Birthright

by Fiona Lowe

  ‘Cameron and Anita have joined you in making things difficult.’

  He hesitated a moment and then sat. ‘How?’

  ‘I think they’ve been committing elder abuse.’

  He laughed and she shot him a stony look.

  ‘Oh, come on, Sarah. Fair go. Surely you can see the irony in that statement? Margaret’s as tough as old boots. If there was any abuse involved, it’s more likely she’d be the perpetrator. Remember when she toppled Mary Horton as CWA president? Even you agreed it was a vicious campaign, especially so soon after Robert’s death. It was one of the few times you stood up to her and told her what you really thought.’

  ‘That’s why this situation with Cameron and Anita’s such a shock. But hindsight is a bugger and, given recent events, I think Mum’s been slowly losing her memory for some time. I hate that I didn’t see it. Worse than that, it kills me that they’ve been taking advantage of her right under my nose.’ She told him about the gifts, the will, the power of attorney, Cameron refusing to allow Ellie to live at Mill House and how she’d moved her in the night before.

  ‘You changed the locks? Go you. Cam won’t be expecting that.’ He grinned at her, his eyes as warm as melted chocolate.

  There’s my Alex. Delight filled her as she saw his pride in her. If he could look at her like that, surely he must still love her? If he still loved her, then they could come back from this nightmare they were currently living. She grinned back at him and the angst of the last nine days dimmed a little. Hope dared to glow.

  He sobered. ‘Did you talk to Dan about it first? It’s probably not legal.’

  ‘Probably, but the police aren’t going to get involved in what they consider a civil matter. If Cam wants, he can file an application at VCAT and force a hearing or he can be reasonable and let Ellie live there. I’m talking to Dan in the morning. It’s all one big mess and I’m struggling to wrap my head around it. I mean, up until Friday, I assumed Mum would be well enough to return home in a couple of weeks.’

  ‘Gus told me Margaret’s in hospital. It must be a worrying time for you.’

  His sympathy was an unexpected balm and she floated in it. ‘It is. Oh, and thank you for sending her flowers.’ On her most recent visit to Margaret, she’d been surprised to see the pretty bouquet of pink roses and white gerberas in a pink box wrapped with organza ribbon, and his Sorry to hear you’re in hospital. Get Well Soon message. Alex wasn’t known for sending flowers. ‘It was very thoughtful.’

  He swallowed and at the same time tugged at the crew neck of his jumper. The action itself was unremarkable except that she’d been married to Alex for twenty-two years and knew him too well. It was like a knife to the heart and her rage rushed back, furnace hot.

  ‘Oh my God! Kelly sent them.’

  His face flushed but his body stiffened in hostility. ‘I paid for them. It doesn’t matter who placed the order.’

  She shot to her feet, screaming, ‘Of course it bloody matters! You asked your fuck buddy to send flowers to my mother!’

  ‘God, Sarah, you can be fucking unreasonable.’

  ‘Mum? Dad?’ Gus stood just inside the door. The look on his face destroyed her.

  ‘Gus. Darling. We didn’t hear you come in.’

  ‘Yeah.’ His knuckles shone white against the strap of his backpack. ‘That’d be because you’re too busy swearing at each other. Nice. Really nice. Lucky you don’t have neighbours.’

  ‘That’s enough, Gus,’ Alex said wearily. ‘This is between your mother and me.’

  ‘Sometimes adults—’ Sarah started and faulted. What? Behave like children? Brawl like cats and dogs? ‘Lunch is almost ready. I’ve cooked a roast.’

  Her son was looking at her as if she’d lost her mind. Perhaps she had.

  ‘I’m not hungry. You two keep screaming at each other. I’m going to Jack’s.’

  ‘Gus, please.’

  But he’d closed the door on her.

  She grabbed her keys. ‘I’ll go and talk to him.’

  ‘He won’t listen to you right now. Best thing is to leave him to cool down.’

  She hated that Alex had a point. Hated that her darling son had heard them tearing each other apart. Before this awful impasse, they’d rarely argued and when they had, they’d made sure it took place away from the children. Back then, their arguments had respect woven through them, preventing them from deteriorating into a vicious slanging match. But now they were savage with the intent of inflicting flesh wounds and drawing blood. Alex had reduced their marriage to this crippled and bleeding vessel.

