Back on Track, page 27
The smile left Virginia’s face. “I did, although it’s all in the past now. I injured my knee badly several years ago and finally I’ve had a replacement.”
“And…you have a son, I see.”
Virginia’s features hardened but there was sorrow in her eyes. “Strange how life is. You so badly wanted a child and had all hope removed. I never wanted a baby and I ended up with Beau.”
“And you never cease to remind me how tough that was for you.”
Ketty startled at Beau’s words, though they carried no malice. Neither woman had noticed his approach.
“Too right it was,” Virginia said. “Single parenting isn’t for the faint-hearted.”
“Lucky you ended up with the perfect son then.”
“As I often tell you, my dear Beau,” Virginia quipped then turned to Ketty. “This is an old friend of mine, Ketty Clift.”
“Miss Clift.” He held out his hand. “We’ve run into each other a few times already.”
“We have.” Ketty accepted his firm shake. “Please call me Ketty.”
“I’m glad Mum’s found you, Ketty. She’s been a bit down in the dumps.”
“I have not.” Virginia drew herself up haughtily.
Beau smiled. “They’re serving dessert when you’re ready.”
The two women watched him walk away.
“He’s good to me. Better than I deserve.” Virginia sighed.
“I don’t understand. You lost your baby after…while I was recuperating from my surgery. You were adamant you’d never—”
“‘Make the mistake of getting pregnant again’ were probably the words I used.” Virginia tapped her stick up and down. “God, I haven’t smoked for years but I feel like one now.” She glanced around. “Let’s sit on that bench a moment. I need to explain to you what happened.”
Ketty followed her and they sat.
Virginia set her stick against the wrought-iron armrest, smoothed her hands over her skirt then twisted to look at Ketty. “When we were in the hospital you were inconsolable. To lose your baby and then your womb, to have no chance of future babies…”
Ketty swallowed. It was all so long ago and yet seeing Virginia took her back to those terrible days when her life had been tipped upside down, as if it had been months instead of forty years. She’d been so in love with Leo, had been imagining a future with him. Then all in one day she’d discovered she was pregnant, miscarried and had an emergency hysterectomy, and then discovered the man she’d pinned her future to was married. “You were wonderful to me back then,” she said. “Holding my hand, telling me jokes, when you’d lost your own baby.”
“That I didn’t want.” Virginia glanced in the direction of the diners. “It turns out they thought I had vanishing twin syndrome. I probably had two babies and one didn’t survive, which explained the cramping and bleeding I had. The technology wasn’t so good back then so it took a few days for them to work out I was still pregnant.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t know how. Anyway, you’d been discharged by the time I knew for sure. We’d promised to keep in touch but I couldn’t. Not knowing I was going to end up with a baby, the very thing you wanted.”
Ketty shook her head. “I was so lost in misery it was a while before I realised I hadn’t heard from you.”
“After I had Beau I did try to visit. I left him with a friend and thought I’d see how you were, whether you were strong enough to take my news, but you were no longer at the address you’d given me.”
“I moved to Sydney. New beginnings.”
“And it worked?”
“Yes.” Ketty smiled then. “It’s so good to see you after all these years.”
Virginia smiled too and Ketty caught a glimpse of the beautiful, tenacious young woman who’d been determined to take the modelling world by storm.
“There’s so much to catch up on.” Virginia reached for her walking stick. “But I can see your friend is coming to get you.”
Ketty caught sight of Carlos heading in their direction.
“Shall we meet after we’ve eaten?” Virginia said. “Perhaps back here where it’s a bit quieter?”
Ketty hesitated, thinking of the chats she’d planned to have with the rest of her staff.
“Oh, but you’re with your friend,” Virginia said. “I don’t want to take up your time.”
“I do want to catch up but I’m also travelling with my staff and I have a few fences to mend. If it doesn’t work out tonight, let’s make a date for breakfast together in the morning. I can tap on your door as I pass. Eight o’clock?”
Virginia winced. “Eight thirty?”
“Fine.” Ketty leaned in and they hugged again. “It really is so good to see you after all this time. I’m sorry I didn’t recognise you sooner.”
“Here you are.” Carlos held out his hands as he walked towards her. “Dessert is being served. I didn’t want you to miss out.”
“Sorry I’ve been gone a while but I ran into an old friend. This is Virginia.” Ketty smiled at her. “Carlos and I have known each other longer than you and I.”
