Hello from the Gillespies (22 page)

‘
Two
sets! You definitely deserve some time off.’

‘It’s my birthday next week too. A significant one. My husband thought I needed some spoiling. He’s booked me theatre tickets for tonight. I’m meeting an old schoolfriend.’

‘Oh, how thoughtful.’

‘He is, very. He and I will have our own time away together too, of course,’ she added. ‘This was just a special pre-birthday treat from him.’

‘I hope you enjoy every minute of it.’ Another rapid click of fingers and then a smile. ‘That’s all fine, Mrs Gillespie. I’ve booked you in for a second night at the same rate. Unfortunately I couldn’t give you the same room, so I hope you don’t mind that I’ve upgraded you to a suite for the two nights. At no extra cost.’

Angela hadn’t expected that. She had just been enjoying herself, making up a story. She reached for her purse. ‘Oh no, you don’t have to do that. Let me pay the difference.’

The receptionist smiled again. ‘It’s my pleasure, Mrs Gillespie. You don’t need to pay anything extra.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I’m one of four too. I can’t wait to tell my dad what your husband did. My mother’s birthday’s coming up too. Nothing beats a subtle hint!’

A young man in a uniform carried Angela’s bag up in the lift for her, even though she was capable of carrying it herself. He opened the door with a swipe of a keycard. She stifled a gasp as they stepped inside. The room was beautiful. Except it wasn’t a room, it was a suite. As well as the bedroom, there was a separate living area with a sofa, two chairs, a desk. There were two enormous televisions, one in each room. The bedroom had the largest bed she’d ever seen, made up with what looked like the whitest, softest linen and six –
six
– pillows. There was an entire wall of windows looking out over the river and the Festival Centre, to Adelaide Oval and to parklands and suburbs beyond.

The porter showed her how to work the two large sets of curtains, where the refrigerator was, the TV and DVD player, the sound system. He pointed out the menu for room service, for the spa downstairs. Then he was gone, before she’d even had time to wonder if she should tip him. People always tipped porters in films, didn’t they? It suddenly felt as though she were in a film. She was still standing in front of the huge windows, looking out at the view, when there was a knock at the door.

It was a different porter, holding a basket of fruit. ‘Welcome to the hotel, Mrs Gillespie. We hope you enjoy your stay.’

She tipped him, clumsily reaching for her purse, taking out the first note she found. He seemed happy enough with the crumpled five-dollar note.

She carried the basket across to the polished table. As well as ordinary fruit like an apple and a banana, there was also a mango, a passionfruit, a blood orange and an exotic fruit that she’d never seen before, a star-shaped light-green one. She’d take that one home for Ig. She checked in the bathroom. Not even it was ordinary. There was a whole row of soaps, lotions and creams. Ig would love those for his cubby, for sure. Five-star toiletries in a cardboard cubby.

She reached for the phone and dialled reception. The young woman who’d checked her in answered.

‘This is Angela Gillespie,’ she said. ‘I just wanted to say thank you again. It’s all so beautiful.’

‘You’re very welcome, Mrs Gillespie. Have a great stay.’

She had just hung up when her mobile phone rang. Who would it be this time? The porter offering to run her a bath?

It was the specialist’s receptionist. ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Gillespie. The soonest I can get you in for those tests is next week. It’s good news, in a way. Mr Liakos is happy to wait as he doesn’t feel it is urgent in your case. But it will mean you have to come back to Adelaide again.’

‘That’s no problem at all. Of course I can come back.’

‘Thanks for being so understanding. I wanted to let you know as soon as I could, in case you decided to drive back home tonight.’

‘That’s a great idea,’ Angela said. ‘I might do just that. Thanks very much again.’

Angela rang Genevieve’s mobile again. Her daughter was just leaving Hawker, still in signal range. Angela waited until she had pulled over to the side of the road.

‘I won’t keep you, darling. This battery is still playing up. Just to let you know the specialist’s receptionist called. They’ve been able to fit me in for those tests. Yes, tomorrow and the next day. So I’ll definitely book in for another night here. And maybe for a third night as well. No, of course you don’t need to come down. I’ll be fine. The specialist assured me they’re all routine, not painful. They’ll just take a long time. Can you let Dad know? Thanks very much.’

