The Islands (8 page)

‘Oh. I've been trying to find a way to tell you. I'm engaged.'

‘Oh my God!
Oh my God!
' shrieked Mollie. ‘Who? Where? When? How could you keep this a secret? Is it that American?' she demanded. She leaned closer to examine the ring. ‘It's just beautiful.' She sat back and folded her arms. ‘Okay, tell me everything.'

Catherine smiled and settled back with her cup of tea, anxious to recount once again every detail of meeting Bradley and their friendship in London, despite what she'd already told Mollie in her letters.

‘Were you lovers?' interjected Mollie.

‘In London? No. He was very courteous. Very proper. We went slowly. We became friends first off.'

‘Boring,' sighed Mollie. ‘Get to the exciting stuff.'

Their mugs of tea sat untouched as Catherine talked and talked.

‘And so were you expecting him to propose?' asked Mollie finally.

‘No. Not all. But I was getting sad at the idea of leaving him. And Hawaii.'

‘And then he popped the question and flourished the ring.'

‘The ring came afterwards. He chose it. He asked me my favourite stone and did I want something big and flashy or smaller and good quality.'

‘I'd have asked for big,' said Mollie. ‘Not that yours is tiny. An emerald and two diamonds. I didn't know emeralds were your favourite stone.'

‘I always thought I'd have a sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Bradley chose this and I love it.'

‘I'd rather choose my own,' said Mollie. ‘Though I 'spose if he's paying for it you can't very well say give me that big rock of a diamond. Is he rich?'

‘I don't think wildly so. His parents are comfortable by the sound of them. Middle-class Californians.'

‘Does he know you are a lady of some means? After all, your father has a good legal practice and is a highly respected citizen of Peel and of course there's
Heatherbrae
,' said Mollie. ‘Anyway, everyone is going to be mightily impressed. And a bit jealous. You've outclassed Trudy Rowle who thought she was the bees knees when she snared Adam Thomas with his grandparents' Point Piper house.'

‘It's not a competition, Mollie,' laughed Catherine. But secretly she was rather pleased she had broken the mould of her contemporaries and was marrying outside the familiar circle.

‘So where and when is the wedding? At
Heatherbrae
? Your mother is going to be beside herself! Does she know? Hey, am I going to be a bridesmaid?'

‘Of course you are. But you'll have to come to Hawaii. We're getting married in the Islands.'

‘Wow! Ooh, is your mum okay with that? You're not eloping are you?'

‘Mollie, really. No. But I haven't told my parents yet. Thought it would be better in person and Bradley only proposed two days before I left. He's writing to his folks.'

‘Folks?' exclaimed Mollie. ‘Don't you go all Yankee on us. Well, let's get to the important stuff. What are you going to wear? Let's go look at wedding dresses this afternoon!' She jumped up.

Catherine laughed. Mollie's enthusiasm was nice. And it did give her a tingle in the pit of her stomach. A wedding dress, trousseau stuff, she'd need to get some nice things together. And what personal pieces would she take to their home in Honolulu?

Catching her train of thought Mollie asked, ‘So where are you going to live? Will you have a beach house in Waikiki so we can all come and visit?'

‘Kind of. I think so,' said Catherine thinking of the naval compound around the Goodwins'.

Mollie stared at her. ‘I was kidding. Are you serious? He must be rich. I thought there were only big hotels at Waikiki.'

‘It's the navy base at Pearl Harbor. The navy have the best spots on the island Bradley says. There are different quarters for the married and single officers, the enlisted men, and the senior brass.'

‘Ooh, I don't like the sound of that too much. Do you? Living and working with the same people. Can you get your own place?' asked Mollie.

‘I thought of that and mentioned it to Bradley but if we want to save money, living on the base is better. But he says he's looking into things,' said Catherine. ‘My next issue is calling Mum. She'll be wanting to know if I've arrived safely.'

‘Oh, I forgot. Yes, she rang here just before I left for the airport. Look, you can't tell her your big news over the phone. Give her a call and say you're jet lagged and want to stay here for a day or so and see old friends before going home,' said Mollie.

