New Beginnings

by Iris Blobel

  Sophie and Mia flipped a coin to choose who’d sleep in which bedroom.

  “Will you sleep with me in the bed tonight?” Mia asked after she had won the double bed.

  Sophie tucked a strand of hair behind her sister’s ear. “Don’t you want to sleep on your own after all these years?”

  Mia shook her head hesitantly. “Unless you want to?”

  Sophie took her in her arms. “No way. I probably wouldn’t fall asleep without holding your hand.”

  Enjoying the comforts of their own, spacious house, they spoilt themselves that night. Mia had a bath, and Sophie looked forward to having a long hot shower. A luxury for both of them. In her mind, Sophie was still able to hear the constant knocking at the bathroom door by Mrs. Karovic. The landlady had always waited in front of the door with a timer in her hands, checking the water meter. It had driven Sophie mad.

  She turned on the water and stepped underneath the generous spray, and her tension eased. Standing there, relishing the water flowing over her body, soft and warm, things seemed a little less complicated. It felt good.

  Perhaps even right. Right. A strange feeling rushed through her. It was something between fear and worry, because not even in the best movies did people inherit a house from a stranger. Deep inside her, doubt lingered. Uncertainty that this was all a mistake.

  When she stepped out of the shower, she noticed a tiny shelf with an assortment of towels. Large and small. Brown ones, auburn, rose, and many other colours. A small smile spread across her face as she turned to look into the mirror. In fact, she stared at the reflection for a little while, and wondered whether the lawyer today had been nice because it was his job, or if he might have considered her, even if only a little bit, attractive. The face she looked into was familiar, yet different. Only in her early twenties, and she looked tired with pale skin, sagging eyes, and lifeless hair.

  She sighed, wrapped the towel even tighter, and searched for her cheap body lotion.

  Their mother had always had expensive taste for body lotions and creams. She’d been the best mother she could be, but that had been a far cry from perfect.

  Of course, life wasn’t perfect. Sophie knew that. She had learnt it the hard way, but as she gently rubbed the lotion over her dry skin, she also knew that Mia deserved her best chance in life as well. A sigh came across her lips as she rummaged through her memories, remembering the day her father had left. The recollections were vague considering she’d been five or six. Her mother had never really told her about him, but between the lines, Sophie had assumed that there’d either been another — or more than one other — woman. However sad she had been about her father’s parting, her mother had moved on very quickly.

  Times had turned bad after their mother had broken her ankle in a bad fall. The healing process had chewed up all of her sick leave entitlement, ultimately losing her job with a small company. It had been only shortly afterwards that she’d found out about her pregnancy. After Mia was born, their mother was unemployable, with no support, and she’d fallen into a depression. The situation had called for Sophie to take over caring for her younger sister, Mia.

  When their mother had died a few years later, Sophie had just turned eighteen a blessing in disguise as she was allowed to keep and look after her little sister. Though the two sisters didn’t share the same father, they were a team and always had been.

  Later that night, when Mia drifted off to sleep, Sophie slipped from the bed and quietly unpacked her modest camera and her photos out of her suitcase. She held the camera in her hands, grateful that it had sustained no damage during the flight from Sydney. It was a cheap one she had bought a few years back with money she got by selling some of their belongings after their mother had died. But she treasured it. She loved capturing the moment, and had a few exceptionally good shots. Once in a while she’d been able to have them printed and framed as well. She thought about a few possible places in the house where she’d be able to hang them up now. There might even be a chance to sell them. Let other people enjoy the beauty captured in a picture. Thanks to her high school art teacher, who had always told her how talented she was with the camera, she was very confident about her photos. He had praised her eye for the detail in nature’s beauty and capturing the smallest detail of precious moments. A knot formed in her throat as she remembered the day she’d had to withdraw from photography classes. There just hadn’t been enough money.

