When the Singing Stops (48 page)

‘It be yo lady's book. Gwen, de Aussie lady.'

‘Lester! How? Oh thank you!' Madi gave him an excited hug. ‘I didn't think I'd ever find one, where did you get it?' She had always figured an obscure book such as this would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Lester shrugged. ‘Well, after we take de book back, me and de lady at de library came to a kind of arrangement,' he said with a hint of amusement.

‘I see. I won't ask any more about it then. I'm just thrilled to have it. You know how much it means to me.'

‘Good, dat be good.' Lester sounded pleased. ‘Dere also be a tape in dere of my favourite steel band, de Silvertails, de boys made it fo yo.'

‘Oh Lester. Every time I play it I'll be right back here.' Lester played the tape constantly in his taxi.

He took her arm and walked her down the steps and back to her car.

‘I hate goodbyes, Lester.'

‘Den we jest say, we be seein' yo round.'

He opened the car door. Madi gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and got in behind the wheel as he gently closed the door.

‘Dat frog be watchin out fo yo. Remember dat.'

‘I will, Lester. Be seeing you round then.' She started the car and brushed away a tear as she pulled out into Duke Street.

‘I never forget yo, Miz Madi.'

It seemed all the people she'd become friends with were crammed into the living room at Matthew's. Hyacinth and Primrose passed platters of snacks and Singh in a white shirt and long pants, but bare feet, was waiter. How she would miss these people. She had made such good friends and enjoyed their hospitality and generosity.

When it came time to leave, Madi waved from the car as the party guests spilled into the garden to send her off. Singh held open the gate and gave a salute.

It was a long drive to Timehri airport and Matthew kept up a stream of inconsequential chatter about the party to cover the silence between Madi and Connor. In the back, Connor rubbed Madi's neck, occasionally leaning forward to kiss behind her ear.

At the airport it was chaos as emotional
relatives farewelled families who were emigrating to the meccas of Canada, the UK and the USA.

‘I hope this changes,' said Madi quietly. ‘Families should stay here and have a good future, not want to get out.'

‘That's what Xavier is working towards. Wouldn't surprise me if he's running the country in the future,' said Matthew.

Once they'd fought their way through the check-in Matthew went looking for coffees, leaving Connor and Madi alone at a small plastic table.

He took her hands. ‘So?'

She looked into his face, seeing the love and pain and confusion in his eyes. Madi bit her lip and gently pulled her hands away.

‘I do love you, Connor. But I'm just not ready. Please, keep this for now.' She pulled the ring from her finger and put it in his hand, curling his fingers over it.

‘No. No. Keep it, Madi. A souvenir or something . . . please don't do this.' There was a desperate note in his voice. ‘As long as you have the diamond, I know there'll be a chance for me . . . this seems so final.'

‘A ring, beautiful as it is, can't bind me to you, Connor, my darling. I have to make the decision myself, with no strings attached.'

Connor looked down, biting his lip, not trusting himself to speak.

‘Don't be hurt, or upset. I'm not throwing
you over. I just want more time. Breathing space of my own, away from this mad, crazy, wonderful hothouse of a country. Everything has been so intense the whole time. It's like living in technicolour while the rest of the world is black and white,' said Madi gently.

‘You're not going to write me a Dear John letter . . . promise me that. Madi, just make me one promise. If your eventual answer is to be no, if you decide you don't ever want to marry me, live with me, be with me, then tell me to my face. Wherever I am. Please. Promise me that.' He spoke urgently and Madi understood how much this meant. He was not going to give up on her, he believed he'd always be able to try to change her mind. And it dawned on her how much he loved her. She nodded. ‘I promise.'

Matthew returned with a tray of coffees which they didn't finish before the flight to London was called over a crackling loudspeaker, interrupting the reggae music.

Matthew hugged her tightly. ‘God speed, sis. I'll miss you.' He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. ‘I hope you found what you came for.'

Tears were running unchecked down her face. ‘I did, Matty, more than you know.'

He stepped back and Connor took her in his arms and kissed her. And once again the passion that he aroused in her swept over her, and with his strong and loving arms about her she thought how easy it would be to simply say yes,
and be his wife and have his children and be swept along in a life that would be good and exactly what she wanted . . . travel, a man who idolised her, someone she respected, liked and loved. It was everything she thought she didn't want when she had set out on a career path.

Now she had discovered she wanted all those things, and she'd never find anyone better than Connor. But there was still a part of her that had just bloomed and this fragile flower needed its time in the sun.

She pulled away from his kiss. ‘I do love you, Connor. Be patient. If you can't, I understand.'

‘I'll always be waiting for you, Madi.'

She was pushed through with the crush of boarding passengers and had time for only a glance over her shoulder for a final smile at the two Australians watching her leave.

