Like Twigs in a Storm

by Ross Richdale

  "Oh Steve, when I see Cathy's foot in that massive bandage with her toes gone it just breaks my heart. She was so looking forward to being our bridesmaid."

  "She still can be.” Steve kissed Lavina softly on the neck and kept his arms around her. "You're so cold I can feel you shivering."

  Lavina leaned back into him and sobbed quietly. "We had her frock just above the ankles in length. I thought I'd lower the hem so her bandaged foot would be covered." She swished a strand of hair from her eyes and smiled.

  "I see."

  "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

  "Of course not. But a few hours won't matter. Come back up to bed. You'll need Cathy to have it on to get the length correct, anyhow."

  Lavina shuddered. "Oh Steve, we almost lost her and this was the second time."

  “But we didn't, Lavina. Come and look. I've never seen anyone looking so peaceful."

  He reached across, turned the sewing machine off and led the woman he loved to Cathy's room. Satisfied that she was well and sound asleep, they continued to their room upstairs.

  Nothing was spoken, but the passion and love between them was spontaneous and powerful. Finally, still cuddled in her partner's powerful arms, Lavina fell into a sleep as peaceful as her daughter's. Steve stroked her soft hair and reflected on the events of the last few days and how important Cathy had become to him. He kissed Lavina and fell into a warm fuzzy sleep of security and love.

  *

  Saint David's Combined Church on Lower Forks Road sat behind a drive of gigantic oak trees early settlers had planted more than a hundred years before. On this warm Saturday morning it was crowded with wedding guests, a nervous groom and an even more nervous bridesmaid.

  Noel Capra, Steve's best man, gave him a poke and leaned across to whisper in his ear. "How did she do it, Steve?" He nodded across the aisle to where Cathy was standing majestically in a full-length blue gown that flowed to the floor. Her blonde hair was brushed out over her shoulders and with the light make up she looked at least sixteen.

  "Sheer grit and determination," Steve replied. He caught Cathy's eyes and her nervous grin broke into a smile. She lifted her gown just a couple of centimetres to show a large woollen sock on her left foot.

  "I'll bet you ten bucks that when Cathy walks out she won't limp," Steve said.

  Noel grinned. "You're on," he whispered. "But this is one bet I hope I lose."

  The Reverend Jason Moore caught Steve's eye and nodded at the lady behind the electronic organ. "Music, please," he said. "The bride has arrived."

  Steve turned as Lavina, escorted by an old family friend to give her away, stepped into the aisle. Like her daughter's dress, her pale apricot coloured gown also reached the floor. Steve beamed a proud smile at the woman he loved and watched as the vision of loveliness walked towards him. In a moment she was beside him with soft fingers clasped in his.

  *

  "And now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

  Steve and Lavina embraced, sharing their first kiss as husband and wife. With Lavina's hand still in his, Steve stepped across the aisle and swept Cathy in a big bear hug so his arms were around them both, plastered a big kiss on his step daughter's cheek and slipped a piece of paper into her hand.

  Cathy unfolded a legal looking document. "What's this?"

  Lavina grinned. "A court order. Steve has legally adopted you."

  "You can now be Cathy Garnet," Steve added. "But only if that's what you want." He coughed and flushed.

  "I'd like that, Dad," she whispered as two elongated tears rolled down her cheeks. "More than anything in the world."

  She reached up and hugged the man who was now her legal father. Steve nodded to Reverend Moore who then stated, "There is one small addition to this wedding ceremony. I wish to announce that Steve has officially adopted Cathy who shall henceforth be known as Cathy Garnet."

  Lead by Noel, the congregation broke into loud applause and several people, including Janice, Barrie and Noel's wife, Geraldine, stepped forward to hug and congratulate the family.

  "I love you, Mum and Dad," Cathy whispered after the excitement died down.

  *

  By the time the wedding party had reached the oak trees outside, Noel already had the ten-dollar bill in Steve's hand. "I've never seen such a determined and proud girl," he whispered. "She never faltered once.”

