The Opal Desert (38 page)

‘Yes, I suppose it did. But he's so arrogant. Thinks he's God's gift to women, and with no cause. He tried to teach me to drive Shirley's car and he thought that it gave him the right to keep touching me. Yuck. I always feel like he's undressing me when he looks at me with that smirk.'

‘That's certainly not good. Did you say anything to Shirley?'

‘No, he's a friend of hers. He has to be because she keeps giving him money for his business.'

Kerrie, who had not heard this before, was somewhat surprised but said nothing to Anna, instead commenting, ‘Well, you are pretty, Anna, I'm sure a lot of men would think so.'

Anna turned and stared at Kerrie. ‘Me? I don't think so. I've never been the pretty one in a group.'

‘Rubbish, you are pretty. Good hair, beautiful skin, lovely eyes and a great, trim body,' said Kerrie.

The two women continued to chat happily and the drive to Opal Lake seemed to pass quickly. When they arrived back at the pub, Anna grabbed her small bag, thanked Kerrie for the great time she'd had and hurried inside.

Kerrie drove to the Golden Dome and met Bob and Liz and Banjo the kelpie, before turning around and heading straight back out again to go up to Shirley's to tell her all about the successful show. At the entrance to the dugout Kerrie noticed that Shirley's pot plants were looking a little droopy, and she made a mental note to water them.

‘Hey, Shirley . . . I'm back. Triumphant!' called Kerrie.

‘In here,' called out Shirley.

Immediately Kerrie knew something wasn't right. Shirley was in her bedroom and she didn't sound very well. ‘What's up? Why are you in bed?' When Kerrie entered the bedroom, she was shocked to see Shirley not only in bed, but looking pale, dishevelled and, from the expression on her face, in some pain. ‘Shirley, what's wrong?'

‘I'm a bit crook,' she answered. ‘So was the exhibition a sell-out?' she asked, trying to sit up. But as she did so, she winced and caught her breath, clutching a hot water bottle to her side.

Kerrie saw a bowl and towel by the bedside. The bowl had obviously been used and when she touched Shirley's forehead she realised that it was hot.

‘Shirley, you've been sick and you have a fever, and also in pain. Do you know what's wrong?'

‘I'm having a bit of a bad attack of gallstones and my normal remedies aren't helping.'

‘If you're really in pain then you need proper medication. What do you want me to do?' asked Kerrie.

‘You could rub my feet and tell me about the show. And bring me some ice. I'm alternating heat and ice. I've tried Epsom salts, cider vinegar, flaxseed . . .'

‘Shirley, that doesn't sound like proper treatment to me. We have to get you to a doctor.'

‘No. They'll take my gall bladder out and I need it!'

‘Shirley, it's a common operation. Can't the stones be zapped and broken up? I hate to see you in such agony. You can't stay here,' exclaimed Kerrie as Shirley doubled over in pain.

Shirley stubbornly shook her head. ‘I'm not leaving. I'll be all right. I've had these attacks before and I get over them.'

‘Shirley, you can't stay in this dugout in this sort of condition. You need proper medical attention. Let me call someone. What about the Flying Doctor Service? How do you get medical help out here?'

‘The sister came to the clinic last week. Kerrie, stop fussing. Make us a cup of tea and sit down and talk to me, distract me.'

Kerrie reluctantly left Shirley to make some tea. The kitchen was messy and she wondered if Shirley had eaten, but realised that she probably had no appetite. Kerrie didn't like the look of her at all, but she didn't know what to do out here, so far from medical help. She wished Pam was still here. She knew that Ingrid was staying a few more days in Broken Hill. Finally, she decided to ring Mick at the pub.

‘Crikey, Kerrie, if you think she's really that bad I wouldn't wait. The best thing to do is to drive her over to the hospital in Broken Hill right away.'

Kerrie glanced at her watch. ‘If we leave soon we'll get there before dark. I'll call the hospital and let them know that we're on our way.'

‘You'll drive Shirley over? I'll come up and help you get her into the car. I doubt if you'll be able to do it by yourself.'

‘That's good of you, Mick, but persuading her might be another matter.'

‘Well, you call the hospital in the Hill, and help Shirley pack her kit.'

‘Mick, how long has it been since she last left here?' asked Kerrie suddenly. ‘She won't want to leave.'