  ‘This is your fault, Alex. You’re one hundred per cent to blame.’

  ‘You keep telling yourself that, Sarah. I hope it helps you sleep at night.’

  He slammed the door and she grabbed the nearest thing to hand and threw it. As the heavy glass jar of marinated goat’s cheese dented the wooden door and cracked, the symbolism wasn’t lost on her.

  * * *

  Anita listened to Cameron ranting about Sarah and Ellie. Given the speed he was shovelling her apple and rhubarb crumble into his mouth, she worried he’d give himself indigestion.

  ‘And on top of all the sister bullshit, today at the hospital the doctor pulled me aside. He said Mum’s blood pressure is all over the shop and she’s got something called rapid vascular dementia.’

  ‘Oh God. What’s that?’

  ‘Not enough blood’s getting to her brain.’

  ‘What can they do?’

  ‘Not very much.’ His voice broke and he gulped another mouthful of crumble. ‘Old age is such bastard. One minute everything’s normal and the next it’s shot to hell!’

  ‘Breathe, darling.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘I’m really sorry about your mum, but if you keep on like this, you’re going to make yourself sick too.’

  He looked at her wild-eyed and bewildered; childlike. ‘You asked me to do one thing for you. You said don’t let Ellie move into the house. Now she’s bloody living there.’

  ‘It’s not your fault, Cam,’ she said stoutly. ‘I blame Sarah completely. I can’t forgive her for not telling us or backing us up. Ellie virtually said to me that she didn’t want to live in Mill House so I thought once you laid down the law, she’d back down. I mean, who moves in the middle of the night to a house she doesn’t like and changes the locks?’

  ‘That’s Sarah’s work. Ellie can barely pay her rent let alone drop three hundred and fifty bucks on an out-of-hours locksmith.’

  ‘Can we kick her out?’

  ‘We can, but Sarah’s no fool. I talked to Rupert today and it’s going to take weeks.’

  ‘Weeks?’ A flutter of despair lodged in her chest. ‘What if you find Ellie a place to live?’

  ‘In her price range? Unlikely.’

  ‘I can’t be locked out of Mill House for weeks. I’m just getting traction with Cooked By a Friend. Do you think if we compromised, Ellie would meet us halfway?’

  ‘Hah! When have you ever known Ellie to be compliant?’

  She considered his statement. ‘I know you said she was an out-of-control teenager and we both know she was pretty wild in her twenties and Noah was the result. But since she moved back to the valley she’s participated in some family things. For the sake of the business, we need to try to negotiate with her.’

  ‘The idea sticks in my craw.’ He pushed the empty bowl away, the spoon clattering against the china. ‘This is my fault. I made a tactical error telling Sarah about the will, thinking she’d respect Mum’s wishes. Turns out, Mum’s been the sensible one all this time. She knew exactly what she was doing, keeping the contents of her will a secret. I should have too.’

  Cameron’s hangdog expression drew Anita out of her chair and into his lap. With all the weekend drama and the day being consumed by talking to doctors and lawyers, they’d been too busy to debrief on the particulars of the two wills. The details of the new will both delighted and shocked her.

  ‘I suppose I can sort of understand Marg
aret leaving Ellie out of the will, but Sarah? I think it’s crushed her.’

  ‘Yeah, it’s tough. At first I was furious with bland Dan for letting Mum write her will like that but now I see it wasn’t his fault. Both Rupert and I tried to convince her it was a bad idea but she was adamant she was sticking to her guns.’

  ‘You’ve finally seen the old will?’

  ‘Yeah.’ He laughed. ‘No wonder you couldn’t find a copy in the study. When we popped in to get it on our way to Melbourne, she went straight to the bookshelves in the lounge room and pulled it out of a copy of Bleak House.’

  ‘Bleak House?’

  ‘It’s a classic. Charles Dickens.’

  That didn’t enlighten Anita at all. ‘Why would she keep it there?’

  ‘It’s a joke.’ He patted her arm. ‘There’s a legal case in the book all about an inheritance.’

