Purple Roads
Page 27
Matt held up his hand. ‘I don’t want to hear any more. You arsehole! Get the fuck out of my house. I never, ever want to see you again. You ruined me! Do you hear? You ruined my life and nearly destroyed my family. How dare you apologise now, as if that could make it right. Well it can’t. Get out!’
‘Wait, Matt,’ Anna said. ‘There’s just one thing I don’t understand. Who’s Sandy? The police never mentioned a Sandy.’
Jimmy looked up, his face shattered. ‘He’s been Sandy since he was a child but when he came off the streets he wanted to leave it all behind. He now goes by Alec – short for Alexander – Alec Harper.’
Matt sprang from the couch in such a rage that Anna cried out.
‘You bought my farm? You weren’t content with sending me broke, but you went and bought my farm too? You bloody bastard! Was it you who hit me too?’
But Jimmy shook his head violently. ‘No, lad, no! It wasn’t me. It was Sandy, he’s got a tattoo in the exact same spot. They were all so worried you were about to blow their whole operation open. All the drugs. Belinda, Shane, Sandy. I had no idea the drug running was going on. Not until Belinda came and threatened me.
She needed the money to keep raising those boys. Sandy needed the money to keep up his appearances and pay off his debts. Shane just seemed to go along with Belinda.’
Jimmy’s face was pale and defeated as he fumbled in his jacket for a yellow envelope, which he laid on the chair. ‘I am so sorry. That’s all I can say: I’m sorry. I tried to tell you by letting you hear our conversation on the phone, but you didn’t realise who it was. By then Belinda had come to see me. I don’t have much left in my life, Matt, but the business. She would have made Shane resign and dobbed me in for organising thefts. When you didn’t pick up on the hint, I wasn’t going to push it any further.’ He backed away, towards the front door. ‘One day I hope you’ll be able to see just how sorry I am.’
Epilogue
The yellow envelope from Jimmy had sat in the lounge for weeks before Matt and Anna felt the desire to open it.
They’d followed the case in the paper, had been interviewed by the police and called as witnesses many times, but telling the story never became any easier. Matt was devastated by the final blow Jimmy had delivered. He’d been certain Jimmy was as good a friend as Sam.
There was still an ordeal to get through: a court case, sentencing and a lot more.Today Anna decided it was time to celebrate the closing of that chapter of their lives.
Ella had eaten early and gone to bed by the time Anna lit the candles, set the roses on the table and cooked Matt’s favourite meal. When he walked through the door after a day in the sheep yards with Sam, she greeted him with open arms.
‘Good day?’ she asked.
‘Not bad, but better now I’m home.’ He wrapped his arms around her and she moved into them, lifting her head for a kiss. Matt moved to go and wash his hands, sniffing at the same time. ‘Yum, that smells delicious.’
‘Special treat,’ Anna said and ran through to the kitchen. ‘You go and have a shower and I’ll bring you a beer.’
Anna smiled as she heard the water running and looked over at the yellow envelope that she’d been fingering all day. Opening the envelope would bring closure to this whole mess. Today was the day to do it and put the last two years behind them.
After they’d chatted over a drink, Anna served dinner, then dessert. She reached over and picked up the envelope from the bench, saying, ‘Don’t you think today is a good day to open this?’
Matt looked at it in silence, then took a deep breath.‘We could, I guess. You do it.’
But Anna passed it across to him. ‘No, he brought it for you.’
Matt hesitated, then tore the flap open. Inside were three sheets of paper. At first Matt stared at them, uncomprehending, then a smile began to spread across his face.
‘Far out,’ he said quietly. Then,‘Far out!’ He looked at Anna, his face alive.‘He’s given us our Manna back, Anna. Our farm!’
Anna grabbed at the papers and looked. Sure enough, there was Jimmy’s signature on each page. All they had to do was sign too and the farm would be theirs once again.
Matt whooped and jumped to his feet, pulling Anna with him. They embraced, laughing and crying, as they saw their future open up once more.
Later, when their excitement had settled and Anna was doing the dishes, Matt flicked through the CD collection until he found the one he was looking for.
‘Anna,’ he called. ‘Come here.’
She appeared in the doorway wiping her hands on a teatowel. ‘What’s up?’ she asked and let out a little squeal as Matt grabbed her around the waist and swirled her around.
‘Can I have this dance?’ he asked, just as The Police started to sing ‘Every Breath You Take’.
‘Yes,’ Anna replied, looking into his eyes. ‘Yes, you can.’
And they danced.
Author’s Note
Slim Dusty sang a song called My Dad was a Road Train Man. My sister and I used to love singing it together in the car and we always thought of our dad because he was a road train man. Together we saw a lot of this wonderful country from the cab of a truck.
Dad, along with a few others, was a pioneer in the trucking world. His achievements include designing and manufacturing the first skeletal trailers with fuel tanks front and back and with a tray in the centre. He was also involved in a practical research project from which the requirements of the operations of triple road trains were developed. This work saw him inducted into the Shell Rimula X Hall of Fame in Alice Springs in 2010.
I am so proud of all that Mum and Dad have achieved together and that’s why Purple Roads is based around trucks. It’s also a thankyou for everything they’ve done for ‘us three kids’. We love you, Mum and Dad.
The Vietnam War was a terrible time. My character Jimmy was conscripted. In real life, he would have had a one-year posting, but for the purposes of this story, he has two. Any other mistakes are my own.
Acknowledgements
To Myles Williamson, for showing me over the trucks, talking the language and helping me with the details. Thanks also for reading the appropriate chapters. So many things have changed since I was a kid hanging out in trucks!
Jeff Ogilvy, the first ever triple road train driver in Australia and friend of the Parnells, thanks for all your stories and help.
Karin Bridle for the offer of help, the reading, and to Alan Bridle for talking about a time that I’m sure he would rather forget: the Vietnam War.
Dave Byrne for once again helping me with plot points and the crime side of things.
Louise Collins,who won the ‘naming’ competition and changed Cam to Shane (for her brother).
My heartfelt thanks and love go to my family, without whom I am nothing: Anthony, Rochelle, Hayden, Mum and Dad, Nicholas, Ellie, Suz, Nathan, Ned, Mrs McD, Sharon and Ron.
Carolyn Middleton: you know why. You know everything! Love you to pieces.
Margareta Osborn-Kerby: new friends can become like old ones.
My Condy mates: Amanda, Gill, Lynda, Mandy, Tiff, Marie, Sue and Nev.
To my mates away: Mrs Mackay, Kate Biggins and Robyn Lane. I miss you all so very much and am thankful for the phone!
My wordsmith mates, who love words and books as much as I do: Nicole Alexander, Lisa Heidke, Fiona Palmer, Sara Foster and Wendy Orr, I love talking shop with you all. Thanks for your friendship! And the Queensland Writers Centre, all of you simply rock.
Maggie Mackellar, meeting you has been one of the highlights of writing. You are an inspiration.
Angela Slatter, for your keen eye and friendship. Kim Wilkins, for your advice and teachings.
My agent, Gaby Naher, who is so good at guiding me calmly through the process when I am so highly strung.
Belle Baker, who has grabbed my dream and run with it, displaying as much passion as I could have hoped for.
Siobhán Cantrill, I love working with you. Louise Thu
rtell and all behind the scenes at Allen and Unwin, I can think of no better hands to be in. Kate Hyde, the book tours won’t ever be the same. Will miss you.
Ali Lavau, I do love your edits!
Psalm 139: v 1–18.
To all who read my books, thank you for investing your time in Purple Roads. I hope you enjoyed it.