The Sister's Gift

by Barbara Hannay

  ‘How can you say that?’

  ‘Well, look what happened to Brian and me. At least we didn’t have to put our kids through the misery of a divorce.’ No point in suggesting that there might not have been a divorce if they’d had kids.

  Accepting this, Billie seemed content to lie in companionable silence until she brightened suddenly and placed a hand on her belly. ‘Someone’s waking up.’

  ‘Your baby’s kicking?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Billie sent Freya a shy grin. ‘Want to feel?’

  ‘I’d love to.’ Gently, Freya laid her hand on her niece’s curving belly and through the thin layer of T-shirt she felt an unmistakable bump. ‘Ooh,’ she said. ‘A little footballer, perhaps?’

  ‘Or a gymnast.’ Billie grinned. ‘I don’t suppose you remember what it was like when I was kicking inside you.’

  ‘I certainly do. It was a beautiful experience. I could never forget it.’ And then Freya told Billie something she’d always wanted to share. ‘From the first time I felt those tiny bumps, I called you Butterfly.’

  ‘Butterfly?’ Billie’s eyes were extra shiny now. ‘Wow. That’s so sweet.’ Leaning closer, she slipped her arms around Freya and gave her a hug. ‘I just love knowing I was your Butterfly.’

  They both had to blink then and swipe at their eyes, but after a bit they were grinning.

  ‘I’m afraid I call my baby Pickle,’ Billie said.

  ‘That’s original.’

  ‘I know, but it’s not exactly motherly. This pregnancy seemed such a problem for me at first, you see, but it was my problem. My pickle.’

  ‘And now it doesn’t feel quite so much like a problem?’

  ‘No, thank goodness. I’m quite used to the idea and starting to get excited, actually.’

  ‘That’s wonderful.’

  ‘Anyway, thanks for this lovely chat.’ Billie sat up. ‘I might go and put the kettle on and find myself some breakfast. I didn’t have any supper last night and I’m ravenous.’ She swung her feet over the edge of the bed. ‘Can I bring you a cuppa?’

  ‘Thanks. I won’t say no.’

  ‘No probs.’ Halfway to the door, Billie paused and turned back. ‘There’s one thing I still don’t understand.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘The huge secrecy.’ She lifted her hands in a gesture of helplessness. ‘I mean, I get why Mum might not have wanted everyone on the island to know all the details about the surrogacy. But it was still a bit rough to just let people think you gave me up for adoption.’

  ‘The thing was, your mum did still have to legally adopt you, because she hadn’t actually given birth.’

  ‘Oh?’ Billie’s eyes widened. ‘Right. Okay. But why couldn’t she and Dad have told me the truth?’

  Freya hesitated, but she knew Billie had waited too long for these answers. ‘I think Pearl was scared,’ she said.

  ‘Really? Why?’

  ‘This is going to sound off, and I could be wrong, but I suspect she was afraid you might stop loving her if you knew the truth.’

  ‘Oh, God.’

  At that moment, a knock sounded on the bedroom door. Billie glanced at Freya. ‘Probably Dad,’ she said, and when she opened the door, sure enough, Troy was standing there, already dressed for the day in a polo shirt and shorts.

  ‘Hello.’ He looked surprised. ‘I was about to ask Freya if she knew where you were.’

  ‘We’ve been having a debrief,’ Freya told him.

  Troy’s eyebrows lifted, but he said quite promptly, ‘That’s great.’

  ‘Have you been looking for me?’ Billie asked.

  He nodded.

  ‘You want to talk to me about Mum, don’t you?’

  ‘Among other things.’

  Watching Troy closely, Freya saw a flicker of disquiet in his steady eyes.

  ‘I thought we might go for a walk,’ he said.

  ‘Sure. Give me a moment to get changed.’ Billie turned back to Freya. ‘Sorry. I won’t be making you that cuppa after all.’

  ‘I can make Freya a cuppa,’ said Troy.

  ‘Freya can make her own cuppa, thanks,’ said Freya.

  They all smiled then and with that Billie was gone.

