Flight of the Jabiru (44 page)

Lara had no answer for that. Her heart ached for Rick and it always would.

The citizens of Shady Camp, including all the children, crowded into the small church to see Lara marry Jerry. It was the first wedding in the settlement, so it was an exciting day. The pews had been dragged out and the school desks pushed back. Flowers were scarce, but there were palm fronds for decoration.

Bea, Betty, and Doris helped Lara get ready in the rectory. She was wearing a dress made from material from the store. Patty had a sewing machine, so the women all got together and came up with a design for a lovely dress that was fairly simple, but elegant. The material was cream in color with a faint, floral pattern. Doris leant Lara a string of pearls because the neckline was fairly low.

“They were my grandmother's. She wore them on her wedding day, and so did my mother. I also wore them the day I married Errol. My daughter wore them as well and I'm hoping my granddaughter will wear them one day, but that won't be for a few years.”

Lara was very touched. “Oh, Doris, thank you. They're beautiful, but I'm not family.”

“You're near enough, my girl, now go on. It will make me very happy to see you wearing them.”

Lara kissed her cheek. “I'll be very careful with them, I promise.”

Betty lent her shoes she'd worn only once, when she married Colin, a day she often regretted she said with a laugh. They were just a touch too big, but very stylish and the perfect shade of cream.

“This is the first time I've worn heels since Jerry asked me to dine with him on the jetty,” Lara smiled, but her smile faded when she remembered the fun she'd had with Rick that evening. Joyce made a bouquet using three sunflowers and palm fronds, tied together with a floral ribbon. Margie lent Lara her wedding veil, which was short and modest, so she was all set and looked lovely.

“You're not very nervous for a prospective new bride,” Doris commented as she fastened the pearls around her neck.

“No, I'm not nervous.” Lara could only wish that today was the day she was marrying Rick.

Rick growled in frustration. He hated feeling so weak and unfit. He'd been rowing the canoe the Aboriginals had lent him for what felt like hours. He could see the Shady Camp jetty way off in the distance, so he stopped to take a breather, as he'd done many times on the journey from Sampan Creek. Apart from feeling terribly weak, he was wary of crocodiles, jumping at shadows in the water because he feared he couldn't fight off the smallest crocodile in the condition he was in. He kept near the banks of the billabong in case the canoe was overturned, but not so close that he'd arouse the interest of sun baking crocodiles. Rowing also aggravated his shoulder, and he had pain in his arm, even though the bone had healed.

When Rick was half a mile from the jetty near the settlement, he recognized his boat, moored under some trees. He was curious why it would be there, and not tied to the jetty, but then part of him had expected the locals might've sold it. He'd been gone for months and he was sure everyone thought he'd been killed by the monster croc. He went alongside his boat and touched it, smiling at the name painted on the side. “It should've been
Croc Dinner
, he thought to himself, but then he knew how lucky he'd been to have escaped the jaws of the monster crocodile. He'd stuck his finger in the beast's eye and it opened it jaws. Somehow he managed to get between the water lilies. He pushed himself in as far as he could, while barely keeping his head above water to breathe. With several broken ribs he couldn't take enough air into his lungs to call out to Rex and Jonno, so there he'd stayed there until the Aborigines found him while picking the stems of the lilies, which were a food source. He never expected to survive.

Rick paddled on. He could only go slowly, which is why it had taken him hours to cover five miles. Finally, the jetty came into view and his heart began racing. He prayed Lara hadn't left Shady Camp. He knew she had to fulfill her sentence, but whether she was able to fulfill it somewhere else in the Territory, he didn't know. Seeing her again was all that had kept him going. As his paddle dipped into the water, on the left and right side of the canoe, he thought about their reunion. It would be far more emotional than their last.

