TWENTY SEVEN
Mia
I don’t think either of us gets much sleep that night. Poor Luke is as restless as I usually am. Early in the morning, I finally give up and slip on another of his hoodies, inhaling the earthy masculine scent. What a luxury to have access to a whole cupboard full!
I’m sitting in the living room with my feet tucked up on the sofa and a steaming cup of tea in my hands when Luke emerges, brushing his fingers through his wild hair.
“Hey.” I wish there was more I could say. He looks haggard, like he’s spent more than just the one night of broken sleep.
“Hey.” He comes to sit next to me and leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and putting his head in his hands.
We’re quiet for a while. I’m trying to figure out the best approach to try talking to Margaret again today. “You know it’s a shame the Rotary Club doesn’t know about this. I bet they’d love to help. You said your parents have been lifelong members.”
Luke lifts his head to look at me. “Yeah.” After a pause, he sits up a little straighter. “Yeah. They would love to help. Why didn’t I think of that?”
It’s only seven in the morning, but beside me my phone buzzes with an incoming call. When I look down to check, it’s Dad. I swipe to dismiss it. I sent a message to let him know why I wasn’t coming back. I’m not ready to talk to him or Mum yet. I will, eventually. They’re my parents after all. I’m not sure things can ever go back to the way they were, though.
“Maybe we should get in touch with the Rotary Club members and let them know. Do you think your parents would mind?”
Luke winces. “Mum’ll probably go mad when she finds out, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
I smile. That’s the first real determination I’ve heard in his voice since he had the news.
At least we have something to do today. With everything up in the air, there’s no reason to keep working on the renovation and obviously, I’m not working. I should probably look for jobs, but I’m not sure I have the heart today. I’ll go over my CV tomorrow and begin the hunt. Right now, I’m focused on making sure we do what we can to help Luke’s family.
Yesterday, Margaret just about shut her front door in my face as soon as I explained who I was. I don’t want to pester her, but I need an opportunity to plead my case. I decide to make one more bid to get her to listen.
Luke emails the secretary of the Rotary Club. Half an hour later, we have agreed to meet her for tea at the Coral Breeze Cafe that afternoon.
Meanwhile, I walk down to the local newsagent and buy a card and a pen, and write out a short note. In the end, I don’t say much. I just let Margaret know I’d love to talk to her if she’ll hear me out. I could have told her about the financial risks of a case like this. About the costs she’ll have to pay if she loses. I could have warned her my Dad’s case is potentially unscrupulous. Instead, I tell her about Luke’s dad and the financial pressure his family is under right now. In the end I’d rather appeal to her sense of compassion than stoop to making threats just like my dad.
I guess we’ll see which approach wins at the end of the day.
“I had no idea your father was sick.” Lin Wang is a short woman with flecks of grey in her short dark hair and bright red lipstick that sticks to the side of her teacup when she takes a sip.
Luke scrubs a hand over his face. “Neither did we. We only found out a couple of weeks ago when he said he had an appointment in Sydney.”
Lin nods sadly. “My husband passed away ten years ago. Cancer.”
In the moment of silence, I feel that news hit Luke like a physical blow. I slide closer to him on the bench seat until our thighs are touching.
“What we need is a fundraiser.” Lin sets her cup down on the saucer with a clink. “The biggest fundraiser we’ve ever done. I’ll start making phone calls today. We need items we can auction, and we need a way to raise awareness. And if either of you feel up to helping out, I’m sure we could use all hands on deck.”
“Actually, I could make some paintings. To donate for the auction.”
Lin smiles. “Perfect.”
“And I could help with flyers and images for social media, too.”
Luke swallows the last of his coffee. His sandwich is still untouched on his plate, though. “I’ll get my brothers in on it. If we’re running a charity auction, Noah will cater it, and we can host it at Inlet Views, at The Snapper. And I’ll do whatever. Odd jobs, packing, shifting stuff. You name it.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Lin reaches across the table and pats Luke’s arm. “And try not to worry too much. There is still a lot they can do, and a lot of chances he can beat this.”
Luke swallows hard and nods.
“Thank you, Mrs Wang,” I give her my warmest smile. “We really appreciate it.”
She waves me off. “Don’t be silly. There is nothing this community won’t do to help Rob and Joanne. Believe me. They’ve done so much for everyone else. Now it’s our turn to give back.”
We pay the bill and wave to Lin as she crosses the road to get to her car.
I get another phone call from my Dad as we’re leaving the cafe.
I dismiss the call and drop it onto my lap, concentrating on what Luke is saying. “Thank you. For painting for the auction and for everything.”
“Of course. Don’t even thank me. You’d do the same for me.”
I stare down at my phone in my lap on the drive back to Luke’s place. I’m still so mad at Dad. I’ve put the card into Margaret’s letterbox. It’s all I can do short of stalking the woman. That’s hardly likely to help. I just wish I could get through to her and clear this weight from Luke’s shoulders. He still looks like he’s carrying a heavy burden, despite how much success we’ve had already.
When the doorbell rings, I’m lost in my own world with a canvas laid out on the kitchen floor over an old sheet and paint on my hands and knees and arms and probably in my hair. It’s the middle of the day on a Friday. Luke is tied up all day on a job at the Harper place up the road, so it’s not him. Guess I’ll have to answer it.
