Winds of Change (33 page)

‘I want her with me.'

‘I know, and she will come back, but until then you've got me.' She looked across the bed and added, ‘And Brody. He came to help, so you've got two of us.'

‘Don't leave me, Nanda.'

‘I won't. We'll all three stay here together till your Mummy comes back.'

‘She'll bring Daddy. We'll all look after him.'

Miranda closed her eyes briefly, praying to whatever gods might be watching that this soldier would come through his ordeal safely. So many had died tragically young. She shushed Ned gently and rocked him a little, murmuring endearments.

‘I think he's asleep,' Brody whispered and left the room.

She thought about staying with the child then decided to go down and make sure Brody understood that she wasn't leaving till Katie got back. This, at least, she could do for her daughter. She'd been denied so much.

Katie was delivered to the hospital with the super-efficiency the army could produce on occasion. She was taken along empty, dimly lit corridors to the private room where Darren was lying.

He was unconscious but restless.

‘You might like to sit beside him for a while,' the nurse said.

She replied very firmly. ‘Let's get one thing straight. I'm not leaving his side again till he's a lot better than this.'

‘It can help to have you here,' he admitted. ‘We're doing everything possible, I promise you.'

No need for anyone to tell Katie that Darren was feverish. There was hectic colour in his cheeks and his brow was hot. She sat down beside the bed and took his hand, telling him she was there, talking to him quietly. Somehow her words seemed to penetrate and he became more peaceful, clutching her hand tightly as if he knew she was there, as if he needed her as desperately as she needed to be with him.

Some time later a voice said, ‘Shall I bring you a cup of tea, Mrs Parrish?'

She turned, not having heard the nurse come back. ‘Yes, please. That'd be wonderful. Goodness, it's starting to get light.'

She used the small en suite bathroom and went to sit beside her husband again. She'd read that it sometimes helped to talk to unconscious people, so began telling him about the thing that was on her mind: her birth parents, how she'd not been sure what to do, how tentative she'd been about meeting them. And how it was thanks to them that she had been able to get here so quickly.

She didn't rush her story, speaking slowly, stopping to ponder what had happened from time to time. It was a while before she realized that it was fully light, Darren's eyes were open and he was staring at her.

‘It's not a dream,' he said. ‘You
are
here.' Then he looked down at his leg which had a shelter over it. ‘Have they amputated it?'

‘No. There's a chance of saving it still. But whatever happens, I love you, Darren.'

‘I love you, too.' He smiled drowsily. ‘I'll get better now. I know I will. Don't let them cut it off.'

When Sebastian went home, he found the house empty and no signs of preparations for dinner. He was almost sure they weren't going out tonight but went to check the engagements diary, just in case something important had slipped his mind.

He found it in his home office, its pages torn out and scattered over his desk. Taped to the back of his chair was an envelope, addressed to him. Bewildered, not used to anything but perfect order, he stood there for a moment with the envelope in his hand. Then he put down his briefcase and looked for the letter opener. It was gone, but when he looked up he saw it sticking in his favourite painting, right in the heart of the hunting dog that had brought down a rabbit. Dorothy had always disliked that painting, but surely
she
hadn't done this?

Even more bewildered, he used the paperknife to open the envelope.

You've beaten me for the very last time, Sebastian. I've consulted a lawyer, seen a doctor to show him my latest bruises and I'm bringing assault charges against you.

After that we can discuss our divorce.

Dorothy

The anger he found so hard to control surged up and he seemed to be seeing things through a mist. When it cleared he found he'd swept everything off his desk and smashed a valuable figurine against the wall. Panting, he sank into a chair, unable to believe this was happening.

It was a few moments before he realized the phone was ringing. He picked it up just as the voicemail kicked in and it was a moment before the recorded message faded and he could speak to the person at the other end.

‘Hello?'

‘Is that you, Dad?'

‘Yes. John, it's good to hear from you, son. I'm afraid your mother isn't—'

‘Is it true?'

