Moonlight Plains

by Barbara Hannay

  ‘And it’s good to see you.’ She meant it sincerely. She hated to think what he’d been through, but it was lovely to have good news for a change.

  Behind them, Elsie made a throat-clearing sound. ‘Just wondering if you’d like a cup of tea, Andy?’

  ‘Thanks,’ he said politely, ‘but I was actually wondering if I could steal Kitty for a bit.’

  Elsie grinned. ‘Be my guest.’

  He turned to Kitty. ‘I’m dying for a walk along the Strand. Want to come?’

  She only hesitated for a beat. ‘Yes, of course. Wait a sec, while I get a hat.’

  It was a disgustingly hot and humid afternoon, but a soft breeze on the seafront whispered coolly on their skin as they headed for the park and the shade of the banyan trees. While they walked, black cockatoos squabbled in the sea-almond trees.

  Kitty coaxed Andy to tell her a little of what he’d been through. He told her that he and a dozen others from his unit had spent three months in the jungle behind the Japanese lines, living off their wits and the small amounts of food they could find. They’d had to be eternally vigilant, as the Japs were everywhere. Only Andy and two of his mates had survived.

  ‘It was thinking of you that kept me going, Kitty. I was determined to get back to you.’

  Kitty drew a deep breath when he said this. She was deeply touched that Andy’s feelings for her had given him the will to survive, but knowing this also made her nervous. How could she burst his bubble by telling him about Ed and the baby?

  Unfortunately, she had no choice. She’d have to tell him at some point this afternoon. If she said nothing and the news reached him later via rumours, he’d be doubly hurt.

  They arrived at a grassy spot under a wide-spreading tree and sat looking out beyond the barbed wire to the smooth blue surface of the bay. Andy lit a cigarette, and as he blew out a thin stream of smoke, Kitty studied his face, noting the changes. All signs of boyishness were gone. His features were now lean and chiselled and she sensed a new determination in the set of his brow and the hardness of his jaw. His eyes no longer sparkled with youthful enthusiasm, but betrayed an unexpected worldliness. She feared they held a knowledge of unspeakable things.

  ‘I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time,’ she said.

  He shrugged. ‘Could have been worse.’

  ‘Do you have to go back?’

  ‘Of course.’ Grimacing, he flipped the ash from the end of his cigarette.

  His khaki sleeves were rolled to the elbow and Kitty could see a scar on his forearm – a pitted indentation, purple and shiny, clearly a wound that was still healing. She sighed and almost told him how much she hated this war, hated that he had to go back to more fighting and danger and horror. But that kind of talk wouldn’t help him.

  ‘I loved getting your letter,’ she said instead.

  ‘I could hardly say anything in the letter. What you really deserved was an apology.’

  ‘An apology?’

  ‘There was so much I wanted to tell you.’ Tension vibrated in his voice now. A smile flickered briefly and then disappeared. ‘Every time I think about that night before I left, I cringe. I was bloody hopeless the way I rushed at you, Kit. My only excuse was I was so bloody scared and desperate.’

  ‘I knew that, Andy. I understood.’

  He shook his head. ‘I was such a ham-fisted fool. And I never got to explain anything to your grandfather.’

  ‘Forget about it now.’ Kitty swallowed nervously. If only Andy knew . . . his mistakes were minor compared with hers. ‘It’s all in the past.’

  ‘The thing is, I want to ask you to marry me.’ Now when he looked at her, his eyes flashed with a fierce blue fire. ‘That’s why I had to get back here. I wasn’t letting the Nips get me before I told you how much I love you, Kit. I don’t think it’s possible to love a girl more than –’

  ‘Oh, Andy.’ Kitty had to interrupt him. She couldn’t sit here letting him pour out his heart, while she nursed a secret that would shatter his hopes.

  But oh, dear Lord, how could she get the words out?

  ‘Kitty, what is it? You’re not crying?’

  Yes, she was crying, but she couldn’t let that stop her. She just had to say it. Had to spit it out. ‘Andy, I’m pregnant.’

  She saw the shock explode in his face. Then puzzlement as his gaze dropped to her stomach. ‘I made you pregnant?’