  Cathy, who had been eavesdropping, turned to him. "It's all in the balance, Noel,” she said, winking.

  "And hours of practice," Lavina added proudly.

  *

  CHAPTER 23

  Janice, the manager of Upper Forks Road Lodge, guided the Emerson Heights Middle School girls through the cave on the farm.

  The Outdoor Education Week at the Lodge was into its third day and was a huge success with the thirty pupils, teachers and parent supporters easily fitting into the accommodation capable of holding fifty.

  The new block had three renovated classrooms set as dormitories with white iron beds arranged in rows along the walls. A small town hospital had closed down and Steve had purchased beds for next to nothing. The only alterations needed were the replacement of wheels with rubber stoppers.

  The biggest expense in the refurbishment was converting one classroom into an ablutions block and installing fire safety equipment so the health and safety regulations could be passed. Much of the interior painting was still to be completed but everything was fully functional.

  Steve and Lavina had driven up to see how the camp was going and strolled through the grounds.

  The lodge looked perfect with close cut lawns, trimmed hedges, a new flower garden that was the result of Janice's effort and the swimming pool glistening in the sunshine. Towels, togs, shoes and other clothing seemed to be lying everywhere and the half a dozen girls who weren't participating in the cave walk were busy doing chores.

  Part of the value of this school outing was that the pupils had to look after themselves, prepare and cook their own meals, wash their clothes, make beds, and whatever else needed tending.

  The pair continued their inspection and were about to leave when the first girls from the cave appeared. They were wet and covered in mud but with looks of happiness and achievement written all over their faces.

  "Not bad for city girls used to having everything provided for them," Steve commented as the first group dashed into the building to appear again, mere minutes later in their swim togs. The pool was soon filled with screams of delight as bodies plunged into the cool water.

  "Hi Mum, Dad." Cathy ran straight up when she saw them. "The cave walk was fantastic. I went all the way through. Dad or Barrie need to go in with a chainsaw to cut some of the logs away, though."

  "How was your foot?" Lavina asked

  "Fine. I wore my special sneakers. They work well."

  "Yeah. She left us behind in places," Donna added as she took her sun hat off and wiped the perspiration from her brow. "It's a long way. I'm stiff as hell."

  Cathy grinned at her parents. "Miss Harrison said I had to tell you you're invited to have tea with us. We're cooking it all ourselves!"

  "We'd love to stay," Lavina said.

  "Great!" Cathy swished back her hair and ran across the lawn with her friends. Just before disappearing inside she turned, smiled and waved back at the two adults.

  Lavina tucked her arm in Steve's and the pair walked more sedately towards Room 1 of the former Upper Forks Road School that was the kitchen and dining area. Upper Forks Road Lodge was now in full operation.

  *

  Summer drifted into autumn. By now, several schools had visited the lodge on a regular basis. During the week the grounds were filled with screaming excited children or teenagers while groups of vacationers filled the lodge on many weekends.

  It became a routine for Steve and Lavina to help Janice and Barrie clean up between visitors with often a frantic rush between the time the school parties left at noon on Friday until the week
end groups rolled in just after four p.m.

  It was three on Friday and Lavina had just hung up the telephone after arranging for Cathy to stay with Ellie until they arrived back in town. She and Janice strolled out into the backfield where Steve and Barrie had spent three hours digging various ditches around to try to find a problem with the septic tank. Finally they found the overflow outlet was blocked.

  "We need more disposal units." Steve grunted as he stood up all sweaty and covered in dirt from a massive hole he'd dug. "Sanitary pads blocked the pipe."

  "That's because the pupils from Cathy's school were using the male facilities as well as their own," Lavina said.

  Steve grinned. "The place has been amazingly well looked after. The schools leave everything really clean; they're better than the weekend groups. Anyhow, I'll go and have a shower and we can head home." A moment later he and Barrie headed indoors.

  "How about a cup of coffee before Steve and I head back, Janice?" Lavina said.

  Janice nodded and gazed out over the valley before turning back to Lavina. "I have a small problem with our wedding," she whispered with a shrug. "Barrie said not to worry about it, but ..." She glanced away.

