The Wildwood Sisters (6 page)

Sitting down on the grass, Renee pulled a tissue from her bag and wiped her eyes. ‘Hi Fay. I got some big news to tell you. I'm finally going back to Wildwood Acres.' She sighed loudly, wishing she could hear Fay's reply, although, she knew it would be one filled with apprehension. ‘You see, Nan has had a heart attack and I want to be there to help her and Pa. They've both been there for me my entire life, and now it's my turn to be there for them.

‘And on top of that, I really need to try to find out what happened to Scarlet, because as much as I've tried to get on with my life down here, the fact we never found out who took her from us will haunt me every day until whoever it was is caught and brought to justice.' Renee's lips began to quiver. ‘And I really need to try to find her, Fay, so we can give her the burial she deserves. I feel selfish going on about my days when Scarlet's body is lying out there somewhere. I'm going to make it a priority, besides taking care of Nan of course, to try and unravel the truth while I'm there. I don't know if I'll get all the answers I need, but I'm going to at least give it my best shot.'

Renee gently rested her hand on the grass that covered Fay's resting place, imagining she was in fact resting her hand over Fay's. ‘I know if you were here you'd be worried sick about me going back, but I'm hoping that because you're in spirit now, you can be beside me while I'm there. You know, keeping me safe.'

Brushing her fingers over her lips and then placing her kiss upon Fay's headstone, Renee lay back on the impeccably manicured grass with her hands tucked behind her head, watching the clouds as they floated listlessly in the azure blue sky. The fruity scent of orange blossom floated in on the soft breeze, stirring vivid memories of her and Fay sitting in the garden with a cup of herbal tea, enjoying the morning sunshine as they caught up on their hectic lives. She imagined Fay, above the clouds, and smiled. It was a peaceful world up there, beyond the challenges, trials and tribulations of this earth. And knowing Fay, she'd be keeping all the souls in heaven on their toes, in a good way. She wondered if her mum and dad and Scarlet were up there with Fay, looking down upon her. She had to believe they were. It gave her the strength to take the big step she'd been avoiding for the past nine years.

She thought back to the second phone call she'd made this morning, after Tia had left to go home and sleep. Her pa had been extremely hesitant when she had called to tell him she was coming back. He had tried to talk her out of it once again, but she'd firmly told him he couldn't change her mind. And after telling him she'd hitchhike to Wildwood Acres if need be, he'd grouchily agreed to pick her up from Cairns airport, at the same time reminding her how stubborn she could be.

Pfft.
He could talk. She didn't have a hope in hell of being anything else with him as her role model growing up. Stubbornness was a Wildwood trait.

Closing her eyes, Renee enjoyed the warm sunshine touching her skin as questions began to flood her mind once again. Would returning to Opals Ridge finally cure her, or would her long-buried fears emerge into a nightmarish reality? Did the man that had stolen her heart all those years ago still live there, and could she expect him to forgive her if he was? And would new information come to light that would expose her sister's killer and lead her to her sister's remains? There was only one way to find out, and tomorrow she would step onto a plane bound for Far North Queensland, with no chance of turning back.

The flight attendant's robotic-sounding voice woke Renee from her light slumber, the young stewardess advising all passengers to close their tray tables, put their seats in the upright position, open all window shades, stow bags beneath the seat in front and make sure seatbelts were fastened, then finally announcing it was four pm and a balmy thirty degrees in Cairns.

Renee yawned, her mind lagging as she did what was requested. When the bloke behind her pushed his knee into the back of her seat yet again, she bit her tongue, determined not to make a scene. Normally she would shrug it off, but today her nerves were on tenterhooks. He'd being wriggling the entire flight, pulling her hair whenever he got up to go to the toilet, and burping loud enough to mimic a foghorn. The only reprieve from the constant jabs in the back and utter rudeness was to fall into a restless sleep. She understood that there was limited room on an aircraft, but this guy was pushing beyond the boundaries of acceptable. She couldn't wait to get off the plane and away from him before she lost her cool.

