The Red Dirt Road

by Alissa Callen

  ‘Cressy said there’s no rush. You might find you want to stay more than two nights.’

  ‘Maybe.’

  Ever since Hewitt had returned to the office and seen Fliss sitting on the floor staring at a photo, she’d been hard to read. One minute she was relieved at knowing who she was and the next she was angry.

  ‘How could Lewis be my father? Why didn’t they tell me?’

  Hewitt took hold of her hand. ‘I’m sorry I don’t have the answers, but Lewis will. Meredith didn’t know?’

  ‘No, she’s just as shocked as I am. She still doesn’t know how Mum even knew him. Cressy has no idea how this could have happened. She’s always liked him, so she’s actually really pleased.’

  ‘If Cressy’s met him, did your father meet him too?’

  Fliss pursed her lips as she thought. ‘No. The only time he would have was at my university graduation. But Jean wasn’t well so Lewis came and went quickly. But I’ve mentioned him countless times over the years and never once did Mum or Dad react in a strange way.’

  The strain in her voice was reflected in the furrows in her forehead. Hewitt ran his thumb across the back of her hand. ‘Did you end up calling Lewis to let him know we were coming?’

  ‘No. I was going to, but then if he doesn’t know, it will also be a huge shock to him. He’s just lost Jean.’ Fliss’s grip tightened on Hewitt’s hand. ‘So many secrets. I wonder if she knew? Jean always said I was the daughter she and Lewis couldn’t have.’

  ‘We’ll find out the truth soon enough.’ Hewitt reached behind his seat for the blanket he’d thrown in the ute along with their bags. ‘We’ve still got a long way to drive, so why don’t you sleep? I have a feeling it’ll be a late night once we get there.’

  ‘Thanks for coming with me.’

  He kissed her hand. There wasn’t anywhere he’d ever want to be but by her side. With Fliss with him, fear no longer wielded any power. He’d never run in the wrong direction again. Whatever life threw at them, they’d face it head-on and together.

  ‘Anytime.’

  Soon her breaths were soft and her lashes lay dark against her skin. When she stirred, he tucked the blanket around her.

  The rain followed them as they headed east and only eased as they climbed the escarpment. Once past the Blue Mountains the traffic slowed as they hit peak hour. The urban landscape beyond the ute already made him yearn for the open space of the bush. A horn squealed as an impatient driver registered their annoyance at the car ahead of them.

  Fliss woke and busied herself with finding last-minute accommodation close to Lewis’s home. Hewitt made sure she had something to eat, even though she picked at her hamburger they’d bought from a trendy roadside steakhouse. As streetlights cast a sombre glow and house lights spilled from between half-drawn curtains, they pulled up outside Lewis’s home.

  Hewitt brushed hair from off her cheek. ‘Good luck. I hope you find the answers you’re after. I’ll wait here until you’re done.’

  ‘Come with me. Please. I want … I need you there.’

  The sudden vulnerability in her eyes had him lean in close to kiss away her fears.

  The question of whether Lewis knew he was Fliss’s father was answered the moment he opened the door. A sharp, intelligent stare raked over Hewitt with an intensity and protectiveness that left Hewitt in no doubt he wasn’t the only one who loved Fliss.

  Lewis stepped forwards to hug her. ‘This is a surprise.’

  Fliss didn’t return his hug. ‘Is it?’

  Expression thoughtful, Lewis studied Fliss’s face. Even in the poor light Hewitt could see subtle hints they were father and daughter. As much as Fliss resembled her mother, Hewitt could see Fliss’s skin had her father’s golden tone. She also shared his height along with his long, slender hands. As their eyes met and neither looked away, he guessed they shared the same tenacity.

  ‘No, it’s not. I knew … hoped … this day would someday come.’

  He moved away to allow Fliss to walk past. Lewis looked at Hewitt, eyes narrowed.

  ‘Your name had better be Hewitt, or you’ll have to wait outside.’

  Hewitt held out his hand. He already liked Fliss’s straight-talking father. ‘Yes, it’s Hewitt.’

  ‘Just as well.’ Lewis shook his hand before stepping aside. ‘Come in. I already know you don’t like vectors, vodka shots or bubbly blonde interns.’

