that Linc’s going to talk her into bed, then abandon her.”

“Do you think that’s likely to happen?” I ask curiously. It surprises me that Joel and his father think that Linc can walk back into her life one day and seduce her into bed the next.

“He might have a point,” Joel says, “but I told him she’s old enough now to make her own decisions. It might be good for her.”

“To have a fling, you mean?”

He shrugs. “She hasn’t been out with anyone since her assault. I’m not sure why, but I presume it’s something to do with trust. She trusts Linc. I don’t want her to get hurt, but equally he might be able to convince her that dating again is possible.”

“I’m guessing your father didn’t feel the same way.”

His lips twitch. “No, you could say that.”

“He wanted you to talk her out of seeing Linc?”

“I think he was probably hoping I’d do that, yes.”

“But you won’t?”

He has a mouthful of Champagne, then sighs. “Fraser and I told Linc about Elora’s assault. And I said that she’s vulnerable, and she’s been through a lot, and asked him not to break her heart again. I don’t see what more I can do.”

We fall quiet again. It’s about eight thirty now. I can hear Isamu in the kitchen, cleaning up. He’ll be heading off soon, no doubt. It’s been a fantastic meal. I’m incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to stay here and have a real chef cook just for me.

I wish I could think of a way to thank Joel for it, but other than the obvious, nothing comes to mind. I lean on the table, my chin on my hand. He’s playing with his spoon, frowning a little, preoccupied. He seems sad. My fault, no doubt, for bringing up the phone call with his dad.

I think about the fact that Atticus rang him at the awards dinner to talk about Elora. That must have hurt his feelings that Atticus hadn’t remembered where he was going.

“Did you tell your dad where you were when he rang?” I ask.

He nods.

“Did you mention you’d won the award?”

He nods again.

“What did he say?”

“That’s great, Joel. Well done.” His voice is flat.

“That’s all?”

He nods and looks away.

From what I’ve seen, he has a great relationship with Fraser. Together with Elora, they shared an apartment when she first went to university. Now, Elora lives with me and Joel is usually away on excavations most months, but when he does come back to Wellington, he continues to share with his brother. I’ve never seen the two of them argue, and from the stories Elora’s told me, they’ve always been supportive of each other, always friends.

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