A sudden thought gripped him. Would Lucy be interested in joining him in this venture if the farm didn’t have to get sold? Or maybe setting up with him somewhere else? Could it be a viable enough business to support both of them? But she was settled in London and this place wouldn’t hold enough excitement for her. The mother issue complicated matters too … But the thought stayed with him like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch.
‘It really is good to see you, Luce,’ Damien said again as he delivered mugs to the table. He’d said words to this effect many times to his sister when she’d visited over the years, but he’d never quite meant them like he did now. He always followed up with something a little cruel, like, ‘So how long are you gracing us with your presence?’ But this time he was too scared to hear the answer. Damien liked the feeling that reinforcements had arrived. Lucy was much smarter than he was, and so much better at standing up to their mother – well, he’d always thought so, anyway.
‘What’s this?’ Lucy asked, pointing at the brochure.
‘That’s the choice of colours for the house cladding. I have to choose and let Stan know by five. The circled ones can come straightaway, so I want one of those. What do you guys think?’
‘That one,’ Lucy said at once, pointing to the buttery yellow one.
‘Auntie Ethel, which one do you like?’ Damien and Lucy asked at the same time.
‘Looks good to me. Nice and bright and cheery.’
‘And fresh. And different to what we had before,’ Lucy said.
‘Okay. Done. And here I was thinking I’d never make a decision. Hey, you wouldn’t by any chance be able to come with me to Lincoln tomorrow – both of you – to help choose carpet and tiles, and bits and pieces for the house? Since you’re so good at this. I’ve been putting it off.’
‘Okay. You’ll come too, won’t you Auntie Ethel?’ Lucy said.
‘No thanks, but I will happily take care of the kittens for you.’
‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of them,’ Damien said. ‘Thanks very much.’
As they sipped on their coffees, slipping into silence as they stroked the kittens and Squish, Damien felt a little guilty at thinking how things were easier without his mother’s presence. He could see how much more at ease Lucy was out of Tina’s gaze. He too was definitely less on edge. He felt terrible for thinking ill of his mother, but he couldn’t help being observant. It was what it was, there was no denying it. As much as Tina wanted to pretend she wasn’t the problem, what Damien was seeing said otherwise.
‘So, have you spoken to Mum again? Does she know you’re here?’
‘Yes. We spoke late yesterday. I had a few hours in the airport in Adelaide, but she couldn’t make it to see me, said she had something else on. It was a bit weird, actually. She was quite cagey. Normally she’ll tell you exactly what she’s doing with all the detail under the sun.’
‘Maybe she’s giving you the silent treatment like she seems to be giving me. I rang and left a message and haven’t heard back from her. But no, hang on, you spoke to her. So it must be only me getting the silent treatment. That’d be right. So how was she?’
‘Weird. There seemed to be something not quite right about her.’
‘Well, she’s going through a lot. Maybe she’s getting a bit depressed or she’s freaking out about how she’s going to cope financially, or something.’
‘No, she didn’t sound upset – which you’d expect her to, with all that’s going on – she was just the opposite. She was actually upbeat. Cheery even.’
‘Maybe she’d been drinking.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Lucy said thoughtfully, shaking her head. ‘She definitely wasn’t slurring her words.’
‘So what do you think’s going on? Is it something we need to worry about?’ Damien sent a prayer skywards that he wouldn’t be required to intervene.
‘I know this is probably ridiculous, but she sounded just like when she first got together with Geoff.’
‘Well, I’m happy she’s finally left the prick, except, of course, for the potential financial headaches it’s causing. Maybe she’s feeling relieved and becoming a little giddy with it all, as Grandma would have said. She’s finally free.’
Lucy had an odd expression on her face, like she’d put two and two together and didn’t like what she’d come up with, or didn’t believe it, or something. And then it slowly dawned on him. Like when she first got together with Geoff, Lucy had said. No.
‘What, you think she’s met someone? A man? Already? No way. She left Geoff, like, thirty seconds ago.’
