by Di Morrissey
‘Well, I say good for you,’ said David, exchanging a wink with Megan.
When they all sat down for a roast with all the trimmings, Chris asked, ‘What plans do you two have for tomorrow?’
‘We’re going up to Applebrook to see Jean Hay,’ said Susan.
‘It’s such a magic old house. Is the land any good for growing the sorts of things you had in mind, David?’ asked Chris. ‘Pass that roast pumpkin, please, Megs.’
‘More than good,’ replied David, spooning greens onto his plate. ‘There are rich alluvial river flats as well as good grazing land. It’s a bit overgrown, but nothing that can’t be fixed. Jean’s husband really knew how to care for the soil. He didn’t go in for putting a lot of chemicals onto his paddocks, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t make decent money from good fat cattle. Used to grow feed on the flats too, Jean says. So, all in all, I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Jean will sell me the property. It’s exactly what I’ve been after.’
As David spoke, Chris saw the expression on his mother’s face; her eyes were filled with love.
Megan saw it too. ‘I think you should live in Neverend, David,’ she said bluntly. ‘When you took me up to Mrs Hay’s place, I could only see the outside of the house, but I just know it would be perfect for you. Bunny would so like that, wouldn’t you, Bunny?’
‘Well, Megan, that was very perceptive of you,’ said David. ‘I can’t be an absentee landlord. I need a place where I can be on hand to watch my plants.’
‘So, Mum, is Jean going to move into town when David buys her out?’ asked Chris.
Susan shook her head. ‘No, David knows how much Jean’s place means to her and he has no desire to uproot her, especially at her age. As far as he’s concerned she can go on living in her house. He just want to use the land.’
‘Yes,’ said David. ‘I might be buying the whole property, but I’m happy for Jean to stay on. So your grandmother is about to reinvent herself as a renovator.’
‘David’s decided to make the old barn into a proper home,’ said Susan, excited to share the news.’ It’ll be all fresh and white inside with French doors and a patio. I have so many idea,’ she added enthusiastically.
‘You’re so clever, Bunny,’ said Megan. ‘When can I go up and see Mrs Hay?’
‘How about tomorrow?’ said David. ‘I’ll walk around the property with you both and show you what we’re thinking of doing.’
‘That’s wonderful. I think that is a very generous offer. I bet Jean’s pleased,’ said Chris.
‘She was quite overwhelmed when we suggested it and her family seems happy about the arrangement, too,’ said Susan. ‘Now, who would like some of this crackling?’
*
Next morning, Susan and Megan packed a picnic lunch and they all set off in David’s four-wheel drive.
‘It’s so pretty out here along the river,’ said Megan. ‘I never come this way.’
‘Not a lot of people do. Unless you live out here, there’s no reason to drive on this back road,’ Susan explained.
‘Is this the area called the Promised Land?’ asked David.
‘No, that’s in the opposite direction, out near the waterholes on Neverending Creek, where Chris and Megan swim in the summer,’ said Susan. ‘I’ll take you out there some time, if you like. It’s really lovely, too.’
‘Hallelujah, I suppose that’s where the hippies thought they’d found Nirvana?’ joked David.
‘Yes, although the cedar cutters and the dairy farmers beat them to it. There is such rich and abundant land all around this valley,’ said Susan.
‘I’m going to enjoy experimenting with it. Maybe I’ll be able to convince some of the local farmers to get involved in trying out some of the ideas I have in mind.’
‘David, you could really start something in the district,’ said Susan proudly.
Moses, the dog, heard them arrive and came to the front gate, giving a friendly bark. Jean appeared on the front verandah.
‘Come in, come in. Kettle’s on.’
Megan patted the dog and followed the others into the house. Once inside, Susan and Megan made their way to the kitchen, where the kettle sat on the old fuel stove.
‘I made a fritatta; I’ll set it on the side of the hob to warm though a little, if you like, Jean,’ said Susan.
It was the first time Megan had been in the house and she looked around in astonishment. ‘Dad, how old is this place?’ she whispered to Chris in the hallway. ‘It’s like something in a fairytale.’
