by Isla Evans
‘You’d like me to babysit.’
‘Would you?’
‘So much for not having ulterior motives!’
Shelley jumped up with the plates and then turned to Kate with a grin. ‘I’m deeply hurt by that. I’d be pleased you were here regardless. It’s just that it’s exhausting being such an excellent mother, and it’s sort of fate that you turned up just when you did. Like I know you’re probably disappointed that we weren’t having a family dinner, but this way you get the house to yourself and that has to be nice. You must admit it’s all sort of serendipitous, hey?’
Kate smiled wryly. ‘Yes, serendipitous indeed.’
EIGHTEEN
Dear Dad, remember that time Angie borrowed her father’s hairbrush to make roads for a Fisher-Price village we were building in the front yard? I think she must have been around six or seven. Anyway, she put it back afterwards but that night he was getting ready to go out and next thing he’s standing in the kitchen furiously shaking the hairbrush at us. With dirt sprinkled all over his shoulders like dandruff. I can still see the expression on Angie’s face. Wide-eyed innocence, but with a certain furtiveness that hovered just behind. Covert knowledge. And now that it seems possible that she knew about her mother, I keep seeing that expression. The fact is that she’s always been good at keeping secrets, I just never thought she’d keep them from me.
Sam and the boys didn’t arrive home until late Sunday afternoon, by which time Kate was nearly out of her mind with boredom. She had never realised just how much time she spent around her home cleaning and, now that was no longer an option, she was left with so much time on her hands that she actually felt weighed down. Kate was well aware of the irony of the situation but that didn’t help matters. Admittedly it had been very pleasant spending so much time with Shelley, who arrived home from an outing on Saturday with potato chips and chocolate and borrowed movies. They spent the evening curled up in the lounge room, first laughing at Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses, and then crying with Sally Fields in Steel Magnolias. But by Sunday, the bonding was wearing thin, especially as most of it was spent with Emma while Shelley ‘just dashed’ somewhere or other, her version of being ‘back in a minute’ having no correlation whatsoever with real time.
Kate let the curtains fall as Sam’s ute turned into the driveway, and then quickly ran her fingers through her hair and tucked one side behind her ear as she curled into her armchair with a book in hand. Her stomach clenched as she heard them take the stairs noisily and she marvelled at the realisation that she was nervous. Then, before she had time to analyse this reaction, the front door was swinging open.
‘Mum! Long time no see.’ Caleb dropped an army-style sausage bag at his feet. ‘What’re you doing here?’
‘Well, it is my home, and it is Easter.’
Jacob materialised in the doorway behind his brother. ‘Did’ja bring Easter eggs?’
‘Your mother’s welcome, with or without eggs.’ Sam sent a smile in her direction and then continued down the passageway, laden with sleeping bags.
‘Yeah, it’s not like we’re a fertility clinic,’ Caleb grinned, and then frowned. ‘Hang on, that sounded better in my head.’
‘Disturbing,’ commented Shelley, arriving in the lounge room from the other direction, with Emma in her arms. ‘Now, are we still having a barbie? I’m starving!’
‘As are we,’ Sam came back, now empty-handed. ‘So here’s the plan. Caleb, you start the barbecue while I have a quick shower. Meat’s in the fridge. Jake, you get the rest of the stuff from the car and just dump it in the laundry for now. Okay?’
Jacob frowned. ‘Why can’t I –’
‘Just do it,’ said Sam tiredly as he turned and headed towards the main bedroom. Kate got up and followed him, pushing the door open even as it closed in her face.
‘Sorry, sweetheart!’ Sam looked at her with surprise. ‘I didn’t realise you were behind me.’
Kate smiled as she sat down on the bed. ‘I’m always behind you.’
‘My very own stalker. How romantic.’
‘Consider yourself lucky, some people have to share.’
‘Hmm, I wouldn’t mind being shared.’ Sam stepped neatly out of his clothes and stood in front of Kate, naked. ‘Sometimes I think it’s a bit unfair that all this . . .’ he gave a little jiggle that made Kate laugh, ‘. . . is reserved for just one female.’
‘Put it away before you hurt someone.’
Sam leered. ‘Pain could be your friend.’
