‘But I might only be your half-sister.’
‘Even if we do have different fathers, and let’s not get carried away before we know the facts,’ Abigail said, sounding a lot calmer than she had a few moments ago, ‘we’re still sisters. Nothing is going to take that away.’
‘Damn straight,’ Madeleine said at the same time as Lucinda said, ‘Exactly.’
‘But don’t you see?’ Charlie pursed her lips together and then sucked in a breath. ‘If Rick is my biological father, then I’m not a Patterson. Which means … maybe the curse is real.’
They were all quiet for a moment and then Lucinda said fiercely, ‘We don’t care about the damn curse right now. We care about you.’ And then she slipped her hands from the sister chain, knelt on the floor in front of Charlie and pulled her into a hug. ‘You’re all that matters.’
Coming from Lucinda, that meant a lot.
‘Thank you.’ Charlie sniffed. When Lucinda finally let her go, she turned her head to look at Madeleine. She needed to focus. ‘What are the logistics of getting paternity testing done? Is it hard?’
Madeleine shook her head. ‘Not these days. There’s a simple test. I’ll make some calls first thing tomorrow morning and find out if it can be done at the pathology unit in Port Augusta. There are tests we can get via mail order but it’ll be quicker and more reliable if you and Rick can go in person.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ Charlie felt grateful she had Madeleine to do the groundwork because she could barely think straight herself. ‘Is it very invasive?’ She’d always been a wimp where needles were concerned.
‘No. It’s very simple and pain free. They’ll collect some cells from on the inside of your cheek, and Rick’s, using what’s called a buccal or cheek swab. It’s a little wooden or plastic stick that has cotton on a synthetic tip. The person performing the test will collect as many cells as possible and these cells will be sent to the lab for testing.’
‘And that’s … accurate?’
‘Yes. As accurate as taking a blood sample because the DNA is the same.’
‘Okay.’ Charlie couldn’t believe this nightmare was her life. ‘And how long will it be before we have the result?’
Madeleine shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. It depends on the pathology unit. Anywhere up to ten days at a guess, but I’ll see if I have any contacts there who may be able to put a rush on it.’
‘Thanks.’ Although right now ten days sounded like a lifetime. ‘How am I supposed to face Mitch? Or Dad?’
Her other sisters exchanged glum looks.
‘Where’s Mitch now?’ Abigail asked.
‘I told him to go home and said I’d call him when I’d worked out what to do. I can’t face him at the moment.’ Looking at him hurt too damn much.
‘Fair enough.’ Lucinda reached behind her for the box of tissues on the coffee table. She offered the box and Charlie snatched up a couple.
What was she supposed to do now? What she wanted was to get very, very drunk, but she wouldn’t add that to this baby’s problems. She started by blowing her nose and wiping her eyes.
‘About Dad,’ Lucinda said. ‘Why don’t we try and get him away for the next week or so? We’ll suggest that since we’re all home at the moment, he and Mrs Sampson should take the chance to try out the caravan and—’
‘But,’ Madeleine interjected. ‘Aren’t you—’
‘More than happy to take on Dad and Mrs Sampson’s work,’ Lucinda butted in. ‘I’m sure you and Abigail will help.’
‘Of course,’ Abigail said. ‘No way I’m going back to London until all this is sorted.’
‘That’s settled then.’ Lucinda stood. ‘I’ll go tell Dad.’
‘You don’t think he’ll be suspicious?’ Charlie asked. ‘And … don’t you think he has a right to know? About Mum?’
Lucinda took a deep breath. ‘Look. Let’s deal with this ourselves first and when we’ve got a handle on it, then work out what and if to tell Dad. What if it turns out to be nothing? Besides, he’s so desperate to play with his caravan, he’ll jump at the chance to get away. Remember, this will be his first holiday in Lord knows how long.’
Charlie was more than happy with his suggestion. She had enough crap to deal with herself without worrying about how all this might affect their father.
‘Well, if you’re sure.’ Madeleine gave Lucinda an odd look.
