The Maxwell Sisters

by Loretta Hill

  As the vows washed over her, she remembered giving them herself only five years earlier to Heath in front of a very similar crowd. She remembered how she’d felt that day, how content, how safe.

  She’d lost so much since then, all because she’d lost faith in them as a couple.

  It was true that he’d let her down. But she’d let him down too.

  For the last month he’d been fighting like crazy for her. And what had she been doing? Still running, still afraid. When was she going to stop and fight too, addressing those vows she’d given all those years ago?

  Marriage, after all, wasn’t just about being there for each other when the going was good, when times were rosy and the other person made you feel great. It was for the bad times as well. She clutched her bouquet tighter as she took in his eyes. She pulled her gaze away before she burst into tears. Instead, it fell on her parents, and that only made her want to cry more.

  They seemed so happy, sitting side by side. Her father was holding her mother’s hand. Anita looked so proud. Delirious, in fact, as she watched Phoebe commit her life to Spider. Anita had weathered a tough month – full of both struggles and confusion – but she’d never lost faith. She just persevered, pushing through the difficult times to get to this.

  Her father had withdrawn from his wife to protect her. He’d wanted to give her this moment. Tash realised that now. This moment, where she had all her family around her, celebrating love and happiness. A moment of perfection.

  She knew times were only going to get harder for them from here, when her father finally told everyone the truth. He’d start getting sicker. Her mother’s role would become that of carer, not just a wife.

  And he knew it.

  There was a sadness in his eyes as he looked not upon his daughters, but upon Anita’s face, catching that shine in her eyes and holding it close to his heart. Her father had always been a strong man, a man of his own making. He was unconventional but he forged his own path – he always had. To become so vulnerable and dependent was going to be tough for him. He didn’t want to go through it. He didn’t want to put his wife through it either. But the choice was out of his hands.

  She wasn’t worried that her mother couldn’t handle it. Anita would continue to give, to care and to sacrifice for her husband until he passed, which was probably why he’d held on to this time for her for so long. To see them like this pushed such a wave of pride through her heart. And the tears she had been holding back fell anyway.

  She felt someone touch her elbow, and then a tissue was pushed into her hand. She glanced quickly behind her to see that it was Eve – curls piled up upon her head and tears also rolling down her cheeks.

  Tash grinned sheepishly and dabbed at her own face.

  ‘We now pronounce you husband and wife,’ announced the celebrants together. ‘You may kiss your bride.’

  With a grin, Spider moved in before they finished talking and Phoebe returned his embrace. Everyone stood up and clapped. Her mother hugged her father. Eve slipped her hand in Tash’s and squeezed it. Tash looked across at Heath, who smiled warmly at her and her heart pounded erratically against her ribcage.

  A few minutes later, they were all signing the registry and the photographer’s camera was having a serious workout.

  ‘Hey.’ A hand came to rest on her neck as Phoebe and Spider took off to take photos by the lake.

  ‘Hey.’ She looked up shyly. ‘Great job.’

  He looked down at her in surprise. ‘What did I do?’

  ‘Getting the celebrants to perform a dual ceremony,’ she nodded. ‘A stroke of genius.’

  ‘Really?’ he grinned. ‘I thought Patricia was going to have a heart attack when she found out.’

  ‘She’ll live.’

  ‘I guess she will.’ He nodded and then Phoebe called them over for a bridal party photo. She felt strangely cheated as soon as he left her side to slot straight back into the crowd. The photos seemed to take forever, first this pose and then that in the heat of the day. Tash was glad when they were finished.

  Apparently, so was Eve. She’d slipped away as soon as they hit the reception to be with Adam. It looked like those two had become a couple sometime between lunch and hors d’oeuvres.

  The restaurant looked amazing, all decked out in wedding paraphernalia, flowers, hearts and bows in every nook and cranny. A little too many in her opinion, but that was Patricia’s taste shining through. Not that her mother looked in the least distressed by it. If her table was overflowing with anything, it was happiness.

