Mara's Choice

by Anna Jacobs

  Emma and Aaron came down, having changed into dry clothes in record time.

  ‘Brandy, anyone?’ Aaron asked.

  ‘Good idea.’ Hal switched the kettle off.

  ‘Yes, please.’ Mara joined the others at the table. ‘I’m certainly packing a lot into my visit, even though it’s being cut short.’

  She looked at Hal, who was smiling at her in that fond way that made her toes curl.

  ‘I’m very glad you came,’ he said softly. ‘I shall miss you when you leave. But not for long, I hope.’

  Emma nudged Aaron and they too smiled at one another.

  ‘A nice ending to a horrid episode. I don’t think Hal will need to fear intruders any longer.’

  Just then the house phone rang and as Emma was nearest, she picked it up. ‘Oh, heavens!’ She looked across. ‘Mara, can you be ready to fly out in four hours’ time?’

  ‘What? Um, yes. Of course. If someone will call me a taxi.’

  ‘I’ll drive you,’ Aaron said. ‘You go back and finish packing. I’ll meet you at the front door when you’re ready.’

  Hal limped back home with Mara. ‘I’m sorry I can’t drive you to the airport. Sorry you have to go.’

  ‘Life happens.’

  ‘I’ll join you in the UK as soon as I can. I have your address.’

  She looked at him, hoping desperately that he meant this. ‘Yes. Please do.’

  But it was such a rush to put the last things into her suitcase and get ready to leave that she couldn’t seem to say all she wanted to tell him.

  During the hour’s drive to the airport she thought of all she should have said, of course she did, and worried about that. But it was too late now. She had to be with her dad.

  ‘We’ll arrange another visit here later,’ Aaron said as he put her luggage on a trolley. ‘I’m sorry you and I didn’t spend more time together.’

  ‘We got enough time to find out that we get on well, don’t you think? And that I like your Emma.’

  His face lit up. ‘That’s how I feel. She’s been the joy of my life. I’m sure I’ll like your dad when I meet him and if there’s anything you or he need, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not short of money, just short of one daughter.’

  Then she had to sort out her ticket, go through the airport formalities and board the plane.

  She felt disoriented, didn’t sleep much on the way back, even though she was once again in business class.

  All she wanted now was to see her dad and get the funeral over. It all felt so unreal at the moment.

  Around noon, Peggy texted Mike to tell him to meet her in the summerhouse at four o’clock that afternoon. She held out the message to the other conspirators before she sent it. ‘How’s this?’

  Tessa grimaced. ‘You haven’t said anything affectionate. You know he’ll be feeling amorous if he’s been without a partner for a while.’

  ‘I don’t want him to touch me. I might give myself away.’

  Loreen grinned at them. ‘I’ve been thinking about it. We need to make the scene more visual anyway and if he’s as vain as he sounds, he’ll fall for it. How about you do it this way … ?’

  They were all chuckling by the time she’d finished.

  ‘That is brilliant,’ Peggy said. ‘I can do that if I keep the big picture in my mind.’

  Mike turned up on the dot, looking so thin Peggy was amazed. Had she really fallen madly in love with this scrawny scarecrow of a man?

  ‘Darling!’ He held out his arms.

  ‘Shhh! We have to keep quiet. There are bound to be people nearby.’ But she forced herself to go up to him and let him put his arms round her. Eww! He was sticking his tongue in her ear.

  ‘I can hardly wait for us to be together,’ she whispered. ‘In fact, why should we wait? If we’re very quiet we could have a little reunion before we leave.’

  He beamed at her. ‘I can be very quick and quiet.’

  ‘I want to see you without those clothes,’ she said. ‘It’ll turn me on like nothing else will.’

  He smirked and started taking off his clothes.

  ‘Do it slowly,’ she said, praying that the professional photographer was in place.

  She pretended to smile, but in reality she was horrified at how scrawny he was and when she looked down at herself, she vowed to put more flesh on her own body if it killed her to eat.

  As he took off the last of his clothes, he held out one arm to her. ‘Your turn.’

  She took a step backwards, then another. Ugh. How could she have thought she loved him?

  ‘Peggy? What’s the matter? Come on, darling.’

  She turned and fled, calling out, ‘Help! Help! There’s a flasher in here.’

  The security guard turned up within seconds and was up the steps into the summerhouse. He was followed closely by a grinning photographer, and then a woman in a white outfit.

  Tessa came to join her. ‘She’s the physiotherapist. Jordan had the idea of bringing her over as well. Apparently she hates men who flash themselves at women.’

  ‘He was so conceited he didn’t realise I wasn’t joining in till he had all his clothes off.’ Peggy shuddered.

  Yells and shouts from the summerhouse had them turning round and shortly afterwards, the guard led Mike out, with a blanket wrapped round him.

  Peggy couldn’t resist giving him a tiny, mockingly happy wave.