‘Good.’ Lucinda smiled, started out the room and then looked back to Charlie. ‘We were going to suggest dinner together in the motel tonight. Would you be up for that or would you prefer I made us something here?’
Charlie didn’t know whether she’d be able to stomach food, but if they were in the restaurant she’d have to keep a happy face for appearances sake. And being with her family would be better than hiding away in her room. ‘I’m up for it.’
As Lucinda headed off through the kitchen and into the motel, Charlie turned to Abigail, needing distraction. ‘So? Nigel? What’s the deal?’
‘Oh.’ Abigail’s lips twisted into a grin and then she glanced towards the kitchen. ‘Honey, it’s safe, you can come out now. Come meet Charlie.’
Nigel returned carrying a tray with a teapot, five mugs and a packet of Tim Tams.
Charlie raised her eyebrows at Abigail, trying to focus on her sister’s news rather than the continuous churning of her stomach. She moved over on the couch so Nigel could sit down next to Abigail. ‘Hello there,’ she said, offering him her hand, forgetting that she’d already shaken his earlier. ‘Sorry about before. I hope our family dramas haven’t scared you off.’
‘Not at all. I come from a big family so I’m used to drama.’ Nigel’s hand was warm and solid but felt nothing like Mitch’s. She inwardly cursed, not wanting to think about him right now.
‘Did you say fiancé before?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’ Nigel and Abigail nodded, already speaking as one.
‘Nigel flew all across the world to tell her that he loves her, and to ask for Dad’s blessing to marry her,’ Madeleine said, sounding amused.
‘Well, at least someone’s love life is going smoothly,’ Charlie said dryly, before she could think better of it.
‘I’m sorry, Charlie.’ Abigail reached across Nigel to pat her sister’s knee. ‘This royally sucks.’
‘It does, but I’m honestly happy for you both. Congratulations.’ She meant it, but all of a sudden she felt the need to be alone. ‘Think I might just go have a shower before dinner. I’ll see you love birds later.’
‘Bye,’ they said, again in unison.
Charlie stood and Madeleine followed her out of the room.
‘You sure you don’t need company?’ she asked once they were in the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
Charlie shook her head. ‘I’ll be okay. See you at dinner.’
After saying goodbye to Charlie, Madeleine put her sneakers back on and walked the short distance to Mitch’s house. Charlie had confided in them but Mitch was a bloke and she guessed his coping mechanisms might be different. Still, he was a friend and she wanted to check on him.
His ute was out the front and lights were on inside the house. She knocked on the door but the sound could barely be heard over the music blaring from inside. Thankfully no one bothered to lock their doors in Meadow Brook, so she wiped her feet on the scruffy doormat and let herself inside.
She found Mitch sitting on his couch nursing a beer. Three empty bottles were already lined up on the floor at his feet. He was staring straight ahead at the TV but it wasn’t on and although she cleared her throat, he didn’t notice her. Madeleine stepped into the room and yanked the stereo’s plug out of the wall. The room went silent and Mitch finally turned to look at her.
‘Hey.’ He lifted his beer in a slight wave and then took a sip.
‘Got any more of those?’ she asked, nodding to the bottle.
He shrugged. ‘In the fridge. Help yourself.’
Madeleine wasn’t much of a beer fan but if she drank one, it’d
be one less for him to drown his sorrows in. She grabbed a bottle and then sat herself on the couch beside him. She’d never been very good at knowing what to say to comfort people in times of need, so she took a sip and waited for him to talk.
‘How’s Charlie?’ he asked.
‘A mess,’ she said honestly.
‘Fuck.’ Mitch slammed his bottle down on the table and ran a hand through his hair. ‘I feel so bloody helpless. I want to help her through this but she said she can’t see me right now. I don’t know what to do. I just want to fix it.’
‘I know. And first thing tomorrow we’ll organise a paternity test. I’m fairly certain we’ll be able to get it done in Port Augusta. Will you be able to break your dad out of the nursing home for the testing?’
Mitch nodded. ‘Yeah, you just tell me where I need to take him.’
They were both quiet again and Madeleine took another sip of beer, ignoring the bitter taste on her tongue. How anyone could love this stuff, she had no idea.