  Shortly after entrees the speeches were announced and Tash stood up to give hers. Eve had cunningly opted out of the toast but stood valiantly next to her with a hand around her waist to show her support.

  It was a short speech because there was really only one thing Natasha wanted to say.

  ‘No one in this world deserves this fairytale ending as much as you do, Phee. You bring the sunshine to all our lives. You’re the only person I know who can find a silver lining in practically anything. It doesn’t matter how I’m feeling, whenever I see you, you always manage to lift my mood.’ Even when I’m being held hostage! she thought but didn’t say. ‘And now you’ve found someone to do the same for you. Congratulations, Phee. We love you. And we love you too, Spider. Welcome to the family!’

  As she sat down, her father went up to stand by the bridal table to deliver his speech. She noticed with a heavy heart the extra lines on his face and the hollows in his cheeks. He was losing weight. She’d been too caught up in her own problems to notice it.

  His face wrinkled as it broke into his usual cheeky grin. ‘Okay, so we all know I haven’t had a soft spot for Spider. What man, with three daughters, trusts anyone who comes snooping around his property for a piece of his family? It’s been a long and difficult relationship. But you know what?’ He glanced at Spider, who continued to regard him cautiously. ‘He persisted and he stayed there and he’s still here. And I have to take my hat off to him for that because I can be a real bastard when I want to be.’

  There was a collective gasp and then a giggle rippled through the room. Tash watched her father’s steady gaze carefully and realised that this was his way of apologising. She hoped Spider would realise that too. Glancing his way she saw Spider grin at John and he tipped his head slightly.

  ‘I’m sure you’ll make my Phee a wonderful husband because persistence,’ her father winked, ‘especially where we Maxwells are concerned, always pays. However,’ he lifted a solemn finger, ‘that’s not to say I’m not going to give you a little unsolicited advice.’

  There was a groan from his audience and a few eye-rolls but he continued briskly. ‘Marriage is like a vine.’

  There were even more groans in the room.

  ‘Everything’s like the vine to you, Mad Max,’ someone yelled from the back.

  ‘Stay with me. Stay with me.’ He raised a steadying hand. ‘The wedding is the part where you’re planting. There’s so much to do, so much to organise. You’ve got to prepare the soil so it’s not too rich or acidic. You’ve got to set up your trellises in neat rows and, when the shoots come up, twine them about the poles of the trellises so they grow in the right way. After that, you’re all set. Ready for vintage. Now all you’ve got to do is wait for those magic grapes to appear.

  ‘Wrong. The truth is, the work has only just begun. You don’t know what’s coming. You don’t know whether it’s going to be drought or flood, disease or insects, animals or fire that comes in to try to destroy what you’ve made.

  ‘Marriage is like that too. The wedding day is always perfect. After that …’ he shrugged, ‘you don’t know what the weather’s going to be like. But real love is what will get you through. Today,’ he raised his glass, ‘I wish my daughter and her husband true and everlasting love. A bit of laughter, a bit of hard work, a bit of excitement, lots of patience, some arguments, a bit of fun, some disappointment, sharing the good times and the bad, rollercoasting up the highs and swinging
through the low points, a handful of tears, a bucket of forgiveness. Journeying through life together as you promised each other on your wedding day, for always.’

  By the time his speech came to an end, Tash wasn’t quite sure who he was talking to. Twice he looked across at Anita, who was dabbing wet eyes and clutching her hands together in her lap as she watched him. And then he looked at her, those pale eyes seeming to see right through her, right to her very soul. As he turned his gaze to include Heath, she knew there was a message there for both of them. A message that she could not ignore any longer.

  As soon as all the guests settled in for dessert, she pushed out her chair and went outside to sit on the bench that overlooked the lake. A shadow fell over her, and a smile curled her lips, though she didn’t look up. ‘I knew you would come.’

  It was Heath, of course. One thing she’d found over the years was that he was always aware of exactly where she was in the room. She knew that because it was the same for her. He didn’t say anything, simply sat down beside her and took her hand in both of his, pulling it into his lap and cradling it there as they gazed out upon the lake.

