The Shadow Behind Her Smile

by Janene Wood

  Sam gave her a distracted smile and Tayo nodded politely. Kate shrugged in response to Holly's question. “Just taking Sam's pride and joy for a spin.” There was no need to get into all the grisly details; Holly would hear about the Prestons’ misfortune soon enough. “What about you? Are you here with Bob?”

  Kate glanced about, looking for Holly's 'good friend', Bob Sandrelli. The inside of the cafe was completely empty and only two of the outside tables were occupied; one by a young couple and their two children, another by the man in the wheelchair she noticed earlier. Not a swarthy Italian man in sight.

  “No, Bob's not here,” replied Holly nervously, her cheeks flushing pink. She kept glancing at something or someone over Kate's shoulder.

  “Oh. Right. Well then...” said Kate awkwardly. She looked at Sam, hoping her brother would say something to fill the uncomfortable silence, but neither Sam nor Tayo were paying attention. She followed their line of sight, wondering what was so fascinating. At first she couldn't see what they were looking at so fixedly, but then she froze, immobilized by the familiar hooded eyes staring back at them.

  The man in the wheelchair was sitting at an otherwise empty table, his fingers clenched tightly around the base of his coffee cup. Though some distance away, he was watching them as intently as they were watching him, his face twisted in an agony of emotion.

  “Frank?” said Kate uncertainly. It sure looked like Frank, but he was much leaner that she remembered and wore a thick handlebar moustache that made him look like a Hell's Angel bikie. And he had two stumps where his legs should have been.

  Sam continued to stare uncertainly, but there was no doubt in Kate's mind. “Sam, it's Frank!” she cried excitedly. Deserting Holly and the boys, she forced a passage through the empty tables and chairs until she was by his side. Bending forward, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. That familiar sense of security that had been missing for so long enveloped her like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Frank was back! He whispered her name over and over, stroking her hair like she was the most precious thing in the world.

  Sam watched their reunion from a distance, still frowning indecisively.

  “Sam, stop standing there with your mouth open and come over here!” Kate called to him.

  Even with this encouragement, Tayo had to give him a push to get him moving. When he reached the table, he was shaking his head and wiping tears from his eyes. “God, Frank,” he choked out, “It’s really you!”

  Frank tried to respond but couldn't get any words out.

  Kate sat down beside him and picked up his hand, squeezing it in understanding. “I'm glad you're okay, Frank,” she told him solemnly. “I was so afraid you were dead. I knew you'd never leave us on purpose.”

  Overwhelmed by the situation, Frank had to wipe his eyes and blow his nose before he finally got himself under control. He beckoned Tayo and Holly to come closer, pulling an extra chair across from a nearby table so everyone could sit down. Holly no longer seemed quite so nervous, but, like all of them, was struggling with her emotions. By the time they were all seated, Frank had found his voice.

  “It's so great to see you guys,” he rasped. “I can't tell you how much I've missed you all!”

  Sam opened his mouth to speak, but choked at the last moment. He was still in shock and having trouble processing everything. Kate knew it was up to her to ask the hard questions. “Frank, what happened to you?”

  Frank gave her a forlorn smile. “I was in an accident, sweetheart,” he told her. “I was stupid...careless. It was my own fault. I was angry and depressed and out of my head with grief. In hindsight, I shouldn't have gone back to work so soon after your mum passed away. I definitely shouldn't have taken the call-out that day, but I've always had trouble saying no to people in need.”

  “Ted Chester said he saw you run the stop sign at the highway intersection,” interjected Tayo.

  “Yeah, I did,” admitted Frank shamefacedly. “I should have been killed right then, but I guess I got lucky. I didn't think so at the time, though,” he admitted, “...or later, when I woke up in the hospital. But I've had a chance to come to terms with everything... your mum's death... losing my legs,” he said, directing his words to Sam and Kate. “I know now that I don't want to die. There are still plenty of things worth hanging around for.”

  “So it was a car accident?” clarified Kate, not that she wanted to know all the grisly details, but Simon and Jack would have to be told and soon everyone in town would be asking questions.