  And Troy, watching his daughter, drew a deep breath that made his chest, quite visibly, rise and fall. Something was still bothering him, Freya decided, and almost certainly, the problem involved Pearl.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Billie grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl before she and her dad left the house. Outside the sun was a vibrant rosy ball rising triumphantly above the horizon. The silver sea was calm and stained with pink, the sky cloudless and clean. A new day. And Billie was no longer in the dark about her arrival into this world.

  The truth was settling inside her, beginning to feel more comfortable. As she set off with Troy down the familiar sandy track that wound between giant granite boulders, she might have felt quite buoyant and optimistic, if she wasn’t worried about her mum.

  She felt a little guilty that she’d chosen to speak to Freya first this morning, but her mum had looked so tired last night that she hadn’t wanted to disturb her.

  ‘I’m glad you had a little chat with Freya.’

  Billie turned to her dad in surprise. Was he reading her mind?

  ‘I was just thinking that it might have been a mistake,’ she confessed. ‘I should have gone to talk to Mum first.’

  Troy shook his head. ‘I’m sure you needed a word with Freya.’

  ‘I did want to thank her. For everything.’

  ‘That’s nice, love.’ As they ducked beneath the dangling leaves of a paperbark, he said, ‘I imagine the two of you have been getting on pretty well.’

  ‘We have,’ Billie agreed. ‘I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Freya better. And she’s worked damn hard while she’s been here. What with managing all the orders and the books, as well as taking on the desserts.’

  ‘I know. She’s been brilliant. We never expected anything like that and we’re very grateful.’

  Good, Billie thought, and I hope you’ve told her so.

  They walked on, rounding a corner that presented a spectacular view of a tiny bay, way below. ‘So you’re feeling better this morning?’ her dad asked.

  ‘Yeah. I’m slowly getting my head around everything. It took a while to sink in – the surrogacy and everything.’

  ‘Yeah, it’s huge, Bill.’

  ‘It’s still a head spin. I mean – I didn’t even know surrogacy was happening back then.’

  ‘It wasn’t legal,’ Troy said. ‘Not in Queensland, at least. We had to go to Canberra.’

  ‘Really? All three of you?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘That’s – that’s groundbreaking. And kind of awesome.’

  They had reached their favourite lookout spot, where a broad shelf of rock made a comfortable seat, and Billie wasn’t surprised when Troy suggested they stop for a bit. By now the sun had climbed higher and a huge cargo ship was sliding across the horizon, heading for Townsville’s port. Billie munched on her apple.

  ‘So how are you keeping?’ her dad asked.

  She grinned. ‘I’m doing brilliantly, thanks, Nurse Mathieson.’

  ‘You certainly look well.’ He was smiling, too, but then his expression grew more serious. ‘This fellow. The baby’s father. I’m sorry things didn’t work out.’

  To Billie’s surprise, the sudden mention of Petros slid through her without causing pain. ‘Yeah, well,’ she said. ‘I’m over him now. I’m getting mentally geared for single motherhood.’

  ‘You’ll be great,’ her dad said.

  From the trees behind them, a pair of kookaburras burst into raucous laughter.

  ‘Pooh to you,’ Billie told them, unimpressed by their timing. ‘I will too make a great mum, thank you very much.’

  Her dad grinned. ‘Of course you will.’ And then, more seriously, ‘You know you don’t have to move out.’

  ‘But I think I sh
ould.’

  At this, Troy frowned and Billie shifted uneasily. She supposed it made financial sense for her to stay under her parents’ roof, but she was afraid they would drive her nuts with their endless fussing. Now, as she planned for her baby’s arrival, her independence had never seemed more important.

  ‘No need to make a decision just yet.’ And although her dad smiled, there was a tilt to his mouth, a hint of sadness that caused an anxious stirring in Billie. From the moment she’d arrived home from Greece, she’d been worried that something was bothering her parents. Now, she had the awful feeling she was about to find out.

  ‘Dad, you wouldn’t be beating around the bush, would you?’

  This brought another flickering semi-sad smile. ‘Never could outsmart you, could I?’

  ‘I don’t know about that, but you’re making me nervous.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  She turned to him now, waiting for him to continue, but he stared out to sea, not meeting her gaze, frowning, as if he was trying to figure out the best way to tell her whatever it was that he needed to say.

  Billie couldn’t bear the suspense. She had to ask. ‘It’s not you and Mum, is it? You’re not getting a divorce after all?’

