Heart to Heart
“Okay, Luv, I’ll go now. Tell Bron not to fret. Stay safe, both of you, and I love you.”
Max put the phone down and sighed. Ceri and Bron were stuck in Brisbane due to Coffs airport being closed. They were fine, but Bron was worried about Ed. She’d already called him, but she was still fretting.
Max looked out of the window. The rain had stopped at long last, but it looked bad out there. He wondered if the lake by Ed and Bron’s place had caused any damage. Grabbing his coat, he decided it was easier to walk over rather than try the car through the mud bath that used to be the drive. He picked up Bron’s spare key, although he doubted Ed would have locked the back door.
It took a bit longer than normal to reach the house, being careful not to slip and slide the last few yards from the trees. Wiping the mud from his shoes, then leaving them on the back porch, Max tried the door. As he expected, it wasn’t locked.
Padding quietly through the kitchen, Max entered the lounge room to find Ed, standing by the picture window looking out towards the lake.
“Ed?”
Ed didn’t move for a moment, then turned slowly to face his unexpected guest.
“Well hey, buddy. Let me guess. The girls called you after Bron called me. Am I right?”
“On the button, Ed. You doing okay?”
“Better than the lake, come take a look.”
Max walked over to Ed’s side and looked out to where he was pointing. The lake was free standing so blessedly had no overflow from the flooded creek, but the rain had been torrential and it had burst its lower bank and was pouring down the far slope of the property.
“Could have been a lot worse, Ed. At least the runoff is away from the house.”
“You’re right, Max. So, you gonna stay a while and keep the cripple company?”
“Fuck off, Ed. You’re no cripple and you know it. You’re getting stronger every day. Look at you…no cane in the house.”
“Yeah, thought I’d give it a try while Bron was out of sight. You know how she fusses.”
Max watched Ed settle onto the sofa before heading to the kitchen. “Coffee or something stronger?”
“Coffee will be just fine, Max. I think you’ll find a box of Lucy’s famous pastries in the fridge to go with.”
Max smiled to himself. He loved Lucy’s baking. He was soon back in the lounge room with Ed and they settled down with their drinks and snacks chatting aimlessly. During a lull in the conversation, Max glanced across at Ed. He looked troubled.
“Something on your mind, Ed?”
Ed shifted uncomfortably but remained silent.
“Ed, we’re practically brothers, you can talk to me.”
Ed looked across at Max and seemed to come to a decision.
“It’s difficult for me to talk about, Max; kinda personal.”
“Something wrong between you and Bron?”
“She wouldn’t say so…but I do.”
Max sat back in silence as Ed cleared his throat.
“We’ve been together now for close on six months, but we’ve never been…intimate.”
“Ed, you were all shot up when you met, couldn’t even sit up in bed. I’m sure Bron is happy to wait.”
“She’s so much younger than me, Max, and so beautiful. I’m scared that if we don’t…uh…get it together, physically, soon…”
“Ed, she loves you with all her heart. There’s not that much of an age difference, and I doubt she’s even thought about it. Do you really think that she’s going to leave you because you’re not up to the physical side of your relationship yet?”
“Hell, Max, I’m not sure if that worries me more than the fact that I might not live up to her expectations when I am fit.”
“Have you talked to her about this?”
“Nope.”
“Too scared?”
Ed looked at Max and took a deep breath, “Yep, more scared than I’ve been of anything in my life.”
“You really love her, don’t you.”
“As much as, if not more than you love Ceri.”
“Ed, I don’t think that’s possible, my friend,” Max smiled. “I have just one word of advice for you.”
“And that would be?”
“Talk to her when she gets home.”
“Whenever that will be.”
Max pulled out his cell and dialled. A few minutes of talking left him smiling.
“They are saying the airport should be open by morning, and flights should be coming in from lunchtime, so with any luck the girls will be home tomorrow evening.”
Ed smiled at his friend and struggled to his feet. Heading for the kitchen, he looked over his shoulder to Max. “Staying for lunch?”
Max grinned, nodding his head in reply as he got up to help prepare their meal.