The Lunchtime Special

Chapter 28 - When the Going Gets Tough

"We need to talk."

"Good morning to you too, Jacob," my mother says drily.

I ignore her pointed attempt to remind me of my manners and demand, "What did you say to Mia?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." She looks flawless, as always, but today her innate sense of style and poise only serve to fuel my anger. I stand in front of her, glaring, as she daintily finishes her cup of Earl Grey and sets down the Royal Albert china cup.

"You told her you don't like her."

Her face takes on a smug look. "I most certainly did not; I would never be so crass. The chit lied to you if that's what she said."

Familiar with how she likes to play the game, I call her bluff. "Tell me your exact words, then."

She glances away, her face a mask, but I have no doubt her mind is spinning. "Really, Jacob, all this fuss for a girl who runs a little shop in the back of beyond. You should be associating with women who are our social equals, such as Ava Menzies or Juliette Pearson – someone who is worthy to be at your side and help you rise to the top of your profession."

So that's why she's been thrusting young, single women in my face. I hiss, and take a deep breath to calm the urge to sweep her heirloom tea set off the coffee table and see it smash to smithereens. "Mia is a warm, intelligent, funny, caring and beautiful woman with a degree in Business Management who has successfully run her 'little shop', as you call it, for five years in an economic climate where the majority fail. She works hard, she's passionate about what she does, and she deserves your admiration, not your derision. It seems to me that you've conveniently forgotten your grandfather owned a shop when he first came to Australia, long before he made his fortune." I could see she wasn't happy to be reminded about that. "She also happens to be the woman I love and she is going to be in my life for a very long time to come, if I'm lucky enough." Mater gasps and puts a hand to her throat as I continue. "So I suggest you start making nice and get to know her, and you can begin by calling her right now and apologising for any and all comments you've made this past week."

"Apologise? Jacob, really..."

"Apologise, mother, or I'll ask her to tell me word-for-word what you've said."

Straightening her shoulders, she tries a different approach. "I'm your mother; I've got only your best interests at heart. Surely you're not serious about this..." Glancing my way, she swallows and changes whatever she had been going to say. "...Mia."

Two very clear thoughts run through my mind: one, a flashback to five years ago when I'd been falling hard for a girl named Sarah Walker. She had also been deemed unsuitable by my social-conscious mother and I'd been young and stupid enough to let her talk me out of pursuing her, something I'd regretted for a long time after. I was determined not to let that happen again. My second thought is the revelation that for me, Mia is the one. She's ruined me for other women, and I am prepared to move heaven and earth to keep her in my life. Preferably closer than 900 kilometres away.

Resolve strengthens my backbone and I pull myself to my full height, not taking my eyes off my mother's.

"Listen carefully, because I'm going to say this only once. I love Mia. There is going to be no repeat of what happened with Sarah." Her face blanches, her hand moving over her heart, and for a second I almost feel sorry for her, before I remember the look on Mia's face earlier when Ames had let slip the hint about what's being going on. "I love you too, in spite of your incessant meddling in my personal affairs, but if you make me choose between you, you may not be happy with the result."

"You don't mean that." Her eyes widen and I can tell my words have hit home.

"Do you want to push me and find out?" I stand my ground, looking deep into her eyes so she can see how much I do mean it.

After what seems like hours, her lashes lower and I see resignation in the drooping lines of her body. "What's her number?" she asks, sounding almost chastened as she reaches for her phone. I give it to her and sit in a nearby armchair as she makes the call, finally feeling the thundering of my heart begin to slow to its usual rhythm. "Mia?...It's Anthea Harrington. I...I'd like to apologise for any...misunderstandings there may have been between us this week." I snort and she blushes nervously. "That is...if I said anything to upset you, please accept my apologies. I...Perhaps next time you visit Melbourne, we could have dinner and get to know each other better...Wonderful...Enjoy the rest of your day."

"Thank you," I say quietly, getting up and pressing a kiss to her forehead. She gives me a small smile and I return it.

"When will you be home next?" she asks.

"I'm not sure, but probably not until the job's finished." I'm hoping I'll be spending most of my weekends in the Blue Mountains. I bid my mother goodbye and leave, dialling Mia's number as I jump on a tram heading back towards the Lyall. It rings a few times then goes to voicemail but I don't leave a message, wanting to talk to her in person.

The hotel room is occupied only by housekeeping though, and I'm told that both Mia and Ames have checked out. I know Mia was returning the tuxes but I don't know the location of the hire firm, so I ask the concierge.

"I'm afraid I couldn't tell you, sir, the lady didn't mention it." As I'm about to call her again, he suggests the doorman may know, as he would have put her in a taxi when she left.

"Yes sir, she was heading to Trevor West on Toorak Road."

"Thank you very much." I tip him and hail a taxi of my own, trying Mia's phone again with the same result. When we arrive at Trevor West I'm disappointed to find they'd closed an hour before, and I've no idea where she would have gone.

Maybe my flat? Would she go there to wait for me? It's worth a try, so I head there next, trying her phone every five minutes and each time getting no response.

Frustration and anxiety are building and I curse myself for being stupid enough not to get numbers for Ames or one of the twins; someone, at least, who I can call. I do have Will's number, but I refuse to call a man who's on his honeymoon – especially with my sister; I would never hear the end of it. Dammit, what's going on? Is she hurt somewhere? Or lost? No, if she were lost, she'd call. She couldn't call if she's hurt though... She was perfectly fine only an hour ago when mater spoke to her, I reassure myself, groaning when I think I could have found out then where she was, if only I'd thought to ask.

Okay, Jake, think. She's in a city she's not familiar with, she has luggage with her and a flight in three hours; she's not going to go off sightseeing, she hasn't gone to my flat. Coffee or a meal somewhere? But again, if that were the case, why wouldn't she ring me or answer my calls?

I think back to the hotel this morning, searching my memory for any hint she may have given. I'd collected the suits, taken them up, Ames let me in, she made the comment about Mia hiding from my mother and then I found out about her not quite telling me the whole story...

Oh fuck! Groaning out loud, I run my hands through my hair, pulling hard on the roots. I'd accused her of lying to me and given her a hard time when she'd - quite rightly - gotten pissy at me, then just stalked off without saying a word; she probably thinks I was angry at her, when in reality, apart from being furious with my mother, most of my anger was directed at myself for putting her in this situation. And, idiot that I am, instead of telling her this, I'd up and left. God, I fucked up big time!

But at least now I'm reasonably certain I know where she's gone, and why she's not answering my calls.

I only hope I can get there in time.