Setting down my palette knife, I wipe a hand across my cheek to brush the stray hair from my face. I look around until I find the cloth to clean my hands and then go to the front door. I’m so surprised when I open it. Margaret Nguyen is standing there with a younger woman with the same sloped nose and brown eyes.
“Margaret! Thanks for coming by. Will you come in? Can I get you a cup of tea or coffee?” I have to take a breath and tell myself to slow down. She doesn’t need my flustered rambling. This is part of the reason I’m no good at this stuff, but Luke is relying on me and I won’t let him down.
Margaret stays on the doorstep. “I got your card.” Her voice is flat. I notice she’s using a walking stick to support her weight on her right side.
“You did? That’s great.”
Her daughter nudges her. “Mum, you said you wanted to talk to Mia.”
Margaret sighs. “My daughter told me the Rotary Club is organising a charity auction for the Wilsons.”
I blink. This is not the conversation I expected to be having, but perhaps it’s an in on the other stuff I want to discuss with her. “Yeah. I’m actually in the middle of painting something for the auction myself.” I gesture behind me. “Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
She shakes her head. “It’s always the Wilsons this, and the Wilsons that. What about the rest of us who could have used some help?” As if to emphasise her words, she grunts and shifts her weight onto her good side.
“Mum!”
Margaret rolls her eyes. “Listen, I know what it’s like to have medical bills you can’t afford. And believe it or not, I’m not a total bitch.”
Margaret’s daughter makes an apologetic face. “What my mum is trying to say is that she felt bad for Rob Wilson when she found out he has cancer. She wouldn’t have gone ahead with the case if she had known.”
This is excellent news. I force myself to keep my expression calm. “Of course not. You know, it’s not too late.”
Margaret frowns. “That’s not what my lawyer said. He said we’ve already filed some statement, and there are legal fees. I only agreed to this because he assured me he could win it for me, or he’d waive the fees.”
I tamp down the urge to growl with frustration. I can’t believe my father resorted to tactics like these. “Listen, your lawyer is my father, and I used to work for him, so I know what you’re talking about. Even if he’s filed a statement of claim, you can withdraw it. You’re right, there might be some fees, but I’m sure that we can cover those for you if that’s what you’d like to do.”
She frowns at me. “Whose side are you on, anyway? I don’t really understand how you’re involved in this.”
“I’d tell you I’m on the side of justice, but you won’t buy that!” I half giggle at my own joke, but Margaret doesn’t crack a smile. “Would you believe I’m on Luke’s side?”
She sighs. “Whatever. I don’t really care. If you think you can get rid of the legal fees, I’ll happily drop the case. I don’t even think your father could have won it anyway. To be honest, there are some things I wasn’t up front with him about, anyway.”
I open my mouth to ask, but she keeps going.
“I shouldn’t have been up on that ladder. I knew that. It was unstable. I was rushing to get the job done, and I’ll suffer for it every day of my life. It just would be nice, you know, if people who had so much could have had a bit of sympathy.”
I nod, not sure what to say.
Margaret sighs again. “If you and your boyfriend are going to cover my legal fees, then you have my word I’ll do whatever it was you said about withdrawing the statement. Just make it happen.” She grunts and turns awkwardly on the doorstep.
“Thank you!”
Margaret doesn’t turn back or say goodbye. As she hobbles to her car, her daughter leans in to whisper under her breath. “Thank you. I think sometimes she just needs someone to listen to her.”
“Lucy!”
“Coming.” Lucy gives me one last smile and hurries after her mother, opening the door to help Margaret into the passenger seat.
I close the door and I’m still standing with my hand on the handle, when Luke calls out from the back. “You home, babe?”
I’m so stunned I can’t even find the words to reply. When he peeks around the door from the living room and sees me, his brows raise. “Everything OK?”
I turn and give him a dumbfounded smile. “You know what? I think everything is OK. That was Margaret.” I gesture at the closed door. “And she’s dropping the case.”
“She is?” Luke grins.
“She is!”
He catches me up in his arms and I shriek as he spins us around. “Baby, you’re a miracle worker!”
When he finally sets me down I shake my head. “No. It’s all down to your parents. She heard about your dad and felt sorry for him.”
Luke squeezes me tight one more time. “You still had a hand in it, I know.”
I bask for a moment in his relief until he finally sets me down with a chuckle. “You know you have paint smeared on your face, right?”
I brush a hand over my cheek and laugh. “It must have been there the whole time I was talking to Margaret and her daughter! God, I’m so embarrassed.”
He pulls me into another hug. “Don’t be. You’re adorable. Can’t believe you’re mine. When do I get to put a ring on this finger?”
I give him a guilty look. “Luke...”
He sets me down and puts a hand over my mouth. “Shhh. I’m only teasing. You know I’ll wait until you’re ready. Just need you to know that it’s happening one day.”
I grin. “You’ll never give up, will you?”
“Nope.”
I pull him down for another kiss, then I sigh. “You know you’re perfect, right? You always know exactly what to say. I think you know me better than I know myself sometimes.”
“You’re not hard to figure out. Just gotta pay attention.”
I smile. I don’t think anyone has ever paid attention to me the way he does. I don’t think anyone ever could. But it’s just like him to play down the effort he puts into building his life around my wants and needs. The way he’s built something here that’s bigger and better than I could have ever dreamed.
There’s no doubt in my mind we will get married one day. Just as soon as I get over the trauma of the thought of picking more wedding stationery!