by Lucy Clark
‘What about your father?’
‘What about him? He left Mum when I was about two years old, I think.’
‘Look at me!’ Jasmine called as she ran over to the slippery-dip and went down headfirst.
‘Very clever. Be careful, though.’ Rayne clapped, watching as Jasmine headed for the swings. ‘She’s so much like Janey.’
‘In looks?’
‘In looks. In personality. A daredevil. Janey was the one who always pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’d never have dared to go down a slippery-dip headfirst if Janey hadn’t done it about six times over to prove to me that it was safe, that I wasn’t going to get hurt.’
Henry chuckled. ‘A cautious child, were you?’
‘With my upbringing? Oh, yes. When I was about ten I started to think that if I did everything right, if I was the model child, then perhaps Mum would be happy, that she wouldn’t fight with whoever was her current boyfriend and that he’d like us so much that we’d be able to stay.’
‘It wasn’t your fault.’
‘I know that. Janey’s parents helped me to understand that. They’re as wonderful as their daughter was.’ Rayne shook her head, watching Jasmine. ‘I want to make sure that Jazzy’s love of life, the one she inherited from her mother, is preserved, that she has a part of her parents within her for ever. I don’t want to do anything to quash that.’
‘I’m sure that’s why Janey left her in your care.’
Rayne smiled. ‘When Janey and Jarrod asked me to be their child’s godmother…I…well, I cried. Janey and I are both only children.’ She paused. ‘Were only children,’ she corrected herself, and turned away, her eyes filling with tears. ‘It’s so amazingly difficult to talk about her in the past tense. It just seems…wrong.’
‘I know.’ He watched as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘Go on,’ he urged softly. ‘Sometimes it’s good to relive happy memories, even if they make you cry.’
‘OK. Well, Janey and I met in high school, became friends instantly and stayed that way. By some miracle, my mother’s relationship at that time lasted a whole two years but when that ended and she told me we were moving to Sydney, I kicked up a stink. I’d been dragged around for too long and wasn’t going to leave.’ Rayne smiled and shook her head. ‘I don’t know where I was planning on living or how I’d have the money to survive. Fourteen-year-olds don’t think like that. I just knew I wasn’t going with her. That was when Janey’s parents offered to let me stay with them. They called it boarding—which would ordinarily mean that my mother would pay them a weekly amount to cover my food and clothing and everything else. I was overjoyed at this arrangement and moved in. I was amazed that I could stay in one place, amazed that I could have a normal life with loving parents looking after me, treating me no different from the way they treated their own daughter.
‘I discovered years later, when I was in medical school, that my mother hadn’t paid them a cent. Jarvis and Earlene had paid for everything. They cared for me. They loved me. They gave me stability, and although I’ve tried for so long to pay them back, they’ve refused to accept anything. They only insisted that I make the best out of my life. I hope I haven’t disappointed them.’
A lone tear slid down Rayne’s cheek and she sniffed.
‘No fear of that.’ Henry’s words were full of meaning as Rayne blew her nose and laughed.
‘Look at me. I’m a mess.’ She shook her head, a lock of hair coming loose from her band and falling across her face.
‘No.’ He gently tucked it behind her ear. ‘Not a mess at all.’ His hand lingered on her cheek, caressing it lightly, and Rayne gasped at the touch, her eyes meeting his. There was something between them, something new and exciting. He looked at her lips, watching them part to allow the pent-up air to escape. ‘You’re very beautiful,’ he whispered, his tone filled with intimacy.
CHAPTER FIVE
RAYNE swallowed, unsure what to do or say. Her heart was pounding wildly against her ribs and her breathing was erratic. Henry made her feel so gentle, so nurtured, so tender, so undoubtedly feminine. Her insides had turned to mush and even as he removed his hand and stepped back, putting a bit of distance between them, Rayne still found it difficult to get control over her body.
‘Rayne. Rayne!’ Jasmine called out, laughing. Both adults turned to watch the child, who was on the swings, going high in the air and giggling loudly.
