A Chance of Stormy Weather

by Tricia Stringer

  Dara introduced Paula to Monica. She was a slightly built woman, beautifully made up and wearing an open vest over a black turtleneck jumper. The vest held Paula’s attention. It had been woven in various rust colours with traces of black and gold and had delicate beads sewn into it. The vest was exquisite and, to Paula’s amazement, Dara explained Monica had spun the wool, dyed it and knitted the vest. Paula was also interested to know she managed the stud on the property she ran with her husband.

  “I studied animal genetics at university,” Monica said. “Producing fine wool has always been a passion. Rod is more interested in cropping so we make a good team. Dara has been telling me about your ideas for her shop. Sounds like you’ve got a good head for business.”

  Paula felt her enthusiasm grow as the three of them discussed ideas for Dara’s shop. People filled the house with noise. Food and drinks were passed around in a continuous flow while the music pounded a beat from the lounge room. Paula was staggered by all the food. There were lots of homemade sausage rolls, pizza, toasties with delicious toppings, pin-wheel savouries and little quiches. At least Dan would be getting something to eat.

  She looked around for him. He was no longer in the kitchen but coming towards her was Katherine. She was dragging the tall man behind her and waving a small parcel in her other hand.

  “There you are, Paula,” she called. “This is Simon, from our Adelaide office. He’s up for a little stint in the country, so I thought I’d show him how we party out here.”

  “Hello, Simon.”

  Simon replied, but his voice was lost in some sudden loud laughter from the group of women sitting at the kitchen table. He glanced haughtily at them, then stood silently beside Katherine.

  A real bundle of laughs, Paula thought.

  “Now, this is for you.” Katherine pressed the small parcel she had been carrying into Paula’s left hand and at the same time grabbed her right. Her beautifully manicured nails were painted a deep red. “Just as I thought,” she said holding up Paula’s hand. “You haven’t been looking after your hands. My mother always said you could tell a lady by her hands. This cream is a miracle cure for hardworking hands. I always have extra pots.”

  “Thank you.” Paula took the parcel and tucked her hands behind her back.

  “Katherine, I wouldn’t have thought you’d bother to make the trip out.” Rowena pushed through with a plate of food. “Can I interest you in a spring roll?”

  Paula took the opportunity to edge away. That was twice Rowena had saved her from a tricky conversation. Was it just coincidence or was Rowena purposely extricating her?

  Jane was sitting at the table holding James. There was a group of women around the table and all were fussing over a girl who nursed a tiny baby. Paula slid into a spare seat.

  “Hello, Paula,” Jane welcomed her. “Do you know everyone here? Nothing like taking over your house and filling it with strangers.”

  Paula nodded around the group, remembering the faces of everyone but the young woman with the baby. She must have arrived while Paula was getting changed.

  “This is Cassie, Tom’s younger sister.”

  “Hello.” Paula tried not to stare but Cassie only looked sixteen or seventeen. Perhaps the baby wasn’t hers.

  “Cassie’s only been home a week with her dear little baby,” Jane said.

  Paula couldn’t believe this girl, who looked barely more than a child herself, was responsible for the tiny bundle in her arms.

  The other women resumed their conversation. It was all about babies. Paula listened, uncomfortably aware she had nothing to contribute.

  The phone rang and someone waved the handpiece in the air, calling out for Paula. Saved by the bell. She excused herself from the group and made her way to where the hand held out the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, darling. What’s going on there? I’m ringing to let you know Susan has had her baby.”

  Paula could hardly hear her mother’s excited voice. Someone shouted out behind her and the music seemed to get louder.

  “Hang on, Mum. I’ll go into the bedroom.”

  In the bedroom, Paula shut the door and left the main light off. She made her way to the bed in the pale moonlight, sat on the edge and turned on Dan’s lamp.

  “Can you hear me now?”

  “That’s better,” her mother said. “It sounds like you’re having quite a do there. Now, let me tell you all about your new nephew, he’s just gorgeous. Susan only went into labour this morning and she’d had him by early evening. Not bad for a first but then she always does things in a hurry.”