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do if …’ Mitch faltered and then sucked in a deep breath. ‘I don’t know how I can go back to just being friends. She’s the love of my life. How can I just switch that off?’
Her heart aching for him, Madeleine reached out and squeezed Mitch’s hand. ‘Let’s try not to worry about that yet. One step at a time, hey? We just have to get through the next few days.’
‘We’ll know in a few days?’
‘It might take a little longer, but we’ll know soon.’
He cleared his throat. ‘How exactly do they test? It’s not gonna hurt Dad or Charlie, is it?’
‘No.’ Madeleine shook her head and explained the procedure to him as she had to her sisters.
‘That sounds all right.’ Mitch started to get up and clear the empty bottles. ‘Can I get you something to eat?’
‘No, thanks. We’re having dinner in the motel. Keeping up appearances for Dad.’ She put her half-full bottle down on the coffee table and stood. ‘Will you be okay?’
He nodded. ‘I’m not going to drink myself silly if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘Good.’ She started towards the door and he followed to see her out.
As Mitch held open the front door for her, she said, ‘Charlie or I will call you tomorrow as soon as we’ve made an appointment. Will you be around?’
‘I’ll make sure of it.’
Somehow Charlie got through dinner, managing not to throw up when Mrs Sampson threw her arms around her and squealed her congratulations. Instead she smiled sweetly and asked if she’d keep the news quiet for now as it was still early days.
Of course Dad wanted to know where Mitch was but Charlie told him he had a migraine and reminded them they had an engagement to celebrate as well. Her sisters kept the conversation going, suggesting ideas for Nigel and Abigail’s wedding and asking Dad and Mrs Sampson where they planned to travel over the next couple of weeks.
‘Are you sure you girls can do without us?’ Dad asked.
Charlie looked at her sisters, panicking at the idea of him sticking around, but they all jumped in to assure him they’d be fine.
‘You may as well make the most of us while we’re all here,’ Abigail said. ‘I’ll be heading back to London soon.’
‘Well, in that case …’ Dad lifted his beer and took a sip, his grin stretching ridiculously across his face.
Charlie picked at her dinner as she tried to participate in conversation but was unable to eat a mouthful of her favourite dessert. ‘Do you mind if I call it a night?’ she asked, pretending to stifle a yawn.
Mrs Sampson chuckled. ‘You go and get some rest. There’s nothing like that fatigue in early pregnancy. You can’t fight it.’
‘Thanks.’ Charlie smiled weakly around the table as she pushed back her chair.
She went into the house alone, more exhausted than she could recall ever feeling in her life. Whether that was early pregnancy or the emotional upheaval of the day, she couldn’t say. She brushed her teeth, changed into her pyjamas and then snuck under the bed covers but sleep didn’t come easily. She tossed and turned for hours, unable to think about anything but Mitch. How was he coping? Was he also having difficulty getting sleep?
She longed to call him, to hear his soothing and familiar voice, but that might only make everything worse. She couldn’t allow herself to need him. Not now. Not until. Just in case. So instead, she rolled over onto her side, curled up in the foetal position and cried.
Chapter Forty-nine
While Madeleine was on the phone to the pathology unit in Port Augusta on Monday morning, Dad and Mrs Sampson were packing up the caravan, oblivious to the drama going on around them. They headed off towards the Nullarbor—destination Esperance in Western Australia—just after midday, waved off by all the sisters and Nigel. The girls kept their fake smiles plastered to their faces until the caravan was well and truly out of sight and then they turned to Madeleine.
‘Well?’ Charlie asked.
‘You and Rick have an appointment this afternoon. We’ll have to leave in an hour or so. Do you want to tell Mitch yourself or would you like me to call him?’
Charlie’s stomach twisted, both at the thought of what lay ahead and also at the prospect of phoning Mitch. What had seemed so normal only a day ago now felt awkward and wrong. ‘Can you?’
Madeleine nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘Do you want us to come with you?’ Lucinda asked.
