Australian Tea Party

by Sandra Pavlic

At home Christie was waiting for me at the door. It seemed she could hardly wait to tell me something.

  “Your husband is amazing,” she greeted me.

  “What do you mean?” I was a little confused.

  “He said he would help me with the article and he acquainted me with the doctor who told me about the resort, and he acquainted me with some villagers. I didn’t know he is also a journalist.”

  “Yes, he is, but it is my fault he doesn’t write for a local paper anymore.”

  “Really? Well, he should. We wrote an amazing article. Would you like to read it?”

  “Thank you. Not today. Maybe some other time. You will be here for some time, right?”

  “Yes, I intend to stay for one month. This is my home town and I miss it.”

  “I believe you. I am sorry, I am a little hungry and I would really like to go inside.”

  “Of course. I am sorry.” She withdraws a little but she wouldn’t stop talking.

  “And how was your day? Where did you go anyway?”

  “I went for a walk to clear my head. To the lake.”

  “I see. I’ve heard of that too. Will you take me there sometime?”

  “Of course. We will have a picnic there soon. You are invited.”

  “Great. With whom did you go? Tell me everything.” She wouldn’t stop.

  “How are the kids?” I tried to change the theme.

  “OK. Were you with Patrick? Will told me somethings about him. And Alice also told me you hit it well.”

  “No, I wasn’t with Patrick. I was alone. Nevertheless, what if I was with him.” I lied because I was angry at her.

  “I know that you were with him. I saw you this morning.”

  “If you already know, why do you ask?”

  “Do you like him?” she went too far.

  “Like? Christie, if you didn’t notice I am a married woman with two children. And for your information he is also married with a sympathetic Kate.

  “Oh, Kate. Did those two got married? I thought they would never last.”

  “Well, apparently they did. Now please excuse me.” I had enough of her, but I couldn’t be mad at her. After all I am just a guest here.

  It is one of those rainy April’s day again. It was raining all day. And it happens to rain today when I was supposed to go on a nice walk with the children because we couldn’t go the day before. Unfortunately I must somehow convince them that it is not best to walk in the rain and look the surroundings.

  “What will we do then? Today is so boring,” complained Kerry.

  “Don’t worry we will figure something out.” I smiled. Josh came to the room short of breath and told us wonderful news; we have a new baby horse.

  “You see, I told you we will have something to do.” We went to the barn where the children wanted to stay the whole day. Alice called me to help her with something.

  “Alice, do you know where Christie and Will are today? I didn’t see Will from this morning, and it is too quite because Christie isn’t here.”

  “As far as I know Will took her to Sydney, she had to hand in the article.”

  “So, she is not returning?” I was happy in the inside.

  “She’s coming back. Didn’t she tell you, Will and she will be writing an article about these places? Ever since you mentioned you went to the lake she can’t stop thinking about it.”

  I was surprised and I nodded my head but I didn’t say anything. Me and Alice cooked lunch and called everyone. Kerry was talking about the baby horse all the time. She even picked out a name for him but Josh refused because the name was already chosen. She was a little upset but still she talked about the horse.

  “I can see you get connected with him on the first day.” Alice somehow interrupted her.

  “Yes, we are very connected.” We laughed a bit and then Josh interrupted the laughter before Kerry could continue with the horse story.

  “This afternoon Patrick and Kate will visit us.”

  “OK, me and Caroline will be baking, OK?” suggested Alice. I nodded yes. Right after we finished lunch we started to make dough for cookies.

  “Will you also help Kerry?” I told her.

  Kerry was very happy when we baked cookies because she liked to do funny objects with the dough. We were all praising her cookies.

  They came. Kate was wearing tight blue jeans and a blue shirt. Patrick was wearing black trousers and brown shirt and a nice smile. I don’t know why but I was a little nervous. Alice was sitting us down at the table. Of course I had to sit right opposite of Patrick. Most of the conversations were going between Josh and Patrick and the woman could only watch them.

  When they were going home Patrick and I looked at each other and nodded, which meant that it is still on for next Thursday.

  Christie told us an interesting fact she read in newspaper: “Today will be meteoric rain. It is starting at 10 p.m. Let’s go see it.” She was excited and she excites us too. We were all confirming that the kids could also watch it. We bring some stools and blankets to the front porch, because it is very cold in the evening. When it was 9 p.m. Will surprised with the most romantic night of my life.

