‘Christ, scared the crap out of me. How ’bout you, Squish?’ he said, putting a reassuring hand on the little dog while he picked up. He frowned at the unknown number displayed.
‘Hello, Damien McAllister speaking.’
‘Hey, it’s me,’ a muffled voice hissed. Whoever it was must be whispering.
‘Sorry, who am I speaking to?’
‘Lucy, your sister, remember me?’
‘Where are you and why are you whispering? I can barely hear you.’ Damien almost laughed, realising his voice had gone quiet to match his sister’s.
‘I’m hiding in the loo at Auntie Ethel’s.’
‘Why?’
‘You’re never going to believe this, but Mum’s turned up.’
Damien felt the calmness he’d been experiencing seep out of him and tension sneak in.
‘But I only rang her not long ago.’
‘She was on her mobile, wasn’t she? Well, she could have been anywhere.’
‘Great. All good things must come to an end, apparently.’ Damien felt decidedly deflated.
‘Yes, well, anyway …’
‘So, what’s the story?’
‘This is something you’re also not going to believe … Well, no, actually, you probably won’t be surprised.’
‘Lucy, just spit it out.’
‘She swanned in here on the arm of a bloke, like she’s just come back from a holiday.’
‘You’re right, I’m not surprised. She hates being on her own. So, what’s he like, a creepy loser like the last one?’
‘No. Actually, he seems really nice. And there’s a nice shiny Merc out the front.’
‘Oh, won’t the old ducks in the street be all in a fluster? I hope he’s here looking for a farm to invest in.’
‘I don’t know what’s going on. Look, I’d better go before they send out a search party for me. I’m just warning you. Act surprised when you get a call from your mother in a few minutes. I suspect you’ll be summoned to a family meeting, or at least dinner.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘Hey, are you okay?’
‘Yeah. Well, as well as can be expected under the circumstances.’ Damien found himself smiling at having used one of his father’s common phrases. Lucy took it as the dismissal it was meant to be and they hung up.
‘Never a dull moment around here, Squish,’ he said after he’d closed his phone.
Concentration now broken, he put his papers back on the dash and put the vehicle in gear. The tension was still within him and he could feel the frown in his face. He was annoyed at letting his previously buoyant mood be upset. He’d head home to feed the kittens – a cuddle with them was sure to make him feel better. He hadn’t actually meant to be out so long, he suddenly realised, opening the phone up to check the time. He cancelled the alarm he’d set before driving off.
The phone rang again. He stopped the vehicle and retrieved it from the dash. Auntie Ethel’s home number was lit up on the screen, though chances were it wasn’t Auntie Ethel on the line.
‘Hello, Damien speaking.’
‘So how come you don’t know it’s me today?’ Auntie Ethel said, with her usual cheerfulness.
‘Hello there,’ Damien said, smiling and relaxing slightly. ‘I wasn’t sure if it might be my mother using your phone. Lucy called me.’
‘Ah, I thought she might have. Either that or my egg sandwiches for lunch disagreed with her,’ Ethel said with a chuckle.
‘So, how is she?’
‘Top of the world – she’s the centre of attention.’
‘Who is he?’
‘You’ll find out. The reason I’m calling is to invite you in for tea tonight. No, Jacqueline will not be here. I think your mother will be enough to deal with with.’
‘So, I’m being summoned, then, am I?’
‘Yes. This is compulsory. You’re not leaving me and your sister to deal with her. You know how she is when she’s met a new man.’
‘Like a giggling teenager, I know,’ Damien said with a groan.
‘Yes, only it’s worse this time.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘You’ll see.’
‘Righto. I’ve got a few things to tell her, myself, actually.’
‘Sounds ominous. Do I need to hide the knives?’
‘Not from me, you won’t,’ he said with a laugh.
‘Good to hear. See you later then.’
‘Yes, because I apparently don’t have a choice,’ Damien said, still feeling a little jovial. Bless Ethel, she really was the tonic.
‘No. You don’t. Cheerio then.’