Kate crossed her legs automatically. ‘Besides, you couldn’t handle more than one female.’
‘Now that’s probably true.’ Sam’s smile faded. ‘Not even sure I can handle the one I’ve got.’
‘Practice makes perfect,’ replied Kate, trying to ease the conversation again. ‘Listen, how come you didn’t ring me to make plans? For Easter, I mean.’
Sam looked surprised. ‘I just assumed you’d be here. And you are.’
‘What about Good Friday then? Our fish dinner?’
‘Fish?’ Sam grimaced. ‘I hate bloody fish, you know that. Hey, while I’m having a shower, do you want to put a salad together? There’s stuff in the fridge.’
‘But what about Eildon? What’s with all the trips there?’
Sam shrugged. ‘Just having a break.’
Kate looked at him searchingly. ‘But we haven’t been up there for ages, then suddenly you go up two weekends in a row?’
‘Good Lord, woman. I didn’t realise this was going to be an interrogation. If you have to know, we went up last weekend on the spur of the moment and had such a good time that we decided to go again. Why all the questions?’
Kate shrugged lightly. ‘Just checking you’re not having an affair, that’s all.’
‘You’ve guessed my secret.’ Sam put a hand on his chest melodramatically. ‘I’ve been having an affair with a buxom country wench called Bertha and, just to add some spice, I’ve been taking the boys along each week as an audience.’
‘You’re a sick man, mister.’
‘Yes, but Bertha has taught me a thing or two to add to my repertoire. So if you want to hang around, little lady, I’ll fill you in.’
Kate started laughing again. ‘Is that a pun? If so, it’s really bad.’
‘That’s me. Bad to the bone.’ Sam wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and then stepped over his clothes and went into the ensuite, leaving the door open. A few seconds later the shower started and then, just as Kate was getting off the bed, he poked his head around the doorframe. ‘Want to join me? You can wash my back.’
‘If you wanted your back washed, you should have brought Bertha with you.’
‘Good idea. I’ll remember that for next time.’ Sam nodded and then disappeared again.
Kate grinned towards the empty doorway, feeling considerably lighter after the easy, flirtatious conversation. Sam certainly didn’t seem as if he was harbouring any grudges, which meant the Eildon trips may well have been exactly what he said – just well-deserved breaks. It still didn’t explain why he hadn’t asked her, or even told her about the barbecue, but everything seemed fine. And she decided to accept it at face value for now. Sometimes it was better not to peel the onion.
Kate went out into the kitchen and opened the fridge in search of salad. It was almost empty. At the back of the vegetable crisper she found some yellow-edged lettuce, a tomato and a couple of rather soft carrots, so she piled them on the counter and stared at them critically. Clearly salad vegetables were not a priority any more.
‘Are you using the power of your mind?’ asked Shelley, coming in from the decking. ‘If so, no wonder the lettuce is wilting.’
‘Yes, and if you keep it up, I’ll turn it on you.’ Kate got out a bowl and started slicing the tomato into segments.
Shelley put her hands up in mock fright and then took a tray from the top of the fridge and began loading it with plates and cutlery and condiments. The pungent, charcoaled smell of barbecue wafted in fro
m the decking and Kate felt her stomach rumble in anticipation. She tossed the tomato into the bowl and then added the green sections of the lettuce, throwing the rest into the compost container below the sink. Then she started grating carrot. Shelley finished loading her tray and took it outside.
‘Wanna hand?’ Jacob wandered in and leant against the bench, gazing at the tossed salad with a marked lack of enthusiasm.
Kate looked at him critically. ‘Maybe you should have had a shower too?’
‘Whatever,’ Jacob shrugged and then fished a lettuce leaf out of the bowl and held it up. The lettuce drooped. ‘Yum.’
‘Damn it,’ Sam came in, his hair wet and spiky at the crown. ‘I meant to grab some salad things on the way back.’
The sliding door opened and Shelley hurried through to grab the highchair. ‘Caleb says the meat’s almost ready.’
‘Just do what you can.’ Sam waved a hand dismissively at the salad and then headed outside. Jacob flipped his lettuce back into the bowl and followed his father.
