He didn't respond. She sat up, letting him go, but continued to talk. `Sally's coming here as well. Wilson wanted her here so she can meet everyone. It might be time for her to see who we are. Wil is so worried. I need you here, with us.' She rubbed her forehead. She needed him so much. `Okay, then, I will do my best but you're the one who's good at this. The family thing. Making everything work. Not me.'
Ruth kissed his forehead and waited for a second, hoping he'd wake. `I've got to go now. Sounds like Wil is back with Sally. I might have to wrestle with Lilly to make her keep her distance. Plus, I'm sure Renee has some serious jealousy issues with me. Not looking forward to arguing with her, Mason. She listens better to you.'
Voices drifted up from downstairs, Wilson's voice high, showing his nerves. She had to go.
`Hope you're awake by nightfall,' she said, poking his ribs. `It's our first night back home with everyone. You brought us here. You should be here to celebrate with us.'
`Mum!'
She winced at Wilson's pitch. He was definitely stressed.
`Don't be too long, Mason. And Darla, if you can hear me, send him back. Please.' Ruth stood up and checked herself in the mirror, wishing she'd changed earlier. What would Sally think of Nikki's short skirt and top?
She spun around and left the room, looking for Wilson, hoping Mason would come back to them soon.
Mason inhaled lemon-scented gum trees, their fragrance making him stir.
Home.
Weight pressed down on him.
Home.
Grit grated under his eyelids. He caught a splinter of sound. Voices, muffled but recognisable; among them, Ruth's.
His arms were so heavy, his legs refusing to move.
`Not yet, my Hunter. Rest.'
`Why?' A blanket of cool darkness settled over him. He barely noticed the reply as he faded into it.
`It's too soon. They need more time to accept each other.'
The drive back home felt like the longest drive ever. A smiling Renee had driven without speaking. Sally had sat with him, but her eyes had been on Renee and his attempts at small talk had been futile. He wanted to tell her everything, but fear of what she'd say held him back. When the garage door closed behind them he took a serious breath.
`Sal,' he said, unclipping his seatbelt. `Let's go see Mum.'
`She's here too?' Sally glanced at Renee.
Wilson heard her incredulity, and caught Renee's smile in the rear-view mirror. `Yeah, she's here.'
`We're one big happy family,' Renee said. He glared back at her back in the mirror and she raised an eyebrow. I'm glad she's enjoying herself, he thought.
`Okay, this is now weird. Even more than usual, Wil.' Sally stepped out behind him.
`Let's just go find Mum.' His stomach fluttered. Had he been wrong to bring Sally home?
`I'll be in with her bag.' Renee said. `You go on in.'
`Thanks.' He grabbed Sally and headed inside. `Mum!' he said, knowing she'd recognise the stress in his voice. He immediately felt sorry that he was expecting her to sort this out. But he couldn't bring himself to do it.
`Wil, what's going on? Why was she with us?' Sally whispered.
`Um, it's complicated,' he said holding her hands and hoping his mum would make an appearance. `There are some things I haven't told you about us.'
`Like Mason having a girlfriend?'
`Um, yeah.'
`A girlfriend who looks our age?'
`Renee is twenty-five.'
Wilson sagged with relief at his mother's voice above them on the stairs. `And she is here because we have decided to all live together as a family now.'
`Oh,' Sally said, suspicion fading from her tone. Wilson struggled to breathe normally as Sally hugged Ruth. `So, you're like Mormons?'
`I guess so, but very different really.' Ruth hugged her but when she let go, Sally didn't, clinging to Ruth's hand.
`I was a bit freaked when I saw Renee.' Sally looked at him. `I couldn't work out who she was and I suddenly thought, well, I thought it was Wilson's way of saying we weren't—'
`No. Sal.'
`Not at all, Sally. Wilson spent most of his time with Lilly.'
`Mum!' Wilson nearly exploded. What was she doing? `Sal, it's not like that, either.'
`What are you telling me, Mrs D?'
`Sweetie, come sit down,' Ruth put her arm around Sally and led her towards the dining room table.
Wilson stood frozen, wondering if his mother was insane.
`Wil, chill out. Sally, sit down.'
Ruth pulled a chair out and Sally sat. Wilson didn't move. He wanted to scream.