  “Alice and Josh can look out for the kids. Let’s grab a blanket and go to the church to have a picnic.” I looked at him strangely at first but I took his offer because I would really like a romantic evening. We also took some food and a blanket we can sit on and drove with our car to the church. At first it was really great; Will was very attentive with me as never before – he hold my hand, he hugged me… The meteor rain started. It was awesome. We lay on the blanket and watched the fallen stars. Some even changed colours. First we talked about regular daily thinks and then reminiscing on our younger age when we weren’t married. It seemed we were really in love than, but our love hasn’t died over the age. We could still show at each other how much we care for another. I was still the one Will loved. Or at least I thought that. After he said that we should renew our vows I was the happiest person on the planet. But then he said: “I love you Christie.” I didn’t even know how to react. I took his keys and drove home without him.

  “How was it? Where is Will?” asked Christie. I thought, I should tell you yes.

  “Don’t ask.” I shouted and ran to my room. I was so angry at him that I took all of my clothes and ran outside.

  “Caroline…” was worried Alice.

  “I’ll be at Kate’s.” I tried explaining calmly.

  “What was it? Did you fight?” she was curious.

  “You will hear it from him. Don’t worry we’ll see each other soon.” I tried calming her down. I turn away with these words and drove away. I didn’t stop until I was at Patrick’s farm. I rang and Patrick answered.

  “Patrick!” I cried and throw myself in his hug. He didn’t say anything. He grabbed my clothes because I didn’t bother to put them in a suitcase.

  “Is Kate already sleeping?” I asked, because now I was embarrassed to bother them.

  “Yes, you will see each other in the morning.” He was calm.

  “Thank you.”

  He walked me to the room where he later helps me with making the bed and put away my clothes.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “No, thanks.”

  The next morning Kate allowed me to stay at their place for as long as I like. In the morning Alice came to visit. I was lucky she was alone.

  “Tell me Caroline, what it was?” she was still curious.

  “We can go away,” offered Kate.

  “No it’s OK. I think I ow everyone an explanation. It was…” I started to talk about last night.

  “Christie?” was surprised Alice.

  “Yes.” I was sad.

  “That bastard,” said Kate.

  “I agree. I wouldn’t ever do that,” agreed Patrick

  “But I am certain he is sorry. Maybe he somehow thought of her in that second for a completely different reason and then said Christie instead
of Caroline. They were together for a whole day weren’t they?” Tried explaining Alice.

  “Oh, please. Do you really believe that?” I looked at her funny.

  “No,” told Alice the truth.

  “But I do believe I should come back. Not because of Will but because of the children. They must be worried where I am.” I said.

  “Yes, they were asking about you. But I told them that you needed a long walk.”

  “You did the right thing. Let’s go home.” I changed my mind.

  Will waited for me at home and he had a lot to say. He couldn’t stop apologizing. He said he will stop after I will truly forgive him, so I said I forgave him although that was a lie.

  It was still more rainy days which Will and I kept in silence.

  It was May and the first Thursday. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny. The kids were running around in their shorts, Kerry was playing with the horse and Mike was driving Alice crazy with his questions.

  “Mike, come here. Mommy wants to show you something.” I tried to bring his attention to me. He turned to me but didn’t come to me.

  “Mike, come.” I will still sweet. After a long negotiation he came. I took him to the barn.

  “Look, the cat has something it would interest you.” I showed him the kittens. Of course him answer was unavoidable: “What is it?” I had to laugh a bit.

  “These are young cats. You see. Let’s go outside now so that the kittens can rest.” He ran back to Alice, it seemed she was doing something interesting for him although she was just painting.

  “What did she show you?” Alice asked him.

  “A cat.” Alice looked at me and we laughed.

  The closer it was until 4 o ‘clock the more I watched the clock. After all that Will was under my feet the whole time after lunch.

  “What do you want Will?” I asked him.

  “Nothing. Can’t I be with my wife? Why do you keep watching your watch?”

  “No special reason, I just want to know what time is it.”

  “Every 5 minutes?”

  “Yes.” I was short.

  “You know Cary…” he didn’t call me like that for a long time.

  “What?” I interfered.

  “You know, everyone is outside and we have a whole house for ourselves.”

  “Sorry Will, not today.” I shortly refused.

  “There’s more.” He wouldn’t stop.

  “Say it.”

  “It will be the first June soon.”

  “Yes I know.”

  “So, what will we do?” At first I completely forget that is the day of our anniversary and I thought he wants to tell me something else.

  “Ah, that. I don’t know.” I was confused.

  Finally it was 3 o’clock. I went to change my clothes in put my camera in backpack. I was leaving in the knowledge no one was following me. I was so excited to meet with Patrick and look at horses I was singing. We met. We both had a huge smile on our faces.

  “Hi, I must say I wasn’t very certain you’d be here.” He said.

  “I didn’t also think I’d make it. Will was dancing around me all day.”

  “And how are things between you two?” he kindly asked.