“How good to meet another friend of Ketty’s.” Carlos gripped Virginia’s hand.
“Oh, what a divine accent.”
“Carlos is visiting from Spain,” Ketty said as they made their way back to the dining area.
“I loved the time I spent in Spain,” Virginia said. “The men were…passionate.” She leaned closer to Ketty and winked. “See you again soon.”
“So you’ve worked out who your mystery woman is,” Carlos said as they made their way back to their table. “And you’ve worked out where Erik fits. You’re crossing a few mysteries off your list.”
Ketty nodded. There was still so much to find out about both Virginia and Erik.
“I’d hoped to sit next to you for dessert but it seems the others aren’t moving.” Carlos waved a hand towards their table, where everyone else had kept the same seats.
“Perhaps you and I could swap at least and then after dessert we can have a shuffle,” Ketty said.
His brief look of disappointment was swept away by his charming smile. “This is your special night, Ketty.”
“Special for all of us, I’d hoped, but I’m not sure how special the others are finding it.”
He slipped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a brief hug. “Don’t forget to enjoy yourself.”
Ketty gave a little shrug and took her seat. Carlos didn’t understand how much she still had to sort out and they were already halfway through their train holiday.
thirty-three
Night Two – Alice Springs
All around people were leaning back in their seats, faces tilted to the amazing star display provided by Mother Nature in the night sky overhead. Even Judith was impressed as she followed the green light of the laser pointer the speaker was using to indicate the constellations. No fireworks or city light show was a match for the spectacle above. It probably helped that she was a little more relaxed after their delicious meal, several glasses of wine and Erik’s company.
“I suppose you’re used to this array if you’ve lived at Coober Pedy,” she said as the lights on the buildings were turned back on.
“We should never take it for granted.”
Judith glanced at Erik. His head was still tilted skywards but somehow she felt he meant more than the star show above.
“So true,” she said, thinking of her own predicament with Ketty’s new plan to force Judith and Lacey together.
Erik dropped his eyes to hers. She drew a quick breath at the deep sorrow she saw in them.
“You think when you marry someone it’s forever,” he said.
“I…I suppose…yes,” she stammered, feeling awkward under his intense gaze. “My marriage ended in divorce though so…” She shrugged, not sure what to say.
His face lost its colour. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. My husband was abusive. My life has been better since.”
“I didn’t realise,” he muttered.
A waiter came with fresh glasses of wine and Judith took one even though she knew she shouldn’t. The last thing she wanted to do was compare her failed marriage to someone who was obviously grieving for his wife. She took a quick sip. The music started up again. Country wasn’t her thing but it suited the setting. Carlos, who had seated himself on Erik’s other side, asked him about the place he lived. She was grateful for the distraction, and she couldn’t really join in. It was difficult to hear what they were saying with the music playing again.
Val and Warren got up to dance. “Let’s show these young ones how to do it,” he announced.
Judith pretended to search for something in her bag, aware that the two empty seats meant Ketty was the next person along. She needn’t have worried – when she risked a glance Ketty and Ning were huddled close. No doubt the music was making it hard for them to hear each other too and they were so deep in conversation Judith doubted they would notice anyone else.
She studied Ketty surreptitiously, searching for clues. From this angle she looked the same as ever but it was as if the Ketty Judith had known for so many years had changed into a different woman. There was nothing to show from the outside but…Judith flicked her gaze in Carlos’s direction and gasped as sudden anger, as fierce as molten lava, surged inside her. She took a quick sip of her recently replenished wine. He was the reason for Ketty changing and losing interest in the business. This sudden idea of Ketty’s for Judith to work closely with Lacey was just another sign that, no matter how much she protested, Ketty was stepping back. Dear god, what if Tien’s theory that she was selling was actually true? Judith could never afford to buy the business – what if no-one could?
She was already losing her home, she couldn’t lose her job too. She reached for her wine again but instead bumped her glass, snatching it up before it tipped. A quick glance around revealed no-one was paying her any attention. She took another sip of wine. Just above the music Judith heard a familiar ringtone. Ning plucked her phone from the table and moved away. Before Ketty could turn in Judith’s direction she pushed up from her chair, deciding now was a good time to take a toilet break.
