The Patterson Girls (27 page)

‘Now, we better get inside before Mum sends out a search party,' Joe said, starting towards the verandah and their pile of stuff.

As if she'd heard herself being mentioned, the front door swung open to reveal the domineering presence of Rosa Mannolini. She perched her hands on her ample hips but didn't look half as sweet as Carlos had when he'd done the same. ‘Are you two coming inside?' she hollered.

‘Hi Mamma.' Joe grinned and waved at her as he picked up his keys, wallet and bottle of wine. He spread his arms and made to hug her.

‘Don't you come near me young man. You're soaking wet.'

Geez, point out the obvious why don't you
, thought Lucinda, but she swallowed her annoyance. ‘Hey Rosa. Happy Australia Day.'

‘Hello, Lucia,' Rosa said, as if butter wouldn't melt. She'd always insisted on calling her that and each time she said Lucia instead of Lucinda was a gentle reminder that Lucinda would never live up to her expectations. She supposed that's what came of marrying an Italian mother's youngest son. ‘It's lovely to see you.'

Which meant,
it's been a long time since you've bothered to visit.
Joe had seen his parents since Christmas, but Lucinda had come down with a sudden headache that night.

‘You too,' she said, leaning forward to kiss Rosa on the cheek, careful not to lean against her with her wet clothes. ‘I'm just going to go get dry.'

She slipped past Joe and her monster-in-law, figuring she'd change into her bathers and then hang her wet clothes on the washing line. In this summer heat, they'd be dry before she could stake her claim on one of the sun lounges by the pool.

As Lucinda changed in the bathroom, she could hear the shrieks and squeals of the kids outside, music blasting from the stereo and the chatter of the adults drinking and laughing on the verandah. She smiled. That was what family was about. Although each new pregnancy announcement from one of her in-laws felt like a knife twisting in her heart, she liked Joe's family—well, most of them—and she was glad she'd come.

Bundling up her wet clothes and making sure her bikini straps were tied properly, she walked down the hallway heading for outside, but stopped at the sound of Joe and Rosa talking. Something in their tone—not loud but almost aggressive—made her heart still as she cocked her ear to listen.

‘
Mother
,' Joe said, and Lucinda could tell he was angry because he always called her Mamma to her face, ‘stop pestering Lucinda and me about babies.'

‘You've been married for years, Joseph, together for longer. It's reasonable of me to want grandbabies.'

‘I've lost count of how many
grandbabies
you have,' Joe scoffed.

‘You were such a beautiful baby, Joseph.' Lucinda dared to peer around the wall and saw Rosa leaning forward and cupping Joe's jaw in her hand. ‘Don't tell me you don't want children?'

Joe pulled away and Lucinda snapped back into her hiding place. ‘Of course I want children,' he all but growled at his mother. ‘And so does Lucinda. But how do you think she feels every time you ask her if she's pregnant yet or every time you buy us something for the
nursery
?'

‘I … um …' Miracles did happen, Rosa appeared to be lost for words.

‘We
are
trying to have a family, Mamma—' Joe's tone was only slightly softer ‘—but it looks like we might have … fertility problems.'

‘Pah,' Rosa spat. Lucinda should have known that nothing would make her back down. She didn't have a heart after all. ‘Mannolinis have never had problems making babies. I've always said that Lucia is far too skinny. She doesn't have child-bearing hips. If there's a problem, I tell you it'll be with her.'

Lucinda's eyes prickled with tears and she gripped her stomach as if someone had kicked her there. The wet clothes in her arms tumbled onto the polished tiles. What if Rosa was right?

‘I love you, Mamma,' Joe said, and now there was real anger in his voice, ‘but don't you
ever
speak about my wife like that again. I mean it. If you hurt her, you'll lose me because I will choose her over you
every
time. And it's
Lucinda
, not Lucia.'

Lucinda gasped, shocked by his words, and then snapped her hand over her mouth, hoping neither of them had heard her. No such luck. She heard Joe's bare feet slap across the tiles and seconds later he appeared around the corner. He opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

‘I'm sorry you had to hear that, baby.'

