Arcadia

by Di Morrissey

  ‘Take your time, Sal, and you guys should talk it over first,’ said Jessica to Sally and Toby. Then she paused. ‘Hang on, what about that envelope we found addressed to your mum? Did you give it to her?’

  Sally started. ‘I got distracted getting ready to come to Hobart and forgot! I’ll give it to her as soon as we get home. Maybe it’ll contain some answers.’

  ‘Do you know what happened to Thomas?’ asked Dan.

  ‘No. That’s a story to look into another day,’ said Sally. ‘Finding the right moment to tell Mum about all this is more of a priority, I think. I wish I could be completely sure before I talk to her, though. She’s had so many shocks this week already.’

  ‘Like I say, you don’t need to rush into it. Give it some thought.’ Jessica hugged Sally. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  *

  Jessica woke, momentarily disoriented, but then in a rush of warmth she smiled, realising where she was – wrapped in Dan’s arms.

  The berth was snug, and they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms, limbs entwined, their lovemaking as wonderful as Jessica had ever dreamed it could be.

  In the deserted cove, sheltered by rocky cliffs, the Lady Jane rocked gently in the moonlight, the sea moving slowly, as if breathing.

  By the time they berthed upriver at Burridge the following morning, Jessica was becoming familiar with the quirks of the Lady Jane, and she just knew this lovely old boat would be part of her life from now on. As would Dan.

  As she stood at the wheel, a breeze lifted a strand of her hair, and Dan leaned over and kissed her neck.

  ‘I’m glad you and Lady Jane get on,’ he said, and smiled. ‘Could you stand sharing your life with me and a boat, wherever jobs take us?’

  ‘I’ll give it a shot,’ said Jessica. A great welling feeling of peace and joy and love for this man beside her brought tears to her eyes, and she couldn’t speak. So she lifted her face to the breeze and looked instead to the horizon.

  *

  As they nudged into the dock at Burridge to secure Lady Jane, a small figure raced down the path to the wharf, waving to them.

  ‘It’s Katie,’ said Jessica. ‘With Nyx. Gosh, she loves that bird. Such a find by Terry.’

  ‘There’s Toby and Sally right behind her. Maybe a milkshake is in order.’

  ‘For you? Or Katie?’

  As Dan lifted Katie up onto his shoulders and walked ahead with Toby, Sally looked at Jessica. ‘How was it? The sailing, I mean.’ She gave a knowing smile.

  Jessica laughed. ‘Don’t be wicked. Or pry. All I can say is . . . I couldn’t be happier.’ Her voice caught and Sally put her arm around her friend’s waist and hugged her.

  ‘Me too. I’m really happy for you, Jess. Dan’s so the right man for you,’ Sally said.

  ‘Thanks, Sal. Have you talked to your mum yet?’

  ‘Not yet. I’m going to find the right time today, and give her that envelope, too,’ she said. ‘Then I feel like driving up there and bashing on Seawinds’ door and telling the Broadbent guy off, no matter how scary he is.’

  ‘What a great idea. But you’d better talk to the lawyer first.’

  ‘And to Mum, I suppose. I emailed Broadbent’s letter to our solicitor, so he has a good idea of the type of person we’re dealing with. And I’ll have to update him with this theory about Thomas Broadbent, once I’ve spoken to mum.’

  Atop Dan’s shoulders, Katie turned around and shouted to the two friends. ‘Mummy, we’re going for milkshakes, come on!’

  *

  In the lazy light of a spring afternoon, Mollie knelt by the garden bed where she’d been weeding. Pulling off her gardening gloves she stood up and patted Jasper just as Sally came along the path from the farm office.

  ‘Hello darling. You look tired! Shall I stop and we’ll have a cuppa?’

  ‘We had the same idea. Jess is putting on the kettle. She came with Dan in his beautiful old boat. Wait till you see it.’

  ‘Oh, sounds very romantic. So is there something happening between those two? I hope so, Dan seems a lovely man.’

  ‘Looks like it. Jessica is very starry-eyed. They’re well suited.’

  Mollie grinned. ‘You’ve been a good friend to her, Sal.’

  ‘You and Toby have been a big support for her too.’

