Heart

by Paula Hayes

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Knowledge is the Wing

  “Typical, we are about to reveal something more exciting than the finale of ‘Extreme Makeovers’ or ‘Master Chef’ and Leo is not here.”

  Dylan was sniffing the green room anxiously but all he could smell were tea and orange wax.

  Kevin had placed planks up the front verandah steps and Kelsey was carefully pulling her Great Grandfather’s wheel chair backwards up to the porch. Rex’s long withered skinny legs were covered in a crocheted rug and he wiped his mouth continuously with a man’s enormous handkerchief. He adjusted his wellworn fedora hat with an unsteady hand, while his blue eyes twinkled mischievously.

  Dylan looked at the hat covetously.

  “What are you up to Kelsey Lou Lou? How do you know these good people?”

  “Friend of a friend,” replied Kelsey.

  “Len popped a fender?” Rex’s clumpy white eyebrows shot up confused.

  “Who is Len? What are you talking about girlie?”

  Kelsey bent over and shouted into Rex’s ear, “FRIEND OF A FRIEND, POP.”

  “Ah, mutual friends I see dear.”

  Kelsey took a little box out of her pocket. It contained hearing aids, “Here Poppy, put your hearing aids in.” The sound of nails dragging down a blackboard harmonising with the screech of an untuned radio, blasted out for a nano second as the aids were adjusted. The party put their hands over their ears as Rex smiled obliviously.

  “That’s better Pop, now you can hear us.”

  “I’m not deaf you know. I’m bunged up with wax.”

  “Yes Poppa.”

  Kelsey sighed and pushed the elderly gentleman into the green room. “He is fine up top,” she pointed to her head, “It’s his body that is letting him down.”

  Natalie and Kevin were sitting at the oak table. Beth, Blake and Bubba sat on the chaise. The table was set with lamingtons and scones and a pot of tea.

  “Ahhh I see why you have brought me here, the table is finished. Sterling job Kevin, well done.”

  Kelsey wheeled him closer to the table and he patted it affectionately.

  “It’s been a long time since I have seen food served on it. My late wife Florence wasn’t much into entertaining or cooking. But she was a dab hand at crocheting and breeding budgies. I tended the roses.” A tiny tear formed in one eye and he wiped it away with his hanky and patted at his mouth.

  Larry licked his hand as Rex shakily reached out to scratch his head.

  “Ahh, you can be mother Natalie.” She poured the tea.

  “How is the house selling going? Been on the market for a long time Rex,” said Kevin as he chomped through a heavily jammed scone.

  “Not so well Kevin, not so well. Got a ridiculously low offer from some investors, wanted to knock it over and build a triplex. They wanted to bowl over my rose garden and put in a garage ... I knew in my heart that the house and garden would be demolished—but it’s hard to tell a twenty something real estate agent … that the rooms are like old friends and the ladybirds make great companions.

  “I feel like that about my vegie patch and the rabbits,” laughed Natalie.

  “I can’t hold out much longer, my knees are giving way. My son Jim used to look after me but he is full of arthritis now. My other son, John and most of his family live up North—he stays with me six weeks a year round Chrissie time and other rellies pop in and stay too. It’s great but it is not enough.”

  Rex looked at Kelsey. “Kelsey is a good girl and visits often but she has University and work. I know she misses her family too. Your Natalie brings me casseroles occasionally and I have a very pretty Silver Chain aide who comes and helps me every other day but realistically I can’t manage any more.”

  He sighed deeply and wiped at his mouth. “I didn't want to put the house on the market and now I just want it to sell. How fickle is that.” His heavy white eyebrows shot up. He sighed again as he struggled to put the lamington into his mouth and chew with his remaining teeth.

  Larry started to tug and chew his favourite corner of the rug. A very embarrassed Natalie pulled him outside. He shook her off with his hackles raised. A smoky scent filled the room. Rex stopped chewing. Flakes of coconut floated onto his cardigan. Kelsey put her teacup down slowly.

  Dylan breathed in the air and wheezed with authority, “About time Leo.”

  Leo materialized by the fireplace. “Sorry,” he said, “didn’t realize you had company. I’ll skedaddle.”

  “Wait,” shouted Anna.

