by Fiona Lowe
‘Settle, petal.’ Ellie held up her hand. ‘He’s not here as a plumber. He’s helping me move some stuff.’
‘Really?’ Anita mounted the concave steps. ‘After all this time, you’ve still got stuff here?’
‘Oh, yeah,’ Ellie said flatly. ‘In fact, as of today, I’ve got more stuff here than I’ve had in seventeen years.’
Anita, who was only half listening, stepped inside and stopped short. Cardboard boxes lined the hall and a clothes airer leaned against them. A woman she’d never met before was talking as she jogged down the front stairs.
‘Ellie, I put the—Oh! Sorry I didn’t see you there. Hi, I’m Cassie.’
‘Anita Jamieson,’ she said automatically despite her rising panic. ‘I’m Ellie’s sister-in-law. Would you excuse us for a moment please, Cassie? I need to speak to Ellie privately.’
Without waiting for the woman’s acquiescence, Anita grabbed Ellie’s arm and tugged her into the formal lounge room. ‘I know you’re moving out of your place but you can’t store your stuff here. I’ve got a cooking class in an hour and the hall looks like a warehouse.’
This time Ellie didn’t frown, although her baby-blue eyes filled with resignation. ‘Ah. Sorry. I thought Sarah told you.’
‘Told me what?’
Ellie sighed. ‘Until I can find a suitable place to live, Noah and I are moving in. Believe me, it won’t be for long.’
Panic morphed into disbelief. ‘You can’t do that! I’m running a business here. I won’t have Noah running wildly through the house ruining the ambiance while I’m hosting elegant high teas.’
Ellie stiffened and her expression changed from embarrassed regret to iron-clad determination. ‘I promise you, Noah will be as well behaved as Ava was on Mother’s Day.’
It was a shot across the bows. Ava had thrown a spectacular tantrum that included screaming at the top of her lungs and lying on the floor, pummelling the boards with her arms and legs.
Anita, feeling battle lines being clearly drawn, decided to amass some supportive troops. Pulling out her phone she said, ‘I’m calling a family meeting.’
Ellie’s low laugh mocked her. ‘I never took you for a sadist, Anita.’
* * *
Ten minutes later, an irritated Sarah arrived, followed by a fuming Cameron, with the little girls in tow. Noah, who’d apparently been upstairs the whole time, whooped in delight on seeing his cousins. Now all three of them were charging around in circles on the front lawn like excited puppies.
‘Was it absolutely necessary to pull me away from—from visiting Mum?’ Sarah’s gaze shot to the children. ‘And who’s looking after them while we talk?’
In her rattled state, Anita hadn’t thought as far as that. ‘I don’t know. I—’
‘I think we’ve found our solution.’ Sarah pointed to Luke, who was holding a ball aloft and ducking and weaving between the kids. Three little people dived at his legs trying to stop his progress, with scant effect. ‘Apparently, he’s not just a good plumber and boundary umpire.’
‘I’ll ask Cassie to help,’ Ellie said tightly.
‘Luke doesn’t look like he needs any help at all. Who knew my sexy plumber had hidden depths? He’s got those kids eating out of his hand.’
‘Can we focus?’ Anita snapped. ‘Ellie, ask your friends if they’ll keep an eye on the kids. It won’t be for long.’ As Ellie turned away, Anita shooed everyone with her hands. ‘Come on, inside. I’ve got a cooking class in forty minutes!’
‘You don’t have a monopoly on busy, Anita,’ Sarah muttered as she trooped inside.
Cameron closed the door behind him, which Ellie opened a moment later. ‘I hope you weren’t planning on starting without me.’
‘Why?’ Cameron crossed his arms over his chest. ‘We do most family things without you.’
Anita had attended enough family gatherings to know that if left unchecked, things between Ellie and Cameron disintegrated quickly, each giving as good as they got. ‘Let’s stick to the issue at hand. Before Margaret went into hospital she gave me permission to use Mill House for Cooked By a Friend.’
Cameron picked up the baton. ‘That’s right, and Anita needs free use of the house.’