Sitting up in her seat, she stretched out her aching neck and then pushed open her window shade, momentarily blinded by the sunlight pouring through like a sea of molten gold. Allowing herself to be taken away by Mother Nature's beauty, she stared in awe as her focus came to rest on the crystal clear aqua-blue water beneath. The bird's eye view allowed her to grasp the Great Barrier Reef's unimaginable scale and beauty in a way that was impossible from the ground.

Tourist boats sped through the sea, on the way home from the reef or the islands, leaving white frothy trails in their wake. Exquisite palm-fringed golden-sand beaches hugged the lush green coastline, while towering mountains sat off in the distance, winding roads leading through the rainforest and up to the Atherton Tablelands where Wildwood Acres was. After so many years away she had forgotten just how amazingly beautiful Tropical North Queensland was. Her stomach did a backflip, and then another, the butterflies in her belly more like mammoth moths. She was finally here. Back to where it had all happened. Home. She pondered with equal measures of anxiety and curiosity what lay ahead for her.

The sultry heat hit her like a smack in the face as Renee stepped from the plane and onto the steps that led down to the tarmac. Removing her thick jacket, she looked towards the clear unpolluted blue sky and smiled. Even though this was technically winter, it was unquestionably shorts and singlet weather, her favourite. No more applying multiple layers of clothes before she headed out the door. She sucked in a deep breath of clean, salty sea air that carried just a hint of the frangipani trees that lined the edge of the airport's runway, the scents of the tropics tantalising her senses and distracting her from the nerves in her stomach.

Taking determined steps, her low-heeled shoes clomping on the pathway, she headed towards the arrivals hall where she knew her pa would already be waiting. Not one to condone tardiness, he was always early for everything, no matter what. Renee recalled the time he had taught her a valuable lesson in punctuality when he had driven off and left her stranded without a lift into town because she had refused his countless polite requests to hurry up in the bathroom. Never needing to raise his voice, or his hand, he had a certain way of teaching life lessons in a way that hit home hard, and now she was an adult, she adored him for it. It had been a different story when she was a hormonal teenager.

The security doors swung open and she instantly spotted her pa up the other end, leaning up against the barricade that separated the visitors from the people waiting. His commanding presence always made him stand out in a crowd, just like her dad used to. Like father like son. Stanley Wildwood wore what he always did, unless he was going to a wedding, baptism or a funeral (to which he would wear a suit and tie): timeworn R.M. Williams boots, blue jeans, a brown leather belt, and a collared t-shirt, his cherished wide-brimmed hat old and tattered.

Renee waved madly through the crowd, feeling instantly at ease. No matter how old she was, her pa always made her feel safe and dearly loved, just by being near him. He blamed himself for Scarlet's disappearance, it being his inherent nature to fiercely protect the ones he loved. Back when it all happened he would say over and over how he should have been there to save Scarlet from whatever had happened to her. Hearing it had broken Renee's heart every time. Stanley was a good man, a loving grandfather—he needn't feel what he was feeling.

He looked towards her and then smiled, the weathered skin around his hazel eyes creasing as he waved back to her.

Renee's heart ached as she got a closer look at him. He looked so damn exhausted, and old beyond his years. She hadn't seen him since he and her nan had visited for Christmas almost six months ago, but he looked as though he'd aged twenty years in that time. The fright of almost losing his childhood love to a heart attack, and having to manage all the jobs around the station on his own this past week, had visibly taken a huge toll. He clearly needed her support, even though he had tried to convince her he didn't.

And he thinks I'm bloody stubborn!

As she stepped towards him with her arms outstretched, her pa pulled her close and embraced her, firm enough to make her feel as though any tighter and she wouldn't be able to breathe. She squeezed him back and then gave him a kiss on the cheek, while blinking back happy tears. ‘It's so good to see you, Pa. I've missed you and Nan so much.'

‘It's good to see you too, Missy-Moo, as always. Although you know I'm worried sick about you coming back here.' He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his sun-freckled nose. ‘I know you're old enough to take care of yourself now. It just worries me, is all.'

