Andrea's Secret

by John Kelly

That evening, the hospital was unusually crowded with visitors. As Julian exited the lift and made his way to Ward six, every patient it seemed, was happily engaged in conversation with a loved one. The kiosk and flower shops were doing brisk business, as visitors snapped up sweets, papers and a bunch of roses or gerberas. As Julian made his way to Maria's room, a feeling of great apprehension enveloped him. What would her reaction be when she saw him? Would she remember the accident? Did she know he was the driver responsible for putting her in this position? Would she blame him? Would she shun him? When he walked into the room, Maria was lying down, her head propped up with two pillows. There were two people with her already; a young male he didn't recognize, and a young woman he instantly recognized. It was Michelle. Julian was dumbfounded but tried not to show it. 'What on earth was she doing here?' When Maria turned her head and saw Julian, at first she seemed not to recognise him. Then, she smiled and raised her hand. She spoke under her breath, and although her words were inaudible, it was a friendly welcome and Julian felt enormously relieved. He walked straight to the bed and took her hand. She grasped it as would any friend, and whispered 'hello' in return. He said hello back, and as he did so a lump arose in his throat, and he was unable to speak further. He looked across at Michelle with a facial expression that begged some sort of explanation.

  "Hello," she said extending her hand. "I'm Michelle. You're Julian aren't you?" Julian nodded. "This is Michael," she continued, and to Julian's complete surprise, added, "Michael is Maria's son, and I am her niece." She then turned to Michael and said, "This is the taxi driver who took me home one morning last week, and," she continued, turning to Julian, "you were also at our prayer meeting the other night weren't you?"

  "That's right," Julian replied.

  "And he's been coming here everyday, Aunty, to see you," Michelle said as she turned her head toward Maria. Maria seemed to understand Michelle, and smiled, once more extending her hand to Julian. "How is she?" Julian asked of Michelle. "She's getting better, but at this stage we don't think she remembers anything of the accident." Michelle replied stroking Maria's forehead.

  "She doesn't know it was me who caused it then?" Julian asked.

  "You?" Michael said.

  "Yes. I'm sorry," Julian said, startled at Michael's curt response. "I thought you would have known."

  "I certainly didn't know," Michael insisted, looking to Michelle for some support.

  "I did." Michelle admitted.

  "How did you know?" Michael asked.

  "That doesn't matter. You have never met Julian before. I know his wife Annette. She told me." Michelle said. "That's funny. She never mentioned that to me." Julian said, now somewhat confused. "It doesn't really matter," Michelle said, now looking a trite embarrassed as if she was sorry the subject came up. As this verbal interchange ensued, Maria Stewart watched and listened, her eyes moving from one side of the bed to the other as each of her three visitors made their point.

  "But it's his fault she is here. Should we be talking to him?" Michael questioned. "There is going to be a hearing isn't there?"

  "Oh probably. I don't know. It doesn't matter Michael. Julian has been here everyday since the accident. He obviously feels very badly about what happened. Let's show some willingness to forgive. He didn't mean it. It was an accident." Michelle's forthright, magnanimous and gracious gesture brought an end to the tension that had been building, and Michael went sullenly silent. As Julian looked across at Michelle, he suddenly felt something touch his hand. He looked down and saw that Maria had moved her hand into his, and as he looked at her she opened her mouth, and ever so softly whispered the words, "It's all right. Don't worry."

  That same evening, Warwick Steedman and Jill Toogoods dined at a restaurant in Lygon Street. It was one of several occasions when they had been able to meet away from the office, away from their respective spouses, and simply enjoy one another's company without any pressure applied. The evening had been good. They enjoyed a fine meal, a nice wine that relaxed them both from the stress of the day's events.

  "Where did you go this morning?" Jill asked taking a sip of wine. "It's not like you to leave the office without telling me," she added. Warwick smiled. "I went to see Myra Applewood, at the retirement village. I didn't want anyone to know, in case it turned out a disaster," he answered. "And did it?" Jill asked.

