The Enforcers remained as a group, swords raised, as the villagers approached. Edmund stood in the centre. He was bleeding heavily from a large gash to his forehead and his eyes darted about.
‘Stop!’ he shouted. He motioned to his men and they spread out, revealing a pile of bodies behind them. ‘Unless you want to end up like this, stop now.’ Joseph recognised among the bodies Amelia’s husband, along with other men he knew from trading. Harold was also amongst the dead. ‘We are willing to settle with you,’ Edmund continued, his voice quieter now. ‘Walk away now and this will all be forgotten. We will go back to life as usual.’
‘No.’
Joseph turned to see Maeve behind him.
‘We will not be going back to life as usual,’ she said. ‘You are going to free Aisleen and there will be no more separation of women.’
Aisleen’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Maeve was so brave.’
Joseph nodded. ‘She was. She told me later that she gained her courage from you.’ He paused, studying Aisleen’s face. ‘She told me all about the secret gatherings, the way you were bringing the women together, trying to change things.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t. I would have tried to stop you and then none of this would have happened. We’d still be under their rule.’
‘So you did overthrow them, then?’
Joseph shook his head again. ‘Let me finish.’
Edmund’s face convulsed with outrage as he commanded Maeve to shut up. ‘We are giving you this one chance, to surrender without punishment, otherwise we will kill you all.’
Joseph looked at Maeve, who was shaking her head furiously. He scanned their small group, men and women with fearful eyes, gripping farm-tool weapons tightly. He looked back at the Enforcers, the swords they wielded and the stack of victims behind them. Joseph realised they didn’t need anybody else to die. They could finish this another way. ‘We have some conditions to our surrender.’
The brute’s eyes narrowed, but he lifted his chin.
‘We demand that Aisleen is released immediately. And we demand that women are allowed to interact again.’
‘No,’ Edmund replied the moment Joseph finished his last word.
‘Well then, we will die fighting.’ Joseph shrugged as though he didn’t care.
Edmund laughed. ‘Have it your way.’ Edmund raised his sword and charged towards them.
‘Wait!’ Maeve shouted. She hissed into Joseph’s ear to demand only to free Aisleen. ‘That’s enough. For now.’ Joseph didn’t have time to wonder what she was planning as the other Enforcers were following Edmund’s lead and moving towards them.
‘We surrender, with only one condition!’ Joseph shouted, hearing the panic in his voice. Edmund and the other Enforcers paused. ‘Free Aisleen. We will place down our weapons.’ Joseph could see the exhaustion on the Enforcers’ faces. He could tell they wanted to accept. All but Edmund, who sneered and refused again. Joseph knew Edmund would never agree, so spoke his instruction to the group of villagers in a loud, clear voice. ‘Kill the leader. Don’t worry about the rest of them, unless you are defending yourself. Just kill him.’
‘And so we charged him as a pack and didn’t stop until he was dead.’
Aisleen realised she had been holding her breath. So Edmund was dead. That was what had saved her from the nightly visits. But she shook her head, still not understanding. ‘How are they still ruling then?’
‘Even with their leader dead, the Enforcers didn’t back down. So we struck a deal with them. We agreed to drop our weapons if they agreed to free you. They stated that your sentence was reduced to one week in prison.’ Joseph took her hand in his, his words pleading. ‘I didn’t want to agree, I wanted you free that moment, but the others wanted an end to the fighting. None of us had killed before …’ Aisleen didn’t make him finish. She knew who the enemy was, what the villagers had dealt with.
‘But they are still in charge? Are women still separated?’ Aisleen asked, trying to fit the remaining pieces of the puzzle together.
Joseph shook his head, his smile slowly forming. ‘They are holding on by their fingernails to power. There’s only ten of them left.’
‘But why are you waiting? Why didn’t you gather more villagers and create a new council to throw them out officially?’
‘Because we want to avoid any more deaths. We lost a lot of people, Aisleen; we can’t lose any more. We can get rid of them completely without any more bloodshed but only if we take the time to plan it correctly. And for that, we need someone smarter than the rest to lead us.’ He raised his eyebrows at her, a stupid grin on his face.
