The Painted Sky

by Alice Campion

  ‘Really? I know nothing about that time in Dad’s life. Anything you can tell me will help.’

  ‘Well, I take anything Mum says about it with a big grain of salt. But you should talk to her.’

  ‘Yeah thanks, I will.’ She shielded Deborah’s eyes with her hand and sprayed. ‘All set.’ Their eyes met in the mirror.

  ‘Thanks, Nina, looks great.’ She added shyly, ‘There’s not many people round here to hang out with. Everyone ends up in Sydney.’

  ‘Well,’ said Nina, ‘I hope I can come back one day. It’s so beautiful. And you have to call me if you come to town.’ Town. That’s what they called the city out here.

  Deborah smiled. They went downstairs and Nina mouthed goodbye. She edged around the dancers, looking for Harrison. The way this party was going, she wanted to talk to the elder Blacketts as soon as possible.

  ‘There you are, my dear,’ said Harrison, over the music.

  ‘Harrison, can you introduce me to Kathryn and Mac Blackett now? I’d really like to talk to them before I go.’

  ‘Oh, of course. If you want to. I just saw them in there.’

  Harrison took Nina’s hand and led her to the sitting room, which had flashing coloured lights. ‘Money Money Money’ boomed from the speakers. The older Blacketts were huddled in the farthest corner with their drinks, as if sheltering from a storm. Their faces lit up when they saw Harrison, and they greeted him effusively.

  ‘And who’s your lovely plus one?’ Kathryn Blackett asked, smiling and friendly. A network of laughter lines highlighted the strength and intelligence of her face.

  ‘Ah, this is Ms Nina Larkin,’ Harrison said. ‘All the way from Sydney Town. Jim’s daughter. Nina, meet Kathryn and Mac.’

  Nina held out her hand but the older woman’s face blanched. ‘Uh, Nina …’

  Nina was flooded with déjà vu. This was the same reaction Harrison had had on meeting her. Dismay. There was no other word for it. What the hell was going on?

  ‘You didn’t know Nina was here?’ said Harrison, looking at them curiously. ‘You’re behind the times.’

  ‘No, we heard,’ said Kathryn faintly.

  ‘Good to see any family of Jim’s,’ said Mac loudly, grabbing Nina’s hand and shaking it as if he wanted to cover his wife’s reaction. Nina looked at him, but his eyes veered away.

  ‘Yes it is,’ said Kathryn, recovering. ‘Very good indeed, my dear. You look like him – your eyes – everyone must tell you that.’

  Nina nodded, but kept silent, searching their faces.

  ‘How have you … so sorry to hear about your mother. We so enjoyed having her at our place while she was doing her research. And of course poor Russell. I have some photos of Russell’s if you’d like to see them. I could send them to you on the email,’ Kathryn said.

  ‘Thank you, I’d like that,’ said Nina.

  Kathryn looked beseechingly at her husband.

  ‘Well, perhaps we’d better freshen our drinks,’ he said, his eyes searching for a pathway through the crowd.

  His wife gazed at him gratefully.

  ‘I’d really like to have a chat with you about Dad,’ said Nina.

  The older woman glanced at Nina and then looked away. ‘Of course. Perhaps – in the morning? We’ll be here at Paramour till lunchtime, won’t we, Mac? Then I’m afraid we are off to Jane’s – our granddaughter’s – place at Walgett for a week, so we haven’t much time.’

  Mac harrumphed. ‘Surely –’

  But now Kathryn devoured Nina’s face with her eyes, as if she was the one looking for answers.

  ‘What time should I come over?’ persisted Nina, though she was taken aback by Kathryn’s strange behaviour.

  ‘Any time, dear,’ sighed Kathryn.

  ‘Thanks so much, Mrs Blackett.’

  ‘Kathryn, please. I look forward to it.’ She took Nina’s hand and shook it gently, as if she really was looking forward to it. It was like four seasons in one day, talking to her. There had to be something going on for such a poised, stylish woman to lose her cool.

  Mac nodded to Nina and Harrison, and steered Kathryn away.

  ‘What was all that about?’ Harrison asked when they were out of earshot.

  ‘I thought you might know.’

  ‘Beats me.’

  But now she was getting somewhere. Her hopes rose as she checked the crowd for possible friends of Jim’s.