`So which room is Sally in?'
Wilson started. Renee had appeared beside him, Sally's bag in hand. He couldn't speak, his mind chaotic.
`Sally's in with Wilson,' Ruth said, her voice firm.
Wilson blinked. What?
`Get Lilly and Nikki to come down and meet Sally. It's about lunchtime anyway.'
`Good idea.'
Wilson stared at Renee's back as she calmly walked away. This wasn't what he had imagined. It was worse.
`Mrs D, what's going on?' Tears filled Sally's eyes and pain threaded her voice.
`I am not with anyone else, Sally.' He sat beside her. `I'm not like — uh!'
`His parents,' Ruth continued his thought with a soft smile. `Mason and I have other people in our lives. Renee is with him and Nikki is my girlfriend.'
`Oh, you have another girlfriend?'
Wilson heard himself make a weird choking noise. Sally looked at him and he felt his ears burn. She knew about Mum?
`You knew?' he managed to say. Sally nudged his leg.
`Yeah, for a while now. Your mum didn't need to hide it from me.'
Words failed again. Sally knew. Well, she knew that part of it, and was fine with it.
She rested a hand on his knee. `Is this all you're worried about? That your parents live in an open marriage?'
`Um, no.' He hoped Lilly would take her time coming downstairs, then heard what Sally had said. `Wait, what do you know about open marriages?'
`It's not only the rich and famous that do it. I had a friend once whose parents were alternative. It's not exactly something new you know.'
`Oh,' he muttered, surprised again.
`Who is Lilly, then?'
Wilson realised the high-pitched wheeze was coming from him and managed to stop it while Sally continued to ignore him. Throat tight, he managed to swallow.
`Ah, yes,' Ruth said. `Mason's grandfather had a love child and Lilly is her daughter. We're all the family she has now.'
Wilson felt himself pulled into the lie as his mother's voice dropped lower. `I won't lie to you, Sally. Lilly is close to Wilson. She's been through something similar, something a little like what we went through last year.'
`Oh, that bad?' Sally was rubbing her thumb against his leg, a habit of hers and one he liked. His fear began to fade. This wasn't going to be so bad. Maybe.
Ruth put her arm around Sally. `Wilson is funny about this but I think you need to understand. I love you like a daughter, Sally, and you are welcome in our home, but Lilly is — different. She needs our understanding. And yours. She sleeps with Wil sometimes. Oh, no sex, but just to be with someone who understands what she has been through.'
`Jesus, Mum,' he muttered, shocked rather than embarrassed. `She told you that?'
Ruth looked up. `She wanted to. Being alone isn't easy.'
`This is a lot to take in,' Sally whispered. `He's my Wil.'
Ruth sat back a little. `I know.'
Wilson's muscles ached from tension.
`But we don't want to hide this from you any more. You need to know what you're getting yourself into.'
Sally leant against him. `Any more secrets I need to know?'
Wilson caught his mother's glance, her eyes dark. He shook his head.
Ruth grinned at her. `Heaps of secrets, Sally, but this'll do for one day.'
`Okay. That wasn't s
o bad.' Sally took a deep breath. `Can you tell me what happened on the island?'
`An accident. Mason got some smoke inhalation and with what had happened in Sydney, we were simply rushed off the island. You shouldn't have been left behind, Sally, but Mason was out cold and I was sick. They dragged Wil off the island as well. It happens when it seems we're all at risk.'
`What happened in Sydney?'
`No. Not that,' Wilson stood up, shaking his head. `Sally, like I said, some things you just don't want to know about. Please? We're here now. You're here. Let's just try and start again with our holiday.'
Ruth stood up. `If you want to leave at any time just say so.'
`Hell, no,' Sally said, standing as well. `I'm here with Wil. The rest is, well, just part of who you are, I guess.'
`Good.' Ruth stretched and Wilson felt his hunger grow. `And like we talked about before, you and Wil are old enough to make your own decisions. If you want your own room, we have one. Otherwise…' Ruth winked.
`I can stay with him?' Sally's grip tightened.
`You might have to move some crap off the floor to get in there—'
`Very funny.' He tried to not glare at his mother. The room wasn't that bad.
