The House At Flynn's Crossing

by Elisabeth Rose

  As soon as Baldessin was off the line, Flynn called the owner who, predictably, knew what was in the wind and stuck to his original price. Flynn closed the deal and phoned Margie.

  ‘Baldessin’s just bought the block next to the co-op.’ It was hard to keep the jubilation from his voice. ‘As good as, anyway. I’ve only just got off the phone with the owner.’

  ‘So he’s in!’

  ‘Yes and he’s negotiating with the Parks Authority about shaving a bit off the National Park for an information office and camping ground. He reckoned they were interested in opening up the area more for hikers.’

  ‘Fantastic!’

  ‘It’s still in negotiation so we can’t tell anyone yet. Strictly between you and me at the moment.’

  ‘I wonder how Aidan’s going to react,’ she said.

  ‘Not a lot he can do about it, is there?’

  ‘I suppose not but it’s going to cause a bit of ill feeling. People will be upset.’

  Some townspeople would be but the co-op group would be the most affected. No one else lived close enough for it to be a problem and the local businesses would benefit, as would people in the area wanting work.

  Word got around somehow. Flynn had no idea how it happened or who had talked, but by the end of the following day it was common knowledge that Baldessin had bought the block next to the co-op for an exorbitant amount of money—some details were bound to be wrong. But the general tenor was that Flynn had lined his own pocket with a fat commission at the expense of the co-op.

  When he ventured into the Paragon for a midmorning coffee, all eyes turned his way. He sat at the counter while Cath made his espresso, hoping Antonia would appear. She didn’t.

  Cath brought his coffee. ‘One of the twins is sick,’ she said. ‘Antonia’s had to stay home.’

  ‘I didn’t ask where she was.’

  ‘You were going to.’

  He was going to. He drank some coffee. Conversations resumed and he could guess what the topic was. Flynn had done a deal with the devil. Too bad. This was business. Anyone could have bought that land at any time and no one would have a say on what the owner did with it.

  ‘So what do you think?’ he asked Cath. ‘About the land sale.’

  ‘Nothing. Should I?’

  ‘Everyone else seems to have an opinion.’

  ‘You’re a real estate agent, that’s what you do,’ she said. ‘I sell food, you sell property.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Being reasonable.’

  ‘No worries.’ She laughed and went into the kitchen.

  Flynn drained his cup. Which twin was ill? How bad was it? Maybe Antonia needed some help. Going to the doctor, for example, or getting medicine. He’d better call in.

  ***

  ‘How’s the invalid?’ Flynn asked when Antonia opened the door. ‘Cath told me.’

  ‘Hello. Come in.’ She stepped back to allow him access. ‘She has a terrible sore throat, a slight temperature and a runny nose.’

  ‘Poor kid. How’s Jacob?’

  ‘He’s okay so far. He went to school, which was surprising.’

  ‘That he’d go on his own?’

  ‘Yes. He said they were doing something today he didn’t want to miss out on. I think it’s to do with Easter.’ She smiled.

  Flynn handed her the plastic bag containing a tub of double chocolate-chip ice-cream. ‘A treat for them.’

  Antonia peeked into the bag. ‘That’s very kind of you, Flynn. Thank you.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do? Any shopping … medicine to pick up?’

  Her eyes widened in surprise. ‘You don’t need to do that for us.’

  ‘No, but I can easily enough. That’s what friends do.’

  ‘Actually, I do need one or two things but I can get them myself.’

  ‘I can do it.’

  ‘No, you can’t. It’s … personal … women’s …’ A flush crept over her cheeks.

  Tampons! She was talking—or rather, not talking—about tampons. Christ! He wasn’t going shopping for them.

  ‘Oh right. Okay. I could stay here while you go. Sarah should be okay with that, shouldn’t she?’

  She bit at her lower lip gently. ‘Maybe. I’d be very quick. She’s asleep at the moment. I could be back before she even wakes up. I’m not sure …’

  ‘Go.’

  ‘What if she wakes up and panics?’