  Frank nodded. “It wasn't even a particularly bad stretch of road, but I was driving like a maniac and took the bend too fast. The ute rolled, crushing my legs. The docs did their best, but the damage was too bad.”

  “Why didn't you call us?” demanded Sam, finding his voice at last. “We're your family!”

  “I couldn't do that to you, not with everything you were already going through,” explained Frank, a hint of steel in his voice. “You had enough to deal with after your mum's death without having to worry about an old fool like me. My sister took me home to her place after I got out of hospital. She lives just around the corner from here. She and Holly have been helping me get my life back together, driving me to the doctor and to rehab and keeping me on the straight and narrow.”

  “I thought you'd abandoned us,” admitted Sam. “I should have known better, but you just disappeared without a trace. Even the police couldn't find you. What were we supposed to think?”

  “It's okay, Sam. It's my fault, not yours. I made Holly promise not to tell anyone, so don't be mad at her.” Frank smiled briefly. “I think it's been toughest on her, keeping such a huge secret from you all.”

  Looking fondly at Frank, Holly smiled properly for the first time since Kate first bumped into her. “But I did it!” she said proudly. “Nearly killed me,” she laughed, “but I did it.” She sighed wistfully. “It's what Janie would have wanted.”

  “But she wouldn't have wanted us to never see him again!” Kate said forcefully, almost angrily. “You were going to tell us eventually, right?”

  Holly glanced uncomfortably at Frank. “That would have been up to–”

  “Of course,” interjected Frank. “When the time was right. One day soon, I hope to move back to the Creek and help Sam out at the garage. By the way, buddy, I've been hearing great things about you. You and Simon. I'm real proud of the way you lads have stepped up and taken charge. I know it's been tough.”

  Sam muttered something unintelligible, embarrassed by the unexpected praise.

  “No, really,” insisted Frank. “You two have become the men I always hoped you'd be. I couldn't be prouder if you were my own sons.”

  A tiny piece of Kate's broken heart slotted back into place and began beating anew.

  Imelda

  November 1968

  “You!” yelled Mrs Brown, the casual PE teacher relieving for Miss McIntyre for the day. “Come here!” All the girls on the volleyball court turned around reluctantly, hoping she wasn't talking to them. She was older and meaner than Miss McIntyre and yelled all the time. The entire class had taken an instant dislike to her.

  “What's your name, girl?” she demanded, looking right at Kate.

  Kate blanched, wondering what she had done wrong now. Volleyball was not something she was good at, so she had been trying to fade into the background for the entire period. The few times the ball came close and she tried to pass it on, it went off in a completely different direction to the one she intended. It was so humiliating. “Er, Kate McDermott,” she replied nervously.

  “Come here, McDermott.”

  Heather smiled sympathetically as Kate stepped off the court. To Kate’s surprise, instead of telling her off, Mrs Brown handed her a sealed envelope, saying dryly, “I don't think your team is going to miss you, McDermott, so I want you to take this to the front office and wait for a reply.” Kate stared at her mutely, taken aback. “Off you go then!” she barked. “And don't take all day!”
>
  Kate ran out of the gymnasium, unable to believe her good fortune. She hated PE with a passion and today was even worse than normal. With any luck, by the time she got back, the class would be over. The admin building was on the opposite side of the school, and if she was smart, she could draw things out so it took the best part of ten minutes each way. All she had to do was avoid getting spotted by a teacher or one of those pesky prefects who were always lurking around. With that in mind, she cut across the grass, out of sight of curious eyes.

  Feeling uncharacteristically wicked, she was dawdling along, daydreaming and not really paying attention when she noticed two gangly boys, fifth formers at least, standing on the path ahead. There was no way to avoid them. The taller of the two leaned casually against the wall, calmly smoking a cigarette, as if he had no other place to be. Tayo. Of course it was. Typical. She watched as he handed a small packet to the other boy in exchange for what looked like cash. His companion was a good-looking lad with dark, curly hair and a wide, generous mouth, who quickly stuffed the packet into his trouser pocket. Glancing up, he saw Kate approaching and hurried off. Tayo also looked up, but relaxed when he saw who it was.