`Safe to come down?' Renee called from the top of the steps, a half-grin on her face. `Wilson's calmed down?'
`All safe.' Ruth waved to her.
Wilson breathed deeply again as he waited for Lilly. Renee almost skipped down the steps but Nikki followed much more slowly. How would Sally react? Lilly was attractive. She even smelt attractive. He shook his head, pushing the thought away.
Nikki had reached Sally, though Wilson hardly noticed. Where was Lilly?
`You're gorgeous,' Sally said, as she took Nikki's hand. `I'm sorry, that just came out.'
`Thanks, Wilson never said how sweet you were, or how tall.'
`He's like that.' Sally leant against him. `He struggles with the fine details, but is easy on the eye.'
`Hey, I am right here, you know,' he said, attention drawn from the stairway. He liked the casual tone of their conversation. Sally seemed to be more relaxed. Good. He wasn't yet.
Ruth looked up the stairs. `Hi Lilly.'
He turned, trying to make it look casual. `Hey Lilly—'
It wasn't the Lilly he knew. Her hair was pulled back tight, revealing eyes red and puffy from crying. One of his old T-shirts hung off her and her skin was so pale she looked sick. He spoke without thinking. `Jesus, you look terrible.'
`Wilson Mason Douglas.' Sally dropped his hand, her voice tinged with disbelief. `That's a terrible thing to say!'
`But, I, um,' he stuttered, shocked. Lilly winked, so fast he barely saw it, and he understood. She'd heard Ruth talking. Of course. Keeping the lie alive. `That came out wrong.'
`Damn right it did,' Sally said, meeting Lilly as she came down the stairs. `I'm Sally.'
`Hi.' Lilly's voice was soft and hurt. `Don't give him too hard a time. I tried to have a sleep while he was out.' She stopped short of Sally, looking down.
Wilson bit his lip. Damn she was good.
`Another nightmare?' Ruth asked, touching her on the arm.
Lilly seemed to shrink at the touch. Was that part of the act?
`Yeah,' Lilly muttered, fidgeting with her hands. `I always feel shattered after one.'
`Come on. I'll make you a cup of tea,' Ruth took her by the hand. `Then, later, we might go into town and buy you some clothes. Sorry we didn't have time to bring some of your own.'
`Thanks, Ruth,' Lilly said with a small smile, making her pale face crease. `Wil's T-shirts are a bit too big on me.'
`I've got a sundress that might fit you,' Sally said, sounding very businesslike. `You can wear it until we go shopping.'
`That would be nice, thanks.' Lilly tilted her head at Sally, looking relieved. `Can we buy shoes as well? Ruth offered me some but my feet are a few sizes bigger than hers.'
Sally stepped up to Lilly. `I can show you the good places if you like. Wil is hopeless at shopping.'
`That, would be nice.'
`I'll get that sundress,' Sally said, powering off up the stairs.
Wilson knew that tone. Sally had taken a liking to Lilly. So far. He bit his tongue until Sally went out of earshot.
`So? Is this okay with you'? Lilly's skin and eyes had cleared up. The Lilly he knew stared back at him.
`Jesus Christ!' he hissed, making sure Sally wouldn't hear. `You're all in on this?'
`Until you're ready to tell her all the truth,' Ruth said. `Lilly agreed to play her part, so don't act so shocked. We're all working to keep the truth from Sally.'
`But it will work for only so long.' Renee reappeared at the kitchen entry. `It's not that easy to maintain such a façade when we're all usually so open. It's not fair on any of us, but especially Lilly.'
Since when had Renee started taking Lilly's side? He didn't know how to react.
`We've been doing this a lot longer than any of you.' Renee stepped towards him. `It doesn't work for long, this hiding the truth from a loved one. In the end they find out. Whether you tell them or they discover it themselves usually dictates how they take learning the truth. Right, Nikki?'
The room seemed to shrink a little as Nikki nodded. `Renee is right. We can maintain the façade but it gets harder with those close to you. Sally will see through it eventually.'
`Found it!' Sally yelled from the top of the stairs. Wilson stared as Lilly once more became a sad, pale girl with red eyes.
`Hope she has good taste in clothes,' Lilly said with a sniffle. `Otherwise shopping will be painful.'
