The Scent of Rain

by Jones, Julianne

  “Have you been on antibiotics?”

  “Finished them,” he managed to get out. Even in his feverish state, Madi’s hand on his leg had electrified him. Every nerve cell that had only a few minutes ago felt as if they were all concentrated in his wound now burned at Madi’s touch. The pain in his leg was all but forgotten.

  “When?”

  “Two days ago.”

  “Who’s your doctor? What’s his number? Never mind – I’ll find him.”

  He heard her go over to the kitchen and riffle through his phone book. As he lay there drifting in and out of sleep, he heard her talking to the doctor. He heard her say infection and then cite her qualifications. He tried to smile but it was more of a grimace. Madi had taken charge. He felt himself relax and gradually drift off to sleep.

  A short while later he woke and Madi was once more by his side. “Here.” She held out a capsule and he took it. She then handed him the water that was beside his chair.

  “Antibiotics. Your leg is infected. Your doctor couldn’t believe you’d been discharged from Hospital already. It was far too soon. And you should’ve been on antibiotics for another week at least. Do you have any painkillers? No, I thought as much. He’s prescribed some as well. I’ll get them.”

  He closed his eyes as she left his side, but she was back almost immediately. She held out what appeared to be a handful of tablets and the glass of water.

  “I have to pick up Jaena from school and take her to her music lesson, but I’ll come back. I won’t be gone too long.”

  He wanted to tell her he’d be all right and that she didn’t need to bother but the truth was he wanted her to come back and he couldn’t say the words anyway. Instead, he simply nodded and she leaned down and brushed the hair from his forehead.

  “Try and sleep. I’ll be back.”

  Long after she had gone he could still feel her hand on his forehead … on his leg … still smell her perfume … still feel her presence. He thought he wouldn’t be able to get to sleep – not now – but sooner than he expected he drifted off.

  When she returned, Jaena was with her. The painkillers had kicked in and he was beginning to feel better already. Jaena came to his side and sat down on the floor. He wanted to ask her why she wasn’t at her music lesson, but she must have understood the question in his eyes for she answered it anyway.

  “Mum told me you weren’t too good. I could hardly sit through my lesson but I managed somehow.” His face must have shown his surprise. “It’s already five thirty, didn’t you know? Mum was shopping while I had my lesson. She’s stocked your pantry and she’s got things that you can eat. Mushy stuff,” and Jaena pulled a face.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t talk. We’re going to eat here and then we’re going to clean up and we’ll help you to bed. You really were silly, you know, not taking better care of yourself. Don’t you know we all need you well and whole?”

  Whole. There was that word again. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. Madi brought another round of medications over and Jaena helped him sit up and handed him the water and the tablets. He wanted to tell them how much he appreciated what they were doing for him but the words caught in his throat. Sighing, he allowed the drugs to do their job and he once again allowed sleep to overtake him.

  When he woke the next morning he was surprised to find himself in his own bed. Surely Madi and Jaena hadn’t carried him to bed? But if they hadn’t, who had? In panic he lifted the bedclothes and discovered that he still wore the clothes he had worn the previous day, minus his jacket. He breathed a sigh of relief.

  Madi visited regularly when her job as a part-time doctor’s receptionist allowed her to do so. She’d taken the job when Jaena started school and even though she missed her first career, she was happy to be working in a related field and one that allowed her to fit her hours outside the home around Jaena’s schedule of school and music and sport and friends.

  As he grew stronger he became more and more uncomfortable with Madi in his house and doing things for him. He didn’t stop to think that for years he had been the one doing things for her: firewood, maintenance, all the little things that needed doing and which he’d gladly given up his time to do. If he had stopped to think he might have realised that Madi was now doing what he had done all along – but had the thought occurred to him he would’ve argued that it was different. This was more personal. But the truth was that having Madi in his house, having her take care of him, seeing her concern, made him realise anew how much he had missed by not having his own wife and family. And it brought home to him the hopelessness of loving Madi. She would never be his and he could never stop loving her. Never.

  He’d had some time to think after the accident. To think of all the things that mattered. To think about those that cared for him. And those he cared for: Madi and Jaena. He wanted them to know how much they meant to him. He couldn’t tell Madi that he loved her, of course, but perhaps there was something else he could do.

  A few days later a thought came to him and he smiled. Yes, that would do. Besides it was only right. Reaching for the phone, he rang his solicitor.

  *********

  The sound of the phone in the early hours of the morning took a while to register. Marcus had been asleep only an hour and it was with an effort that he roused himself and answered the phone.

  “Uncle Marcus?”

  “Jaena.” Instantly he was awake.

  “Can you come and get me?”

  He looked at the clock. 2:11. What was Jaena doing ringing at this time of the night and where on earth was she?

  “Where are you?”

  She gave him an address. “I’ll wait outside.”

  “Why didn’t you ring your mother?” He had the phone balanced between his jaw and his shoulder as he tried to pull on his jeans. “Jaena?”

  “She thinks I’m staying over at Angela’s house.”

  “And you’re not.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Well, I am. Sorta. There was this party that Angela wanted to go to. But now I want to go home.”