‘Wow. You’re so good at that,’ Henry praised.
‘Not too high, petal,’ Rayne cautioned, her mind visualising all sorts of scenarios of the girl falling off at such a height.
‘Spoken like a true mother,’ Henry remarked with a smile before heading over to Jasmine. ‘Would you like a push?’
‘Yes. Push me. Push me. Higher, Henry.’
It was on the tip of Rayne’s tongue to declare she didn’t think that was a good idea when she realised that although Henry was pushing the swing, he was also controlling the height, and within a few seconds Jasmine was actually swinging lower than previously but still enjoying herself immensely.
He was so good with children and she began to wonder why. Did he have nieces or nephews? Had he had children but they, too, had died? She hoped that wasn’t the case because it appeared that he’d already lost so much and, in doing so, had lost himself in the process.
Again she was struck with the realisation that she knew next to nothing about this man—nothing at all about the man who was turning her legs to jelly and tying her stomach in knots simply by gazing intently into her eyes or caressing her cheek.
When Jasmine had had enough of the swing, she grabbed hold of Henry’s hand and dragged him towards the sandpit.
‘It might be a bit cold,’ Rayne suggested, but followed them over, very happy at seeing Jasmine behaving more like her normal self. Rayne had visited Janey and Jarrod at least every three months to spend time with them, even if it had only been for a weekend. Melbourne was only five hours—a day’s drive on very good roads—from Deniliquin so whenever Rayne had had a few days off, to Janey’s house she’d go.
During the past five months she’d scheduled some time away from her clinic so that she and Jasmine could spend time with Jarvis and Earlene, the four of them finding solace in each other as they’d grieved together.
‘You’re all we have left now,’ Earlene had said on the last visit. ‘You’ve always been like a daughter to us, Rayne. You know that, don’t you? We love you as though you’re our own flesh and blood, so don’t you go thinking you have to face the future alone. Jarvis and I want to move to Deniliquin with you to help you raise Jasmine.’
Rayne had been stunned but had also realised she shouldn’t have been surprised. They were the type of people who would do that, who’d change their life to help others. ‘It won’t be immediate but we plan to be there by Christmas and, of course, we’ll be there for the festival. There’s no way I’m missing that.’
And now they hadn’t been here even one whole day and Rayne already felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For the past few months Rayne had sat in the dark of her house at night while Jasmine had been sleeping and had pondered what on earth she was supposed to do. How was she supposed to raise a child on her own?
She knew she had the support of the town as well. That’s what they did—supported each other—but there was only so much they could do. They couldn’t help with the loneliness she felt at night. They couldn’t help her need to hide her real self in a little room, too scared to take a chance on a relationship because she was terrified of ending up like her mother—never being able to really commit. Besides, what man would really want her? That was the question she’d asked herself time and time again and although there were quite a few men in the town who had shown an interest in her, she just hadn’t been interested…not in a romantic light.
And now Henry had come her way. It was undeniable that there had been a mutual instant attraction between them but attractions cou
ld wane just as quickly as they started—once you got to know the person better. Of this she’d had years of proof, thanks to her mother.
‘Earth to Rayne,’ Henry called, and she smiled at him. ‘Penny for them?’
‘Hmm. They’re worth more than a penny.’
‘What’s a penny?’ Jasmine asked, and Henry quickly explained what a penny was and also the context in which he’d meant his comment. Jasmine’s eyes widened. ‘You can buy people’s thoughts?’
Both adults laughed. ‘No, sweetheart. It’s just an expression, a saying,’ Rayne said, running her hands down Jasmine’s arms. ‘Ooh. You’re feeling quite cold. Here, put your coat on. It’s time to get you home and settled into bed.’
‘Aw, come on, Rayne. I’m not even tired,’ Jasmine protested, yawning as she spoke.
Rayne bundled her into her coat and zipped it up. ‘No. Not tired at all.’ Her tone was full of loving disbelief.
