by Brian Cain
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Malinda had done some quick homework on AIDS through the AIDS Council of Australia. She had nothing to do with it before and was unaware of its outcome. She was distraught when she found there was nothing that could be done to cure the disease. She had several phone conversations with a counsellor who informed her of what behaviour to expect from her friend when she arrived. She was conscious of her and Tammy’s exposure to the virus, but was assured that only bodily fluid transfer from an infected person would put them at risk, especially blood. Armed with enough information to calm her, Malinda stood at the airport gate awaiting Savanna’s arrival through customs. She had brought Tammy with her, trying not to alienate Savanna from them. Savanna looked well when Malinda embraced her, but she still shivered as Savanna hugged Tammy. They made their way home, Savanna and Malinda talking of old times as the face-making competition continued between Tammy and Miller.
“Who are you making those horrible faces at Tammy?” asked her mother.
“Lance, he keeps laughing at me mummy.”
“Cut it out, you look like a monster. I can see your reflection in the window,” snapped her mother. Tammy sat sulking in the back seat. Her mother seldom raised her voice, why now?
Savanna had no family; she was raised by her mother who had died of cancer a few years before and her father was killed in a work accident when she was one. She was an only child and her parents were sole children as well. Savanna had married four times but had no children herself, leading a lavish lifestyle marrying rich celebrities, her vivid beauty and curly blonde locks making her very popular. Malinda was like a sister to her; they had been close ever since they met at a modelling session when Malinda was still in university and planned a modelling agency by themselves later, together building the huge Malvanna international modelling and cosmetics empire.
Savanna watched her mother fade away to nothing and die a few years back from lung cancer, caused by her heavy smoking to calm her nerves as she brought Savanna up by herself on the wage of a shop assistant. Nothing could save her mother as the cancer spread through her body; Savanna had to watch and wait in anguish as her mother passed on. When she laid her mother to rest in the same place as her father, she feared the same thing may happen to her, so she lived life to the fullest.
Now this, thirty-five years old and nobody in life except Malinda. Savanna’s first husband was a heroin addict and at that time in life had passed the habit and the virus on to her. She didn’t know and nor did he, that he carried the deadly AIDS virus. She divorced him and completed a detox program just before she met Malinda. She just found out that her first husband had died five years ago of an AIDS-related disease. Only now did she tell Malinda of this.
Malinda plunged Savanna deeply into work, occasionally talking on how she could help Savanna, wanting her to move from Paris to Adelaide so they could see each other more often. Savanna declined the suggestion, not wanting to interfere with Malinda’s new love. Malinda talked of Jason to Savanna constantly, wanting her to meet him as soon as he got back from Sydney, but Savanna arranged to fly back to Paris the day before Jason was to return. Malinda could not convince Savanna to take any of the medication given to her by her doctors nor could she convince her to stay. They spent time going out and reminiscing old times.
Savanna had noticed Miller in their presence where ever they went and Malinda had to explain about her last husband Morgan, and why Miller was there. Savanna remembered how she had feared being a mother and housewife like her own mother, but now saw it as the only thing missing in her life and something she could do nothing about now. She saw Malinda and her plight as the same, caused by drugs and money.
They hugged each other at the airport gate. Tears welled in Malinda’s eyes as she held Savanna tight. Savanna was to ring Malinda as soon as she got to Paris to let her know she had arrived safely.
Savanna held Malinda’s hands and looked into her eyes. “Promise me one thing no matter what happens Malinda, you will always remember me as I am now, smiling at you?”
Malinda hesitated, puzzled by the question. “Of course Savanna, you look no different than you ever have or ever will.”
“Thank you,” said Savanna as she gave her a final hug before kissing Tammy on the forehead and heading towards the gate loading tunnel, waving and wearing a smile. Malinda smiled and waved back, but deep within them both was great sorrow.
