The Secrets that Lie Within (Taylor's Bend, #1)

by Elisabeth Rose

  ‘Good. I don’t want any surprise visits from them. What else has happened?’ She was interested now, despite her casual manner.

  Abbie remembered the coffee and filled two mugs. ‘A silver car was lurking about and while I was in town it came here. When I got home, it was parked out the front but no-one was around. I got scared and went to call Rupe. When we got back, someone had taken my shopping inside and put it away and the car had gone.’

  ‘Who was it?’ Georgia dunked her biscuit in the coffee.

  ‘Don’t know. Rupe said he couldn’t do anything because there was no actual crime. Taking the shopping in is something a neighbour would do out here. That was on Tuesday. Then that pair turned up and my phone line went out. While they were here I was sick in the night. Throwing up. Aaron had cooked dinner but they were all right.’

  ‘Did he poison you, you reckon?’ Georgia was smiling now. ‘Overreacting much? What else? More prowler action?’

  Stung, Abbie hit her with the last incident. ‘Yes. Last night someone was walking about outside and fired two shots. This morning I found a dead possum at the bottom of the front steps. Shot.’ No need to add the bit about it being already dead.

  ‘Wow! That’s a lot more than prowling.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So who do you think did it?’

  ‘I don’t know and neither does Rupe.’

  ‘Is that what the dog’s for? Protection?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘It won’t be much use, will it? If your prowler has a gun.’

  ‘She’s coming in overnight.’

  ‘As long as you keep it in your room.’

  ‘I will. When did you stop liking dogs?’

  ‘One chewed on my leg when I was jogging last year.’ She stretched out her right leg and pulled up her jeans to display a long reddish scar on her calf. ‘Had three stiches and my tendon is still stiff. I can’t run anymore.’

  ‘That’s dreadful.’ Abbie stared at the uneven red line.

  ‘I fell over trying to back away from it and if a lady hadn’t come out and whacked at it with a broom, I don’t know what would have happened. I’ve gone right off dogs now.’

  Silence descended. The tension drained from Abbie’s shoulders. Georgia was surprisingly amenable now after the frosty start. Maybe she missed her mother as much as Abbie missed her. Maybe she’d grown up or maybe it was just easy to slip back into that familiar relationship.

  ‘Did you go to Dad’s funeral?’

  Abbie shook her head. ‘I read about it in the paper. The accident only rated a couple of small paragraphs.’

  ‘The police contacted me as next of kin.’

  ‘Oh. I suppose you are.’

  ‘He named me executor of his will.’

  ‘He must have made a new one after the divorce. I did. Did you go?’

  ‘I had to, I organised it. Aunty Susan came with me. She helped me. It was about as basic as you can get but he deserved something.’ She studied the remaining ice cream in her bowl. ‘He was a good dad.’

  ‘He was and he loved you. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.’ Abbie sniffed back a couple of tears. Not for that miserable worm of a man but for the innocent little girl who’d loved her father.

  Georgia remained dry-eyed, spooning up the last of the ice cream with a mushy, coffee-soaked Gingernut mixed in.

  ‘How’s Susan?’

  ‘Fine. She and Greg separated last year. You weren’t his first affair. Did you know that?’

  Abbie shook her head. If that was intended to hurt, it didn’t. Greg had admitted as much that night but she wasn’t going to say that. ‘Susan never said anything.’

  ‘She wouldn’t. She said she was ashamed.’

  ‘She has nothing to be ashamed of.’

  ‘She said she felt inadequate, and then when you and he … she won’t forgive you, you know.’ An edge crept into Georgia’s voice. Susan’s bitterness leaching through.

  Abbie sucked in a shuddery breath. ‘I know. I don’t blame her. She’s my only sibling … I just hope one day …’

  ‘Doubt it.’ Georgia pushed her chair back abruptly, the legs screeching on the tiled floor. She cleared the table and dumped the dishes in the sink.