Anita glanced at Sarah, who’d seated herself on the club chair Margaret always referred to as ‘Kevin’s chair’. Although her fatherin-law had died years before she’d met Cameron, she’d heard all the loving stories numerous times from Margaret. Anita took pride in the fact her marriage to Cameron was as strong as his parents’ marriage had been. ‘Sarah, you agree, right?’
‘Actually, I don’t.’
Surprise slapped Anita hard and it took her a moment to catch up. ‘What do you mean? You’ve been on my side from the start.’
‘There are no sides, Anita. My understanding is that Mum gave you permission to use the kitchen for some cooking classes on the occasional weekend when she was busy and out of the house. That’s a far cry from free use of the house twenty-four-seven. It’s a big house and I can’t see any reason why Ellie can’t live here.’
‘Jesus, Sarah.’ Cameron thumped the mantelpiece. ‘You know as well as I do Ellie shouldn’t be living here.’
‘Excuse me,’ Ellie said sharply. ‘I’m standing right here. Exactly why shouldn’t I be living here?’
‘You don’t deserve it,’ Cameron said bluntly. ‘Why should Mum bail you out by giving you a roof over your head when all you’ve ever done is cause her grief? You ran away from this house, so why the hell are you moving back?’
‘For God’s sake, I was fourteen.’
Cameron shrugged. ‘Has much changed? You were a spoiled brat then—’
‘I didn’t—’
Sarah shot to her feet. ‘That’s enough, Cam. This is simple maths. Mum’s in hospital and Ellie needs a place to live.’
‘Temporary place to live,’ Ellie clarified. ‘Very, very temporary.’
‘This is my workplace,’ Anita ground out in frustration as betrayal beat at her like the flames of a grass fire. ‘You run a business, Sarah. You know what’s important, what’s at stake. I can’t believe you’re supporting Ellie over me when we all know how flaky she is.’
‘I love you too, Anita,’ Ellie said sweetly.
‘Ellie has as much right to take advantage of what this house offers her as you do,’ Sarah said sharply. ‘I’m trying to support everyone.’
‘It doesn’t look that way to me. God, you didn’t even tell us she was moving in! I’ve got a cooking class in thirty minutes and the hall is full of boxes!’
‘This doesn’t need to be complicated.’ Sarah’s tone was the firm one she used when she spoke to staff. ‘Ellie, move the boxes out of the hall and put a hold on moving in the rest of your gear until after Anita’s class has finished.’
‘I can move the boxes but if Luke needs to return the van before five—’
‘Go and ask him. Anita, take a few deep breaths and go and do your preparation.’
Anita wanted to object to Sarah’s high-handed approach and tell her she wouldn’t need to be taking deep breaths if her sister and best friend hadn’t screwed her over. But damn it, the clock was ticking and she couldn’t risk any more hiccoughs. She needed to project a calm, professional demeanour, which was going to be a challenge given her roiling anger and the stabs of treachery inflicted by both sisters-in-law.
She kissed Cameron on the cheek and whispered, ‘Do something. Please. Don’t let her move in.’
* * *
While Sarah waited for Ellie and Anita to leave the room, she glanced out the front window of Mill House. The view was slightly distorted by the 160-year-old glass but she could see the little girls showing off to Luke by doing cartwheels. Noah was valiantly trying to match his cousins but the poor kid didn’t have their rigorous calisthenics practice under his belt and his arms kept collapsing. She read his disappointment and her heart went out to him. She could relate—Cameron had absorbed all the limelight of her childhood.
‘I thought you might need a break.’
His kindness had made her fight tears and she’d instinctively leaned in and kissed him, giving in to the relief of being able to rest her weight and worries against another person. Edmund had always been her rock. From the first day he’d started working for them, he’d always been there ready to listen. Unlike Alex, he’d let her rant and rave until she ran out of steam before giving his counsel, advice that was usually spot on. During the second expansion of the business, when she and Alex were burning the candles at both ends and she had the added responsibility of a toddler and a baby, Edmund had offered not just a listening ear but practical help as well. Now he was doing both those things again.
Are you serious? You’re calling sex practical help?