Aisleen looked at him as though he were speaking nonsense. ‘Me? You think men of this village will listen to me?’
‘I know they will. You managed to gather with a group of women, how many times? Under the noses of the Enforcers. We are all quite comfortable with placing our trust in your planning power.’ Joseph reached for Aisleen’s hands, cradling them in his own. ‘This village needs you.’
It was almost impossible for Aisleen to properly absorb this knowledge. Her thoughts flitted from one to another. Joseph passed her another cup of tea, adding plenty of sugar before handing it to her. The sweet warmth of the tea spread through Aisleen like honey and she felt the first sparks of excitement. ‘Before we plan anything, we have someone to visit.’
Aisleen and Joseph stood outside Mary’s home, hand in hand.
‘You go in, I’ll give you some time while I look for Matthew. In weather like this, he’ll be working on the property somewhere, I’m sure.’ Aisleen squeezed his hand and watched him walk around the side of the house, out towards the fields. Her legs shaking, in anticipation rather than fear this time, Aisleen walked towards the home that had once been hers.
Mary was sitting on a chair, her head resting back, a tiny baby at her breast. The creak of a floorboard alerted her to Aisleen’s presence and despite the baby she was cradling, she flew from her seat, rushing at Aisleen, throwing her free arm around her. They held each other for so long that it wasn’t until a faint squeak sounded between them that Mary stepped back, bringing her baby up close to her neck, whispering into its ear.
‘Shh, sorry little Aisleen, we didn’t mean to squish you.’
Aisleen grinned. ‘You named her after me? You had a girl?’
Mary held out the carefully wrapped bundle to Aisleen. ‘Meet your niece, Aisleen, your namesake.’ Aisleen took the baby and held her closely to her chest, running a finger over the soft tuft of hair on her perfectly rounded head.
‘Hello, beautiful girl,’ she hummed and kissed her niece on her smooth cheek. She looked up at Mary. ‘She’s the most beautiful baby. I’m so happy for you. I’m so happy I got to meet her, that I wasn’t …’
‘Shhh. We’re not going to talk about any of that. It’s all in the past now. Because, Aisleen, we’re free.’
EPILOGUE
FOUR YEARS LATER
THE FAMILIARITY OF the buzzer sounding as the glass doors slid open unsettled Anna for a moment. She gripped more tightly the bag she was holding, took a deep breath and walked through the doors. A prison officer she didn’t recognise greeted her with a smile.
‘Anna de la Mercedes?’
Anna smiled. ‘Yes.’ She accepted the officer’s firm handshake.
‘Welcome, follow me.’ The officer led Anna through to the sign-in desk, where she was introduced to the wellbeing officer, Natalie.
‘Hi, Anna, so nice to meet you in person.’ Natalie smiled, but she had the weary look of many prison staff members. She and Anna had been communicating through phone calls and emails for the last two months, organising the series of workshops Anna would be presenting to a group of inmates. Anna had designed the course with the support of Nina, Jeanette and other members of WIPAN. She would work with a group of inmates who were due for release in the coming year, helping them develop a solid plan for settling into regular life
. WIPAN would still be the ones to provide the practical help – clothes, food vouchers, accommodation – but Anna would work with the inmates on their financial situations. She would help them to open bank accounts, create budgets, apply for upskilling courses, look for job opportunities. These workshops would be held once a week for eight weeks. But what Anna was most excited about was the extension course that followed. That course would focus on creating self-employment opportunities once the inmates were released. Anna would teach them the accounting, marketing and business skills they’d need to set themselves up, hopefully for a new life.
Anna’s excitement intensified as Natalie led her to the meeting room she would be using for the two-hour workshop. There was a small group of six women waiting, but Anna wasn’t deflated by the low number of participants. She’d only expected a small number this first round. It was worth it for any one person Anna could help to change her life. The harsh fluorescent lights of the room made her blink as she took a closer look at the women, wondering if she’d recognise any of them from her own time in here. She scanned the mix of eager and sceptical faces until her eyes landed on a half-smile that she’d never forgotten.