  ‘Oh.’ Anita’s ignorance wrapped her up in humiliation. Every now and then her lack of a tertiary education filled her with a keen sense of shame. ‘I suppose I should read it.’

  ‘Why bother?’ Cameron kissed her. ‘I love that you know more about the latest blockbuster than the dusty old classics.’

  Reassured, she brought the conversation back to the will. ‘Sarah’s always been Margaret’s go-to person.’

  ‘Yeah, but Mum’s got a point. Sarah and Alex are completely loaded. And I know you said she hasn’t told Mum about her and Alex yet, but if they get divorced, she’ll still have plenty.’

  ‘But an inheritance is more than just the money. It’s love. Unlike Margaret, my mother was a totally crap mother and she didn’t have much, but at least she left it all to me.’

  His brows rose. ‘You sent everything to the Brotherhood— except for that cheap necklace you won’t wear because it turns your skin green.’

  ‘I know, but that’s totally different from her not leaving me anything. Nothing at all would be a permanent message from the grave that I wasn’t even worth her cheap furniture.’ Anita swallowed past an unwanted lump in her throat. ‘I like to think it was Mum’s way of apologising.’

  He gave her waist a squeeze. ‘That’s way behind you, baby girl.’

  She snuggled into his chest, grateful and thankful all of it was very firmly in the past. ‘I can’t believe Margaret’s left Mill House to me. I mean, I never thought she really liked me.’

  He stroked her hair. ‘She loves you. You’ve got more in common with her than either of her daughters. She’s leaving it to both of us, it’s just right now we’re better off financially if it’s in your name. It’s all to do with asset loading.’

  She didn’t quite understand but it clarified what had seemed to her to be an odd decision. ‘And that’s why she’s breaking tradition?’

  ‘Not breaking, exactly. More like tweaking tradition to help us out. She said as long as Dad’s wishes were honoured and I got the house, it was all good, otherwise Dad might haunt her.’

  ‘Your mum’s remarkable the way she always honours your dad. God, she must have loved him.’

  ‘Why sound so surprised?’ Cameron slid her off his knee with a gentle slap to her behind before standing up and walking to the couch. ‘I’d like to think you’d be just as loving if I died.’

  She sat next to him. ‘I’ll always love you but would you really want me to be alone for twenty-six years? I don’t get why she didn’t remarry. It’s not like she didn’t have a choice. Even now, the old blokes at the bowls club fall over themselves to buy her a drink.’

  ‘I’m glad she didn’t remarry. Imagine if we’d had to share her wealth with another family.’ He shuddered. ‘Lucky for us she didn’t. Even better, she’s looking after us. The one change she did make in the new will was a suggestion from Rupert.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘An education trust for the girls.’

  She stared at him, too thrilled to speak until she reached bursting point and a squeal of delight slipped out. ‘Oh my God! I can’t believe it. First Mill House and now a trust. Oh, Cam. We can finally relax.’

  Kissing him, she gave over to the joy sweeping through her, letting it drive out the constant niggling fear their current debt level triggered. She wanted her daughters to have the best education possible, and what parent didn’t want that? Even with Margaret’s current assistance, the school fees hovered over their heads like an ominous cloud. Now the little girls were assured of the same high-quality education as their older sisters.

  Thinking about Ava and Chloe brought Noah to mind. Despite his boisterous enthusiasm, which was so different from the girls and often overwhelmed her, he was a happy and loving little boy. Ellie, for all her flaws and general thoughtlessness, had at least got that right. But Anita had learned from an early age that society doesn’t always honour the dictum that the sins of the mother should not be foisted onto an innocent child.

  ‘The trust includes Noah too, right?’

  ‘Mum was very specific. There’s just enough for our girls.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Sorry,’ he said softly, pressing his finger to her lips. ‘I did my best.’

  ‘I’m sure you did.’ Anita blinked, disconcerted by the sudden sting of tears.

  * * *

  ‘Someone’s taken my cigarettes.’ Margaret shook out her handbag before opening the drawer of a horrible mass-produced bedside table. ‘You’ve abandoned me to live with thieves. Your father would be furious.’

  ‘No one’s taken them.’

