by C. Fonseca
Josie ran her finger over the raised dot face of her watch, and Eleanor quickly seized the moment. She grinned at the photo of Josie embracing the latest wearable technology.
“Afternoon tea will be in precisely ten minutes. You must try a slice of my poppy seed and walnut torte,” Josie said.
“Definitely. Thank you for letting me photograph you. Please, excuse me. It’s time to photograph the players on Table Three.”
Eleanor leaned with her hip against the windowsill, her back against the light. She raised her camera and focussed on her next subject, snapping a close-up. Holding her breath, she shot another as the man’s face suddenly reflected the utter triumph and joy of winning, raising his hands in the air. Glancing at the screen, Eleanor sighed happily. She’d managed to capture his exhilaration in one crystal-clear and heart-warming image.
The phone in her trouser pocket vibrated against her leg, and Eleanor silently moved to the corner of the room. She slipped it out to check the sender. Eleanor was pleasantly surprised to see it was from Alexa. A sigh escaped her and she grinned.
How are things going? Have they served afternoon tea yet?
Skimming her fingers over the screen, Eleanor typed out a reply:
They sure put up a good spread. This place is one of a kind. Truly lovely and everyone is bending over backwards to make my task easy.
In a flash, Alexa replied:
I’m sure you’ve charmed them all. How is Granny?
Eleanor glanced over to where she’d last seen Grace resting in the chair. But Grace wasn’t there now. Eleanor paused, thinking about her reply. She didn’t want Alexa to worry about her grandmother.
Grace has everything under control. Running around orchestrating the entire event. She’s a little tired but I finally convinced her to take a break.
A few seconds later, the three bouncing dots appeared, indicating that Alexa was typing:
Typical of Gran. She can be a whirlwind. How are you doing?
Eleanor smiled and quickly typed back.
Fantastic. The residents are keeping me on my toes. Lots to do.
Eleanor would definitely feel more relaxed once she’d located Grace and made sure she was okay.
This time, Alexa’s response was quicker:
Won’t keep you any longer then. Just two things. Jac needs a photo. Details in my email to follow. I have a work proposition for you. Could be amazing. Discuss later.
Eleanor stared at the screen, stomach fluttering.
Okay.
What on earth could the proposition be?
Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye AX
Eleanor smiled and sent the thumbs-up emoji:
You too.
She hastily scanned the room and spotted Grace deep in conversation at Table Six. Her shoulders slumped in relief, and she shook her head at herself. Grace was fine. No need to worry.
Eleanor slipped her phone back into her pocket. Damn it, she missed Alexa. It turned her upside down. Since last night, she’d received two texts from her. They’d been short, light, and direct. Nothing overly personal. While Eleanor respected Alexa’s obvious need to put the brakes on, she was frustrated and unsure what to expect from her next. Even though she didn’t want to pressure Alexa, Eleanor wasn’t prepared to hang back and wait for her to make all the moves. Love, like Mahjong, was a game of chance and strategy. “I mustn’t let this push-pull dance get me down,” she muttered.
“Did you mention dancing, young lady? The Christmas dance is not for a few weeks yet,” a soft, quivery male voice said. “We’d be happy for you to join us. I’ll put you on my dance card.”
Eleanor tilted her head towards the gentleman who was seated on a small three-wheeler mobility scooter. Evidently, she’d spoken louder than she’d thought. “Good afternoon, sir.”
“Teddy Kwong. Kong as in King Kong.” He guffawed at his own joke.
“Nice to meet you, Mr Kwong.” She lifted her camera and raised her eyebrows, asking permission to take a photograph.
Teddy nodded, lifted his tartan cap, and scratched his shiny bald skull. When he smiled for the camera, Eleanor noticed the gap in the top row of his slightly crooked teeth. His face was wrinkled beyond time itself, and yet his pale grey eyes were filled with humour.
Eleanor held the camera steady and filled the frame with Teddy’s wise old face. She adjusted the focus. Click.