  “Don’t go,” cried Natalie.

  “Won't you join us for a cuppa? Here is some more family.”

  “Your family,” replied Leo testily.

  “No Leo,” said Anna, “Yours—Surprise!”

  “What in the hells bells is going on? I don’t have any family.”

  “This is your son, Reginald Leopold,” said Anna, she found herself jumping up and down with joy and excitement, it was all she could manage not to high five his warm misty not quite there hand.

  “And this lovely girl is your Great Great grand daughter, Kelsey,” said Natalie.

  Leo flew over to Rex in his wheel chair.

  “I can see something and feel something,” said Rex tremulously. “A thick heavy shadow. I can smell something.”

  Kelsey twitched her nose and put her hand over her mouth and coughed delicately.

  “What is happening?” said Kelsey nervously. She started to tremble and anxiously looked at Dylan.

  “Happy place,” he whispered.

  “I seem to be looking at a young soldier boy with the most beautiful blue eyes. And he is grinning at me. Now he is waving.” Anna held up the photo next to Leo’s head.

  “HE IS FROM THE PHOTO?” shouted Kelsey.

  “Yes,” said Anna. “I wasn’t counting on you being able to see him. This is Epic.”

  Kelsey lifted her arm slowly and waved hesitantly back.

  “UN - BE - LIEV - AB – LE! You can see him and I can’t!” pouted Dylan.

  “I don’t feel scared but I do feel weird.”

  Kelsey moved carefully over to her aged and pixilated Grandfathers. Three pairs of beautiful blue eyes lined up in front of Anna and Natalie with a marked likeness.

  “That is one strong gene pool,” whispered Natalie to Anna.

  “It’s Angelika, I’ve seen her.”

  Natalie looked at her in surprise so Anna quickly added, “No she didn’t visit, I saw her last night in Leo’s memory … long story.”

  “Hello Kelsey. You can call me Gramps,” laughed Leo joyously.

  “Now he is talking to me, this is really weird. Is this your house mate Anna, the one that you wanted me to meet?”

  “Yes, he is Private Leopold Reginald Nolan, service number 1908. Killed in the field in France, somewhere near Boulogne, possibly Amiens on the 21st of March 1918. Blown to pieces by a whistling winnie,” said Anna proudly.

  “For Gawd's sake don’t tell her that, it’s embarrassing. And anyways, it was a moaning Minnie.”

  “On Saturday night, it was traumatizing … practically ruined your afterlife. It’s only Tuesday today.”

  “I’ve come to terms with my incineration,” beamed Leo.

  “Well done and it only took just under one hundred years.”

  “Umm hello there,” replied Kelsey nervously.

  “Hello Kelsey, I’m your Great Great Grandfather,” Leo put up his hand and counted the greats off on his fingers. Then he grabbed her by the hands and danced her around the table. Her eyes shone and her green hair flew out from her head as he twirled her like a lacy parasol, her vintage skirts whirled out like a small silky parachute.

  “You look more like my brother than my grandfather. How old are you?”

  “I’m eighteen.”

  “So am I,” chuckled Kelsey.

  “I c
an’t believe you can see me. Look at her, isn’t she a beauty. A real looker.”

  “Yeah, that’s because she looks like you, you vain thing,” laughed Natalie.

  “But what is wrong with your hair. It’s like freaky! Is that the right lingo?” he turned to Anna for reassurance.

  Anna shrugged, “Don’t ask me.”

  “I’m experimenting, my hair is a reflection of my mood.”

  “What mood is that? Green around the gills or green with envy?” toyed Leo.

  “Neither,” she said defensively. “I don’t feel like this colour any more.” She smiled at Dylan.

  “This is my Great Grandfather.” Kelsey crouched by the wheel chair and held Rex’s hand.

  “Poppa, tell us about your father, you never spoke of him.”

  “Why bring all that up now, what is going on?” Rex asked anxiously.

  “I never knew him, I never knew any family from either side but it didn’t matter because I had the best Mum in the world. She was beautiful and clever and smart. And she loved me. She would look at me and say she was the luckiest Mum in the world to have her blue eyed boy and that I looked just like my father and she loved him. He had died in the war and Mum spent her life teaching me. She got a job in the local library. When I was sick with my weak chest, I would sit under her desk wrapped in her old cardigan and all the books in the world at my feet.