  “Is everything okay?” Paula tried to get a word in.

  “Wonderful, darling, they’re both wonderful. Everyone says he looks like Jerry but I think he’s like Susan as a baby. He’s got dark hair and long fingers and toes. Susan is up and about and giving poor Jerry orders already. Alison is with them at the moment and she’s got Oscar and Isabelle with her. Susan has a lovely room. It’s not a bit like a hospital. She says she’s going home tomorrow.”

  “Does my new nephew have a name?” Paula cut in when her mother drew a breath. She had a sudden desire to be back in Sydney.

  “They’re still discussing it but I think it’s going to be Rupert. Rupert is Susan’s choice and Jerry’s bound to give in. He’s besotted.”

  Paula remembered the discussion she and Dan had about naming Tarzan. She was glad she hadn’t stuck with Rupert if that was to be Susan’s baby’s name.

  “The babe is a good size. About seven pound, which isn’t bad considering they were worried Susan would be early and the baby wasn’t growing much.”

  “Has Dad been in?”

  “Of course, darling. We’ve all had a nurse already. I wish you were here. You will come back for a visit now, won’t you? You’ll have to meet the new baby.”

  “It’s a long way, Mum. I can’t come right now.” Paula tried to sound detached but she would have loved to jump on a plane there and then, and fly home for a visit. “I’ll get there sometime soon.”

  “I hope so, darling. Anyway, I must keep phoning. I haven’t let your aunts or Grandma know yet. I’ll let you get back to your party. Best love, darling.”

  “Say hello to Susan for me.” Paula didn’t know if her mother had heard before the line went dead.

  She hung up and remained still, listening to the distant sound of the party raging in the other rooms. It would be an effort to go back. Maybe they wouldn’t miss her if she curled up and pulled the quilt over her head.

  Stop this. She stood up. She had Dan and a house full of his friends who, with a few exceptions, were fast becoming hers. She should get a grip and enjoy the party.

  She hadn’t been to a party since their wedding. Glancing around the bedroom, she reminded herself again of the effort Dan had put in, to make this room nice for her.

  There were brass hooks behind the door and two small paintings on the wall beside her. The wood floor had been stripped and polished. There were small mats on each side of the bed and one larger, fringed mat in the space at the end of the bed in front of the window. The furniture was all old and wooden. The pieces didn’t match but suited the room. In the corner stood a beautiful carved dressing table, complete with lace doilies and a framed picture of Dan and Paula on one of their early dates. A delicate chair had been placed alongside.

  He had gone to a lot of trouble for her and here she was lurking in the bedroom. “Come on, girl,” she muttered. “You’ve got a party to go to.” She turned off the lamp and made her way slowly to the door as her eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness.

  Just as she reached for the handle there was a sudden eruption of loud voices and music from the passage as the door from the lounge opposite opened. The noise dulled again as the door clunked shut. There was a scuffle, the sound of muffled voices and then she recognised Katherine’s voice.

  “We need to discuss the future.”

  Paula clasped a hand to her mouth as she heard
Dan reply. “We don’t have a future any more, Katherine. You know that.” His response was brusque.

  “We have to.” Katherine, by contrast, spoke in charming tones. “There are some things we can’t ignore.”

  There was a soft thud on the other side of the bedroom door. Paula stepped back in alarm. There was silence for a minute. What were they doing?

  “Stop it, Katherine. Someone might see us. You’ve already kissed me publicly tonight. I don’t want Paula to know about us.”

  Paula jumped as he said her name so close. What if they came into the bedroom looking for a place out of sight and found her eavesdropping?

  “There’s plenty your precious bride doesn’t know about you.” Katherine dispensed with the charm. “How long do you think you can keep her in the dark?”

  Paula’s hand flew to her mouth again.

  “She doesn’t need to know about us. It’s over.” Dan’s reply was gruff.

