The January Wish

by Juliet Madison

  They gathered everyone for a group photo and Grace managed to get a stranger from the audience to agree to taking a photo using her phone camera. If they ran off with her phone, she could always run up and attack them with a front kick, side kick, and double punch at yellow belt level. At least her gee yup might be black belt standard, and if anything, it might simply shock them into surrender. Unfortunately, her new skills weren’t needed as she got her phone back safely.

  ‘See, I told you you’d be a yellow belt by this afternoon,’ Jonah said as he met her outside the school with a high five. ‘Congratulations.’

  ‘Thanks. Not as significant as a black belt though,’ Grace replied.

  ‘Hey, all black belts were yellow belts at one stage. It’s all part of the journey.’

  Jonah’s other friends came over to chat to Grace for a while and when they finished, Grace swung around to see where Jonah was. He was deep in conversation with Lauren, and her hand was on his arm, leaning in close as though telling him something private. What was going on? An uncomfortable twinge pulled at Grace’s stomach. Lauren was her friend, wasn’t she? Did she have feelings for Jonah?

  Lauren’s hand dropped and she stepped back when she saw Grace glancing at her and Jonah, then she walked over to her. ‘Well done Grace, you put up a good fight in the sparring.’ Lauren held up her hand for a high five.

  Grace awkwardly reciprocated. ‘Thanks, Lauren.’

  ‘I was just saying to Jonah we should all go get some food and hang out, you wanna come?’

  She had to touch him and lean in close to suggest they all go and hang out? It looked more personal than that, and Jonah was now shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other.

  ‘Um…to be honest, I’m totally wiped,’ Grace explained. ‘I think I’ll go and crash for a while.’ She’d rather be with Jonah, and rather Lauren wasn’t with him alone, but a heavy fatigue was casting its shadow over her and she really needed to lie down. She’d been overdoing things lately—taekwondo, gym classes, cycling, swimming, work, and her busy new social life.

  ‘You sure?’ Jonah asked, and Grace nodded. ‘How about we meet up for dinner then?’

  ‘Sounds good. I’ll call you later?’ Grace asked.

  Jonah nodded. ‘I can walk you home if you like.’ He gestured towards the road that led to the caravan park.

  ‘No need, you guys go and hang out, I’ll catch up with you later.’ Grace kissed Jonah and he squeezed her tight. It felt good, but there was hesitancy in his touch, and she wondered what Lauren had said to him to shake his usual buoyancy.

  As Grace walked up the road, she turned to look at the others who were walking in the opposite direction. Lauren was talking to Jonah again, and he was shaking his head. There must be something going on they weren’t letting her in on. But how could she bring it up without sounding like she was being possessive? It could be nothing. After all, they had known each other since they were kids. Surely if they liked each other something would have happened by now.

  By the time Grace got back to the caravan she didn’t have the energy to think about it anymore. She took off her belt and pulled open the fold-out bed, flopping onto it without bothering to get out of her uniform. Minutes later she was fast asleep.

  Chapter 26

  It had taken Sylvia’s parents long enough to reply to her email about Grace, so it didn’t surprise her that almost a month had passed before they called her on the phone. The email, written by her mum, said they were planning on being on the road around the time of the variety concert, but would give her a call down the track and let her know for sure. Then she’d written: I thought this day might come. Your father and I agree that you should be careful not to get too close, we don’t want to see you hurt or disappointed.

  So when Sylvia saw her mother’s number on the caller ID, she took a breath and braced herself for ‘the conversation’ that had been eighteen years in the making.

  ‘Hi Mum,’ Sylvia said lightheartedly.

  ‘Hi sweetheart, how are you?’ her mother responded, and without waiting for a reply, she continued. ‘Your father and I had a great time in Western Australia, such a big place so we’ll probably go back for another trip again sometime.’

  ‘That’s good. Where are you off to in June?’

  ‘June? Oh yes, South Australia. We’re going on a winter getaway for seniors for two weeks, including a winery tour. We were planning on going during the first two weeks of June, but managed to adjust our booking for the second half of that month.’

  Making them available for the variety concert. ‘So, does that mean you’ll —’ Sylvia began.

  ‘We’ll be coming to watch the concert, and…meet Grace.’

