by Di Morrissey
‘Your husband’s family?’ He raised an eyebrow.
‘I believe so,’ said Stella, feeling uncomfortable at his question. ‘He was widowed before I met him,’ she added.
‘He’s a physician, isn’t he?’ said the man, who Stella now guessed was only a little older than herself.
‘Do you know him?’
‘No, but my brother does.’
Stella paused, then asked, ‘Does your brother by chance favour wearing a deerstalker hat?’
‘Yes. He does. And he has a messy moustache.’ He smiled. Then, seeing Stella’s expression, he added, ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Holland, is there a problem?’
At that moment Nyx swooped above them once again and landed in his tree. Turning his head almost full circle he glanced over his back at Stella and then hopped into the tree trunk hollow.
*
‘Stella . . . Darling, where have you gone?’ Tommy touched her cheek. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘I was remembering when we first met . . . here in the forest. How shocked I was when I realised who your brother was.’
‘Please, forget about John.’ Tommy had told her he’d had a falling out with his older brother a few months ago. John was angry and bitter over something to do with their aunt, and held a grudge against Stephen Holland. Tommy didn’t want John to confront Stephen, knowing it would only cause trouble for Stella, and so John had cut him out of the family. Stella couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Tommy tightened his hand on hers. ‘Please, darling, let’s not spoil our time together.’
Stella shook her head. ‘I can’t believe that he’s cut you off from the family. Perhaps I can help you. Maybe I can sell my paintings . . . something.’
‘You have a great talent, but I’ll be alright. Give me time, Stella, I really believe I can be somebody.’
‘You believe so strongly in what you’re doing. But you said John has taken over your experiments.’
‘I didn’t tell him everything.’ He jumped to his feet. ‘Enough of that. The sun is out, let’s go for a swim, and then have a picnic in our cave.’
Stella laughed at his enthusiasm. Such a beautiful man, who behaved like a mischievous boy at times. He made her feel a different person. Carefree, happy, loved and adored. Apart from that day at the river, she had never seen Tommy outside the forest; this was their magical world. Sometimes she wondered if it was all a dream or that she’d imagined, like Alice in Wonderland, that she had fallen down the rabbit hole. What they were doing was wrong, she knew, but she couldn’t give him up. Where he went and what he did between their trysts, she didn’t ask.
How free she felt, pulling off her clothes to slip into the clear, cold water, shivering into his arms, where their bodies came together as they kissed and clung to each other tightly.
Laughing, Tommy stepped from the water and clambered up the bank, looking back at Stella’s slim, milky body as she smiled up at him.
‘Stay there.’ He pulled her camera from her bag and snapped a photograph of her as she floated just beneath the surface of the water.
*
Tommy tramped ahead, carrying the picnic basket and holding her hand, helping her as they hiked up to the cave he’d found and made their special place.
She’d never asked when or how he’d brought the few small comforts here, or indeed, when he came here on his own. She suspected he sometimes visited when she was trapped in the routine of her life at Arcadia. But, at times like these, when she knew Stephen would be away, she left a note in the small hollow of a tree close to the creek.
They shared her picnic, then, naked once more, they fell upon each other on the improvised bed, and languidly, lustfully, explored their bodies until, passion spent, they held each other close and slept awhile.
*
Stella woke, feeling chilled, knowing the sun must be going down. She stood up and for a moment looked at the sleeping man, one leg flung out from under the coverlet, a hank of blond hair across his forehead. Quietly she in turn snapped his photo. And quickly dressed, smoothing her hair.
She knelt beside him as, smiling, he dozily reached for her.
‘Tommy, I have to go,’ she whispered.
‘Wait, I’ll come with you.’
‘No. It’s better if you stay. I’ll be all right.’ She kissed him quickly and picked up the basket.
As she slid through the cave entrance to the bush track he called out, ‘I love you, Stella . . .’
Smiling to herself, she crossed the creek where there were large flat stones and headed along the bank. Then she heard, ‘Mrs Holland, where are you?’