Totally! It was about the only thing giving her any joy. Good sex and listening. Edmund gave her his undivided attention as if she were the centre of everything and nothing else mattered. They’d been in bed when Anita’s hysterical telephone call had interrupted them. The coincidence wasn’t lost on Sarah—she’d been in the middle of telling Edmund about her suspicions about Anita and Cameron, her mother’s odd behaviour and her plan to move Ellie into Mill House. Reluctantly, she’d thrown on her clothes and left him. Now, after the brouhaha that had just gone down, she knew whose company she’d rather be in.
The door closed behind Anita, and Sarah turned away from the window. ‘Cam, the girls look happy. Do you have a minute?’
Her brother gave a brusque nod. ‘To talk about Princess Ellie moving in here? Hell yes.’
‘Actually, I want to talk about Mum.’
His forehead creased. ‘What about her?’
‘She’s having periods of confusion.’
‘Are you sure?’ He sat on the couch, swinging his feet onto the ottoman. ‘I haven’t noticed.’
She returned to her father’s chair and experienced a moment of melancholy. Sitting here took her back to when she was little, cuddled up on Kevin’s lap and breathing in his scent of freshly shaved wood and peppermint. He’d always kept a pack of Steamrollers in his pocket and he’d pop one in his mouth to quell his urge to smoke. He was a snuggler and, with one arm holding her close against him and the other holding the book, he’d read to her until her mother appeared in the doorway saying, ‘Enough. Bed.’
‘We better do as we’re told,’ her father would say, giving her a wink before sliding her off his lap. As a wife and mother herself now, Sarah appreciated that her mother had likely borne the bulk of the childrearing and that her father had done the fun stuff. It probably wasn’t fair to Margaret that Sarah remembered her father as the more affectionate parent.
‘When I visited Mum at the hospital, there was an incident where she insisted on seeing someone I’ve never heard of. It wasn’t anyone at the hospital. She also said something about Dad.’
Cameron rolled his eyes. ‘She’s always talking about Dad.’
‘I know, but this was sarcastic.’
‘Sarcasm’s Mum’s party trick. We’ve all enjoyed a laugh from her caustic commentary on people.’
‘Sure, but when have you ever heard her be sarcastic about Dad? The night he died, she put him high on a pedestal and no one’s been allowed to say a word against him since. That’s why yesterday was so odd and unsettling. I’ve spoken to Doctor Kafi. Apparently, the part of Mum’s brain that was affected by the stroke means she’s likely to have ongoing memory loss and confusion.’
Cameron frowned. ‘Are you sure? I mean, she was fine when I saw her.’
‘Did you ask her any questions or did you do most of the talking?’
‘I told her about the girls. Oh! I see what you mean. Still, she was making sense, so surely with a bit of support, she’ll be able to come home.’ He clapped his hands as if the discussion was over. ‘If it makes you feel any better, you don’t have to worry about her finances. I’ve got that all covered.’
‘How?’ Her mother was always very cagey about her money.
‘Oh, I’ve got power of attorney.’
Sarah sat forward so fast her head spun. ‘How long have you had that?’
‘Mum and I discussed it when I moved back last year. I thought it was prudent given she’s not getting any younger. This health scare is a case in point.’ He tilted his head as if he was a disapproving headmaster. ‘To be honest, Sar, I was surprised you hadn’t already organised it.’
Cameron’s patronising tone generated a rage inside her that was reminiscent of the time she’d been sixteen and Cameron had told her crush, Russell Dallimore, that she didn’t want to go out with him. Every muscle in her body tightened, ready to spring her out of the chair and body slam him to the ground, but she curled her fingers into the leather arm rests to keep herself seated. On and off over the last five years, she’d tried discussing both power of attorney and medical power of attorney with Margaret, but each time she raised the topics, her mother always shut her down.
My finances are private, thank you very much. I’m not prepared to discuss this with you, Sarah. My doctor and lawyer know my wishes and they’re the only people who need to know.
Jealousy and hurt stormed in over her fury. All she’d ever done was try to be a caring and loving daughter while her other siblings were off for years doing their own thing. In the line of duty, she’d put up with comments like ‘Honestly, Sarah, I’m starting to think you’re only interested in me because you want to know exactly how much I’m worth.’ Discovering that Cameron had been given a responsibility she’d been offering for years almost choked her.
