Chapter 36
ERIN
Morwenna dropped them in North Sydney at two thirty, in the end. None of them could see any reason to get going too early.
‘You’ll just be hanging around the ferry terminal all day otherwise,’ Morwenna had said. ‘And my girls are off with friends after school so I don’t have to rush back for pickup.’
Instead, they had been offered a lie-in, a luxurious shower and then a lovely breakfast which they ate at the island in the kitchen.
But it made Erin feel twitchy not to be on the move and when Morwenna had finally suggested they should leave, she had been in the car like a child ready for a trip to the sweet shop.
‘Morwenna, you have been exceptionally kind and generous to us,’ Martha said as they got out of her car. ‘Honestly, we are so grateful to you and Vince for your hospitality.’
‘It’s been a real pleasure. You can probably tell I get a bit homesick sometimes and it’s so nice to meet you both and for you to bring a little of home with you here.’
‘Canada seems like a wonderful country with so much diversity in landscape and culture,’ Erin said.
‘It is, and I’m lucky to live here, but when I see someone from home it just gets me thinking, you know.’
Erin certainly knew, she was feeling homesick herself but at least she’d be going back there soon.
They said their goodbyes and watched as Morwenna drove away.
‘Right,’ Erin said. ‘Let’s get back into race mode.’
They were at the ticket office and knew their choices. They could still get the 23.15 to Port aux Basques if they wanted. Quicker, cheaper, and a somewhere they were guaranteed to sleep for the night.
‘I would get the 17.30 to Argentia,’ the man behind the desk said when they told him what they needed to do. ‘You have no knowing what the journey will be like across land. It’s quite remote in places. St John’s is only an hour and a half away from Argentia. You could get a taxi.’
‘It’s what we thought as well,’ Erin said. ‘But it’s good to have it confirmed. Shall we get two tickets to Argentia then, Martha?’
‘Yes, let’s do this.’
Erin counted out the cash and handed it over.
‘Good luck,’ the man said.
They were loaded onto the ferry half an hour before it left. It was a huge ship and the seats they found were comfortable but didn’t recline, and Erin thought they would have to make a bit of a nest for themselves for the next sixteen hours.
‘We need to find out exactly how much a taxi will be,’ Erin said after Martha was settled. ‘I can’t remember what that ticket guy told us and it’s the one thing I didn’t write down. It’s all well and good saying we’ll just get a taxi, but it might be too expensive.’
‘Yes, but think of what we saved on free bed and board with Vince and Morwenna,’ Martha said.
‘True, but we don’t know what’s waiting for us in St John’s. It could be another lift pass or a boat to an island off the coast. I’ll bet it won’t be in the middle of the town. That would be too easy for the final.’
Erin looked to Noah who had set up another jigsaw on the table in front of him. He wasn’t even listening to them now, he was so engrossed in his puzzle.
‘I’m going to find out,’ Erin said.
‘Okay,’ said Martha. ‘I’m totally beat. I don’t know why, bearing in mind the easy ride we’ve had in the last twenty-four hours.’
‘I’ll get us some food and drinks,’ Erin said. ‘And find out about a taxi.’
She walked away from her grandmother who did look tired again.
One last push and she could get Martha home for much needed relaxation.
Her grandmother had always kept fit. She had done a lot of running when she was younger, then had toned it down to brisk daily walks when she hit her sixties.
That, occasional trips out on her bicycle and a twice-weekly yoga session kept her supple and healthy but this trip was a big deal.
Martha didn’t usually do things like this any more. This had been a lot.
As Erin walked around the ship she looked for Sam but she couldn’t find him. Perhaps they’d taken the shorter ferry route. Perhaps they were already winging their way across land to St John’s. Perhaps they hadn’t even made it to North Sydney yet. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
She found a steward who was able to offer information about a taxi and told her it would be about $220.
Then she went to buy some food and hot drinks.
As she handed over the cash for some paninis and cups of tea, she wondered if they should just try to get a lift. It would be silly not to at least ask.
They discussed the possibilities while they were eating. Noah had finished his puzzle and packed it away. He joined them with his camera and they played the part of two contestants who had their act together.
‘A taxi would cost two hundred and twenty dollars and the steward can book that for us. It would be waiting for us at the terminal,’ Erin said.
Noah lowered his camera and looked over his shoulder, then he spoke to them in a whisper out of the corner of his mouth, and without looking at them directly. Like it never happened.
‘The cars get off first and then the foot passengers. You’d save time by at least getting a lift to the terminal.’
‘Are you telling us this because you know where the other contestants are?’ Erin asked.
‘I can’t say any more than that,’ he said and then picked his camera up again. It was then that Cally walked around the corner.
‘How’s it going? This is literally it, now, ladies. How are you feeling?’