  Finally, a definite answer. ‘Thanks Mum, Grace will be happy to hear that,’ Sylvia said. ‘And wait till you hear her play, she’s phenomenal.’

  ‘Well, it does run in the family. Speaking of which, I’ll have to give the old piano keys a workout when we visit.’

  ‘Of course. Although they’ve been getting a workout with Grace’s practising,’ Sylvia replied.

  ‘She’s been practising on my old piano?’

  ‘Yes, surely that’s okay?’

  ‘Yes, yes, that’s fine. It’s just strange, that’s all. So, you’ve been spending a fair bit of time together?’

  ‘A fair bit. Work takes up much of the weekdays of course, but on weekends and some evenings we often get together.’ Sylvia paused for a moment. ‘She’s a great girl, Mum.’ Somehow a smidgen of moisture had worked its way out of Sylvia’s eyes. Why was she feeling so emotional? She still hardly knew Grace, but couldn’t help feeling a sense of pride at how she turned out. Obviously, Grace’s adoptive parents had done all the work. But Sylvia wondered, hoped, that the little she contributed, if only genes and a healthy gestational environment, had some impact on the young woman Grace had become.

  ‘Have you told anyone in town…about her?’ Sylvia’s mother asked tentatively.

  ‘Only Larissa. People must have seen me with her, but no one’s asked about the connection. Anyway, it was a long time ago; maybe it doesn’t matter so much if people find out.’

  Sylvia walked across the living room as she spoke, and waited for a response. ‘Mum?’

  ‘I’m here,’ she replied. ‘Your father and I think it’s best if you keep it on a need-to-know basis. Yes it was a long time ago, but many of your father’s old colleagues still live in Tarrin’s Bay, and as you know, we see them whenever we visit. The knowledge of an illegitimate granddaughter could still affect his reputation, not to mention yours. You’re a pillar in the community to be looked up to, and—‘

  ‘Mum, many young unwed women have become pregnant,’ Sylvia interjected. ‘These things happen, and we shouldn’t—I shouldn’t—have to feel ashamed about it.’

  ‘I’m not saying you should be ashamed, I’m just saying that some things are best left in the past. Why risk affecting your respectable status in the community by declaring you had a baby when you were only sixteen? You were so young Sylvia, so young…’

  Sylvia knew her mother would be shaking her head from side to side right now, remembering the disappointment of her daughter’s youth and innocence being cut short. ‘And yet despite my young age, I managed to get on with my life and build a successful career helping others. Surely that’s something to be looked up to?’ Sylvia was pacing up and down the room now.

  ‘Of course it is, and we’re very proud of you. We just…don’t want you making a mistake by getting too close to this girl. She could up and leave at any time, probably will, and then how will you feel?’

  ‘This girl? She’s my daughter, Mum. And it just so happens that she lost her adoptive mother last year. I want to be there for her, to be a part of her life.’ Sylvia thought back to the Wishing Festival, and smiled at the amazing events that had taken place since then. ‘I wished I could meet Grace, and be given a second chance at being a mother. Now that I have the opportunity I’m not going to let i
t slide.’ Warmth rushed to Sylvia’s face and her bottom lip trembled. ‘I won’t let her go again.’

  Although Sylvia knew she could never replace the mother who had raised Grace from birth, she wanted nothing more than to prove to Grace, and herself, that she was worthy of being a mother. That given the chance, she could rise up and take on the role with commitment and love, with the same passion she’d infused into her medical career. Her wish to be given a second chance was unfolding, and there was no turning back. Grace was in her life now. And not only did Sylvia want a second chance with Grace, but she also hoped for, wished for, another chance to become a mother. Properly this time. Meet the right man, have a baby, and this time, bring her baby home.

  Chapter 27

  ‘Thirty-five today, huh? You’ve finally caught up with me,’ Larissa said to Sylvia as they sat down to lunch at Café Lagoon.