  "What is it? I thought everything was set? Is Barrie getting cold feet?"

  "No, nothing like that" Janice smiled. "He's more excited than I am."

  "What, then?"

  "I'm being old fashioned and silly, I guess but I'd like my father to attend and give me away."

  "Well, ask him."

  "I tried. Barrie did, too but whenever we spoke to him on the telephone he'd snap something like 'I don't have a daughter any more' and slam the receiver down."

  Lavina frowned. "I'm sorry, Janice. But perhaps Barrie's right and you should just go ahead without him."

  "I guess." Janice sounded unconvinced. "But I think it's just his stupid old pride. He's utterly alone and very lonely. I want him to be in my life again as part of the family."

  "What say we go and visit him, just you and me," Lavina suggested. "A face to face approach is often better than trying to speak on the telephone."

  "You'll do that?"

  "Sure." Lavina smiled and winked. "That's what you wanted all along, wasn't it?"

  "My God, you can read me like a book." Janice laughed.

  *

  Richard Ludlow's farm was well kept with a modest house perched on a small hill. A gravel drive circled up to it. As they approached her father's property, Janice began to tremble.

  "He's home. Otherwise the Land Rover would be out. Dad hardly uses the car any more. It just sits in the garage gathering dust."

  Lavina gave Janice an affectionate squeeze. "Come on. Let's go."

  Janice swallowed and led Lavina around the side of the building where a dog immediately began yelping. "Sam!" Janice called and walked over to the black farm dog chained to a kennel. "You remember me, don't you?"

  The dog stopped yelping and ran up with its tail wagging in recognition. Large brown eyes stared up at Janice while she crouched down and patted him behind the ears.

  "What's all the row?" a male voice yelled.

  Lavina glanced up and saw a well-built, bronzed man in his late fifties appear around the corner. He was dressed in a bush shirt, shorts, woollen socks and the inevitable solid work boots. The man stopped and his eyes swept across at the two women.

  "Hi Dad." Janice stood up and straightened her skirt. "This is Lavina Garnet, our landlady and my best friend."

  Richard Ludlow gave a slow nod and ran a calloused hand over his grey stubble. He hesitated as if he was contemplating what to do, before holding out his hand. "The former Lavina Ryland from Upper Forks Road, I believe."

  Lavina returned the firm handshake and nodded. "That's correct Mr. Ludlow. I was remarried recently."

  "I heard," Ludlow muttered and turned his eyes away from the pair. "I guess I know why you're both here. You'd better come in."

  He led them into the kitchen. Opposite the entrance was a massive fireplace made of ornamental black bricks. The mantelpiece above was covered in photographs, mostly older black and white ones in small frames.

  Lavina walked across and glanced at them. As well as the usual family photos of Richard and a smiling woman were photos of Janice. There was Janice as a child, standing by a dog, as a teenager on a horse, in high school uniform, as a young woman and even a relatively new coloured portrait of Janice as an adult.

  "Your family, Mr. Ludlow?" she asked quietly.

  The man coughed. "Call me Richard," he muttered and turned to the sink. "I was about to have a cup of tea. Can I offer you one?"

  "Yes, thank you Richard." Lavina replied. She noticed that the man had hardly said a word to his daughter nor even looked at her. The atmosphere was contrived and tense. The man's words were cordial but forced.

  She sat at the massive round oak table and glanced at Janice. Her friend was pale and biting on her bottom lip with eyes that darted around the room like a caged animal ready to escape at the slightest pretence.

  Lavina decided it was up to her. "Your daughter is getting married in a month and would like you to give her away," she said in a clear voice.

  The man stared at her. Once again, he ignored Janice and bore his gaze into Lavina. "Daughter, Mrs. Garnet? I have no daughter."

  Janice's quivering lip dropped lower. She stared at her father and tears began to run down her flushed cheeks and onto her dress. Without saying a word, she stood, squeezed Lavina's shoulder and walked out the door.

