Forty-six
Rachel would be glad to get home. She’d spent three days in Adelaide and on each of them had spent time at the nursing home with Becky. But, apart from that first day, her sister had given no sign of recognising her or interest in what she had to say. Rachel had found herself babbling on about things that had happened when they were growing up, even of the times she had joined Becky and Luke on their dates, in the hope of igniting some spark, some sign she understood. But there was nothing. She might as well have been talking to the wall. She didn’t know how Andy did it, day after day.
Now she was on her way home and she couldn’t wait to see Molly again, and Verity and her other granddaughters, even Luke. She hadn’t contacted him while she was away, too confused about her own feelings to know what to say. She was well aware she may have seemed indifferent to him that morning before she left.
Becky’s words had confused her further. She was right. Luke was hot, too hot for her. Rachel wasn’t a teenager anymore She’d be sixty in less than two years. It was too late to change now. While it had been good to feel close to a man again, to feel desired, to have someone to cuddle up to in bed, Luke Findlay wasn’t for her. Not only did he live in Sydney, he was planning to travel to Italy. The very word conjured up images of exotic places she could only dream about. It was somewhere she’d longed to visit, before marriage and children took over her life. Then there were her granddaughters, her B&B guests… and now Verity. There was no time in her life for any sort of permanent relationship.
She wondered how the little girl was coping with her gone. Although she’d called Jess each day and spoken to Verity before she went to bed each night, it wasn’t the same as being there. In the short time the little girl had been part of her life, she’d crept into a spot in her heart, and Rachel was longing to see her again, to hear her cute English accent and watch her and Molly together.
Jess was waiting for her at the airport along with Verity and Emily.
‘Grandma!’ Verity raced to meet her and threw her arms around her legs. ‘You came back!’
‘Of course I did, sweetheart. I said I would.’ She picked her up and hugged her. ‘I missed you.’
‘I missed you too.’ Verity wound her arms around Rachel’s neck as if she would never let her go.
A wave of love flowed through Rachel at the realisation of how important she’d become to Verity, and she vowed never to leave her again. This little girl had already lost too many people in her short life. Rachel wasn’t going to be another. Suddenly the confusion she’d been experiencing was gone. Verity was more important than anything or anyone else. She must be the focus of her attention for as long as it took.
‘Good to have you back, Mum. How was Aunt Becky?’ Jess asked, as they made their way to the car, Verity still clinging to Rachel, her hands tightly clasped around her grandmother’s neck. She was becoming heavy, but Rachel didn’t want to let her go.
‘Not great. Tell you later,’ Rachel said, as she popped Verity into one of the child car seats in the back of the car, while Jess fastened Emily into the other one. She gave Verity a kiss on the forehead and patted the red curls which were so like hers had been.
‘I thought we could go straight back to my place for a bite to eat,’ Jess said. ‘That okay by you?’
‘Sure.’ Rachel leant back in her seat. It was good to be home , she thought, as the familiar landmarks flew past.
In no time, they reached Pelican Crossing and stopped outside Jess’s home. Verity clung to Rachel again when she lifted her out of the car, highlighting the wisdom of her decision. ‘It’s okay, my darling. I’m not going to leave you again,’ she said. If she visited Adelaide again, she’d take Verity with her.
After a lunch of soup and salad, during which Rachel was able to fill Jess in about Becky, Jess asked, ‘Shall I drop you off on my way to pick up the twins, or would you like to see them today?’
‘On your way, please.’ While Rachel loved the twins to bits, she wasn’t ready for the exuberant welcome she was sure they’d give her. And she had to pick up Molly which meant she’d have to see Luke. ‘Why don’t you bring them round tomorrow? We can have lunch.’
‘Okay. But don’t you have guests arriving tomorrow?’
‘Yes, but the rooms are all made up ready.’
When Jess dropped them off, Verity could barely wait till Rachel opened the door before running through the house. ‘Where’s Molly?’ she asked when she returned to Rachel’s side, her voice filled with disappointment.
‘Molly’s been staying with Luke and Nelson while I was gone. Remember them?’
‘Yes. Can we fetch her?’
‘In a little while. Why don’t you show me what you’ve been doing at Pelican Pals first?’ Rachel needed time to get her bearings, to work out what to say to Luke, before she was ready to face him.