  ‘I’ll handle it. She knows me. Don’t worry. Think of it as a trial run.’ If she woke up and panicked … don’t think about it. She wouldn’t.

  ‘I’ll be back as fast as I can.’

  Minutes later she was backing her car down the driveway. Flynn sat on the couch and checked his phone for messages.

  Sarah’s voice wailed from the bedroom, ‘Mummeee, Mummmeeeee.’

  Chapter 11

  Flynn sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he headed for Sarah’s room. He poked his head round the doorframe. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Where’s Mummy?’ Flushed cheeks and a croaky voice, dark curls tumbling messily round the miserable, now alarmed, face.

  ‘Mummy’s just nipped to the shops. She’ll be back in a few minutes.’

  The bottom lip trembled and a look of pure fear distorted her features. She seemed to shrink into the bedclothes, making herself as small as possible.

  ‘It’s okay, honey. I’m just here to make sure you’re safe while Mummy’s out. How are you feeling?’

  He remained frozen in the doorway. Any sudden movement might start her screaming.

  ‘My throat’s sore.’ A whisper.

  ‘Would choc-chip ice-cream make it feel better?’ He had no idea whether it was the right thing to give her but he knew she loved ice-cream. And the cold would cool her system down if she had a temperature.

  She gave a tiny nod. ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Could I have a drink of water, please?’

  ‘Of course, you can.’

  At least she wasn’t screaming, but this was almost worse. The poor kid was paralysed with fear. The weird thing was she replied with excessive politeness. Too frightened not to answer?

  He withdrew to the kitchen, filled a glass with water and found a bowl and a spoon. Antonia had put the ice-cream in the freezer. The laminated benchtops were cracked and stained and needed replacing. So did the floor covering. He’d do that over the next few months.

  Sarah lay with her eyes fixed on the doorway and didn’t move when he approached with the bowl and water. He put it on the bedside table and retreated. She sat up and reached for the glass, took a few sips then picked up the bowl.

  ‘Thank you.’ Another barely audible whisper. She ate a tiny mouthful and then another.

  ‘Is it okay?’

  She nodded and ate some more. Crisis point over.

  He leaned against the doorframe. ‘Did you hear about George Smelly?’

  Her eyes flashed to his face. As he’d hoped, a little giggle escaped. ‘No.’

  ‘He went to a judge to have his name changed. The judge said, “I understand completely, Mr Smelly, what would you like to change it to?” “William,” said Mr Smelly.’

  Sarah stared in silence for a moment then started laughing as she sorted out the joke. ‘But he’s still Smelly. William Smelly.’

  ‘Yes.’ Flynn chuckled. Thank God he’d been able to dredge that old joke up from his long distant primary school days. ‘You can tell Jacob that joke.’

  ‘Tell another one,’ Sarah demanded, face bright now with expectation.

  ‘Gosh, ummm … where does the king keep his army?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Up his sleevey.’

  More giggles.

  ‘Knock, knock.’

  Sarah waited.

  ‘You have to say, “who’s there?”’ said Flynn. ‘Knock, knock.’

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Lettuce. Now you say, “lettuce who?
”’

  ‘Lettuce who?’

  ‘Lettuce in, it’s cold out here.’

  Sarah laughed so hard he had to rescue the ice-cream bowl.

  ‘Do another one,’ she gasped when she could speak.

  ‘Will you remember me in two minutes?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Knock, knock.’

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Hey, you didn’t remember me.’

  He couldn’t help but laugh with her as she rolled about in the bed, tears streaming down her face.

  The car engine sounded outside.

  ‘Mummy’s home,’ he said. He put the ice-cream bowl on the bedside table and went to meet Antonia.

  But it was Simon coming up the steps when he opened the door. He stopped and his eyes narrowed, the normal good-natured expression gone, replaced by a frown.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Good morning, Simon. I happened to call in and Antonia took the opportunity to go to the shops. Sarah is sick in bed.’

  ‘I know, that’s why I’m here. To see my daughter,’ he added with a slight stress on my.