Finally Rick reached Shady Camp. He pulled into the bank about thirty yards shy of the jetty. He didn't want to meet up with a fisherman before seeing Lara. He wanted their reunion to be private. He got out of the canoe under the trees, where he could see the rectory and schoolroom. He had intended to knock on the door to the rectory, but he noticed that the schoolroom was full of people. He concluded that the townsfolk were holding a congregation. He could see they were all dressed for church, which he thought odd, as it wasn't a Sunday.

Moving through the trees, for a better view through the church windows, Rick caught sight of a minister. Then he noticed Lara, and she was wearing a bridal veil. His heart lurched when he saw Jerry standing beside her. Lara was marrying Jerry!

Rick felt sick. He sagged against the tree. He'd come back too late. He couldn't believe that Lara was marrying Jerry. He couldn't believe she'd gotten over him so quickly. His heart ached with sadness. He'd willed himself not to die when so easily his life could've slipped away. His love for Lara, and her love for him, had kept him alive. It had all been for nothing. He wished he hadn't lived.

As Lara stood before the minister, hearing his words about joining Jerry and herself in holy wedded matrimony, she glanced at the billabong. All she could think about was Rick. All she could think was that she wished he was standing beside her, gazing at her with his warm brown yes, while bestowing her with one of his infamous, cheeky smiles. Her eyes filled with tears. She barely heard Father O'Leary asking Jerry if he'd take her hand in marriage, or his reply, a resounding I do. Then Father O'Leary turned to her and asked the same question. Lara hesitated ... the words in her mind ... that would not pass her lips.

Suddenly, there was a commotion behind her. She and Jerry turned to find that Bea had fainted again. They rushed to her side as everyone crowded around her. Jerry managed to bring her around and then he helped her to Lara's room again. Lara followed, deeply concerned.

“Bea, are you all right?” Lara asked, as Jerry took her pulse.

“I'm sorry ... I messed up your wedding,” Bea said, despaired.

“Don't worry about that now. It's you I'm worried about,” Lara said.

“I'm fine.”

“She'll be all right,” Jerry insisted, slightly annoyed that the wedding ceremony had been halted at a crucial point.

“Yes, of course I will. Please go on with the ceremony,” Bea pleaded, detecting her son's annoyance.

“Not without you,” Lara said. “The ceremony can wait a few minutes. Jerry, please tell our guests that the ceremony will be delayed for a little while.”

“But...”

“They won't mind,” Lara insisted. “I'll sit with your mother.”

“All right,” Jerry said reluctantly. He smiled at Bea, but she could see he was disappointed.

“I'm so sorry for upsetting the ceremony,” Bea said. “I can't believe I fainted again.”

“Perhaps you should go to a hospital, Bea,” Lara said, worried.

“What would I tell them, that I fainted in the heat in a stuffy church? They'd tell me off for wasting their time.”

“They'd look into the reason, which is unlikely to be the heat. Maybe something can be done for you.”

“Done for what? There's nothing wrong with me.”

“It's no use pretending, Bea. If I'm to be your daughter-in-law, then we should be open with each other.”

“I agree, but there's nothing to be open about.”

Lara studied Bea. She didn't think she was lying, not to her anyway. But Lara wondered if she was lying to herself, or in denial. “Whatever illness you have, I'll be here for you.”

“I don't have an illness, Lara. I don't know what gave you that idea. My doctor in the city said I'm perfectly healthy.”

“But you've just fainted, Bea. There must be a reason.”

“All right. There is a reason. I haven't worn this dress in years and it was too tight, so I put a girdle on. I can hardly breathe. That's not something I want the whole world to know, but I can't wait to get it off.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I'm serious.”

“You're not hiding an illness that might shorten your life?”

“Certainly not! If I'm anything like my mother, I'll live to be ninety-five at least.”

Lara took a deep breath. “Are you all right here for a few minutes?” she said, struggling to hide her anger.

“Yes, of course.”

Lara met Jerry at the door. “Is mother all right?”

“Apparently, she is fine. I need to speak to you, in private,” she said sternly.