‘We have a dinner date, Squish. And a date with destiny,’ he added. He put the vehicle back into gear and carried on home to see to the animals and have a shower before heading into town.
Chapter Thirty-six
Damien arrived at Ethel’s and pulled up behind a navy blue Mercedes. He sat for a few moments taking it in. In a different lifetime he might have owned such a stunning beast.
‘Well, this is it, Squish, time to face the music,’ Damien said, and got out.
He snuck a look in the side windows of the vehicle as he passed by. Probably best he had his hands full of chocolates and wine, else he might not have been able to stop himself running a hand over the impressive piece of machinery.
He was still thinking of the car as he lifted his hand to knock on his auntie Ethel’s door. As expected, his mother answered. She had a tendency to take over. And, also as expected, she turned her nose up at seeing Squish standing beside Damien.
‘Hi Mum,’ he said, moving forwards.
‘Damien, lovely to see you,’ Tina said, and hugged her son vaguely. She was just as Lucy had said: happy, and looking around ten years younger. Annoyance stabbed at him. He hated how she was so good at glossing over things, pretending they hadn’t happened. She was an expert at putting on a happy face – should really have been an actress. Sometimes he wondered if she actually forgot things or whether it was all just a very good act. If he hadn’t sorted out his life, essentially planned on cutting her out of a large chunk of it, he might have been more angry right about now. But now he could see her for what she was: an insecure person desperate to control, desperate to appear perfect and part of a well-adjusted family. Damien thought if Tina stopped pretending long enough, she’d realise just how damaged her relationship with Lucy was, and she’d have a fit. Damien pitied his mother for her lack of insight, but he wasn’t about to enlighten her. He loved his mum, it was just that more and more often lately he really didn’t like her all that much. Like now, when she was standing there all nice as pie, doing her we’re-the-perfect-family skit in front of this new bloke.
‘Damien, this is James Telford.’
‘Hi, James.’ Damien put out his hand to the man dressed impeccably in a tailored striped shirt and navy chinos. He seemed a decent enough fellow. And he had a firm handshake, which was always a good sign. ‘Nice car.’
‘Thanks. I think it’s part of a late midlife crisis. I’ve wanted a Merc forever, but have only recently managed to make it happen.’
Damien liked his humility and honesty.
‘James is a partner in a large city law firm,’ his mother said, stroking James’s arm as if he was her pet. She was practically purring and was clearly very pleased with herself for bagging this one.
‘But not Tina’s lawyer, I might add. That would be unethical,’ James added. Damien watched, impressed, as he carefully unhooked Tina’s hand from his arm. Clearly he was onto Tina – or just not as into her as she’d like to think. ‘Come on, we can’t be standing here in the hall all night, leaving Lucy and Ethel to do all the work in the kitchen. Damien, I want to hear all about your venture. Tina has been a little sparse with the details.’ James stepped aside to let them pass.
I bet she has, Damien thought, most likely because she’s feeling guilty that she’s about to pull the rug out from under me by selling the farm.
‘Our firm’s pr
oud of its community involvement – perhaps we might be able to give some legal assistance, or contribute in some other way – at least let’s talk about it,’ James said as they made their way down the hall.
‘That’d be great.’
In the kitchen, Lucy was busy at the bench chopping vegetables and Ethel was at the stove, peering into a large steaming pot, holding a wooden spoon in one hand and a shiny metal lid in the other.
‘Good evening, something smells good,’ Damien said, raising an arm in greeting to his sister and his aunt.
‘Lamb shanks. Lucy’s request. Thank goodness for the cooler weather,’ Ethel said.
‘Sounds good to me. These are for you,’ he said, holding up a box of chocolate-coated almonds before putting them on the bench.
‘Oh, scorched almonds, yum,’ Lucy said.
‘Thank you, that’s lovely. They’ll be great with coffee later,’ Ethel said.
‘… and a bottle of red and one of white,’ he said, taking the brown paper bags from under his arm and holding them out.
‘Crikey, we’ve got grog coming out of our ears,’ Ethel said. ‘James and Tina brought some too.’