  ‘Come in. She’s not too bad. Bit of a temperature and a sore throat.’

  Simon grunted and continued on into the house, giving him a scowl as he passed. Flynn hovered in the living room. Should he stay or go? Simon was pissed off to find him here and he’d be pissed off about the sale of the land. Feelings would be running high out at the co-op. He should leave.

  He walked down to Sarah’s room. Simon was sitting on the end of her bed, listening while she told him one of her new knock, knock jokes but his heart didn’t seem to be in it. He looked at Flynn.

  ‘Nice one, mate.’

  Flynn frowned a warning. He wasn’t going to start up an attack in front of Sarah, was he?

  ‘Not here,’ he said.

  Simon stood up. ‘Say goodbye to Flynn, Sarah. He’s leaving.’

  ‘Bye bye, Flynn.’

  ‘See you later, alligator.’

  ‘In a while, crocodile,’ she said.

  Flynn grinned.

  ‘Outside,’ said Simon.

  ***

  Antonia parked in her driveway with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Simon’s ute was in the street behind Flynn’s and the pair of them were on her verandah. Arguing, by the look of their faces and the tension in their bodies. Couple of bloody idiots! Why did they have to bring their fight to her place? It wasn’t her business.

  She grabbed her shopping and slammed the door. The pair stopped talking and turned as she strode towards them.

  ‘Hello, Simon. I didn’t expect to see you.’

  ‘Obviously.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘You could have asked me to mind my daughter.’

  ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ said Flynn.

  ‘No, don’t go.’

  ‘But this isn’t my …’

  ‘It is. Flynn kindly offered to stay while I went to the chemist, Simon. He dropped in about the house.’ He had, hadn’t he? ‘He’s the agent, remember?’

  ‘How could I forget when he’s just sold that block of land to Baldessin? And I bet he got a nice cut out of the deal.’

  ‘Why shouldn’t he? It’s his business.’

  ‘You don’t care, do you? You don’t care that some greedy developer is going to ruin my home and the area around it.’

  ‘Simon,’ Flynn began but was cut off.

  ‘Shut up. People like you always get what they want and they always want more. Nothing is ever enough. All I want is a peaceful life growing vegetables and enjoying the environment, showing my kids the beauty of nature, but you want to destroy that and you want to take my kids as well.’

  ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,’ Antonia said. ‘Go away, Simon, and don’t come back until you can say something sane.’ Perspiration ran down her back in an uncomfortable trickle, her hands were shaking. She’d never raised her voice to anyone before, never ordered anyone to go away.

  ‘But …’

  ‘Go.’ Blood pounded in her ears. She didn’t trust herself to say another word.

  Simon pushed past Flynn and marched to his ute.

  She dragged in deep breaths and slowly the shaking subsided, her pulse returned to normal.

  Flynn said, ‘I’ll be off too.’

  She pulled her brain into gear but her voice quavered when she said, ‘Thanks for minding Sarah. Did she wake up?’

  ‘Yes, but it was cool.’

  ‘Really?’

  He nodded. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I’ve never been so angry in my life. I don’t know where that came from.’

  ‘Stored it up, perhaps?’

  ‘Poor Simon. He didn’t deserve that.’

  ‘He said some pretty offensive things.’ His eyes still glittered with anger, betraying the mild tone.

  ‘He’s wrong about you, isn’t he?’

  ‘That I want to take his kids? Of course he’s wrong.’

  ‘No, about destroying the co-op and his lifestyle,’ she said hastily.

  Flynn exhaled noisily and he raised his hands in exasperation. ‘It shouldn’t make any difference to them. It’s more about how they think it will affect the co-op but I reckon they’d do well businesswise with another market for their produce. If they choose to move, it’s their decision. They won’t be forced out.’ He shook his head, still furious. ‘I don’t see why people think I’d get a bigger commission by selling to Baldessin rather than some other random buyer. It’s ridiculous. He paid the asking price, no more, no less. Do they think I’d take a bribe?’