  Like Harrison. Now she could ask him again. With some drinks on board, he might be more forthcoming.

  ‘So tell me more about Dad and Hilary. Did they go to the same high school? Did they …’

  Harrison laughed too loudly. ‘Hardly! No. You’re on the wrong track completely there, my dear. Jim went to the local public school here and Hilary ended up in some nightmare of a private girls’ school thanks to Math and Kacryn.’ They both laughed. ‘God, I mean Mac and Kathryn,’ he said, shaking his head.

  ‘But what do you mean they sent her there?’ asked Nina, puzzled. ‘Are they related?’

  ‘Well, she lived with them for a time. Off and on. They just took her under their wing a bit. I guess it seems odd but it wasn’t back then. She was a bit wild. Had a rotten home life and Mac and Kathryn are decent people. Well-off. They ended up paying for her schooling.’

  ‘So, how did Dad and Hilary meet?’ she asked. ‘God, it’s hot. I wish it would rain.’ Harrison’s thoughts were clearly on the present. ‘Ah, here’s a man with a keen eye for the weather. How’s it going, Phillip?’

  Nina looked at Harrison, but he shook his head. Phillip hadn’t known Jim.

  ‘All well, thanks, Harrison, yes. Flying conditions are a bit uncertain, but we might be able to do something tonight,’ Phillip said, speaking deliberately.

  ‘I’m sure the rockets will be the highlight as always. When’s the show scheduled to kick off?’

  ‘Well, these things have to be timed precisely. The first display is scheduled in 45 minutes.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Forty-seven minutes, to be exact.’

  ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ stopped playing abruptly and a moment later a cowbell sounded from outside.

  ‘That will be Hilary with her surprise. Let’s move into the marquee,’ said Phillip. He raised his voice. ‘Can everybody move into the marquee? Please. Everybody.’ He might be slow, Nina thought, but he was relentless, like a glacier.

  ‘Mooo. Mooooooo,’ lowed Harrison, in an undertone. ‘She’s summoning the herd. Crack that whip.’

  Nina looked at him. He must have been ploughing into the drinks while she’d been fixing Deborah’s hair.

  They followed the tide of guests out through the French doors.

  ‘The speeches are the price we pay for the great tucker,’ said a chubby blonde to Nina as they squeezed along the verandah. ‘But it’s a pretty good swap.’ The blonde popped the remains of a lobster vol-au-vent into her mouth and brushed the crumbs from her ample bosom.

  ‘Mum!’ said a girl of about 16, beside her. ‘You’re so embarrassing.’

  The blonde woman rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Nina. ‘The only way I can keep her under control is by threatening to do the can-can in front of everyone if she misbehaves.’

  ‘Mu-um!’

  Nina laughed. Swept into the marquee by the press of the crowd, she found everyone gathered around a tall, lumpy shape covered by a red cloth blooming patches of damp.

  ‘Come on, Deborah, Heath, over here,’ called Hilary. ‘Come on, everyone. Are you right, Dorothy?’ She motioned to a woman with a camera. Phillip had materialised beside his wife. Nina noticed how Heath stood shoulder to shoulder with Deborah. The happy couple looked anxious.

  Hilary clapped her hands. ‘Quiet please! Shoosh, everyone. Now’s not the time for speeches but I do have one teeny surprise for my dear daughter that I wanted you all to share this evening. Darling,’ she said, turning to Deborah, ‘my very special pressie – just for you two.’

  She whisked the cloth away to reveal an intricate, metre-high ice carvi
ng of two rampant unicorns. It stood in an ice bowl holding prawns so bright and pink that they looked artificial.

  There were some ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the crowd. Nina heard a loud guffaw – Ben. Heath stared furiously at his brother. Deborah looked mortified.

  ‘These unicorns symbolise the coming together of our two great families, the Flints and the Blacketts,’ announced Hilary. ‘Our union will herald the return of the great pastoral tradition symbolised by Durham House. The Durham that was. Perhaps the Blackett family would like to say a few words?’

  Everyone turned to Mac and Kathryn. They looked like rabbits in the headlights, thought Nina.

  ‘Ahhh … what a lovely gesture, Hilary.’ Kathryn’s voice was low and cultured. ‘Heath couldn’t have found a lovelier girl. He’s been through a lot in the past few years, and I think we’ve all seen how Deborah has been his rock, the one he’s relied on, the one who’s pulled him through his darkest times. He’s been very lucky to have her and they have a wonderful future together. We look forward to welcoming Deborah into our family.’