  Kitty swallowed. ‘No. An – an American.’ Now her face was crumpling, her control disintegrating, while Andy ground out his cigarette and sprang to his feet.

  Through tear-blurred eyes she watched him stride away, then come to a halt where the grass met the sand, staring out to sea, his chest heaving as he dragged in air. She covered her face with her hands. Until today she’d merely felt sorry for herself, but now she couldn’t have felt more wretched if she’d physically stabbed Andy. He didn’t deserve this pain and disappointment.

  She hadn’t brought a handkerchief and she was dabbing at her wet face with the hem of her skirt when she heard the soft sound of his footsteps. She looked up to see that he’d returned already. His eyes were shiny, but he didn’t look angry as he lowered himself to sit beside her. ‘So what’s the story?’ he said tightly. ‘Are you going to marry this bloke?’

  Kitty shook her head.

  ‘Is he still alive?’

  And so she told him. As unemotionally as she could, she gave him the bare bones of her time with Ed, concentrating on their efforts to save Bobby at Moonlight Plains, rather than their romantic weekend on the island. She explained her decision not to tell Ed about the baby.

  Throughout her painful narration, Andy listened without interruption.

  ‘So . . . he’s a decent bloke, he’s back in America and he doesn’t know. And you don’t want him to know,’ he clarified when she was done.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That’s a rough spot to find yourself in, Kit. What are you going to do?’

  ‘I haven’t got it all worked out yet, except I know that I’m not giving the baby up for adoption.’

  Andy simply nodded and stared silently into the distance. Further down the beach, a group of servicemen were playing football, and a naval ship chugged across the bay.

  ‘I could be a father for your baby,’ he said.

  Kitty gulped. Had she known that Andy might say this? Had she secretly hoped? But it wouldn’t be fair on him. ‘Don’t do that to yourself,’ she said.

  ‘There’s no obligation involved, Kitty. I’ve already told you I love you and that’s not going to change.’

  Looking up, she saw unmistakable emotion in his eyes, saw a tenderness in his smile that warmed the icy knot of fear that had lain inside her for weeks now.

  ‘But you’ve only just got back,’ she said. ‘You can’t make an offer like that without taking time to think it over.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’ve had months to think, Kitty. I know what I want.’ He was staring out to sea as he said this, but now he turned and held her in his steady gaze. ‘Look, I don’t expect you to fall out of love with this Yank overnight, but if you let me, I’d promise to look after you and love you. And I’d be happy to help you raise your child.’

  ‘I don’t deserve that kind of love.’

  ‘Course you do.’ There was a new confidence in Andy’s smile as he lifted his hand to gently trace the curve of her cheek. ‘Marry me and I’ll prove it.’

  36

  Moonlight Plains, 2013

  Luke stared at his grandmother, stunned. She’d just confirmed his worst suspicions. His Uncle Jim was the American pilot’s son.

  ‘And you were already pregnant with Jim when you married Granddad?’

  ‘Yes, Luke.’

  How could she sit there so calmly? Luke was so angry he struggled to breathe.

  ‘So – so Granddad was only ever second best for you?’

  ‘No, it wasn’t like that. I –’

  Luke gave a groan, cutting her off. Of course it was like that. She’d
been in love with the American but she’d married his granddad. Un-fucking-believable.

  Already he was striding across the room. He was so bloody furious. His grandad had been a great guy. Steady, true-blue, brilliant with his hands, always ready with gentle humour. A perfect grandfather, among the best of the bloody best. He’d deserved to be up on a freaking pedestal.

  Instead, he’d made do as his wife’s second choice.

  Fuming, Luke left her room and strode down the hallway towards the verandah. Beyond it he could see the revellers already gathering on the lawn. Shit. The last thing he felt like now was a party.

  He stopped in the doorway, knowing he needed to calm down, saw Sally out on the lawn, busy with her camera.

  His gut tightened. She looked divine with her bright hair and her pale slender limbs, wearing a gorgeous silky dress the colour of an autumn leaf.

  At some point during these past busy weeks, his feelings for her had grown, put down roots. He cared. Cared deeply, which was why he hadn’t wanted the family prying.

  But now . . .