Jerry followed Lara through the back door. “What's wrong, Lara?”

“Your mother isn't dying, is she? That's a lie you told me to get me to marry you.”

Jerry dropped his head. “Yes,” he admitted, ashamed. “I ... I'm sorry I lied, but I thought if you married me, you'd fall in love with me one day.”

“I'd never fall in love with someone who'd be that dishonest, Jerry. Making me worry and feel sorry for your mother is despicable.”

“I agree,” Jerry said. “I'm sorry. I was desperate and I saw an opportunity. I feel terrible about it. Will you forgive me?”

“No, I won't. I can never trust you again. I'm going to tell our friends that the wedding is off.”

“But ... my mother.”

“You can explain this to her, Jerry,” Lara said. “And you'd better tell her the truth, all of it, or I will.”

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

As the sun dipped below the western horizon, and the shadows of darkness crept over the billabong and the settlement, Lara made her way to Monty's bar to face the townsfolk. She owed them an explanation after blurting out that the wedding had been called off without giving them a reason, and her anger was finally under control after stomping around the rectory, muttering. After a few hours she found the house was too silent and empty without Bea.

Most of the townsfolk were speculating that the wedding had been called off because of Bea, who was perhaps ill, but Betty believed that Lara had simply changed her mind. Jerry hadn't given any explanation at all. He'd been devastated that Lara called off the wedding and humiliated about his uncharacteristically deceitful behavior. He'd simply packed himself and his mother up and left Shady Camp.

While Jerry was getting his things from Charlie's house, Bea apologized to Lara for her son's shameful lies. “I know it was the wrong thing to do, and so unlike Jerry, but sometimes men in love do stupid things,” she said, clearly embarrassed.

Lara understood that Bea was a mother with a blind spot where her son was concerned, but she was too angry to forgive. All she could do was mumble that she didn't blame Bea for anything and she hoped they could still be friends, even though she wanted nothing more to do with Jerry.

Father O'Leary was at the bar with the men, drinking heavily and amusing them with stories about his early life in Ireland. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, having a new ‘captive' audience who liked to drink as much as he did. He didn't seem in the least perturbed about the wedding not taking place. In fact, part of his story repertoire involved hilarious tales about ‘runaway brides'.

Betty was sitting with the women, so Lara joined them.

“I'm really sorry about today, ladies,” she said. “I know you were all excited about the wedding and my calling it off was a shock and disappointment.” She handed Doris her pearls, and Betty her shoes.

“That's all right, love,” Doris said. “We know you must've had a good reason. Is Bea all right?”

“Yes, she was wearing a girdle and she couldn't breathe, that's why she fainted.”

The women were surprised and a little bemused.

“We saw Jerry and Bea leave, so we're guessing that the break-up is final,” Betty said.

“Yes, it's final. Jerry lied to me. He told me his mother was ill, and that she didn't have long to live so that I'd marry him. When Bea fainted, I questioned her and found it was all untrue. I find that unforgivable.”

The women were shocked.

“I never knew Jerry was capable of something like that,” Doris said. “We knew you didn't love him, so we were surprised you agreed to marry him. Now we know why.”

Lara was amazed by her insight. “How did you know I wasn't in love with Jerry?”

“We saw you with Rick, remember? That was real love.”

The other women mumbled in agreement.

“You should know that I had no intention of having marital relations with Jerry. Our union was to be in name only. I couldn't commit physically while I was still in love with Rick.”

“Was Jerry okay with that?” Betty asked.

“Yes, he accepted it. He said he'd wait until I fell in love with him. I wouldn't have married him at all if I hadn't believed Bea had only a short time to live. I'm so angry with Jerry for lying to me.”

Colin walked into the bar with Rex. “Did anyone take a container of fuel from the back of my place?” he asked the men.

“Colin Jeffries,” Betty snapped crossly. “If this is another way to stall our departure from Shady Camp, I swear I'll go without you.”