‘Here, Mr James. Just coming . . .’
Blackie James came towards her through the trees, his forehead creased, and took the basket from her. ‘It’s getting dark, we were a bit worried. You’ve been gone all day, apparently . . .’
Stella settled a neutral expression on her face. ‘I’m sorry to worry you. I was in the forest. You know how I love it there . . .’
Mr James didn’t answer but turned and plodded ahead up the hill, where the last of the sun’s rays, reflected in the windows of Arcadia House, flashed like a beacon.
For Stella that day was a memory of many, which never faded, all her days.
8
Arcadia, 2018
‘Four women and a forest,’ whispered Jessica. ‘Sounds like a movie, doesn’t it?’
‘It looks like one too,’ agreed Mollie softly. ‘It’s been a long time since I came in this far. Into its heart.’
‘I always feel so safe in here,’ said Sally. It feels protective, embracing. No wonder Stella loved it.’
‘Who’s Stella?’ asked Katie, holding her mother’s hand tightly.
‘Your great-grandmother, sweetie. Granny’s mummy.’
‘With the birdie?’
‘Boy, she doesn’t forget anything.’ Mollie chuckled. ‘I told her once about Nyx and showed her the painting.’
‘Are you getting tired, honey?’ asked Jessica. ‘I can piggyback you.’
‘I’m okay, but where are the fairies?’ Katie said.
‘They’re sleeping. But we can show you where they play,’ replied Jessica.
‘And dance,’ added Katie.
‘Sure. But they only come out in the moonlight to do their dances. When you’re in bed,’ said Sally.
They crossed the clearing, which was bathed in shafts of sunlight, and stopped by an ancient eucalypt.
‘My mummy brought me here when I was the same age as you, Katie,’ said Mollie. ‘It’s a special place.’
‘Look! I can see the fairy seats you told me about, Mummy!’ cried Katie, pointing to the spreading circle of mushrooms a little way ahead. She dropped Sally’s hand and hurried to the base of a tall tree, staring up into its branches. ‘Are the fairies up there?’
‘Could be. Maybe they sit under the leaves and in the hollows and behind the walls of the big roots,’ said Sally. ‘But you know you can never see them.’
‘They come out and dance at night for all the creatures and the night birds,’ said Jess.
‘Like Nyx, the owl?’ asked Katie.
‘Maybe Nyx has grandchildren too,’ said Mollie. ‘Owls live a long time. I always felt safe here because of him. Looking back now, there was an extraordinary bond between my mother and that owl, and its offspring.’
‘This whole place is special,’ said Jessica. ‘I hope it always stays just like this.’
‘That’s what my grandfather wanted, wasn’t it, Mum?’ said Sally.
Mollie nodded. ‘There’s some history here, though I never knew what, exactly. Dad never talked much about it. I guess he might not have known the whole story.’
‘Oh, really?’ Sally looked up with interest.
‘Dad always told me Arcadia would be mine and I was neve
r to sell it, nor touch the forest,’ Mollie said. ‘When Graham and I got married I moved away, but Mother was alone for so long after my father died, even though Mrs James stayed on till she died. When Mum’s health was failing, we decided we should move back here.’
‘Was that okay with Graham, Mollie? He had a farm too, didn’t he?’ asked Jessica.
‘Graham was happy to move here and his brother took over their family farm. He was very easy-going. Such a lovely, gentle man. I still miss him terribly,’ sighed Mollie.
‘Me too,’ said Sally softly.
Katie was restless and called out, ‘Let’s go to the fairy seats.’
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ said Jessica, holding out her hand. ‘C’mon, Katie.’ Katie skipped over to Jessica and they took the lead.
Sally slipped her arm through her mother’s. ‘You must have been lonely all these years without Dad.’
‘Yes, I miss him. But having you and Toby and Katie makes up for a lot. I don’t think I would have managed on my own.’
‘You never wanted to find someone else, a companion?’ asked Sally, something she’d often wondered about.