She had one more call to make. Once again, the lies tripped off her tongue. Even to Joan, her oldest friend.

‘Two days of tests?’ Joan said. ‘Maybe three? Sounds like torture. Which ones are first?’

Angela floundered for a moment. ‘I can’t remember. The list is in my bag.’

‘I hope it’s not another of those MRI ones. You’re not claustrophobic, are you? Apparently it’s like being eaten by a snake. So, what’s the hotel like?’

Angela could at least answer that truthfully. She told her about the upgrade, describing the view, the two rooms, the room service menu, the linen —

‘That’s enough,’ Joan said. ‘I’m turning green here. You’re not having any tests, are you? You’re just having a few sneaky days away in a swanky hotel, getting away from us all.’

How had she guessed? Angela felt an urge to confess. Of everyone, Joan would understand. But it was too late. She could hear Joan talking to Glenn.

‘I’d better go. His Lordship needs feeding. Good luck. Don’t worry about the tests. You’ll be fine. And enjoy the break from everyone. You deserve it.’

Angela hung up, feeling better. Joan was right. She should enjoy this, just stop worrying, take advantage of this beautiful room and step outside her own life even for a couple of days. She leaned down and took off her shoes. About to place them neatly side by side, she changed her mind, and threw one across one side of the room, the other in a different direction. They landed with satisfying thumps. She felt the carpet underfoot, the pile thick between her toes. There were only floorboards and rugs back at Errigal. It got too dusty for carpets. She stood in the centre of the room. What should she do now? What could she do now?

Anything she wanted, she realised. Absolutely anything she wanted.

She could drink everything in the minibar. Order everything off the room-service menu. Watch twenty-four hours of movies. She could go downstairs and have a massage, a facial, a swim. She could sit in the bar and drink cocktails. She could go out for a walk, along the river path she could see from her high window. She could do anything she wanted and no one was going to interrupt her, ask anything of her, be angry with her, judge her or ignore her.

She needed to mark this moment in some way. It felt like she was in a film, so she decided to do something she’d only ever seen done in films. She ran barefoot across the room and threw herself onto the enormous bed, laughing out loud.

In the kitchen at Errigal, Nick had just hung up from Genevieve.

Celia walked in. ‘Was that Angela?’

‘No, it was Genevieve.’ He filled her in on the news about Angela’s tests.

‘Two days of serious tests? Maybe three? On her own?’

‘It’s what she wanted.’

‘I’m not saying it wasn’t.’ Celia gave a small laugh. ‘I did notice she couldn’t get away from here fast enough this morning.’

Nick didn’t answer.

Celia was watching him carefully. ‘That’s good she’s having the tests, at least. She’ll get to the bottom of those headaches once and for all, hopefully.’

Nick made a noncommittal noise.

‘So, then,’ she said, in a bright voice, ‘tell me the latest about your reunion. Any more of those fascinating journals turned up in Ireland yet?’

Nick took a seat. ‘Are you being polite like the rest of my family or are you actually interested?’

‘You are out of sorts today. I’m interested. Very interested. I’ve been a Gillespie for nearly longer than you, remember, even if it’s only by marriage. Errigal’s always felt like home to me. You know, your uncle did a bit of family research over the years himself. I could dig out his files for you, if you like. They’re at home somewhere. I’d have brought them with me if I’d realised quite how, what’s the word . . .’

‘Obsessed?’

‘
Enthusiastic
about it you are. There are folders full, in fact. I’ll send them on to you when I’m home again. Before you go to Ireland.’ She glanced down the hallway. ‘There’s something else I wanted to say to you while we’re on our own. Nick, I can’t help noticing there’s a great deal of tension between you and Angela.’

Nick stayed silent.

‘No wonder, I suppose. That letter of hers was a terrible thing. All those things she said about you and me, not to mention her own children. If it doesn’t turn out to be some kind of mental illness she has, the alternative is just as bad, really, isn’t it?’