  Now the reality of his situation with Sally hit him with the force of an A-bomb. History was repeating itself. He would be like his grandfather, always be living in another man’s shadow. Once again Luke felt the gut-punching shock of his grandmother’s revelation. Hell. This was one aspect of his grandfather’s character that he was never going to emulate. Sally’s husband would always take first place in her heart and he was damned well not going to hang around to be another woman’s second best.

  But that realisation left him with only one clear option.

  Much as he hated the thought, it was time to call it quits. After all, he’d finished the project and Sally had her story.

  Luke took a deep breath as he faced the unpalatable truth. For them, this party was the end of the road, and before this night was over, he would have to tell her.

  A slim new moon, partnered by the bright evening star, shone in the inky-blue western sky as people emerged from their tents, looking transformed, even glamorous. And as they gathered on the lawn in front of the homestead, the house glowed magnificently with all its lights ablaze, spilling gold into the garden.

  For Sally, photographic moments abounded. More vehicles arrived, disgorging locals keen to be part of this exciting event. In a corner of the dance floor, the band had almost finished setting up, and guitarists tested their instruments, an occasional melodic twang bouncing into the night.

  Mac McKinnon and a couple of his mates had the barbecues primed and ready. The cousins from Richmond and Julia Creek, who’d been assigned to help as waiters, had started serving wine, as well as cans and bottles of beer from the ice-packed eskies.

  As Sally clicked away with her camera, she knew that hardly any of the photos would make it into the magazine, but she wanted to add to the album she’d already started. It would be a great record for Kitty and her family, and she would give a disk of all the photos to Luke.

  Speaking of Luke . . . she caught sight of him now, in the front doorway, his face twisted in a dark scowl. She hurried across the lawn and up the few steps.

  ‘Luke, what’s the matter?’

  His green eyes flared, but then, as if he’d taken a moment to register her presence, he said, ‘Hey, Sal. Great dress.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Her delighted relief was only momentary. In no time, Luke appeared distracted again.

  She stepped closer. ‘Is Kitty all right?’

  ‘Kitty’s fine,’ he said although his mouth twisted unhappily. ‘Actually, she could do with a hand. Do you think you could help her dress?’

  ‘I’d be happy to try.’

  ‘If you don’t mind. My mother’s busy keeping young Callum out of mischief.’

  ‘Of course. No problem.’

  ‘Right. Thanks. I have to get changed.’ He shot this last over his shoulder as he hurried off, down the stairs and across the lawn to the distant tents.

  More than a little disappointed, Sally watched him leave. She would have liked the chance to suggest that they should relax and enjoy themselves this evening, drop the silly pretence. She would have to try again later, when Luke would hopefully be in a better mood.

  She went into the house and down the hall to the main bedroom, where she knocked and was told to come in. Kitty was sitting in front of the dressing table’s winged mirror, her long white hair falling in soft waves to her shoulders as she patted at her neck with a powder-puff.

  For a moment, Sally fancied she could see her as a young girl, with lively grey eyes and shiny hair, and with a hint of passion and fearlessness about her. She might have been quite a heartbreaker.

  ‘Luke said you’d like some help with getting ready.’

  ‘How kind of you, Sally.’ Kitty turned to look at her properly. ‘Oh, my dear, what a wonderful dress. You look beautiful.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Luke will be stunned when he sees you.’

  Sally gave an abrupt little laugh. ‘He’s seen me already.’

  ‘Oh? I hope he told you how lovely you look.’

  ‘He liked the dress,’ Sally assured her, and she almost added that Luke had been very distracted, but she didn’t want to burden Kitty with unnecessary worry.

  Taking the camera from around her neck, she set it on the window seat. ‘Now, how can I help you? Would you like to get dressed before we do your hair?’

  ‘That’s a good idea. Virginia hung my outfit on the wardrobe door. I think the creases have dropped out.’

  It was quite a slow process, helping the old lady out of the dress she’d been wearing and into a pale-pink two-piece suit with pretty lace inserts.

  More than once, Sally found her thoughts slipping back to Luke, wondering what had caused his distracted scowl. It was so unlike him. He was usually so cheerful and in control, and she’d never really seen him looking downbeat. Perhaps he’d had an unpleasant shock.

