The Shooting

by Chris Taylor

  “You must be tired from your travels. Come in and put your feet up. I’ll put the kettle on.”

  Tom swallowed a sigh of relief, only just realizing he’d been more than a little nervous about the meeting between Lily and his mom. He should have known his mom would welcome his heavily pregnant girlfriend—a girlfriend she’d only just been told about—with her usual affability.

  His dad sat in his usual place by the fire and Tom bit his lip against a sudden surge of emotion when Duncan Munro stood and greeted him with a wide smile before pulling him in close for a hug.

  “Son, it’s good to see you.”

  Tom cleared his throat of its huskiness. “You, too, Dad. You look good.”

  “Well, you know me, the day I’m too old to climb out of bed and go for my usual three-mile walk along the river is the day I’ll tell them they might as well put me in the ground.”

  Tom laughed and his dad joined in. They’d always been close and as Tom had grown into adulthood, they were almost like mates rather than father and son. It was a relationship Tom cherished and was more than grateful for. He had plenty of friends and colleagues who could barely bring themselves to be civil to their father, let alone seek out and enjoy their company.

  Turning, Tom reached out for Lily and drew her against his side. His arm lay protectively, possessively around her shoulders.

  “Dad, this is Lily.”

  Like his mother had earlier, Tom’s father greeted Lily with a genuine smile and shook her proffered hand.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Mr Munro,” Lily said quietly.

  “And you too, Lily, but please, call me Duncan.”

  Lily tilted her head in acknowledgement. Tom squeezed her hand.

  “You live in a beautiful city, Duncan. I’ve never been to Grafton before but it certainly has an appeal. The river’s so wide and lovely. I bet you never get tired of watching it.”

  “Yes, it is and you’re right. I love to sit out on the back porch and watch the ebb and flow of the Clarence. It’s tidal, you see. It runs all the way to the Pacific Ocean.”

  “It looks great for water skiing. Do you have a boat?”

  Duncan shook his head. “Not one with enough power to pull skiers, unfortunately. I have a little runabout that I like to take fishing whenever I can. I spend quite a lot of time on the court circuit, so I don’t have the freedom to fish as often as I wish.”

  “Dad’s a District Court judge,” Tom explained and Lily nodded.

  “Tom, Lily? Would you like a cup of coffee? Or perhaps tea?” Marguerite asked.

  “Tea would be lovely, Mrs Munro,” Lily replied.

  Marguerite waved Lily off. “Please, call me Marguerite. We don’t stand on formalities. Tom, what would you like?”

  “I’ll have tea too, thanks, Mom. White with one. Lily takes hers the same.”

  Marguerite bustled off in the direction of the kitchen and Tom looked over at Lily. Dark lines of fatigue had etched themselves into her face and he remembered how long the car trip had been. They’d left Sydney mid-afternoon. It was now going on for ten. While Tom had done all the driving, the trip had still taken its toll. It couldn’t have been comfortable for her to sit for such a long time with a full-grown baby on board.

  “Why don’t you take a seat and put your feet up?” he suggested quietly, rubbing the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. “I’ll go and see how Mom’s doing with the tea.”

  With a grateful smile, Lily let him lead her over to the armchair that matched the leather sofa in the living room. It was far enough from the fire that Lily wouldn’t overheat, but close enough for her to feel cosy.

  “She’ll be all right, son.” Duncan winked at Lily. “I’ll take good care of her.”

  Tom chuckled and shook his head and then turned and headed toward the kitchen. The house was much as it had been during the years he was growing up. The pictures that lined the hall still evidenced the life stages of him and his siblings, from framed baby pictures and school photos to shots of the whole family. The latest picture to make it to the wall was one of him in his full police uniform. It had been taken by a professional photographer at his graduation ceremony from the Academy. He couldn’t believe that was nearly three years ago.

  “There you are,” his mom smiled softly. “Come in and talk to me while I finish making the tea.”

