The Patterson Girls

by Rachael Johns

  ‘Paternity testing?’ Mitch said, gazing out the window rather than at either of them.

  ‘It was only a relatively new thing when Annette was pregnant with you,’ Rick volunteered. ‘I suggested it but the accuracy was only eighty percent or something and she said it was better if we didn’t know. Better if we forgot about it.’

  Charlie shook her head, quietly seething. Mum was lucky that bee had stung her because if she’d been alive when Charlie found this out, she’d have wished she wasn’t.

  ‘But,’ continued Rick, ‘I’m sure the tests are more accurate now.’

  ‘I’ll ask Madeleine about it,’ Charlie said, finally starting to think straight. ‘She’ll know what to do, where to go.’

  ‘You’re not going to tell your father, are you?’ Rick sounded worried. ‘Annette wouldn’t want that.’

  ‘Not yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. He deserves to know what you did.’ What Mum did, she silently added.

  But no. She’d do her best to keep a cheerful face around Dad, to pretend she was overjoyed about the baby, and would worry about what to tell him when they had facts. She could barely bring herself to look at Mitch now, never mind her possible biological father, so she said, ‘I’ll be in touch,’ and stalked out of the room.

  Mitch caught up with her seconds later. He didn’t take her hand as he had on the way in, and neither of them were smiling anymore. In the course of a few hours, they’d experienced the biggest high of their lives and then the greatest low. The visit to Aunt Mags was obviously off the agenda, just as—Fuck—the curse was back on.

  They climbed into the ute in silence and neither of them said anything until they were heading back along the Eyre Highway.

  ‘It might be okay,’ Mitch said, slowly rapping his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘He said it only happened once. The odds are Brian is your father.’

  His optimism had always attracted her but right now it only grated on her nerves. Couldn’t he see that she was more like him than any of her so-called sisters?

  ‘We don’t know that,’ she snapped. ‘I can’t believe your dad came round to the motel when my dad wasn’t around. I bet he planned to seduce her. It makes me sick.’

  ‘Hey.’ Mitch took his eyes off the road a second to glare at her. His nostrils flared. ‘It takes two to tango. And besides, Annette’s the one who wanted the secret kept all these years.’

  ‘Don’t yell at me. This isn’t my fault.’

  ‘It’s not mine either!’

  Charlie jumped at the fury in Mitch’s voice. They rarely disagreed and barely argued about anything. Although she’d occasionally heard him raise his voice to someone on the footy field or in the pub, she struggled to remember a time he’d ever spoken to her like that. Then again, she’d never shouted at him either.

  Silence reigned for a few long moments and then Mitch sighed. ‘I’m sorry. I know this is an awful thing we have to face, but it’s not going to do any good yelling at each other.’

  ‘I know,’ she whispered, shivering.

  But she just felt so utterly helpless and alone. And sad. Whatever the truth, the knowledge that her mother had betrayed her dad made her feel very, very sad.

  Chapter Forty-eight

  And I thought scenes like that only happened in the movies.

  Madeleine smiled at the romantic reunion happening before her eyes. Nigel seemed like a good guy and he had to really love Abigail to have travelled around the world to tell her. Feeling bittersweet—happy for Abigail and Charlie, but wondering if she’d ever get her own happy ending—she quietly retreated from the lounge room and headed down the hallway to check on Lucinda. Although Luce had put on a brave face and declared herself fine with Charlie’s unexpected pregnancy, she had to be finding this difficult. Hell, Madeleine had only been trying to get pregnant for a few months and it felt like a slap in the face that Charlie had achieved it accidentally.

  She knocked lightly on Lucinda’s bedroom door. There was no answer. Worried, she twisted the handle and pushed it open to find Lucinda sitting on her bed, talking on her mobile phone. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Lucinda was so caught up in whatever the person on the other end of the phone was saying that she didn’t appear to notice her at all. Madeleine didn’t know whether to let her sister know she was there or to sneak away unseen. Guessing she was talking to Joe, she chose the latter option. Whatever they were saying, the fact that they were talking at all was a good thing.