  "No, it was very productive. Tomorrow I will dictate a letter we will send her, apologizing and offering her thirty days free gas and electricity. We will send it off straight away, and I think that will be the end of the matter," Warwick said, proudly.

  "Excellent!" Jill said. "I take it she succumbed to your irresistible charms?" Warwick quickly removed the smile from his face and replaced it with one of relief.

  "Hardly! She's too clever by half that one. I had to pull out all stops to assure her we were not buying her off," he said. "By the way, you'd better get that other letter off too, the one to that idiot taxi driver that smashed into my car. I don't want that matter dragging on. I want him to think he's going to pay plenty for the time lost, and the inconvenience he's put me too," he added.

  "Do you really think it will do any good?" Jill asked.

  "Well, at the very least, I want him to sweat a bit. Make him think twice about the way he drives in future. He might even be silly enough to pay up," Warwick joked.

  After the meal they took a walk along Lygon Street through its myriad of Italian restaurants, side-walk caf?s, and shops, displaying an endless variety of cheeses, cakes, condiments, olive oils and other delicious attractions. The street was full of young people, old people, and children, all out enjoying the balmy March evening. It was the first year of the Grand Prix in Melbourne and Ferrari flags were everywhere. It was rumoured that Michael Schumacher would be coming for a visit. The traffic was bumper to bumper. As Warwick and Jill strolled along, checking the windows of each shop they passed, they did not notice Warwick's younger brother Robert sitting at one of the side-walk caf? tables, engaged in a tense discussion with two gentlemen. They did not notice him, but he noticed them.

  Sitting at the side-walk caf? table with Robert, was Alberto Antonini and his cousin Alphonso. The meeting had been arranged by Alberto in the light of a small debt of five thousand dollars Robert owed to Alphonso, which Robert seemed either reluctant or unable to pay.

  "It's like this," Alberto said to Robert in a gentle, almost paternal manner. "If you feel you are unable to satisfy my cousin with repayment, I will give you the opportunity to work it off."

  "How?" Robert asked, nervously.

  "As you are aware," Alberto said, "I have a small fleet of taxis and I am always on the lookout for new drivers. I would be willing to help you gain your Taxi Driver's certificate and you could work for me. Generally I keep fifty percent of your takings. However in your case, I will keep seventy-five percent, until you have paid the money off. You have no work at the moment, so I think this would serve two purposes. My cousin Alphonso will get back his money and you will have a job. Everybody wins. So what do you think?"

  Robert was intelligent enough to realize that Alberto was not one to meddle with, and as he sat there resigned to the prospect of driving a taxi, nodded in agreement. As he shook hands on the deal just concluded, he looked up to see his brother Warwick strolling along the footpath with the lady he spoke with earlier in Warwick's office. He watched them intently as they moved up Lygon Street, window shopping as they went.

  "This is good," Alberto said, unaware of the distraction. "I can see you are keen on the idea. There are new rules for getting your taxi driver's certificate these days. The Government is trying to smarten up the industry. You will have to do a forty-hour TAFE course, but don't worry. You will pass it easily."

  "Can I go now?" Robert asked abruptly, keen to follow his brother.

  "Yes of course," Alberto said, "but don't make any other plans. I will be in touch with you. My cousin Alphonso here will also help you learn the things you need to know to pass th
e course. You understand?"

  "Yes," Robert said, no longer feeling intimidated, his eyes firmly fixed on Warwick. "You know where I am," Robert said as he made a move to go. Alberto took his arm in a firm grip. "Yes. We will always know where you are. You do realize that don't you?"

  Robert looked him in the eye and nodded. There was something unmistakeable about Alberto's last comment and as he moved quickly up Lygon Street keeping a safe distance behind Warwick and Jill, Robert realized the gravity of the position he was in. He also realized that seeing Warwick with another woman, presented an opportunity that just might help extricate himself from his present parlous circumstances. As he followed them, Warwick and Jill stopped to look at the shops, each time they embraced while perusing the various retail outlets, each time they looked into each other's eyes, and kissed, each time the kiss was longer. Robert was stunned. He couldn't believe his eyes.