‘Do what you can,’ repeated Kate sarcastically as she removed Jacob’s lettuce and threw it into the compost. Having seen the boy’s fingers, she wasn’t about to take the risk. She opened a tin of corn and scooped two spoonfuls into the bowl and then added her grated carrot and a splash of French dressing that wasn’t too far past its use-by date. Then she tossed the lot with salad servers and took it through to the decking.
Sam had taken over the barbecue and was now piling the meat onto a plate held by Caleb. They were being watched hopefully by Hector, who had been summoned by the scent of food even though he had been fed only half an hour before. Jacob was already sitting at the table and Shelley was securing Emma into the highchair.
‘You would have started back at uni by now, wouldn’t you?’ Kate asked Caleb as she put the salad down and slid into a seat. ‘How’s it going?’
Caleb brought the plate of meat over and sat down. ‘Brutal. I’m glad it’s my last year. I’ve had enough.’
‘Well, it’ll all be over soon,’ said Sam, turning off the barbecue.
‘Unless I fail, that is.’
‘You won’t fail,’ commented Jacob expressionlessly.
Kate glanced at him and then sighed, quietly so that nobody else could hear.
Sam came over and stared at the table. ‘Bread! Wine!’
‘And having spake, thus they appeared,’ intoned Caleb. ‘While you’re at it, could we have the miracle of the loaves and fishes?’
‘I’ll give you the miracle of the loaves and fishes,’ said Sam, heading back inside.
Caleb looked around as his father disappeared. ‘Isn’t that what I just asked for?’
‘I would have thought you’d have got plenty of fishes,’ commented Kate lightly, helping herself to some steak. ‘You know, up at Eildon.’
‘Nah, too busy. Doing other stuff.’
‘Yeah,’ added Jacob helpfully.
Kate looked at them both curiously and then focused on Jacob as her best chance. ‘Like what, honey?’
‘Like just relaxing,’ said Sam, shutting the sliding door and then coming over with a bottle of wine and a basket of bread. ‘Jake, can you grab some glasses for me?’
‘Sure. Why not.’
Kate helped herself to some of the limp salad and piled it by her steak. Hector wandered underneath the table and settled by her feet, so she reached down and scratched his neck absently. There was something distinctly odd about these Eildon trips but it was clear she wasn’t going to get any more information with Sam here. She would just have to come back during the week.
‘Great news about Mel, isn’t it?’ asked Caleb.
‘Sure is, and we’ll toast her in a second.’ Sam levered the cork from the wine bottle and then, as Jacob returned with the glasses, starting filling each one and passing it over. When everybody had a glass, he raised his. ‘To Melissa and . . . what’s his name?’
‘Brad,’ said Kate.
‘To Melissa and Brad!’
They all repeated the toast and then raised their glasses and drank. Kate put her glass down and started slicing her steak. ‘Did you know Angie’s thinking of going over there now? To stay for a year or so?’
Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Really? Good for her.’
‘Hang on,’ Shelley frowned. ‘If she goes over there, what happens to the shop?’
Kate hesitated. ‘Um, I’m not sure. Nothing’s definite.’
‘But she won’t be able to run it then.’
‘I’m sure she’ll have a plan,’ said Sam soothingly.
Jacob glanced at his sister. ‘Maybe she’ll sell it.’
‘She can’t sell it!’
‘Actually she can,’ corrected Jacob. ‘It is hers, after all. And what choice would she have? It’s not like she’s got anybody responsible there.’
‘God, you’re an arsehole!’ spat Shelley.
Sam dropped his cutlery with a clatter and glared at Jacob. ‘Now listen, I’m only going to say this once –’
‘Promises, promises,’ replied Jacob, staring down at his plate.
‘That’s it! Take your damn –’
‘Yeah sure,’ interrupted Jacob, standing up with burger in hand. ‘I’m going.’
Emma, who had been watching this exchange with stunned fascination, suddenly reached a clasping hand towards her uncle. ‘Jate, Jate!’
Jacob stopped by the sliding door and stared back at her, his burger dripping splotches of sauce onto the decking. ‘Did you hear that! She said my name!’
‘Say it again, Em!’ Shelley grabbed her daughter’s outstretched hand, her anger gone in an instant.