‘How about a shoulder ride?’ Henry asked, standing up and brushing the sand off himself.
‘Yay! My daddy used to give me them all the time,’ she declared. ‘I love shoulder rides.’
They walked back towards Rayne’s house, Jasmine sitting on Henry’s shoulders as though she were queen of all she surveyed. Rayne directed Henry a different way, taking them through the edge of the nature reserve.
‘Wasn’t sure if you’d managed to explore this part of town yet.’
‘No. I haven’t. Willard’s kept me quite busy and, combined with the odd house call with you, I haven’t had as much of a chance to explore as I’d hoped.’
Rayne sighed and spread her hands wide. ‘Well you know what that means…you’ll just have to stay longer.’
Henry looked over at her, their eyes clashing, his words deep. ‘I might just do that.’
It was there again, that amazing connection they seemed to have, and this time Rayne forced herself to go with it, rather than backing away from it.
‘Sounds like a good idea.’
‘I could help you on your house calls, if you like.’
‘I would like that very much. You could also help out at the hospital now and then if you wanted to. They’d be more than happy to accommodate a surgeon with your skills.’
‘Hmm. Of course, both of these ways would be terrific in getting to know more people in the district.’
Rayne’s smile increased. ‘It would be the perfect opportunity. Everyone you’ve already met sings your praises.’
‘That’s promising. I could also help with the aftermath of the festival.’
‘No one would say no to an extra pair of hands.’ Both were silent for a moment and, apart from Jasmine singing softly to herself, the only other noises were those of the nocturnal animals slowly waking up. ‘You fit in perfectly here,’ Rayne said quietly, and Henry stopped walking for a moment to look at her.
‘I do, don’t I?’ He nodded as though only just now realising it himself. He breathed in deeply. ‘That’s so odd because for quite a few years now I haven’t felt as though I’d ever fit in anywhere again.’
‘Hey,’ Jasmine protested from atop her perch. ‘Giddy up, horsy.’
‘A thousand humble apologies, Your Majesty,’ Henry said, and started walking again.
‘It must have been difficult when your wife passed away,’ Rayne said after a moment. It wasn’t until she’d said the words aloud that she wondered whether the subject of Henry’s wife was a taboo one. He was silent for what seemed like ages but which in reality was only about a minute.
‘It’s always difficult when someone you’re close to dies, as you well know.’
‘Yes.’ They walked on for a bit before Rayne ventured, ‘I’m sorry, Henry. I wasn’t trying to pry.’
‘It’s all right. Natalia just isn’t a topic I discuss or really have had no need to discuss because until I came here, everyone around me knew the story of what happened.’
His words only piqued Rayne’s interest further but she kept her mouth zipped. She’d meant what she’d said. She hadn’t meant to pry and although she was highly curious about his story, he obviously wasn’t ready to tell it. Not yet. She looked ahead of her, trying to think of a new topic, one that would put them back onto a more even footing, and noticed a little bump on the side of the road not far from the glow of the streetlamps, which had just come on.
‘What’s that?’ She headed over to investigate. Henry hung back but was watching with interest as Rayne gasped. ‘It’s a baby possum.’
‘Out this early?’
‘It’s hurt.’ Rayne’s heart went out to the little thing as she quickly scanned the area for the possum’s mother. ‘I can’t see the mother. Can you?’
Henry and Jasmine looked around, helping her to look. ‘There’s nothing.’
‘I can’t see a mummy possum.’ Jasmine shook her head for emphasis.
‘I need something to pick it up with. Henry, you don’t happen to have a handkerchief, do you? I’ve blubbered all over mine.’
‘Actually, I do.’ He took it from his pocket and handed it over. ‘My mother always made me carry at least two clean handkerchiefs.’
‘Good ol’ mums and the habits they instil,’ Rayne murmured, not wanting to contemplate the habits her own mother had passed on. She opened the handkerchief and very carefully picked up the baby possum. It squeaked at her and tried to bite but Rayne wasn’t bothered in the slightest. ‘Oh, honey.’ She held it carefully and pointed up the street. ‘There’s a wildlife habitat rescue centre just up here, but I’m not sure if anyone’s there.’