  It was just after midday but jet lag had messed with her body clock so she wasn’t yet hungry. Feeling at a loose end and not wanting to disturb the reunited lovebirds, who now looked to be checking out each other’s tonsils on the couch, Madeleine donned her sneakers and then snuck past to go outside. It was a beautiful late autumn day—neither hot nor cold—perfect running weather. She ran through the main street of town, deserted because it was a Sunday and nothing opened in Meadow Brook on Sundays, and then headed out towards the bush.

  Without thinking she found herself jogging past Wacky Wanda’s house. She slowed, chuckling at the recollection of what had happened six months ago with Abigail. Although they now knew the curse was ridiculous, Madeleine had to admit that Wanda’s witch-like appearance and her overgrown garden dotted with scruffy cats certainly fit with what Mags had told them about the curse. Their imaginations had run away with them and stories they remembered from the schoolyard had compounded their fears.

  Shaking her head, she was about to continue on when she heard a screen door open and shut. She looked past the cats and the garden onto the derelict porch to see the old woman standing there surveying her kingdom. Something tugged inside her and she paused.

  If Mags were right and Wanda’s mother was of James Patterson’s generation, then she must be in her nineties. When most women of her age were being taken care of by families or nursing homes, she was alone and fending for herself. Saddened by this thought, Madeleine lifted her hand and waved at the woman on the porch. For a few long moments Wanda simply stood there, staring, but then she lifted her arm and waved back.

  That was all the encouragement Madeleine needed to take the few steps to the gate. She stopped there, not wanting to scare the elderly woman, unsure what she intended to do but wanting to make some kind of contact.

  ‘Hi,’ she called, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head. ‘Lovely day, isn’t it?’

  Wanda slowly descended the steps, stooping to pick up a cat before continuing down the cracked garden path. Madeleine fought the urge to rush in and assist her because she guessed she was used to being independent.

  She stopped a few feet before the gate and looked at Madeleine with an expression half confused, half intrigued. ‘I don’t get many visitors out this way,’ she said eventually.

  ‘I don’t know why.’ Madeleine smiled. ‘It’s beautiful out here away from the highway. Have you lived here long?’

  Wanda cocked her head to one side and gave her a knowing look. ‘I recognise you. You’re a Meadow Brook girl from way back. I think you know I’ve been here forever.’

  Was she referring to the crazy stories about her? Did Wanda know what people said? Up close she wasn’t half as scary-looking as Madeleine remembered. She wanted to ask her if she knew about the curse, but decided against it. Out here, with the sun shining down, it all seemed so tenuous.

  It was codswallop like Mum had said—and what good would raising the question do anyway?

  So she smiled instead. ‘You amaze me, living out here by yourself. You’re a real pioneer, an inspiration.’

  Wanda snorted but her eyes sparkled. ‘And who are you, my dear?’

  ‘My name is Madeleine. Madeleine Patterson.’ She finally held out her hand, wondering if Wanda would accept the gesture or even if she would recognise the Patterson name. She wanted to talk more, to offer support if the old woman needed it.

  Wanda put down the cat and tottered forward, finally stretching out her own hand and placing it inside Madeleine’s. It
was cold and her skin felt papery thin. ‘I’m Lorraine. And it’s lovely to meet you.’

  Later, when Madeleine returned to the house, she found Nigel and Abigail in the kitchen making a late lunch of toasted sandwiches. She almost told them about her meeting with Lorraine, but decided to wait until she had all her sisters together.

  ‘Want some?’ Abigail asked.

  Madeleine nodded as she grabbed a glass and filled it at the tap. ‘That’d be great. I’ll have a quick shower and see if Lucinda and Dad want to join us.’

  ‘Dad’s having a lie-down before he has to help Rob this evening,’ Abigail said, slicing cheese for the toasties. ‘I think today’s been a wee bit exciting for him.’

  Nigel grinned. ‘Abigail told me about your sister’s news. That’s awesome.’

  ‘Sure is.’ Madeleine smiled, still struggling to come to terms with the whole Mitch-and-Charlie thing, never mind that her flighty, sometimes ditzy sister was going to be a mum. ‘So you met Dad then?’ she asked, lifting the glass to her lips.