‘Tell her it's time to go now or else she'll be leaving in a bloody box,' said Mick firmly.

Kerrie was unsure how to broach the idea of hospital with Shirley, but as she went back into the bedroom she caught her breath. Shirley had fallen back on her pillow, gasping in pain, her face ashen, her hands clutching her side.

‘Shirley. Shirley. This is no good. We're taking you to hospital. You have no choice,' said Kerrie gently. ‘I'll get some things together for you.'

‘No!' Shirley managed to say, struggling to sit up. ‘I'm not going anywhere.'

‘Shirley. Please, be sensible. It'll be fine. Mick is coming to help and I will drive you over. You can't risk staying here. What if it's not gallstones?'

‘Well, it is and I won't hear of you driving. You just came back. Get someone to come here,' she finally said.

‘Shirley, you need proper medical attention and by the time the Flying Doctor gets here we could almost be in Broken Hill. They would just take you there, anyway. Have you got some painkillers you can take to get you through the next few hours in the car?'

‘A hammer?' said Shirley weakly. ‘No. Please, Kerrie. I'm not leaving here. It will pass. It always does.'

‘How long have you been having these attacks? For goodness' sake, you're a nurse! You should know better. Where do you keep your nightwear?'

Kerrie began rummaging through a chest of drawers as Shirley was hit by another spasm of pain, which prevented her from arguing.

A soft voice called from outside the bedroom. ‘Kerrie? Can I help? Mick sent me up.' Anna came into the room and paled as she saw Shirley.

‘Yes, can you go into the pantry? She's got an old suitcase in there. Then help me pack a few things into it.'

‘Kerrie . . . no . . . please,' called Shirley weakly from the bed. She was holding a towel to her mouth and sweat had broken out on her forehead.

Kerrie took no notice, headed to the bathroom and began putting toiletries into a small bathroom bag.

‘Anna, there's something else you can do for me,' she called. ‘Would you mind going to the Golden Dome and getting my bag that's on my bed. I haven't unpacked yet, so it's got everything I'll need. Take it down to the pub and give it to Mick, and tell him to come as soon as he can.'

‘He'll be up in a minute. Shirley, don't worry, you'll be right as soon as you get to the hospital. You'll be back here in a flash,' said Anna consolingly, then turned and ran from the dugout.

Shirley lay limply on the bed. She pointed to her pain relief pills and Kerrie refilled a glass of water and handed them to her.

‘I'll refill the hot water bottle.'

Mick arrived and without ceremony marched to the bed and scooped up Shirley. Kerrie lifted the cotton bedcover and a pillow off the bed. Despite her bulk, Mick carried Shirley to the car as Kerrie held open the door to the back seat. They eased Shirley in and Kerrie arranged the pillow and cover to make her as comfortable as possible. Her eyes were closed, and she no longer seemed to be aware of what was happening around her.

But suddenly she opened her eyes. ‘What's going on? Take me out of here. I'm not leaving my home!'

Mick firmly closed the car door. ‘You sure you don't want me or Anna to go with you?' he asked. ‘She's a stubborn old girl.'

‘Thanks, no. Just call the hospital and tell them I'm leaving now,' she said, and Mick nodded.

‘They won't know what hit them when the old girl gets there. Drive safely, Kerrie.'

‘Will you lock up Shirley's dugout?' said Kerrie. It had occurred to her that Shirley not only kept her stash of opals inside but also her valuable fossil.

Mick looked surprised. ‘Righto. If you say so. I'll keep the key down at the pub.'

For Kerrie, the trip to Broken Hill in the fast descending light was a blur. She tried to calm and console Shirley, who groaned, complained and then seemed to doze fitfully. Eventually Kerrie put on a soothing classical CD and concentrated on driving.

Once Kerrie thought she heard Shirley whisper ‘Stefan', but she couldn't be sure as she was concentrating on the road and keeping an eye open for kangaroos. When she did glance at Shirley in the rear-view mirror, she saw the elderly woman was leaning on her arm, wide awake.

‘How're you going, Shirley?'

‘As well as can be expected. What about you?'

‘Good as gold.'

‘Thank you, Kerrie. I'm sorry about this.'

‘Oh, Shirley. Don't be silly. We all care about you, and we just want you to get better. Whatever it takes.'

‘This is not what I wanted. I just thought that when my time came, I'd slip quietly away and not bother anyone.'