‘The letter was my fault, Celia.’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Angela was just letting off steam. She didn’t mean to send it. I sent it.’

‘You did what?’

‘I sent it out. By accident.’

‘Oh. Well. Be that as it may, she still wrote it, didn’t she? And don’t pretend you’re not angry about it, Nick. Your loyalty is admirable, but I’ve known you since you were a little boy, remember. Angela is —’

He stood up. ‘My wife. And our marriage is our business, Celia. Excuse me. I need to send some emails.’

The next day, Genevieve, Victoria and Lindy were gathered in Lindy’s bedroom.

Lindy was doing her make-up. ‘How much should I put on? Or would it be better to look as if I haven’t gone to any trouble at all, in case I scare him off?’

‘It depends on his intentions,’ Genevieve said. ‘What did he say when he rang?’

‘He said would it suit if he came over and visited today.’

‘And what did you say?’

‘I said that would be great. Was that wrong, do you think? Too eager?’

There was a knock at the door.

‘Come in, Ig,’ Genevieve called. ‘Perfect timing. We need a male opinion. Tell us, how does Lindy look?’

He inspected her. ‘You look really nice, Lindy. Your hair and make-up look great. If I were Richard, I’d think you were really pretty.’

‘Thank you, Ig!’ Lindy said, beaming. ‘I’ll be right back. I’m going to see if he’s coming.’

Ig waited until she was gone, then put out his hand to Genevieve. ‘Five bucks.’

‘No way. I said I’d give you four.’

‘I added the extra line about Richard myself. That was worth a dollar.’

Victoria stared at her sister. ‘You bribed him to say that to Lindy?’

‘You can bribe Ig to do anything. That’s why he’s fun to have around. Expensive but fun.’

Twenty minutes later, they were all on the verandah waiting. Lindy was jumpy.

‘Do I still look okay? Ig, do I? Please stay out of the way once he gets here, all of you. Or if you insist on hanging around at the start, just to be polite, can you please at least try to be nice?’

‘We’re always nice,’ Genevieve said.

‘I am. You’re not,’ Victoria said. ‘You can be really horrible.’

‘Stop it, please, both of you,’ Lindy said.

Another minute passed. There was still no sign of a car.

‘What are you going to do with him?’ Genevieve asked. ‘If he ever actually gets here.’

‘Oh God, I don’t know. Should I take him for a drive?’

‘You could, but Mum’s got the good car, remember. You can always take him in Dad’s filthy old ute, I guess. If you don’t mind getting mud all over that nice dress.’

‘I didn’t think of that! Have I got time to change? What should I wear? Jeans? Shorts?’

‘Too late. Here he comes.’

They watched the dust cloud moving closer. It was one of the advantages of living out here. There was little chance of anyone arriving unexpectedly.

Ig clambered up the ladder beside the water tank and started waving at the car.

‘Ig, get down!’ Lindy called. ‘Don’t embarrass me.’

‘I’m not being embarrassing. I’m being friendly.’

‘You don’t even know him.’

‘I do. I met him at the party. Anyway, I’m not waving to him.’

‘Who are you waving to?’

‘Horrible Jane. She’s in the car with him.’

Two hours later, they were all out in front of the house again, this time waving goodbye.

It had been an excruciating afternoon. Jane had come bounding out of the driver’s seat of the car, all false cheer. ‘I couldn’t let Richard drive over on his own. He’d have got lost!’ She started talking nonstop about her family Christmas and New Year’s camping trip.

As soon as she could, Lindy invited Genevieve into the kitchen under the pretext of getting drinks. She begged her not to go anywhere. ‘I can only handle Horrible Jane when you’re around.’

‘But what about you and Richard? Your whirlwind romance? Your privacy?’

‘Forget that. She’s here as his bodyguard, can’t you tell? It’s a disaster.’

An hour later, Genevieve conceded Lindy was right. Richard hadn’t got a word in. Jane was still doing all the talking, about herself and how well she was doing in Melbourne.

