Bree was the first to reach for the toast. “I’m not upset because Owen’s left. It’s Dad. I told him last night I’m leaving.”
“Leaving!” Laura plonked into the seat beside her. “I thought you were going for a few months.”
“I am.” Bree took a despondent slurp of her coffee.
“Leaving sounds permanent.”
“Well it’s not…unless Dad wants it that way,” she muttered. “Anyway I’m not going for a while yet. Not till tailing’s done at least.”
They were silent a moment then Kate spoke. “I can understand how he feels.” It was that knowing big-sister voice of hers.
Laura glanced at Kate, catching a glimpse of Bree’s scowl as she did.
“Of course you would,” Bree snapped. “It’s all right for you. You’re not here often and you don’t work for Dad.”
“But I do work in a family business. Lucky for me I can job share with my in-laws and I’ve earned some time off. You’re Dad’s only worker.”
“There’s Graeme.”
“And me,” Laura chipped in. She hated tension between her sisters.
They both turned to look at her, Bree’s face full of disdain and Kate’s slightly surprised.
“I can help.” Laura snatched a piece of toast and began to spread it with chunks of butter. The solid lumps tore at the cooling toast, pulling it apart as she wielded the knife. “I’m not going anywhere for a while.”
“How long do you plan to stay?” Kate’s tone was gentle.
“I don’t have a plan.”
“What about your job?” Bree asked.
Laura’s confidence waned under Bree’s piercing gaze. “I quit.”
“So this is not just a holiday?”
“No.”
Bree pushed back her chair and stood. “Well, there we are.” There was a smug smile on her face. “You can take my place. Easy done.” She took her cup, strode to the coffee machine and set it going again.
“No need to be so huffy,” Kate said. “Talk to Dad about it more.”
“I’ve tried.”
Laura met Kate’s look across the table. Her sister gave her an encouraging smile.
“I’m going to stay on for a few more days too,” Kate said.
“How come?”
“I’ve hardly seen Mum so I’ll stay till the weekend, maybe into next week. I’ve taken some more leave.” She looked pointedly at Bree as she sat back in her chair.
“Well, aren’t you lucky to accrue leave,” Bree snapped. “I can’t seem to find the piece of paper that records how much I’m owed.”
Kate opened her mouth then closed it again. Music blared from the radio, filling the silence, and then Kate spoke. “Shouldn’t we be out with Dad now?”
Bree glanced at the kitchen clock. “Give him a few more minutes.”
Natalie blinked at the numbers on her mobile phone until they came into focus. She sat up quickly as she realised it was after seven. Milt would probably be up and gone. It was the first day of tailing and he’d want to make sure everything was ready. She hoped one of the girls had cooked him some break—She stopped, berated herself. Why should she care? Then the other part of her felt guilty because she did.
She groaned and swung her feet to the ground, shivering at the cold boards beneath her feet. Bree’s spare room in the quarters was a junk room really. The place she’d dumped anything she didn’t need. The scattered boxes and bags had been pushed against one wall in an obvious attempt to tidy up. Bree must have done a quick rearrange when she’d made the bed for Olive. At least the bed had still been made up.
The night had been chilly and Natalie had been awake for half of it, at war with herself, going over her life and what had brought her to this moment. She’d moved on from worrying over Jack being Milt’s son and the implications of that, to questioning her marriage all over again, and that had made her ponder her life and what she’d done with it. Even the thought of going back to her teaching didn’t inspire any excitement like it once had. She was fifty-eight; surely there was more she should have achieved by now. The anomaly in her breast had started the questioning and then had become jumbled with the uncertainties that Jack’s presence had evoked.
It occurred to her in the night that she’d been abducted by aliens and returned to someone else’s body. That was a better explanation than facing the truth: her life was not what she thought. With a burst of clarity the words paradigm shift repeated in her mind. She’d first heard of a paradigm shift at a conference she’d attended many years ago. The presenter had explained that a paradigm is the way each person sees the world and a paradigm shift enables you to view the world from a totally different perspective.
Natalie hadn’t really understood but now it was clear. The busy yet settled and happy existence she thought she had been living was not the reality. She’d thought herself a caring and competent teacher but the new principal had eroded her confidence in her abilities. Her husband’s long-buried affair had produced a son, she was convinced of that now, no matter how Milt denied it. The kitchen was no longer her domain and the property they’d worked hard to build up was under threat from Milt’s sister, who’d done nothing to deserve it. Then there were her girls. Natalie had faltered at the thought of her three precious daughters. They were her world but they had their own lives to live and even though they were all under her roof at the moment, they wouldn’t continue to be. They no longer needed a mother. A chill went through her at the thought of nothing to look forward to.
She groaned again and gripped her head in her hands. The constant turmoil in her head and the tightness in her chest were driving her crazy. In the early hours she’d decided she needed to get away, give herself some space to think, and immediately she imagined the face of her dearest friend, Brenda. It had hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks how much she missed her friend. They would have talked everything through, not the stuff about Jack but everything else. Since Brenda had left she hadn’t had a proper heart-to-heart talk with another woman like she’d always been able to do with her dear friend. They emailed and chatted on the phone but life got busy. It had been two weeks, maybe three, since she’d heard from Brenda last. Natalie didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it earlier.