  At the end of the hallway Hewitt could see Fliss pacing in the living room. He sat on the brown leather lounge and she came to sit beside him. Her thigh pressed against his as if needing the reassurance of physical contact. He rested his arm across the back of the lounge behind her. Her quick, soft glance gave him all the thanks he needed.

  Lewis sat in a wing-backed chair opposite them and crossed his legs. He almost appeared at ease, as though a huge burden had been shifted from him.

  The older man opened the conversation. ‘I’ll answer any question you have with nothing but honesty. Where do you want to start?’

  Fliss stared at him for a moment. ‘You knew my mother?’

  ‘I did. I also loved her.’

  Fliss’s back straightened. ‘But Jean was your wife. I know how much she loved you.’

  Sadness clouded Lewis’s eyes. ‘I loved her, but in a different way to how I loved your mother … and never stopped loving her.’

  ‘Did Jean know?’ Anger clipped Fliss’s words.

  ‘Yes. Maybe it’s best if I start at the beginning.’ Lewis stood and moved to a dark mahogany sideboard and slid open the top drawer. He took out a framed photo and handed it to Fliss.

  The picture had been taken near the same rock pool and on the same day as the one Fliss had found. Except in this one, a woman who resembled Fliss had her arms wrapped around Lewis as they smiled at each other.

  ‘Jean took that at the beach near your mother’s house. We were all friends.’

  Fliss stared at the photo and her shoulders relaxed. ‘Mum looks so happy, so young. She loved you. I can see it in her eyes.’ Fliss looked back at Lewis and when she spoke her voice had lost its hard edge. ‘What happened? What went wrong?’

  Lewis sighed. ‘Life. You know I met Meredith when she was staying with Audrey’s family because I used to mow their lawns to pay my way through university?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Well, I did odd gardening jobs for several families. Even though I had a scholarship for Sydney University, it wasn’t enough. My mother was a single mother and I had two younger brothers to support.’

  ‘And your father?’

  Lewis’s mouth thinned. ‘Let’s just say he drank too much and left my mother for a girl half his age. From the day he walked out we never saw him again.’

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  Lewis nodded. ‘I worked for Jean’s parents as well as your mother’s as they were neighbours. It had been a hot summer and on my first day at your mother’s house she brought me a cool drink. When I ripped my shirt, she offered to patch it.’ Lewis paused. ‘She was like you, Fliss. She cared so deeply about people.’

  Fliss reached for Hewitt’s hand.

  ‘But her parents were overprotective and they had money. Their daughter having a relationship with the gardener wasn’t exactly what they’d hoped for her. So we kept our meetings on the beach secret. Jean always knew as she helped us arrange times to be together. But somehow your grandparents found out and they whisked your mother away to Europe for a two-month grand tour.’

  Lewis rubbed his temple, a gesture Hewitt had seen Fliss make. ‘What happened next was my fault. I missed your mother so much I would go to the beach where we’d meet. Jean started to come and see me. I didn’t think anything of it. Jean knew I loved your mother but … one wet afternoon when we were walking back she slipped on the steps near the lifesaving club house. I helped her up and she … kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back and very gently told her I couldn’t be anything but a friend. Upset, she ran up the steps and out into the car park …’
>
  Lewis stopped. His lips compressed together.

  Fliss’s hold tightened on Hewitt’s hand. ‘And she was hit by a car.’

  ‘She was.’ Lewis briefly closed his eyes. ‘I felt so much guilt, so much remorse. Jean suffered a brain injury that affected her vision and speech and meant she’d need lifelong support. It soon became obvious her family wouldn’t be there for her. They were happy to pay for whatever help she needed, otherwise they were preoccupied with their own lives. I sat by her bed for days and when she could understand what I was saying I promised I would always be there for her.’

  Silence cloaked the room before Fliss asked, ‘What happened when Mum returned?’

  ‘She’d known Jean loved me and felt immense guilt for not warning me. That night was our last night together. She knew her parents would never approve of us marrying. She also knew I’d honour my promise to Jean on top of providing for my mother and studying. I think she believed she would only make everything worse if she stayed with me. She went on a trip with her parents out west to visit family friends. Within three weeks she was engaged to their son and within six weeks they’d eloped.’