  ‘I don’t want us to end, Heath,’ she whispered. ‘I want to stay together.’

  A sigh seemed to ripple through him.

  ‘Not that,’ her voice wavered, ‘I think we should forget about what happened. If anything I think we should remember it, because I never want to lose you like that again.’

  ‘I know.’ He squeezed her hand tightly. ‘Neither do I. I love you, Tash. And I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through.’

  ‘I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through.’ She turned to face him, pressing her legs against his, running the palm of her hand down the side of his face. Those eyes of his mesmerised her with their intensity. She licked her lips. ‘I need you to forgive me, Heath, for losing faith in us. I didn’t fight for us when you did. I just gave up.’

  ‘It was worth the wait.’ He put his own hand on her face, capturing it and holding it there so that he could study every nuance. As his eyes roved hungrily over her mouth, she wondered what he was waiting for and then realised that he wanted her to kiss him, just to be sure. She smiled.

  Make it count, Tash!

  ‘I love you, Heath. In good times and in bad. Now and for always.’ She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, putting all her love and trust in that one kiss. It did not take him long to respond, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her onto his lap.

  ‘Heath,’ she cried breathlessly when they finally pulled apart, moments later. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’

  ‘Can it wait?’ he asked, nuzzling her neck and making her giggle. ‘You look absolutely delicious in this dress. I think you should wear it all the time.’

  ‘I might not be able to fit into it much longer.’ She grabbed his face again, so their eyes could meet. ‘You see, Heath. I’m pregnant.’

  His lips twitched. ‘I know.’

  ‘What?’ She released his face. ‘How do you know?’

  ‘Well, it was kind of weird that you had food poisoning for three weeks straight, especially when I was eating the exact same food and no one else was sick.’

  She groaned. ‘I’ve always been such a terrible liar.’

  He touched his forehead to hers. ‘Just the way I like it.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me you knew?’ She thumped his shoulder. ‘Here I was trying so hard not to look green in front of you and hoping you wouldn’t notice that I wasn’t drinking the wine any more.’

  ‘I didn’t want you to feel pressured to be with me because of the baby. I wanted you to choose to be with me because you love me. And because we’re meant to be together.’

  She kissed him quick. ‘Good answer.’

  He smiled. ‘But I am excited about having another child with you too.’

  She liked that he’d said ‘another’. Tracing a pattern on his suit pants with her finger, she asked tentatively, ‘You’re not worried?’

  He squeezed her tight. ‘I’m prepared and I’m ready.’

  As she shared his gaze, a sense of well-being fizzed through her. ‘Me too.’ Her lips curved. ‘Me too.’

  Chapter 37

  Three Years Later

  ‘Is it just me, or does this wedding seem a little quieter than the last one we had at Tawny Brooks?’ asked Phoebe from her position in front of the mirror. She was putting the finishing touches to her make-up. Her hair had been stunningly styled in loose ringlets by the hairdresser about half an hour earlier.

  Tash leaned over her to pick up a sprig of baby’s breath on the dresser. ‘Don’t jinx it, Phee.’ She turned around and gestured to a little girl with long dark hair and eyes so similar to her own, she could have been looking into a mirror. ‘Here, Grace. Come here. Let’s put this in your hair.’

  ‘Will it look nice, Mummy?’ the little girl asked tentatively.

  ‘It’ll look gorgeous,’ Tash enthused. She didn’t look half bad herself, Phoebe noted, in a beautiful floor-length burgundy-coloured gown.

  ‘Sorry,’ Phoebe apologised, returning her attention to the mirror and patting a stray strand of hair back into place. ‘I just feel like we’ve had extra time to get ready.’

  ‘Why?’ Tash smiled as she dressed her daughter’s hair. ‘Because Eric hasn’t locked us in the shed again?’

  Phoebe grinned and then stood up with a groan. She pressed a hand into the small of her back, sticking out her round belly. ‘This does get easier, right?’ she queried. ‘My back is killing me.’