  “What about Angela’s parents?” He angled his arm into one sleeve of his t-shirt before quickly dropping the phone and pulling the shirt over his head. He picked up the phone to hear Jaena’s reply.

  “Um … they’re kinda out of town.”

  “So this was planned?”

  The silence on the other end gave him his answer. Jaena, Jaena, this is not like you, he thought. “Okay, I’m coming. Hold tight ’till I get there.”

  It was fifteen minutes before he pulled up in front of the well-lit house on the other side of town. Music told him that the party was still in full swing. Jaena ran from beside some bushes where she’d been waiting and threw herself into the front seat. Sliding down low in the seat it was obvious she was trying to hide from someone. He was tempted to go into the house and confront those within but he realised Jaena was his first responsibility. Besides, he didn’t know yet if there had been any wrongdoing that would require his presence.

  “Now, suppose you tell me what’s going on?” he asked as he pulled away from the kerb.

  “Nothing. It was just a party.”

  “Then why are you leaving without your friends?”

  Jaena shrugged. He looked at her in the dim light of the car and realised with a shock that she’d grown up. She might not yet be an adult, but she was on her way. With her hair done up and that makeup on her face she could easily pass for eighteen or nineteen. Was that what had happened? Had someone tried something, thinking she was older than she was? If they had, then he would … he left the thought unfinished.

  “Jaena?” He wasn’t a police officer for nothing and Jaena must have understood the tone of voice and what it implied for she sighed dramatically and answered him.

  “They had alcohol. The party was no fun anymore.”

  “Anything other than alcohol?”

  “Not that I know of. A few were smoking, but they were just ordinary ciga
rettes.”

  Marcus processed the information. “How many adults there?”

  “A few.”

  “How many?”

  “Well, no adults as in parents, if that’s what you mean. But some of the others at the party must’ve been at least eighteen.”

  “Minors. Alcohol and mostly minors. You know that’s –”

  Jaena interrupted. “Where are you taking me? Aren’t we going to your house?”

  “I’m taking you home.”

  “I’d rather go to your house.”

  “Why?”

  Jaena dropped her eyes in confusion under his gaze. He knew as well as she did that the reason she wanted to go to his house was so that she could go home in the morning as planned and Madi would not be any the wiser. But Marcus wasn’t going to let her get away with that and he knew that she’d suspected as much from the time she’d rung him.

  Marcus pulled up in front of her house and turned the engine off. He picked up his cell phone.

  “What are you doing now?”

  “Ringing your mother.”

  Jaena was incredulous. “She’s just inside there. Why ring her?”

  “Because it’s after three in the morning and if I go knocking on her door she’s going to get a terrible fright. At least this way will be a little less harsh. Hello, Madi … It’s me. I’ve got Jaena with me. She’s okay. … I’ll explain in a minute. … We’re out front. Open the front door and we’ll come in now.”

  Marcus got out of the car and went around to the other side to assist Jaena out. He could tell that she was angry with him and yet there was something else in her face – something that looked almost like respect and that stunned him. He could understand it if she hated him, but respect? It didn’t seem right at this particular moment in time.

  Once inside the front door he turned to Jaena. “Go to bed. I’m sure your mother will have something to say to you in the morning. Madi,” he turned to her as she held the door open. “I need to talk to you.”

  Madi looked dazed, whether it was because she didn’t know what was happening, or whether it was because of the way Jaena was dressed which in the light was far more revealing than he had originally supposed, or whether it was because it appeared that he had just over-ridden her authority as Jaena’s parent, he wasn’t sure.

  He led her to the couch and quickly explained what had happened. Madi, now fully awake, was upset and all for going and talking to Jaena immediately. Marcus put a restraining hand on Madi’s arm. Madi stared at his hand, but didn’t ask him to remove it. That alone gave him courage to say what he had to say.

  “Madi, Jaena knows she’s done wrong. Talking about it tonight when she’s tired and you’re upset is only going to make her defensive. Wait until morning. Give her a chance to sweat about what she’s done and you a chance to think how best to handle it.”

  He thought Madi was going to get angry but instead she started to cry. “Where have I gone wrong?” she asked him pitifully.

  He gently pulled her into his arms. “You haven’t gone wrong at all, as you put it. Most teens try something like this sooner or later. The good thing is that Jaena realised she was in trouble and called for help. Lots don’t.” He patted her shoulder as she continued to cry. “What do you know about this Angela girl?”

  “Not a lot. Jaena met her at school and invited her along to youth group. She seemed nice enough – too nice at times – but I didn’t think she would encourage Jaena to do something like this.”

  “Have you met the parents?”

  Madi shook her head. “No, but I have spoken to her mother on the phone who assured me that the girls would be well supervised this weekend. I had no idea that they were going out of town.” Madi sat up and pulled a tissue out of her dressing gown pocket. “Sorry.”

  He shook his head. He was sorry that she’d pulled back from his arms, but he knew that wasn’t what she was apologising for. “There’s nothing to apologise for. If you’re okay now, I’ll be going.”