‘What?'

‘That you've been beating Mother for years.'

Sebastian swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. He hadn't been
beating
her. Maybe he'd been a bit rough at times. It was his temper. He'd have to learn to control it better.

‘Well? Have you?'

‘Certainly not.'

‘She's emailed me a photo of herself, with bruising and fingermarks. She says you did it, not for the first time, and she's left you for good.'

‘It's a temporary thing. We're going to sort it out.'

‘Gerry and I thought you had sorted it out already. You told us years ago when we asked you that you were getting counselling. Clearly you didn't, so I'm glad Mum's come to her senses. You're a prize shit and, as far as I'm concerned, I never want to see you again.'

‘I've been doing everything for you.'

John made a scornful noise. ‘Rubbish. And as for stealing Auntie Minnie's money, forget about it. If ever anyone earned their inheritance, she did.'

‘But she's mentally unstable.'

‘It takes one to recognize one.'

The phone clicked off. Sebastian stared at it in outrage. He couldn't seem to think straight. He didn't know what to do.

He wished he was a drinking man, but he never had been able to take more than a glass or two.

Where could Dorothy have gone? He had to get her back. Had to. He couldn't manage without her.

Brody went into the kitchen and Miranda followed.

‘Thank you for including me when you were talking to Ned. You could have easily used that to try to get rid of me.'

‘I'd never use a child to get back at someone, and you can't have known me very well if you thought I would.'

‘I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I didn't know you as well as I thought.'

‘What did my father tell you?'

‘As if you don't know.'

‘I don't.'

He looked at her, frowning, clearly not believing her.

Just then her mobile phone rang. She went across to her handbag and fumbled for it, afraid it might be bad news.

‘Miranda?'

‘Regina. Is everything all right?'

‘No, it isn't.'

Her sister started sobbing. ‘It's Nikki. She's lost the baby. I thought I didn't care and I do, Miranda, I do!'

‘I can't come to you, but you can come to me, if you like. I'm at Katie's, my daughter's house. Her husband's been injured and I'm looking after my grandson while she's at the hospital, so I can't leave here.'

Her voice was dull. ‘You have a grandson. Mine just died.'

‘I'm so sorry, more sorry than words can say.'

‘Would you mind if I came to see you? I feel . . . lost.'

‘Not at all.' She gave Regina the address and shut down the phone, staring at it for a moment before looking at Brody. ‘Did you hear that?'

‘Yes. Who's Nikki?'

‘Regina's daughter. My niece. She's eighteen and she was pregnant. She wasn't well and had to go into hospital.'

‘History repeating itself, like aunt, like niece.'

She couldn't believe he'd say anything so cruel but didn't say anything, just turned her back on him and busied herself putting the kettle on. Regina might want a hot drink.

‘I'm sorry.'

She kept her back to him.

He moved to stand nearer to her. ‘That was uncalled for. I really am sorry, Miranda.'

She turned, finding herself too close to him, especially with these clothes which seemed to offer no protection, no barrier, so flimsy were they.

He laid his right hand on her shoulder for a moment, then stepped back. ‘I could do with a cup of coffee, if you're making some. I can't see us getting any sleep now. When she comes, I'll leave you and your sister to talk.'

She inclined her head. She didn't want to talk to him, didn't want to lay herself open to more sniping and insults. He might have apologized but he clearly had a very low opinion of her. Only . . . she'd always wondered what they'd told him. She'd ask him later. Regina wouldn't be long, so there was no time to talk now.

Regina found the house easily. It was the only one in the street with lights on in several rooms. She got out of the car and hurried to the front door. Miranda opened it before she got there, holding her arms out. Regina walked into them and the two sisters hugged one another tightly.

Then Regina looked down the hall and saw a man standing watching them, a man who looked vaguely familiar. ‘I didn't realize you weren't alone. I'm sorry if I've interrupted something.'