  ‘If Jess is sailing off into the sunset with Dan, we’ll miss her. But she knows this is her second home,’ said Mollie as they turned and headed along the white gravel path towards the kitchen, Jasper trotting at Mollie’s heel.

  ‘Mum, let’s sit here a minute.’ Sally pointed to the old garden seat.

  Mollie gave her a look, and sat down.

  ‘The sun is nice,’ said Sally.

  ‘So?’ Mollie’s eyes narrowed. ‘What’s up? What’s happening? I know you. Tell me. Is it something you learned from Terry that you haven’t told me about?’

  ‘Yes, but first – I found this.’ Sally handed her mother the white envelope with her name written on it in beautiful handwriting.

  Mollie looked at her daughter, tears springing to her eyes. ‘It’s from Mother,’ she said softly.

  ‘I thought it might be. I’m not sure what it’s about, but I have an idea. Read it while we’re on our own.’

  Mollie slowly opened the letter, looking curious and apprehensive all at once.

  When she finished reading she was silent, her face white. She passed it to Sally while staring straight ahead.

  My darling daughter,

  As you await the birth of your first child I must share with you a truth that has long haunted me, and that is the circumstances of your own birth. Please don’t think badly of me, for I loved the man I married . . . he was my anchor, my shelter, my rock. But understanding what real love really means is like comparing our quiet creek with a surging waterfall and an Amazonian river. Until you discover it, you don’t know the worlds apart they can be. I was young and innocent, but I make no excuses for what happened; after I married Stephen I met a man I believe destiny had always intended for me. We loved each other in secret, a love we thought had never been known before by any other. When I was with Thomas I was in another world, undreamed of, unimagined, grasped moments never to be forgotten. Nor shared by any other. And then I found I was expecting you. A gift I never expected after so many childless years. Tommy, your true father, wanted you to be with us more than anything. His joy as he kissed my belly, singing to you, I will never forget.

  My dearest Mollie, sometimes in life one has to make choices and decisions that are not what you wish. To Tommy, it was simple. He wanted me to leave Arcadia, and all it meant, to abandon a man who had done no wrong, and to grasp the joy of sharing our life with each other and our child. He was a brilliant man, but not a practical man, and while I would have lived in a grass hut or an igloo with him, I thought of Stephen and of you. Tommy and I might have provided a loving home for you with parents who passionately adored each other, but always there would have been the shadow . . . of punishing a man for no reason, of depriving you of your rightful heritage. Arcadia is my home, and yours, and your child’s. Would you grow up and learn the truth and hate us, no matter what your circumstances? I tortured myself for years but the decision was made for me. Tommy saw and understood my dilemma . . . he wanted the very best life for you and decided he could not give it. He gave me one last chance to go with him. I had to tell him I could never see him again . . . and so I walked away.

  I don’t know if Stephen knew; if he ever suspected anything he didn’t let on, and he loved you as much as any father has ever loved a child. It comforted me to watch the bond between you and Stephen, and in the end, I hope you accept I made the right choice.

  Thomas Broadbent was a good man, he had his own difficulties with his family, but he only ever wanted the best for you, which I believe has come to pass.

  Forgive me
withholding this from you. It is your decision to share this with your husband and your child, or not when the time comes. Perhaps when you become a mother you may feel differently. Forgive me. You were born of love and I have loved you all my life. May your child, perhaps your daughter, love and admire you as I do, dearest Mollie mine.

  Your loving mother

  Stella Holland

  May 5th 1985

  *

  Through the kitchen window Jessica watched the mother and daughter, then turned away and took five teacups down from the cupboard.

  Toby and Dan came into the kitchen, followed by Katie.

  ‘Thanks for getting the tea ready. What’s happening? Where’re Sal and Mollie?’ asked Toby as he settled Katie at her own small table and she opened her box of coloured pencils.

  Jessica nodded at the window. ‘In the garden. Sally is giving her the old letter we found. Let’s hope it throws some light on this whole situation.’

  They all glanced outside, then Jessica poured the tea as Dan and Toby sat quietly at the table.

  Sally came inside and joined them.

  ‘How is she?’ Toby took Sally’s hand.