  ‘Then I arrived.’

  A light returned to Lewis’s weary gaze. ‘Yes, you did. You were the most beautiful baby.’

  ‘Mum told you?’

  ‘Yes. She told everyone who needed to know. Otherwise it wasn’t common knowledge.’

  Fliss blinked. ‘Everyone?’

  ‘Yes. Your father, his parents, her parents, Jean and myself.’

  ‘And they were all okay … about me?’

  ‘Yes and no. Your mother’s parents never accepted you, even when you grew older. But your father’s parents already loved your mother like a daughter and they loved you just as much.’

  ‘And Dad?’

  ‘Let’s just say he had his own reasons for not wanting to cause trouble. His parents had the grandchild they’d wanted and a daughter-in-law they adored and this allowed him to fly under the radar and live a life they wouldn’t approve of. In his own way, I believe he loved you as if you were his.’

  Fliss looked at the photo resting on her lap. ‘Did you ever see Mum again?’

  ‘I did. At first she sent letters and photographs. Then when you came to boarding school she’d visit Sydney and we’d catch up for a coffee or go for a walk along the beach. But we were never … together again, if that was what you were asking?’

  ‘It was.’

  ‘Your mother did care about your father and tried to make it work, and I would never have dishonoured the promises I made to Jean. She wasn’t a jealous person and when you came into our lives you became very special to her.’

  ‘She was special to me too.’ Fliss touched the corner of her eye. ‘If everyone knew, why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘It was your mother’s decision. Your happiness and wellbeing meant everything to her. We’d planned for me to bump into you at uni and to go from there. But, it was almost as though life was trying to make amends when Meredith asked me to look out for the daughter of her dear friend. Then your mother went to Tasmania …’

  Lewis’s hoarse words revealed how much he still mourned the loss of Fliss’s mother. He cleared his throat before he spoke again. ‘To be honest … with Jean and your mother no longer here, I’ve been wrestling with whether to tell you or not.’

  Fliss smiled her beautiful smile at the man who’d always been like a father to her. ‘Thanks to DNA and to Mum keeping a very well-hidden picture of you, I worked it all out and … here I am.’

  Fliss passed Hewitt the framed photo before standing to cross the living room. Lewis came to his feet and they exchanged a long and tight embrace.

  When Fliss pulled away, the tears in her eyes made Hewitt’s chest ache. The woman he loved, and who had filled his world with colour and light, now had all the pieces of her life returned to her.

  EPILOGUE

  ‘You know we really do need to use the veranda furniture,’ Hewitt said, voice husky as she leaned back against him.

  Fliss snuggled into his arms. Having Hewitt hold her while they sat on the top veranda step was as much of a morning ritual as it was drinking her tea with Molly and Max sprawled beside them. Except today the border collies had had their coats brushed and were tied up near their kennels. They’d be let off later when everyone arrived.

  Fliss glanced at the white wicker furniture they’d bought together. A vase of the last of her pale pink iceberg roses sat on the glass-topped table. Summer still staked its claim during the day, but once the sun descended, autumn’s chill made it known winter was not far away.

  ‘Why use a chair when the floorboards are as comfortable as a sofa?’ she said with a grin.

  Hewitt laughed and Fliss loved the way the deep sound made her stomach flutter. He continued to move her like no man ever had. The deep connection and happiness she’d always yearned for, and seen Cressy and Denham share, was hers.

  They now lived at Bundara fulltime and Hewitt had recently exchanged contracts on the property next door. Bundara had become a sizable holding and Hewitt had the property he’d always dreamed of. Bundara’s bluestone homestead would remain their home and Hewitt would rent out the new farmhouse.

  Wade had his diabetes under control and was out in the paddocks again where he’d always wanted to be. Poppy was his constant companion and when she wasn’t in the ute she was lying by the sandpit watching Quinn or going for walks on her pink sparkly lead with Lizzie. Ava and Dean had announced their engagement and plans were underway for Dean to leave the family partnership with his brothers to run Mayfield with Wade. Vernette’s knitting and craft had taken over the house. When Fliss had been looking for a blanket in the linen cupboard she’d discovered a shelf of embroidered woollen baby blankets and handmade quilts.