‘Well, you know how she hates being on her own. Geoff was the first to take any interest after Dad, and she latched onto him like a piranha.’
‘I still can’t believe she couldn’t see what we could.’
‘Perhaps she did, but kept her eye on the prize of not being alone. Or perhaps she thought she could change him.’
‘Hopefully she wouldn’t be stupid enough to get involved with someone else while everything is such a mess. Or if she does, he’s rich and will take care of her.’
‘Maybe she’d just been to see her lawyer and found a loophole in her finances with Geoff. That would be good.’
‘So, when’s she coming back?’
‘She was cagey about that as well. Said something about maybe getting a ride back, but seemed to be waiting to hear from someone.’
‘I guess we’ll find out soon enough.’ Damien cursed the feeling that swept through him: that he didn’t want his mother there in his orbit, making him feel tense, and especially ruining the good vibe he had going on with his sister.
‘Hey, do you remember the number for the girl who brought the horses out – what was her name, Alice?’ Lucy asked.
‘Why? You’re welcome to ride them. You don’t need her permission – they’ve been surrendered. Well, kind of. There was no need to take her number. She handed them over, there’d be no need for me to call her. She has my number for when she wants to visit or take them back.’ Damien knew he was going on and sounding very defensive, but he was a little annoyed with himself for not getting her details.
‘It’s not about the horses,’ Lucy said quietly. Damien noticed she shared a quick look with their auntie Ethel, who had remained strangely quiet for ages. If they weren’t all sitting at the tiny caravan table he’d have forgotten she was even there.
‘What? What’s going on?’
‘Lucy wants to speak to her – since she’s been through some, er, awkwardness at Geoff’s hands.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yeah. I feel terrible. If I’d made people listen, believe me, all those years ago, maybe she wouldn’t have had to go through it. God knows who else he’s leered over or touched up along the way.’
‘Luce, I’m so sorry I …’
‘Damien, you have nothing to be sorry about. You weren’t to know.’
‘But if I’d been more observant …’ Been a better brother, an approachable one, someone you could have confided in.
‘Let it go. Seriously. So she worked at the supermarket? Anything else you know about her and her mum?’
‘No. Auntie Ethel? You’d know better than me.’
‘I’ve got my feelers out. With luck they won’t have left town yet. Bill might know where they are or be able to ask around,’ Ethel added thoughtfully, as if to herself.
‘Why would you get the police involved? That’s taking it a bit far, isn’t it? She indicated it wasn’t something she was going to pursue. Maybe she just wants to forget it. I don’t think he actually touched her.’
‘Sorry, what? Police? Don’t be ridiculous,’ Ethel said quickly. Too quickly to Damien’s mind. ‘Not that Bill,’ she added, even more hastily. Was there another Bill? Damien was pretty sure he didn’t know one.
‘Speaking of cagey, what are you up to? What’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Auntie Ethel?’
‘Seriously, Damien, leave it.’
T
he tone, which he rarely heard from Auntie Ethel, stopped him in his tracks. He had the strange feeling that Lucy had not flown halfway across the world merely to provide him with moral support, but he said nothing. There was definitely something going on that didn’t involve him and that he didn’t need to know about. Women’s business, most likely. Fine, whatever, he had enough on his mind anyway.
Chapter Thirty-two
Jacqueline made her way swiftly up and down each aisle in the supermarket, perusing her list and looking for other items on the shelves she might need but hadn’t realised. She quite enjoyed this sort of leisurely grocery shopping, not that she could dawdle – they closed at five-thirty, which was only twenty minutes away. She’d got used to doing her shopping Tuesdays and Thursdays to coincide with the two days fresh fruit and vegetables were delivered, but had missed yesterday and had spent way too long sorting through the limp lettuce. What she hadn’t got used to was everything that was meant to be fresh looking like it had been sitting around for a week, and how much more expensive it all was so far from the Adelaide distribution centre.
She’d just thrown a pack of toilet paper into her trolley when she heard her name being called from behind her by a familiar voice.
