5 Peppermint Grove

by Jackson, Michelle

  Dylan was drinking the end of a carton of orange juice by the neck. The old Julia would have chastised him but in light of all that had happened in this house over the past few days, Julia’s perspective on what did and didn’t matter had changed utterly.

  “Can’t sleep either?” Dylan asked.

  Julia shook her head.

  “I could make some tea if you fancy a mug?”

  “If you are having one, then yeah, thanks.”

  Dylan hit the switch on the kettle and went to take out the milk from the fridge.

  “I lie awake at night and wonder why – why the hell did he do such a thing?” he said. “It gets under my skin and crawls around like an alien. Can you figure it out?”

  Julia shrugged. “I can’t. I guess he could have been clinically depressed but never told anyone and couldn’t get out of it.”

  “I thought that he was having an affair at first. I spoke to one of his colleagues though after the funeral and he was shocked when I said it – he said that Craig wouldn’t have had the time – he was always working. He took responsibility seriously and longed for more security. It was difficult for those who had been in the company so long to cope with the changes. I know he was jealous of my situation and I didn’t blame him. It’s good to be out of the shackles of a permanent pensionable job. I’ll start my own business up when I get back.”

  Julia turned her head in surprise. “‘Get back’? Where are you going?”

  “Well, I was offered a job in London that I was going to take until this happened but now I’m going to do something that I have been thinking about for years – I’m going to do a round-the-world trip.”

  “Wow – for how long?” Julia was taken aback by the disappointment she felt at this revelation.

  “A year at least. I’ve seen a lot of the States already so I’m starting off in South America and going around to Australia the long way. Then I’m going to do Asia, India, Africa and any part of Europe that I haven’t seen.”

  “Sounds like it will be quite an experience.”

  Dylan nodded. “I hope so. That’s why I want to spend as much time as I can with the kids now.”

  “When are you planning on going?”

  “In about a month.”

  This was a good opportunity for her to quiz him about Gillian.

  “And what about your girlfriend? She hasn’t put in for any extra leave so she won’t be going, will she? Unless of course she’s going to resign.”

  “My girlfriend?” Dylan seemed amused. “If I have a girlfriend that’s news to me!”

  “Gillian,” Julia said. “You’ve been seeing a lot of each other – according to a little bird?”

  Dylan shook his head. “Gillian is a lovely girl but we never dated. I asked her to come out with me one night with Craig and Odette because I was trying to suss them out – I knew something was up with Craig but couldn’t figure it out. I should have just asked him, huh?”

  “Don’t blame yourself – I’m sure there was nothing any of us could have done – Craig was on the edge and that is the unfortunate thing about suicide – sometimes family are last to know.”

  Dylan nodded and put on his stiff upper lip. “But as regards Gillian there was nothing romantic between us ever.”

  “Oh I see!” that was definitely news for Julia. She wondered then why he had been out with her the night before but didn’t dare to ask.

  Chapter Fifty

  Ruth had received eleven text messages and three voicemails from Brian since the night they had spent in Coco’s. She hadn’t answered any of them. She was relieved that he hadn’t called around to her house again and was scared at night in case he did. She was feeling weak and lonely and would be tempted to let him in. His messages said that he and his wife were in the process of separating. But she didn’t care. The fact that he hadn’t come clean with her at the beginning was enough to blight the relationship for good. She couldn’t bear the thought of a long discussion over his marital status – it would bring back too many bad memories. She wanted to cry often and hard and, only for her mother’s impending visit, she would be considering chucking in her Australian adventure and returning home to Julia and her family. But it would be a shame – work had settled down well and she loved the banter in the office with the gang – she had become very friendly with Helenka and had been out with her to a sophisticated bar in the city the night before. She tried to be pleasant and fun but every so often needed to go to the bathroom to pull herself together and drag her thoughts away from Brian.

  His persistent messaging didn’t make it any easier.