‘I'm not,' she said, sniffling into his already wet t-shirt. ‘Thank you.' It was the first time Lucinda could remember Joe standing up to his mother—standing up for
her
—and it made her feel closer to him than ever. She squeezed him tight, never wanting to let go.

He must have mistaken her clinginess for distress because he pulled back slightly and whispered, ‘Let's go home. We'll go get take-out and watch the sky show on the TV later.'

As appealing as curling up on the couch with Joe and her favourite Thai takeaway was, she wouldn't allow Rosa to ruin her night. She wanted to hang out with the rest of Joe's family and watch the fireworks over the Swan River from their vantage spot on his parents' balcony. She wanted to see the expressions of glee on her nieces and nephews' faces and for once just appreciate what she had, rather than dwell on what she wanted.

‘No, let's stay,' she said.

‘You sure?'

She nodded and took his hand. ‘But let's get you out of those wet clothes first.'

Still holding his hand, she leant down to scoop her wet things up into her arms and led him back into the bathroom. Not caring that this was his mother's place—or maybe because it was— she turned on the taps in the shower and stepped inside.

‘Come here big boy.'

Grinning, Joe tugged his t-shirt over his head, ripped off his shorts and jocks and joined her.

Chapter Twenty-two

Charlie was sitting in front of the computer and scrolling through online linen sites with Mrs Sampson when Mitch swaggered into the reception area and demanded the presence of her company for Australia Day lunch on his brother's farm. She hadn't even realised it was Australia Day. Since being back home at the motel and spending all her spare time painting, she barely knew one day from another.

‘Can't you see I'm busy?' She feigned annoyance as she gestured to the screen.

He leaned over the desk, so close she got an unnerving waft of whatever body wash he'd used that morning. ‘You're going to turn down an afternoon out in the sun, hanging out with me, Kate and Macca for what? Online shopping?'

Mrs Sampson giggled. Although she was old enough to be Mitch's mother, she wasn't immune to his charm.

Charlie shot her a glare. ‘This is important. Now we've finished a few of the rooms, I want to at least replace the bedding and curtains.'

Looking blank, Mitch shook his head. ‘I'm happy to talk paint colours and what kind of fertiliser to use in the garden beds, but I draw the line at bedding. Next you'll be asking me about throw cushions.'

Charlie tried not to smirk. ‘No one asked for your opinion,
Mitchell
.'

He straightened and then grinned his cocky, the-world-is-my-oyster smile. ‘That's right, they didn't. Well, phew.' He theatrically wiped a hand across his brow. ‘You coming for a beer and a barbie, then?'

Charlie opened her mouth to object. As much as seeing Kate and Macca and hanging out with Mitch sounded fun, she didn't want to leave her dad alone tonight. Australia Day could swing both ways; they might be run off their feet by folks wanting a drink out, or everyone could choose to party at home. As if reading her mind, Mrs Sampson spoke before Charlie had the chance.

‘Go, have fun,' she said, standing and making shooing movements with her hands. ‘I'll hang around here in case things get busy. I've haven't got any plans. Between me, Brian and Rob we'll manage, I'm sure.'

Charlie lifted an eyebrow—Mrs Sampson had already done her shift for the day—but her old friend crossed her arms and glared right back. ‘You deserve a break as much as the rest of us, missy.'

‘Okay, okay, I know when I'm beat.' She glanced down at her hands and grimaced. Straight after the breakfast service she'd gotten stuck into the painting again and her fingers and nails were filthy. The least she could do was try and scrub off some of the paint before she went out. ‘Give me ten minutes to get ready and I'm yours.'

‘The timer's on,' Mitch called as she opened the door that led into the adjoining house. She rolled her eyes and flipped him the bird.

It took twenty minutes to drive out to Kate and Macca's farm, which was off the Eyre Highway as you headed towards the Nullarbor. Charlie and Mitch spent the whole time chatting in the way of old friends who always have something or other to say to one another. They talked about meaningless things, such as the rumours there was going to be another series of
Big Brother
this year, and both proclaimed their disgust at this possibility.

‘It went downhill after Gretel Killeen left I tell you,' Mitch said, tapping along to the Paul Kelly album playing softly in the background.