Charlie shook her head. ‘You and Abigail better stay here and man reception. It’s not like we’re going to have a result today anyway.’
*
‘Hi.’ Charlie barely croaked the greeting as Mitch jumped into the back of the Meadow Brook Motel van. Madeleine was at the wheel and Charlie sat in the passenger seat, feeling queasy already —despite never having experienced travel sickness before.
‘Hi ladies. Thanks for picking me up.’ Mitch clicked his seatbelt into place and Charlie noted his voice sounded slightly different to normal. As if he were trying too hard to be normal.
‘You’re welcome.’ Madeleine smiled over her shoulder and then turned back to face the road as she pulled away from the kerb outside Mitch’s fibro house. ‘Did you manage to get in contact with your dad?’
‘Yep. The nurses will have him ready when we arrive.’
‘Great.’
When Mitch didn’t say anything else, Madeleine leant forward and switched on the radio. The monotone voice of some ABC journalist crackled out of the ancient speakers and Charlie had never felt more thankful for talkback radio in her life. The old van couldn’t tune into the more popular FM stations, but right now she didn’t care. She was simply thankful for something to fill the silence.
It felt like the longest journey ever, but then they were finally in front of the nursing home. Madeleine pulled into a short-stay parking bay and Mitch leapt out to fetch his dad.
Madeleine glanced across at Charlie. ‘You hanging in there?’
‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ she replied, sagging into the seat. ‘Mitch feels like a stranger, when only yesterday we …’ She couldn’t finish her sentence. Her throat felt like it had clogged up with cement.
Madeleine tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. ‘I wish I could say something to make you feel better.’
Charlie sniffed. ‘I don’t think there’s anything anyone could say right now. If you believed in God I’d ask you to pray that all this was a nightmare.’
‘Is that what you’re doing?’
She nodded. ‘I’m praying to God, begging Mother Nature. I think I’d even sell my soul to the devil if he could make this right. Whatever it takes.’
‘Right.’ Madeleine stared out the window. A few more minutes passed in silence and then she said, ‘They’re coming.’
When Charlie turned her head towards the building, she saw Mitch wheeling his father down the ramp towards the van. Rick looked like he’d deteriorated—physically—since they’d visite
d him yesterday. His confession seemed like a lifetime ago and now she found herself torn between anger and pity.
While Charlie struggled with her emotions, Madeleine got out to help Mitch with Rick and the wheelchair.
‘Hello Madeleine, love, long time no see.’
Charlie bristled at the familiarity in Rick’s voice and the sympathy she’d almost felt towards him evaporated. How dare he speak to Madeleine as if he were an old friend of the family. Friends didn’t do what he’d done.
She didn’t know how she’d cope if he was her father. Would everyone suddenly expect her to transfer her affections from Brian onto Rick? Hell would freeze over before that happened. Brian would always be her dad, the man who’d loved her her whole life and would do anything for her. Rick would simply be the cheating scumbag who’d shattered her world.
She folded her arms across her chest as she listened to Madeleine and Mitch struggle Rick into the seat. Mitch finally climbed into the van and as he pulled the sliding door shut, Rick said, ‘Hello Charlie? How are you?’
She almost snorted at the question, but chose to ignore it. Telling him how she felt would involve a number of colourful words and she didn’t want to upset Mitch. This was hell for him as well and feeling like he was torn between her and his dad wouldn’t help.
Madeleine turned the key in the ignition and again the dry voice of the ABC radio presenter wafted into the van. He’d moved on to discussing incontinence in Australia’s ageing population, but luckily the distance from nursing home to hospital was short and they arrived at the pathology unit, an old single-storey brick building in the grounds of Port Augusta hospital, before they had to hear the listeners phoning in with their stories.
As Madeleine parked, Charlie’s heart began to pound. Although she knew this was a simple, pain-free procedure and that they wouldn’t have the results for at least a week, it felt akin to looking over the cliff top of a massive canyon and preparing to throw herself off. If it weren’t for the new life inside her, would Rick have ever come clean?
If it weren’t for her pregnancy—or Mitch—would she even want to know?
The Patterson Girls Page 43