Overhearing what Megan had said, Jean chuckled softly. ‘It’s old, older even than me. But it’s sturdy. And there are a lot of stories I can tell you about what happened under this roof.’
‘It’s just so interesting,’ said Megan, emphatically. ‘I see why Georgia wanted to take photos of it all. I’ve never seen a house like this. Can I look around, please?’
‘Mrs Hay would love to give you a little tour, I’m sure,’ said Chris with a smile. ‘David, shall we go for a walk before lunch? I’d love to hear your ideas. Want to come, girls?’
‘Megan and I might stay and chat to Jean for a while,’ replied Susan.
The two men walked through the stand of trees that screened the house from the old barn, with its views across the open paddocks to the river beyond.
‘The barn has the best view on the whole property,’ said Chris.
‘I reckon it was built even before the farmhouse,’ said David.
‘So, is this place a definite goer for you now?’
David nodded. ‘Absolutely. Jean’s happy to see something useful happening with the land. And I’m happy for her to go on living here,’ he said.
‘I think that what you have done for Jean is very generous. Do you plan to live on the property fulltime?’ asked Chris.
‘Pretty much,’ said David. ‘Although I still want to travel to Italy each year for a couple of months, and I’m hoping your mother will come with me.’
‘I’m sure she’ll enjoy that. And she sounds pretty excited about helping to do this place up,’ added Chris, gesturing to the house.
‘She’s a born renovator. She drew up some plans which appear to involve knocking out the odd wall and replacing it with French doors, putting in some recycled windows and installing a couple of bedrooms, and of course I’ll get the old timber slab walls lined,’ said David.
‘It sounds like quite a makeover,’ said Chris, cautiously. ‘Are you expecting your family to visit?’
‘Possibly. They’ll have to camp in the lounge room, because I want to use the second bedroom as an office, and your mother also wants to have a sewing room. I thought we could share that space.’ David smiled.
Chris stopped walking. ‘Wait a minute, why does Mum need a sewing room at Applebrook? I mean . . .’ Chris stared at David. ‘Is my mother going to live here with you permanently? Or just weekends?’
David paused. ‘You talk to her, Chris. I think she should be the one to tell you about our plans.’
There was a shout behind them and both men turned around. Chris could see the two women coming towards them, Megan running ahead of her grandmother, her face filled with excitement.
‘This place is totally awesome!’ declared Megan, breathlessly. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘I think so too,’ said David, as Megan and Susan caught up to him and Chris. ‘Megan, come with me, there’s an idea I’d like to run past you.’
Chris and Susan watched Megan walk beside David as they trudged across the paddock in deep discussion, their heads close together.
‘It’s all pretty special, isn’t it? David’s going to do wonders with this place,’ said Susan.
Chris turned to face Susan. ‘And so are you, from what David tells me of this barn renovation. It sounds as though you’re planning to design a whole house. But what’s in it for you, Mum?’
Susan looked at the river. ‘I’ve been doing quite a bit of thinking lately, especially after David decided to buy this
place, but I wanted to be sure that the sale was going through before I said anything definite.’ She looked at Chris, a radiant smile on her face. ‘In short, I’ve decided I’d like to move out here with David. I love our home in town, but this is a new phase of my life. I want the space and views and new interests, and David is a wonderful new interest.’
Chris looked at her, his eyebrows raised. ‘Mum! I appreciate what you’re saying, and I do understand that David’s presence has made quite a difference in your life, but moving out here? It’s just a bit of a surprise. Does that mean you’re going to sell your house? It’s got so many memories. Would you be happy doing that?’
Susan shook her head. ‘No, of course not. It’s your home, Chris, as much as it is mine. Yours and Megan’s. Maybe one day, if you move back to the city, I might sell it, but for now, I won’t. Besides,’ she added mischievously, ‘if things don’t work out with David, I’ll need a place to retreat to, won’t I?’
‘Mum, if all this makes you happy, then who am I to argue?’ Chris said, but he felt very pleased for Susan. ‘Have you told Kate about your plans?’ he added.