‘The new host not hot enough for you?'

‘I wouldn't even know who she is.' Mitch chuckled and then moved onto something not quite so meaningless. ‘Speaking of women, do you reckon there's something going on between your dad and Mrs S?'

‘What?' Charlie straightened in her seat and turned her head to look at him. ‘Where did you get that idea?'

He shrugged. ‘They seem to get along well and hang out a bit. She jumped at the excuse to help him out tonight.'

Charlie frowned. She'd thought
she
was responsible for the improvement in her dad's health and mood but what if it was because something was going on with their housekeeper? She didn't know how she'd feel about that. ‘I don't know … Maybe.'

‘Would it bother you?'

‘What? Dad finding someone else?'

‘Yeah.'

Her mum had barely been gone six months, so … ‘I haven't really given it any thought, but I suppose I wouldn't mind as long as he was happy. He and Mum were such a perfect couple that it's just something I never contemplated. Did your dad ever date anyone after your parents broke up?'

Mitch shook his head. ‘If he did he kept it quiet from Macca and me. I think Mum burnt him pretty bad, but I kind of wish he had found someone. Everyone deserves that, don't you reckon?'

Mitch glanced over at her and for a second Charlie wondered if he was trying to tell her something. Her stomach twisted and her heart skipped a beat but then he turned back to the road. ‘We're here.'

Charlie swallowed as they bumped along Kate and Macca's long gravel driveway. By the time the house appeared in front of them, her emotions were almost under control. Had Mitch been trying to tell her something? Was he developing feelings for her too? Or was spending so much time together wreaking havoc with her common sense?

There were three vehicles parked out the front of the old but recently renovated farmhouse. A number of scooters, bicycles and other kid clutter littered across the dry lawn, but it was the vehicles that piqued Charlie's interest. She recognised Kate's four-wheel drive from the few times they'd run into each other in town, and the ute had to belong to Macca. The other car—a Holden wagon—was Lisa's. ‘What's Lisa doing here?' she asked as Mitch pulled up alongside it.

He tugged the key out of the ignition and grinned at her. ‘She and Kate know each other from the Toy Library or something and when Lisa said she'd not seen you as much as she'd hoped, Kate invited them over as well. It'll do you good to relax a bit.'

‘Them' had to include Lisa's husband, Tim, who was a local mechanic, and her two adorable little boys. Charlie hadn't met Tim yet but she'd be glad to see Lisa. They'd met a couple of times for coffee but neither time had seemed long enough.

‘Oh, that's great,' she said, opening the door and climbing out.

Mitch went to the back tray of his ute and retrieved an esky, his arm muscles doing that arousing flexing thing as he did so.

Charlie averted her gaze. ‘Do you need any help?'

‘Nope. All good. Lead the way.'

Following the noise of children playing, she headed around the house to the backyard and found the four adults sitting around the pool and four children splashing in it. Lisa's preschool-aged son was wearing a flotation device and the baby was asleep in her arms. Kate and Macca's three older kids looked to be pro-swimmers already, and their baby was fast asleep in a rocker beside the adults.

Kate, Macca, Lisa and a blond-haired man Charlie guessed to be Tim all raised their hands and offered greetings. She waved back as Kate rose from where she'd been sitting with her legs dangling in the pool and rushed over to open the pool gate. ‘Come on in.'

‘Thanks for inviting me.' Charlie hugged Kate, noticing her bikini and colourful sarong. ‘Mitch didn't tell me you had a pool.'

‘Men.' Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Don't worry, I have hundreds of pairs of bathers you can borrow.'

Charlie wasn't sure she'd fit into Kate's bathers—and she certainly wouldn't look as good—but she accepted gratefully. ‘Thanks. That would be good.'

‘What would be good?' Mitch asked. Having delivered the esky onto the verandah, he now held up two beers and offered one to Charlie.

Taking it, she enjoyed a long, satisfying sip before replying. ‘Kate's lending me some bathers since you forget to tell me to bring them.'

‘You're a big girl, Charles,' he said, tossing her a fake-reproving look. ‘I can't do everything for you. Of course, you could always swim in your underwear. Or skinny dip.'