  ‘Well,’ Tash winked, ‘you know what they say: the only cure for pregnancy is birth.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Phoebe returned sardonically, but she was smiling as she rubbed her hand over her protruding stomach. Her gown was the same colour as Tash’s but obviously not the same style, given Tash’s wonderfully slim silhouette and Phoebe’s ample girth.

  ‘When are you having another?’ Phoebe grumbled. ‘I’m feeling terribly fat today.’

  Tash’s lips twitched. ‘I don’t know. Still trying to get used to the first one.’

  As if on cue, Heath entered the room, splendid in a black tux and burgundy waistcoat. When he saw his daughter, he immediately dropped to a squat, holding his arms out wide. ‘All ready, darling?’

  ‘Daddy, I look pretty.’

  ‘Yes, you do.’ He glanced up with laughing eyes at his wife. ‘Should I take her to the sitting room? The Greeks will love her! And Daddy and Uncle Spider seriously need a distraction from the conversation about Aunty Athena’s varicose-vein surgery.’

  ‘For sure,’ Tash nodded. ‘She’s all set.’

  They were just about to leave when Eve burst into the room, her heavy stride in direct contrast to the floaty gown of white satin and chiffon that swirled about her ankles.

  ‘Eve, you look breathtaking!’ Phoebe gasped.

  ‘Forget about that.’ She tossed the comment aside, panic in every line of her face. ‘Has anyone seen Mum? She’s missing.’

  ‘You see,’ Tash threw at Phoebe, ‘you’ve jinxed us.’

  ‘Ssshh,’ Phoebe hushed her and came over to Eve. ‘Calm down, love. I’m sure she’s around somewhere. The hairdresser only just left.’

  ‘I’ve searched the house.’ Eve threw up her hands. ‘I’m wondering whether I should run down to the restaurant.’

  ‘Not in that, you’re not.’ Phoebe shook her head. ‘I’ll go.’

  ‘No, I will.’ Heath stopped her with a glance at her stomach. ‘In your condition there’s no way you’ll be running anywhere very fast.’

  He strode from the room and everyone turned back to Eve. ‘Don’t worry, honey,’ Phoebe hugged her briefly. ‘I’m sure she’s fine.’

  ‘You know how upset she was this morning,’ Eve leaned into her. ‘Thinking about Dad and how he would have loved to have been here.’

  A silence fell between them as they thought of their father, who had died last year after a two-year battle with bowel cancer
. He’d been cheeky to the end, even when he was completely bedridden, always trying to make light of his situation when deep down they knew how much he hated being so helpless.

  All three girls had moved back to the region to help care for him – a circumstance he loved and felt guilty about at the same time. They had to assure him repeatedly that Tawny Brooks was where they wanted to be, not just because he was sick.

  Spider and Phoebe lived in their house in Dunsborough, Eve moved back into the family home with their mother. And Tash and Heath had sold their house in Sydney and moved to the sticks. They’d bought a property on the beach and Heath was starting his own building company in Busselton.

  When John Maxwell finally passed, it had been both a relief and a great loss. There was no doubt about it, they all missed him madly. But his deterioration, especially in his final days, had been very difficult to watch. In the end, they knew his time had come.

  ‘Eve,’ Tash came over and put her arms around her, ‘he’s here, watching over us. I know he is. He wouldn’t miss this for the world.’

  Eve hugged her back. ‘It’s just so hard, you know, especially today.’

  ‘I know.’ Tash rubbed her arms. ‘I miss him terribly too.’

  ‘Yes,’ Phoebe sighed. ‘I always used to rely on his insight. He always knew what to say when no one else did.’

  ‘Chenin blanc,’ Tash whispered.

  Eve looked up. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘The grape variety he planted when he didn’t know what else to plant.’

  Eve frowned. ‘No, that’s not the way the story goes. He didn’t plant an eighth variety. He ran out of time.’

  Phoebe grinned. ‘He told me it was tempranillo. Mum helped him choose it over dinner.’

  They looked at each other and then, with tears in their eyes, reached out and held each other’s hands.

  ‘Mummy,’ Grace said, ducking under Tash’s arm and pressing her little body into her mother’s side. ‘What’s wrong?’