  Beside Nina, Matty started a polite round of applause, and the crowd, after clapping a little, dispersed.

  ‘Sweetie. Isn’t it gorgeous?’ Nina heard Hilary say.

  ‘It’s nice, Mum. Thanks,’ Deborah said faintly and gave her a kiss.

  ‘Well really, darling,’ said Hilary, ‘you could try to be more excited. You wouldn’t believe how much trouble it was to get it. And I brought in the Tahitian Fusion Lime Dressing especially. You know, these blasted caterers wanted to use Thousand Island dressing! Can you believe it?’

  ‘No,’ said Deborah, ‘I can’t.’ She sipped champagne – from a plain glass, Nina noticed.

  Hilary raised her eyebrows and then, spotting the Argus crew, took off in pursuit.

  ‘Geez, if that’s the engagement, what’s the wedding going to be like?’ Nina turned to find Ben beside her.

  ‘A row of bishops in bumper cars? A helicopter delivering the rings to the altar?’ He gestured wildly.

  Nina glanced at Deborah, to see if she’d heard. Ben was really being a dick and clearly drunk.

  ‘She’s as bad as her mother. Playing lady of the manor. Oooh, Ben, do you want to come and see me take Saracen through his new routine?’

  Nina heard real anger behind the mocking tone.

  ‘Yeah, like I don’t care that I’m in this fucking thing.’ Ben whacked the sides of his chair.

  ‘Benny boy!’ A girl in a red dress came dancing over. Ben introduced her as Caitlin.

  ‘Come on, let’s check out the hideous ice monsters up close,’ she giggled.

  ‘Did you notice if they had rude bits?’ laughed Ben, as Caitlin wheeled him away, her breasts almost brushing his hair.

  Nina turned and escaped to the lawn. Not so easy having a family, she thought.

  On a darkened section of verandah, Heath leaned against a column, sucking in fresh air. It was so stuffy inside the marquee – the air was stuffy, the people stuffy. He knew he should be inside helping Deborah, but he couldn’t do it. Not now. He needed a break.

  If only Hilary could have agreed to Deborah’s line-dancing idea for the party. Sure, it was dorky, but at least there’d be something that would have made it hers, instead of all Hilary’s. That would have made her smile.

  He sighed. The thought of being bound to Hilary Flint by marriage made his heart sink. He and Deb would live at Kurrabar, but he knew full well the old piranha would be over every day with ‘suggestions’ on how they should be running things.

  ‘Well, son, tomorrow’s another day.’ His great uncle Mac’s gruff voice broke into his thoughts.

  ‘We knew you’d be hiding away in the shadows somewhere,’ added Kathryn. ‘Can Mac and I skulk out here with you?’

  ‘Please.’ Thank god they were here. Whenever he felt shaky, they always seemed to be there, solid support.

  The three sat in plantation chairs and gazed at the sheet lightning in the distance.

  ‘No stars tonight,’ said Mac finally. ‘But looks like there’s not a drop in those damned clouds.’

  ‘No. There’s nothing forecast for weeks. It’s been a dry old season,’ Heath replied.

  ‘I see Hilary’s still hanging onto that idea to recreate Durham Station,’ said Kathryn.

  ‘She sure is. Sometimes I think that’s why she wants Deb and me to get married. With Kurrabar, Paramour and The Springs, there’s an interconnected property of a good quarter of a million acres. And Durham House is a bonus.’

  ‘Heath,’ Kathryn hesitated. ‘Is this what you want? This marriage to Deborah?’

  Heath looked at her, surprised. ‘We just want to make sure you don’t feel pushed into it.’

  ‘Hilary doesn’t scare me. Deb’s a great girl.

  We’re good together.’

  ‘Just as long as you know that whatever you do, we’ll back you up,’ Kathryn said.

  There was a pause. ‘Scott and Jenny would have been so proud,’ said Kathryn softly. Heath flinched at the mention of his parents. She took his hand and held it. ‘So sorry, dear,’ she said.

  ‘No,’ said Heath, with a sigh. It was what he’d been thinking all night. He let out a long breath. ‘You’re right. They loved Deb from the moment she first came here – she’d ride Caspar over, help Mum with the chooks and the compost. Dad used to call her little Annie Oakley. It would have been … they would have loved it.’