‘Nervous,’ Erin said in a moment of honesty in front of the camera.
‘Same, but I’d add knackered to that,’ Martha said.
‘Nearly there, though. I think this series is going to be a big hit, you know. I’ll work hard behind the scenes to make sure it is.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right, Cally, after all the effort everyone has put in,’ Martha said. ‘I’m sure it will be a success.’
Noah and Cally left them then, no doubt to try and get some sleep.
‘I’m going to do a round of asking before everyone starts to really settle in,’ Erin said.
‘Thank you, love. I’m afraid I’m at the settling in stage. I’m feeling pretty useless.’
Martha pulled the copy of Green Gables out of her bag and began to read.
‘Just get as comfy as you can and I’ll be back.’
One round of the people seated yielded nothing, not even a lift to the terminal.
Then Erin tried again when some people came back from eating in the restaurant.
One man offered to get them to the terminal, but he wasn’t going anywhere near St John’s.
She kept asking those that she hadn’t already and just as she was about to give up, she found a woman, sitting alone.
She looked to be in her fifties and was reading a paperback book.
Erin didn’t really want to disturb her but she was desperate to go back to her grandmother with good news.
‘Hello. I’m so sorry to bother you but my grandmother and I are trying to get to St John’s. I don’t suppose you’re going that way, are you?’
The woman lowered her book and laid it down in her lap. Erin thought she was bound to say no, especially after the interruption. Wasn’t it the rule that you never talk to someone when they’re reading?
‘That’s exactly where I’m going,’ she said, and she didn’t seem annoyed at all. ‘I can give you a ride if you want.’
‘Really?’ Erin said. ‘If you could, we’d be so grateful. We’re in a race on a TV show. It’s the final leg and we’re in with a chance of winning. A lift would make all the difference.’
‘Well, then, it’s your lucky day. I’m Clare,’ she said.
‘Erin,’ she managed. ‘And my grandmother is Martha.’
Erin took hold of the back of the nearest seat for support as her legs felt a bit weak all of a sudden.
‘Come and find me in the morning, Erin, and we can have some breakfast together, talk about plans. It’s nice to meet you.’
‘You too,’ Erin said. ‘And thank you so much.’
Then before she cried in front of this woman, she walked away to find a quiet place to be for a moment.
The woman was called Clare. How on earth was she going to tell this fact to Martha?
Erin felt both overwhelmed and a bit ridiculous.
What did it matter that this woman was called Clare?
Except she knew the answer was, everything.
Her grandmother was still reading when she got back.
She had a wistful smile on her face and in that moment, Erin wondered if she could get away with not telling Martha the name of their lift share saviour.
There was no way Martha wouldn’t find out but Erin decided to leave it until they introduced themselves at breakfast. Erin wanted to try and go to sleep.
She didn’t want a Martha-style trip down memory lane.
Just the thought made a sense of overwhelm begin to develop again.
Usually, her urge to get up and find somewhere else to be, to take flight when Martha began to reminisce, was huge.
After their chat she didn’t feel quite so much like that, but then Martha hadn’t been pushing her agenda and Erin did see it as an agenda.
Get Erin talking about her mother. Well, she had now, but in the back of her mind, it was her grandmother who needed to find some closure, some peace.
She talked about Clare but Erin suspected she wasn’t really listening to her own words.
‘I’ve got us a lift,’ she said quietly as she sat down beside her grandmother.
‘A lift to the terminal, to get the taxi?’
‘No, a lift all the way to St John’s. A woman travelling alone.’
‘Amazing!’ Martha reached out a hand and squeezed Erin’s shoulder. ‘Wonderful girl,’ she said. ‘What’s her name?’
‘I forgot to ask,’ she said, inwardly wincing as she lied.
‘Oh, Erin.’
‘Never mind, it’s all sorted. I’m going to try and get some sleep. We’re meeting her for breakfast before we dock.’
‘Okay, ’night, love,’ Martha said and returned to her book.
Erin tried to cosy down in her seat and closed her eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come.
It felt like they were inching closer to a place Erin wasn’t ready to visit.
A place that made the finish line in this race seem like a done deal, like they could just stroll up and know they had won.
This other place was so far out of reach to Erin it just felt insurmountable.
Literally as if the tallest mountain in the world stood between it and her and she’d never be able to climb it.
But it wasn’t about Erin now, it was about Martha.
What if her grandmother went to a place where Erin couldn’t reach her? Who would she have then?
Two hours after she had said goodnight to her grandmother she still wasn’t anywhere close to sleep.
Martha had long nodded off, the book still open in her lap.
Erin slipped it out from under her hand and was going to mark the page and close it, but something made her turn to the first page and begin to read.