  ‘She’ll be okay. She needs a few moments. I can’t quite believe it, but that letter was from Stella, and she said that Thomas was Mollie’s father. Stella wrote in the letter that she always loved Tommy, as she must have called him, but that she loved Stephen, too, in her own way, and that Mollie should know that Stephen was a good man who loved Mollie with all his heart, and that Stella was at peace with her choice to spend her life with Stephen rather than Thomas.

  ‘It’s a shock, of course, and Mum couldn’t speak for a few minutes after reading it. Such a lot to take in. She was mad at Stella at first. She can’t quite cope with the idea she could be a member of the same family as her “enemies”. And she feels sorry for her father. Well, for Stephen Holland.’

  They sat drinking their tea as Mollie walked in, looking red-eyed, her face set in a grim expression, and sat down. Wordlessly, Jessica poured her a cup of tea and passed it to her.

  ‘I might be needing something stronger,’ said Mollie. She straightened up. ‘Okay, tell me everything you know. I don’t want to have any more secrets in this family, now or from the past.’

  It took a long time, but they went through every detail of what they’d found out since first finding the tin in the cave, and on their travels, and finally explained what Mrs James had told Terry about Hilda Holland’s death.

  Mollie dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. ‘I never for one moment thought my father, my father . . .’ Her voice faltered for a moment. ‘That Stephen Holland would ever do anything wrong. He cared for all his patients. And Hilda was his wife . . . Of course he didn’t want to see her suffer. But to use that as a threat, to accuse someone of murder, and of forging a will! I’m just hanging on to the idea that the other brother, Thomas, who took off, was a bit more decent. Mum must have seen something good in him. But there’s no way that family’s getting their hands on this place.’

  ‘Mollie, based on what Terry said, Stephen loved his first wife, Hilda, and cared for her right up until her death,’ said Toby. ‘I don’t believe that this other “real will” exists. And even if it does, surely Stella’s letter confirms that you are the oldest living Broadbent, and we can prove it if we have to. Broadbent loses either way.’

  Mollie was thoughtful. ‘There was that terrible drawing we found in my mother’s sketchbook,’ she said. ‘John Broadbent must have done it, trying to scare her off “his” land. They’ve been stealing from us, threatening us, for decades. My poor mother, carrying that secret for so long.’

  ‘Mum, we’ll show you everything we found in the cave another time,’ said Sally. ‘And we can find out more about Thomas Broadbent too, if you want to.’

  Mollie straightened up and said firmly, ‘Stephen Holland will always be my father in my mind. From what you’ve said, Joseph Broadbent knew how my father had cared for his sister all those years. It sounds like his son John was greedy, mean and selfish, and so is John’s son, Gordon.’ Mollie dropped her face in her hands. ‘This is so overwhelming.’ But then she looked up. ‘I wonder if Mrs James knew, about my mother and Thomas?’

  ‘Quite possibly. But she was very loyal. Like Terry. She protected this family,’ said Sally.

  ‘She certainly sounds like a kind, decent person,’ said Dan.

  ‘She was like a mother or a granny to everyone. And she had a big family. Terry must be the only one left now. Other than his siblings’ offspring.’ Mollie sighed. ‘Families. Funny things. I’m so glad Terry and I have made contact again. He’s part of Arcadia too.’

  ‘Arcadia is a very embracing place,’ said Jessica.

  ‘I think that’s because of the forest. It’s such a special world down there. Katie loves it, just as you girls did. Now that she’s seen it she wants to go there all the time!’ Mollie smiled.

  ‘Who’s coming to our forest?’ asked Katie, looking up from her colouring book.

  Sally laughed. ‘Come over here, sweetie, and give Mummy a hug.’

  ‘I know it’s a lot to deal with, Mollie, but it means you don’t need to worry about losing this place now,’ said Jessica.

  Mollie sighed. ‘Thank you for helping us with this horrible mess, Jess. I might just pay a personal visit to Seawinds.’ She stood up. ‘Right. I’m going back to my garden. I feel like the sun is shining again.’

  They watched her leave.

  ‘She’s not serious about fronting the new rellies at Seawinds, is she?’ asked Jessica quietly.