‘I know, Pa, but honestly, I can't hide away forever.' She gave him a reassuring smile as she held him at arms-length and gave his gnarled hands a squeeze. ‘Everything's going to be fine.
I'm
going to be fine. So stop worrying about me. Okay?'

Stanley chuckled sarcastically. ‘Me? Not worry? You got Buckley's of that.' He smirked and took his hat off to reveal his thinning grey hair. ‘This is proof of how much bloody worrying I do, especially about you.'

Renee gave him a playful slap on the arm. ‘Oh, Pa, lay off. I'm not that much of a headache for you.'

‘I'll never lay off. You'll always be my little girl—you should know that by now.' Stanley half smiled and half frowned as he looked around, hands on hips. ‘Now let's grab your luggage so we can get outta this joint—too many bloody people rushing aimlessly about for this old codger. And your nan can't wait to see you.'

Stepping through the doors of the disinfectant-smelling hospital room, Renee sucked in a sharp breath when she spotted her nan in the bed. An ECG machine beeped alongside her, monitoring her heart rhythms, and cords seemed to be attached to her everywhere. Usually so full of life, she wasn't used to seeing her like this. Nan looked so pale and drawn, her skin hanging from her bones, and for a painful few seconds Renee thought she might have been dead. Rushing to her bedside, she tenderly took her by the hand, being careful to avoid the drip that was taped to it. It was warm.
Thank God.

Stanley sat down on the end of the bed and placed his hand on his wife's leg, rubbing it softly. ‘Pearl, dear, Renee's here.'

Pearl Wildwood slowly opened her eyes, her sun-wrinkled face lighting up the minute she realised it was Renee holding her hand. ‘Sweetheart, it's so nice to see you.' Her voice was almost a whisper. She rolled over stiffly to face her, acknowledging Stanley with a tender smile. Stanley leant in and placed a kiss on her lips, holding it a little longer than a peck, before sitting back and gazing lovingly towards his wife, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Renee smiled, her lips quivering as she blinked back tears of her own. The way her pa was regarding her nan with such adoration pulled at her heartstrings. These two amazing people had endured so much throughout their fifty-one years together; enough to break most, but yet here they were, clearly more in love than ever. Yes, both of them were as stubborn as old mules, quite often bickering over daily life and differences of opinions, but beneath the banter they were unquestionably soulmates. One day Renee hoped to experience a love like theirs.

‘It's lovely to see you, too, Nan.' She leant in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘How are you feeling?'

‘To be honest, I could be better. But don't worry yourself, the doctor reckons I'll be home and back to my old self in no time.' She reached out and patted Renee's arm. ‘And then you can head back to the city, where you're safe, my love. I don't need you staying here and fussing over me.'

Renee shook her head. ‘Sorry, Nan, but I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. You're stuck with me for a while, I'm afraid.'

Pearl raised her eyebrows at Renee, and then at Stanley. ‘I think your pa might have something to say about that—and I must say, I'm not too comfortable with the thought of you being back in Opals Ridge either. You remember what the note said. It still scares me to death that whoever wrote it has never been found. What if…'

The heart monitor started to beep erratically and Stanley quickly rubbed his wife's arm. ‘Don't you worry your pretty little head about anything right now dear—you just get better. We need you back at home to keep us all on our toes. I'll take good care of Renee. Don't you worry about that.'

‘Yup, Pa will take good care of me, Nan, or should I say, I'll take good care of him.' Renee grinned cheekily at her pa and then winked at him, trying desperately to lighten the mood of the room. ‘I'm a big girl now, Nan, and I can take care of myself. I would like to stay a little while to help take care of you, that's all.'

‘Hmm. Let's just play it by ear then, love, okay? You know how much I hate people making a fuss of me,' Pearl said as her eyes drooped closed. She blinked them open, chuckling softly. ‘I think this old duck needs some more beauty sleep.'

‘Of course you do.' Renee gave her nan's fingers a light squeeze, her emotions welling once more with the frailness of her hand. Pearl had always been such a strong countrywoman with so much energy she'd bounce off the walls. ‘I'll pop back with Pa tomorrow, okay? And I'll bring your favourites, Werther's Originals.'