  ‘Yep, definitely getting old now!’ Sylvia replied, smiling on the outside but shrieking on the inside, knowing all too well that once a woman gets to the age of thirty-five her fertility rapidly declines. She’d read the research and seen it all too often with patients. Plus the risk of miscarriage or conceiving a baby with genetic anomalies was higher after this age. That was the least of her worries right now though. How would she even be able to have another baby if she hadn’t found the right man yet? She’d thought Richard might be it, but look how that turned out. Then Mark, but he was still grieving for his dead wife. Maybe she needed to get out of town, move to a place with a higher population of single men who were ready for commitment. If such a place existed. Nah, she was settled and happy in Tarrin’s Bay, and she wouldn’t dare leave her patients behind. ‘Thanks for my present Riss, I definitely need a “three-hour stress-busting forget-all-your-worries pamper treatment”!’ Sylvia waved the voucher Larissa had given her in the air. This time she’d have to remember to keep visions of shaving cream far from her mind.

  After eating lunch and splurging on her favourite hummingbird cake (it was her birthday), Sylvia slid her arms into her cashmere cardigan and secured the single button at the front, as a breeze left goose bumps on her arms. ‘It’s getting cooler, I might need to put the heater on at home in the mornings.’

  ‘I already have. As soon as April arrives it goes on. Luke hates it; he sleeps in boxers all year long, never feels the cold,’ Larissa said.

  ‘So I’m guessing you hog all the blankets at night, yes?’

  ‘Sure do. Luke just folds his half over onto me so I get double layers.’ Larissa grinned. ‘Although he takes up so much room in the bed I’m thinking we should switch to a king-size bed. Half the time I end up teetering on the edge of the mattress!’

  The good thing about being single, Sylvia thought, was that you could sleep in the middle of the bed, have as many or as few blankets as you needed, and not get woken up by your partner moving, or worse, snoring. But, there was nothing like having someone to cuddle up with, and someone to talk to about your day.

  Sylvia turned her wrist. ‘Geez, that’s gone fast. Time to get back to work.’ Sylvia stood and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Larissa. ‘Thanks for my birthday lunch. And my voucher. And these,’ Sylvia said, lifting the bunch of colourful gerberas.

  ‘My pleasure hun. I hope you get an early mark from work,’ Larissa said.

  ‘Mark what?’

  ‘An early mark, you know—go home early?’ Larissa said slowly.

  ‘Oh, yeah.’ Sylvia’s face flushed.

  ‘Still got Mark on the mind, huh?’

  ‘No, not really, I just didn’t catch what you said at first.’ Sylvia brushed a wisp of hair from her face. ‘Anyway, things are okay. He’s even coming out to dinner tonight with everyone else from work.’

  ‘That’s an improvement. Luke hasn’t spoken to him in a while. Whenever he calls, Mark says he’s on his way out, or just getting in the door, or something like that.’

  ‘Yeah, he’s been pretty quiet and distant, but seems better this past week. He even brought a fruit platter into work the other day to share. Although, he did say he simply needed to use up his supply of fruit at home before it went off.’

  ‘Men. Always practical,’ Larissa said.

  ‘Not just men. I’m practical too,’ Sylvia said.

  ‘You’re the Queen of Practical.’

  ‘I know.’ Sylvia smiled, and just then Grace walked slowly towards the café.

  ‘Oh, hi Sylvia,’ Grace said.

  ‘Hi, how are you? On your lunchbreak too?’

  ‘Yeah, but I’m just grabbing some takeaway and going back to the caravan. Not feeling the best today, but I’ll be right,’ Grace replied.

  She did look pale. ‘You sure? I can take you to the clinic with me if you like and check you over.’

  ‘No, no. I’ll be fine. It’s just…women’s problems, if you know what I mean.’ Grace made quotation marks with her fingers as she spoke.

  ‘Oh, right then. Well, call me if you need anything, okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  Sylvia rubbed a concerned hand up and down Grace’s arm, then realised Larissa was frozen still, her mouth gaping. ‘Oh, Larissa, this is Grace. Grace, this is my friend, Larissa.’

  Larissa enveloped Grace’s right hand with both of hers. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you. Wow, after all this time,’ Larissa said, her eyes wandering over Grace’s features, just as Sylvia’s had when she first met Grace outside the clinic back in January.

  ‘So…you know who I am?’ Grace asked.

  Larissa nodded. ‘Sylvia and I have been friends since school, no secrets between us at all.’

  ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you too.’ Grace smiled, then glanced at the flowers and greeting card Sylvia was holding. ‘Is it your birthday, Sylvia?’