  Every now and then a parcel from the West would arrive. It was from Aunt Agnes and it usually contained a toy, some socks and a couple of Mars Bars. Sometime later I began to suspect that they hadn’t really been married. She told me on her deathbed that she had changed her name to Knowles as it was close to Nolan. She died holding my hand.” The old man paused and lifted his head back to stop the tears falling.

  He steadied himself and continued on, “She left me a brown paper bag with a photo of two soldiers and two sisters. Kelsey here is the one who loves history so I gave them to her last week. See if she could find out some information on that computer thingy majig … I’ve always had a bad chest. I’m asthmatic you see. My youngest boy was terribly afflicted with it so we packed up and moved across to Western Australia … Florence’s parents lived here. The weather was warmer and I chanced my luck at a promotion, a Principal’s position … well blow me down I got the job so we settled here. Florence and I taught and the boys grew up. I tried to be a good father to them although I had no idea what I was doing. Florence’s father was a good man and a great help to me.”

  “Oh Poppa, you are a great old patriarch, you know both your sons adore you and your grandson and your great great grandsons and me, and even Cam and James, your great great great great grandsons love to come and see you.”

  Rex teared up, “Thanks Kels, that means a lot but I’m sure they are only interested in my Mars Bars.” He laughed.

  “It’s funny you know, I have been thinking of my mother and her soldier love all the time this week. When I close my eyes I can see her big brown ones looking at me full of love. Been thinking about the past so much this week I wondered if I was going to, you know, fall off the perch or at least needed to up my medication.”

  Leo knelt down on the other side of Rex. “This is my boy,” he said in wonder.

  “This is my boy; he had a good life and a long life. Something wondersome came from our love … a family, a happy family and a Principal no less. I’m so proud.” He stroked Rex’s face. Anna repeated the words for Rex. Rex dabbed excitedly at his eyes and mouth.

  “Hey Blake, hey Beth this is my baby.” Anna repeated the question for the pair.

  “He is very cute Leo,” said Blake.

  “Really cute. I wish Bubba had wiry hair sticking out of her nose and ear lobes down to her shoulders,” joked Beth.

  “He has your eyes Leo,” said Natalie.

  “I can feel something—Kelsey dear what is going on?”

  “Poppa, your father is here. He has been waiting to see you for your entire life.”

  “Is he a spirit or am I dead?”

  “He is a ghost. I can see him. He is a most handsome devil,” blushed Kelsey.

  “First Anna goes all soppy and now you. Wish I could see this awesome Leo,” sulked Dylan.

  Leo puffed up and wriggled his eyebrows. “I’m a bit of a Lothario these days.”

  “Get a grip Leo.”

  “Natalie, can you see my father?”

  “Yes Rex, he is an old friend of mine. Anna can see him.”

  “Where is he, is he near me? I can see a tall shadow and the smell is mighty powerful. Is it cordite and chloride of lime burning flesh and cigarettes?”

  “How does he know that?”

  “Poppa is a WW1 History buff, been studying it since his retirement twenty five years ago.”

  “So that’s what the horrid smell is!”

  “He is to your left, Pop.” Rex gingerly moved his hand out in the air near him. “It feels warm like steam from a kettle. He has loved me all this time. Always?”

  “Always and forever,” said Leo. Big happy tears plopped down his face and evaporated.

  “Well you can move on from thinking anyone’s life was ruined. Perhaps you can move on to the Other Side,” suggested Natalie.

  “Kelsey can you really see him? I forgot to take my pills this morning. I’m not going barking mad am I?”

  “No Pops he is really here.”

  Rex sobbed into his hanky. “Tell him all my life I have loved him and been waiting too.” He laughed, “I thought it might have been after I died and not before—I’m a very lucky man.”

  Anna felt her pulse quicken as her heart surged. Leo was now standing next to her. “Please Anna you’ve got Kelsey and Natalie to help you. Les, well that was a great success. Don’t be frightened.”

  Anna looked at Kelsey. Kelsey held out her hand and she grasped it firmly.