‘Not yet, but I will now that I know everything is going ahead,’ said Susan.
‘I bet she’ll be thrilled about your new life with David, especially the idea of your going to Europe every year, and her kids are going to love this place when they visit.’
Susan put her arm around Chris’s waist and they hugged. ‘Things have worked out pretty well for me,’ she said, withdrawing so she could see his face. ‘Who knew when I went to that reunion that my life would change so much? I hope that things work out as well for you. Have you any idea where your relationship with Georgia is going, if you don’t mind my asking?’ They resumed walking across the paddock.
‘Not at all, although there’s not much to tell, really,’ said Chris, tucking his hands in his pockets. ‘Now that I have bitten the bullet and decided to stay in Neverend, I thought that Georgie might become less enthusiastic about the two of us. But thankfully that hasn’t happened. Maybe she will eventually decide that she can run her agency from here, and move up. I don’t know, but it’s what I’m hoping.’
‘I’ll keep my fingers crossed that she makes that decision.’
‘But Mum, even if that doesn’t work out, I’m happy with what I have, and that’s my daughter. Megan has given me so much pleasure this year that I just kick myself about having missed out on so much of her life. Now I know that there is no job, no matter how glamorous or exciting, that is worth not seeing your children grow up.’
Suddenly Susan stopped and looked at Chris with a wistful expression.
‘And Chris,’ she said, grasping his arm, ‘they grow up so quickly and move away, as you and your sister did, so treasure the time you have with her. It will fly by all too quickly.’ Chris caught the hint of sadness in his mother’s voice. That’s what he and his sister had done. No wonder Susan had become lonely after his father had died. Suddenly he realised how unkind he had been when he had initially objected to her relationship with David.
Chris nodded. ‘I’m really pleased that you found David,’ he said sincerely, and hugged his mother again before she went to join David. They all walked back to the old house together.
*
Jean was pulling the tea-cosy over her large enamel teapot when Chris came into the kitchen to see if he could help. ‘There’s coffee in the pot on the stove. I know you’re a coffee drinker.’
‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Jean. I hope it’s strong.’
‘Ah, it is.’ She sat at the table and began pouring herself a cup of tea. ‘You’ve heard their plans? I can’t tell you how happy they have made me. What generous people they are.’
‘Yes, and I’m very pleased about their decision, too.’
‘I think your mother is a very kind person who loves you very much, Chris. You raise your children to be independent, self-sufficient and hopefully successful, and of course we all want our children to be happy, but maybe it’s more important to know they are also caring and kind individuals,’ she added with a smile. ‘I’m sure that’s how your mother sees you.’
‘Thank you, Jean. I hope she’s right.’
Jean smiled and raised her eyebrows. ‘Your mother has an exciting new interest in life, and she tells me that your daughter is happy and well-adjusted, and although I suspect you never thought you’d return to Neverend, you’re at home in a place you love. I’ve never wanted to leave this place, because I didn’t want to lose what I have here, but lots of people do leave. Some of them never come back home and that is their choice, but to find the road back is a great gift.’
Chris put his coffee mug down with a trembling hand. ‘You’re a wise woman, Jean.’
‘No, dear, just old,’ she said, laughing.
*
Several weeks flew by. The Carmichael case had dropped from the headlines, but there were still stories about commercial manoeuvrings, legal teams and feverish investigations.
In Neverend, as the longer days heralded the start of spring, there was now a heightened sense of purpose. Susan gathered samples of floor tiles, plumbing fittings, fabric and paint samples; Megan and her jazz band rehearsed endlessly at the end of the verandah for a forthcoming competition, and Chris hammered away in his study on his new laptop, which he’d bought not long after he started working at the radio station.
One afternoon their endeavours were interrupted by a phone call from Jill. She sounded affable, so Chris knew at once that there weren’t to be any complaints about Megan.
‘How’re things, Chris? Megan tells me your mother is moving in with her boyfriend. That’s a bit of a turn-up, isn’t it?’
‘Not quite yet, their place isn’t ready.’