  They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the sounds of the party.

  ‘And that was so true what you said about Deb being my rock. There have been some hard times, no two ways about it.’

  Kathryn squeezed his hand.

  ‘And if it wasn’t for you two, Ben and I –’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Kathryn said. ‘We’re family.’

  ‘Not everyone has family like you,’ said Heath, bringing her hand to his cheek.

  Mac cleared his throat. ‘Has Madam done the deal on The Springs yet?’ he asked.

  ‘Not yet. The owner’s not too keen.’

  ‘Yes, we met Nina,’ said Kathryn.

  Something in her voice made Heath look at her, but her face was unreadable.

  ‘A very pretty girl,’ said Mac. ‘But not the type to want to live alone on The Springs. Sooner or later, Hilary will get her way.’

  Pretty? Definitely. Heath remembered the moment in the greeting line. Her soft, waving hair falling over that heart-shaped face. The green eyes fixed on him. Some kind of soft drapery around her shoulders, and a silky hem falling onto a smooth brown leg below. But she’d grown up shyer than he remembered. She always seemed to be running away. That fishtail in the main street of Wandalla last week. What was that about?

  And it was strange that she hadn’t remembered him. He’d known her straight away. There was something unforgettable about that level gaze.

  The verandah door flew open, and Hilary advanced a few careful steps.

  ‘Now, what are all of you doing out here? I hope you let Dorothy Crane take your picture for the paper?’ she said, wagging her finger at Mac.

  ‘Of course,’ said Kathryn politely. ‘It’s a lovely party, Hilary.’

  ‘Yes, well, it’s been months in the planning. Months! But it’s all in a good cause. I’m sure Heath’s told you I’m buying The Springs. I have such plans for Durham House.’

  ‘Yes – what’s all that about?’ asked Mac. ‘Durham House is a ruin. What on earth are you going to do with it?’

  ‘You’ll see,’ Hilary said, clapping her hands in glee. ‘It’s a surprise. Knock your socks off. Right off. Whoops.’ Hilary seemed to lose her balance.

  Mac and Kathryn exchanged glances.

  ‘Tell you what,’ said Kathryn, rising from her chair to steer Hilary away, ‘why don’t we get ourselves a cup of coffee. Then you can tell me all about your plans.’

  Kathryn threw a wry smile back to the others, and put her arm around Hilary’s shoulders as they walked away together.


  Heath let his head rest on the back of his chair. He couldn’t keep the thought away – the wedding would be even worse.

  Outside the marquee, Nina had approached two guests of the right age, but neither of them had known Jim. And she hadn’t been able to find Hilary. Now her feet ached, her stomach was queasy from the creamy seafood and she had a champagne headache starting. She kicked off her shoes to enjoy the feel of the cool spongy lawn under her bare soles.

  Wearily drifting back to the house, she caught sight of Hilary sitting alone on the verandah with what looked like a cup of coffee. Nina stopped. This might be her last chance to talk to her. But Hilary was so unpredictable that she hesitated. Every time Nina had left The Springs she’d called Paramour and left messages for Hilary about setting up an appointment. No response. She’d sent two emails also with no result. If she didn’t talk to her tonight, it was likely Hilary would avoid her in the morning as well, when she came over to speak to the Blacketts. She had to do it, for her dad. She climbed the stairs slowly, and paused on the second from the top.

  ‘Mrs Flint?’

  Hilary looked up – angry, Nina thought.

  ‘I was just wondering if I could ask you something,’ Nina said. She had a right to ask questions. It was her own father, after all.

  Hilary stared.

  ‘Um. I was talking to Possum and Shona Brody a couple of days ago.’

  Hilary raised her eyebrow, but Nina plunged on. ‘Possum said he thought he saw Dad get into your car out on the Blackett Track just after he disappeared from Sydney.’

  Hilary glared at Nina, her lips a tense line, and then she stood shakily, slopping her coffee.

  ‘That lying old, dirty old, lying old blackfella. How dare he!’

  Nina took a step back.

  ‘He – you can’t believe a word he says. It’s all bullshit. Complete bullshit. How dare you come in here, accusing me!’

  Nina held up her palms. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just really important to me to find out what happened to my dad.’