The Opal Desert (4 page)

‘I love it. But Milton, it looks so . . . expensive,' she exclaimed. ‘I'm not sure that I should accept it.'

‘Nonsense. I am simply thanking you for your excellent company over the past few weeks. The bracelet suits you because it is not ornate. It's understated and tasteful. Like you. Actually, you do dress rather well,' Milton said, looking at her simple sundress. ‘But I think that you could use some better sandals. While we're here, we'll shop for shoes for you.'

Kerrie lifted her foot and inspected her narrow brown foot and her basic, if somewhat worn, leather sandal.

‘Thank you, Milton. But I don't like glitzy shoes,' she said. ‘I don't want to accept any more presents from you. I owe you quite enough.'

‘Rubbish. You owe me nothing. Your company has been my payment. But your shoes! I think that we should buy a pair of Italy's softest and finest leather sandals. You'll see. And your feet will thank me.' He blew a kiss towards her toes.

‘I like being spoiled,' said Kerrie.

‘Enjoy,
cara
. I want you to be happy. Remember times like these when I am deep in my work and you might feel neglected.'

Ten days later Milton announced that he was going to Holland about a commission for another work, so Kerrie had to make her own way back to Australia.

Glynis Jackson didn't ask too many questions about the sojourn in Italy and when Kerrie went back to art school, she refused to tell her classmates much about the trip at all, except to say that it had been educational.

A week later Milton turned up in a flurry of talk, plans and good humour, bearing gifts for Kerrie and her mother.

‘I'm so over Dutch food. You can cook me something Italian,' he said to Kerrie.

‘I'm glad my mother didn't hear you say that,' she replied.

‘Why? Do I make you sound like my servant?' he asked, surprised.

‘Well, she does think you boss me around.'

‘I think if you love someone, you would want to cook for them. If you like, I could cook something for you then . . .'

‘Please, don't. I've sampled your cooking and know why you buy so much takeaway pizza! All right then, I'll make us some pasta.'

‘Perfect. And after dinner I'll show you my plans for the Dutch work. The formwork I can make in the studio in Australia and then ship it over and do the casting and finishing in Holland. We'll be away for several weeks, or longer.'

Kerrie stared at him. ‘You expect me to go to Holland with you? For weeks, months? To cook?'

‘Not as my cook, my darling. I can always hire someone to do that for us.'

‘Milton, be practical! I can't drop my life and go to Holland with you for however long you're there, even with a cook supplied,' laughed Kerrie.

‘I enjoy having you around. You're good for me. Anyway, what plans did you have when you finish these art classes?'

Kerrie felt confused. ‘I told you, if I'm good enough to support myself painting, then I will. If not, I guess I'll have to look into advertising, graphic design or something.'

‘And that's what you want? You'll learn far more travelling with me than burying yourself here, in Australia. I am rescuing you, Kerrie!'

‘From what? My life is happy. I have a passion I'm pursuing, I have friends . . .'

‘You have a boring life. You still live with your mother, who is nice enough, but your home life isn't very exciting. Don't you want to spread your wings? Please, can't you make me the passion in your life?' He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to him, forcing his lips to hers. Kerrie pulled away and stared at him, breathless and at a loss at this outburst. But he wasn't finished. ‘We can do wonderful things together. I promise you that if you marry me, you will have a life you never imagined or dreamed.'

K
ERRIE'S LIFE WAS QUICKLY
turned upside down. She had little time to herself. Milton wanted them to get married before he had to return to work in Holland.

‘A three-month engagement doesn't seem very practical,' said her mother. ‘We have a wedding to plan.'

‘Milton doesn't want a big fancy affair, he likes things to be more casual, more fun, not formal,' said Kerrie. ‘After all, he's been married before.'

‘But you haven't!' exclaimed Glynis. ‘You haven't even got an engagement ring.'

‘Actually, I do. He gave me one last night,' said Kerrie holding out her hand to show her mother the diamond and emerald ring. ‘He had it made.'

‘It's very nice, Kerrie, lovely, in fact. But this decision seems rather sudden. Are you sure you're not being swept up in the glamour of this man and his life? What about his daughters? What do they think of this engagement?'

Kerrie sighed. ‘They don't know yet. Milton is breaking the news to them and then we're having a family dinner. I've only met two of them, briefly, but I don't think they realised Milton was serious about me. Alia is the youngest, then Luisa, then Renata is the eldest. They're all very close to their father.'

‘That's hardly surprising, since they have no mother. Who looks after them when their father's away?'

‘He has a housekeeper. A nanny, I guess. She's been with them since their mother died. Wendy's her name and she's a former boarding house mistress. Strict with the girls, according to Milton, but very loving. Apparently the girls adore her.'

‘How do you feel about a readymade family? How old are they? Thirteen, eleven and nine? They might still be children, but they're not much younger than you. You might find them a bit of a handful.'