  ‘Was he very upset?’ Kitty asked suddenly.

  Sally started. ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Luke.’ Kitty was watching her intently, her face serious, almost troubled. ‘When you saw him just now, was he very upset?’

  Sally tried not to look too surprised, and she secured the button at the waist of Kitty’s skirt before she answered. ‘He seemed quite distracted.’

  Kitty nodded sadly. ‘I’m not surprised. Did he tell you why?’

  ‘No, not a word.’ Sally’s curiosity mounted as she lifted Kitty’s jacket from its hanger and began to undo the buttons. She couldn’t help asking, ‘Do you know what happened?’

  Kitty sighed. ‘I do. It’s my fault, I’m afraid. I told the boy something he didn’t want to hear.’ Her grey eyes glistened as she offered Sally a sad smile. ‘He idolised his grandfather, you see.’

  ‘You mean Andy? Your husband?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Luke told me it’s because of Andy that he wanted to become a builder.’

  ‘I know.’ Kitty seemed reluctant to say more, but then she must have changed her mind. ‘I was in love with another man, during the war,’ she said quickly. ‘If the circumstances had been different, I probably would have married him.’

  Sally needed a moment to take this in. She held out the jacket and Kitty obediently slipped her arms into the sleeves.

  ‘I don’t mean to pry,’ Sally said as she began to do up the buttons again, ‘but was this other man the American pilot?’

  ‘Yes. And I’m afraid it’s shocked Luke.’

  Sally frowned as she considered this. She knew Luke was quite broadminded and not easily shocked. Then again, his grandfather Andy had been his hero.

  Kitty sighed as Sally fastened the final button. ‘Of all my grandchildren, Luke bonded the most with Andy. When he was little, he’d come and spend his holidays with us and I used to call him Andy’s shadow. Now, I’m afraid he can’t come to terms with the fact that I might not have married Andy if the other romance had worked out. I don’t think I’ve convin
ced him that I still loved Andy dearly.’

  A chill slinked through Sally. She hadn’t believed in second chances either. During the long pain-filled years that had followed Josh’s death she’d been convinced she could never love again.

  And yet, here she was . . . on the very brink of admitting her deepening feelings . . .

  ‘I’m sure Luke will feel differently when he’s had a chance to think this over,’ she said with more confidence than she felt.

  ‘Yes.’ Kitty gave a sigh. ‘In time he’ll understand.’

  Sally smiled. It was time to cheer Kitty up. ‘There, see in the mirror? You look lovely,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you, dear.’ Kitty turned to the dressing table. ‘I think I’d like to sit down.’

  ‘Of course.’ Concerned, Sally helped her to the seat. ‘Would you like a glass of water?’

  ‘No, no. I’m all right now, but I’d love a hand with fixing my hair. My arms just don’t seem to have the strength any more.’

  ‘Absolutely. Let’s see what we can do.’

  Kitty’s hair was super-fine and Sally worked carefully, combing it and folding it into an elegant twist, while Kitty, with some difficulty because of her arthritic fingers, passed up the bobby pins.

  ‘Pesky things, bobby pins,’ Kitty muttered darkly, but when she turned her head to examine her reflection, her face broke into a delighted smile. ‘Oh, Sally, that’s perfect, thank you.’

  ‘My pleasure. All we need now are these earrings.’ She picked up a pair of sparkling droplets from the dressing table and carefully clipped them in place. ‘Now get ready for the compliments. You’re going to turn heads tonight.’

  ‘Oh, look at that!’ Kitty’s face shone as she stood on the verandah, using her walking stick for balance while gazing out at the floodlit garden and the congregation of happy guests. ‘Isn’t it beautiful, Sally? Oh, my heavens!’ She clutched Sally’s arm. ‘See the pond? It’s the old fishpond, isn’t it?’

  Sally almost danced with excitement. She’d been waiting for hours for Kitty to notice the pond, but the old lady had always been surrounded by her family. Now someone, probably Bella, had lit the floating candles, as well as the lanterns set on the crazy paving. The pond looked gorgeous, even better than Sally had imagined when she’d first started cleaning it up.