  “Well…. He wants to make up for what he did.”

  “Understandable. I would also.”

  “Yes. But he still can’t explain why he said Christie.”

  Behind us we hear a branch breaking. We turned around but there was nothing. It was probably just some bird which flew away or a squirrel running to another tree. We continued our conversation about my problems with Will. We soon saw how the sun was peeking from treetops and a valley with wild horses was ahead of us.

  “Is that horse you mentioned still there?”

  “I think so, we will see.”

  We tethered our horse to the tree near a creek and we lowered ourselves further down the valley where Patrick had a fence. It was still open.

  “I will show you something.”

  He called his horse Snowy who carefully came to the fence. Patrick held him and put a saddle on him. The horse crouched and Patrick sat on it.

  “Look what we can do so far,” he praised himself. He showed me to close the gate and he was walking Snowy in circles.

  “I want to make him run a little faster, but so far I haven’t succeeded,” he explained.

  I later moved a little so that he could train the horse. I moved to the shade and watch for different poses o horses for photo shoot. I slowly get bored and wanted to go for a walk.

  “Patrick I will go around the valley.” I shouted at him.

  “If you want to stay in the shades you have a path though the wood. It is slightly longer that this but interesting.”

  “Thank you.”

  I went to the path, made a few steps and then suddenly Christie jumped in front of me.

  “You know what. You are angry at Will who said Christie instead of Caroline. What about you? You won’t even admit to Will that you are here with Patrick.” I was angry at her but I couldn’t say anything. If I think hard maybe Christie is right.

  “True. But I have a good excuse to be angry at him. Tell me, did I do something that would reflect on me saying to Will: I love you Patrick? I don’t think so.” I thought after a long pause.

  “Do you really think Will feels like you said?” She tried a different conversation.

  “It is none of your business. How did you find me anyway? Were you following me?” I was still angry at her.

  “Yes. You can’t keep secrets from everyone.”

  “What do you know? Go home.” I ran forward hoping she’d return home.

  “I would. But I don’t know the way back.” She said behind me. I turned and judging her face she meant real.

  “OK, OK. We will go together. But first let’s make some pictures.” We sat on the edge on the valley. I took some pictures and showed Christie my camera so that she also could take some pictures. Time passed by quickly and it was getting dark so we left home.

  “Christie and I will go together so you don’t have to walk us in.” I explained Patrick.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “One week or two weeks?” I asked hoping he’d know what I’m talking about.

  “One week” he answered and said goodbye.

  We were walking for a while when I asked her if she got the answer she was looking for. I thought she’d say no, but she surprised me.

  “I did,” she answered shortly and I didn’t know how to react.

  “But nothing happened.” I argued.

  “I know. But I read the answer from your eyes.” I didn’t argue anymore because I was afraid she’s right.

  I was lucky Christie was quite about it. But she expected from me to trust her and blackmail me from time to time.

  In one month I experience the most on Thursdays with Patrick, but I wasn’t happy about the forth Thursday because that was anniversary of our wedding. He still thought we should re-marry. Christie agreed with him and convinced me that it is the best idea. The preparations went according to plan and the days seemed like hours. The sun went down so fast although days were longer. I remember first June 10 years ago. I was a calm bride because I knew I’d be spending my life with the person who I love and who’d love me back. This was the best day of my life. But today I hardly wait it will over soon we will leave a normal like always.

  An hour before start Alice invited everyone for a snack. Kate and Patrick were a little late. The priest came and we were remarried after half an hour. The rest of the party took place behind the house which Alice decorated. The flowers were very colourful. Josh put up a stage where a local group played known and less known jazz songs. Will and I picked put a song to which we should dance. We picked out a song That’s true which was their original song. We both heard it before and we both liked it. A little later Alice toasted us.

  “When they needed help we took us in our home and we
are not sorry. Even then I saw the sparks in their eyes and I said to myself: no one is more in love than those two. True, that from time to time they have misunderstandings but they can overcome them easily. They are an inspiration for me. They are not made up and they don’t sugar code everything; they are natural and because of them the word love mean something. I wish them that their love never fades and they can be inspiration for many others.” She raised her glass and everyone said to Caroline and Will. I got teary eye but everyone thought those are tears of joy. But the tears were there because I finally recognized whom I really love. I realized why I get up earlier on Thursdays, why do I smile and glow when I think of him. And his name is Patrick Swayn.

  When I realized what I really felt tight at my heart. I wished that this day would not come. I danced with Will but I wanted to dance with Patrick. The song was over and it was time for the band’s brake. If Alice didn’t stop me I would probably get changed into something cosier.

  “Is everything OK?” she asked and she saw I have soft sad eyes.