‘We haven't had a chance to get to know each other yet. I'm hoping I can relate to them in a different way, more of a big sister or young aunt and not a parental figure.'

Glynis didn't look convinced. ‘I think you're being optimistic. Perhaps you should get to know them before the wedding is announced. They will feel threatened by you. It won't be easy for you in that situation.'

‘He loves me, Mum. And I love him. The girls will get used to our marriage . . . eventually.'

But Kerrie's optimism was shattered when she encountered the hostility and coldness with which Milton's daughters greeted her. They were polite, shook her hand, but did not smile.

Renata said to Kerrie in a very cool voice, ‘We give you our congratulations and hope you will make our father happy. Now we have to go and help Wendy in the kitchen.'

Alia stood, staring balefully at Kerrie. ‘We don't want you as our mother.'

‘Alia! Be nice to Kerrie,' said Milton. ‘I told you Kerrie will be your friend.'

‘Is she going to live here?'

‘Of course. This is a large house,' said Milton affably, going to the sideboard and pouring two glasses of wine.

‘I can never replace your mother, Alia,' said Kerrie. ‘But I hope we can be friends and I can help you. I'm sure that we will all get along and make your father happy.'

‘We have enough friends already. And we have Wendy.'

Kerrie didn't want to get into an argument with an angry nine year old. She glanced at Milton, hoping that he would say something to support her, but he just shrugged and handed her a glass of wine.

‘Alia, come and sit on my lap and give me a hug. I've missed you,' he said.

He put his wine on a side table and sat in a chair, opening his arms, but Alia shook her head.

‘I don't want to hug you, Father,' said the little girl coldly.

‘Well, in that case you may go and help the others in the kitchen,' said Milton calmly as Alia stomped from the room.

‘Milton, I feel badly about this. I so want the girls to like me,' said Kerrie miserably.

‘Give them time. I've had other girlfriends, but the girls have never really had to share me seriously with anyone else before. I suppose I have indulged them to make up for my absences.'

‘Do they remember their mother?'

‘Of course the two older ones do, but Alia was only a toddler when her mother died and she has only vague memories. My wife's death was a stressful time for us all.' He sipped his wine.

‘Yes, that's why I want to try and get to know the girls really well. I'll do things with them,' said Kerrie. ‘I'm an only child, I've no siblings, no one to really relate to, except my mother, but I'll work hard to make them like me.'

Milton leaned over and touched her arm. ‘Give it time,
cara mia
. Don't rush. They will respect you more if you don't chase after them. Be yourself and once they know you, they won't be able to help liking you, you'll see.' He smiled.

Kerrie's mother was becoming very upset about the forthcoming wedding, and she confided in her sister-in-law.

‘I can't believe Milton doesn't want a proper wedding. Kerrie's father and I used to talk about it from the time she was born. And those girls of his are going to be a handful. I thought that the youngest one might enjoy being a flower girl, but evidently none of them wants to be part of the wedding at all. Their father has put his foot down and told them that they have to be there, but we're going to see some sulky faces.'

‘What does Kerrie think? Is she upset because she's not getting the big white wedding?'

‘Well, no. She says that she agrees with Milton, that they should have one of these modern weddings where they stand under a tree or barefoot on the beach.'

‘Well, if Kerrie's happy with that, let them get on with it. Invite who you want, and who comes, comes. So long as everyone enjoys the day, that's the main thing. Anyway, a more informal wedding will be cheaper for you.'

‘Actually, Milton's offered to pay for some of the costs, but I think that it's the bride's family who should pay,' began Glynis.

‘Rubbish. That sort of thinking went out with the ark! Last wedding I went to the kids did it all themselves. Let Milton do what he wants and you be happy that Kerrie's in love and found someone who's going to make her very comfortable.'

‘I suppose you're right, but I just can't help feeling that . . . well, Kerrie is being bulldozed a bit into this marriage. She might look back and regret it.'

‘It's her choice. I think that they'll be just fine with each other.'

In spite of Glynis Jackson's objections, Milton was very generous. He insisted on paying for the best food and wines, and for Kerrie's dress.

‘I want you to look like a dreamy nymph of the sea or the forest. I see you in drifting chiffon, your hair flowing down to your waist, studded with flowers.' He went to his desk and picked up a pad and a pencil and made a sketch. ‘You know those wonderful children's illustrators like Ida Outhwaite? My girls love her books.' Swiftly, using the side of the pencil lead, he shaded and filled in the surrounds. He studied his sketch, leaning closer to add a few more details, and then handed it to Kerrie. She stared at the delicate, romantic picture of a fairy standing beneath a willow tree, leaning over a pond to catch her reflection. The face was Kerrie's, smiling as her hand held back her long dark hair.

Kerrie caught her breath. ‘Milton, it's beautiful. For someone who hammers and chips away at blocks of stone, you have a delicate touch. But I'd shock the guests if I appeared in a transparent dress made of flimsy cobwebs.' She laughed. She made light of his drawing but she was taken aback by Milton's fine pencilwork. She knew she didn't have such skill.