  He looked shocked rigid as he noticed Tessa, who did the same thing. Then he stumbled past the group.

  The following day there were photos in all the newspapers and Mike did not show up well.

  Peggy and Tessa cut them out. They would look at them every time they had trouble eating.

  Charles turned up at Hal’s house the evening that Mara flew out, carefully carrying a bottle of champagne. He waited patiently while his friend came to the door.

  ‘Aaron said you weren’t feeling like company tonight so naturally I came round to see you.’

  ‘I wasn’t. But now I come to think of it, maybe I could just about tolerate you.’

  ‘If I’m to drink you under the table, I’ll need a bed for the night.’

  ‘You can take the one Mara used but you’ll have to change the sheets yourself.’

  ‘Fair enough.’

  When they were seated and had raised brimming glasses to ‘absent friends’, Charles said abruptly, ‘It must be serious with Mara.’

  ‘It is. But I can’t just leave the house to fend for itself till we’re sure Moretti was the only one involved.’

  ‘I think you’ll find he was.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Yes. How’s the ankle?’

  ‘Not good but I’ll live. I need to find a caretaker for this house. Hey! Do you want the job?’

  ‘I thought you’d never ask. I got you a seat on a plane, by the way.’

  ‘How soon?’

  ‘Not for a couple of days, I’m afraid.’

  Hal sighed. ‘I’m beginning to understand what they mean by the tyranny of distance. This country is a long way from the rest of the world.’

  ‘And Western Australia is a long way from the rest of Australia.’ Charles raised his glass. ‘It’s a pretty unique place, though. Here’s to true love. It’s about time you found someone.’

  ‘Why did you never marry, Charles?’

  ‘I found someone once and lost her to ambition. I’m a bit fussy and never seemed to luck out again.’

  They finished off the bottle, together with some cheese and biscuits, then Hal went to bed.

  Charles stood gazing out at the moonlit water. He was going to enjoy living here. But whether he’d want to stay in Mandurah was anyone’s guess.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Mara arrived at Heathrow feeling exhausted but the sight of her dad beaming at her from the other side of the passenger barrier lifted her spirits considerably.

  He gave her a big hug that said it all, and then took her trolley and began to push it towards the exit.
‘It’s a long flight. You must be exhausted.’

  ‘I was in business class again, so I was quite comfy.’

  ‘Do you need to sleep? I don’t mind if you go straight to bed.’

  ‘Not yet. I’ll fit into UK time for as long as I can today.’

  When they were driving west along the M4, he said abruptly, ‘Do you want to see your mother one final time?’

  She’d thought about that. ‘No. I prefer to remember her as she was when I was a child, if I can. She grew so strange, especially towards the end. But I really want to be there at the funeral with you so that we can say a proper goodbye to her.’

  ‘I’ve taken that for granted and arranged for the funeral to take place quite soon. We were lucky that a slot came vacant. There won’t be many of us there, a few distant relatives and some friends of mine. And Sally of course.’

  ‘Of course. That sounds – right.’

  When they got to the house she stopped as she got out of the car to stare at her old home. Everything looked smaller than ever here after the big canal houses and wide, high sky of Australia. And it felt distinctly chilly, with a lowering grey sky.

  ‘Coming inside?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes. Just, you know, reorienting myself.’

  When they got inside he avoided her gaze and asked abruptly, ‘Did you like this Aaron chap?’

  ‘Yes. And you will too. He didn’t feel like a father, though. More like a sort of distant cousin or uncle. His wife is nice as well.’ She could see the relief on her dad’s face. ‘As if anyone could ever replace you, Dad.’

  So they had another long, loving hug.

  ‘I met a guy while I was there, as I told you.’

  ‘This Hal chap?’

  ‘Yes. He’s really nice. He may be coming over for a holiday soon.’

  Phil wasn’t fooled. ‘You like him that much.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But you’re not sure he’ll come?’

  ‘He said he would. I hope he does. After Darren, I’m not as trusting.’

  ‘I hope so too, then. And I’m sure Sally will give him a bed, if he does come.’

  ‘I’m so glad you had her to help you.’

  ‘She’s a good friend, has been for years.’ He took a deep breath and said hesitantly, ‘Perhaps she’ll be more than that one day. Would you mind?’

  ‘Not at all. I hope she will. You’ve been lonely, in spite of Mum being there and your golfing friends.’

  ‘Yes. I have. Very lonely when you weren’t around.’

  ‘No one could have done more for her.’

  He shrugged but she could see the compliment pleased him. Well, he’d more than earned it.

  With the help of a stroll out for some fresh if damp air, Mara lasted till shortly after teatime then fell asleep sitting in front of the TV. She woke as her dad shook her shoulder gently.

  ‘Get yourself off to bed, sleeping beauty.’

  She nodded and went upstairs.

  Five days later the funeral took place, by which time Mara had pieced together a black outfit to wear. She had intended to buy new smarter clothes, but had seemed to hear her mother’s voice in her head, saying how stupid that would be to spend all that money when she’d only wear the things once.