‘Sam!’ Anna exclaimed, almost leaping over to her old friend, but she stood still instead when she caught the look on Natalie’s face.
‘What’s up Anna? You look great.’
‘Thank you, so do you.’ Anna meant it. Sam had let her short black hair grow and had it piled on top of her head in a loose bun, her skin was clearer and there was a sense of ease in her expression. ‘You’re getting out?’ When Anna had left, Sam still had ten years on her sentence.
Sam nodded and smiled. ‘Yeah, good behaviour and stuff like that. Only ten months to go now.’
Emotion filled Sam’s face for just a moment, and Anna remembered how reserved her only friend had been. Instead of wrapping her arms around Sam, which she felt like doing, Anna smiled and nodded.
‘I’m very happy for you,’ Anna said and then placed her bag on the table at the front and took out her laptop. ‘All right, who’s ready?’
‘So it went well?’ Brayden asked as he and Anna took their seats in the crowded restaurant.
‘Very well,’ Anna beamed. She had been on a high all day since finishing the workshop. By the end of the session, all the women who’d attended were excited. They asked about what they’d learn the following week and wondered what they should work on in the meantime. Anna had given them each a journal and asked them to jot down any ideas they had during the week about what they wanted their future on the outside to look like. Before any of them could laugh, Anna admitted parading a journal around wouldn’t look great to other inmates.
‘Don’t treat it like a diary or journal; call it a workbook. Keep it with any of your library books or magazines you’ve borrowed. You don’t have to keep it under your pillow or anything like that.’ Anna had laughed and been pleased when the women joined in. She’d been especially happy with how enthusiastic Sam had been.
‘I’m really proud of you,’ Brayden said and leaned over the table to kiss her. Even though they’d been dating for almost four years, Anna still felt butterflies when he kissed her in public like that. They lived separately but spent every weekend together, alternating whose apartment they stayed at. Brayden was a corporate manager for McDonald’s now, working long hours in head office and only occasionally visiting the restaurants he owned. And Anna’s own business was thriving, meaning she often spent hours every night with the work she took home. She loved it so much, though, that the work never felt like a burden. She and Nina had started their own company, Mystical Medicines. They imported a range of crystals, oils and candles and sold them online and to existing businesses. It meant they had fairly small costs to run the business. They worked from the new home Nina had bought, which had a dedicated office big enough to store most of their products and allow them to work together comfortably. They shared a desk, with a computer each and shelves for their products to be arranged on as they sorted them. The only decorations in their office were the two pieces of their crystal, which sat together on the windowsill, playing with the sun’s reflection throughout the day.
Nina still ran the Women’s Circles and mentorships. It was her contacts that had helped their business to get up and running. It didn’t take Mystical Medicines long, however, to build a strong reputation for sourcing the best crystals. They sold out faster than they could import. It was a good problem for a business to have, Anna reassured Nina as she worked on strategies to import larger quantities.
Weekends were really the only time Anna and Brayden spent together. From Friday night, they would both switch off from work completely, savouring their time together. They often went away for weekends and would try new things like bushwalking or scuba-diving. Some weeks, they’d visit Brayden’s parents, who were always asking them when they’d get married and have kids. Brayden would blush, of course, and Anna would joke that there was plenty of time.
‘If you have a girl, Anna, you will take on our family tradition, won’t you? Name her Aisleen?’ Brayden’s mother had asked Anna during one barbecue lunch when she’d had too many wines.
‘I can’t think of a better name,’ Anna had smiled.
This weekend, though, Anna and Brayden were having a simple one at home. After dinner at the local pub they would go back to Anna’s place to watch a movie. They ordered their food and relaxed into comfortable chatter about their weeks.
Brayden stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering something. ‘I can’t believe I forgot; I got a Facebook message for you. I think it was your aunty, her name is Sofia, right?’
Anna froze. She sometimes thought of Sofia, often wondering if she should get in touch and let her aunty know she was okay. It had been so long, but surely her aunty must wonder what had happened to her. Anna wondered about her and the cousin she’d never met.