‘You've not interrupted anything worth continuing,' Miranda said with a sharp edge to her voice. ‘This is Brody, Katie's birth father.'

Regina gaped at him then looked back at Miranda. ‘You two got together again?'

‘Hardly, given the opinion he has of me. No. We have an armed truce while we look after our grandson. Shall you and I go into the sitting room?'

‘I'll make you both some coffee if you like,' Brody offered.

‘No, thank you.' Miranda walked past him into the front room.

Regina hesitated. ‘I'd kill for a cup of coffee. Black. No sugar.'

‘Miranda?' His voice was hesitant.

‘I said no. If I want some, I'll get it myself. I don't intend to trouble you more than I have to.'

He vanished into the kitchen and Regina let out her breath in a faint whistle. Something was very wrong between these two. She followed her sister into the room and sat down on the couch. ‘I'm sorry I interrupted you.'

‘You only interrupted him insulting me.'

‘Why would he do that?'

‘If I knew exactly what Father and Sebastian had told him, I might be able to answer that question. But I don't know. And I'm not going to even try to find out. If Brody's mind is so closed, if he's so cynical, he can think what he likes about me.'

‘My mind is
not
closed!' Brody came into the room, scowled at Miranda and dumped two cups of coffee on the low table. ‘Drink it or not, as you please.' He walked out again.

Regina whistled softly again as she picked up the cup of coffee. ‘You should tell him what happened from your point of view and find out what they said to him.'

‘He'd not believe me if I did. And why bother? It's all in the past now, and I'm building a new life.'

‘If you're going to continue seeing your daughter it'd be a lot easier—' She broke off and held up one hand. ‘All right. I'll mind my own business.'

‘Tell me about Nikki.'

Dorothy looked out of the plane window as it came in to land in Sydney. She could see the huge old bridge and the opera house quite clearly. It had been a while since she'd been here. Or anywhere. Sebastian didn't like going overseas, didn't even like touring in his own state, nor did he like her going away from him on her own.

Why had she put up with it for so long? Why had she let him even start treating her like that?

As she came out of the airport, she saw her older son waiting for her. John hurried towards her, his eyes searching her face anxiously as if she'd look different.

‘Are you all right, Mother?'

‘Yes.'

‘Why didn't you tell us?'

‘I was ashamed and embarrassed. That sort of thing doesn't happen to people like us, does it, just to uneducated people who don't know any better?'

‘Gerry and I thought it had stopped.'

She was startled. ‘You knew?'

‘Of course we did. We could hardly help overhearing sometimes. But when I taxed him with it, he said he'd been stressed, but was getting help. I believed him. Well, I used to be as narrowly focused on my work as he was. It wasn't till I met Bron that I started learning how to relax, how to enjoy other things besides
getting on
, how to care for other people
.
'

‘Does she mind me coming to stay?'

‘No, of course not. I showed her the photo. She was as shocked about it as I was and she didn't hesitate.'

‘I won't stay for long. I've been putting money aside for a while, and I still have skills that will earn me a living, even at my age. Your father doesn't know that I've been selling articles to journals for years, using a PO Box and keeping the money in a separate bank account.'

‘You're being very brave.'

‘No. I'm not. I'm scared witless. But if your Aunt Miranda can break free of Sebastian, after all he and Father did to her, then so can I.'

He frowned. ‘What exactly did they do to her, apart from use her as a drudge?'

‘I'll tell you about that another time. Let's go to your house. And if he calls . . . ?'

‘I shan't tell him you're here. Actually, I rang him after I spoke to you and told him I want nothing to do with him or Aunt Minnie's money.'

She smiled. ‘Good for you. She wants to be called Miranda now – and she's changed so much it suits her. Thank you for having me.' She'd been touched by how quickly John had asked her to come and stay with him and his wife, how he'd offered to help her financially to set up a new life for herself. Tomorrow her lawyer would be delivering her ultimatum to Sebastian.