Madeleine shook her head. ‘I thought about it. But I felt sorry for her and I didn’t want to make a connection and then ruin it. I still feel stupid even thinking that it might be real. I’m a doctor for fuck’s sake, but—’
‘It might be,’ Charlie interrupted. ‘If I’m not a Patterson then this pregnancy doesn’t disprove anything.’
‘Let’s worry about that later.’ Madeleine reached over and patted Charlie’s knee. ‘Are you going to tell Aunt Mags about … You know?’
‘I want to,’ Charlie confessed. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No. I think it’s a good idea. I’d love to know if she ever suspected Mum’s affair and ask if she thinks we should tell Dad.’
Charlie didn’t say anything on that matter. The sisters were divided on this.
Madeleine believed that the truth always came out in the end—she’d used the Charlie–Mitch–Rick situation as an example—and that it would be better if Dad found out from them now. ‘Think about how he’ll feel if he finds out down the track and knows we all kept it from him?’
For once Lucinda agreed with her, but Charlie and Abigail were of the opposite opinion.
Charlie couldn’t help thinking about the baby. What if—please God—she and Mitch could keep it? She didn’t want her child’s two grandfathers to have disharmony between them. And quite frankly, she couldn’t see how tainting his memory of Mum would help Dad in any way; it was in the past, and Mum was unable to explain or defend herself—or to apologise.
When the girls arrived at the retirement village, they found Mags lording over a game of Uno in the communal hall. Her friends voiced their objections but she happily left the game to go and visit with her nieces.
‘To what do I owe this pleasure, my darlings?’ she asked as she linked arms with them and led them outside into the garden. ‘I thought you’d be run off your feet with my brother and Sal off gallivanting around the outback.’
Despite her mood, Charlie couldn’t help but smile. Aunt Mags had that effect. Dad had phoned her about his impromptu road trip but of course she didn’t know the real reason the girls had suggested it.
But then the sisters exchanged a look and Mags’s expression darkened. ‘Oh no!’ She slapped a hand against her chest. ‘Is it Brian? Has something happened to him on the road?’
‘No, no, nothing like that.’ Madeleine reached out a hand to steady their aunt as she rushed to reassure her. ‘Shall we go to your place so we can talk?’
‘You’re scaring me, girls, and you know I don’t scare easily,’ Mags said as they walked the short distance to her villa. She unlocked the door and they followed her inside. ‘Can I get you a cup of coffee, or will we need something stronger?’
‘Coffee will be fine,’ Madeleine said as Aunt Mags shuffled over to the kettle.
‘I’ll just have some water, please.’ Charlie absentmindedly placed a hand against her stomach in the way pregnant women often did. Realising what she’d done, she quickly wrenched her hand away, but not before Aunt Mags noticed.
‘Charlie!’ she exclaimed, the kettle hanging in midair. ‘Are you having a baby?’
Trying to swallow the lump in her throat, Charlie nodded.
‘Mitch’s!’ Aunt Mags dumped the kettle back on the bench, clapped her hands together in glee and rushed over to hug her.
Not one to normally succumb to hysterics, Charlie burst into tears. What should have been a time of utter joy was anything but.
Her aunt pulled back and frowned. ‘Surely the pregnancy hormones haven’t got hold of you already?’
No one answered the question. Instead Charlie felt Madeleine ushering her over to the couch and then gently pushing her down to sit.
‘What the devil is going on?’ Aunt Mags asked, abandoning all efforts to make drinks as she sat herself down next to Charlie. Madeleine sat guard on the other side. ‘Don’t tell me that boy doesn’t want it? Or is it you having butterflies? Because let me tell you, girl; Mitch McDonald is a good man and you’d be stupid to let him slip through your fingers. Anyone can see you two are made for each other.’
This only made her sob more.
‘Please, Aunt Mags,’ Madeleine pleaded, squeezing Charlie’s hand. ‘Let us explain. We came to visit because Charlie needed to clear her head and we hoped you’d have some wisdom to offer.’
Aunt Mags snorted, but sounded secretly pleased. ‘Just because I’m as old as God, doesn’t mean I’m wise.’