  Sally shrugged. ‘You know my mother.’

  *

  The next day, Sally and Toby returned from their solicitor’s office to find Mollie, Dan and Jessica sitting in the mellow afternoon light in Arcadia’s garden, with Katie playing nearby. Mollie looked slightly more cheerful than she had the day before.

  ‘Good news?’ asked Jessica.

  Sally smiled tentatively. ‘We’d already sent him a copy of Broadbent’s horrible letter to Mum, and we showed him Grandma’s letter, too. He said they could make things really difficult for Broadbent, especially if we get a DNA test to prove who Mum’s biological father was. He also said that everything happened so long ago it will be hard to prove, which means Broadbent’s credibility could be relevant.’

  ‘Well, you’re going to love our news then!’ said Jessica, nodding at Dan, who grinned and cleared his throat.

  ‘Remember I told you about Denyse’s friend, Kevin, who was asked to peer review Broadbent’s research paper about mushrooms? I had a call from Denyse earlier, who told me about the review findings. Apparently while most of the research is above board and even very useful, Kevin realised that Broadbent had plagiarised another scientist’s work, he stole their intellectual property. So his reputation could take a serious battering.’

  ‘Could it mean the end of his career?’ said Sally.

  ‘It would depend on how much of the paper was plagiarised, really,’ Jessica said. ‘It certainly is very serious.’

  ‘It’s a small field of extremely intelligent and dedicated scientists and mycologists and they don’t take lightly to someone being unprofessional,’ said Dan. ‘I guess Broadbent was hoping to get this through under the radar of people like Kevin and his colleagues.’

  ‘I’m just so pleased he got caught out,’ said Mollie.

  ‘And I’d say this just about settles things: shows we can’t believe a word he says,’ said Sally. ‘We’ll instruct our solicitor to tell Broadbent about Mollie’s father, that we know about Broadbent’s plagiarism, that we have absolutely no interest in negotiating with him, and we’ll fight him every step of the way if he doesn’t back down.’

  ‘Too right, we will,’ said Mollie, standing up with resolve in her eyes. ‘The main thing is, we know that Arcadia belongs to this family, and
we’ll make sure it always does.’

  ‘After all this,’ said Toby, ‘I’d be surprised if we ever hear from Broadbent again. He hasn’t got a leg to stand on.’

  ‘And good luck to anyone who tries to take on this family,’ said Sally, putting an arm around Mollie’s shoulder.

  Mollie pulled Jessica to her other side, and the three of them embraced. ‘You’re part of this family, too, Jess. Thank you, girls.’

  Epilogue

  Their footfalls were soft and quiet. When someone stepped on a twig, the snap broke the reverent silence and Jessica laughed.

  ‘Oops,’ said Sally.

  ‘Aha, is that a cue for me to speak?’ Sean stopped, lifted an arm and, pulling his cloth hat from his head, said, ‘We are gathered here today . . . to pay homage to . . .’ He made a sweeping gesture . . . ‘to this miracle of nature, which shelters and sustains all life. And brings us immense peace and joy. To the forests of the world, we salute you!’

  The little group broke into applause and laughter.

  ‘Here’s to Arcadia,’ said Dan, squeezing Jessica’s hand.

  ‘I really do feel myself relaxing,’ Sally said as she drew in a slow, deep breath of the crystal-clear air. ‘I’m going to come here whenever I feel stressed. And I’ll bring Katie here more often, too.’

  ‘It is so special. How lucky we are that it’s stayed intact,’ said Mollie.

  Carmen nodded. ‘You can just feel and hear the trees breathing; it’s utter madness to destroy places like this. Thank you so much for inviting us here, Mollie.’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Mollie,’ Sean said as he strode off towards one of the tallest trees. Then suddenly he bent down and raised his arm triumphantly. ‘It’s here! Stella-Arcadiana. It’s back!’

  As they clustered around the great girth of the tree where the tiny blue flower was pushing though the soil, they heard a laughing voice. Katie was skipping and running towards them, waving her arms.

  ‘Daddy and Uncle Terry say you have to come ’cause the barbecue is ready and they’re hungry!’