  Her outfit was reasonably smart, making a statement that she was in mourning, which was what you felt mattered, after all.

  Her father offered her his arm as they got out of the black funeral limousine and went into the crematorium.

  ‘There are more people than I’d expected.’

  ‘Kath wouldn’t have wanted a fuss made, but people like to do “the right thing” after someone dies.’

  She didn’t recognise most of those present and her father introduced her. He whispered as they took their places that they weren’t having a funeral feast because Kath thought they were stupid. ‘I’m trying to do what she’d have wanted. And anyway, I don’t really know her relatives, so why should I spend a lot of my money on them? Though it’s nice of them to come.’

  The ceremony was brief and the only surprise was her father getting up to say, ‘My daughter and I wish to thank you for coming to say goodbye to Kath. My wife wasn’t perfect but she always did the best she could. No one can manage more than that, however hard they try. And she gave me the best daughter a man could ever want, which I shall always be grateful to her for.’

  It wasn’t till they were walking out that Mara saw the tall figure at the back of the chapel. He’d come. She stopped walking, mouthing his name and clutching her father’s arm. ‘It’s Hal.’ Suddenly she felt shy.

  ‘Nice-looking chap.’

  ‘How did he know to come here today?’ she whispered.

  ‘He phoned and I happened to answer it. I said to meet us here, then he could take you home again. Time now for you to go to him, lass. He came a long way to find you, so I think we can both trust him. Thank you for coming back for me first, though.’

  ‘I don’t want to leave you alone.’

  ‘I shan’t be alone, love. I shall have Sally. You don’t mind, do you?’

  ‘Mind? I’m delighted for you, both of you.’

  He gave Mara a little push, then turned and held out his hand to their neighbour.

  Mara walked along the aisle to join Hal and his face lit up as she came towards him, one hand outstretched.

  ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t get here any sooner,’ he said.

  ‘It worked out just right. I needed time with my father. And we needed to say goodbye to Mum.’ She gathered her courage together, ‘Now I need time with you.’

  ‘I hired a car. Perhaps we can go somewhere for a meal and decide how to do this.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Get together. If I had my way, I’d marry you tomorrow, I’m that sure of how right our love feels. But I’ll give you as much time as you need to see your way clear.’

  ‘I don’t need any more time. If you hadn’t come, I’d have coped. I always cope. But now you’re here, I know that would have been a pale shadow of what life with you may bring me. And I’m ready for it.’

  Heedless of the people standing nearby in quiet little groups, he picked her up and swung her round several times.

  When he put her down, he saw that everyone was staring, so called out, ‘She loves me and we’re going to get married. I’ve never been so happy in all my life.’

  Someone clapped and the rest of the crowd joined in, smiling, as people do when they see lovers happy together.

  ‘You fool,’ she whispered.

  ‘I’d be a fool if I didn’t shout for joy,’ he insisted. ‘And I’m sure your teddy bear will be pleased too.’

  ‘You’re definitely a fool, but I’m glad you like Archibald.’

  ‘I more than like him. I’m going to invest in him and his tribe.’

  She gaped at him.

  He put one finger on her lips. ‘But we’ll discuss that another time. For now, we’re going to focus on ourselves and our love.’

  Outside the chapel, Phil and Sally had been watching them get together as the other mourners filed away. You didn’t need to hear what they were saying. Their love for one another was shining brightly on their faces.

  ‘I like the looks of him,’ she said. ‘Any man who can show his love so openly has a good chance of making his wife happy, I reckon.’

  ‘Maybe I ought to shout out to the world that I love you, then.’ Phil tried to summon up the courage to do that, but couldn’t.

  She chuckled. ‘You’re different, a very quiet sort of chap, and that will suit me just fine.’

  So he summoned up all his courage and gave her a long, lingering kiss in public, blushing furiously as he did so.

  ‘I know what that cost you,’ she whispered.

  ‘No more than I was prepared to pay.’

  They walked along the path to the car park hand in hand but there was no sign of Mara and Hal waiting for them. A big luxury car was pulling out of it, however. The driver stopped at th
e exit and leant across to give the passenger another quick kiss on the cheek, then pulled out onto the road.

  ‘That’s the way to go,’ he said. ‘My lass will be all right with him. She’s made the right choice.’

  They got into Sally’s small car, ten years old and a bit shabby, but it suited them.

  ‘Let’s go home now,’ she said.

  ‘Yours or mine?’

  ‘Mine but it’s going to be ours from now on, Phil love. Your Kath wouldn’t want me living in her house and I’m sure it has too many bad memories for you as well. We’ll rent that one out, eh?’

  ‘Good idea. We’ll need a bit of extra money to visit Mara in Australia.’ And he kissed her again once he’d stopped the car outside her home, this time not blushing, just smiling tenderly into her eyes.

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  By Anna Jacobs

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