  Antonia took a step towards the door, gripping her shopping bag in a suddenly sweaty hand. Flynn wasn’t angry with her, she knew that, but his fierce tone and the tension radiating from him triggered a response deep inside her, one that screamed, ‘get away. Hide.’

  Her fingers fumbled with the latch on the fly screen door and suddenly Flynn was close beside her, voice gentle.

  ‘Antonia, I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you. Don’t be frightened of me. Please.’

  Head bent, she muttered, ‘I’m not frightened of you.’ She let her hand fall but couldn’t face him. He’d see the panic in her eyes.

  He unlatched the door and swung it open. ‘Go. Take care of Sarah.’

  She scuttled inside and he closed the screen carefully.

  ‘Thank you,’ she mumbled.

  ‘See you later,’ he said.

  Antonia waited until he reached the path then closed the front door. The least she could do was not give him the impression she’d slammed the door shut behind him. Sarah yelled, ‘Mummy, are you there?’

  ‘Yes, I’m home.’ She hurried to the bedroom.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ She placed her hand on Sarah’s brow. Still warm but better.

  ‘I had ice-cream,’ Sarah said. ‘Knock, knock.’

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Lettuce.’

  ‘Lettuce who?’

  ‘Lettuce in, it’s cold outside.’

  Antonia laughed in surprise. ‘Who told you that?’

  ‘Flynn. He told me other jokes.’

  ‘Did Daddy come in?’

  ‘Yes but he didn’t like my joke very much. He was cross with Flynn.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘He just was. They went outside but I heard them.’

  At least Simon had the decency not to start a fight in front of his daughter. Why was he mixing up the land thing with Flynn’s relationship with her and the children? Wasn’t she allowed to make friends? He didn’t own her and he certainly couldn’t dictate who she was allowed to talk to or who was allowed to see the twins. Why was this becoming so complicated?

  ‘I think you need a nap,’ she said. ‘Snuggle down.’

  Flynn wasn’t helping by dropping in all the time. Already people were hinting at something more going on between them than there was. Cath had been the first but Di and Cheryl w
eren’t far behind, and Bron next door had a bird’s-eye view of his comings and goings. She was bound to be the source of a lot of the speculation.

  Why had he come round this morning? She still didn’t know, thanks to Simon. Men!

  She picked up the empty ice-cream bowl and took it to the kitchen.

  When the phone rang, she half expected it to be Flynn but the voice asking for her by name was unfamiliar.

  ‘Michael Hodge,’ he said and the penny clanged into place. The lawyer.

  ‘How long will this take, do you think?’ she asked when he explained what he wanted.

  ‘Could you stay overnight? I want to be very thorough. The statement you gave the police missed things the defence will pick up on regarding your state of mind, reasons for going with Murdoch in the first place, why you stayed and so on.’

  ‘Okay. When?’ Why she stayed? Basically because she was locked in and threatened with violence if she tried to leave.

  ‘As soon as you can manage would be good.’

  ‘I’ll need to arrange a few things.’

  ‘Of course. Just call and let me know when you’re coming.’

  ‘All right. Do you want Simon to come too?’

  ‘Not necessarily. I can talk to him later.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Antonia? Don’t worry. We’ve more than enough to lock this guy up for life but we don’t want any holes he might crawl through.’

  ‘Good. That’s good.’ His confidence was reassuring.

  ‘I know how hard it is for people to relive the trauma of this type of experience but the more you talk about it the better you’ll manage when it comes to the trial.’

  ‘Will you need to talk to my children?’

  ‘No, and if for some reason we do need them to speak we’d use video. One of the older girls has said she wants to give evidence.’

  ‘Which one?’

  ‘Lucy.’

  Brave Lucy. Now fourteen. Since they’d escaped, she’d grown in stature and confidence with a toughness honed by her life in the house. Although at first she and Hannah clung together, and sharing a house had worked for a while, both of them realised they weren’t willing to continue when the reality of their new freedom took hold. They were too different, wanted different things from their lives. Antonia moved in with her mother as her parents had wanted all along. But again, not for long. She wanted her own life, her own home.