‘Well, I can’t guarantee how good these are. I know squat about wine, as you know. But Ralph at the pub reckons they’re okay.’
‘Shall I do the honours?’ James asked, pulling the bottles from their bags and scrutinising them.
‘If you like, though feel free to have yours if you prefer.’
‘Yes, yours are probably much better quality, James,’ Tina cooed. ‘And these are screw caps,’ she added with a slight sneer.
‘Nothing wrong with either of these,’ James said. ‘And at least with screw caps you know it’s not going to be corked. Perhaps you didn’t notice, but the bottles I brought also have screw caps.’
Damien thought he really shouldn’t enjoy seeing Tina put in her place quite as much as he was. He managed to catch Lucy’s eye and exchange raised eyebrows and smirks.
‘Okay, who’s for red and who’s for white?’
‘Red for me, thanks,’ Damien said.
‘White for me, thanks,’ Lucy said.
‘And me,’ Ethel said.
‘I don’t mind having white if that’s what everyone else wants,’ Damien said.
‘I’ll have a red with you,’ James said. ‘Tina?’
‘Red for me, too, thanks.’
‘We’re all set here for about half an hour, so let’s go through to the table,’ Ethel said when the drinks had been poured and distributed. ‘You too, Squish. Come on.’
‘So, how did you two meet?’ Damien said. ‘I’m sure you’ve already told the story, but I’m keen to hear it.’
‘Well, I was waiting to see my lawyer – who actually can’t really help, by the way. If Geoff wants half the farm, he’s entitled to it. Anyway, James walked past and we recognised each other immediately.’
‘Do you know each other?’
‘Oh, didn’t I say? We were at school together,’ Tina said.
‘A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then,’ James added. ‘My dad was in the bank here many moons ago. We were here for around eight years.’
‘Oh. Right. That’s nice.’ Damien gulped his wine. He was itching to stop this polite small talk and get down to business.
‘Now, sorry, James, to bring up family business in front of you, but there’s something you should know.’ Damien immediately felt the heat rise under his shirt and his palms began to sweat. He wiped them on his jeans under the table. The red wine he’d been enjoying now tasted bitter and metallic in his mouth. He swallowed against a suddenly dry throat. ‘I’m out of the farm,’ he blurted.
‘Sorry?’ Tina blinked and frowned at him from across the table. He hadn’t given a thought to where he’d sat, but now he realised it was probably quite telling to have Lucy beside him, his mother directly across and James across from Lucy, with Ethel at the head of the table between them. The referee.
‘I’m moving everything down to my block. Once the house has been rebuilt, you can live there, or lease the farm or sell it. What you do is up to you.’
‘Damien, now come on, surely this isn’t because you’re still angry at me about Jacqueline? There’s no need to be silly and childish about things. You need to get over it now, Damien, put it behind you.’
Damien felt the rage build inside him. He focussed on breathing slowly and deeply. He started counting. He wouldn’t lose it in front of James, he was too well brought up and conditioned. No doubt that was why James was here. Fuck, he wanted to slap his mother’s face. His eyes burnt with the pressure of holding the fury at bay and his head started to pound. He looked down, feeling Lucy’s hand on his thigh. Squish, who’d been sitting by his chair, chose that moment to jump into his lap. The dog sat up, looked at Tina, and growled. Damien noticed amusement twitching at the corners of James’s mouth and the disgust clear on the face of his mother.
‘All I’m doing, Mum, is taking control of my life. You are free to sell the farm, with no objection from me. We’ll need to wind up the partnership – maybe you could give us some advice there, James, or point us in the right direction.’
Tina was looking very pale. ‘But …’
‘Mum, you’re free to sort things out with Geoff and make a fresh start, you should be happy.’
‘But there’s no house there, no power – it’s just a block.’
‘And a fresh start. I’m sick of feeling obligated.’