  Tracing the face of her mother with her finger on one of the photos, a tear escaped from her eye, and she silently prayed that after all they had gone through, nobody would take this house away from them.

  And silently blessed Ms. Bellinger.

  Whoever she was.

  “Tell me another story about Mum.” Mia’s hand on her shoulder startled Sophie, and she turned.

  “Hey, sweetie. You’re supposed to be asleep.” Sophie placed her mother’s photo next to the camera and took Mia in her arms.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “It’s been a long day. You should be falling asleep just like that,” she explained as she snapped her fingers.

  Mia smiled and picked up the photo of their mother. “She looks beautiful.”

  “She was beautiful. Just like you are.”

  “Why did she die, Sophie? Why did she leave us?”

  Sophie hugged her even closer and placed a kiss on her forehead. “She didn’t want to leave us, sweetie.”

  Blinking away the tears that were burning her eyes, Sophie released a long breath. It wasn’t always easy to be the older sister. “You know what I always say. God needed another angel and chose Mum.”

  “I don’t like God,” Mia replied with more than a touch of wistfulness.

  Sophie followed her sister’s eyes to the photo. Even though her heart agreed, she knew it wasn’t the right way to feel about it.

  “Remember Father Tim Mahoney? I think he once told you that God’s got a plan. A plan for everyone and everything. Yet, this plan is like the wind, and just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You need to have faith and patience.”

  Mia leaned closer and cradled her head into Sophie’s chest. The small girl’s body was heavy with exhaustion.

  “Remember what else he always said?”

  “When life keeps you in the dark, you need to start looking for the stars,” the girl replied in a whisper.

  Without saying another word, they stood and walked over to the window where they moved back the heavy curtains. Luck was on their side, and the stars were out in all their glory after the storm in the early afternoon.

  “Look!” Sophie pointed to a group of four bright stars. “I think that’s the Southern Cross.”

  Mia snuggled close and sighed.

  With some melancholy, Sophie let her mind wander as she thought about Father Mahoney. She missed him already. Remembering his small frame, but tenacious spirit, with great commitment to all and everyone who was dear to him, she smiled up into the stars and sent a prayer to him. Father Mahoney had been her mother’s friend from school, and he had reached out to them when her mother had passed away, offering a funeral at no cost. The word “funeral” alone had thrown her into a frenzy, and with some tender care and patience, the minister had looked after them for the next few weeks. He’d guided them and found a place for them to stay when they’d lost the small house they’d lived in. It would be hard not to have him around. Sophie made a mental note to write him a letter as soon as possible.

  The sound of a soft little snore from Mia brought her back, and a tender smile curved the corners of her lips. Gently, she lifted her sister onto the bed and lay beside her, all worn out by an exciting day. Hesitantly, she closed her eyes, afraid that when she woke, she would find it had only been a dream.

  Chapter Five

  Over the following week, Sophie accomplished a lot of tasks on her to-do-list. Thankfully, inheriting the house hadn’t been a dream at all, and each day the sm
ile on her face grew wider and bigger, as gratitude filled her when she got out of a bed. A bed and not just a mattress. She was proud of how smoothly things had gone so far. Getting Mia enrolled in the school nearby had been easier than she’d anticipated, and according to the smile on her sister’s face, she’d enjoyed the three days she had attended so far.

  Sophie was preparing dinner while listening to Mia’s stories about school, about the teachers, and all the other children. Excitement lit her sister’s face when she told Sophie about her new friend.

  “Olivia is sitting next to me. She’s nice. And she asked me for a play.”

  “What do you mean ‘for a play’?” Sophie asked as she cut the carrots.

  Carrots! She couldn’t believe it. With her first payment from social services, and with her own kitchen and no rent to pay, she’d indulged in some fresh vegetables for tonight’s stew.

  “That’s what they do here, Sophie. Friends have each other over for plays after school.”