“I’m being impertinent, but can I take a look at my mug shot?” Teddy asked.
“Here you are.” With a satisfied smile Eleanor flipped the screen to show him the photo. Years may wrinkle the skin, but they did not have to crush humour, self-confidence, and spirit.
“Oh, my word. You’ve performed magic.” His face broke into a wide grin. “My late wife used to say this face told the story of my life. I didn’t understand what she meant, but now I see it.” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “Grace failed to mention that you are a true artist.”
“You are a flatterer, Mr Kwong. Thank you.” Eleanor laughed.
He sneakily pressed the back button, bringing up a photo of Josie. “Ahh…that’s our Ms Benko. She has an arresting face, doesn’t she? …and your photo highlights her pluckiness. Did you know she was a trailblazer in women’s fashion photography?”
“A photographer? She didn’t mention that.”
The dismay must have shown on her face because Teddy reached out and touched her arm. “She’s had a stellar career and look at her now; she’s happy—even though she never did marry,” he said with a little smirk.
“Josie Benko. I’ll have to look her up.”
“There’s a lot for you to discover behind the faces here,” Teddy said.
Eleanor nodded. “I’m privileged to spend the afternoon with all of you, Mr Kwong.”
A lot of time and attention was given to youth and beauty, pushing the older generation into the background. Today, though, Eleanor had met many talented people who refused to accept the invisible status expected of their age. So many stories just in this one room.
Eleanor was excited about some of the images she’d captured here, building on her growing body of work centred on the elderly. Perhaps an exhibition in the making.
Eleanor watched the players pack up their tiles in preparation for afternoon tea. She turned at the sound of a high-pitched ringing.
Grace stood by the buffet table waving a shiny brass bell in the air, a devilish grin on her face. Eleanor instinctively raised the camera. Click. Perfect shot. Sometimes it was best not to think too much.
She felt a sudden tug in her chest. Grace played a vital role in Alexa’s life and was her most significant relative. Grace was gutsy and strong but not invincible, and Eleanor’s heart ached for Alexa at the realisation that Grace couldn’t stick around forever.
Reaching into her pocket, Eleanor placed her hand on the phone—as if creating a visceral connection to Alexa. How could she help Alexa unlock the secrets of her ancestors’ past and set Grace free from her burden? They had to learn more about Mei-Li Kwan and clear her name. Eleanor’s mind was a jumble of unanswered questions. Why did Edith Foster really die? What happened to the husband? Did he know more than he’d let on? Eleanor shook her head, pushing the questions away. She couldn’t let her fact-finding, investigative nature get the better of her this time. She had to wait for Alexa to ask.
Teddy tapped her on the arm. “Would you be a dear and put aside a couple of pastries on a plate?” He wiggled his fingers and pointed to an old piano in the corner of the rec room. “I’m the entertainment this afternoon.”
“Of course, Teddy. I look forward to hearing you play.”
Eleanor was beginning to realise how she’d taken her own family for granted. Whenever she jetted in from overseas, she returned home to a safe, welcoming environment. As well as her mother, Dad, and Leo, she still had both her grandmot
hers. They were very different in appearance and personality, but both showered her with love. She looked forward to swapping travel stories with tall, sturdy Grandma Heysen when she returned from visiting relatives in the Netherlands. And now that her father was on the mend, she and her mother could take the four-hour road trip to visit Nan Miller, who lived with Uncle Will in Port Fairy. She smiled at the idea of sitting on the pier with Nan for a few hours, undoing knots in her fishing line and refusing to touch the wriggly worms she used for bait. Family. Eleanor sighed. How the hell had she got so lucky?
Chapter 26
All honour hands
“Here’s to Friday night drinks at home in the good room.” Leo passed his mother a tall glass of iced tea and handed Eleanor her gin and tonic. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do this, together as a family.”
Eleanor raised her glass and observed her family with fond affection. If she couldn’t be with Alexa tonight, she was content to be at home.