‘We’ll give you a try,’ Madeleine replied dryly.
Finally Mags went quiet and Charlie looked to her sister, telling her she had permission to spill all. As she listened to Madeleine speak, she couldn’t believe this was really happening to her. To them. Madeleine explained how Mitch and Charlie had surprised them all with the baby announcement and that they’d only been getting used to the idea themselves when Rick had dropped his bombshell.
Even though she’d known what was coming, Charlie appeared more shocked by Madeleine’s announcement than Aunt Mags, who merely pursed her lips and said. ‘That Rick McDonald always was a strapping young bloke.’
Charlie nearly choked, and Madeleine looked aghast. ‘You’re not surprised?’ she exclaimed. ‘About Mum and Rick?’
Mags shook her head. ‘Of course I’m surprised, but if it’s true, at least your mother had the good sense to choose someone like him.’
‘Aunty Mags!’ Charlie couldn’t believe her ears. It almost sounded like Mags condoned such behaviour.
‘I’m sorry, my darlings.’ Mags patted Charlie’s knee. ‘I can imagine this has come as quite a shock.’
‘You reckon?’ Charlie asked, her tone sarcastic.
‘They wouldn’t be the first people to make a mistake and they won’t be the last,’ Mags said matter-of-factly.
‘That’s what Abigail keeps saying.’ Madeleine stood and started pacing. ‘But it doesn’t make anything right. We don’t know what to tell Dad and we’re all going out of our heads waiting for the paternity results.’
‘Paternity results?’
‘Yes.’ Madeleine nodded. ‘Charlie and Rick McDonald were tested a few days ago. To find out if—’
‘Ah of course … Now I’m catching up. Sheesh.’ She gave Charlie a look of sympathy. ‘Of course an affair with anyone else wouldn’t have been quite so worrying.’
This was only slightly soothing to hear. It would still have made them think differently about Mum, but that on its own would have been easier to work through. Charlie’s voice shook as she asked, ‘Do you think I might not be a Patterson?’
Aunt Mags took her time replying. ‘No matter what your genes are, you’ll always be a Patterson to me. You’re a Patterson in your heart and that’s what counts.’
Charlie tried to smile. The sentiment was sweet, but … ‘It might matter for me and Mitch.’ A lump sprung up in her throat at the thought she’d been trying but failing to ignore since Rick’s revelation.
‘Ah, Charlie.’ Mags sighed. For the first time in Charlie’s life she thought her wise old aunt might not have all the answers. Instead she pulled Charlie into her arms and held her tightly while she cried. It was the first time Charlie had sobbed in front of anyone since her happy tears with Mitch over the pregnancy test. It felt cathartic to let it all out.
The three of them sat there a while—the only sounds in the room that of tissues being ripped from their box to mop up tears.
Eventually, Madeleine broke the silence. ‘Do you think we should tell Dad?’
Charlie knew the question was directed to their aunt and was grateful for the change of focus in conversation.
Mags pondered the question for a while, and finally looked up. ‘That’s between the four of you, but I want you all to think long and hard about why you’d want to tell him, and what you would hope to achieve. I wouldn’t rush into anything just yet because you’re all still in shock. Remember, once things like this are out in the open, they can never be buried ever again.’
Charlie bit back a sigh. It was a response but it wasn’t the black-and-white answer she’d been hoping for. Still, maybe there was wisdom in waiting … at least until they knew exactly what they were dealing with.
‘Thanks, Aunty Mags.’
Three days later, Charlie looked up at the ceiling after reading the page in front of her for about the tenth time in as many minutes. It was no use. Try as she might to focus on anything besides her real-life soap-opera drama, she couldn’t. Today was day eight since testing and the results were due any day now.
‘What are you doing?’ Abigail asked, coming in from the motel and heading straight for the fridge.
‘Studying,’ she replied without thought.
‘Huh?’ Abigail grabbed a bottle of orange juice and crossed the kitchen to peer over Charlie’s shoulder at the article about holistic principles. ‘What’s all that about?’
Too tired to keep secrets, Charlie sighed and handed over the article. ‘I’m doing an online course in naturopathy.’
