by Vicky Adin
The day before Paul was due to return to the States, he arrived at her place and spread the latest array of documents on the table.
“See, didn’t I tell you? Whatever she wrote, Isabel certainly led an interesting life.”
Chapter 32
On the second anniversary of Tony’s death, Megan drove to the beach and sat on the bench exactly where she’d sat a month earlier after her futile visit to the cemetery. As soon as she started to think of Tony his comforting aura eased her disquiet.
In the months she had been away, her relationship with Sarah had changed. The girl seemed fragile and argumentative for little or no reason, and her ill will towards Megan’s friendship with Paul was completely out of hand. Whilst Sarah had relaxed a little in the days since he’d left, Megan began to wonder whether continuing any sort of friendship with Paul was worth the effort. But, another part of her defended, she had the right to live her life the way she wanted. Two could play the stubborn game – except it wouldn’t resolve anything. After half an hour of reflection, she got into her car and drove back to Sarah’s ready to confront her.
Determined not to let their exchange turn into another argument, Megan kept her temper in check and chose her words carefully. “In the last couple of months you have confused me completely. On one hand you say you want me to be happy, to get out more, make friends and enjoy life, but on the other hand, you don’t want me to have my own home and you don’t like my friends. So, which is it?”
“Of course I want you to be happy, it’s just ...” Sarah was clearly discomforted by Megan’s question. “I just want what’s best for you.”
“So do I. Why do you think I won’t make the right choices?”
“Your decision to sell your shop wasn’t rational, for starters.”
“Goodness. That was a while ago. And maybe it wasn’t. But I wasn’t coping or enjoying being there any more. The business would have gone downhill if I’d stayed. I was in a very dark hole back then.”
“I know that, Mum,” Sarah acknowledged, “but I ... I’m not sure you really know what you want yet. And I think Paul is rushing you.”
“I don’t agree. Yes, I sold my shop without taking advice. What’s done is done, but I still think it was the right decision for me. Now I have ideas of what my future might hold. Please give me credit for some decisions. I’ve changed – even since then.”
“I know, which is why I was happy for you to travel and wanted you to sell the house. Even if it hurt me.”
Megan refrained from suggesting Sarah was being patronising. While the place had been her childhood home, without Tony it meant nothing to Megan any more. Neither did her old shop. “I need to start being my own person, and I want your backing.”
Sarah remained silent. Her cool, blue eyes stared intently at her mother.
“Look. I should have told you before maybe, but I’ve seen an apartment on the Browns Bay esplanade. How about we knock on the door and ask if it’s still available?”
Paul had told her the man at the door was the owner’s son. It was a private sale, and he was only briefly over from Australia to sell the place. Nothing had changed to indicate new owners, so Megan felt hopeful.
“Sarah, will you come with me, please?”
“Why today? Today should be about Dad, not you.”
Megan could feel her temper rising at Sarah’s continued opposition to everything she suggested but was determined not to react. “It has been, honey. You’ll never know how much.” Megan paused. “It’s time, Sarah. It’s time for me to move on. To be my own person now, not as the other half of your father.”
Sarah didn’t respond to that comment, reverting instead to Megan’s invitation. “How do you know this place is what you want?”
“I went to an open home, just to be nosy and see what the price tag might be.” She’d loved the place and immediately felt at home.
“Hmph! So why didn’t you tell me about it?” Sarah’s tone was sharp, and she looked as though she was about to argue – again.
“Because you were upset with me. You still are. But I want your opinion, and I want you to be happy for me.”
Sarah’s body language told Megan she had at long last made her point.
* * * * *
A tiny old lady answered the door, her back almost bent in half as she leaned heavily on a walking stick. When Megan asked if the property was still available, the woman looked shocked and then tearful.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Megan flustered and apologising again turned to leave.
“Oh no, my dear, don’t go. It’s providence. Come in. Come in. I’m Muriel, by the way.” The place, furnished in soft creams, was as immaculate as Megan remembered it. A few antiques, a couple of landscape paintings and some fine porcelain gave the place the elegant, yet comfortable feel she remembered.
“Can I make you a cup of tea?”
“Let me,” Sarah offered, while they chatted. Muriel told them she was a widow with a son living overseas, which confirmed what Paul had told Megan.
“I love this apartment, but with my arthritis getting worse, I can hardly do for myself any more.”
“It’s lovely,” said Sarah. “You’ve looked after it very well.”
“Thank you, my dear. I applied for a place at the retirement village but there was a long waiting list. I thought I could sell my home in the meantime. But the timing didn’t work. A place came up before I’d sold. My money is all tied up here, you see, so I couldn’t take it. But it meant I had to take this place off the market. Oh, it’s all so complicated. But I’m not managing.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Megan glanced across at Sarah as she served the tea and wondered what to say next. She didn’t need to. Muriel hadn’t finished.
“I’ve just got a letter to say they have another place available for me next month. I do so want it, but I’ve been worried how I’m going to get through all that selling business.
“My son came over especially to complete the sale before, and he wasn’t happy it didn’t go ahead. I haven’t dared tell him. He will be so cross with me for bothering him again.”