  Nigel nodded. ‘Yep. I told him I loved his daughter and asked if he’d give me his blessing to marry her.’

  ‘You what?’ Madeleine almost choked on her water.

  Abigail laughed and turned to smile at Nigel with gooey eyes. ‘Surprised me too. Want to be my maid of honour?’

  Recovering, Madeleine said, ‘Isn’t that a bit fast?’

  Nigel and Abigail gazed into each other’s eyes and then he said, ‘When you know, you know.’

  ‘I guess.’ Madeleine felt a little nauseated by all this romance, so guzzled the rest of her water and then headed for the bathroom. She stood under the hot water and closed her eyes, letting it soothe her over-exerted muscles. It looked like Abigail might not be staying in Meadow Brook that long after all. Although happy for her little sister, she’d had fun hanging out with her these last few days and was disappointed their time together might be over so quickly.

  Remembering she had another sister who might need her, Madeleine turned off the water and climbed out of the cubicle. She dried and dressed quickly and then went to try Lucinda again. This time, she got an answer when she knocked.

  ‘Come in.’

  Madeleine pushed the door open. ‘Are you okay?’

  Lucinda nodded from where she was folding laundry into piles on her bed. ‘I know no one probably believes me but I’m genuinely happy for Charlie and Mitch. They are both wonderful people and they deserve love and … Wow, the baby is just such a special surprise. At least now we know the curse is crap.’

  Madeleine laughed. ‘As if there was ever any doubt. Have you met Nigel yet?’

  Lucinda looked up and frowned. ‘Abigail’s Nigel?’

  ‘One and the same. He arrived from London a couple of hours ago to declare his undying love and affection and to beg Abigail to marry him.’

  Lucinda’s mouth dropped open, then, ‘No! Are you serious?’

  ‘I don’t think there was much begging involved, but yes.’ She nodded. ‘He’s here in all his tall, blond glory and I’m going to be maid-of-freaking-honour.’

  Lucinda started laughing. ‘Must be the day for surprises.’

  ‘Yep, looks like everyone gets a happy ending except us.’ Madeleine shifted a pile of neatly folded underwear and plonked herself on the bed.

  ‘Actually …’ Lucinda looked down, her expression sheepish. ‘I’ve decided to go home. Joe has asked me to go to marriage counselling and we’re going to do our best to work things out.’

  ‘Oh …’ For a split second Madeleine’s heart cramped in disappointment—she’d been looking for someone to share her woe—but then she got over herself. ‘That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Lucinda sniffed and smiled. ‘I’m not kidding myself that this is the end of our troubles or that the road ahead is going to be easy, but being apart has made us both realise how much we want to be together. I’ve booked a flight back to Perth for tomorrow evening. And I can’t wait to see him.’

  ‘So—’ Madeleine gestured to the piles on the bed as she registered the suitcase open and off to one side on the floor ‘—you’re packing?’

  ‘Yep. I know you and Abigail have only just gotten home and everything, but I have to put my marriage first. You don’t mind, do you?’

  ‘No, of course not. I’ll even drive you to Adelaide for your flight if you want. But first, do you want to come get some lunch? Abigail and Nigel are making toasties and I can’t handle them making eyes at each other across the table on my own.’

  ‘Now you mention it,’ Lucinda said, ‘I’m starving. And I do want to meet Nigel if we’re going to be related.’

  Madeleine heaved herself up off the bed. ‘Come on then.’

  The two of them went to the lounge room where Abigail and Nigel had laid out a massive plate of toasted sandwiches on the coffee table. This time Abigail and Nigel took the couch and Lucinda and Madeleine sat in the armchairs, shooting sisterly questions at the newly engaged couple between mouthfuls. Dad woke from his nap, came in for a while and did his best with his own questions, but it turned out they all adored Nigel almost as much as Abigail.

  When Dad went into the motel to do some work, the others half-heartedly watched a movie. It was a very chilled, pleasant afternoon.

  ‘I wonder when Mitch and Charlie will be back?’ Abigail asked as the credits rolled up the TV screen.

  ‘Maybe we should have a celebratory dinner in the restaurant tonight?’ Lucinda suggested.