  “Oh, it's you, Little M. What are you doing wandering about the school during class time?” he asked, evidently amused by the idea that she, of all people, was playing hooky.

  Kate blushed, well aware he thought she was a goody-two-shoes who always followed the rules. He wasn't wrong, but it made her feel flawed somehow. “I'm taking a note to the office for Mrs Brown,” she said frostily.

  “This is hardly the most direct route,” he smirked knowingly.

  Shrugging nonchalantly, as if she didn't care she was pushing the boundaries, she remarked, “I hate PE and I'm in no hurry to get back. Why are you here? Was that Brett Corby you were just talking to?”

  “What's it to you?” grinned Tayo. “Do you like him?”

  Kate blushed again, annoyed by his condescending tone, but ill-equipped to do anything about it. “Don't be ridiculous; I don't even know him,” she said unconvincingly. “I was just wondering.”

  “He's much too old for you, Little M.”

  “He's only two years ahead of me!”

  “Yeah, but he's been around, while you–” Tayo hesitated.

  Kate glared at him, tight-lipped. “What about me?”

  Tayo shrugged.

  “You were going to say I'm too sweet and innocent, weren't you?” she said disgustedly. She knew what he thought of her. It wasn't her fault all the boys at school were too intimidated, or downright scared of her to talk to her, much less ask her out.

  “I was going to say you're too nice for him,” he relented.

  “Oh.” That wasn’t what she had expected. “I'm not, you know. You think that because I follow the rules I must be a nice person, but I can be as bitchy as anyone. Just ask Sam; he'll tell you.”

  Tayo snorted. “I don't doubt it, but he's your brother and brothers don't count. I think you're nice, and my opinion is the only one that matters.” As if embarrassed by what he had let slip, he abruptly changed the subject, informing her in a serious voice, “You don't want to get mixed up with a dope-head like Brett Corby, Kate. He'll just cause you grief.”

  “I can decide for myself who I want to get involved with, thanks all the same, Frog-boy.”

  Tayo's expression was disapproving but he didn't take the bait.

  “What's it to you, anyway?” she wanted to know. He was acting more like an over-protective brother than her brothers normally did!

  Tayo's disapproving frown turned to one of annoyance. Just like a brother. “You should get going before a teacher comes by, Kate. You don't want to get caught here with me. It would be bad for your reputation. And I know you, Little M; you wouldn't like detention.”

  “Hmph,” muttered Kate, lifting her chin.

  A sudden loud voice gave Kate a start. “You two there! What are you doing out of class?”

  Tayo reacted instantly. “Go! Hurry,” he urged her, pushing her away from the approaching teacher. “Don't worry, I'll deal with this.”

  Kate didn't hesitate, although she did feel a tiny pang of guilt at the thought of him running interference for her – and no doubt having to stay back after school on detention. The knowledge that it might also have been her made her queasy. He's right; he does know me, she realised with a surge of annoyance.

  Running across the playground, she arrived at the office out of breath. “You're an eager beaver,” remarked the secretary at the front office as Kate relinquished Mrs Brown's envelope. “It's good to see you're so keen to get back to your studies.”

  Red with shame, Kate averted her eyes and made no reply.

  Later, she was waiting for Heather on the afternoon bus when Tayo sauntered down the aisle and winked at her. “Little M,” he murmured as he walked past, making his way to the back of the bus where the cool kids sat.

  Kate frowned, wondering how on earth he managed to talk his way out of detention. He was the most confounding person she knew! But honestly, she knew him well enough by now not to be surprised at his ability to charm a mere teacher. They were only human, after all. It was just as well she wasn't susceptible to his charms. It was one thing to have an innocent crush on Brett Corby, dope-head or not, but to let Tayo Meunier under her skin was just begging for trouble. She was honest enough to admit he was far too slick for someone with her dearth of worldly experience.