  Fresh nerves swirled around in Tom’s gut and he forced his feet forward. His mom might have welcomed Lily with open arms, but she wouldn’t stop until she had all the details of how he came to arrive back at home with a very pregnant girlfriend in tow and not have clued her in on a single thing.

  Knowing there was nothing he could do but get the inquisition over with, he tugged out a wooden stool that stood beneath the breakfast bar and sat.

  “So, tell me about Lily. She seems sweet and she’s incredibly beautiful. How old is she?”

  Tom tried to bite back a grin. Trust his mom to get straight to the point. “She’s nineteen, mom. Nearly twenty.”

  “Mm, nineteen. Yes, I thought she looked young. When’s the baby due?”

  “In seven days.” He looked at his watch. “Actually, I think it’s probably closer to six now.”

  Marguerite shook her head. “Six days? How could you have kept this quiet for so long? It’s my first grandchild! You know I’d be excited, no matter what the circumstances! I should turn you across my knee or—or ground you for keeping something so important from me.”

  “Mom…”

  “I know. I’m sorry, there are far more important things to talk about, including the how and why and when. Your father told me a little about what happened. You didn’t know about the baby either, until two weeks ago, is that right?”

  Tom drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yep.”

  “So, you two had broken up, or something? Is that what happened?”

  “Yes, we were only together a couple of months. We met toward the end of last year. When we… When we ended things, I had no idea Lily was pregnant. I ran into her by accident at a school where she was working and realized she was about to have a baby. At first, I assumed it was someone else’s. It was only after we’d talked that she told me it was mine.”

  “I hate to sound indelicate, but are you sure you’re the father? I mean, these days—”

  “No, Mom. The baby’s mine.”

  “Well, if you’re sure. I mean, you could always do a DNA—”

  “Mom, please. Dad suggested the same thing. Lily said I was the father and I believe her. It’s as simple as that. The baby’s mine. Besides, the dates line up to the time when we were still together. Unless she was cheating on me way back then, which I don’t believe for an instant, there’s no other possibility.”

  “Okay, then, just as long as you’re sure. I’m only trying to look out for you, Tom. That’s all.”

  “I know, Mom, and I appreciate it. But let’s just move on. Where are the others, by the way? I thought Clay and Riley might still be awake?”

  “Your brothers are at a birthday party out of town. They’re staying the night. The girls are asleep in bed. At least, I hope they’re asleep. It’s a school night for them. I didn’t tell them you were coming.

  “When you texted to say you hadn’t left Sydney until three, I expected you to arrive late. If they’d had an inkling you were on your way, I’d have never gotten them to bed. It will be a nice surprise for them in the morning.”

  Tom grinned at the thought of his mischievous younger sisters. Josie was twelve and in her final year of primary school. At nine, Chanel was an authority on everything from space travel to psychedelic fingernail polish. He never got tired of listening to her dissertations on one subject or the other. She was old beyond her years. He pitied the man she’d finally end up with.

  “Now, stop changing the subject and tell me about Lily. How did the two of you meet?”

  * * *

  Lily watched Tom disappear from view on his way into the kitchen, le
aving her alone with his father. She swallowed her panic. It wasn’t like Duncan Munro had been anything but welcoming, but the fact was, he was a District Court judge. Even without knowing what he did for a living, she’d have guessed immediately it was something important. He had an air of authority about him that demanded respect and attention.

  Tom had told her his dad was a full blooded aboriginal, but it still came as a surprise to discover how dark skinned he was. Although Tom looked like he had a perpetual tan, his dark blond hair offset the golden color of his skin and it wasn’t until he’d told her about his aboriginal heritage that she even guessed he was biracial.

  Still, she could see the resemblance to his father in the mutual proud bearing, the impressive height, the wide smile and the kindness that glinted in his father’s dark brown eyes.

  “So, Lily, tell me about yourself. What do you do in Sydney?”

  She took a deep breath and eased the air out between her lips and took a moment to brace herself for the inevitable run of questions. “I’m at college. I’m in the second year of my teaching degree.”