  ‘I’ll clean up here. Have a look around outside if you like.’ Abbie rose as well, nervous again, guilty. A home wrecker. Her sister had taken Georgia in and given her the love and attention that should have been Abbie’s job during what was a horrendous ordeal for a teenager to endure—and then to have to deal with funeral arrangements. Now that Susan was alone, she and Georgia would become even closer. Susan had no children of her own. Abbie gritted her teeth as she put the plug in the sink and turned on the hot tap.

  ‘I’m going to have a sleep then we can go to the shop,’ said Georgia.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Sleeping during the day was unlike the girl she remembered but she did look tired.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I be? I just drove for three hours and Soph and I didn’t get much sleep. Is that a problem?’

  ‘Of course not. Sorry.’

  But Georgia had already disappeared down the hallway.

  A couple of tears rolled down Abbie’s cheek while she washed the soup dishes. She wiped them away on her sleeve but another couple leaked out, to her annoyance. She had no excuse for crying, no excuse for feeling sorry for herself. Her sister was the one who had that right. Abbie deserved all the anger aimed her way but it hurt, and from what Georgia had just said, Susan wasn’t anywhere near forgiving her.

  How did she feel about this visit? Had Georgia told her? Would Susan actively dissuade Georgia from seeking out her mother? What had happened wasn’t to do with Georgia, it was between sisters and if Susan had intervened in some way … Abbie yanked the plug out with a vicious flick, sending suds over her shirt front.

  ‘Dammit!’ She wiped down the bench and picked up the tea towel.

  ***

  Rupe drove back out to Rita’s after lunch. He’d been on the phone most of the morning, checking with the surrounding towns about prowlers. No-one had reported a similar problem, although a couple of cars had been vandalised in Mount Badgery and Cath Williams at the orchard just out of Willoughby had two tyres slashed on her ute. Presumably by bored kids. He’d reported the incident to the main station in Wagga as a matter of course and was advised to keep in touch. They agreed the possum incident was a matter of concern and had to be monitored, but in itself wasn’t unheard of.

  ‘You get some of these types out here occasionally. Usually doesn’t go any further,’ the sergeant said.

  Rupe wasn’t convinced it was local hoon behaviour. Why single out Abbie?

  Rita responded to his knocking this time by yelling through the closed front door.

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘Senior Constable Perry,’ he called back. ‘Can you open the door please, Rita?’

  ‘What do you want?’ Typical surly tone with a raspy overlay.

  ‘Open the door.’

  ‘No, I’m sick and you dragged me out of bed.’

  ‘Do you need help? Shall I call the doc?’

  ‘He’s useless. I’ll be right, it’s only flu. Just leave me alone.’

  ‘All right, but I just wanted to ask if you heard any shots last night.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘All right. Thanks, Rita. Do you need any shopping done? Phone if you do.’

  He waited a moment but she’d finished talking, apparently. He went back to the car and headed down the obstacle course of a driveway to drop in on Abbie.

  Jet bounced up and down on the verandah barking like a mad thing when he parked next to the red car, which must belong to the daughter. She stopped when she saw who it was and switched to frantic tail wagging. He rubbed her head as he passed. A plastic tub of water sat by the door. Looked like she was here for the duration.

  ‘Good girl.’ Victorian plates on that car. He’d assumed the daughter still lived in Sydney.

  Rupe didn’t need to knock with
that welcome. Abbie opened the door almost immediately.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Your guard dog’s doing a good job.’

  ‘Yes, she’s great. Come in.’

  ‘No, I won’t, thanks. I just wanted to check on you. I talked to Rita just now—actually we yelled through the door. She was cranky because I got her out of bed. She’s sick and told me to go away. She sounded rough.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ Abbie pulled a face and smiled. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘I think so. She didn’t want me to call the doctor but she wouldn’t, reckons he’s useless.’

  ‘Maybe I should call in and see her.’

  ‘I’d wait a while. Tomorrow might be better. If I’ve just disturbed her, another visitor won’t be welcomed in.’

  ‘Right. I wonder what’s wrong. She told me once she’s never had a cold or the flu in her life.’

  ‘She’s getting older.’

  ‘Yes, but she’s the healthiest person I know. She never gets sick. How would she get the flu? She never sees anyone.’

  ‘I don’t know but I’m not going back to ask.’

  ‘Georgia’s here.’ The smile on her face said it all.