  “Oh, Dan.” Katherine’s clipped tones changed back to silken honey. “This was the baby that was supposed to save our relationship.”

  “Well it didn’t and now I want to be rid of it.”

  Paula’s head spun. They had a child? A child Dan didn’t want to acknowledge? What if he hadn’t met Paula? He might have been prepared to. She gripped her head in her hands tightly as the realisation hit her. She was responsible for a child being denied its father.

  The sounds of the party erupted into the passage again.

  “Here you are, Katherine. I think it’s time to go.” Simon had obviously had enough of the country party scene.

  “You’re right, Simon,” Katherine snapped. “This party is over.”

  The front door opened and closed. Paula held her breath then slowly let it out as she heard Dan walk away down the passage followed by the gentle thud of the internal door.

  She stayed where she was. She couldn’t face the crowd now. Did everyone know Dan and Katherine had a child? Paula gathered that Katherine had been away from the district for a while and that she came and went from Adelaide often. Perhaps she kept the child there. That would explain the regular payments Dan made to her.

  Why couldn’t Dan have been honest about his past, instead of hiding it? What else was there she didn’t know about?

  She twisted her wedding ring around and around her finger. Doubts bubbled up inside her. Had she made another mistake? Perhaps Dan wasn’t the man she thought he was.

  “Paula?” She jumped as his voice called down the passage. “Paula?” he called again.

  “Coming.” There was nowhere to hide. She couldn’t stay shut up in the bedroom, people would wonder where she was. She drew herself up, opened the door and stepped straight into Dan.

  “There you are.” His face lit with that beautiful smile but her stomach didn’t do its usual butterfly flip. He looked at her closely and frowned. “Is everything okay? Jane said you had a phone call.”

  Paula dismissed his concern. “Susan had a baby boy today. Everything’s fine and Jerry is besotted.”

  “That’s good news…”

  “Just like all fathers should be,” she rushed on.

  Dan looked at her. “That’s why I’ve come.”

  “What…why?” Paula was bewildered. She wanted him to explain it all to her and make it right. She didn’t want to believe he was heartless but she wasn’t sure she could cope with any more tonight.

  “Babies. That’s why I’ve come,” he said again.

  Paula stepped back.

  “Not ours, of course,” he grinned. “Not yet anyway. The women want to know where Cassie can go to feed and change her baby and Jane was hoping to put James to sleep somewhere. Should they use our room?”

  Paula pushed past him into the passage to hide her confusion. She had thought he was about to explain all about Katherine and their baby. “I think the spare room would be better.”

  Jane stuck her head around the end passage door. “Can we use a bedroom, Paula?”

  “Yes, of course, come in.” Paula hurried along the passage, turned on the light in the spare bedroom then stepped back to let Jane through with James. Dara came behind carrying Jane’s basket then Cassie followed and another woman – Paula recalled her name was Sarah – followed after her with Tom bringing up the rear, pushing a stroller.

  Cassie had a bag thrown over her shoulder and she was struggling with the baby capsule.

  “Here, let me help.” Dan stepped forward to take the capsule from Cassie. He carried it with ease, in one hand.

  “You look like you’ve done that before.” Sarah laughed. “It suits you. When are you and Paula going to have your own?”

  “Well, I…” Dan handed the baby capsule over to Cassie.

  “Dan and I have things to sort out before we can even think about children.” Paula said from the doorway. “They aren’t commodities that can be ignored or got rid of. You shouldn’t just produce them on a whim. Once you have them, it’s a lifetime commitment. You can’t change your mind or shirk your responsibilities when the going gets tough.”

  She stopped and the room was very quiet as the four women, Tom and Dan all stared at her.

  “I see you chose not to use my curtains.” Rowena squeezed past Paula into the bedroom.

  Paula’s heart skipped a beat. She’d forgotten all about the bloody curtains.

  “I like what you’ve done with this room,” Dara cut in quickly. “The colours are very inviting.”