  “Yes, everything is OK. The dress is a little tight.”

  Then Josh found me who asked me about the food and beverage. With this I was forced to go into the kitchen. When going outside the house Patrick interrupted me as well.

  “I can’t believe we’re friends and we haven’t danced together yet.” It squeezed me inside. Would it be OK to dance with him? I nodded yes and no at the same time and left him alone before he could say another word. In the next round of songs I said I won’t dance so I could talk to the invitees. Will followed me with his eyes the whole time. At the next brake I could slip into my room and change my clothes.

  “So you managed to change your clothes?” Alice found me in my room.

  “Yes, I can’t stand that dress anymore.”

  “I believe. Come on, I’ll fix your make-up.”

  “Thank you.” She fixed my make up so that it was more complied with the dress. Unfortunately we had to go back to the party. A dance with Patrick was inevitable. He chose his favourite song and asked me to dance. I was worried I would show too many emotions. Even though the song was long as all the others it felt we were dancing for hours. I had to be close to him, touch him and hug him. I smelled his perfume long after hour dance. I heard the beating of heart in my ears in I felt I was blushing. I tried to get out of his strong hug but I couldn’t.

  Christie went back to Sydney. Before she went she wanted to hear from me if I like Patrick or not. I would not want to share that with her but she insisted.

  “Will will take me to Sydney.” She announced after I told her a lie about Patrick. I didn’t know if what she said was deeper so I didn’t know how to respond. It was fine with me either way. On the day Christie left we didn’t do anything special so I withdraw from the rest and went writing. The time was right, there were so many suppressed emotions – love, pleasure, sadness, happiness, angry, jealousy,… I sat down to the nearly mowed lawn under the tree. The treetop of cherries made me shadow and the wind made me feel freedom. I was ready to write anything. So I started to write down from the important date after the last date I wrote in my journal. Now and then I rest a bit and listen to bird singing. Minutes turn to hours and the sun was going off the horizon. It was time to clear my stuff and went back inside the house. They were waiting for me with the dinner.

  “The night will be warm. What do you say on sleeping outside?” I suggested to the children who wanted to sleep outside for a long time.

  “Really, mum? Can we sleep outside?” Asked Kerry.

  “Of course. We will put tents in the garden and pretend we are camping.”

  “Awesome!” they yelled with one voice and ran in their rooms. I took the tent from the closet, cleaned him a little and went outside with it. I put in the middle of the garden. The children ran after me. We slept outside and in the morning Alice brought us breakfast. Josh joined us we were having breakfast together outside.

  “Let’s go swimming in the lake.”

  “Yes!!!” They yelled. I looked at Alice who nodded me yes. We went to the barn and saddled 3 horses – one for Josh and Mike, one for Alice and one for me and Kerry. I almost forgot we are one member short. Kerry reminded me.

  “Mum, where is dad?” I remember he must still be in Sydney.

  “Probably sleeping.” I said.

  “Should we wake him up?” she asked.

  “No, honey, let him rest. We will spend our day without your father.” Finally we were headed in the forest.

  Somewhere in the middle Patrick came across us.

  “Hello, are you going to the lake?” he asked.

  “Yes, the children wanted to swim. Are you coming with us?” I asked.

  “Of course, I am headed there also.”

  “How come?”

  “Well it’s a beautiful day isn’t it? Besides I need a rest from my wife,” he replied.

  “Where is Will? I expected him to go along.” Patrick was curious.

  “Daddy is still sleeping. Mum said not to wake him up.” Replied Kerry. Patrick agreed. He must’ve felt that was not the truth. We came to the lake. The children ran into the lake and the rest of us make the blanket and took our food and drinks outside our backpacks.

  “Mum come!” yelled the children. We had no other choice than to join them. When we went outside Patrick wiped me with a towel. We are, swim, ate and when it was dark we went home. Will was not very happy when we didn’t wait for him at home.

  “You were wandering around?” he was angry and didn’t let us in.

  “Daddy, you woke up?” Kerry was excited.

  “Yes, honey. Where have you been?”

  “At the lake. Let us in, I will explain everything.” I said.

  “Yes, yes, I am unlocking the door.” He let in everyone but me.

  “You, stay here.”

  A long time passed before Will came outside for me.

  “Well, do you have anything to tell me?” he was curious.

  “Me? We went on a family picnic. Where were you the whole night?”

  “In Sydney, where else.”

  “Of course, you were in Sydney with Christi while I was here hoping nothing bad happened to you.”

  “You were worried about me? Interesting. After so many days you went missing for a whole day, now you are worried about me,” he was sarcastic.

  “You know what. I will not comment on that. You know damn well that I didn’t do anything wrong.” He looked at me ugly.

