Living Again

Part 8

      David arrived at Central Station at nine forty five the next morning but was dismayed to see a message scrolling across the train arrival video screen advising that the Indian Pacific was two hours late and was expected at around twelve fifteen. He bought a magazine and sat down on a seat in the main station concourse keeping an eye on the arrival information screens. Then at around noon an announcement was made over the public address system.

"Your attention please. The Indian Pacific from Adelaide is running a further 45 minutes late and is now expected at one o'clock."

Another hour to wait. David finished the magazine and bought another one. The minutes dragged by. He walked onto the platform at ten to one and paced up and down straining his eyes in the direction the train would arrive from. Several dozen other people were also awaiting the train to meet friends or loved ones. Then another announcement.

"Your attention please. The Indian Pacific is due to arrive at Platform One in three minutes."

Finally the train appeared. Two diesel locomotives eased the long train into the platform where it stopped with a hissing of air brakes. Soon the platform was crowded with people. He waited near the exit onto the main station concourse watching for the female on board staff. After about fifteen minutes the activity died down. Several female staff wearing Great Southern Railway uniforms walked past, but there was no sign of Kristin. Finally a man in uniform stepped from one of the front carriages.

David went up to him. "Excuse me, is Kristin Hayward, a passenger attendant on this train?" he asked.

The man thought for a moment. "Kristin, she must be one of the new staff. No, not this trip, mate. She may be having a stopover in Adelaide. She'll probably be on Saturday's train."

David thanked him and walked off. It was a long shot anyway that'd she would be on the first train.

He spent the next two days sight seeing, then on Saturday morning he was once again back at Central Station waiting on platform one for the arrival of the Indian Pacific. This time the train was on time. He watched the crowds of people passing him as they left the platform, but again there was no sign of Kristin.

As two women train staff passed him he stopped them. "Excuse me ladies, I'm meant to be meeting Kristin Hayward. Was she on this train?"

"Kristin, no you've missed her," answered the taller of the two who was wearing a name badge giving her name as Fiona. "She made a special arrangement to get off at Lithgow to visit some friends in the Blue Mountains. You could always give her a call on her mobile and find out when she's coming back."

"I've actually accidentally erased her number from my phone," David lied. "I don't suppose you could give it to me."

"I'll look it up for you," Fiona replied, reaching into her bag and pulling out her phone.

"Hang on Fiona," the other woman said, giving David a suspicious look. Her name badge gave her name as Kylie. "We can't just give out Kristin's phone number to a stranger. How do you know her? Is she a relative of yours?"

David knew he wasn't going to get the phone number easily from these women. They were protecting their friend. He put on his most genuine look and said, "I'm an old friend of Kristin's. I haven't seen her for ages and I thought I'd surprise her."

"Tell me your name and I'll call her for you," Kylie said, "If she knows you then fine, I'll give you her number."

I hope this works David thought. Hopefully his name might jog her memory. "It's David Harris. Tell her to think back to when we knew each other in Brisbane."

Kylie still eyed David suspiciously as she pressed a couple of keys on her mobile phone and held it to her ear.

"Hi Kristin. We've just got in at Central and there's a man here looking for you. Said his name is David Harris and you knew him in Brisbane." She listened for a moment, then said, "That's what I thought. See you Wednesday, bye."

She put the phone away and looked back at David. "She's never heard of you. What are you, a stalker?"

"I'm sorry, she's just forgotten me," David muttered, and he walked off feeling bitterly disappointed.

How was he going to find her? He didn't know where she lived or have her phone number. Wait a minute, didn't Kylie say she would see Kristin on Wednesday. The next Indian Pacific out of Sydney was on Wednesday afternoon. He would come back then and hopefully catch up with her. If he could come face to face with her she might remember him.

Four more days to fill in. He spent more time sight seeing, he went to movies and wandered around the shops in the CBD.

Finally it was Wednesday. The train was due to leave at five to three in the afternoon. He arrived at the station at one thirty just as the carriages were being shunted into the platform. He found a seat just inside the entry to the platform from the main concourse and sat down with a newspaper trying to look inconspicuous. People gradually started arriving. Passengers carrying luggage, station staff pushing trolleys, and then the train on-board staff.

David watched closely as a group of train staff in uniforms walked past including the two he had met on Saturday, Fiona and Kylie. They didn't notice him. The minutes dragged on. The train was due to leave in less than half an hour. Where was she?

Then five minutes later he saw her. She walked onto the platform carrying a small suitcase. She had her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, and was wearing the train uniform. She was as beautiful as she was when he last saw her as Angela over eighteen years ago. She was smiling and talking to another woman also in uniform.

David froze. He tried to get up from the seat, but his legs wouldn't move. His heart was pounding and he broke out in a sweat. They walked by without looking at him. He couldn't let her get away, not after all he had been through to find her. Finally his legs obeyed his brain and he jumped to his feet and almost ran after her. "Kristin," he called as he caught up with them.

David has finally found Kristin, but will she remember him?
Find out in the next chapter, but please vote first :)