‘I used to do drawings for the girls when they were very little as a way of getting them to go to bed. I still do, on occasion. But you get the idea. I hate those stiff-as-a-board wedding frocks. You're so svelte, you should wear something soft and flowing,' he said.

‘I would have liked the girls to have been more involved,' began Kerrie, trying to broach her mother's ideas, but Milton cut her off.

‘Don't even bother asking. Sorry, darling. I know they're a bit difficult at present, but they'll come round.'

‘Milton, this is really hard. We all have to live together. Surely you can persuade them to make an effort. It's not like I've come in and usurped their mother. Or Wendy. You've been on your own a long time. They must see that getting married again is right for you.'

‘Well, that's the crux of the matter, isn't it? The girls assumed that things would go on forever as they were, with Wendy and me being the centre of their universe. They don't understand that I don't want to go on living like that anymore. They should be grateful I have you and a new start. But they're still too young to see just how important you are to me. Things will settle down,' he added equably.

Kerrie stared at him. ‘And in the meantime? Hostilities to prevail for the next few years? Alia is only nine!'

‘It won't be that bad. I'm sure you'll manage to find a way to smooth things over. Wendy will help.'

‘What if Wendy wasn't around? If she's not here, the girls would be forced to deal with me,' suggested Kerrie.

‘What, and cramp our style? I have to travel,' said Milton. ‘I have to take overseas commissions. It's the only way I'm going to make my name internationally, and I want you to be with me. I need Wendy here, to look after the girls.'

‘Well, I suppose I could travel with you for the next few years, but what about when we have children? I wouldn't want to be separated from them, Milton. I'm not leaving my children behind to be raised by a nanny or housekeeper,' said Kerrie firmly.

Milton took her hands. ‘Darling, it's too soon to be thinking about that. I want you all to myself for the time being. Anyway, I have a family already, and I don't need another one just yet. I have to work hard to make my name not just in Australia – I want my work to stand in the great galleries and museums all over the world! I need you to help me do that. You will be my inspiration.' He lifted her hands and kissed them.

The wedding went ahead as Milton wanted. And Kerrie was as happy as any bride could be. In spite of her mother's fretting, everything went smoothly, and the ceremony and the reception were held in a stunning garden overlooking the harbour. It was romantic and stylish. Milton and Kerrie exchanged vows beneath an archway of roses by the lushly landscaped pool.

The three Faranisi daughters sat with Wendy. Sam from Kerrie's art class tried to talk to the girls but they were aloof and reserved.

Kerrie asked some old school friends to her wedding but the intervening years had seen them go in different directions. Some were still at university and saving to travel overseas, some had jobs and they all found that they now had little in common. They all wondered at Kerrie's decision to marry an older man, even if he was famous, but when they met Milton and saw how attractive, sophisticated and attentive he was, some were impressed. What none of them envied was the responsibility of a relationship in which Kerrie had acquired three stepdaughters.

Kerrie's school friends struck up a conversation with Sam, probing him with questions, and Sam was all too pleased to show off his knowledge of Milton Faranisi.

‘Is he really a famous sculptor?' asked one.

Sam lowered his voice conspiratorially. ‘He has buckets of money partly because his first wife was very rich but mainly because he is very good at what he does and people pay loads to get one of his works. But he's really ambitious and wants to make an even bigger international name for himself as a sculptor.'

‘I heard they have three houses or something. And they're going to live in Europe. Lucky Kerrie.'

‘Is she still going to art school?' one of the girls asked.

‘No, I think she'll be doing a lot of travelling. Anyway, she can always have private lessons from her husband!' said Sam. ‘Personally, I can't see Kerrie having much time to paint after she's married,' he continued with unusual prescience.

Kerrie often thought that if they hadn't gone to Holland straight after the wedding for Milton's commission, she might have been able to bond with Milton's three daughters early in the marriage. But when they came back from Holland so pleased and buoyed by Milton's success, the girls felt left out, and they blamed Kerrie.

As time went on relations between Kerrie and the girls did not improve. They all lived together in the Rose Bay house, and Kerrie devoted herself to working on the administration of Milton's art projects – publicity, promotions, exhibitions and lectures – and dealing with the growing interest from overseas in his work, for Milton refused to trust anyone else. Wendy organised the day-to-day household routine and supervised the girls, while Kerrie juggled Milton's time at Rose Bay, at his studio, the annual trip to the villa in Italy and family skiing holidays with the girls.

In addition to the time she devoted to Milton's career, Kerrie tried to involve herself with the girls, who had very demanding schedules. She attended school events, drove them to and from endless extracurricular activities and functions, took Luisa – who was horse mad – to pony club and drove the horse float to gymkhanas. She helped out at fundraising barbecues and attended school plays and eisteddfods, dragging Milton along whenever she could.