  Anna put the photo of Daisy in front of her and closed her eyes for a minute. To think I was jealous of her only last week. Oh and most of yesterday. She remembered the warmth and intensity of Leo’s love.

  “Daisy,” she whispered gently into the room.

  “I’m here,” said Daisy.

  “My giddy aunt that was quick,” gasped Natalie.

  A short chubby lady in a twin set with heavy framed glasses walked out of the fireplace. She nodded at the party seated at the table and walked straight over to Rex. She carefully took his hat off his head and lowered it on to the table. She kissed his forehead and placed her cheek on his balding scalp.

  Kevin watched as the fedora slid down to the table. “Natalie, what is happening?”

  “Later, Kev,” mouthed back Natalie.

  “Hat off inside son, how many times did I have to tell you that.” She cradled his head.

  “Poppa? Poppa?” Kelsey ran to her Grandfather. He slumped over in his wheel chair and his rug fell askew to the ground. Kev jumped up and took his pulse.

  “He has gone love.” He ran a hand over Rex’s staring eyes and looked reverently at the old man.

  “He was a good man,” said Kevin blinking back his tears. Natalie offered a prayer for Rex’s safe journey.

  “Kelsey Lou Lou, don’t cry,” said a young voice.

  It belonged to a blue-eyed boy in a knitted jumper, smartly ironed shorts and long socks. “Kelsey, Kelsey, it’s me, your Poppa.” He waved boldly and then hid behind his beautiful young mother who was in the arms of his father.

  “Why you cheeky thing Poppy,” whispered Kelsey.

  “Anna, Natalie and to all my peeps, thank you. Thank you so much, I’m on my way. We are all on our way and it feels wondersome!”

  “Peeps!” whispered Anna. “Outrageous!”

  LIFE (AGAIN)

  “I will wait with him.”

  The family leaves Kelsey sitting on the floor at the foot of Rex. Dylan crouches down next to
her and holds her hand tightly. “I will stay. I will wait with you.” He sits down next to her. Kelsey rests her head on Dylan’s shoulder as she continues to hold Rex’s warm hand.

  The rest of the group moves out to the front verandah and sits quietly as

  Deepak’s car swings into the driveway.

  “Crikey that boy is a menace, I was expecting the ambulance, not a bloody rally driver—and his music is too loud.”

  “Calm down Kevin.”

  Jacqui looks at Anna astonished, “Deepak is listening to your song. The song I chose for the pair of you! Freaky. It’s a sign.”

  Anna smiles, “I really like that song,” she says as Deepak pulls down his Aviators and grins at her.

  “Turn the bloody radio down and have some respect for the dead!” shouts Kev.

  Nina moves out from the passenger side. Behind her, another door opens. Corinne steps out onto the gravel.

  “Jacqui, Jacqui, it’s your Mum!” says Anna surprised.

  Jacqui looks at Anna, “Cat?”

  “No sign of a cat.” Anna is not sure that this is good news or bad.

  Corinne flies up the stairs and wraps her arms around her daughter. They hold each other tightly.

  “How is Snoodles?” asks Jacqui through her tears.

  “Snoodles? He stayed on in South Africa,” laughs Corinne knowingly. “I won’t see him again. I am feeling much better and Granny is coming to visit next week to be with us.”

  “NINA!” screams Natalie as she watches her friend collapse on to the tall weedy grass.

  Anna and Natalie bound down the steps. “I’m fine, I’m fine.” She waves them away, embarrassed.

  “A drink of water, if you don’t mind Kevin dear,” asks Nina as she pulls the hair off her face. Kevin runs for the kitchen.

  Corinne helps Nina up as Natalie dusts off the dirt.

  “Are you ill?”

  “No dear girls, I’m having a baby!”

  “BABY!”

  OMG thinks Anna, the return of Ranabir Roychowdhury. She knows it to be true as if the words have appeared in the sunny skies over Nina’s head. Your secret is safe Professor Ray.

  “Dylan is going to be a middle child,” says Jacqui.

  “He is going to be beyond precious,” laughs Nina.

  “Daisy will have a little friend.”

  “Are you quite well Mum?”

  “No, no not that Daisy, our Daisy, your niece. Beth just announced Bubba’s name. It’s Daisy, Daisy Anna.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes and they are getting married!”