Time Will Tell

by Fiona McCallum

  Jake and her father sat in silence.

  Emily put the document on the huge timber table, as if to prove she wasn’t making it all up. She frowned thoughtfully, trying to remember whether there was anything she’d forgotten.

  ‘Wow,’ Jake said. ‘That sounds like a fantastic offer to me.’

  ‘It does indeed,’ Des said, nodding.

  ‘Ordinarily it would almost be too good to be true,’ Emily said.

  ‘But…?’ Jake prompted.

  ‘I don’t have much money,’ Emily said, the words coming out more like a sigh.

  ‘Hmm,’ Jake said.

  ‘I’ve got around forty thousand. So I can probably make the first two payments, depending on how much subdivision costs are – and providing the roof doesn’t need replacing straight away and the wiring doesn’t turn to poop.’ ‘Right,’ Jake said. He looked a little uncomfortable; probably from learning such intimate details about her finance.

  ‘So,’ Emily went on, forcing herself not to dwell on the negative aspects, ‘I want to know what you both think, honestly. Dad, whether you think it’s a good idea, generally; if I can find the money that is. Jake, how much I would need to do the place up – if it’s even worth it – and if you know how much subdivision costs would be.’

  Emily had spoken quickly and was now quite out of breath. She swallowed deeply a couple of times and then sat wringing her hands in her lap. She was eager to hear what they had to say, but also scared of what that might be.

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Dad? Jake?’ she asked, looking from one to the other.

  Jake indicated for Des to speak first.

  ‘I think it’s a great idea – depending on financing of course – and of course we’ll help any way we can. Though I would have to do some careful work on your mother,’ he added. ‘But Jake here’s in a better position to give advice. What are your thoughts, mate, from a practical perspective?’

  ‘Well, I’d rather have a good look around the house before I commit to a professional opinion, but my initial thought is that it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. As to the question of subdivision costs – I’m afraid you’re probably looking at around fifteen thousand. It’s interesting you ask, actually. Anthony – my mate in Whyalla – and I were only discussing subdivision the other night. A lot of the farmers on the outskirts of the city are cashing in on the expansion of the steelworks, so there’s land being carved up all over the place.’

  ‘Oh. I had no idea it would be that much,’ Emily said, her shoulders slumping in response. ‘There’s no way I can afford to do it then,’ she said quietly. She wished she’d known that before getting her hopes up. She thought of the diamonds, but dismissed them. To part with something Gran had given her would be wrong, wouldn’t it?

  ‘We’ve got a rainy-day account,’ Des offered.

  ‘Thanks Dad, but there’s no way Mum would agree to use it for this – you heard her when I moved in; she thinks the place is a dump. Anyway, it’s not exactly raining.’

  ‘What’s a rainy day if it’s not helping to get our only child back on her feet and happy?’ he said, reaching across the table and giving her hands a squeeze.

  ‘Thanks Dad,’ she said, attempting a weak smile. Looking at him smiling warmly back at her, she felt her heart clamp. It was one of the nicest things he’d ever said to her.

  ‘There’s always more than one way to skin a rabbit,’ Jake said brightly. ‘We’ll just have to put our heads together and come up with an outside-the-box plan.’

  ‘Or just rob a bank.’ Emily groaned.

  ‘Or rob a bank,’ Des said.

  ‘If they want their overseas trip within the next twelve months, you’ll have to get cracking,’ Jake said, poking at the paperwork lying on the table. ‘Anthony was saying it takes around six months to complete a subdivision. But if I were you, I wouldn’t sign anything beyond a basic agreement of their terms before the subdivision is done and dusted.’

  ‘Six months! I had no idea it would take that long.’

  ‘Well I guess in one way it’s good; it’ll give you some breathing space to sort out the finance,’ he added with a shrug.

  ‘What do Barbara and David think about it – I take it you have discussed it with them?’ Des asked.

  ‘They said I should go for it and that they’d even loan me the money if necessary. But I couldn’t; it wouldn’t feel right to borrow from friends.’