‘No. With you guys and the farm I have plenty to keep me occupied. I’m lucky compared to some of my friends, who I know are very lonely. I can have meals with you and Toby and Katie when I want to, and watch telly together with you some nights. I can read my granddaughter a story, or sit and chat to you and Toby over a glass of port . . . and of course we entertain a lot, don’t we? Life is good. I contribute to the business, my brain still works, I’m fit . . . what more could I want?’ Mollie laughed. ‘Sal, I’m in my seventies but in my head I feel thirty-something. I have wonderful memories, including some that you’ll never know about!’ she teased. ‘You have to accept life as it comes along and make the most of it while you can.’
‘Come on, Granny!’ squealed Katie, and the women laughed as Katie danced in and around the fairy ring.
‘You know the man I told you about, Sean Hyland, the mushroom expert?’ said Sally. ‘We’re going to his talk in Hobart. He sounds so interesting.’
Mollie nodded. ‘Very. I’ve been researching his work on the internet since you mentioned him. He’s not alone, you know. It’s like the minute one person puts something out there in the ether, ten other people independently come to the same conclusion. It does seem that those mushrooms, and that network beneath the ground, hold a whole lot of answers we’re yet to explore properly. Your father always said the soil was the most important ingredient on this farm. And the trees, too, of course. It breaks my heart how so many ancient trees are dying here and all over the world. Millions of them. Something’s not right. It has to be the changing climate, as well as logging and development, of course.’
‘So tragic, when we can do something about it,’ said Sally, watching Katie twirl around the mushrooms.
‘Shall we have our morning tea picnic down by the creek?’ said Mollie.
Settled on the grass with a thermos of coffee, fruit juice for Katie and fresh buttered scones and honey wrapped in a tea towel, Mollie lifted her face to the sun. ‘I see why you girls always loved to come down here when you were young,’ she said.
‘Didn’t you do the same when you were growing up?’ asked Jessica.
Mollie sipped her coffee. ‘Hmmm, not really. My mother loved coming here, but it was something of a sacred pilgrimage to her. And of course she’d spend hours sketching and painting, which was a bit dull for me when I was little, so I didn’t join her.’
Sally and Jessica exchanged a glance. ‘Did she ever mention a cave?’ said Sally.
‘A cave? Here? No, I don’t think so. She wasn’t the athletic sort.’ Mollie laughed. ‘We never went hiking, though Dad was big on brisk walks. So I can’t imagine her doing that sort of exploring.’
Jessica gave a faint frown and Sally changed the subject.
They shared the scones, then Katie threw some crumbs around a tree for the birds as the women talked. Sally and Jessica decided they would stay in Hobart overnight after Dr Hyland’s lecture, and maybe check in with the Botanical Gardens people while they were there.
‘Though Dan might have some news before then. I wonder how he got on up the coast? Have you heard from him?’ asked Sally.
‘Yes, he rang and said he’d be back in the next day or so. He seems to be involved in so many different things,’ Jess said. ‘It’s certainly not a mundane job.’
‘Speaking of mundane jobs, we’d better start heading back. I need to clean out the chook pen this afternoon,’ said Mollie.
‘Katie can help, she loves those chickens,’ Sally said, and turned around. ‘Katie, darling, do you want to help . . . Katie?’
‘Katie?’ echoed Mollie.
‘Now where has she gone? Is she feeding the birds?’ muttered Sally, jumping to her feet. ‘C’mon, Katie, we’re going home . . . Katie?’
Jessica shoved her fingers in her mouth, letting out a loud shrill whistle, then called, ‘KATIE . . .’
‘She can’t have gone too far. Oh my God, the creek!’ Sally ran towards the water. Mollie and Jessica both headed into the forest, both shouting the little girl’s name.
After a few minutes they saw her. She was running and stumbling towards Sally, arms outstretched, crying hard.
Sally scooped her up, hugging and kissing Katie’s white, tear-streaked face.
Jessica called out to Mollie, ‘She’s here. Sally’s got her. She’s okay!’