  Lavina didn't move. Anger rose in her throat but she controlled it. She brought the cup of tea to her lips and sipped the hot liquid.

  "You are a deeply religious man, I've been told," she finally said.

  Ludlow turned from where he'd been watching the now empty doorway, sighed and sat down.

  "Janice broke every rule we gave her," he muttered as he glanced down at his cup of tea. "She chose to have an affair with your first husband, she got herself impregnated by the man and took a life by having the child aborted. Those sins can't be overlooked."

  "What about forgiveness?" Lavina snapped. "I'm not a religious person myself but I forgave Janice for the affair she had with Grant. And what did I find? I found a lonely young woman and a girl with a heart of gold who had made a mistake."

  Richard Ludlow's eyes flicked up at her.

  "Janice is not a person to ridicule," Lavina continued, her voice becoming louder. "She's a person to respect and love. She's met a fine young man who is now the manager of my family farm. He knows of her background; about the brief affair, the abortion and in spite of all that he loves her."

  She sighed and decided to continue. "If your religion will not allow you to forgive her, Richard, it's not a religion but a hypocrisy." She stopped and let the words sink in and waited for an angry rebuff.

  But it didn't come. Instead, Janice's father just sat and sipped his tea for a few moments.

  "Janice may not hold your views of life but that doesn't make her wicked or bad." Lavina stood, walked to the mantelpiece and picked up one of the faded photographs of Janice as a child holding a big furry cat. "You're not even being honest with yourself. You love your daughter, Richard; otherwise you would have thrown these photographs of her away." She fixed a steady gaze on the man. "And she loves you, too. That's why she wants you to be her father, to come to her wedding and to give her away."

  For several seconds, Lavina held the man's gaze and made him break his eye contact She picked up Janice's latest photograph and held it out. "This was sent to you last Christmas, I believe and you didn't even have the courtesy to acknowledge receiving it. Yet you place it on the mantelpiece. Strange, isn't it?"

  Richard shrugged but said nothing.

  "So you have a choice," Lavina pressed. "You either cling to your ideals and continue your lonely life or you accept Janice's offer and make her part of your life again. She has a loving fiancé and is prepared to share her life with you. The ball's in your court. Thank you for the cup o
f tea."

  Lavina walked to the door.

  "When is it?"

  Lavina stopped, turned and smiled. "Four weeks from today, eleven a.m. at Saint David's Combined Church just up the road."

  "I'll be there," the man said, extending his hand.

  Lavina took it and looked into sad blue eyes. "Thank you. You won't regret this, Richard. Janice loves you."

  She turned and walked out.

  A tearful Janice was crouching beside Sam, the dog on the lawn. "Old bugger, isn't he? I heard your raised voice. Throw you out, did he?"

  Lavina crouched down. "On the contrary, Janice, he agreed to give you away."

  "What!" the younger woman exclaimed. She stood and flung her arms around Lavina. "Really?"

  "Go and ask him, for yourself." Lavina smiled.

  Janice grinned and turned to see her father standing by the veranda. She took two hesitant steps forward, noticed his expression and broke into a run. Richard Ludlow held his arms out and wrapped them around his daughter.

  "Thank you, Dad."

  "I'd better buy a new suit," her father muttered. "No doubt my present one is out of style."

  Janice looked up at the man. "Yes, Dad. You'd better."

  *

  CHAPTER 24

  As with all weddings, last minute problems seemed to swell to gigantic proportions with the bride waiting impatiently in the farmhouse kitchen on Upper Forks Road for her transport to arrive.

  "We asked for the taxis to be here fifteen minutes ago. It's ten twenty! And Dad. Where is he?"

  "Everything's fine," Lavina said. "Just relax. It's our job to do all the worrying."

  "But is Dad coming? He's made no contact since we visited him."

  "He'll be here at ten thirty. It's only a twenty minute drive to the church."

  "Can you help with my veil?"

  "Ask your bridesmaid," Lavina said. "That's what you've got her for." She winked.

  Cathy placed the long white veil over Janice's head and stood back. "You look beautiful," she said.