  ‘I agree, but it’s very good of them to offer.’

  ‘Pity they couldn’t buy the whole farm and then sell off the bit to you. Not that I know anything about their circumstances or anything,’ Jake said. ‘Just thinking aloud.’

  ‘The old brothers probably wouldn’t want to sell everything because it would definitely muck up their pensions,’ Des said.

  ‘Hmm,’ Emily added.

  ‘But if they did, and invested wisely, they might not even need the pension,’ Jake said.

  ‘Ah yes,’ Des said, ‘but they’re of the view that it’s owed to them – their right for being lucky enough to be Australian. So they’ll have it at all costs, thank you very much.’

  ‘That’s crazy.’

  ‘I agree,’ Des said, holding his hands up in surrender. ‘But it’s how most people around here think.’

  They lapsed into thoughtful silence until Des broke it a few moments later.

  ‘Actually, on a slightly different tack, Em, there’s something you should know,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Yes, about John and the Strattens.’ Des shifted in his chair and examined his lap. ‘You’re going to find out soon enough and I’d rather you heard it from me, as much as I hate to…’

  ‘Dad, come on, you’re scaring me,’ Emily pleaded.

  ‘They’ve paid him out of the family company – apparently to the tune of around three hundred thousand dollars. I’m sure my information is reliable.’

  Emily felt the blood drain from her face. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Jake looking very uncomfortable.

  ‘I think I’ll go and unpack,’ he said, putting his hands on the table. ‘You clearly need your privacy.’

  ‘No, don’t feel you have to go, it’s okay,’ Emily said, lifting her hand and touching his arm. ‘It’s not a secret.’

  ‘I’m really sorry, Em,’ said Des. ‘I knew it would be a shock, but I didn’t think it would upset you this much.’

  ‘It wouldn’t have a week ago, but this changes everything,’ she said, prodding the paperwork in front of her.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Jake said.

  ‘I told you how my ex, John, had ripped me off in the financial settlement – I suspected he had, but I couldn’t be bothered fighting him. It was hard enough getting up the courage to leave him, let alone try and fight the richest family in the district for a decent payout. But it’s too late now. It’s not the money; it’s the deceit that gets me. No wonder he was in such a hurry to get me to sign on the dotted line; he was coming into a stack of money. I know it was the wrong thing to do – sign without having a lawyer or accountant go through everything – but I was just so tired; just wanted it to be over and to start getting on with my life.’ She smiled sadly. ‘What a bloody idiot, right?’ she added, with a deep sigh.

  ‘Not at all, not at all,’ Des said, patting her hand. ‘You did what you needed to do – and that was the right thing for you at the time. There’s nothing to beat yourself up over. You were conned, plain and simple. You just need to decide what to do about it now.’

  ‘Nothing. There’s nothing I can do,’ she said, burying her face in her hands.

  One hundred and fifty thousand dollars – half of that payout – would probably have been enough to do the subdivision and most of the renovating.

  ‘If only I’d known before I signed,’ she said.

  ‘Unfortunately, my dear, I think that was the point,’ Des said, looking sadly at his daughter and shaking his head slowly.

  Jake was frown
ing. ‘I don’t want to pry or anything, but didn’t you and John only recently separate?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, just over a month ago. What difference does that make?’

  ‘Well, I thought you had two years to settle financial matters.’

  ‘I told you. We already have.’

  ‘But if you can prove he lied about his assets…’

  ‘I appreciate your concern, Jake, but it’s too late.’

  ‘Listen. What I’m saying is that you might be able to reclaim – there’s a two-year window; I’m almost certain of it.’

  Emily wasn’t sure if he was excited, frustrated, or angry – he was getting quite animated and considerably louder.

  ‘At least ask the advice of a decent lawyer. And if you can’t afford to, I’ll bloody well pay for it! I don’t want to see a friend of mine ripped off.’

  Jake’s face was now quite red. Definitely angry, Emily decided. She stared at him, wondering at his sudden change in manner.