“Surely not?” Sarah sounded shocked.
“Oh, he’ll handle the money side in the end, I know,” she said as she explained how he needed to countersign some documents before she could accept an offer. Talking more to herself now than them and voicing her doubts, she added, “I’m not sure he’ll do what I want. Maybe he’s right ...” Her voice faded away. “And then there’s the selling and moving. He won’t want to come here for that. It’s too much.” Muriel looked teary again and fished for a hanky in her cardigan sleeve. “Oh, dear. I don’t know what to do.”
“If it will help you, could I talk to your son?”
“You coming here ... it’s my lucky day. Do you really want to buy the place?”
“Yes. It’s perfect for me,” Megan answered, without hesitation.
Sarah opened her mouth to say something, but the quick shake of her mother’s head forestalled any questions.
Megan already knew what the asking price had been, so she offered a premium. “To help cover your moving costs.”
She also offered to get her lawyer to contact Muriel’s to sort the paperwork. They would have it settled well within the time frame.
Muriel sat quivering. “Oh, my dear. Oh, my. You do make an old lady’s heart glad. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
* * * * *
“You’ll never guess what Mum did today,” said Sarah to Nick later that evening as they sat side by side on the couch.
“Probably not. I’ve stopped being surprised by what your mother does.” Nick winked across at Megan with a grin.
“She bought an apartment!”
“Congratulations. Where and why?”
“On the beachfront. As a favour to an old lady.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Will you two stop it?” Sarah glared at Nick trying to send the message she wanted
to tell a story.
Nick wasn’t taking the bait. “Stop what?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, you two! You know what I mean.”
Nick laughed. He put his arm around Sarah’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “Okay. Tell me.”
Megan jumped in ahead of Sarah. “I bought an apartment. A, because I need somewhere to live – I can’t stay here forever – and B, because an old lady needed help.”
“Still sounds good to me,” teased Nick.
Sarah punched him. “Yes, but she paid way above the asking price. Mum even offered to help Muriel – that’s the old lady’s name – pack up and move to her new place and ... and ...”
“And what?” Megan interrupted her flow, wondering where Sarah was heading.
“And ... it’s the nicest thing I’ve seen anyone do for a long time.”
Nick kissed her again. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Between them, they filled Nick in with the details and talked about timing.
“Mum, there’s something else. I’ve done a lot of thinking, and now since meeting Muriel today, well ...”
Sarah took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve behaved lately. I only wanted to look after you, but I think I’ve been a bit of a roadblock instead. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. I accept your apology, but why now? What’s Muriel got to do with it?”
“It’s all still a bit mixed up in my head. The poor old lady certainly needed your help. Her son needs a good kicking, if you ask me, refusing to sign the papers and all that nonsense. I’m glad you sorted him out in the end. I was so angry at the way he treated his mother. She was too scared to even ask for his help. Can you believe it? He shouldn’t control her like that. But then I realised ... I’ve done the same to you, haven’t I? Differently, but I still stopped you doing what you wanted.”
Megan chose not to answer her daughter and let her talk.
“I keep thinking about how incredibly lucky we are to have each other and what happened to Constance because she had no one. Family is so important, and I want to leave Bella with that strong sense of loyalty.” Her voice faltered. “It mightn’t make sense to anyone else, but it does to me.”
“Me too,” agreed Megan with a smile as her heart sang.
“At last!” said Nick, pulling Sarah closer to him. “About time you two patched things up.”
Chapter 33
On a fine but windy spring day in early October, Auckland turned on its best display to welcome Trina to the country. Megan paced the arrivals hall, peering around people to catch a glimpse of them as soon as they walked through the doors.
“Jason!” she called, waving her hand, and hurried towards him.
“Hello, Mum.” Jason wrapped his long arms around her.
“You’re looking well, Trina.” After Jason let her go she hugged the girl. “Welcome to your new home.”
Once the luggage was loaded into the car and they were on their way, Megan outlined some of her plans. “If you’re not too tired, that is.”
“I’m fine,” confirmed Trina. “I managed to get some sleep on the plane.”
“Great. In that case I’ll take you to where you are staying for the time being, and after you are set up, if you are still up to it, we’re to have dinner at Sarah’s.”
Later that evening, Jason inadvertently managed to raise his sister’s hackles. “Mum has excelled herself,” he said, referring to the apartment in which he and Trina were staying. “Did you know about it?”
“Not until after.” Sarah cast her mother a reproachful look.
The tension between them had eased since she’d bought Muriel’s apartment, but with two weeks to go before possession date, Sarah could still be touchy.
“We’ve had this conversation,” replied Megan. “Remember? And you were specifically talking about a place for me to live, not anything else.”
“I didn’t know you had anything else in mind. You left that bit out.”
“Okay, ladies,” interrupted Nick. “We get the point. But what’s so bad about it anyway?”
“Actually, nothing,” agreed Jason. “Mum’s purchase is quite astute.”
“I love it,” added Trina. “It’s perfect.”
“You can stay as long as you want,” said Megan cautiously. Did Sarah still object to her purchase or that Jason and Trina lived there? “But don’t feel committed. It’s up to you.”