  Sophie placed the knife to the side and turned. Biting her lip, she stared at her younger sister. Because her sister had missed out on so much in her still-young life and having attended more schools than she could count on one hand, Sophie promised herself to spoil Mia from now on — within limits though.

  “Okay, let me get this right. So you spend a whole day together at school, probably during recess as well, but you can’t get enough of each other, and you would like to have a play after school, too. Has your old sister got that right?”

  Mia smiled and came closer. “You’re not old. But you’ve gotta do as the locals do. That’s what you told me the other day, right?”

  Unable to resist her sister’s sly smile, Sophie walked over to her and hugged her close. It was so good to see Mia smile, looking happy and making friends. From what Sophie was able to remember, that was how their mum had been until she had lost her job. After that, she’d become withdrawn from life and her friends. She couldn’t let Mia become that withdrawn shadow of a person.

  Sophie moved a strand of hair out of the girl’s face. “Let me get to know the mum first, okay?”

  Mia stepped onto a chair and placed a kiss on Sophie’s cheek. “Love you, sis.”

  A noise from outside the window caught their attention, and they turned to see a car pulling up in front of their house. Sophie’s gut tightened. She knew that car, and it took all of her effort not to faint, because all she was able to think of was he’d come to tell her about the mistake.

  “The good-looking lawyer.” Mia sniggered.

  “What did you just say?” Sophie turned to her sister so quickly she nearly strained her neck.

  But the little girl had already jumped off the chair and run to the door. Sophie stared after her, a smile tugging at her lips. She loved her so dearly. Mia was so much like their mother with her green-grey eyes, the small, freckled button nose, her long blond hair, as well as the way she walked. Ache spread through her at the thought that Mia was growing up without a mother or a father. It’d been hard on Sophie, and she knew how much she had relied on Mia’s company. Despite the age difference, they’d shared their joy, their pain, and their excitement. After their mother’s passing, Mia’d had to cope with several moves from school to school, from room to room, living from day to day, not knowing what the next would bring. But unlike their mother in her later years, she always saw the positive in every situation, and in a corner of her mind, Sophie hoped she was right, that this was finally their break.

  “Mark is staying for dinner,” Mia said, interrupting Sophie’s troubled thoughts.

  When Sophie raised her eyebrows in surprise, Mia quickly added, “I invited him.”

  Mark stepped into the kitchen, and Sophie couldn’t help but smile. He gently tousled Mia’s hair and said, “Only if it’s okay with your sister, we agreed, didn’t we?”

  “It’s okay with you, isn’t it?” With pleading eyes, Mia searched Sophie’s face.

  Glancing over the food, Sophie hesitated before she replied, “I’m sure I’ve got enough, so it’s fine with me. It’s nothing much though.”

  “I don’t want to put you out.” His deep voice sent a shiver down Sophie’s spine. Taking a deep breath, she turned to concentrate on his words. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

  She raised her shoulders. “Of course it is.” Then she turned to her sister so he couldn’t see her face and rolled her eyes. Did you have to?

  It was only a short while later that they all sat at the table enjoying the delicious vegetable stew and couscous. It’d been some time since the girls had such a nutritious meal. For a while, Sophie was able to put the possible mistake about the house out of her mind and fully focus on Mia’s stories from school.

  “I hope you like it,” Sophie said to Mark during that brief moment that Mia was silent.

  “It is very nice.”

  She chuckled.

  He lifted his right eyebrow. “What?”

  The corner of her lips curled into a slight smile. “You’re lying.”

  “And why would I do that?” he asked as he pretended to be offended.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched her sister, who seemed so engulfed in her meal.

  Sophie broke a piece of the homemade bread when she said, “We haven’t got money yet for meat, but this is one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time.”

  Feeling his gaze on her, she ate the piece of bread, but didn’t meet his eyes. The unexpected touch of his hand under her chin moving her head towards him surprised her. Her breath hitched as her heart pounded behind her ribs.

  “Well in that case, thanks for letting me be part of it.”