`She has very good taste.' Ruth waved her away. `She's coming now, Sally!'
Lilly winked at him and wandered back up the stairs.
`This is going to be harder than I thought,' he muttered.
Ruth smiled knowingly and went into the kitchen with Nikki.
`You just wait until Mason wakes up,' Renee said, leaning against a wall. `I don't think he'll play this game for very long either.'
`No.' Wilson sighed. `Dad will be all, Let's be a family. No more secrets. That I know.'
`So why bring her here, then? If you don't want her to know, why risk it?'
He rubbed at his nose. `I do, but—'
`At the same time, you don't.' Renee moved off the wall, her face softening. `She loves you, Wilson. We can all see it. Tell her or you will lose her.'
`I might either way,' he said with a slight shudder. `What if she freaks out, knowing what we are?'
`Then it will be up to you to step up and show her how much you love her, regardless of what your family are.'
He sagged, accepting the truth. Laughter came from upstairs.
`Sounds like Lilly is making headway with her.' Renee shrugged as she turned to go into the kitchen. `Go be yourself. Don't live the lie with her.' She left him alone in the room.
`Damn it, why does this have to be so complicated?' he muttered, making his way upstairs. He wanted Sally to be part of his life and a part of him knew Lilly would be as well. He loved Sally, he knew that. But to reveal their secret to her, to show her what his family had become?
That he wasn't sure of. Or even if he could tell her. He couldn't bear the thought of her looking at him like he was some kind of monster. Wilson shook himself, pushing the fear aside. Now, things were great.
One day at a time, he thought.
Let's take it one day at a time.
Ruth put the tomatoes on the kitchen bench, listening to the chatter upstairs.
`They're fine,' Renee said as she opened the freezer. `Looks like Lilly is very skilled at acting.'
`It's not all an act,' Ruth said, slicing the tomatoes. `How much do you know about her?'
`Not a lot,' Nikki said from her place at the kitchen table. `Ivy found her in the fifties, wandering the streets of London, and managed to get her home. She has no memories of her past but we know she has been abused by the Bloodells. Her body bears the scars of it.
`We'
ve not had much to do with her — until the island.' Renee put packets of frozen steak on the sink beside Ruth. `She's been a real surprise.'
Ruth grabbed the lettuce and started tearing off leaves. Wilson had never shown interest in any girl other than Sally. And how had Lilly managed to change her appearance so much?
`How's Mason?' Renee was looking for the starter on the big gas grill.
`Same.' Ruth focused on the knife in her hand.
`He's not hurt, but still asleep. Like he's being held.'
Nikki moved in her chair. The baby was growing fast and Ruth knew it was becoming hard for her to hide the discomfort it caused. And the growing baby bump.
`Well, I hope it's not for much longer.' Renee tossed steaks on the hot grill. `The Bloodells found us in Sydney and attacked in broad daylight. They'll find us here.'
`What? Bloodells?' Ruth dropped the knife. Nikki had gone pale. `When?'
`At my unit. Six of them armed with modern crossbows and poisoned bolts. They were able to surprise us. Mason healed me afterwards'
Ruth sat down. Bloodells in Sydney? Nikki didn't move.
`He healed you? Why, what happened?' Nikki whispered as Renee stopped fussing over the steak.
`Yeah, I got hit in the chest before we knew they were there.' Renee revealed sharp teeth in a grin. `They paid for that. Ralph and Mason worked well together.'
`The Wolves were involved?' Nikki glanced at her, questioning.
`Sure.' Renee clicked her neck.
Ruth recognised the movement. Just like Mason.
`Bloodells are so arrogant they didn't expect us to fight together.' Renee smiled, eyes half-closed. `Mason is spectacular as Hunter, and Ralph and his boys are now much more focused. They have a place in Bondi where Mason wants them to live and train. Ralph nearly choked when he was offered that — a place to live and money to be a Wolf.'
`Ralph accepted that?' Nikki winced and Ruth stood up, drawing Renee's attention.
`Eventually. Ricco and the boys didn't blink at it.'
`Well, they're not here,' Ruth rubbed the back of her hand across her brow. `And you're right — if Bloodells found you in Sydney they will probably come here. We might have some time since they probably don't know where we are yet.'
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