Cameron must have taken her paralytic silence as agreement. ‘Anyway, you don’t have to worry. I’ll make sure all her bills are paid.’
The roar of blood in her ears increased. ‘I bet you will. Will you also make sure some of yours are paid too?’
Affronted, his features darkened. ‘That’s a low blow even for you.’
‘Is it?’ She stood quickly, fuelled by a raw dislike sparked by the remnants of childhood grudges never fully resolved. ‘Don’t bullshit me, Cam. I know Mum paid for Phoebe’s cello and Ruby’s saddle.’
He had the audacity to scoff. ‘I thought you prided yourself on not keeping score of gifts. Mum loves the girls and she wants the best for them.’
‘I agree, but why the secrecy? Why act as if you’d paid for them?’
His arm sliced through the air. ‘For this exact reason. I knew you’d be jealous.’
The arrow hit but she took the pain and rode it. The purchase date of the cello was ambiguous territory but not the saddle. ‘Did you use your power of attorney to access her money and buy the saddle?’
‘Now you’re accusing me of stealing? Oh, that’s nice. Very nice. Listen, Sarah.’ His voice was a low growl. ‘You’re not the only Jamieson child to love their mother and want the best for her. I’m sorry your feelings are hurt and that Mum trusts me with her money more than you, but tough. Deal with it. And as I’ve got power of attorney, Ellie’s not moving in.’
‘That’s not your decision to make.’
‘Oh, but it is. You just told me Mum’s confused. If that’s the case, then she’s not competent to make these sorts of decisions.’
The triumphant sneer on his face turned her gut, and the thought that Cameron had total control over her mother’s estate sucked the air from her lungs. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm. ‘Dan Horton might disagree with you.’
‘That’s immaterial.’
‘I don’t think so! He’s her lawyer. He knows her wishes and he’s mandated to act in her best interests.’
‘Not any more.’
‘What do you mean? Mum’s always been with Horton’s.’
‘She asked me to take her to see a solicitor in Melbourne so I did. She
engaged him as her lawyer. Dan’s been notified.’
Sarah flashed hot and cold as memories boomed. Cameron unexpectedly offering to drive Margaret to her medical appointment in Melbourne. The screeching noise of a slowing tram interrupting their phone call. Her mother being admitted to the Alfred Hospital instead of the Austin where she was supposed to have the scan.
‘You took her to a lawyer instead of her medical appointment?’
‘No! Of course not and I resent the implication. Her scan was in the afternoon but she never got there because she had the stroke at lunch, after the solicitor’s appointment.’
I want to talk to that nice young man who told me not to let anyone take advantage of me. His office has a magnificent view.
‘Rupert?’ Sarah’s delicious lunch curdled in her stomach. ‘As in Rupert Grimes, your mate from uni? Your lawyer?’
‘That’s the one.’ Cameron threw her a triumphant smirk. ‘Mum liked him a lot and he’s a damn sight better lawyer than bland Dan.’
She tried reassuring herself that for years she and her mother had used the same solicitor without fear or favour. That Dan was her friend as well as her lawyer, just like Rupert was Cameron’s friend and lawyer, but it didn’t help. Dan swam in a different pool from slimy Rupert, whose ethics she’d always considered questionable.
‘Did Mum see him alone?’
‘No, why would she? I’m her power of attorney, so I need to know what’s going on and what her wishes are. But you know Mum, she knows her own mind.’
Oh, Sarah knew that very well. But she was still reeling over the fact Margaret gave Cameron power of attorney when she’d always told Sarah, ‘that sort of thing’s best handled by a solicitor’.
It was out of character.
No, it’s not. Cam’s always been the favourite.
‘And what are those wishes?’ She hated asking, because it gave him power, but she had a horrible, suspicious feeling that he already held the power.
‘Oh, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah,’ he said slowly, shaking his head. ‘How ironic is this? You’ve always been the one telling us we need to respect Mum’s privacy yet now you’re asking me to break her financial confidentiality?’