  “Excuse me,” Mia interrupted, unaware of what had just happened. “Could I have more?”

  Sophie blinked, feeling light-headed. “Of course you can, sweetie.”

  Biting the inside of her cheek and unable to look at her sister, she stood for second serves. She truly had to concentrate on what she was doing. Her legs felt like jelly, and she had no idea what was happening. It had been less than a week earlier that she had met Mark for the first time. She took a deep breath and filled Mia’s plate with more dinner.

  Mark stayed for a while, helping Mia with her homework and her reading. Sophie appreciated his help, although she wasn’t sure why he was still here. Actually, she had no idea why he had come in the first place, unless he was drawing out the bad news about the mistake. But watching her sister giggling and listening to his explanations made her feel good and grateful. Her laughter was a wonderful sound to hear. Still so innocent and pure. In fact, it was contagious as well, and it made Sophie smile.

  Her gaze wandered to the window where she saw their reflection, and for a moment, she was thankful for the stranger in her house. And even though she knew it was pretend and a big lie about their life, the picture in front of her stirred emotions in her and the sudden yearning for her own family.

  She swiped a tear away with the back of her hand, ignoring the turmoil inside.

  Later that night, after Mia’s shower, Sophie tucked her into bed before she joined Mark in the lounge room. She sat opposite him on the couch. Shyly she played with a strand of her hair, staring at him for a long beat, lost for words. Not particularly wanting to talk. Or more like not wanting to hear the word mistake. It was beyond her how he was able sit there, relaxed and all. She wasn’t. Her body was throbbing with tension all of a sudden.

  “Thanks for helping with Mia’s homework. She likes to push my buttons when it comes to helping her.”

  He frowned, clearing his throat. “Why’s that?”

  Sophie slouched back into the cushions. “My education stinks. Actually, it’s nearly non-existent.”

  Nervously, she watched him as his gaze moved to the small table in the room corner. “Trying to catch up on it?”

  Understanding what he meant, she nodded. And her tension turned into mild frustration.

  Mark stood and walked
over to pick up some of the brochures. Certificate III in Children’s Services. “That’s what you want to do in life?”

  She shrugged. “It’s what I’ve done most of my life. So I suppose I’d be good at it.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  She wanted to ignore him but couldn’t. “You don’t know me.”

  With a shrug of his big shoulders, he replied, “I have a feeling I know enough. You just don’t sound too enthusiastic about it.”

  A long audible breath escaped her. “Enthusiastic?”

  “Your heart doesn’t seem to be in it.”

  How philosophical. If she hadn’t been so tense and frustrated, she’d have laughed. Not to mention that deep inside she was still grateful to him for putting a smile on her sister’s face only a few minutes earlier. Otherwise, she would have told him he could go and get lost. Sophie shook her head and watched as he placed the brochures back onto the table, walked over to the couch, and sat next to her. Her heart skipped a beat again, and heat rose to her face.

  There was no way she could wait any longer. “Why are you here?”

  Leaning forward with his elbows resting on his legs, he shrugged. “Checking in to see how both of you are settling in.”

  “Any news on Clara Bellinger?”

  He shook his head.

  “You could’ve called.”

  He nodded.

  “Wait.” She stood and walked into the hall before she came back and leaned against the doorjamb. “Phone works,” she told him with obvious glee.

  A small laugh escaped him. He rubbed his face with his hands and stood. “Just wanted to—”

  “Make conversation?”

  Her answer seemed to amuse him. “Hey, it’s not every day that I have the pleasure to hand over keys of a house to two young ladies. You seemed a bit overwhelmed last week, so I thought I’d come to see whether you were all right.”

  She sighed. “Yeah, I’m sorry for that breakdown the other day, but it’s been a rough couple of years. This is our big chance.”

  He hesitated, and she had a feeling he was searching for the right words but was still surprised by what he said. “So, why don’t you study something you like?”