  ‘Good idea,’ Madeleine said. ‘That way Dad can be with us while he’s seeing to the patrons and we can help in the bar. We should ask Mrs Sampson to join us.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll go give her a call.’ As Lucinda rose from the armchair, the front door opened and Charlie appeared by herself. ‘Where’s Mitch?’ Lucinda asked, the concern in her voice indicating she’d noticed Charlie’s pale, shaky demeanour.

  This Charlie was like a different person from the one who’d left the house a few hours earlier and Madeleine immediately switched into medical mode. ‘What’s wrong? Have you got cramps, bleeding or something?’

  Charlie shook her head as she closed the door and stepped further inside. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around herself as if she were freezing. ‘Where’s Dad?’

  ‘In the motel,’ Abigail answered.

  ‘Good, because he doesn’t need to hear this.’

  ‘What?’ Madeleine, Lucinda and Abigail asked in unison.

  ‘I … I …’ She glanced at each of them and then her gaze fell on Nigel. She frowned. ‘Who are you?’

  He got up off the couch where he’d been sitting nuzzling Abigail and offered Charlie his hand. ‘I’m Nigel. Abigail’s fiancé.’

  ‘Oh right,’ Charlie nodded and shook it, accepting his explanation without question, which Madeleine thought a testament to the fact something was very, very wrong. ‘I need to speak to Madeleine,’ she continued as Nigel sat back down, ‘but you may as well all hear this. It sort of affects you all.’

  ‘What is it?’ Lucinda asked as Madeleine leaned forward in her chair.

  Charlie sighed, her whole body rising and then sagging again. She looked close to tears and she wasn’t the type to cry over nothing. ‘I’ve just found out that Mum and Mitch’s dad had a … a brief—’ she lowered her voice ‘—liaison around the time she fell pregnant with me.’

  She paused as Madeleine and the others gasped, but didn’t wait for the first blow to settle before she hit them with the second. ‘It’s possible that Rick is my real father. Which means—’

  ‘What the fuck?’ Madeleine launched into a stand, shaking her head as if she thought this was one very sick joke. Lucinda and Abigail looked numb.

  ‘My feelings exactly,’ Charlie said, dropping her arms and placing one hand against her stomach as she felt the nausea rising again. She wasn’t sure whether it was morning sickness, terror or a menacing cocktail of both. ‘Which is why I need your help. How do Mr McDonald and
I go about getting a paternity test done?’

  ‘You’re going to find out?’ Abigail asked, her tone disbelieving. ‘But … what if you are Rick’s daughter? What is that news going to do to Dad?’

  Charlie felt annoyance and frustration building alongside the nausea. As if this was her fault! ‘I can’t think about that right now. What about our—’ she squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to cry ‘—the baby?’

  She couldn’t allow herself to think about it as hers and Mitch’s because if they were … Well, she couldn’t have it, could she?

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ Lucinda whispered. ‘I can’t believe it. Mum would never have cheated on Dad.’

  ‘That’s what I thought, but Rick swore it. And why would he lie about something like this?’ Charlie didn’t want to go over it all but her sisters needed to know. ‘Apparently it happened only once. They both agreed it was an accident and it never happened again.’

  ‘An accident?’ Lucinda scoffed. ‘An accident is running into someone else’s car or spilling a drink on the table. It’s not falling into bed with someone else’s wife. And Mum? Christ, what was she thinking?’

  ‘I might go make some tea,’ said the guy on the couch next to Abigail as he pushed into a stand. Had he said he was her fiancé? Charlie shook her head, not ready to deal with that mystery right now.

  She sat down next to Abigail on the space he’d vacated. Madeleine came over and squeezed in next to her and Lucinda sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of them. They reached out for each other’s hands and Charlie couldn’t help the tears that came. She loved and admired them all so much, had always looked up to them, even Abigail who was younger. She hated the thought that she might not be one of them as much as she hated the terrible possibility that she might be related to Mitch.

  After a long silence, she whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’

  Madeleine squeezed her hand. ‘What are you sorry for? This isn’t your fault.’

  ‘It’ll be alright,’ Lucinda promised. ‘We’re here for you whatever happens.’