‘Wow.’ Abigail’s face lit up. ‘That’s awesome.’
‘Is it?’ Charlie shrugged. Once upon a time her little sister’s approval would have made her day, but right now she struggled to recall why she’d ever felt that way. ‘I’ve got my first ever exams next week and this may as well be in Dutch for all I can understand.’
‘I’ll help.’ Abigail handed back the paper and then pulled out a seat and sat down. ‘You’re probably just finding it hard to concentrate with—’
‘It’s all right,’ Charlie interrupted before she could finish. ‘You’re absolutely right.’ She glanced at the time on the kitchen wall clock. ‘Thanks for your offer, but I might go check the post.’
Not mentioning that she’d already been in to the post office four times that day, she pushed back her chair. The wooden legs scraped against the floor as the door from the motel opened again. Madeleine marched through, Joe, Lucinda and Nigel following closely behind. Charlie noted the anxious expressions on their faces and guessed that the yellow envelope in Madeleine’s hand was the news they’d all been waiting for.
‘It’s here,’ Madeleine announced, crossing the kitchen to Charlie. She handled the envelope delicately, as if its contents were explosive. ‘Do you want me to open it? Or do you want to do it alone?’
Charlie reached out to take it, her hands shaking and stomach churning. ‘I’ll do it, but you may as well all stay.’ Whatever the result, she’d have to tell them eventually.
She sucked in a breath as she turned the envelope over and stared at the sender’s address. SA Pathology. This was it. She heard the distant tingle of someone entering reception but they could wait. This was more important than anything.
‘Should we call Mitch?’ Abigail asked as Charlie slid her finger beneath the seal. ‘Maybe he should be here when you open it?’
Before Charlie had a chance to reply or even think this suggestion through, someone cleared his throat. They all turned to find Mitch standing in the open doorway. Ripped, faded denim clung to his legs and her heart turned over in her chest at the sight of him.
‘Open it,’ he said, his dark eyes serious. ‘Dad just called. He got the letter a few minutes ago.’
‘So … you know?’ she whispered.
He nodded, his eyes watery with tears she couldn’t decipher. ‘Go on.’
All eyes glued on her, Charlie tried to steady her hand enough to open the envelope. She tore out the piece of paper, dropped her gaze to the middle of the page, bypassing the letterhead, date and preamble and zooming in on the information that would make or break her life.
Oh. My. God.
She lost her grip on the letter and it fluttered to the floor. Shivers racked her body, tears swelled in her eyes. She glanced up and looked straight at Mitch.
‘I’m a Patterson,’ she said, biting her lower lip as the tears barrelled down her cheeks. Tears of relief and sorrow and pure joy.
‘I know.’ He stepped towards her and pulled her into his arms. It felt so unbelievably good, so right, that she barely heard the voices of her family around her.
‘Thank God.’
‘Thank fuck.’
‘I knew you were.’
‘This calls for champagne,’ Joe said.
Charlie laughed. ‘Yes.’ She pulled back slightly from Mitch’s embrace. ‘But I’ll have to have soda water. No booze for me for the next eight months.’
‘No.’ Mitch kissed her forehead as he pressed his hand against her stomach. The smile on his face said it all.
‘I’ll go get a bottle from the motel. We’ve got lots to celebrate,’ Madeleine said, turning and heading through the adjoining door.
‘Yes.’ Charlie could barely manage to speak as she made a mental catalogue of all the things. Her and Mitch’s baby, Joe and Lucinda back together, Abigail’s engagement, even Dad and Mrs Sampson. The fact they’d found out about Mum’s mistake—even all these years later—somehow made accepting Dad’s new relationship easier. He deserved happiness as much as the rest of them.
And as for the curse? Well, perhaps it was time to leave that in the past.
By the time Madeleine returned with a bottle of Moët and a can of soda water, Lucinda had lined up Annette’s best champagne flutes on the kitchen table. Madeleine handed Joe the bottle and he popped the cork in the flamboyant way that only an Italian could. He might have been third generation Aussie, but Italy was in his blood. He filled the glasses with the skill of someone who’d spent the last eight nights behind the bar of the Meadow Brook Motel.