  ‘No, love. But there is something I need to explain – about your mum.’

  Panic punched into Billie like a physical blow. ‘She’s not sick, is she?’

  ‘Yes, she is, love.’

  Oh, God. ‘Not cancer?’

  ‘No, not cancer, but her kidneys are in a bad way.’

  Her kidneys. Billie calmed down a tad. She knew very little about kidney issues, but she had a vague idea they were manageable.

  ‘That’s actually why she was so keen to have the holiday,’ Troy went on. ‘She wanted a bit of an adventure before things got too bad.’

  ‘Oh, shit, Dad, that’s awful. Poor Mum.’ Her mother’s sudden urge to take off made horrible sense now. ‘And poor you,’ Billie said. ‘I suppose you had to be Mum’s live-in nurse.’

  ‘Well, yes. I was able to keep an eye on her.’

  This was so different from how Billie had imagined their holiday. She didn’t want to start blubbing over her poor dad, though. She drew a steadying breath. ‘Am I right in guessing that you didn’t just cut the holiday short as an overreaction to my pregnancy news, that Mum actually needed to come home?’

  ‘Yeah,’ he said softly.

  Billie reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze and they sat for a bit, hands clasped, shoulders pressed together, looking out to sea where another huge liner chugged south.

  ‘So what sort of treatment will she need?’

  ‘We’re still working that out. She can’t have dialysis here on the island. So if she wanted to stay on Maggie, she’d have to travel over to the Townsville Hospital Renal Unit for four hours of treatment, three days a week.’

  ‘Yikes.’ Her dad had never complained about having to travel back and forth to the hospital for his work, but he was a saint, and he enjoyed his work. Nursing and mixing with a whole range of different people in dramatic situations seemed to suit him.

  It would be different for a patient, though, especially one who was already tired and unwell. For each trip, her mum would have to undertake the ferry journey, plus the drive across the city, before going through several hours of treatment, and then she’d have to face the journey home again. ‘Would you move to Townsville?’

  ‘That’s an option, but as you can imagine, your mum would hate to leave here. Her best bet is a transplant.’

  A transplant? Yes, of course. People had two kidneys, didn’t they? Suddenly the situation seemed a little brighter. ‘So Mum needs a donor?’

  ‘Yeah.’ With a small sigh, Troy said, ‘I’d do it in a heartbeat, but unfortunately I’m not a match.’

  ‘And I’m probably the obvious choice, but I’m pregnant. Damn. Can Mum wait a few more months?’

  ‘Don’t even think about it, Bills. We wouldn’t dream of letting you give birth and then hand over a kidney.’

  ‘But what if I’m a perfect match?’

  Her dad was firm. ‘We’ll explore every other option first.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  ‘Knock, knock,’ Freya called at Pearl’s bedroom door.

  She was carrying a tray with a teapot, two mugs, milk, sugar and a small plate of biscuits. The offering was a brave gamble on her part. She had no idea whether she’d be welcome. ‘Are you awake, Pearl?’

  ‘Yes,’ her sister replied. ‘Come in.’

  So far, so good. Freya set the tray down before opening the door and was pleased to see that Pearl wasn’t lying in bed, ill and weak, but sitting up, bolstered by pillows, and busy tapping on her phone.

  Gathering up the tray once more, Freya quickly toed the door closed before Won Ton could follow her into this hallowed sanctuary. Sorry, little mate.

  ‘Thought you might like a cuppa,’ she said to Pearl.

  ‘Oh, that’s kind of you.’ Pearl eyed the laden tray and frowned. ‘Are you joining me?’

  Freya knew it was weird to feel nervous, but she couldn’t help it. ‘I wondered if we might be able to have a chat?’

  ‘Oh?’ Pearl looked surprised and not entirely pleased. Her eyes betrayed a flash of worry, but she was civil enough as she said, ‘All right.’ Then she waved her phone. ‘Can you give me one moment? I’m just sending off text messages to finalise the interview times for the chef’s job. The sooner we can relieve you and Seb, the better.’

  ‘Sure.’ Freya couldn’t deny she’d be quite happy to be free of her dessert-making duties. The novelty had certainly begun to wear thin.