At three o’clock this morning she’d made the decision to visit Brenda in Brisbane. She didn’t care that it was tailing. Laura was managing the food. Natalie had plenty of leave up her sleeve from school. Paul would just have to arrange more cover for her.
With that all decided she’d finally slept, but now as daylight crept into the room her determination to get away faltered. Only one week and tailing would be finished, and then it would be only three more till school holidays; she could take a break then. She slipped her arms into her dressing-gown and felt the weight of common sense and duty settle with it on her shoulders.
Out in the corridor she stopped to listen. No sounds from within the quarters. Owen would have left early and Bree was no doubt out with her father by now. She opened the door that separated the quarters from the house and was greeted by music coming from the kitchen radio. It wasn’t on the ABC so Milt had definitely gone. She made her way towards the kitchen in desperate need of a cup of tea, but just before she reached the door she stopped. The girls were talking.
“I suppose you’ll be inviting him for dinner again.” Bree’s voice had a teasing tone.
“He’s good eye candy.” Kate chuckled.
“Lay off, you two.” Laura’s annoyance was accompanied by the crash of cutlery in the sink.
“Dad thinks he’s it and a bit,” Bree said. “And he lives close. It’d be a match made in heaven.”
A chair dragged sharply. “Hey, watch it,” Bree called. “Mum won’t be happy if she finds you throwing wet dishcloths around.”
Natalie pressed a hand to the wall. They had to be talking about Jack. Laura couldn’t have feelings for him. He could be… her empty stomach churned and she pressed her fingers to her lips.
“Dad’s sure taken a shine to Jack. He’s like the golden-haired boy.” Bree’s voice was full of irritation.
“Perhaps he likes having another bloke around the place,” Kate said. “And we did see the Halbots back when Dad played tennis. It was before your time, Laura.”
“So why did it stop?” Laura asked.
There was a short pause as if they were all thinking about that.
“I don’t know,” Kate said.
“Has anything more happened about reviving the tennis court?” Laura asked.
“Dad’s thinking about it,” Bree said.
“I don’t think Mum’s keen on the idea,” Kate said.
“What’s Mum got against tennis anyway?” Laura said. “She’s always encouraged our sport but tennis is this big voodoo we’re never allowed to mention. Dad’s got a cupboard full of trophies.”
“You’re right,” Bree said. “I’ve never thought about it much but it’s been Mum who’s not wanted us to resurrect the tennis court.”
“Do you think she’s okay?” Kate asked.
Natalie leaned her body against the wall, worried her legs would fold beneath her.
“Now that I think about it she’s been quiet ever since she came back from having the tests in Adelaide,” Bree said.
“I said that the other day,” Laura huffed.
Natalie stayed where she was, unable to make herself move away.
“I guess it would be a shock to get the all-clear and then to discover your neighbour wasn’t so lucky,” Kate said.
“Maybe Mum’s got that weird thing,” Laura said.
“What weird thing?” her sisters asked in unison.
“You know when people wish they had what someone else did to get the attention.”
Natalie put a hand to her head. Her daughters thought she was going crazy. Maybe she was. Nothing had seemed right in her life since the discovery of the anomaly. It was like she’d thought back in the coffee shop in Victor; there was some kind of dividing line across the path of her life and now she was living AA – After Anomaly.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mum’s just Mum,” Bree scoffed then a chair scraped. “Bugger, look at the time. She’ll be here soon to organise food and Dad will be chomping. We’d better get out there, Kate.”
More chairs scraped across the kitchen floor and Natalie only had time to straighten herself up before Bree pulled open the door.
“Mum?” Bree glanced behind her and back again. “Hi…bye. Gotta go.” She brushed a kiss over Natalie’s cheek and dashed past.
“Morning, Mum.” Kate stopped to look at her more closely than her sister had. “Did you get a good sleep?”
Natalie twisted her lips up in a smile. “Yes thanks, love.”
“See you later.” Another kiss grazed her cheek.
Only Laura was left, framed in the doorway, her rainbow hair fluffed out in a wild halo and a puzzled expression on her face. “I didn’t know you were up. Dad said we should let you sleep.”
Natalie wondered if he’d said she was in Bree’s spare room.
“Would you like some breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll put the kettle on, then you can tell me what you want me to do for food today. I can give you a hand if you like.”
Natalie watched her youngest cross the kitchen. They all assumed she’d go on as usual but could she…would she? She was desperate for a cuppa and a piece of toast but she needed time to compose herself. “I’ll have my shower first. Don’t worry about me, I’ll get myself something once I’m dressed.”
By the time she’d showered and returned to her own bedroom Natalie was determined again to go to Brisbane to see Brenda, and she was going to go now before she changed her mind again.
She made the bed, paused at Milt’s side, his reading glasses perched on his current book, something about the explorer Hubert Wilkins who’d been born just up the road. Milt often shared little snippets of information he discovered from his reading. Natalie traced her fingers over the cover and felt a sudden yearning for the luxury of time to read a book. It would be the first thing she’d buy when she got to the airport. Excitement fuelled her now as she tipped out the clothes she hadn’t unpacked from her Victor Harbor trip and repacked with clothes better suited to the warmer climate in Brisbane.