Everyone grabbed a glass and, as they lifted their drinks, Madeleine made a toast. ‘To Charlie Patterson and Mitch McDonald. And to their baby, for finally laying the Patterson curse to rest.’
There was still a lot to discuss, but all that could wait. Right now, all Charlie wanted to do was enjoy.
Epilogue—Six months later
‘I can’t believe this will be our last Christmas in Meadow Brook,’ Lucinda exclaimed as she lifted one of their ghastly decorations onto the tree. None of them had been able to bring themselves to throw them out.
‘I know.’ Abigail sniffed, sounding as near to waterworks as Lucinda felt. Knowing this day had been coming for a while didn’t make it any easier. Lucinda shot her an understanding smile.
‘Actually—’ Dad leaned over to switch on the fairy lights that adorned the tree, then straightened and grinned ‘—I have some news about that.’
It was Christmas Eve and all the family, including partners, were gathered in the motel bar where they’d decided to place the tree for their very last Christmas as owners. Charlie’s redecoration had done its job and Lucinda liked to think her spring-cleaning had helped as well. The motel had been sold and the girls had been summoned home for one final Christmas. Dad hadn’t told them anything about the new owners, but they hadn’t asked many questions either.
The important thing was that he’d finally be able to retire.
Lucinda couldn’t be happier for him and she knew her sisters felt the same, but while they were stoked for Dad and Mrs Sampson—who had their big trip around Australia planned down to days, hours and even places they would stop for lunch—saying goodbye to the motel was like closing the final pages of a much-loved book.
It had been in Mum’s family for four generations, and although the place would live on in their hearts, although they’d always remember the crazy times they’d had there together, it was time to move on. The year and a bit since Mum’s death had been an emotional rollercoaster—shock, grief, anger that she’d left them so young—and then dismay and hurt when they’d discovered she wasn’t the perfect person they’d always believed. This had hit them hard and they’d all come to terms with it in different ways. Lucinda had taken comfort in the knowledge that Mum was human, just like she was. And just as Joe had forgiven her craziness, Lucinda had forgiven her mother’s.
‘Hurry up, Dad,’ Abigail pleaded, snapping Lucinda back to the present.
She looke
d back to her father, who had a massive grin on his face as if he were enjoying the curiosity and impatience of his daughters.
Could he and Mrs Sampson be getting married? Nothing could shock Lucinda anymore and she stifled a giggle as she imagined herself and her sisters dressed in ghastly pink flower girls’ dresses.
‘Without further ado,’ he said, with a game-show host wave of his arm, ‘I’d like to introduce you to the new owners of the Meadow Brook Motel.’
Confused, Lucinda followed the gazes of her sisters to the door, expecting to see strangers standing there waiting to be introduced. But no one new had entered.
She frowned as Madeleine echoed her thoughts. ‘What’s going on?’
Before anyone could say anything else, Charlie and Mitch stepped into the middle of the group. Their faces said it all.
‘You two?’ Abigail clapped a hand over her mouth before doing a little jig on the spot.
Lucinda was speechless. Could it be true? Now that the possibility was out there, she couldn’t think of anything more perfect.
Charlie, her hand linked with Mitch’s, nodded, a slow smile stretching across her face. ‘After all the work we put in, we couldn’t bear to say goodbye. And this way, Mitch won’t need to work away from home and will be here for the baby.’ She paused while everyone took this in, then asked, ‘Are we insane?’
‘No.’ They shook their heads in mutual agreement.
‘I think it’s wonderful,’ Madeleine said.
Lucinda agreed. ‘It seems right to keep the motel in the family.’
Aunt Mags, who’d been unusually quiet the last few minutes, suddenly spoke up from where she was reclining on one of the new leather couches in the bar, nursing a tumbler of Baileys on ice. ‘Well, maybe a little bit.’ Beaming, she gestured to Charlie’s burgeoning bump. ‘But as I was the one to put the idea into your head, I’ll take some of the blame.’
Charlie laughed, let go of Mitch’s hand and went over to hug Aunt Mags, which was quite a feat considering she was seven months pregnant and showing heavily. ‘I love you, Aunty Mags.’
The Patterson Girls Page 45