  Julia had suggested that she heard him out but Julia didn’t understand that it was more than just the way that he kept the facts of his marriage hidden – she did not want to be in a relationship with someone who was married before. It was a bad-luck omen as far as she was concerned and nothing could convince her otherwise.

  But now she really had to pull herself together: her mother was about to arrive.

  Angela felt her stomach flutter wildly as the plane descended into Perth airport. The lights of the runway came into view and she felt a dread that she had managed to keep hidden in her darkest memories for over thirty years. Nineteen hours on her own had given her plenty of time to think. She had slept intermittently after she boarded the second leg in Dubai but exhaustion was hitting hard now.

  Filling out the landing card felt surreal – she had sworn that she would never return here. Time could not heal the memories or the hurt or betrayal.

  But there was consolation after she stepped through Immigration. Ruth stood with her eyes shining behind the barrier at Arrivals, bright highlighted tints now in her strawberry-blonde hair.

  Angela was so pleased to see how much the sunshine had enhanced her daughter’s natural colouring.

  “You are the picture of health, love!” she said, pushing her trolley aside so that she could embrace her daughter tightly.

  “It’s so good to see you, Mum!”

  “It was a much easier trip than the one I took when I was pregnant with you all those years ago.”

  “Ah, I’m glad it was good.”

  “You’ll never guess but I got an upgrade to Dubai and lay there like Lady Muck for most of the flight. I even drank champagne!”

  “Fantastic – how did that happen?”

  “They double-booked my seat and when they discovered their mistake economy was full – the other person was really cross with them so they gave him the seat and they told me that I was going up to business class.”

  Ruth laughed. “I’m pleased for you – that was a nice treat.”

  “So tell me all – oh, it is hot here!” she gasped as they stepped out into the warm Perth sunshine.

  “I don’t know where to start – give me the trolley and I’ll put the cases in the boot – my car is just over here.”

  The two women beamed with the joy of each other’s company as Ruth’s Jeep booted along the highway.

  “Slow down a bit – these roads are treacherous – always accidents on them,” Angela said.

  “Actually I noticed there are far fewer reports of crashes here than there were in Dublin. Australians are really law-abiding drivers.”

  “Well, that’s something that’s changed for the better then,” Angela huffed. “And they have built a few more skyscrapers, I see.”

  The CBD was much bolder and more impressive than the skyline Angela had left in the seventies. Although she wasn’t keen to admit it, the city looked well with perfectly manicured esplanades and beautifully designed architecture.

  “Have you seen Julia. Mum?”

  “Just at the funeral. Oh, Ruth, it was terrible – I never remember one like it. Everyone was so bewildered at how someone as steady and reliable as Craig could do such a thing – it really didn’t make any sense.”

  “I’ve been wondering how or why he did it, and I can’t understand.”

  Angela nodded. “And poor Odette will never know,
I’m sure. His brother is a lovely chap and he carried his coffin with such decorum and compassion. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the kids got up and put his photo on the coffin.”

  “It sends shivers down your spine. Have you any other news from home?”

  Angela had to think. “Kevin and Orla have packed up and left for Canada with God knows how many other Irish tradesmen and engineers.”

  “How’s Dad?”

  “Ah, you know your father – he just potters. I’m glad that he didn’t come out here to be honest – it means that we’ll have a better chance to do what we want.”

  Ruth was happy with this golden opportunity to see her mother on Australian soil.

  If Julia was here she would be itching to ask about Peppermint Grove. Ruth wondered if and when would be a good time to bring up the subject. She could always take a drive through the suburb and see her mother’s reaction. But then again she didn’t want to run into Brian either. He hadn’t called today so far but she had a feeling that he wasn’t going to leave her alone until she heard him out properly – and facing the truth was something that Ruth had always found difficult to do.

  Angela unpacked her luggage in the spare room while her daughter made them a cold salad for their supper.

  Ruth uncorked a bottle of dry white wine and poured some sparkling water into two glasses.