  “May I go inside now?” I asked. He showed me with his hands to the door. I joined the rest of them in the living room and he stayed outside. We were playing cards with the children and no one saw when Will went to his room. After two hours of playing cards we decided to go to bad. I joined the kids to their rooms and sad them good bye, and then go to my room. Will was lying in bed and waited for me with open journal. He couldn’t look me in my eyes and was watching at the last page where it said who I really love.

  “Patrick?” he said quietly.

  “Yes.” I shortly answered.

  “How? When? Why?” he was curious.

  “He can say things, you can’t. He makes me feel good in his company.”

  “But you are married. And he is also.”

  “Well… I don’t know if he feels the same way.”

  “But you want him to.”

  “Very much.” I said the truth.

  “And where am I? And our children?” he wanted to know.

  “With me. As soon as we move out it will be back to normal as it was before we moved here.” I was still calm.

  “I see. You know what. Once you feel you don’t love me anymore you will feel it again,” he raised his voice a bit.

  “You don’t think at all. You just went to the unknown romance,” he was angry at me.”

  “Well, you too are not the best partner. How long have you been sneaking around with Christie?” I was angry at him as well.

  “Don’t invo
lve Christie into this.”

  “Why not? It is always my fault for everything that happened. You are just following me right?” I was upset.

  “Christie is a loving woman who loves our children and was ready to help our marriage.”

  “Of course, so that she could turn it to her was.” I got tears in my eyes.

  “Say what you want, that doesn’t change the fact that that you fall in love with Patrick every Thursday.” I never saw him angrier as right now.

  “You know what. Go back to Sydney. I don’t know why you came back. So that we can fight again?” I left the room with tears in my eyes. I didn’t see Alice or the kids. They caught me at the front door.

  “Mum, why did you fight? Did we do something wrong?” Kerry was sad.

  “No honey, it is not your fault. The parents have to fight sometimes. Go back to you bad. Good night.” I dismissed them.

  “Caroline….” Alice looked at me lovingly.

  “I can’t go on like this. He can’t blame only me for our failed marriage. Tell me I am right.”

  “You are right,” she was worried.

  “Now excuse me, I can’t even breathe in this house. You can find me…” I wasn’t sure where I’d be but Alice figure out I’d be at Patrick’s.

  “Yes, at Patrick’s. Don’t tell Will.”

  I rode my horse and went through the black forest do Patrick’s farm. I didn’t even mind the fear from the night and creatures from the forest; I had only one goal in front of me – to trust my burdens to Patrick. It was midnight when I arrive to Patrick’s house. Even though there was no light I knocked the door and rang the bell. I had to ring a few times before a light upstairs turned on. I heard someone going downstairs and I hoped it would be Patrick.

  Kate opened the door. “Caroline. What is wrong?” She seemed worried.

  “I had a huge fight with Will. I can’t be in the same house with him anymore.”

  “Come inside.” she let me in. She offered me something to drink but I refused. She seemed sleepy and I let her go to sleep, we will talk in the morning. She sat me in in one of the rooms. Kate probably falls asleep very fast but I couldn’t. When the first sun rays light up the room I stand up and went downstairs. Kate and Patrick were still sleeping. I went outside for some fresh air. When I heard a small creek I went to it and sat down by it and thought of everything that was going on. Soon Kate woke up and found me by the creek and joined me.

  “So you and Will are having problems,” she started the conversation.

  “Yes. Think. He was the one who spend his whole night in Sydney and he blames me for failed marriage.”

  “I think in relationship a partner always blames the other. Maybe you didn’t give enough support, love, were not good with him… They make something up.”

  “Yes.” We were chatting by the creek and she explained that she and Patrick also have a crisis.

  “So, he also slept somewhere else last night.”

  We were both upset because of our problems but we could not get passed them without talking about it. We made a deal that we spend the day together and later she will be joining me to Alice’s and she will show me her support in suggesting a divorce to Will. Considering she gets in better mood when baking I helped her bake. In the afternoon we went to the village and distribute our cookies. Meanwhile Kate was asking about Patrick but no one knew where he was.

  The evening came too soon and it was time to go back to my family. I let Kate stay at home and went to the road alone. Because of my nerves everyone sound was disturbing me and I was scared. They all said: “Finally,” when I came back. As I thought Patrick was also there.

  “Is she missing me?” he asked.

  “Yes.” I answered.

  “I’ll let her miss me more,” he was short.

  Even though I had a long speech prepared about how we are not the same couple, how Australia changed us, how we grew apart and a conclusion with a sentence we should get a divorce, I only said: “I came for my things You can see me in the hotel.” I went upstairs and packed. Everyone tried to stop me at the door but I went passed them.