‘That's a good idea. Otherwise she'll be jumping in the car and coming down to get me.' Catherine reached for the phone.

Her mother was excited. ‘I can't wait to see you. You're going to love your room, Dad painted . . . oh dear, he wanted it to be a surprise, don't let on. We thought we'd have a party on the weekend to welcome you home. So many people we haven't seen since the races . . .'

‘Mum, that's all lovely. But let's hold off a bit. A party sounds great . . .' Catherine rolled her eyes at Mollie and wagged her ring finger. ‘I just want to enjoy being at home again. On my own. Go for a ride, maybe a picnic, just us.'

‘Of course, dear. Lovely. Though so many friends keep asking after you.'

‘Sure, Mum, we'll work out something. Anyway, I want to stay here with Mollie for a day or so. I'll come up on the Saturday morning flight. Love you.'

It was cloudy when the small plane took off from Sydney but within minutes they were in sunshine and had left the coast behind. Catherine kept looking out the window trying to recognise the country below.

Once they started to descend she felt a lump come to her throat and she had to blink quickly, surprised at the sudden tears in her eyes as she recognised the gorge country from where the Home River flowed onto the plains around Peel. The wheat paddocks were brown stubble, cattle clustered in blotchy brown and black groups, tin roofs shimmered in the bright light and the miles of fences below delineated the borders of family properties. She was pretty sure she recognised the ribbon of road that headed towards the north-west and
Heatherbrae.

They flew over the compact township of Peel and came in to land at the airstrip. As she got up from her seat she could see her parents among the group standing in front of the glass doors of the airport building, waving madly at the plane.

On the drive back to their property, her mother chattered from the front seat to bring Catherine up to date with all the local news. ‘And Rob's got engaged to that nice girl, Barbara, but I'm not sure that she's all that keen on living in the country.' Her father occasionally glanced at Catherine in the rear-vision mirror, giving her a small smile and a ‘be patient' look.

Catherine exclaimed in delight at her freshly painted room and admired her mother's garden.

‘How's Parker doing? And your cattle, Dad?'

‘They're great. Feed was a bit of a worry for a bit, but I handled a case for a client who paid me in feed,' he replied. ‘I rode Parker a few times and so did Rob when he came over to tell us about his engagement.' He shook his head. ‘Not sure how that girl is going to settle down out here. City girl, like your friend Mollie.'

‘Now then, Keith, you don't know how girls can adapt to please their man. How about a cup of tea, dear, and Dad will take you round the paddocks, up to the knoll? Or we could take lunch up there, like we used to. What would you like to do, pet?' asked her mother.

‘Er, sure, Mum, whatever you'd like.'

‘Don't rush her, love. Let her adjust to being back here. Must seem quiet after the big cities you've seen, eh?' said her father.

Catherine saw a chance to raise the subject of her engagement. ‘Well, London was great, but I really loved Hawaii . . .'

‘Certainly must have,' interjected her mother. ‘Extending your stay like you did . . .'

Her father interrupted his wife. ‘You throw that picnic together and I'll take Catherine down to see her horse.'

They drove past the dam and stopped to watch several head of cattle and calves in the best paddock.

‘They're looking good, Dad. It's a bit dry though isn't it?'

‘It certainly is, nothing like the green of Hawaii, I suppose.'

‘That's for sure,' answered Catherine. She touched her father's shoulder. ‘Giving me that holiday in Hawaii for my twenty-first was the best thing you've ever done, Dad.' She paused. ‘Dad, there's something I have to tell you. And Mum.'

He flicked an amused glance at his daughter as he started the car. ‘Wouldn't have anything to do with that ring you're wearing, would it?'

‘Oh, Dad! You're a smart old thing,' said Catherine with relief, lifting her hand to admire her engagement ring. ‘Yes, I got engaged. Happened just before I left Honolulu. Bradley's living there. Oh, Dad, I'm so happy. But I just don't know how Mum is going to react. About not knowing Bradley, not living here . . .'

‘Hang on, pet, start at the beginning. Has he got a job? Not some dropout is he?'

‘Of course not! He's a naval officer. Very impressive, well educated, handsome, his family lives in California . . .'