  Margaret shook off Sarah’s hand. ‘I want a drink and I want a cigarette!’

  ‘Let’s go for walk. You can have one in the garden.’

  Sarah held out her navy woollen coat and Margaret slipped her arms into the sleeves, craving the familiarity of it. It was a classic Perri Cutten and one of her favourite pieces. Anticipation tingled in her fingertips as she dropped her hand into the hidden pocket seeking the solid, reassuring touch of sterling silver. Her fingers splayed. She rolled her wrist. All she felt was the coolness of silk. Frantic, she whirled around.

  ‘You stole my hip flask.’

  You little bitch. It’s not yours. He gave it to me. Give. It. Back. Right now, Ellie, or you’re grounded.

  Why would I want that stinking hip flask? If you weren’t half drunk all the time, you’d know you left it in the bar. It’s sitting next to the empty space where your vodka used to be. I stole that.

  ‘I’m not drunk!’

  ‘Mum, it’s okay. I know you’re not drunk. Here, hold onto your handbag and we’ll go outside.’

  ‘Sarah?’ Her eldest daughter’s voice startled her. ‘What are you doing here? When did you get back from France?’

  ‘I’ve been back a while. Let’s talk outside.’ Sarah ushered her through the sliding door out into the garden.

  ‘You and Alex should have come home earlier. It was bad enough you left me, but I’ve had to cope with your sister on my own. She’s totally out of control. I’m beside myself with worry. Do you know she’s sneaking out at night and drinking and doing God knows what down at the river with those Malevich boys?’ Margaret tugged her coat tightly around her. ‘If she’s going to be a slut at least I’ve got her on the pill. The last thing I need is her pregnant to that uncouth family.’

  ‘She’ll grow out if it, Mum. Ellie will be okay.’

  ‘Hmph! That’s what people say but I’m the only one who really knows what she’s like. I’m the one dealing with the lies and the stealing. I’ve made up my mind. I’m sending her to boarding school.’

  Sarah indicated a wooden seat and as they sat, she produced a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.

  ‘Oh!’ Margaret clapped her hands. ‘You really are my favourite daughter.’ She accepted the lit cigarette and inhaled greedily. The warm smoke drifted into her lungs and then a divine coolness swept her body, bringing a tingling and relaxing bliss. ‘God, this is almost as good as sex.’

  Sarah made a choking sound.

  ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Sarah. I might
be a widow but I’m not dead.’

  ‘I know, it’s just that since Dad died, I thought …’

  Margaret laughed, delighted to have shocked her prudish daughter. She had no idea how Sarah had managed to land the extremely good-looking Alex Hadfield when she was utterly clueless about using her body to hook a man and keep him interested. Ellie, on the other hand, had far too much of that particular talent. ‘I’m having more sex now your father’s dead than I ever had when he was alive.’

  Sarah’s brown eyes widened. ‘I—that’s—I didn’t know …’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Margaret drew in another long draught of smoke. ‘I’ve always been a big fan of sex …’

  ‘You use sex like a weapon, Margaret.’ Kevin pushed her away from his lap. ‘I won’t be used any more.’

  ‘Used? Oh, that’s rich coming from a man who needs more help getting it up than a eunuch.’

  ‘Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps it’s you I can’t get it up for?’

  Her hand shot out, palm open, but he caught her wrist.

  ‘I’ve had enough, Margaret. Neither of us deserves this. I want out.’

  A cold sweat broke across her skin, emanating the stench of fear. It had been years since it filled her nostrils, clogged her throat and seared her tastebuds with poverty, powerlessness and social ignominy. She’d worked far too hard for this comfortable and privileged life to lose it. Staying married to Kevin was essential to maintaining it.

  ‘I’m pregnant.’

  He stared at her, his face ashen. ‘How?’

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake! Have you conveniently blocked out the Lovetts’ party?’

  ‘Christ.’ He shoved his hands through his grey-streaked hair. ‘But we decided no more kids. Hell, you made that decree years ago when Cameron was born.’

  ‘You should have thought of that before you raped me in the pool house.’

  ‘I did not rape you. You’re my wife.’

  ‘That doesn’t give you the right to force yourself on me.’