‘Jacqueline Havelock, is that you I see?’
A smile was on her face when she turned to see Ethel striding towards her and a younger woman – around Jacqueline’s age – pushing a trolley and clearly hurrying to catch up. Jacqueline hung onto Ethel tightly for a moment before they separated, shocked at just how pleased she was to see her friend and neighbour; she’d knocked on her door after work the day before to see if Ethel wanted to come across the road for a drink and she hadn’t been in. Jacqueline had been far more disappointed than she should have been.
‘This is Lucy McAllister, Damien’s sister,’ Ethel said, stepping aside to introduce the younger woman.
‘Lovely to meet you,’ they said simultaneously as they shook hands.
‘You’re based in London, aren’t you?’ Jacqueline said.
‘Yes. I don’t come back very often, but I decided I’d better see first-hand just what sort of a mess my mother has got herself into.’ She looked around before carrying on in a lower voice, ‘I am so sorry to hear what’s going on with you. I hope you don’t mind, but Auntie Ethel’s filled me in.’
‘Thanks. I’m sure it’ll work itself out,’ Jacqueline said quietly, smiling warmly at Lucy. She liked Damien’s sister enormously already. Damien had never spoken of her much at all, so Jacqueline hadn’t been sure what to expect and was a little ashamed to admit that she had thought Lucy might be stand-offish and a bit cold. This was partly based on the fact that Damien clearly didn’t have a very close relationship with his sister – silence tended to speak volumes in Jacqueline’s experience – and also on Tina being so cold and abrupt. Perhaps, like Damien, Lucy was more like her father. Jacqueline wished she’d had the chance to meet him, she had the feeling they’d have got along famously.
‘So you’re staying in town with Ethel?’
‘Yes. Mum’s not here, so I can get away with it,’ Lucy said, linking an arm through Ethel’s. ‘Mum would have a fit if I dared stay anywhere but with her. “Oh, what would people think?”’ she mocked, rolling her eyes. ‘Small towns. I’m sure you’re getting a feel. Lovely one minute, can be toxic the next. Sorry, listen to me going on. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this place, I’m afraid.’
‘Don’t worry, we’re all well aware of the wicked ways of Wattle Creek, aren’t we, dear?’ Ethel said. ‘But our new psychologist is far too polite to say what she really thinks – in public, that is.’
Jacqueline laughed, not quite sure how else to respond. She took her own covert look around. There was only one other shopper – out of hearing up the far end of the aisle by the clothes detergents. She coloured slightly and hoped their voices weren’t carrying through or over the shelves into the other aisles.
‘We’d better get to the checkout before they lock us in,’ Ethel said. ‘Pop over for a glass of wine and cheese and bikkies and then stay for dinner. I’ve got a roast in the slow cooker. It’ll be good to catch up properly – it’s been ages. Sorry I wasn’t home last night when you called. Oh, Olive told me. Not much escapes her,’ she added, noticing Jacqueline’s bewildered expression.
‘Nosey old Mrs Caffey strikes again, eh?’ Lucy said. ‘You can’t sneeze without that woman telling the whole town you’ve got a cold.’
‘She’s not that bad. And she has been known to be quite useful. Remember how she got to the bottom of that poison pen letter incident before Bill?’
‘Just saying,’ Lucy said, a little sheepishly.
‘Right, so are we seeing you for dinner?’
‘Yes, thank you, it sounds lovely,’ Jacqueline said, her mouth already watering. ‘But I’ll bring the wine and nibbles.’
‘See you a bit later,’ Lucy said, smiling warmly. ‘It really was lovely to meet you. I’m so looking forward to getting to know you better.’
‘Likewise,’ Jacqueline said.
‘Cheerio,’ Ethel called as she did an about-turn and headed to the front of the store.
*
‘How long are you staying for?’ Jacqueline asked when they were settled in Ethel’s lounge room with a glass of wine and a small cheese platter on the coffee table.