‘Megan seems to be rather enamoured of the whole idea of this farm. Who is this boyfriend your mother’s acquired?’
‘David and Mum go way back. She knew him even before she met my father. He’s a really nice person, very intelligent and interesting, and I think he and Mum will be very happy together. And how’re things with you?’ he asked, pointedly, to change the subject.
‘Rather good. We are also contemplating a few changes.’
‘Are you coming back east?’ asked Chris, suddenly worried that Jill would demand Megan’s return.
‘Not at all. Actually, Trevor’s had an offer of a job in Indonesia. It all sounds a bit foreign, but I’ve been told that the International School we’ll send the boys to is quite good, and of course we’ll have servants,’ she added, trying to sound blasé.
Chris didn’t know whether to laugh or be outraged. It struck him then how far apart he and Jill had grown, and how their decision to separate all those years ago, in spite of the heartache it had caused at the time, had definitely turned out to be the right one for both of them.
‘Do you think you and Trev will be able to cope with somewhere so foreign? You never wanted to live abroad when we were together.’
‘That was different. You would have had to travel, leaving me to look after Megan by myself. Trev is working for a big company and they will look after us. I don’t know how much you know about Indonesia . . .’
Chris suppressed a laugh. ‘Jill, you’d be surprised. But you’re right. I think it will be a marvellous opportunity for you and the boys. I hope they get the chance to learn Bahasa.’
‘Oh, the language? I don’t think they’ll need to; we will be part of the big expatriate community. Everyone will speak English. Now, I assume that you’ll have no objections to Megan coming to visit?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘She could come and live with us, you know. The school up there is apparently quite exceptional and I thought that a couple of years in Indonesia might broaden her horizons.’
Chris froze. He answered carefully, ‘Jill, Megan has settled in nicely and is involved in so many things in Neverend, and she’s doing so well at school. You can ask her, of course, but I don’t think she’ll agree.’
‘You don’t have to be so defensive. You’ve proved your point, you’ve turned into a good father. I just thought you might like to have your old life back. Be fancy-free again.’
‘Jill, this is about what’s best for Megan. And I think she is doing very well and is extremely happy just where she is.’
‘But you would agree to her visiting us in Indonesia? I’m sure it will be safe.’
‘I think she’d love that,’ said Chris. ‘Where will you be?’
‘In Jakarta.’
‘Did you know my mother was in Indonesia in the sixties? I thought of writing a book about her experiences there.’
‘No, I had no idea about your mother. And a book! Well, that’s all very interesting.’ Jill became businesslike, her disinterest in Chris’s life very apparent. ‘We’ll be going there in a little over a month.’
‘I hope you enjoy it. I’ll get Megan for you and you can tell her the news. And good luck, Jill.’
Chris went to Megan’s room and handed her the phone. Then he walked out onto the verandah with mixed feelings. He knew that he didn’t want Megan to leave him for a life in Indonesia, but it was hardly fair not to let Megan make up her own mind.
Megan joined him on the verandah a few minutes later. She was taken aback. ‘Mum asked me to go and live with her and Trev in Indonesia,’ she said somewhat dubiously.
Chris said nothing. He didn’t want to sway his daughter’s decision, but he certainly didn’t want her to go. Megan was quiet for a few moments, her brow furrowed.
‘Dad, do you think that Mum would be really disappointed if I didn’t go?’ she said finally. ‘I really have way too many commitments in Neverend. If I went to Indonesia, I would be letting a lot of people down. I shouldn’t do that, should I?’ Megan spoke in her most rational tone of voice. Chris tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn’t hide his joy.
‘Megan, the decision to live in Indonesia is yours alone, but I am pleased that you are considering your responsibilities to others as part of that decision,’ he said.
‘When it comes down to it, I think that going would be very unfair on Squire. I mean, he’s old and he’s no good for dressage, but I can’t just walk away from him. And there’s the jazz band. The competition is coming up, and we’ve worked so hard for it, and if I leave then the others won’t be able to take part. Do you think that Mum would be okay if I just go up there over the Christmas holidays? You don’t think she’d mind, do you?’