  “I see. Teaching. A very noble profession. What are you going to do when the baby arrives? It looks like it could arrive any minute.”

  While Duncan’s tone was gentle, Lily couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Tom had inherited his traditional values from someone. She’d bet her life’s savings on the fact that he’d gotten them from his dad. Averting her gaze, she did her best to stem the blush that spread from her neck and then moved across her cheeks.

  “The baby’s due in a week. I’ve finished my mid-year exams and all of my assignments have been completed to date. It’s not long until spring break. It’s only three weeks, but it’s something. I’m hoping if the baby arrives on time, I’ll have at least the holidays to get a bit of a handle on things. I’ve rearranged my study schedule so that I can attend the majority of my lectures online.”

  Duncan smiled. “It sounds like you’re going to be a very busy young lady for the next little while, but good on you for continuing with your studies. It’s important to have something behind you, especially these days. Do you have any family living close?”

  “Yes, my mom and my stepfather live in Sydney, although they’re doing a little touring around Australia right now. I received an email from them last night. They’re in the middle of the Nullarbor Desert, so cell phone coverage is sporadic at best, but mom’s promised she’ll be home for the birth and at least for the first few months afterwards.”

  “Good. That’s good. I remember when Tom was born. Marguerite and I had moved from Sydney to Grafton. Neither of us had any family nearby. I was working sixteen hours a day in a law office and Marguerite was left largely alone with a new baby. I’m the first to admit it was tough and we were quite a bit older than you and Tom.”

  “But you got through it and went on to have another six kids, right?” Lily smiled.

  Duncan grinned back at her. “Yes, we did. And in fairly quick succession, too, I might add. At one stage, we had five children under five, and all boys at that!”

  Lily laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “Wow, I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. You both deserve a medal.”

  “It was Marguerite who did the brunt of the work. As I said, I spent a lot of hours at work. I’d help out on the weekends to give her a break. I’d take the boys fishing down the river or play ball in a nearby park. It gave their mom a chance to rest and recuperate so she could face the oncoming week.”

  The fondness in his voice was reflected on his face and Lily couldn’t help but feel a pang deep down inside her. Here was a man, a good man, who loved his family with everything that he was; who still loved his family. He was so different from the man she’d once called Dad.

  She’d only been six when she’d left the only home she’d known and her memories of the years she’d spent under that dark and dangerous roof were hazy, but she hadn’t forgotten how it had felt. The fear that overrode even the smallest of actions, right down to creeping down the darkened hallway in the early hours of the morning to use the bathroom, remained with her all these years later.

  Here, in the Munro family living room, with its comfortable couches and cosy fire, she couldn’t imagine a cross word being spoken. Duncan Munro might be large in presence, but he was far from intimidating. Even now, knowing nothing about her but that she was carrying his son’s baby, he’d treated her with kindness, courtesy and respect and his wife had done the same.

  Lily had only exchanged a few sentences with Tom’s mom, but she could tell the woman loved him unconditionally. It was the way parents were supposed to be, but sadly sometimes weren’t. Lily could see why Tom was so well-adjusted and why he believed in true love right up until the very end. She hoped some of his confidence would rub off on her and help her accept that what they had together was strong enough to survive.

  The baby kicked hard and she jumped a little in the chair. The kick was followed by a tightening of her belly.

  “What is it? Are you all right?”

  The immediate concern in Duncan’s voice was touching and she couldn’t help but open her heart. He was her baby’s grandfather. The only true grandfather her baby would have. While Tony would always be there, at least in some way, it wasn’t like a blood tie.

  As she thought of all the things Tony had done for her and her mom, she felt a little guilty, but it didn’t change the truth. She’d always love her stepfather for giving them a new life, but he’d never be her dad. That was just the way it was.

  Besides, Tony had no interest in babies. He’d always said as much. She was sure the arrival of her own wouldn’t change his mind and that was perfectly okay, because she had Tom’s family in her life. With six siblings, he had more than enough numbers on his side. She couldn’t wait to meet the rest of them.