Over dinner they caught up with all the other news. Sarah talked about Bella’s birthday next month, Nick complained about some of the dodgy shortcuts his boss took and Trina asked for advice on doctors and midwives.
“I’ve got ten weeks to go, so I’ll need someone soon.”
At this news, Megan noticed Sarah fidgeting uncomfortably and wondered what was bothering her.
“I’d like to see Dad’s headstone,” said Jason, “sometime before my new flight schedule kicks in.”
“Go if you want to,” said Megan, “but it’s not somewhere I like going. I have a suggestion – if you are all up for it. I’d like to have a small ceremony and family get-together on your Dad’s favourite little beach. It would be a great way to recognise the two-year mark just gone and have a party to celebrate the future.”
Everyone agreed. They picked Labour weekend, the week after Megan had shifted into her new home, with the hope the weather would be accommodating. After dinner, as they sat in the lounge relaxing as the evening wound down, tension crackled. Something was going on. Would it be a good time to tell them her news, she wondered. She didn’t want Sarah to think Jason was the favoured one, if that was the issue.
Trina broke into an awkward silence and unwittingly solved her dilemma. “I’m feeling rather tired. Would it be all right if we went back now?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” said Jason, suddenly concerned. “We should have been more thoughtful.”
Once Trina had assured everyone she was okay, Nick picked up the car keys and ushered them out the door. “Back soon.”
Left alone, mother and daughter finished tidying up.
“Sarah? Are you upset with me over something?”
“No.” The evasive shrug of her shoulders said otherwise.
“So what’s the problem?”
“Who said anything is the problem?”
“Sarah. This is ridiculous – and childish.”
“I am not being childish!” Sarah sounded a lot like her child-self about to stamp her foot and, not for the first time, Megan’s eyebrows rose in surprise at her daughter’s reactions. She was becoming fractious.
“So talk to me.” Megan gentled her voice, trying not to perturb her any further.
The two women stared at each other for several long seconds. Megan wondered whether Sarah would say anything.
“Why did you buy that place?”
Back to that topic again. “As an investment. I have plans.”
“So you keep saying, but you never tell me anything about them. What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything.” Megan paused at Sarah’s disbelieving expression. “Well, yes, if I look at it from your side, I suppose I am – but I told you I wanted to talk to you and Jason together. Nick and Trina as well.”
“Well, they were here tonight and you didn’t say anything.”
“That’s hardly fair. It’s their first night.” Megan wondered how their simple conversation had escalated into another argument.
“Aren’t you happy enough here?” The switch in her girl’s thinking convinced her something deeper was going on.
“Of course I am! Why do you ask?”
“I thought you were going away again,” said Sarah, confirming Megan’s concern.
“Going away? Where? What made you think that? I’ve just bought my new place.”
Sarah shrugged again.
“Spit it out, Sarah. What’s bugging you?” Megan put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. The young woman immediately burst into tears, taking them both by sur
prise. A few hugs and several tissues later, she pulled herself together a little, while Megan poured two glasses of red wine.
She handed one to her daughter. “Come on. Sit down and tell me what the matter is. Before Nick gets back.”
“I’m just being stupid,” Sarah snivelled.
“Never that, sweetheart. But it must be important if you are this upset by whatever it is.”
“I don’t want you going away again. That’s all.”
“I have no plans to, but what else? There’s more to it than that,” pushed Megan.
Sarah fidgeted in her chair, heaved a sigh and blew her nose again. Seconds passed. Megan wondered what her girl was leading up to.
“I’ve lost another baby.” Her voice was deadpan.
Megan’s heart lurched. Sarah had lost a baby the year after Bella; to lose another was a major blow.
Suddenly she felt guilty. She had been so caught up in what she’d wanted to do that she hadn’t even noticed her daughter was pregnant. She’d let Sarah down by not being there when she was needed. “Oh, my darling girl, I’m so sorry.”
Megan recalled Sarah had complained of a stomach ache about a week before and disappeared off to bed early. Megan just assumed it was her time of the month and had left her alone. No wonder the air had been so tense tonight with talk about Trina’s baby, and that would be why Sarah was so fidgety. She must have been very upset.
“How far along?”
“Only six weeks. I’d barely taken the test when the cramps set in.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you thought you were expecting?”
Sarah shrugged. Megan worked out it would have been around the time of their last big row, after Paul had arrived unexpectedly and when she’d bought the city apartment.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, darling. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own plans.”
“I lost another one before this too.”
Megan was truly shocked. “Oh, no. When?”
“While you were away. Before Hawaii.”
“Oh, my poor girl!” Guilt, compassion, empathy and regret washed over her. This was Sarah’s third miscarriage. They had wanted a big family. It didn’t look likely now. “Why on earth didn’t you tell me? It explains so much. No wonder you’ve been out of sorts.” She remembered now that Sarah had been touchy in Hawaii, almost impossible in Florence and difficult since Megan had been back in New Zealand. Hardly a surprise, now she knew. She just wished the girl had confided in her earlier.