  The next day was Saturday, but Kate's morning routine didn’t vary much from weekday to weekend. After waking at 5am, she put on a load of washing, ran five miles, showered, and then gulped down a glass of juice and a bowl of cereal. Today, instead of heading off to school, she went back upstairs to her room to write.

  An indeterminate time later, she became aware of muffled voices and distant footfalls, meaning her brothers were up and about and getting ready for the day. Ignoring them, she went back to re-reading, and where necessary, re-writing the first few chapters of her second novel. Her first book was due to be released sometime in the next couple of weeks, and while the idea of being an actual published author gave her an undeniable thrill every time she thought of it, her stomach had been in a constant flutter of nerves for the last month. What if no one bought it? What if no one liked it?

  Her alarm went off at 10am to remind her to hang out the washing, after which she stopped by the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. Simon was sitting at the table in his pyjamas, eating toast and reading yesterday's newspaper. He grunted when she asked him if he wanted a cup, which she translated as meaning yes please. There was no sign of Sam or Jack, but that wasn't surprising since they both worked on Saturdays.

  “I'll make tea tonight, Si,” offered Kate. “Heather's coming over and we're going to watch The Saint.” Saturday was Cabot's busiest day, and she knew Simon liked to get to work earlier than usual to prepare.

  Simon grunted again and Kate left him in peace. He really wasn't a morning person.

  Kate worked until three in the afternoon before calling it a day. She went downstairs to make herself a sandwich and was about to sit down and eat when she noticed how dark it was outside. Remembering the washing on the line, she ran outside, just as a light sprinkle of rain began falling. The clothes were flapping madly in the gusting wind and the lawn was already strewn with fallen leaves and twigs. The sky was blanketed in a heavy layer of bruised looking clouds, all purple and yellow and nasty looking.

  The wind continued to rise as Kate struggled inside with the basket of washing and began sorting and folding. She took a moment to eat her cheese sandwich before getting out the ironing board and pressing Jack's and her school uniforms and Simon and Sam's work clothes. It was mindless work, but it left her free to think about other things – like the history assignment she just now remembered was due on Monday, and which was going to take a big chunk of tomorrow to finish. The rain was teaming down now and the howling gale was making it hard to hear her own thoughts. She realised, disappointingly, th
at she would be on her own tonight. Heather wasn’t foolish enough to brave this wild weather and Jack and Sam would no doubt stay in town to hang out with their mates.

  A loud banging sound made her look up, but it was difficult to tell where it was coming from. There it was again! It was hard to be sure over the whine and howl of the wind, but she thought she heard someone call her name. Drawing back the edge of the curtain, she was startled to see Tayo standing on the back verandah, bedraggled and half drowned. She quickly unlocked the door and stepped aside to let him in. He was soaked to the bone and dripping all over the polished floorboards.

  “Are you crazy?” she yelled at him. “What on earth possessed you to go out in that?” Not waiting for an answer, she ran to the linen cupboard and came back with a pair of dry towels. He used one to wipe his face and towel-dry his hair while she mopped up the puddle on the floor with the other.

  “Your brothers sent me to check up on you,” explained Tayo, looking around the room with its neat piles of clean laundry and frowned. “Why aren't the windows taped up? Why isn't the radio on?” He looked at Kate in dismay. “You do know there's a cyclone on the way, right?”

  “No,” she said indignantly. “Nobody told me!”

  “I'm telling you now. You need to prepare. Do you even have masking tape?”

  Kate answered without hesitation, “Downstairs in the junk room, in the top drawer under the window.” This wasn't the first cyclone to come calling, and they all knew what to do at such times.

  “I'll do the windows,” said Tayo. “You fill the sinks and bath and whatever bottles you've got lying around.” If the water supply became contaminated, they would be grateful for every drop they collected now.

  “I'll turn the radio on for an update,” said Kate briskly. “How long before it hits?”

  “It's expected to cross the coast sometime after midnight. At the moment it's heading for Port Douglas, so hopefully we'll be spared the full effects.”