  I got lucky that there was a free bed in the hotel so I booked it right away and said I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. They looked at me strangely but didn’t say anything. They gave me a key to my room. When I was a little less angry I decided to write again because the last days were worth the write. I went for dinner. I sat down and started eating when I saw a man I liked.

  “I realized you were right. A hotel is the best solution for now.”

  Patrick sat down and we talked about my decision. He said he will join me. He already packed his clothes and brought his suitcase. After the dinner which was on my account we head to the reception for another room for Patrick.

  “I am sorry. The last available room was taken by your friend,” apologized the receptionist. Patrick and I withdrew for a moment and I awkwardly invited him to my room. Patrick joined me in the room and we were awake all night talking about our problems. In the morning we ran out of energy and we fell asleep. I woke up before him and caught the last minutes of breakfast. I sneaked a few packs of marmalade and bread to the room for what Patrick was excited. We thought about going to the woods but we decided it is not the best idea. So we stayed in the hotel and joined hotel’s animation program. First we learn how to model and pain. Even though we spent a lot of time together Patrick had no idea I liked him. We became just really good friends. After one week we received an invitation from Alice for the last tea party, before I move back home with my family. Of course everyone who joined the first tea party was invited and everyone we met during our stay here. Christie was one of them. Patrick joined the hiking with the hotel’s guests and I stayed in my room to think things over. I knew it is good for me to write about my thoughts.

  “I almost forgot that one year is over. Me and my family are still in Australia but soon, very soon we will have to move. We already made plans – back to my mother’s. But am I ready to leave all this and live the way it used to be? I don’t know that.

  Today I received an invitation to the last tea party here. My husband will be there, and his mistress and everyone who was witness to my failed marriage. Why would I go then? Will I have fun? Will I say goodbye to all my friends right on this day?...”

  I was interrupted by a telephone call.

  “Please.”

  “Miss Alice is on the phone. Should I transfer?” I heard a voice from the receptionist.

  “Yes.”

  “Hi Caroline. How are you?”

  “Better, but I still don’t want to see Will.”

  “So you received an invitation?”

  “I did.” I was short.

  “And you decided not to come?” she wanted to know.

  “Almost.”

  “Please do this for me. Pretty please,” she bagged.

  “I will think about it.”

  “OK, I’ll call you later then. When? In one hour, two hours,…?”

  “Doesn’t matter; just call me later, OK.”

  “Please decide to come. You still have three days to prepare to meet with your husband.”

  “I know. How is he? Is he happy because I am not there?” I wanted to know.

  “No, he is wondering down the house searching for excuses not to think about you.”

  “OK, and the children?”

  “They miss you a lot. I can put them on the phone.”

  “Yes, please.” I really wanted to hear them. First it was Kerry who said she misses me more than when she was in the hospital. Mike misses me as well. After hearing them I decided to come to the tea party. I let Alice know that.

  Soon Patrick came back from his hike and he told me that he also decided to come to the party. We knew it will be awkward but we had different reasons for tension.

  The day came when Patrick and I needed to leave the hotel and come back to reality. We had to see the people who were building our lives, peopl
e who carried our secrets and people we were afraid of. We were worried. Both. A lot. We came together so there was no surprise that everyone found that strange. The English probably thought: “What do they do together?”; the minister thought: “Are they cheating?” Alice thought: “Not with him.”, Kate thought: “How could they”… I even saw Will: “It was only a matter of time.” It was hard not to see their faces and put them to rest with a few words: “We met in the village.” Everyone must’ve known that he is with me in the hotel, but still we tried to blend in with the rest. Will came to me and pulled me aside.

  “Hello. So you are with him?” he was curious.

  “No, he doesn’t know anything.” I told the truth.

  “Well, the secret will be revealed tonight,” he said and turned around. Then Christie came outside the house. I almost forgot she was also invited.

  “Hi Caroline. Are you ready to say goodbye to all of this?” she was curious as usual.

  “Actually not yet,” I replied.

  “It seems so, yes. Will told me about Patrick,” she was also judgemental. So everyone knows that I’m in love with the friend. I went to the house to look for children.

  “Mum!” they were both happy.

  “Mike, Kerry! I am really glad to see you.” I hugged them and never wanted to let them go.

  “How nice view. Too bad it will be over soon.” I heard Will.

  “Come go outside.” I told them like I didn’t hear Will.

  We went outside where Alice was counting something. I offered my help but she refused and said that everything is in order. I didn’t understand what she meant. She let us sit at the table.

  “Friends,” she started her toast which we all knew it will be long.