‘Shirley! For goodness' sake, you're not damn well going anywhere just yet. We all get little medical hiccups. It's your turn! A little op and in ten days or so you'll be back home receiving visitors as you always do.'

‘Hummph. I just want my life back. I still have a lot of writing to do.'

‘Then the quicker you get over this, the better,' said Kerrie firmly.

There was silence for a while then Shirley asked, ‘Do you ever think about dying, Kerrie? Even though you're so young?'

‘I did. After Milton died. I felt very vulnerable. And then my mother's death was so soon after. I felt very alone. I thought my life was over and I didn't have anything to look forward to. But Tim has changed that. No,
you
changed that! We all have to live for each day. I mean, look at Anna, so young and as unsure and confused as I was when Milton died. You think you have a life plan, this is going to happen, you'll do this and that, and then whammo. Everything is turned on its head,' said Kerrie, determined to distract Shirley. ‘You and I retreated. Anna runs away. Alia rolls with the punches. Who's right? Maybe we all just deal with things in our own way, no one is to say who's right, who's wrong. But the bottom line is we have to move forward, because that's the key – moving on.'

‘You've got Tim. And now you've made peace with Alia. You'll be all right,' muttered Shirley.

‘Shirley, so will you! You have a whole town behind you!'

It was a relief to see the lights of the hospital in Broken Hill. Kerrie pulled into emergency and as soon as she spoke to an attendant, two medics arrived with a trolley. They eased Shirley from the car and wheeled her inside.

In the glare of the lights, Shirley tried to lift her head. She became more querulous and demanding.

‘We've been expecting you,' said the triage nurse. ‘Are you a relative?' she asked Kerrie.

‘Yes, she is!' screeched Shirley. ‘And I'm a nurse.'

The nurse sighed. ‘The worst kind of patient. If you could come this way and help with the paperwork, please.'

‘She's in a lot of pain. Delirious, I think,' said Kerrie anxiously.

‘She'll be examined right away.'

Kerrie completed Shirley's paperwork as best she could, before she was taken into the emergency ward where Shirley looked more peaceful.

‘She's still in a great deal of pain. The doctor will see you both shortly and let you know what the next step will be.'

The nurse left and Kerrie took Shirley's hand and stroked it. After a few minutes Shirley turned her head and opened her eyes and looked at Kerrie.

‘Thank you,' she said softly. She seemed very calm, which Kerrie put down to the painkillers. ‘I signed the paper. For the operation.'

‘That's if you have to have one.'

‘I will,' sighed Shirley. ‘I should never have left home. I never wanted to leave, to die somewhere strange away from my dugout.'

‘You're not going to die,' said Kerrie firmly. ‘And I'm sorry if you think I overstepped the mark, but you were in agony. You couldn't stay there like that.'

‘I just never wanted to be carted off to a hospital to die among strangers. I saw it too often. I swore it wouldn't happen to me.'

‘It won't. Next time we'll just leave you to it in your bed alone in your bloody cave!' Kerrie suddenly felt close to tears.

‘I hate losing control. I want to make my own decisions. I have my reasons for staying put. This is very traumatic. I never thought I'd have anyone looking out for me.'

‘Interfering, you mean,' said Kerrie, dabbing at her eyes.

Shirley tried to smile but caught her breath. ‘When you've been alone, without family, you come to certain conclusions.'

‘Shirley, I felt the same. After Milton died I saw myself dying a lonely old woman under God knows what circumstances. But now I have a great relationship with a man who says he loves me, I've made new friends and I've had an art exhibition. I feel like a whole new chapter of my life is opening up. And it's thanks to you! So I count you as family, too.'

‘Oh dear.' Shirley managed a smile. ‘So be it, bossy boots.'

Kerrie leant over and kissed Shirley's softly creased cheek. ‘Get some rest. I'll stay with you as long as I can, and then I'll check in to a motel.'

‘You must be tired, all that driving.' Shirley's eyes drooped and she was quickly asleep.

Kerrie was suddenly exhausted. She was overwhelmed by the long day and the stress of driving back and forth to Broken Hill, tired from the excitement of the previous night and worried about Shirley's health. It staggered her how much this woman meant to her and how much she wanted Shirley to be part of her life. She wished Tim was here so she could talk to him. She just prayed the procedure was straightforward and that Shirley would be all right.