  It was ten o clock when Warwick and Jill arrived back at the undercover car-park at the rear of the shops. For a brief moment they held each other, embraced and kissed under the light at the concrete pillar. Jill had wanted to broach the subject of their relationship tonight. She had wanted to talk to Warwick about her plans to leave her husband, and find a place of her own, but somehow the moment did not present itself. She was satisfied that they had spent this time together and that they would be together in the office the next morning. That would have to do for now.

  As they made their way to their cars, Robert followed in the shadows. They made their way down past row after row of vehicles, until they arrived at where their own cars were parked. Robert waited in the half-light and observed the two kiss each other passionately, and embrace tenderly. 'Bingo', he thought. 'Gotcha'.

  The following morning Warwick Steedman was in his office early. At eight thirty, Jill Toogoods came in and settled herself at her desk before going to the kitchen to make some coffee. She was wearing a light red summer sleeveless dress, and her hair was down around her shoulders. On returning to her desk, she noticed the flashing light on her phone and realized Warwick was already in his office. As she made a move to enter Warwick's office, Alexander Smith, Media manager came through the front door. "Good morning sexy," he said joking lightly. "Please don't refer to me that way Alex. I know you mean well, but it's not really appropriate in the office." Alex was taken aback. "It's not as if it's the first time I've called you that," he said. "I know. Sorry, I'm a little tense this morning. I've got a few things to deal with." Alex made for the kitchen, and Jill opened Warwick's door. He was on the phone speaking with Brad Murphy.

  "Is there anyway you can check if they are still up there?" Warwick asked Brad as he waved Jill to the seat on the other side of his desk. Jill responded and waited for the conversation to finish. "Well, keep in touch. Let me know as soon as you find anything. If necessary, I'll come up and have a talk with this Julie Macleod person if you think it will do any good." With that Warwick hung up, his eyes still firmly fixed on the phone. He had temporarily forgotten that Jill was in the room. "Good morning," she said trying to distract him. "Remember me?" Warwick's glazed eyes melted. "Sorry, I was in another world," he said. "What's up?" Jill asked as Warwick leaned back into the luxury leather chair.

  "That was Brad Murphy. He was giving me an update on his attempts to track down Andrea's daughter. The trail is getting very strange," he said. "Why? What has he discovered?" Jill asked.

  "Well," Warwick began, "first he makes contact with the Western Family Agency, the organization that Andrea told me adopted out her baby. They aren't able to give him anything specific but promise to check their records and get back to him, but the very next morning the property where the records are kept goes up in flames. Then the police find a body in the ruins. Then Brad contacts a former employee, again from information I received from Andrea. She has this stack of information in her home about past adoptions, and tells a bizarre story about a couple called Irene and James Campbell, from Cairns who she is sure adopted Mary Therese, but after checking, Brad finds the relevant government department has no record of it. The former employee is certain that she was told by the agency director that the whole matter was straightened out with the department. It's starting to sound suspiciously like there was a bit of funny business going on in early 1975 which is going to make finding Mary Therese very difficult. And now as you know, I'm meeting the family tonight to explain Andrea's will and try to pacify everybody."

  "What is Brad Murphy going to do now?"

  "Well, as it happens, he is scheduled to do a live broadcast of his chat show from Cairns on Friday. That's one of the reasons he called. He's flying up there and wanted to know if I would like him to make any follow-up enquiries. He says he's checked the Cairns telephone directory, and there are a number of Campbells listed. "

  "What did you say?" Jill asked.

  "I said please, go ahead. Do whatever you can. At least that's something I can tell everyone tonight, and show that I'm working on it. He's been extremely helpful and I'm very grateful to him."

  "Do you expect trouble tonight?" Jill asked

  "Not really, Robert might be a little edgy. I suspect he's in dire need of money. He probably needs to pay off some debts. From what my mother tells me, Margaret seems to have something going on, so she's probably a little anxious. The thing is, none of them is aware that Mary Therese exists, and I'm going to have to tell them."

  22.