  “Today we are here to say goodbye to the young Ward family. As you all know they are going back to England next week and we will all miss them…” When she mentioned England I drifted away so I didn’t know when he was finished and that she wanted me to say something. The children whispered to me: “Mum, say something.”

  “Yes, like Alice said we are leaving next week.” I make something up because I didn’t prepare a speech like Alice. “I have to admit I will miss all of this. Australia grew on me.”

  “So stay,” someone said but the voice was too silent so I couldn’t recognize it.

  “I am bad at speechless so I will just say I will miss you all.” I finished my speech.

  “No please, before Will says his speech which he planned for a week, have something to eat and drink.” Alice suggested. So I can see Will was preparing for this afternoon. We ate something and talked about past year.

  “So Caroline do you know what you will do when you will be back in England.” Asked me Kate.

  “I don’t know, I will probably go back to the company I was in before we moved.”

  “And what if you fail?”

  “I honestly don’t know.” I thought about it for a moment. Later it was Christie’s turn for speech.

  “It is like this. Instead of some big speech Will and I decided to tell everyone the secrets which happened during the last year. I will start. Caroline, you are probably wondering what Will and I did the night he was in Sydney with me.”

  “Yes, although I think I already know.” There was some angriness in my voice.

  “Ok. So I’ll start at the beginning. I will explain how we get the idea that he will be driving me to Sydney. Do you remember the day I followed you in the forest. Unfortunately you didn’t do anything wrong I could talk about but I felt you like him. I don’t know why you decided to have a walk when you discovered me. We were talking and you manage to tell me a lie that there is nothing going on between you and Patrick. Of course I was later in the middle. So after that day you went to him every Thursday. When I asked you about Patrick one more time the day I left you again told me a lie. Will and I decided to make you jealous by driving me to the Sydney. He thinks he is too much around you and making too much effort for you, while you do nothing…”

  “Nothing?” I interrupter but she didn’t mind me.

  “Silence, I am talking now. You will get you turn. Yes it is true I tried to seduce him because I knew he is missing a woman’s touch. But Will loves you too much. But he loved the idea to come home late because he hoped you would confess you are jealous and fall into his arms. But instead Will found out something completely different.”

  Then Will talked: “It is true. I can home. I hoped you would sleep or at least think somewhere where am I. But when I came back the house was empty. I knew where Alice and Josh are hiding their keys so I could go inside. I went to the room where I found something of yours. A notebook. I think you call it journal. You left it open on the day you were last writing in it. I didn’t rewrite it but I will sum up it in a few words. The whole page was written about how you love Patrick and how you are afraid of these emotions. You know that he is married, you are also married but you still find a way to love him. You don’t know yourself how but you know when you realized it. But you didn’t stop being his friend. “

  After hearing these words I wished to run away from all these people. I stand up but Kate ordered me to sit down: “I wonder what else has your husband in mind.”

  He continued: “When you came back we talked about it and fight really hard. You ran through the woods to Patrick. But unfortunately Patrick was not there. There was only Kate who didn’t know anything. You knew you had to tell her something you said how we fought again but it was my fault because I didn’t came back from Sydney the same day. Well, you somehow came back but only for a second. Only that you could pack your things and went to the hotel where you met Patrick again. Was it all planned?”

  I couldn’t speak. I was ashamed. Very. Everyone was quiet and I thought it was my turn to talk. But it wasn’t. Alice was only encouraging herself to say: “Here it is. I partly believe Caroline and partly Will. For her love for Patrick I didn’t know until now. But I think her love is real. To tell you the truth, this girl had a few reasons to fall in love with another man. Now you all think I am at her side. But you didn’t live with this family. At first I thought they are the perfect couple. But soon I saw that Will has problems with being too jealous quickly. And no, this isn’t Cary’s saying, I noticed it myself. He was bossy the whole time and she couldn’t do anything without him. I remember one day we were the whole day in the village and then in Sydney and he flipped out. I wouldn’t wonder a lot if he hit her. In the beginning of this year when Kerry was in the hospital he blamed her for everything. After we were used to his jealousy other things came. There was a friendship with Patrick and of course Christie who let everyone knows that that she wanted to steal her husband. I don’t know how Caroline survived so long. If I was in her shoes I’d run away faster. And now if no one has to say anything I let her say a few words about it.”

  “Yes, I would.” Kate said.

  “To tell you truth I never thought any other woman could fall in love with my husband. Well, apparently it happened. But I trust my husband and I know that he doesn’t feel the same way for her. But it is true that they were together in the hotel. But Will, here is your answer – no it was not all planned. When Caroline decided to go to the hotel Patrick came to me and apologized. He said he didn’t have to fight with me. It is not important why we fought. But I know you all are interested why he went after her. This story also has a background. I couldn’t get pregnant and because I needed the surgery I start gambling. I almost gambled everything we owe when luck turned to my side. I wouldn’t tell Patrick where I was so I told him a lie. He found about it on the day we fought and he said he needs to be alone and re-think some things.”