‘Let me see. Let me see,’ Jasmine was demanding, and Rayne peeled away the largest corner of the handkerchief so Jasmine could see the possum. ‘He’s bleeding.’
‘Yes.’
‘Let’s get him help.’ Henry headed off in the direction Rayne had pointed and when they arrived at the centre it was to find it in darkness. Rayne took out her cellphone, dialled a number and a moment later was telling Carmel what they’d found.
‘She’s coming right over,’ Rayne reported after she’d finished the call. ‘She doesn’t live far away. Just around the corner.’
‘I like Carmel,’ Jasmine told Henry as he took her from his shoulders. ‘She lets me come and see the animals she looks after. I helped her feed a joey once.’ Jasmine’s eyes were wide with excitement as she reported this news.
‘Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a joey up close, let alone fed one.’
‘Really?’ Rayne was a little surprised. ‘You’ve never seen a kangaroo up close?’
‘Nope.’
‘Never went to the zoo as a child?’
‘Nope.’
‘I thought you’d visited our wildlife park here?’
‘Nope. I’ve walked past it but haven’t actually had the time to go through it yet.’
Rayne and Jasmine looked at each other before Jasmine nodded emphatically. ‘We need to edjumacate him, Rayne.’
‘We most certainly do need to educate him. How about Friday after school?’
‘What?’ Henry looked between the two of them, both wearing identical smiles.
‘We’ll take you through the wildlife park here. You’ll not only be able to see animals close up but you can feed them, too.’
‘Actually, that sounds kind of cool.’
‘It really is.’ Jasmine nodded again.
Their conversation was cut short as a woman came running around the corner in their direction. Rayne looked down at the bundle in her hands. ‘Help’s coming,’ she whispered. ‘Hang in there, little one.’
Carmel quickly introduced herself to Henry before opening the centre and leading them inside.
‘You’re the local vet?’ Henry asked as he surveyed the set-up. They’d come through a waiting area into a more medical environment. Carmel turned on a bright light before putting a filter over the lens.
‘No. I’m the local wildlife officer,’ she told him. ‘But I am a trained vet if that puts your mind at rest.’
/> ‘Wildlife officers are like specialists,’ Rayne informed him, and Henry watched in awe as Carmel took the little possum from Rayne and began to examine it, not at all bothered at the animal’s reaction. She cooed and she whispered sweetly to it, much as Rayne had done, but this time the possum seemed to understand her.
‘A real-life Dr Doolittle?’ he asked Rayne softly.
Rayne nodded. ‘She has a gift and she’s using it.’
Carmel was able to pinpoint the problem and set to work. She cleaned the wound site and gave the possum an injection, all the while answering Jasmine’s one hundred and one questions.
‘What’s that? What does that do? Is it going to be OK? Can I hold him? Can I help? Will that make him better?’
‘It’s an antibiotic and, yes, it will help to make him better.’ When she was done, she put a little bandage on the possum before wrapping him in a warm towel and handing him back to Rayne. ‘Want to keep him for a few nights?’
Jasmine’s eyes almost bulged out of her head. ‘Really? We get to keep him?’
‘Look after him,’ Rayne corrected her, and Carmel nodded in agreement before going to a cupboard and pulling out the smallest little milking bottle Henry had ever seen.
‘Hey, I have a bottle like that at home but it’s just a plastic one I got with my doll.’
‘Well, this one is real and I’ll show you how to feed the baby.’
‘What are we going to call him?’ Jasmine asked as she watched Carmel’s actions, keen to learn.
Rayne thought for a moment. ‘How about…Poss?’
Jasmine pondered this. ‘I like the name Ethel, but Poss is good, too.’
‘Ethel?’ Henry raised his eyebrows. ‘Where did Ethel come from?’
Jasmine shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I just like it.’