*
Luke was closing up the clinic for the day when Molly let out a volley of barking. Glancing out the window of the office, he saw Rachel walking up the driveway, Verity skipping beside her. ‘You knew your mistress was outside,’ he said to the excited little dog with a grin. ‘I’m happy to see her too.’ He washed his hands and went out to greet them.
‘Good to see you, Red. When did you get back?’ he said, as Molly danced around Rachel and Verity and jumped up on the little girl making her squeal with delight.
‘This morning. Jess picked me up and we had lunch before she dropped us back home. It’s good to be home.’ She smiled, but Luke thought there was something forced about it.
‘How was Becky?’
Rachel grimaced and mouthed, ‘Later.’
‘Do you have time to stop for coffee? I have chocolate biscuits,’ he said to Verity.
‘Can Molly come too?’
‘And Nelson,’ Luke said, noting the boxer had now joined them, curious to see what was happening. ‘But no chocolate biscuits for them.’
Verity giggled. ‘Grandma came back,’ she said, taking Rachel’s hand.
Luke raised an eyebrow. Then he realised. She’d lost her mother, then her father had left. She must have worried that Rachel had gone for good too. ‘I’m sure your grandma will never leave you,’ he said, noting how she clung to Rachel’s hand. Was this what Rachel’s forced expression and her lack of communication was all about?
‘Coffee would be good. If it’s not too much trouble.’
‘Of course not.’ How could she imagine it would be? He was so pleased to see her he wanted to pick her up and twirl her around, to kiss her until she cried for mercy. But he sensed something had changed between them, and Verity was here, so he led her and the little girl across to the house, the two dogs following.
‘How was Molly?’
Luke had made coffee. He and Rachel were sitting on the back veranda, and Verity, having drunk a glass of milk and eaten one of the chocolate digestive biscuits, had joined the dogs in a game with a ball.
‘She was good. She missed you, but she and Nelson get on well together.’ He glanced at Rachel, trying to gauge her expression. ‘I missed you too.’
She didn’t react to his comment. ‘You asked about Becky.’ She sighed. ‘I hated seeing her like that. It’s as if the life has gone out of her, leaving an empty shell.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Were you able to speak with her at all?’
‘I spoke. She only said a few words on my first day, when she seemed to recognise me.’ Rachel’s lips tightened, and Luke wondered what those words had been. But Rachel didn’t enlighten him. ‘Andy visits her each day. He’s a good man.’
Becky was lucky. It must be hard when the love of your life suffers from a disease that takes her from you while she is still alive.
This wasn’t going well. He had been looking forward to Rachel’s return, but it was as if a barrier had gone up between them. Had something happened when she was in Adelaide? He searched around for something to say, to break the awkward silence which had grown between them.
Rachel spoke first. ‘Any more news about the poisonings?’
‘Some. The police haven’t charged anyone yet… insufficient evidence. But Joe told Finn and me that one of the councillors has ratted on his mate.’
‘One of those who wanted to ban dogs from the beach?’
‘I believe so.’
‘Oh! I hope they can get the evidence they need. Is the beach still closed?’
‘Until they can be sure it’s over.’
‘And it may not be until they can find enough evidence to charge him. What a mess, and a disaster for the tourist industry. People come here to enjoy the beach. I know it’s not the surf beach, but it’s a beautiful stretch of white sand.’
‘Yeah.’
Verity came running up, Molly and Nelson behind her. ‘Can we go home now, Grandma? Molly wants to go home.’
Rachel smiled. ‘I think you want to go home,’ she said, ‘and it’s almost time for your bath.’ She rose.
‘Can I see you later?’ Luke asked.
‘Not tonight. I need to spend time with Verity, get myself organised.’
‘Tomorrow?’ Luke hated to hear the pleading note in his voice. What was happening to him?
‘Jess is bringing the girls over, and I have a new batch of guests arriving.’ Rachel hesitated, then said, ‘Sunday. Why don’t you come to breakfast. If you come at nine, the guest breakfast will be over.’ She seemed about to say something else but didn’t.
‘Breakfast at nine on Sunday. I’ll look forward to it.’ Luke wanted to give her a hug, but recognised she might not welcome it. He watched despondently as she and Verity headed off, Molly running along beside them. ‘What was all that about?’ he asked Nelson, shaking his head in disbelief.