  He stood reluctantly and made his way over to the front door.

  “You’re limping.” Madi had noticed.

  He turned. “It still plays up when I’m tired or stressed. Otherwise it’s okay.” He reached the door.

  She came up behind him to close the door after him. “Marcus, thanks.”

  “Think nothing of it.”

  “I mean it. I really appreciate what you’ve done for Jaena tonight.”

  He smiled sadly. She looked so beautiful and innocent standing there waiting for him to leave. If he didn’t go now he wouldn’t have the strength to go. Why did this have to be so hard? But his voice was gentle when he spoke and it conveyed none of his inner turmoil. “Get some sleep.”

  With an effort he forced himself to open the screen door and step outside when every thing in him was crying out to hold her once more. Once in the car he waited until all the lights in the house had been extinguished before starting the car. “Oh Madi,” he whispered to the darkness. Then, “Oh Lord, will I ever stop loving her? It gets harder every time. Please, please, take this love I have for Madi away.” But even as he prayed it he knew he didn’t want to ever stop loving Madi – as much as it hurt to love her it was better than not loving her at all.

  *********

  For a few days he wasn’t popular with Jaena, but then neither was her mother. He’d visited Angela’s place ostensibly on the excuse of picking up the items that Jaena had left behind, but also because he wanted a word with the girl’s parents. They had their excuses ready – it had been an emergency that had forced them to leave the girls unsupervised – but he found himself disbelieving. If there had been such an emergency why hadn’t someone rang Madi and made alternate arrangements for both girls?

  Madi had grounded Jaena for a month and had removed some of her other privileges as well. While Marcus thought that Madi had gone too far he wisely refrained from saying anything. Jaena accepted her punishment with as much grace as could be expected under the circumstances and very soon the episode was forgotten along with whatever feelings of friendship had existed between Jaena and Angela.

  Marcus suspected that having a police officer in the family had not advanced Jaena’s social prospects at school, but Jaena didn’t seem to hold it against him. Instead, she threw herself into her study and sport once again and made Madi and himself incredibly proud. Not that they’d needed another reason to be proud: Jaena was already the best daughter any one could ask for.

  *********

  “Hello.” Marcus poked his head through the kitchen door and stopped short when he saw Madi’s face.

  “What’s up?”

  Madi shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll call Jaena for you.”

  Marcus heard Madi go out to the hall and call her daughter. In a few moments he heard clattering on the floorboards and the next moment Jaena was in the room.

  “Ready to go?”

  “Yes.” He noticed that she avoided looking at her mother. “That is, if I’m allowed. After all, Mother, it’s just Uncle Marc and me. Couldn’t that be misconstrued as a date?”

  “Don’t be silly.” Madi’s voice sounded tight. “Go and have a good time. I’ll see you later.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, Madi?” Marcus hated to go when Madi looked upset.

  “No, go-carting isn’t exactly my thing and, anyway, I have some work to finish. You two go and have fun.”

  “Okay.” Marcus held the door open for Jaena and she practically ran out of the house. It wasn’t until they were in the car and had pulled out of the driveway that he attempted conversation.

  “What gives?”

  “Huh?”

  “You and your mother. It felt pretty tense back there. What happened?”

  “What did she tell you?”

  “Nothing.”

  Jaena shrugged. “It’s nothing really.”

  “Oh?” Marcus raised one eyebrow and risked a quick look. It always surprised him to see Jaena looki
ng so similar to the way Madi had the first time he’d met her. Not that Madi would remember that day. It had been the day she’d met Damien and she’d had eyes for no one else, but Marcus had fallen in love with Madi then and there despite knowing that he could never compete with his cousin’s charm and good looks.

  “If you must know, Mum and I had an argument.”

  “What about?”

  “Dating. She wouldn’t let me go to the movies with Clayton last night.”

  “Just the two of you?”

  “Yes. What’s wrong with that?” Jaena sounded defensive.

  “Well, I know how your mother feels about dating and I thought you’d agreed to follow her rules. I was there when the two of you drew up a dating contract and I can clearly remember seeing you sign it. It wasn’t like she had to twist your arm either so I’m surprised that it has become an issue. You don’t usually go back on your word.”

  “But it’s Clayton. We’ve been friends for years. It’s not like we’re going to get romantic or anything. Anyway, all my friends are dating. I’m the only one not allowed to. Just because Mum made a big mistake doesn’t mean I will.”

  “What do you mean, ‘big mistake’?”

  “Oh, Uncle Marc, you know what I mean. Marrying my father. Just because she couldn’t see what he was really like doesn’t mean I’m going to be as stupid – or gullible.”

  Marcus stopped for a red light and looked seriously at Jaena. “Your mother isn’t the only one who was wrong about your father. I knew him better than anyone and I thought he had finally turned over a new leaf when he met your mother. And your grandfather – a wiser and godlier man I’ve yet to meet – he was the one who recommended your father be made a deacon in the church so he must’ve believed your father’s conversion was genuine. So don’t blame your mother.”

  “My father must have been quite an actor, then.”

  “Oh, he was.”

  *********