  ‘I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting back to the Sunshine Coast and all those girlfriends you have down there,’ Pearl added.

  This rather took the wind out of Freya’s sails. She’d been preoccupied with everything that had been happening here on the island, her reconnection with Seb included, and she’d hardly given any thought to leaving. Fortunately, Pearl went back to her texting and didn’t seem to require an answer.

  Freya was aware of her heart beating a little too fast as she set the tray on a white cane table where two matching chairs were positioned to make the most of the view. The bedroom was lovely. Too much white for Freya’s tastes, but wonderfully spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding shutters, walk-in wardrobes and an ensuite.

  ‘I’ll get up in a sec,’ Pearl said.

  ‘No rush. Finish what you’re doing.’

  ‘Where are Troy and Billie?’

  ‘Gone for a walk.’

  Pearl nodded, as if this news wasn’t unexpected. Freya unpacked the tray and chose one of the chairs, upholstered with pale-blue cushions. Her stomach was a nervous knot, which was ridiculous. Anyone would think she was in a courtroom about to be tried for some heinous crime, not having a cup of tea with her sister.

  Through the deep windows, she watched a lizard emerge from the shade of a pandanus palm and begin to sun itself on a smooth granite boulder. She managed to smile.

  It wasn’t long before Pearl set her phone aside, heaved herself out of bed, and found slippers and a cotton dressing gown.

  ‘Is Billie still angry with us?’ she asked as she joined Freya.

  ‘She seems to be calming down. We’ve just been talking, actually.’

  ‘This morning?’

  ‘Yes. She was up early.’

  Pearl’s mouth tightened at this, but she didn’t look unduly upset. She seemed stronger, Freya was pleased to note. Still too thin and pale, with shadows under her eyes, but not quite so exhausted and weak.

  Unfortunately, these small signs of improvement didn’t help Freya to feel any calmer, though. Her hand shook a little as she poured the tea. For heaven’s sake. ‘You still have white with one?’

  ‘Yes, thanks, but you don’t have to wait on me.’

  ‘No problem. There, it’s all done.’

  They sipped their tea in silence. Outside, the lizard scurrie
d off, while on the beach below, a powerboat delivered a group of skin divers, who proceeded to don masks, snorkels and flippers.

  Drawing a deep breath for courage, Freya launched into her reason for invading her sister’s private domain. ‘Pearl, I wanted to apologise. You were obviously right that I would upset everything by staying here on the island with Billie. I should have listened to you. I know these rumours and trouble wouldn’t have happened if I’d stayed away.’

  Pearl’s bony shoulders lifted in a shrug. ‘What’s done is done.’

  ‘I know, but I still wanted to apologise.’

  Her sister accepted this offering with a small, resigned nod. ‘Maybe it was for the best after all.’

  This was a surprise. An incredibly welcome one, of course. Freya had been braced for Pearl’s resentment and anger, and she’d been wondering how she could safely work in a suggestion that Billie had a right to know the truth, that all children deserved to know their history.

  ‘So you agree it’s good that Billie knows about everything?’ she asked cautiously. ‘Especially now she’s going to have her own baby?’

  ‘Her pregnancy certainly makes a difference.’ Pearl’s lips tilted into a curve that might have almost been a smile. ‘I can’t quite believe I’m going to be a grandmother.’

  ‘It’s exciting, isn’t it?’

  As Pearl helped herself to a finger of shortbread, she said, ‘I don’t suppose you know whether Billie’s having a boy or a girl?’

  ‘Heavens, no. She wouldn’t tell me without telling you first. But she decided she doesn’t want to know.’

  This was received with a small, satisfied nod. ‘It’s sad about the baby’s father, though.’

  ‘Yes, it is,’ Freya agreed. ‘But I suspect Billie’s better off without Petros.’

  ‘I suppose you would know a lot more about that than I do.’

  Pearl did sound frosty now and Freya hunted for a positive way out of this corner.

  ‘Billie’s young and lovely. I’m sure she won’t be on her own for long.’

  ‘She might be. She has a very independent spirit.’

  ‘Well, yes, but I guess that’s fine, too. As long as she’s happy.’ When Pearl made no response to this back-pedalling, Freya added, ‘You never know, she might take after our mother.’