  When Angela returned to the kitchen she carried packets of fig-roll biscuits and a twelve-pack of King crisps in her arms.

  “I thought you’d like these, Ruth – I know they’re your favourites.”

  “Thanks, Mum – that’s really good of you. I do miss my King crisps. But, you know, the food is really good over here and portions are massive in all the restaurants.”

  “I’m glad to hear that because it was bloody awful when I lived here. Subiaco has come on in leaps and bounds and I see there are more public-transport options than in my day. Do you know we had no streetlights?”

  “I’m sure that you’ll see lots of changes. Is there anything in particular that you want to do or see while you’re here?”

  Angela shook her head. “No, my love – I came here to see you and we can do whatever you like. Sure, I can always meet you for lunch and do a bit of shopping and that.”

  “Of course – and take in some sun – I’ve a lovely back garden – come out and see.”

  Ruth opened the back door. The two stepped out onto the sundrenched decking. A wave of warm air flowed past them as they took in the view. In the distance a crow cawed from the top of a tree.

  “Those bloody crows – I never heard such an awful noise in my life from any animal.” Angela scowled.

  “I thought it was a baby crying the first morning after I got here.”

  “So did I – you don’t appreciate the little things about home until you leave it.”

  “The birds don’t bother me, Mum – it’s really nice living here – I love my job and the sunshine is great. It’s just people that you miss when you live abroad.”

  “And then again it’s nice to be away from other sorts of people,” Angela said with a nod of her head.

  “Work is great – I’ve never enjoyed a job so much. You see, you never worked while you were here.”

  Angela winced. “I did so work – I took a part-time job when Kevin started school.”

  “Really? I never knew that – I thought you were always saying that Dad went out too much when you lived here and you were alone in the house.”

  “He was always out but I took the job to get a few extra bob – your father wouldn’t join the union so he didn’t get the top rate of pay and he would never have made enough, for all the hours that he put in. I was working in a restaurant . . . waitressing for a while . . .”

  “Where? Is the restaurant still going?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t know.” Angela hesitated. She was becoming more uncomfortable as she spoke about her employment. “Let’s go back inside to the cool. I see you have a nice bottle of wine waiting for us.”

  Ruth wouldn’t push it tonight but she was keen to find out all abut her mother’s time in Perth and she had three weeks to do so.

  Chapter Fifty-one

  Angela woke to the cawing of the crow. The room was stuffy and she felt around to turn on the air-con. She had slept right through the night. Silence rang through the house as she went out into the hall. She called Ruth’s name but there was no reply.

  A note on the kitchen table was scribbled roughly, using a pencil and the back of a torn envelope.

  I’ve gone to work mum. Will ring you at twelve to see if you want to come into town to meet me. xx Ruth

  Angela looked at her watch. She had forgotten to change it to Australian time. She realised that it was almost twelve o’clock already. She had slept like the dead and was grateful for the rest although she knew that jet lag was likely to hit in a few hours. There was time for a bowl of cereal at least and a shower before her daughter rang. It was peaceful and soothing in the bungalow although she didn’t want to be on her own for long.

  Ruth called on the dot of twelve o’clock.

  “Will I come to meet you?” she asked.

  “Don’t go out of your way, love – I’m fine with my own company and happy to take it easy today.”

  “Well, I could continue working until three thirty and then come home for the day. I came into work early – I did this while Julia was here and it worked well.”

  “That sounds good, love. I would like to just sit in the shade for a while – is there a supermarket near?”

  “Coles is only two blocks away. But let me know what you want and I can get it on my way home.”

  “It’s okay, love – I might go for a wander.”

  “I’ve left a key on the hall table. See you soon, Mum.”

  Ruth hung up and went straight back to her emails. Her eyes were focused on the computer screen when she heard Helenka laugh and say that she would get Ruth.