‘He's American?'

Catherine saw the slight frown cross her father's face. ‘Well, yes. Charming, warm, caring. He's very sensible. You'll really like him, Dad.'

‘Mmm. Never thought you'd choose a foreign bloke. Never thought you'd live far from
Heatherbrae
and us.'

‘Nor did I, Dad. Is that going to be a problem for you and Mum?'

‘You have to make your own life, sweetie. And if this is the way the cards have fallen, well, we'll make the best of it.' He glanced at his daughter, his heart had filled with love at seeing Catherine so glowing and happy. ‘Be hard on your mum having you so far away. Still, I suppose the wedding will keep her occupied for a bit.'

Catherine was silent a moment. ‘We're planning on getting married in Hawaii. His parents will come out and you and Mum can have a holiday at the same time. Be less work for everyone,' she added brightly.

‘Your mother might be disappointed. She'd always hoped you'd be married here, in the garden. Maybe when he comes and sees this place, you might get him to change his mind.'

‘We hadn't planned on that. Coming out here first,' said Catherine quietly. ‘Bradley really wants to get married in the naval chapel, he's so much a navy man.'

‘Seems like you've made all your plans, then,' said her father, turning the truck around.

‘Oh, Dad. I'm sorry.' Tears sprang to Catherine's eyes.

He patted her arm. ‘We just want you to be happy. As long as you're sure about this. It's a big step. Come on, let's find that horse of yours. He's as fat as a pig. Needs some serious riding.' Her engagement was put to one side.

Catherine had always loved the small knoll at the back of
Heatherbrae
as it was a place away from everything and where she could sit and dream. Yet she never felt alone up on the knoll. Perhaps because there had been so many family gatherings on the grass plateau with its sweeping views: picnics and barbecues, bonfires and fireworks. Other times she sat alone while Parker picked at the grass and she watched the birds swoop, a lizard sun itself or a wallaby hop through the tall grass at the edge of the trees further down the hillside. It was a place where problems were solved, where dark moods lifted and where anything seemed possible. She always rode away cheered, invigorated and enthused. It seemed right that her engagement should be celebrated at this outdoor family sanctum.

After initial dismay, her mother had become more accepting of the news of her daughter's engagement. As the sandwiches were passed and Rosemary poured the tea from the thermos into mugs, she became more enthusiastic about the wedding, raising details that Catherine hadn't yet considered.

‘What about bridesmaids? It's a long way to go, who can afford such a trip? Does Bradley have a sister?'

‘Yes. But I don't know her. I only need one bridesmaid – and that's Mollie. She's already agreed. She's been saving for a holiday so she's keen on Hawaii. I guess Bradley will ask his brother to be best man. We want to keep it small. Simple,' said Catherine. ‘Mr and Mrs Connor want to throw a party for us in California later at Thanksgiving. Be wonderful if you could go over too.'

‘I don't know about a trip to Hawaii then a couple of months later a trip to California,' said her father. ‘Plane travel is expensive and I can't be away from the office too long.'

‘We can spend time with Bradley's family after the wedding. They're staying for a bit longer aren't they? Of course, we should really go over early to help with arrangements, it's the bride's family's obligation,' added her mother.

‘Mum, the whole idea is to keep this low key and simple so we don't get into all the mother of the bride stuff . . . flowers, cars, who pays for what . . . Bradley wants to pay for everything just so we can do things our way.'

‘If he wants to run the show let him, love,' said Keith to Rosemary. ‘I think I'll have a quiet word with Bradley about the financial arrangements when I meet him in Honolulu. But the boy clearly takes his responsibilities seriously and that's a good thing.'

Nevertheless Rosemary was determined that part of the celebrations would take place at
Heatherbrae
and a welcome home party was rearranged into a kitchen tea and an early evening drinks party.

So, while the women gathered in the house to watch Catherine unwrap gifts and show photos of Bradley taken in Hawaii, the men sat around the barbecue and pool area talking farming, politics and the weather.

Before the last guests left, Rob found Catherine in the kitchen stacking glasses, cups and plates at the sink.

‘Hey, congratulations. You caught everyone by surprise,' he said warmly.