Mollie and Jessica hurried over to where Sally was sitting on a log, cradling Katie, murmuring softly. ‘You’re safe, darling girl . . .’
Jessica spread her arms and raised her eyebrows, signalling, What happened? But Sally shook her head. Not now.
‘Well, that was a bit of excitement,’ Sally said. ‘She’s fine. Just wandered off.’
‘I’ve never seen her this upset,’ whispered Mollie.
Sally continued cuddling a whimpering Katie as Jessica and Mollie packed up their little picnic.
‘Go and ask Granny for the last scone, I’m sure there’s one left,’ said Sally.
As Mollie quickly pulled out a scone for Katie, Sally took Jessica aside. ‘She says she saw a scary man.’
‘What!’
‘When we all shouted, she says he ran away.’
‘Do you really think she saw someone? She didn’t just imagine it? Would she make something like that up?’
‘She wouldn’t be this upset unless it actually happened,’ said Sally. ‘It’s just not like her. But I don’t want to push her. Let’s go home and I might be able to ask her more later. Do you think that man with the four-wheel drive is stalking us? Maybe he had something to do with the truffle raid, too?’
‘I’m going to have a look,’ said Jessica, but Sally put a restraining hand on her arm. ‘No, don’t. I don’t want to worry Mum and Katie. Let’s just not mention it for now. We can talk about it later.’
Mollie was holding Katie’s hand as they walked home. Sally hurried ahead and caught up to them, taking Katie’s other hand while Jessica held back and pulled her mobile out of her jeans pocket. She sent a quick message to Dan.
He replied to her text message before they reached the house.
Sorry to hear the little one got a scare. Seems there’s a lot going on for Sally and her family at the moment. Am heading to Arcadia tomorrow morning. See you soon.
Back at the house, Jessica told Sally about Dan’s text then smiled when she saw that Katie had settled down and was playing with some toys. ‘She seems fine now,’ she said.
‘Yes, but I wonder if we should go to the police?’ said Mollie. ‘After the truffle theft they said to let them know if we noticed anything untoward.’
‘Actually, I did ring the local station just after we came back, when you were looking after Katie,’ said Sally. ‘The officer I spoke to w
as pleasant and concerned but explained that she couldn’t act on the word of a four-year-old, especially without any further evidence, even though we know Katie probably did see someone. She made a note of the incident, though, and said that if we see the man ourselves it would be another matter and we should report it immediately.’
*
The following morning, as they were sitting in the conservatory, reading and working, Toby walked in with a smiling Dan. ‘Look who I found at the front gate,’ he said.
Dan greeted Sally and Jessica and gave Mollie a hearty handshake.
‘I feel I know you already. Sally and Jessica have told me so much about you,’ Mollie said.
After making a fuss over Katie, Dan accepted Toby’s invitation to look around the farm.
‘It’s an impressive place you have here,’ he said to Sally and Toby after lunch. Mollie had gone back to her cottage and taken Katie with her, leaving the others to linger around the dining table.
‘Yes, it’s a great property. Apart from the incident with the truffles, the farm is going great guns,’ said Toby. ‘And of course there’s a big sentimental attachment with Sally’s family being here so long.’
‘So, Dan, what did you find out at Shelter Bay?’ Sally asked.
‘Not a lot, but they’re definitely manufacturing something there. I snitched a sample from the laboratory set-up in that tunnel you found. When I’m in Hobart I’ll try to get some info from the Botanical Gardens. I spoke to the old lady, who must be Mrs Broadbent, but as you said, she wasn’t friendly. She did say her son was “away”, but that could be anywhere.’
‘Like here?’ Jessica asked.
‘Tell me, how is Katie after her scare?’ Dan said. ‘I didn’t want to ask while she was here.’
‘Well, we rather downplayed it,’ said Sally, and she explained that while they were taking it seriously, she wasn’t sure the police would be able to act on it.
Toby rubbed his eyes. ‘I’m losing sleep over this! If he was the man who was following you, he could have come here and still be hanging around. I don’t want to rattle you, but it’s really worrying me.’