“It isn't, Betty, honestly. A container of fuel is missing and so is Rick's boat. Rex went to fetch the boat, with the intention of tying it up at the jetty, but it wasn't there.”

“I know it was moored securely, so it hasn't just floated away,” Rex insisted.

Lara was horrified. “Who'd take Rick's boat?”

“Probably the same blighter who stole a can of fuel,” Colin said.

“I did find an Aboriginal canoe nearby, but I doubt there's any connection,” Rex said. “An Aboriginal couldn't refuel and operate the boat's engine. It has always been a bit tricky, so the thief had to be someone who knew what they were doing.”

Lara felt like crying. “Well that's the perfect end to a terrible day,” she said sadly. “I'm going home to bed. Good night, everyone.”

On Monday afternoon, Ruthie knocked on Lara's door. “Mama wants to see you, Miss Penrose.”

Lara had just finished a cup of tea and was about to lie down. “Do you know what she wants, Ruthie?”

“I don't know, Miss Penrose. Mama didn't say. But she was insis ... insist...”

“Are you trying to say ‘insistent'?” Lara asked, thinking Ruthie tried very hard to talk like a grown up.

“Yeah, that's right,” Ruthie said.

“Yes, that's right,” Lara corrected. But she was intrigued. She walked back to the store with Ruthie, while thunder rumbled overhead, heralding the beginning of the ‘wet'.

“You wanted to see me, Betty,” Lara said as she went into the store. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I couldn't leave the store because I was bagging sugar and if I didn't finish it the place would be overrun with ants. A letter arrived for you in the mail today,” Betty said.

Lara was excited as Betty handed her an envelope.

She didn't recognize the handwriting on the envelope. She turned it over and saw the return address belonged to the lady who lived next door to her father, Mrs. Brown. At first she was disappointed, but then it occurred to her that Beryl Brown wouldn't be writing unless her father couldn't.

“Something must be wrong with dad,” she said, ripping the letter open. She quickly scanned the contents. “My father is very ill, Betty,” she gasped. “He's in hospital with double pneumonia!”

“I'm sorry to hear that, love. I guess that's why you haven't heard from him.”

“Mrs. Brown says he didn't want her to tell me, but she felt she had to, in case I want to go home before ... it's too late.” Lara burst into tears.

Betty came around the counter and embraced her. “Do you want to go home, Lara? The Japs have stopped bombing Australia, so perhaps it's possible.”

“Yes, Betty.” She knew she'd be in trouble as soon as she got to England, and possibly returned to jail, but she had to go. She had to see her father before it was too late. “I must get home to dad.”

After an emotional going away party at the pub, Lara left two days later with the Jeffries family. She hoped to catch a plane out of Alice Springs for England. It had been really hard saying goodbye to the townsfolk, who'd become like one big family. It was especially hard saying goodbye to her pupils, and Jiana. But she promised to write.

“I hope you continue teaching,” Lara said to Jiana. “When this war is over make sure you become fully qualified.”

“I will,” Jiana promised. She thanked Lara for giving her a chance that she might never have had.

“You're a natural teacher, Jiana,” Lara said and meant it. “You're especially good with the Aboriginal children. I doubt I could've got them to attend school like you did.”

Jiana shrugged off the praise, embarrassed, but her mother embraced Lara, which was quite unexpected. Netta struggled to tell Lara that she was grateful for what she'd done for her daughter, but with Jiana's help translating between them, Lara understood. “We worked well together. I'll never forget our journey home together,” Lara said tearfully. She knew they had a bond that would never be broken and Jiana knew it, too.

Betty and Colin really struggled to say goodbye to everyone. Betty was overjoyed to be leaving, but clearly she hadn't anticipated how hard leaving was going to be. Her tears, and the other women's tears, rivaled the wet. Colin was unusually quiet. It was obvious he didn't want to go and that he was leaving for Betty and the children's sake.