‘I haven’t decided. A couple of weeks? I wanted to be here for Damien, with all that’s going on and, well, Auntie Ethel thought there was something more practical I could help with.’ She looked at Ethel, who gave a nod.
‘There isn’t much Jacqueline doesn’t know,’ she said. ‘And anyway, she’s practically family.’
Lucy looked down and fiddled with the stem of the champagne flute she held, as if arranging her thoughts before speaking.
Jacqueline sat, stunned and dismayed, as she listened to Lucy explain how her mother had dismissed her very real concerns over Geoff. God, what damage would that have done to Lucy, and her relationship with her mother? But at the same time, Jacqueline was wondering why it would bring Lucy back now. Before she could ask, Ethel took over, telling Jacqueline about Alice and how her mother had dumped Geoff as a result of her allegations; luckily the girl had a supportive mother who wasn’t completely self-absorbed. While Lucy appeared reasonably lighthearted, Jacqueline just knew she was covering up a lot of pain. She felt guilty about being a little tense with her own parents at times over the years and being unappreciative, but deep down she knew – and had always known – that they loved her and would always support her, no matter what. Her heart ached for Damien’s sister. And for Damien. Not only had these two lost their father at a young age, but it looked like their mother had all but cast them aside emotionally. While she knew people did strange things out of grief and insecurity and she was trained to keep an open mind and not judge, right now she wanted to slap Tina McAllister. The worse thing was it didn’t seem that Tina had learnt anything nor had a clue she was letting her children down. No doubt she was blaming Lucy for their estrangement. She could almost hear Tina: ‘Oh, yes, that daughter of mine. So wrapped up in her own life I barely hear from her.’
Jacqueline had the startling thought that she wanted nothing to do with the woman, which was going to be very hard if Tina ended up being her mother-in-law. Not exactly something she needed to worry about happening in the near future, Jacqueline thought sardonically, taking a long sip of her sparkling wine in an effort to banish the negative thoughts threatening to swamp her.
‘Anyway, we managed to track down Alice and she’s coming with us to the police station tomorrow. Thank goodness she and her mother hadn’t left town yet.’
‘So are you having Geoff charged? And what with?’
‘No, unfortunately I don’t think there’s a law against being a creep.’
Jacqueline frowned. So what am I missing?
‘We’re hoping that Bill will go and speak to Geoff and he’ll leave town and not make a fuss over the sett
lement rather than run the risk of the truth coming out,’ Ethel explained.
‘We need Alice because otherwise it’ll look like I’m making it up to help Mum or something,’ Lucy added.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Ethel said.
Jacqueline raised her eyebrows.
‘You’re thinking this sounds dodgy, that Bill will be doing something wrong. But Geoff’s done the wrong thing and should pay for it.’
Jacqueline did think it all sounded a bit off, but conceded that perhaps this was another case of things being done differently out here. ‘It’s not for me to say,’ she offered. ‘I’m not involved. You have to do what you think is right.’
‘Right, enough of the serious talk,’ Ethel said, ‘it’s time we ate.’
Jacqueline enjoyed the evening and getting to know Lucy better. She seemed to have quite a dry sense of humour and was really fun to be with.
Later, as she crossed the road to go home, Jacqueline’s thoughts returned to the conversation about Bill the policeman and Lucy, Alice, and Geoff. While it all still seemed a little off and she was concerned Ethel’s meddling could well get her friend in trouble, Jacqueline couldn’t help but marvel at Ethel’s ingenuity. And her loyalty. There didn’t seem to be any lengths she wouldn’t go to to help her family or those she cared about. She really was a good one to have in your corner. If only she could help me out of my situation, she thought with a heavy sigh as she put her key in the door.
Chapter Thirty-three
Damien was pleased to see his aunt’s car waiting beside the highway at the end of the dirt road with Ethel and Lucy standing beside it, clearly all ready to go. The cloud of pale limestone dust hanging behind his ute in the still morning was as good as a smoke signal – they’d have seen him coming from almost as far back as his boundary.
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