“Mum?”
She froze at Laura’s call as if she was about to be discovered doing something illicit.
“I’m taking coffee up to Dad, back in a while.”
“Okay.”
Natalie rushed, determined to be gone from the house before Laura returned. She’d ring Paul and Brenda from the car once she was down the highway.
She typed a text for Milt.
Have decided I need a break to clear my thoughts. Going to have a week or so with Brenda in Brisbane. Haven’t told the girls. Will leave it to you.
Her finger hovered over the arrow to send. She doubted he’d look at his phone until morning tea but just in case she decided to wait until she was on the road before she sent it. She re-read her text and felt like a coward but there was also a small dash of pleasure in that last statement. It was always her job to fill in the girls. He could do it for a change.
At the bedroom door she paused, a bundle of dirty clothes tucked under her arm and her suitcase handle in the other hand. Nothing out of place. She hurried down the corridor, risking a glance in the other bedrooms, both with unmade beds, and came to a stop at the kitchen. She should go in, clean up. It was a big job for Laura on her own, but if she stayed Laura would come back and find her and then she’d have to explain.
And there it was again, The Model Wife, controlling her. She couldn’t do anything unless the house was clean. Or could she? Natalie took a deep breath, turned away from the plates and cups still spread across the table, and the pans and more plates and mugs piled around the sink, dumped her dirty clothes in the laundry as she passed and let herself out the back door. She paused to give Bubbles a pat, glanced over her patch of gerberas. There were few flowers on them now; they didn’t like the cold. Before she could succumb to more backward glances she loaded her case and drove away feeling as if she was escaping, or more truthfully running away from home.
Laura did the morning tea shift on her own. She’d been surprised her mother hadn’t made another appearance but perhaps she’d gone back to bed. She’d looked tired and Laura had decided to leave her alone but when she got back from the shed with the empty baskets there had been no sign that her mother had even been in the kitchen.
Laura set herself to cleaning up and, knowing how particular her mum was, she even mopped the floor. She plucked the fading gerberas from the vase on the table and replaced them with some sprigs of lavender. When she finally stopped the house felt empty around her, as if no-one else was home. She jiggled her shoulders to disperse the ominous prickle that nagged her and went in search of her mother.
She trod softly along the passage, pulling her own bedroom door closed to hide the mess as she passed. There’d been no time to deal with any of her things since she’d arrived home. Outside her parents’ bedroom she hesitated. The door was slightly ajar. She pushed it slowly inwards, peered around then stepped straight in. Everything was neat and tidy, the bed made, not a thing out of place. The window sash was open just enough to let in some air and the lace curtain wobbled in the soft breeze.
“Mum?” It was stupid to say it, as if her mother was suddenly going to materialise when it was obvious she wasn’t in the room.
Laura retraced her steps. She called louder and checked each room. Kate’s bed was unmade like hers and the rest of the house was empty with no sign of her mother. She yanked the band from the ponytail she’d made while she was cleaning, dragged her fingers through her hair and tied it up again then stood in the middle of the passage, hands on hips
, frowning at the back door. Her mum must have gone to the sheds. It was pretty mean of her to leave all the food prep to Laura.
Kate came back to the house just before lunch break. She was going to grab a quick bite then head into town. The receptionist at the surgery had been able to fit her in with Dr Strauss later that afternoon. She’d made up an excuse for her dad about needing a script, but as she removed her boots at the back door she braced herself for her mum’s response. It wasn’t easy to get things past her. In some ways Kate didn’t want to. It would be a relief to talk through her concerns with her mum; maybe she’d even go with her to town.
If she was back at her own place Kate might have talked to Sarah about her health concerns but not now, since their…what would she call it? Friends had disagreements, patched them up and went on but this was different. It wasn’t an argument but Sarah having a baby would change their relationship forever. The baby would always be a point of difference between them. She would normally share her feelings with Sean but she was too frightened, worried they were on different pages too. Her mum was the only one she felt she could talk to about all this. Kate sighed and moved her weary body into the house.
Laura was alone in the kitchen. She was loading the esky and a box with containers.
“Where’s Mum?” Kate asked.
Laura looked up. Her face had lost the usual Laura sparkle. “I don’t know. She’s not in the house. I thought she might have gone up to the shed. I haven’t seen her since breakfast.”
“We haven’t seen her. Did you check the house?”
“Yes.” Laura locked the lid on the esky. “Can you help me? I’ve got to get this lot up to the shed.”
Kate looked at the load of items to be transported. “I’ll bring my car to the back door.”
“Thanks.” Laura’s face crumpled into a grateful smile. “I thought Mum would be here to help.”
Kate took her keys from the rack beside the door. “Won’t be long.”
Bree strode towards the house. Tailing was going well and her dad was keeping his cool. He was usually edgy on the first day of any big job, always watching for potential problems, but today he was almost a different man, as if his mind wasn’t fully on the task. She’d had to remind him a couple of times to move the sheep on.
The Model Wife Page 20