“I left work as soon as I got the severe thunderstorm warning.” Her mother glanced at the ornate carriage clock that graced the mantelpiece. “It’s after six, and all we’ve had is heavy rain and lots of rumbles.” Her parents clinked their glasses and wriggled closer to each other on the large sofa. “Cheers, Harold,” she said.
“That wind is still pretty strong and the temperature’s dropped, but I’m hoping the worst of it has passed over,” Leo said, crossing to the French windows and peering out.
Eleanor plonked herself onto the lounge chair across from her parents, tucking one leg under her. “Thank God it’s cooled down. It was unbearably warm and sticky this afternoon. Isn’t it unusual for it to be this hot in November?”
Leo sat down and drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair. “And despite overwhelming scientific evidence, our government refuses to take meaningful steps to mitigate climate change.”
“Hmm. Hopeless bunch.” Her father took a tentative sip of his drink.
“Darling, how’s your Dirty Martini Mocktail?” her mother asked.
He scrunched up his nose and winked at her. “I’d rather have the vodka version, but so be it,” he said, squeezing her knee.
Eleanor met her brother’s gaze, and they synchronised eye rolls.
“I’m a little peckish. I’ll just grab us a snack. Something special for you, Harold?”
“I already have the olives.” He swirled the stick in his glass. “Even though I’m not allowed to eat them. Cheese and crackers would be a treat.”
“I won’t be long.”
Since Eleanor’s father’s heart attack, there were definitely more hugs and gushy shows of affection between her parents, or maybe she’d been away so long she’d forgotten their loving alliance. When she and Leo were young, she remembered a few arguments and some tension between her parents, and her mum was rarely home. Despite this, Leo had turned out to be a happy-go-lucky kid, always with a gang of school friends hanging around him. Eleanor, on the other hand, busied herself with solo pursuits like photography and exploring and had disappeared into her head reading about foreign lands. On reflection, she’d chosen to spend time alone and, as a result, had become a resilient and independent adult.
Eleanor swirled the ice cubes around in her glass. Watching her parents tonight, she wondered what kind of wife and partner she would be. What kind of mother? She took a large sip of her drink. Could Alexa imagine a future with Eleanor? Did she even want the same things Eleanor did?
“Nell, I watched you fishing leaves out of the pool earlier. Did you enjoy your swim?”
“I did, thanks, Dad. Keeping it clean so you’ll have no excuse to dodge water therapy with your physio,” Eleanor said. “Leo, I’ll need your help to put up the shade sail over the pool.”
He gave her a mock salute and glanced down at his phone again. “Sure, I’ll be back here in a couple of days.”
“That’s about the fourth time you’ve checked your phone. What are you doing?” Eleanor asked curiously.
“Checking the weather forecast,” Leo mumbled. “I’m meeting a friend for dinner.” He cleared his throat and grinned at her.
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “You have a date? With whom do you have a date?”
“If things turn out right, we might even go out dancing.” He put his hands in the air and waved them from side to side.
“Seeing you’ve got two left feet, that hardly seems likely.” Eleanor scoffed.
“Maybe I’ve never had the right partner.”
“Leo, stop teasing your sister,” their father said, lifting his empty glass. “A large G and T, please, son. Hold the gin.”
Her mother re-entered the room and set a platter of cheeses, crackers, pâté, and cut fruit on the table. She sighed loudly. “At least with all the rain we won’t have to water the garden.” She placed side plates and napkins beside the nibbles, walked over to Leo, and perched on the arm of his chair. “You’d better hope the weather clears, Leo. What time did you plan to meet Stella?”
“Late,” he replied. “She’s been in court all day.”
Eleanor stopped with the cracker halfway to her mouth as their words sunk in. “Stella?” The hard cheese rolled off the biscuit and bounced onto the wooden floor.
Leo raised an eyebrow. “What can I say?”
“You have a date with Stella Wright? You sneaky bastard.”
“Language,” their father said sternly.
Eleanor shook her head, scooped up the cheese, and pretended to toss it at Leo.
He ducked in surprise.