  From over at his kennel, Max barked.

  Fliss turned to look at Hewitt. ‘Who do you think will arrive first?’

  ‘It won’t be Ava. They’d all still be half an hour away. It would be Ella. She’s always on time.’ Hewitt’s arms tightened around Fliss as he lowered his head. ‘Which means I’d better do this before we have a garden full of guests.’

  Hewitt’s kiss left her wishing they had more time before everyone arrived for the belated housewarming.

  As predicted, it was Ella’s car that appeared first. She parked near the stables and gave them a wave as she opened the garden gate. Dressed in a fitted white dress and heels, the sunlight showcased her blonde beauty.

  Fliss sighed. ‘I worry about her. She could have anyone she wanted but she still doesn’t seem interested in dating. Which is more than fine, but sometimes she looks so lonely.’

  ‘She’ll get her happy-ever-after, you’ll see.’ Hewitt stood and pulled Fliss to her feet. ‘We did.’

  She pressed a last kiss to his mouth and smoothed down the skirt of her black-and-white dress. Tanner’s blue ute navigated its way through the dip in the road. His silver bull bar glinted in the sun.

  ‘Let’s hope Tanner does too. Kellie’s bringing baby Garth, who’s just the cutest, happiest little fellow, and yet Tanner avoids him like he’s contagious.’

  Hewitt chuckled as they walked down the veranda steps. ‘The tougher they are, the harder they fall. Tanner will meet his match one day and then all he’ll be thinking about is babies.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  Soon the carefully tended garden filled with guests. When she wasn’t being Dr Fliss in town or at the hospital she spent as much time as she could gardening. She could understand why her mother had been such an avid gardener; it made her feel closer to Lewis.

  Fliss smiled across at the man who she was open about introducing as her father. He returned her smile from where he stood under the cedar tree talking to Phil and Meredith. Lewis was a frequent visitor to Bundara and would now stay a week to help Hewitt put in the winter oats crop. Despite being an academic and medical professional, her father too proved to be a conformist. He shared Hewitt’s
masculine interest in farm machinery.

  Laughter sounded as Zoe and Lizzie ran past trailing a row of bubbles. Taylor had finished French braiding their hair. Quinn ran behind carrying his tractor. He’d made sure he stayed well away from the hairspray-wielding hairdresser.

  Seeing that a water jug needed refilling, Fliss headed inside. Heels sounded behind her and she turned to see Edna enter the kitchen.

  ‘Well, this all looks very nice, Felicity. You wouldn’t recognise the house.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Fliss filled the jug with ice from the refrigerator dispenser. ‘There’s still some work to be done but it’s slowly taking shape.’

  Edna moved to a shelf where Fliss had sat a cluster of family photos. Edna picked up a silver frame and spoke without looking at Fliss. ‘Your mother’s secret was safe with me. She’d be so pleased Lewis is here today.’

  Ice cubes scattered across the floor as Fliss turned and the jug moved away from the dispenser.

  ‘She told you?’

  ‘No. She didn’t have to.’ An unfamiliar softness tempered Edna’s sharp stare. ‘Do you know how I knew you’d recycled the gown you wore to the ball?’

  Fliss shook her head.

  ‘It’s because your mother showed me your graduation photos. I saw the dress but I also saw … this.’

  Edna passed Fliss the photo frame she held in which Fliss was wearing a black academic gown and trencher. Lewis had his arm around her shoulders as they smiled at each other.

  ‘This is how a proud father looks at the daughter he loves.’

  ‘Edna …’ Fliss was lost for words. The one person she wouldn’t have trusted with the truth had known the answer all along. Edna, Woodlea’s most prolific gossip, had honoured her mother’s secret.

  Fliss set the jug on the bench and hugged the woman before her. ‘Thank you.’

  Edna returned her embrace before stepping away. ‘Don’t thank me.’ Her tone was crisp once more. Edna picked up the water jug. ‘I did it for your mother. She was a dear and caring friend. You’re still not off the hook for breaking my poor Rodger’s heart.’