  “Decorating is Paula’s department. I just do as I’m told,” Dan said.

  Rowena turned to him. “Bruce is looking for you.”

  Dan gave Paula a lame smile and ducked off. She stayed planted in the doorway. Did as he was told? When had she ever told him to do anything? She had been on her soapbox about children. Perhaps it had touched a nerve. She hoped so. She didn’t want to believe she could have fallen in love with someone who was so cold and calculating as to cut his own child from his life.

  The two mothers and their babies were fussed over by the other three women. Tom stood back awkwardly. Paula watched them all from the doorway feeling every bit the outsider she was. Rowena, the maiden aunt who’d probably never had sex, let alone a baby, helped Jane organise James. There was Dara, who had made the decision not to have children, clucking like a hen, and then there was the other woman, Sarah. Paula vaguely remembered her joining in the pregnancy tales so she must have children.

  Paula watched as Cassie laid her baby on the bed. She looked so young and self-conscious and there were dark rings around her eyes. Suddenly the speech Paula had made a few minutes earlier flew back at her. What had she said about having babies? She had intended her words for Dan. Paula didn’t know anything about Cassie. She looked like she’d been through enough without having a mad women preaching about responsibilities and commitment.

  Quietly moving back, hoping no one would notice, Paula slipped through the house into the laundry. Tarzan lifted his head then flopped it back down again and covered his face with a paw. The door closed behind her and Paula spun around to face Rowena.

  “Don’t be too quick to judge others, before you know the full story.” Rowena’s voice was soft but carried no trace of gentleness. “Cassie has had a tough time. The young lad who fathered her babe made off just before the birth, so I don’t think she needs to be reminded about responsibility. Sarah in there runs the family property with her father. Her husband’s a truck driver. It’s the busiest time of year and on top of all that she’s just had her third try at IVF. She only came home yesterday. I don’t know how she will cope if it’s not successful this time, so commitment is not something she needs a lecture on.”

  Paula was devastated. Her aim had been to shake Dan’s conscience, not upset the others. “It wasn’t my intention to criticise Cassie or Sarah.”

  “Nor mine to criticise you. I just thought you should know a bit of background so —”

  “So I don’t put my foot in it again.”

  “If you like.” Rowena
held her gaze for a minute then rubbed her hands together. “Now come on, it’s cold in here. Don’t hide in the laundry. This party is for you and Dan. There are parcels to open. You should be out there with your husband enjoying yourselves.” She opened the door and strode back to the kitchen.

  Paula pushed the door closed again and sank down onto the floor. She patted Tarzan, who opened one sleepy eye and half-heartedly wagged his tail. Rowena must surely know all about Dan’s past. Who else knew? How could she face people now? A million thoughts crowded her head.

  “What did you call him?” She looked up into Tom’s gentle eyes. She hadn’t heard him come in.

  “Tarzan.” She gazed down at the sweet little dog asleep without a care in the world.

  “Has he caught any mice yet?”

  “He’s sniffed out a few in the house but outside he goes berserk. There have been several little bodies dumped at the back door.”

  “I thought he’d do okay. Cassie has his sister. They make good watch dogs and they’re very loyal.”

  Paula stood up feeling very embarrassed. “Tom, I hope Cassie didn’t think I was referring to her when I went on about babies, I…”

  “I think she’s too tired to register what anyone’s saying at the moment.”

  “She does look exhausted.”

  “I didn’t think she should come but Mum thought it would be good for her to get out for a while.” He paused. “Things are a bit tense at our place. Dad went off his tree when Damo ran out on her.”

  “That’s hardly her fault.”

  “I know. I didn’t think he had much guts and this just proves it. She’ll be better off without him, in the long run.”

  “I guess so.” Paula wondered about Dan’s child. She didn’t even know if it was a boy or a girl. Perhaps it would be better off without Dan in its life. But how could she live with that?

  “Did you try one of Mum’s powder puffs?”

  Paula looked at the lopsided smile slowly spreading over Tom’s face. “No.”