  Another tightening gripped her stomach, this one stronger than the first. The pain was like nothing Lily had ever felt before, quick and sharp. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself. Increasingly alarmed, she rode another wave of pain. A moment later, she felt a rush of warm water between her legs.

  “Oh, oh… Oh, no! I’m so sorry!”

  Duncan was on his feet immediately and rushing to her side. At the same time, he yelled for Tom and Marguerite.

  “What is it, Lily? Are you okay?”

  She shook her head, unable to form the words. Another contraction took hold of her body and she gasped in surprise at the intensity of the pain. From the corner of her eye, she spied Tom, followed closely by his mom.

  He knelt on the floor beside her and took her hands in his. “What’s happening, Lily? Oh, Christ. Is it the baby? Please, talk to me, honey. Is the baby coming?”

  She nodded, her head moving up and down on autopilot. “Yes, I-I think my water just broke.”

  The color leached from Tom’s face and he glanced down at the floor. If it were possible, he turned even paler. “Oh, shit. Oh, mom. Lily’s all wet. Her water has broken. The baby’s coming.”

  Marguerite gently moved him aside and put her hand on Lily’s stomach. Taking in the damp stain pooling on the floor, she smiled calmly and nodded. “I think you’re right, Tom. Your baby’s on its way.”

  Tom stood quickly and began to pace. “It can’t come now. It’s too early. We have another six days and we’re not married yet. I don’t want my baby being born out of wedlock.” He spun on his heel and began to pace in the other direction, pulling at his hair. “Shit. I had it all planned. We had a week. Way long enough to propose and make it all legal.”

  “Really?” Duncan drawled in a dry voice. “You need to apply for a marriage license at least one month before the day.”

  Tom came to a sudden halt and turned to face his father. “A month? You’re kidding me? You can’t just walk into a Registry office and sign your life away?”

  “No, son. You can’t just walk into a Registry office. It doesn’t work that way.”

  Tom looked aghast. �
��Can’t you do something? You’re a judge, after all.”

  Lily watched the exchange in confusion and did her best to breathe through the pain. The contractions were coming faster and harder and were lasting longer. She didn’t know how much longer she could put up with it.

  Her moan was loud and full of pain. “Tom, please. Hold my hand. It hurts so much.”

  “We need to call an ambulance,” Marguerite announced. Both men fell silent and stared at her.

  “An ambulance,” Tom repeated, his face blank.

  “Yes, Tom. An ambulance. Lily’s labor is progressing rapidly for a first birth. We need to get her to the hospital. Now, stop this nonsense about marriage and Registry offices and babies born out of wedlock and go and call an ambulance.”

  Her words seemed to finally penetrate his brain. He patted his pockets frantically, in search of his phone. “Where the hell did I put my phone? Dad, do you know where I left it?”

  “No, Tom. Why would I know where you’d left it?”

  “I had it just a—”

  “Tom!” Marguerite said sternly, her tone brooking no argument. “We have a phone on the side table in the hallway. Pick it up and call an ambulance.”

  He stared at his mom for a few moments and then did an about turn and strode out of the room. Yet another contraction gripped Lily and she gritted her teeth and panted. She tried to concentrate on what she’d learned in the classes she’d attended over the past few weeks, but everything the instructor told her had dissolved into thin air. Her mind was like a sieve and refused to focus on anything other than the pain.

  Another fierce contraction took hold of her and she cried out. Tom materialized again and reached for her hand and Lily squeezed it for dear life. It didn’t take the pain away, but it helped her think about something else. She sighed in relief when the wave of pain was over.

  “You’re doing fine, Lily. Breathe deeply, catch your breath, relax until the next one,” Marguerite encouraged her. “The ambulance is on its way. You’re going to be fine, honey. I promise.”

  Marguerite’s soothing words and calm manner helped ease some of Lily’s fears. She did as Tom’s mom suggested and by the time the next contraction seized her, she was ready for it. The pain was the strongest yet and the contraction seemed like it lasted forever. She panted and squeezed Tom’s hand and did her best to breathe through it.