  “It is true,” agreed Patrick. It seemed he had nothing more on his mind so he was quiet. It was my turn to talk, but I was too embarrassed and upset to talk. I ran out of the room.

  Soon Alice ran after me: “Caroline. I am sorry for all that was said.” She was feeling sorry.

  “Forget it A
lice.” I was upset. There was silence between us but she didn’t go away.

  “Please help me get my stuff and take me to the airport.”

  “OK,” she was nice. I took everything I had and slip through the backdoor from where I headed to the hotel where I had to pay for my stay. She drove me to Sydney, but there was silence the whole time. When I needed to get out of the car I start crying. I told her how much I will miss her and I will write her as soon as possible. We broke up.

  I bought an airplane ticket but there was still enough time to go to the city. I tried very hard not to think about all those things they said about me and Patrick. I bought at least 10 magazines to read during my flight. I stopped at my favourite restaurant and the head waiter who knows me served me. The question where is my husband was inevitable. I didn’t say anything; I just order what I will have and told him it is my last day in Australia. I headed back to the airport. In the plane instead of reading the magazines I was sleeping the entire time. I phone my mother when I arrived to the airport, who was expecting my call even though it was 1 o’clock in the morning and she came to pick me up.

  “Caroline! I missed you so much!”

  “Mum! I missed you too.”

  “So I see that Will and the children stayed in Australia.”

  “Yes, I told you already that we had a big fight.”

  “Yes. Come home, sleep and then you will tell me everything about Australia.”

  “OK.” We drove home.

  I told her everything about Australia, what was happening, how we stayed there, what we did… She heard something before but she was glad to hear about it some more. I told her about the painful stuff also; how Will and I started to fight, how I fell in love with Patrick, what was said during the last tea party and why did I arrive home before anyone else. She was a good consolation. Because I missed England so much she said we’d go around it in the next days.

  In the morning a door bell woke me up. It was the postman.

  “Good morning. Are you Miss Ward?”

  “Yes, Caroline Ward.” I was surprised.

  “You have a registered letter. Sign here please.” I sign and he took off. It was still early but I couldn’t get back to sleep. I opened the letter. There were some papers and an explanation: Will Ward want to divorce me and he want to take my kids. I get really mad. When my mum woke up she was also mad and we both wandered around the house and we couldn’t find a solution for my problems. I knew I have to answer to the letter and I have to get in touch with my lawyer in Australia if I want to keep the children. We found Mr. Thomas whom I told everything about me, Will, stay in Australia and so on and we signed the contract and we both wrote a letter to my husband’s lawyer.

  “So miss Ward, we hear each other in two weeks when we receive an answer. Try to calm down in the meantime; you will get your children back.”

  “Thank you, you are very kind.” I thanked the lawyer.

  The news really came in two weeks. Will soften a bit and will sent me the kids home in England. I was really excited. He also explained that I don’t have to go to Australia for a divorce; it can go over the papers.

  “Finally a real home.” Said Kerry when they arrive back in England which they missed a lot. I couldn’t help smiling about it. The divorce didn’t get to me as I thought it would. What really got to me was a letter from Alice sent through my children.

  “Caroline!

  How are you? It’s been so long since you left and I haven’t received any other news than when you came to England from you. I assume you didn’t want to send anything because of Will. Well, you must be divorced by now. I have some news of my own, but unfortunately they are not very happy.

  1.Kate finally got pregnant but Patrick dumbed her because he realized he loves you too and he can’t have a baby with somebody else.

  2.Josh had an accident on the day you went away. You probably know that like to drink. Patrick called him because he wanted to talk and Josh sat in our old pickup truck really drunk to go to him. There was a hiker on the way and Josh didn’t see him fast enough. The hiker died but Josh lost one leg. He is now in a wheelchair and he is not happy about it. He feels really sorry about the hiker.

  3.But a bigger tragedy was done at the airport. After Patrick realized he loves you, he decided to go to England after you. I drove him to Sydney and he was very happy. To tell you the truth I don’t know when I last saw him happy like this. The plane somehow corrupted and it fell down right after the take-off. You probably heard of this accident but you didn’t worry about it. 4 men died on that plane. They were all seating on the right side next to the window at the head of the plane. You probably know what is coming next. Amongst the 4 of them was our friend Patrick. I am sorry for you lost Caroline,…”

  I couldn’t read any further because the tears showered my eyes.

  THE END