‘Since when have I …? I’ve been very supportive of your new venture, haven’t I?’ And there it was, the tone of affront, the tone that said Tina thought this, as usual, was all about her. Damien had to stop himself from rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
‘Yes, you have, Mum, and I’m grateful. But it’s my venture and I need to make it completely mine by moving it to my own block. Being at the farm is too tenuous a position – you splitting up with Geoff has brought that home to me. That’s all.’ He shrugged in an effort to lighten things. He didn’t say what he really wanted to – he didn’t want to antagonise his mother, and was hoping to keep her onside long enough so he might do okay financially out of splitting the partnership. But he wasn’t in control of her and what she chose to do. And, if it came down to it, he’d live in a tent for the rest of his life rather than change his mind now. Though Tina would most likely do the right thing by him financially, if only to prevent word getting around about her.
‘Wow. Well, I didn’t see that coming,’ Ethel said, downing her half-full glass of wine in one gulp, and holding out her glass to James for a refill.
‘Well, I’m shocked. After all I’ve done.’
‘Tina, darling, it’s really not about you. If Damien wants to cut the ties, then that’s up to him, isn’t it? I say, congratulations. Onwards and upwards. To independence,’ James declared, raising his glass. ‘All the best, mate.’
‘Thanks, James,’ Damien said, returning his smile. He felt a little bewildered.
‘Yes, well done,’ Lucy said, putting her arm around his shoulder and squeezing.
‘But it’s so far out of the way,’ Tina persisted suddenly after a few moments of silence.
‘I’m going to put a track through, join up with the road that goes to the Pigeon Bay road.’
‘Well, I might not agree to you going through my land,’ Tina said haughtily. True to form, Damien thought. He hoped James was taking note.
‘Nice to know how supportive you really are,’ he bit back, and then wanted to kick himself. He’d allowed himself to sink to her level. ‘It’s the Havelocks’ place I’d need to go through, not yours.’
‘Well, have you asked them? I bet they won’t want a road going near their cottage.’
‘No, I haven’t asked them yet. And if they don’t, then that’s fine. I’ll take that as a sign I’m meant to carry on driving the long way around.’
‘The novelty of that’ll soon wear off,’ Tina said with a harrumph. ‘You’ll see.’
>
‘I thought you’d be pleased to be able to do what you want with your farm without worrying about me. But whatever you think doesn’t really matter. This is what I’m doing. I’m telling you, not asking your permission. It’s not up for discussion.’
‘Right, well, I think it’s dinner time,’ Ethel said, getting up and breaking the silence when it became uncomfortably long.
As Damien sipped his wine, he thought about his mother’s reaction. It was sad that she couldn’t be happy for him, see what a big, important step this was. She was terrified of losing her grip on him. It was sadder still that she couldn’t see that the tighter she tried to hold onto people, the more she pushed them away, as she’d done with Lucy. He wondered what excuses she gave herself and others for the sparse contact she had with her daughter.
He could see now just how tactful Jacqueline had been in her comments about his mother. He hadn’t realised how bad being in a co-dependent relationship was, how toxic. The word sounded so benign. It had only been when he’d looked it up on Wikipedia that he’d seen what she’d really been trying to tell him. Well, he was certainly starting to get it now, and doing something about it. Oh Jacqueline. It hurt to think of her sitting alone in her little house right across the street. He’d give anything to have her beside him or be there curled up beside her on her floral couch. He couldn’t wait to tell her his latest revelations and decisions. He knew she’d approve.
‘I’m so pleased for you, and proud of you,’ Lucy whispered, while making a big fuss of Squish in Damien’s lap.
‘Excuse me, I need to powder my nose,’ Tina said, getting up abruptly. James half rose like the true gentleman he was.
‘Who powders their nose these days? Certainly not our mother,’ Lucy scoffed quietly. ‘I’ll go help Auntie Ethel,’ she said, and also left the table.
‘Sorry about that – airing the dirty washing,’ Damien said to James, feeling the need to say something since it was only the two of them left in the room.
‘Not at all. I think it sounds very exciting. And your mum’s been telling me about how things stand. I’m a bit of a non-conformer myself, so I like someone who stands up for themselves and what they believe in.’
Standing Strong Page 30