  ‘I saw the car. Going well, is it?’

  ‘Pretty good. She’s a bit less abrasive than I expected. I’m being really careful and letting her dictate the pace but, Rupe, she’s … wonderful. I’m so proud of her. She’s gone back to uni in Melbourne and finishes her degree this year. She’s thinking of doing a Masters.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Is she staying long?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Tonight at least. We’re going in to do some shopping later. I don’t have enough food for her, she says. It was lucky you brought that ice cream. She’s always loved dessert.’ She stopped suddenly. ‘Sorry, I’m raving.’

  ‘It’s fine. It’s great she’s here and that you’re sorting things out.’

  ‘It is, isn’t it?’

  He nodded, caught up in the deep blue of her eyes again, but she was too excited about her daughter.

  ‘She seems to want to keep in touch now. She’s been staying with a friend in Canberra. Sophie. They’ve known each other since school. She pressured Georgia into phoning, although she did call in on Monday on the off chance and that was off her own bat, so she must have wanted to make contact all by herself.’

  ‘That’s good. Okay, Abbie, I’ll make tracks. Glad everything’s fine here. I reported the possum but they reckoned it happens sometimes—idiots. There’ve been a few vandalism incidents in the area. Hoon element.’

  Her expression changed instantly. ‘You don’t believe that, do you? About the possum? That’s not vandalism.’

  ‘They could be right. Those police have been working in the area longer than either of us have been here.’

  ‘All right, well, thanks for calling in, Rupe. I appreciate it.’

  ‘It’s my job. See you later.’

  Abbie closed the door on his retreating back. He couldn’t possible agree with that cop from Wagga. No hoon would climb over a random locked gate, walk around outside the house, find a dead possum, bring it, shoot it and leave it on the doorstep of a stranger. This had to be personal. Who on earth had she upset enough in Taylor’s Bend to do that to her?

  ‘Who was that?’

  Georgia stood in the hallway, yawning.

  ‘Rupe. He went to ask Rita next door if she’d heard the shots last night but she was sick and told him to clear off.’

  Georgia grinned. ‘Bet that got up his nose.’

  ‘No. Everyone knows Rita. She’s the local eccentric. She’s nearly eighty, lives on her own and entertains herself by coming over here and complaining I’ve knocked her fences down or stolen water from her tank.’

  ‘Have you?’

  ‘Smarty. No. She was here a few days ago going on about my friends trespassing in her top paddock.’

  ‘What friends? Kaelee and her boyfriend?’

  ‘No, they’d gone. I’ve no idea who those people were, probably hikers in the national park but it doesn’t matter. Rita complains about everything and anything.’

  ‘Okay. Shall we go to the supermarket?’

  ‘Sure. I’ll lock up and get some bags.’

  Abbie couldn’t shake a tingle of unease at leaving the house unattended, but she went through to secure all the windows and the back door, glad that Rupe had fixed the chain to the gate.

  ‘You need bread,’ said Georgia, as Abbie collected her shopping bags. ‘And eggs and milk.’

  ‘Make a list.’

  She didn’t dare ask how long Georgia planned to stay but by the growing number of items she wrote down, she wasn’t leaving in the morning.

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘We can pick up more ice cream too,’ said Georgia.

  ‘And wine.’

  ‘Not for me. I shouldn’t drink anymore.’ Georgia turned to Abbie with an expression she hadn’t worn since childhood. Was she nervous? Embarrassed? It was almost fear. ‘I’m pregnant.’

  Chapter 9

  ‘Gosh!’

  ‘Is that all you can say?’ Georgia’s lips tightened and she turned away, shoving the list into her jean’s pocket. ‘Are we going?’

  ‘But … pregnant? That’s amazing... well, of course, not amazing. I’m amazed. Are you pleased?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘Fine. I get tired and my boobs are sore.’

  Abbie nodded. ‘I remember. How far along are you?’

  ‘Seven weeks. There’s still time to get rid of it.’

  Abbie bit back her instinctive reaction. An abortion was something she’d never do but she’d also never deny another woman the choice. When she was pregnant, she was married with a husband just starting to earn good money, and in a flexible occupation as far as raising a child went. Georgia’s situation was different.