  ‘Sorry, I just hate to see injustice,’ he said, getting up and starting to pace back and forth alongside the kitchen window.

  Emily watched him, still surprised at his outburst.

  Des cleared his throat before speaking. ‘Jake, one of the things we need to remember is that this is a very small district…’

  ‘Why should that make a difference?’

  ‘It shouldn’t, but unfortunately it does. If Emily were to go for what you and I know to be her fair share, she’d run the risk of being run out of town – shunned at the very least.’

  ‘You cannot be serious! This is the twenty-first century!’

  ‘But in some ways not.’ Des sighed. ‘It’s hard to believe, but such things do go on.’

  Emily looked at Jake’s confused expression.

  ‘The farmers around here are like a protected species, and if they’re threatened – especially by a woman – they close ranks,’ she explained.

  Jake’s eyebrows rose sharply.

  ‘They won’t actually tar and feather you and drive you out into the scrub,’ she said with a tight laugh, ‘but I have seen people’s lives made very difficult.’

  ‘So leave, then. Pack up and leave.’

  ‘But why should she?’ Des said.

  ‘If it’s what it takes to get her fair share – what’s legally hers – why not? You’re entitled to something.’

  ‘I already got something – forty thousand,’ Emily said quietly.

  ‘Well pardon my French, but that’s bullshit! If John has just received three hundred thousand – half of that should be yours.’

  Emily shook her head. ‘Anyway, it’s not just about the money. It’s about being able to hold my head up – and my parents being able to as well.’

  ‘You’d give up the chance to set yourself up financially, to make an easier life for yourself, because of what people think?’ Jake stared at her, aghast.

  ‘Money isn’t everything.’ Emily hated saying those words when right now the money really was everything to her. But she knew the cost would be just too great – financial and emotional. The Strattens could afford the best lawyers, have it drag out for years, whittling away her precious few resources until she had to give in in the end anyway.

  It might be gutless for her to let it go – and she might regret it every day for the rest of her life – but she didn’t have the energy for a fight. Jake simply didn’t understand.

  ‘I’ll just have to find another way to make this happen,’ Emily said, more to herself than to the others.

  ‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Jake said. ‘You’re an intelligent woman – as, Des, you are an intelligent man. If both of you say this is how it works out here, then far be it from me to argue. But if there’s anything I can do to help then you only have to ask,’ he said, coming back to the table and sitting down heavily.

  ‘Thanks Jake,’ Emily said, offering him a tight smile.

  ‘We appreciate it, mate,’ Des said.

  ‘All I hope is that what goes around really does come around,’ Jake added through clenched teeth, ‘and that this John character gets his comeuppance somehow or other.’

  ‘Hear, hear,’ Des said quietly.

  A feeling of comfort settled upon Emily as she glanced at Jake and then at her father. It felt good to have their support, and to have everything out in the open. Gran was right – a problem shared was indeed a problem halved.

  She wasn’t at all embarrassed to have Jake know how bad her financial situation was. He wasn’t the sort that would pity her.

  She’d find a way to make her dream of owning and renovating the house a reality – no matter how long it took. She’d phone Donald and Trevor later and let them know she accepted their kind offer.

  Again she thought about the uncut diamonds mixed up with Gran’s buttons. Was it something she should at least look into?

  If only Gran was here to ask.

  Chapter Eight

  Emily took the men out and showed them the proposed boundary, then left them to have a good look around without her. She wanted them to appraise the house and surrounds without feeling constrained in their comments.

  Back in the kitchen, she began tackling the pile of dishes left over from lunch. She was desperate to return to looking for the diamonds, but forced herself to stick to the task at hand. She couldn’t have said why, but she didn’t want to tell her father about them yet, and didn’t want to risk being interrupted when Jake and Des came back in.

  She glanced out the kitchen window. They were apparently in deep, animated conversation, both indicating something with outstretched arms. There was plenty of nodding and agreement going on. Emily smiled at how well they seemed to get along.