“What are you two up to?” Their mother glanced from Leo to Eleanor with a look of exasperation, as if to say: “Act your ages, children.”
“Nothing, Mum. Just Eleanor’s imagination running wild.” Leo gave Eleanor another one of his cheeky grins.
Eleanor fixed him with a dagger stare. “My imagination? Just you wait.”
Leo lounged back in his chair, legs crossed, nonchalantly waving his glass of gin and tonic in her direction.
She ignored him and peeked at her phone just in case she’d missed a message from Alexa. There’d been nothing from her at all today. With a resigned sigh, she placed her phone on the table and leaned back in her chair.
“What about your plans, Eleanor?” her mother asked. “I imagine Alexa’s been busy preparing for the library’s re-opening. Katherine mentioned that last night, didn’t she? Also, she hinted about some exciting prospects ahead.”
One of the prospects was likely the idea Alexa had outlined in her email late last night, about Eleanor working with them on an exhibition for the re-opening. She’d been blown away by the concept and couldn’t wait to talk to Alexa about it in person. Even the thought of it had Eleanor jiggling her leg impatiently.
Her father helped himself to a crostino spread with a smidgen of pâté. Turning to Eleanor, he said, “You’ve been home every night this week. It’s Friday. Why don’t you give Alexa a call?”
Eleanor’s phone rang, and she jumped to her feet, recognising Alexa’s ringtone. Her pulse quickened. Did Alexa want to get together after all? Before she got to the table where her phone lay, Leo picked it up, his nose crinkling as he peered at the screen. Eleanor groaned. Leo could be such a pain sometimes.
“Speaking of Alexa. The woman must be psychic.” Leo waved the phone high in the air, out of Eleanor’s reach.
Eleanor knew Alexa wouldn’t be able to wait until Sunday. She gave Leo a withering look, and he handed her the phone. Grabbing it out of his hand, she said, “Excuse me, I’ll take this call in private.” She walked towards the hallway, humming to herself.
Out of earshot, she answered the call with a chirpy hello on her lips, but a strangled sound greeted her.
“Eleanor. I’m so sorry to disturb you. I thought Gran was unconscious. She spoke to me, but it was garbled and made no sense at all. I don’t
know what’s happened,” Alexa’s voice was frantic.
“Alexa, darling, slow down,” Eleanor said as calmly as she could, even though her own heart was racing. “What’s happened to Grace? Where are you now? I can hear traffic.” Surely, Alexa wouldn’t drive in such an agitated state.
“The ambulance has taken Gran to St. Vincent’s. They wouldn’t let me ride with her. I’m in a taxi on the way to the hospital now. There was no one else to call.”
Eleanor heard a muffled voice in the background. “Alexa? What’s that noise?”
“Hang on, we’re at the hospital. I have to pay the driver.” There was a rustling over the line and more mumbled voices. Sick with worry, Eleanor paced up and down the hallway, trying to take calming breaths, but it was no use at all.
“Eleanor, what’s going on?” Her mother suddenly appeared beside her.
Eleanor stopped pacing and held a finger to her lips as Leo and her father gathered around. “Eleanor, they are going to admit Granny.” Alexa’s voice cracked. “I feel so helpless. I don’t know what to do. Could you please meet me here?” she asked softly.
“Of course, I’m on my way. I’ll be there as soon as possible, sweetheart.”
“Thank you. I’m at reception now. I have to go,” Alexa said. “See you soon. Thank you so much.”
Eleanor’s hands shook as she stared at the blank screen. “Dad, I need to borrow the car.” She turned to her father.
“Yes, of course.” He placed his arm around her shoulder.
“What’s happened, sis? What can we do?” Leo asked.
Eleanor rubbed her forehead. “Grace has been taken to St. Vincent’s. They don’t know what’s wrong, and Alexa is all alone. I have to go to her.”
Her father gave her a squeeze and let go. “You’d better get going,” he said. “Leo, grab the keys to the Skoda and bring it out front while Eleanor gets changed.”