  Ruth looked up and, standing there beside Helenka, was Brian. She started to shake – her eyes widely focused now on his tall dark figure as he walked over to where she was working. It was clever of him to come to her work – she wouldn’t make a scene in front of her workmates and she damned him for the move. He looked wildly attractive and she hated and loved him at the same time.

  “How you going?” he said with a big beaming smile.

  Her heart melted. She couldn’t move.

  “I-I-I’m fine, thank you.”

  “I was hoping that you’d lost your phone – haven’t had a text from you for a while.”

  Ruth was going a bright crimson and Kai was peeping over the top of his computer to hear the exchange.

  “I, eh – actually, can we go outside to the corridor for a moment?” She stood up briskly and ushered Brian out of the office.

  When they got outside Ruth frowned crossly at him but words failed her. She had to hand it to Brian – he was persistent.

  “I was hoping that you would take the hint.”

  “I think you owe it to me to hear me out!”

  Ruth was incensed with his forthright arrogance.

  “I owe it to you!” she said, a bit too loudly for her own liking as Helenka walked out into the corridor.

  Helenka smiled awkwardly at the two as she waited for the lift to arrive. “Em, why don’t you guys try the conference room?” she suggested. “I’m sure it’s empty.”

  Ruth wished that she had thought of that two minutes before but she wasn’t sure that she wanted to be in a room on her own with Brian either.

  “Right . . . it’s just over there.” She indicated that Brian should take the lead.

  He opened the door and Ruth followed him in. They were on the thirty-first floor with a stunning view of the rambling green shoreline and river below. She walked over to the window and looked out.

  Brian went over beside her. “I’m sorry, Ruth. I shouldn’t have lied to you – it was unforgiveable – but I was torn when you said that you
wouldn’t give a married man a chance. I wanted to get to know you better and hoped that you would mellow when you got to know me. Something special happens when I am with you. You did read my texts?”

  Ruth nodded. “Yes, I did read them – but you don’t understand.”

  “Understand what?”

  “I wanted to meet someone with a clean slate,” she sighed. She had nothing to lose by telling him the truth – it was hypocritical but he had to know the reason why she needed to be with a single guy. “You see, I was in a relationship for ten years with a guy in Dublin before I came over here.”

  Brian felt a stone land on his dreams. Was she about to swear undying love for someone else?

  “And the facts are this.” She turned away from the beautiful view to face him. “He was married. Not when we met but he was engaged and he went through with his wedding – I’ve been the other woman for ten years. I thought when I met you that you were someone completely single. I wanted to be with someone who hadn’t been married to someone else.”

  It was Brian’s turn to be surprised. “That sounds tough, Ruth – but we don’t get to our thirties without some baggage – none of us do. And are you going to let the past get in the way of our future?”

  His eyes were wide and Ruth wanted to melt into them. He was easily the most handsome man that she had ever been with. There was so much about him that she liked so why did she find it so hard to forgive him?

  “Will you hear me out?” he asked.

  Ruth nodded and they went over to the conference table and sat down beside each other.

  “I was married for five years. Jessica is an interior designer. We met doing a job in Dalkeith – it was a very big rebuild. We fell in love but the honeymoon period didn’t last long – she was more keen to have her Big Day than focus on the relationship. We were swept along by friends and my mother was so keen to have grandchildren I think she would have liked to see me married at eighteen. But she never got to see them. Anyway we were only married two years when the holes started to show. Jessica didn’t really want to have kids at all and I had a niggling feeling in my gut all along, telling me that something was wrong. Then one day she arrived home with her ex-boyfriend who showed up from Sydney – he just happened to be in Perth and had phoned her mother and got her number. For the next two years he came and visited every couple of months. It was very unsettling for our marriage. He was a surfer and didn’t believe in the corporate world of jobs and finance – instead he bummed his way around Australia begging from family and friends. I quickly realised that we had become one of his pit-stops as he cruised from beach to beach. But it was more than that for Jessica. She fell in love with him again and they had an affair.”