  Grace, who had chosen to stay outside, was watching their goings-on intently, her head cocked to one side as was her habit. Emily thought she looked like she wanted to round them up. Well, she is a sheepdog. She grinned and returned her attention to the dishes beneath the suds in the sink.

  She had just finished laying the baking pan on a tea towel to dry when there was a loud noise above her. Startled, she looked up, half expecting a section of ceiling to fall down. But her heart rate settled when the next noises she heard were voices and then the steady sound of crunching and creaking – footsteps.

  Ah, Jake and her dad must have gone up onto the roof to check it out.

  She hadn’t wanted to impose on Jake and didn’t want her father going up there alone. But she did need to know how much longer the iron would last before it needed to be replaced.

  David and Des had checked for leaks inside the roof space the day she’d moved in, but that didn’t tell her the condition of the roof as a whole. She’d seen from up on the hill that it was very rusty, but she’d known of people living under roofs in that state for years, even decades.

  The muffled voices accompanying the creaks and groans became gradually quieter as the men made their way to the other side of the house.

  Emily had finished drying and putting away the dishes, and had just made a jug of iced lemon cordial when she heard their voices outside in the bathroom.

  A few minutes later they came back in chattering loudly, and sat down at the table. Both men’s hair was unruly and windswept, and their faces were flushed. Emily was glad she had thought to prepare the cold drink. She put glasses on the table and sat down.

  ‘Well, the good news is we didn’t fall through the roof,’ Des said, grinning. There were beads of perspiration on his forehead, face and neck, and his wiry grey hair was sticking up all over the place.

  ‘And the bad news is?’ Emily asked, not really wanting to know.

  ‘That unfortunately the roof will need to be replaced – sometime in the next year or so,’ Jake replied. ‘Unless you get a ferocious hail storm – some sections are paper-thin.’

  ‘So how much would a new roof cost me?’

  ‘You’d need around twenty grand,’ Jake said.

  ‘Great,’ she said with a groan. ‘Anything else I nee
d to know?’

  ‘Nope, it’s a great place. Bit tired, but structurally it looks pretty safe and sound,’ Jake said.

  ‘If I were you I’d do all I could to take the Bakers up on their offer,’ Des added.

  ‘That’s the conclusion I’ve come to,’ Emily said, feeling neither buoyed nor disappointed.

  ‘Hmm,’ Des and Jake murmured in unison, catching sight of the cordial. ‘That looks good.

  ‘Thirsty work.’ Des reached for the jug. ‘Jake? Em?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes please. That would be great.’ Jake handed over his glass.

  Emily handed over her glass with a nod.

  ‘This isn’t homemade by any chance?’ Jake asked.

  ‘It is actually,’ Emily said.

  ‘As good as always, Em,’ Des said, emptying his glass and filling it up again.

  ‘It’s incredible,’ Jake said. ‘Is there any limit to your talents? Jam making, cooking, cordial; and that’s all I know about. Can’t believe that husband of yours let you go.’

  ‘He didn’t have much of a choice,’ Emily said. She instantly went a shade of deep crimson, which she tried to cover up by staring down at the tablecloth. But it didn’t go unnoticed.

  ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,’ Jake said, looking embarrassed.

  ‘It’s okay.’ Emily took a sip of her drink.

  ‘Ah, don’t be sorry, Jake,’ Des said. ‘It’s true. John Stratten certainly did not deserve my Emily. Good riddance.’

  ‘Not according to Mum,’ Emily said, shocked at hearing her thoughts out loud – she thought they’d stayed locked away in her head.

  ‘Emily, dear, sometimes your mother can be a nincompoop,’ Des Oliphant said, taking another long slug of drink as if to drive home the point.

  ‘I just don’t understand why Mum chose to listen to John and not ask me for the truth, Dad. Where’s the loyalty?’

  Emily saw that Jake was shifting in his chair and looking about for a means of escape again. She felt for him, but she was on a roll and didn’t want to stop.

  It was rare she had her father to herself, and she needed to get some things off her chest. She’d stayed silent too long, holding onto her feelings and trying so hard not to hurt anyone. And where had that got her?