‘Come on, Emma!’ added Kate encouragingly. ‘Say Jake!’
Emma pulled her hand from her mother’s and gazed around at her audience. Then she pursed her lips and blew a saliva bubble. It burst against her lips and she chortled proudly before trying again, but this time frothy spittle just ran down her chin.
‘She takes after your side of the family,’ observed Sam, glancing at Kate.
‘Actually, that’s the exact same expression you had when you told me about Bertha.’
‘Who’s Bertha?’ asked Caleb.
‘Your father’s mistress.’
‘Sounds like a cow.’
‘Don’t you knock Bertha,’ said Sam. ‘She’s the salt of the earth.’
Caleb raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ll probably get an STD. Like mad cow disease. Or foot in mouth.’
‘Foot in mouth? That sounds like a fetish, mate, not an STD.’
While this banter continued, Kate glanced across to the sliding door, but Jacob had gone, leaving the door half open.
‘Fancy her saying Jacob’s name first.’ Shelley was staring at her daughter critically. ‘He’s probably been spending hours coaching her.’
‘So what made you suspect Dad and Bertha, Mum?’ asked Caleb with a grin.
‘All those trips to Eildon, of course. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.’
‘That’s stating the obvious,’ said Sam.
‘Watch it!’
‘Do you think she’ll really sell the shop?’ fretted Shelley, drumming her fingers against the table. ‘Like she’d have to, wouldn’t she? If she left?’
Kate stared down at her empty plate, cross with herself for having mentioned Angie’s plans. She laid her cutlery down and stood up. ‘I brought dessert. Back in a moment.’ She went back into the house and fetched her bag of Easter eggs from the main bedroom. Then, going down the passage, she paused outside Jacob’s bedroom before knocking lightly.
‘What?’
‘It’s only me. I’ve got something for you.’ Kate pushed open the door and went inside. With the blind pulled down, the room was mostly dark except for the computer screen, which glowed before Jacob like some sort of futuristic altar. He had swivelled around in his chair and was staring at his mother. She pulled a couple of eggs and a large chocolate rabbit from the bag and held them out. ‘Happy Easter.’
Kate hesitated. ‘Why do you do it?’
‘Do what?’
‘Deliberately bug your sister like that. You know how it always ends.’
‘With Dad sticking up for her, you mean?’
‘No,’ Kate shook her head. ‘With you storming off.’
‘Actually I was ordered off.’
‘Can you blame him?’
The side of Jacob’s face was luminous in the reflected light. He shrugged. ‘Sure I can. Why not?’
Kate shook her head again. ‘I don’t understand you.’
‘Nobody does,’ said Jacob melodramatically, but without changing expression.
‘Well . . . happy Easter.’
‘Yeah. Thanks, Mum.’
Kate closed the door gently and sighed again. It was difficult to help somebody who was their own worst enemy. Even more difficult when you suspected, deeply, that they were miserable. With some effort, she put Jacob to one side for now and took the bag outside to the decking, tipping it onto the table. ‘Happy Easter.’
‘Excellent!’ Caleb put out a hand to stop a gold-foiled egg from rolling off the table.
Sam stared at them and then glanced up at Kate. ‘I didn’t get you anything.’
‘That’s okay,’ replied Kate lightly. ‘I’m sure you were busy. At Eildon.’
‘He certainly was,’ said Caleb.
‘There you go.’ Kate passed the cashews over. ‘For you to share with Bertha.’
Sam smiled, rather flatly. ‘Not a chance. She can get her own.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Shelley picked up a smaller egg and unwrapped the foil from it. Then she passed the chocolate over to Emma, who grabbed it eagerly. ‘Here you go, Em. You know what this is, don’t you?’
‘Has she already had some?’ asked Kate.
‘Daniel gave her one yesterday. With a big soft rabbit. Really cute.’ Shelley stood up. ‘Would you mind watching her for a minute? I’ve got to make a phone call.’
‘You’re ringing Angie,’ stated Sam, pushing his plate to one side. ‘Can’t you just leave it for now?’
‘No! I can’t!’ Shelley’s voice rose in pitch. ‘I love that job!’