5 Peppermint Grove (26 page)

Carol and Gerry laughed like schoolchildren on top of the open-deck-bus. The driver informed them about all the buildings that they were passing. The grounds of Trinity College flitted by and, although it was cold, the sun shone on Carol and her friend who was falling more and more in love with her each day.

“And to your left is the old Finn’s Hotel,” the driver continued, “where Nora Barnacle used to work and James Joyce met her there for their first date on the 16
th
June 1904 – this was the date that Joyce chose for his novel
Ulysses
, which we now celebrate as Bloomsday.”

“I love
Dublin,” Gerry said out loud.

“I
never really appreciated it before – but I feel like I am looking at it with new eyes now.” Carol smiled.

“And I feel like I am seeing the world with new eyes since I met you,” he said coyly.

Carol blushed. It had been so many years since she had felt desired. She couldn’t recall the first flushes of romance with her husband any more. It was like she was feeling this way for the very first time.

“I know what you mean,” she said. “Everything has changed since we met, hasn’t it?”

“I never thought I would ever meet anyone again – after Alma died I thought that was it for me – thank you, Carol, for bringing me out of myself like this.”

“I feel like a teenager again in your company, Gerry. We have a lot to be thankful for.” She paused, thinking of Julia’s single state. “I just wish my daughter would meet someone,” she sighed. “Julia is so controlled. She works too hard and she really needs to let herself go. I don’t know what to do.”

“You have to let them be the way that they are. I think it’s one of the most difficult things about having children.”

The bus swung around the corner and they were on
Merrion Square.

“To your left is Number 1, the birthplace and home of another great Irish writer, Oscar Wilde,” the driver continued.

“Ah now, this man I can agree with,” Gerry whispered Carol’s ear. “
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars
!”

Carol turned her head and gazed into Gerry’s eyes. He was so romantic and thoughtful. She was falling in love with Gerry and her hometown all at once.

After a stroll in Stephen’s Green they had a long and leisurely lunch in the James Joyce Room in Bewley’s restaurant and Carol told Gerry her innermost thoughts and dreams that she had never shared with another soul. They enjoyed a little window-shopping and finished off the excursion with a visit to the National Gallery and the Jack B Yeats’ paintings which Gerry had heard were beautifully displayed.

They then took the DART back to the Northside and Carol was sad to be saying goodbye to Gerry at the end of such a perfect day together. But she knew that her father would be asking questions if she didn’t come home and, besides, she didn’t want to leave him alone.

“Please, can you stay with me – in the hotel – for just one night?” Gerry pleaded. “I’ll be going back north tomorrow.”

Carol sighed. Her heart was tugging at her to stay.

“Let me go home and get a few bits and have a word with Dad. I’ll make up an excuse.”

Gerry hugged her tightly. “Hurry back!”

Carol’s heart was beating. But now she knew, after the last four days, how she really felt about Gerry and she was ready for a relationship.

Carol drove quickly home.

Horatio was sitting looking at the snooker on TV in his room when she arrived.

“Dad – I might stay over in my friend Treasa’s tonight after bridge – is that okay?”

Horatio raised his left brow and looked at his daughter from the corner of his eye.

“If you say so – that’s fine by me. I’m glad to have the house to myself for a bit of peace. I have to tidy it up before Paola gets here tomorrow morning. She’s the best company we’ve had in this place since I can remember.”

“All right, Dad. I know you’re her biggest fan.”

“The Brazilians are such lovely people – great respect for their elders they have too – that’s something that young Irish people could do with a lesson in.”

Carol nodded. “Yes, Dad. See you in the morning.”

“Not too early now,” he said with a wink.

It made Carol wonder just what her father really thought. At times he was doddery and then again at other times he was the most alert member of the house.

Chapter Thirty-six

Michael pulled up at the designated parking area and Julia got out of the car. The imposing façade of Fremantle Prison loomed at the top of a mound with shallow steps leading up to it.

It was a hot day and Julia drank from a bottle of water as they climbed up to the two- towered Gatehouse which was built of white stone, with its massive arch and clock-face.

Inside the Gatehouse was information about the various guided tours and an office where Michael purchased two tickets for the next session which would start in fifteen minutes.

“You can take a look in the art gallery while you’re waiting,” the girl in the ticket office suggested.

A special exhibition was on display in the gallery. It contained the work of inmates who were currently residing in prisons in
Perth.

“Come on,” Julia said, linking her brother’s arm.

They strolled into the first section of the gallery and large glass doors opened electronically. The paintings were impressive from the beginning. The colourful dot paintings by the Aboriginal prisoners stood out particularly.

Michael was reading a brochure. “It says here that none of the artists can be named as they are all currently serving sentences but they will receive payment for the work.”

Julia was transfixed by a beautiful study of three turtles painted delicately in shades of grey and white, resembling a constellation of stars. The composition was divided up symmetrically in all directions and it was a remarkable blend of mathematical division and mastery of the paint, the patterns created from tiny dots and the contrast of yellow and orange against the grey making the complete work perfect.

“I don’t normally take such a liking to pictures but I would love to hang that in my office,” said Julia. “It’s number six. How much is it?”

Michael looked at the brochure. “It says here two hundred dollars.”

Julia was impressed by the price.

“Come and look around the rest of the gallery,” Michael beckoned as he stood at another automatic door. 