Genevieve and Victoria tried to make it easier for Lindy, but Jane got to be too much for them as well. Victoria slipped away first, then Genevieve. Ig was long gone. As soon as she could, Lindy excused herself and went to find them.

‘She’s ruined everything,’ Lindy said. ‘It’s over with Richard before it’s even started.’

‘Not necessarily,’ Genevieve said. ‘You’re doing really well. You’re almost coming across as a normal person. And he wants to be here, I can tell. He’s trying to talk to you.’

‘But she won’t let him get a word in.’

‘Let me see what I can do,’ Genevieve said.

Back out on the verandah, Genevieve took a seat across from Richard and Jane. Jane was now talking about one of her brother’s excellent cricket scores. Richard looked like he had heard about it before. Genevieve waited for Jane to take a breath and smoothly interrupted.

‘So, Richard, how long are you staying up here?’

‘Just a few more days,’ he said. ‘I leave on Saturday.’

‘We’re leaving together,’ Jane said. ‘Work calls for some of us!’

‘So soon? What a shame. Richard, you’ll have to visit again before you go. Maybe we could all meet up for a drink in the Hawker pub tomorrow night? How about that, Jane?’

‘Sorry, no can do,’ Jane said. ‘My cousins are coming down from Leigh Creek tomorrow, arriving about lunchtime, staying for a big family barbecue. It’s my dad’s birthday.’

‘How lovely,’ Genevieve said, smiling like a shark. ‘But Richard doesn’t need to be there the whole day, does he? Richard, how about we come and get you from Jane’s place tomorrow morning? We can take you on a sightseeing tour ourselves, and drop you back to Jane’s by late afternoon. So you can still meet all of her cousins, but have a brand-new outback experience with us too. There’s an incredible view from Pugilist Hill, isn’t there, Lindy? You go there a lot, don’t you?’

‘All the time,’ Lindy said, after a kick under the table from Victoria. ‘It’s, um —’

‘Breathtaking,’ Victoria said.

‘Breathtaking,’ Lindy repeated.

‘That sounds great,’ Richard said, slightly too quickly. ‘If you don’t mind, Jane?’

‘Of course Jane doesn’t mind!’ Genevieve said, ignoring Jane’s stormy expression. ‘She knows all about country hospitality. And Richard will still get plenty of time with your family, Jane, promise. It’s the perfect arrangement.’

Genevieve played her final card as they were walking Jane and Richard out to their car. ‘Oh, damn, I’ve just remembered – Victoria and I promised to take Ig to Port Augusta tomorrow, didn’t we, Ig? So you’ll have to take Richard sightseeing on your own, Lindy. Is that okay? You don’t mind, Richard, do you? It would be much more fun with all of us Gillespies, but Lindy’s okay once you get used to her.’

‘I’m sure we’ll be fine on our own,’ Richard said, smiling.

Jane said nothing. Her expression was enough.

‘Well, that’s wonderful,’ Genevieve said. ‘We’re all organised. I love it when things fall into place spontaneously like that, Victoria, don’t you?’

‘I certainly do, Genevieve.’

Richard leaned out of the passenger window as the car started to move. ‘See you tomorrow, Lindy.’

‘See you then, Richard!’

Lindy waited until the car was out of sight, then hugged her siblings enthusiastically, even kissing Ig. ‘Thank you! You were fantastic! If Richard and I get married, I want you all in the bridal party!’

After she’d gone inside, Ig wiped his cheek and turned to Genevieve.

‘So is that true about Port Augusta?’

‘It’s a long drive, Ig. And it’s so hot.’

‘I like driving. And the car has air-conditioning,’ Ig said.

‘And we do actually need to go to a chemist, Genevieve,’ Victoria said pointedly. ‘Soon.’

‘Yes, you’re right. We do,’ Genevieve said. ‘Okay, Ig, we’re on.’

‘What about Celia?’ Victoria asked. ‘Should we invite her?’

‘Are you joking?’ Genevieve said. ‘You didn’t hear me say that, Ig, did you?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘But can Robbie come?’

‘Of course,’ Genevieve said, tousling his hair as they walked inside. ‘He can drive.’