  Sylvia nodded.

  ‘I wish I’d known, I would have bought you a present!’ Grace leaned in to smell the flowers.

  Sylvia flicked her hand forward in the air. ‘Don’t worry about that, no need to celebrate my advancing age.’

  ‘Why not? Every birthday you reach is a gift, you should celebrate.’

  For someone with hardly any life experience she was right. How could her own daughter be smarter than her? ‘That’s true Grace. Well, I am celebrating tonight at Bayside with my work colleagues,’ Sylvia reassured. ‘You’re welcome to come along, if you like?’

  Grace shifted on her feet. ‘Thanks, but I’ll probably just take it easy and get an early night. Besides, I’d be out of place with your colleagues; you should just celebrate with them,’ Grace replied.

  ‘I guess you should rest, but the offer still stands if you change your mind, okay?’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ Grace motioned towards the counter of the café. ‘Well, I better go get some lunch and head back home.’

  ‘Look after yourself, Grace, and don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything,’ Sylvia said.

  Grace smiled and walked into the café, Jonah waving to her from the kitchen, his hands busily picking up plates of food. He gave Grace a quick peck on the cheek as he walked past, and she whispered something in his ear. He gave her another brief kiss and pouted as he walked away to serve customers. Young love, so cute. Sylvia remembered her fleeting relationship with Grace’s father. For a short amount of time he was her world, but then everything changed.

  * * *

  Grace walked out of Café Lagoon with a chicken and salad wrap, munching on it as she walked. She couldn’t help but rub her belly with her free hand, the cramps getting a bit worse. But walking seemed to ease them somewhat, even though she just wanted to lie down. She had some period pain tablets at the caravan, so she’d take them as soon as got back.

  It was a shame she was feeling this way now, as she’d felt fairly good this morning, and was looking forward to the variety concert in a couple of months time. When Sylvia called last week to tell her that her grandparents were coming, excitement welled up inside. And nerves. But as Sylvia had been telling her, she need only focus on the piano a
nd remember to breathe, and she would be fine. Sylvia likened it to performing a medical procedure. If you worried about everything else going on around you, and what people were thinking, you’d mess up. But if you put all your attention calmly on the task at hand, and took it one step at a time, and in Grace’s case, one key at a time, then you wouldn’t fail. Grace wasn’t feeling as worried about performing now.

  And no longer was she worried about Lauren and Jonah either. When she’d woken from her nap after the grading last weekend and met up with Jonah for dinner, she’d asked him straight out whether there’d been any history between him and Lauren, or whether he thought she had feelings for him. Jonah had seemed genuinely shocked, and reassured her that there wasn’t any history between them, that Lauren was like a sister to him, and that she had in fact fallen head over heels for Jonah’s cousin. It didn’t completely explain their secretive exchange after the grading, but after Grace saw Lauren canoodling with an older guy in the park on the way to work this morning, she no longer felt concerned that Lauren was after her man. In fact, she felt kind of silly for thinking it, and bringing it up with Jonah. Thankfully, she hadn’t scared him off, if anything, he was showering her with more attention than before. Which Grace didn’t mind in the least.

  When she arrived at the caravan, Grace swallowed the last two tablets from the packet of pain relievers with a gulp of water, and took to the bed like a lost bear cub reuniting with its mother. She woke a couple of hours later feeling much better, ducked out to the bathrooms, then went back to bed, deciding to read for a while and keep resting in order to be well for work tomorrow.

  Hours passed, and darkness eased its way inside the caravan. Grace switched on the light above the bed, engrossed in a new release she’d picked up from work, although her eyes were straining a little. After a while she could no longer focus on reading, as a familiar ache resumed its hold on her stomach and lower back. Damn hormones! The tablets had given her relief, but they must be wearing off. She reached for the packet of pain relievers then remembered she’d used up the last of them. Crap, she’d have to walk to town and get more. Or maybe she could call Sylvia and ask her to bring some around? No, it was her birthday and she’d be enjoying dinner with her colleagues. She couldn’t ask Jonah, that would be way too embarrassing. Lauren? Nah, she might as well go and get some now in case the pain got so bad that she couldn’t.