The paintings varied in theme and style, some reflective, others offensive, but all painted with a remarkable level of skill.

“I’m getting that one of the turtles!” she decided.

“It’s nice, I guess,” Michael said with a nod.

Suddenly her phone bleeped. It was from Odette.

Hope u are having a good time. Michael arrived? xxO

“Oh, poor Odette, I think she’s missing us.”

“Missing
you
, Julia.”

“I don’t know how to help her. Craig is impossible at the moment and she’s feeling isolated. I don’t know why she can’t call Mum – though she hasn’t been herself either.”

Michael had to agree. There were big changes, he felt, last time that he was home. Big changes with his friends and with Ireland. But still he was desperate to be there.

“Have you heard from
Lydia at all?” he asked candidly.

“Oh Michael, you have to forget about her. She’s crazy about Peter and if he doesn’t propose soon I think that she is going to do it on the 29
th
February!”

Michael was in shock. “She wouldn’t?” he
gasped. That was so out of character with the girl that he had once loved so deeply.

Julia nodded. “She sent me an in-depth email a few days ago – I read it on the plane coming over. I’m sorry to have to say it but that last email that you sent was the nail in the coffin for you guys.”

Michael felt awfully uncomfortable all of a sudden.

“Come on, let’s get that painting,” he urged. “The tour is starting soon.”

Julia went into the gift shop and paid for the piece. She was disappointed that she couldn’t take it with her as the exhibition was running until March but she would ask Ruth to collect it on the designated day when the exhibition was over.

The guide was a chirpy woman who was quick to tell them that her son had been a warden in the prison before the facility was closed back in 1991. She was dressed in warden’s clothes and Julia and Michael were on her shift along with the rest of the tourists for the next hour and a quarter.

Julia and Michael were gasping for a drink by the end of the tour. The cells were abysmal and tales of rats crawling over inmates through the night and the stench that took a year to leave the building after the last inmate had been moved had made Julia’s stomach churn.

“We need to get something to eat,” Michael said. “Do you know anywhere near?” 

“Let’s go to one of the spots along the Cappuccino Strip – we passed some lovely restaurants the other day after we got back from Rotto.”

Michael drove and parked on South Terrace. The first Italian restaurant at the corner was called Gino’s and it looked inviting.

“I think we have to order inside,” Julia said.

Michael followed his sister and the two chose a panini and fries to be washed down with Coke and water.

“Hey, they have free Wi-Fi here,” Michael commented as he looked at his watch. “I might give them a call at home.”

“Oh do – I’d love to talk to Granddad.”

“Is it too early?”

Julia looked at her watch. “Nah – eight o’clock – Horatio will be up.”

They went down to the corner and sat at a quiet table with the number stand for their order in hand. Michael dialled and put his phone on speaker.

Horatio answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Granddad, it’s me, Michael.”

“Ah how are you – what’s the weather like in Singapore?”

“I’m sure it’s extremely hot and humid but I’m in
Australia.”

Horatio chuckled. “Julia’s in
Australia too, you know!”

“Yes, Granddad, she’s right here with me.”

Horatio seemed confused. “I thought she was going out to see Ruth!”

Michael was now laughing. “She is – I mean, we’re both here staying with Ruth.”

“Oh, that’s very good. We’re getting very multi-cultural, aren’t we? Paola will be here in a couple of hours – I could sit and watch her hoover all day!”

“Granddad!” Julia said.

“Hello there, Julia. Odette rang last night and I thought it was you.”

Julia bit her lip. “How is Odette doing?”

Horatio sighed. “She sounded a bit flustered. She was looking for your mother who I have to say has been acting very strangely since you left.”

“What do you mean, Granddad?”

“Well, I think she has a man!”

Julia and Michael burst out laughing.

“Why do you think that?” they said together.

“Because she didn’t come home last night – made up some cock-and-bull story about staying with Treasa. I could tell by the look on her face that she was up to something!”

Julia was speechless. Horatio never said things unless he was certain that they were true.

“Is everything okay there?” she asked when she got her voice back.

“Of course it is!” the old man scoffed. “I just wish she’d come clean about him and then buzz off and leave me in peace for a few days –
you’ll
be back ordering us all about before we know it!”

“Granddad, you’re cruel!” Julia said.

“Oh, tell your sister to stop being so sensitive, will you, Michael?” The old man chuckled. “Anyway, you two should be out there having a good time dancing and not worrying about us old codgers.”

“We are having a good time,” Julia said defensively.

“What are you like, the pair of you? Not a husband or wife between you! Would you ever go and fall in love?”

Julia and Michael could only laugh.

“All right then,” said Horatio, “I’ll be wanting to hear a full report of the fun you’ve had when you get back, Julia. Don’t wait until you are too old like me – I’m glad your mother’s gone and got a bit of life in her.”

“Okay, Granddad, so I’ll see you soon,” Julia said.

“Goodbye now and remember all that I’ve said – have a good time.”

When he was gone Julia looked at Michael. “You don’t think he’s right, do you?”

“About Mum having a man?”

Julia nodded. “I’m knocked for six.”

Michael shrugged. “I don’t see why she couldn’t but then it would be very out of character.”

Julia rested her chin on her palm in contemplation. She had been so concerned about Odette and her troubles with Craig that she hadn’t been paying that much attention to her mother’s behaviour.