They waited till the flight rose into the night sky. Connor looked at Matthew and gave a rueful smile. ‘Well, I guess this is where I came in.'

Matthew nodded. ‘Yeah, well that's life, mate. Let's see if Singh and the mob have left any rum.'

Connor didn't move. ‘I can't help wondering about the effect of all this on Madi.'

‘She needs time, Connor.'

Connor turned and walked beside Matthew as they made their way back through the crushing crowd. It would take time for Madi to come
to terms with the complexity of the power plays, her disillusionment and, finally, her future. And Connor couldn't help wondering whether, as she recognised the harsh reality of life brought home to her by the events here, would she keep her faith and idealism intact?

Madi closed her eyes. She could see nothing from her window other than the reflection of her tear-stained face. She knew down below the two men she loved so dearly were driving back to the city along a potholed road. And further inland stretched the vast interior of a land she'd come to love. And in one part of it, beside the top of a magnificent waterfall, a handful of golden frogs were singing their chorus into the night.

Sydney, Australia, September 1996

D
ear Lester,

Please find enclosed some Aussie togs for Denzil, a book about Blinky Bill and my favourite,
The Magic Pudding.
Some good news. I just got back from Ballarat where I found some clues about Gwen from the archivist at Clarendon Ladies College where Gwen and her sister Cecily, went to school. Their brother Lawrence attended nearby Ballarat College. It seems Gwen left Guyana to go to New York to sing opera on the stage! She was apparently a friend of the famous actress Ellen Terry. Maybe that was the reason she had to rush away from the Mazaruni to go to New York!

And after all that . . . you know how she ended up? As the wife of Major Blake. There's a
reference in the school's newspaper
The Touchstone
in December 1930 that
‘Mrs Blake (Gwen Richardson) author of On
The Diamond Trail in British Guiana
is revisiting with her husband, Major Blake, British Guiana and is planning to travel far inland in search of diamonds and gold'.

How I long to know more about her and her family. Still this is a start.

Like Gwen, I have come home . . . I caught up with Ann and John da Silva in England and had a great three months working for the British Eco Tourism Task Force. I hope to be able to put my experience and expertise to work back here in Australia.

Enough! I'll get off my soapbox.

Connor is coming home from China in a few months so we'll see where we stand with each other then. He's taking up a new appointment in Australia.

I have decided I would like to have children. Yes, I know there are too many people on the planet and I respect my friends who have chosen not to have kids.

But I think about you and your Denzil often and the closeness you share. I hope he can grow up in safety and plenty and get a good education in Guyana. And I'd like my kids to be able to do the same here and have a mother and father who contribute to making this world a better place.

As always, talking to you, my good friend, seems to clarify things in my mind.

Let me know the minute you strike the big one.

Good luck,

Love, Madison.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Map of Guyana in South America

ALSO BY DI MORRISSEY AND AVAILABLE FROM PAN MACMILLAN

Scatter the Stars

Larrikin Australian actor Randy Storm had it all. Swept up by Hollywood after starring in a film set in Papua New Guinea, he had the looks, charm and talent—as well as the love of an exotic woman—to take on the world.

But that was the 1950s. In the '90s he's forgotten, burned out after a life of movie star excess and wild living.

When TV producer Michael Matthews bumps into the once great Randy Storm, he is surprised to find a man who is at peace with himself and his world. Both he and researcher Janie Callendar set out to discover the source of this inner peace. One person not surprised by Randy's contentment is the woman who has stuck by him through the highs and the lows: his agent, Ariel Margoles. Ariel has never given up the dream of Randy making a comeback, so when she is called by Australia's world acclaimed film director Patricia Jordan who is making the hottest Hollywood film of the year—Ariel sees the chance for Randy to be a star once more.

But just as he is about to reach his pinnacle, a secret from his past threatens to bring down his greatest triumph . . .

SCATTER THE STARS
IS A STORY OF GLAMOUR, GREED, LOSS AND ONE MAN'S LIFE THAT CHARTS THE PATH FOR ALL OF US.

The Last Rose of Summer

A COMPELLING STORY OF TWO BEAUTIFUL AND REMARKABLE WOMEN CONNECTED ACROSS THE DECADES BY THE MEN WHO LOVE THEM . . . AND THE MAGIC OF A PLACE CALLED ZANANA.

KATE,
a strong willed heiress determined to defy Edwardian convention, but she must pay the ultimate price to keep the home she loves so much . . .

ODETTE,
an independent and idealistic young journalist caught in a fierce battle to save Zanana from ruthless developers . . .

Years apart yet inextricably linked by Zanana, the magnificent mansion they both love, these two striking women prove they are not afraid to fight for what they believe in.

FROM TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY INDIA TO CONTEMPORARY SYDNEY,
THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER
IS AN EPIC STORY OF LOVE, POSSESSION AND INTRIGUE.