  ‘Is the father around?’

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘Does he know?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Will you tell him?’

  ‘I don’t know. Mum, I don’t know him very well, okay?’

  A one-night stand? Heaven forbid—rape? Surely someone would have told her if her daughter had been raped.

  ‘He didn’t …’

  ‘Rape me? No.’

  ‘He’s still the father, darling. He has the right to know.’

  ‘That’s what Sophie said.’ Another tick for Sophie. ‘And he’s not married if that’s your next question. I know he’s not. He’s the brother of a friend.’

  What about Susan? No doubt she’d been the first to know. Abbie squashed the squirm of jealousy.

  ‘Susan doesn’t know,’ said Georgia with a raised eyebrow and a tiny knowing smirk.

  ‘I didn’t ask.’

  ‘Sure, Mum. Let’s go. I’ll drive.’

  So Abbie went, with tears pricking her eyelids.

  After a raid on the supermarket Abbie asked Georgia to park outside Laurie’s store while she collected her mail.

  ‘I’ll just be a minute.’

  ‘Fine.’ Georgia was already checking her phone. One thing about phones, kids didn’t mind waiting anymore if they could sit and stare uninterrupted at a screen.

  Dot was on duty behind the counter, resplendent in a bright pink cardigan and newly permed grey hair.

  ‘Hello Abbie. I hear you had some trouble out your way. Is your phone still out?’

  ‘Yes, unfortunately. I’ve just popped in to collect my mail.’

  ‘Those phone companies need to be fined by the government, their service is so dreadful. They don’t seem to realise we rely on our phones in the country.’

  ‘It is pretty slack.’ Very slack now she thought about it.

  ‘Did you hear about Cath Williams?’

  ‘No. What happened? Is she all right?’ Cath was a book group member. Her orchard was five kilometres this side of Willoughby but she preferred to drive the extra
twenty to shop in Taylor’s Bend.

  ‘Oh, of course you wouldn’t have heard a thing with no phone. I forgot. Well, Cath had all the tyres of her ute slashed.’

  ‘That’s terrible. When?’

  ‘A day or two ago. The insurance should pay for it but it’s a real nuisance. Stupid. Whoever did it should be made to pay all the money back and change the tyres themselves. Community service wouldn’t go amiss either.’

  ‘Absolutely. Does Rupe have any idea who did it?’

  ‘No, but it’s not Rupe’s area. Willoughby’s covered by Jason Fox.’

  A gentle nudge was called for or she’d be here half an hour. ‘I see. Well I’d better get a move on, Dot. Would you mind checking for my mail?’

  ‘Just a sec.’ She finally headed for the backroom. Abbie dropped a few coins in Father Chris’s Youth Project tin. He needed all the help he could get if the tyre slashers were local youths.

  She turned to check on Georgia in the car, just visible through the shop window. Still there, head bent over her phone. A grandmother! She was to be a grandmother … unless Georgia decided to terminate the pregnancy. If she did, so be it, but Abbie would still mourn the unborn one. And she’d never offer her opinion unless specifically asked. Whatever happened, her daughter needed her support. She must have wanted it to have closed the gap between them by visiting. Thank you, Sophie—although Georgia came by on her way to Canberra. That trip fell into place now. It must have been to confide in Sophie.

  ‘Here you are, love. Not much.’

  ‘Thanks, Dot.’ Abbie stuffed the slim bundle into her bag.

  ‘I hear you and Rupe are getting on well.’ Dot’s next remark, guaranteed to elicit a reaction.

  ‘He’s very nice. We all know that. He came out to check everything was okay, what with the prowler reports.’

  ‘Fixed your gate too.’ Dot smiled happily. ‘You two will make a lovely couple.’

  ‘What do you mean will, Dot?’

  ‘You can’t fight nature.’

  Abbie gave up. ‘See you later. Thanks for the mail.’

  ‘You take care out there, Abbie.’ The concern was real, and immediate compensation for all the gossip and speculation. These people stepped in without a moment’s thought when they were needed. As had Rupe, and Tim and Connie.