‘What do you mean, message? What kind of message?’ Anna asked once she found her voice.
‘She commented on a photo I posted of us last weekend.’ Before Anna could protest, Brayden continued. ‘Sorry, I know you hate me posting. Anyway, she asked if you could get in contact with her. Do you want to see it?’ Brayden raised his eyebrows as he studied Anna’s face.
Anna realised how shocked she must look. ‘I don’t … Not yet. Can you forward it to my account?’ Anna only used her company Facebook account. She had thought about searching for Sofia so many times, but something had always stopped her. Brayden took out his phone.
‘Done. So you think you’ll contact her?’
Anna felt the noise begin in her mind – the conflicting feelings about her aunty, the life she’d left in Chile, all of the mistakes she’d made here. She gripped the table, trying to stop the thoughts. But then Brayden grabbed her hand and held it tightly.
‘Hey. Anna, are you all right? You’re all pale.’
The noise faded and she squeezed his hand. ‘Yes, I’m okay. I don’t know if I’ll contact her. Maybe.’ She changed the subject and was able to concentrate on their conversation then, though Sofia was in the back of her mind the whole time.
Later that night, once Brayden was asleep, Anna moved into the living room and clicked the post link he had sent her. A picture popped up of her aunty with Manuel and their now teenage son. Anna’s heart beat a little faster as she inspected the photo. She was surprised by the warmth that spread through her. That was her mother’s sister. Her blood. And her son, Anna’s cousin. She wanted to reach through the screen and hug them. Anna opened up the private message app and began typing, but halfway through she realised she could call her aunty through the app instead. She picked up her phone and clicked on the call icon, her hand shaking slightly.
A tired, croaky voice answered after a long time. ‘Si?’
‘Tia Sofia?’
There was a pause, fumbling and then a familiar voice cried, ‘Anna?’
‘Si, Tia. It’s me.’ Anna’s throat caught and she was that young
girl, sitting at her Tita’s table with her family once more.
‘Anna! I’m so happy to hear your voice. I’ve been so worried about you. I was so scared something terrible had happened to you. It’s been so many years.’
‘I know and I’m sorry. A lot has happened …’ Anna wasn’t sure how much to tell her aunty. How could she fill in Sofia on the past thirteen years of her life over the phone? So much of it didn’t even feel like her story anymore, she had so completely left it behind.
‘But you’re okay?’ Sofia asked, her voice searching for reassurance. Anna knew in that moment that she would never share with her aunty all she’d been through. It wasn’t fair to burden her with that. But she could answer her aunty’s question truthfully. Easily.
‘I am,’ Anna said.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I WILL ALWAYS thank my mum first because she reads my first draft – the messiest version of my work - yet makes me believe it is fantastic. Thank you, Mum! Thank you also to my dad and my sisters, Michelle and Suzie, for your belief and encouragement. Thank you to my mother-in-law, Susy, for sharing so much of your culture and life with me throughout the years; and for teaching me that all adversity can be overcome with intention and belief – you are an inspiration. Thank you to my girls, Mikarla, Hannah and Mel, for reading an early version of this manuscript, giving me helpful feedback and for cheering me on always. Thank you to my best friend Daniella; our lifelong friendship has made writing about strong female support a breeze. Thank you to Virginia Lloyd who mentored me through the early stage of this manuscript; your feedback was vital and I am a better writer because of it. Thank you to the Ventura team: Jane, for believing in my ability as a writer; Holly, for your excellent marketing guidance; and especially Zoe – working with you as an editor has been such a wonderful experience and this book would not be what it is without your talent. Thank you to the wonderful community of writers and readers on Instagram; sharing in your journeys inspires me to keep writing. Thank you to Inga and the team at Diana Verlag, Germany. I’m so excited for Drei Freundinnen Fluers Gliick (German translation of my first book, Letters To My Yesterday) to be published! Your kind words about my story and characters gifted me the confidence to keep writing, even when self-doubt crept in. Thank you also to the readers who reviewed and shared positive comments with me about my first book – you filled my heart in a way that’s difficult to describe.
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