Ketty took a sip of wine and sat back. Swapping with Carlos had allowed her to sit next to Ning and then when Val and Warren had got up to dance Ketty had thought it the perfect opportunity to broach the subject of Ning’s retirement. Judith’s concerns that Ning was being coerced into retirement matched Ketty’s but before she could broach the subject Ning had spoken enthusiastically about the wonderful star talk they’d just had. Then her phone had rung and she’d excused herself and taken the call. Ketty had watched her walk away, the phone pressed tightly to one ear and a hand over her other.
She took another sip of wine. Across the table she’d been aware of Judith slipping away at the same time Ning had. Ketty was almost ready to believe Carlos was right and that she should stop worrying about them all and think about herself. Enjoy this holiday with me, he’d said, but there’d been something in his look that had disconcerted her.
Ketty jumped as Ning’s phone clunked to the table, closely followed by Ning thudding onto her chair. There was a disgruntled air about her, so unusual for Ning.
“Was that Peter again?” Ketty asked gently.
“Yes, and I’ve told him not to call me any more. I’ll be home again on Saturday.”
“Is this to do with them moving into your house?”
“Yes.” Ning’s dark brown eyes flashed and then her face fell.
“Have all your calls and messages been from Peter?”
“Sometimes Henry.” A little smile curled at the edges of Ning’s lips. “He can’t find a special T-shirt or his favourite meal I left in the freezer.” Ning chuckled. “Clearly marked.”
“You’re too good to him, Ning.”
“My daughter-in-law has also sent texts. The last was about measuring the sewing room so that she could get new floor covering. Peter wants carpet in there.” Once more Ning’s face fell.
“Oh, Ning.” Ketty leaned in a little closer. “Is there anything I can do? You seem so caught up in Peter’s plans but is it really what you want?”
“Yes…no.” Ning shrugged. “Yes, I don’t mind them moving in. I’m happy to help them…”
“And the no?”
“I don’t want to let you down.”
“If retiring is what you truly want you’re not letting me down. But if it’s not what you want…well, again you’re not letting me down…it’s you who’s being let down.”
Ning blew out a breath and with it her agitation. “I don’t want…” Her words were lost in a sudden loud voice that blared from the microphone encouraging people up to dance.
“I’m sorry.” Ketty edged a little closer to Ning. “Did you say you didn’t want to retire?”
Ning nodded. “Peter is the head of our family now. He is doing what’s best.”
Once more this evening Ketty was forced to swallow her annoyance. “But surely you can make this important decision for yourself.”
“We discussed it and Peter and Henry both agreed.”
“What does Peter’s wife think?”
“She doesn’t say too much at family meetings.” Ning’s face lit up. “She’s very excited about the baby.”
“Of course. I know you all are but does she want you as fulltime carer?”
“She’ll have to go back to work. She loves her job.”
“And you’re giving up the job you love,” Ketty said gently.
Ning’s shoulders sagged.
“You’re only fifty-eight. I don’t know what your finances are but it’s young to retire.”
“Peter and Henry will look after me.”
“I’m sure they will but won’t that be a little…” Ketty searched for the right word. She’d always supported herself financially but she understood families worked in different ways. “Limiting? What if you need money for something extra? A visit to your sisters in America, for instance? Do you want to have to ask your sons for that kind of money?”
Ning frowned.
“You’ve been with me since the beginning. My business has grown, endured difficult times and now it’s blooming again. A journey you’ve been…you are an integral part of.”
“You’re very kind, Ketty.”
“I’m not saying it just to be kind. I’m saying it as your friend and as your employer. Your embroidery skills are sought after. I will have trouble finding someone with your talent and expertise. I’m not trying to pressure you into staying, I simply want to be sure you’re making the decision to retire yourself, that you’re not being…coerced into leaving.”
Ning slumped further into her chair.
“We’ve been friends a long time, Ning. Please feel you can tell me the truth. Is retirement what you want?”
Ning’s head drooped. She shook it almost imperceptibly.
“Oh, Ning.” Ketty gripped one of her hands. “If it’s not what you want you must speak up.”
Ning lifted her head, deep sorrow etched her face. “Peter already has everything organised.” She spoke so softly Ketty could barely hear her.
“There must be another way. A compromise.”
A small glimmer of hope sparked in Ning’s eyes.
“You could work part-time, work from home like you did when your boys were babies.”
“I would have no space.”
“Then don’t give up your sewing room. You could agree to help with childminding as long as you keep your sewing space. Peter and his family should share the bedroom. Babies don’t take up too much space when they’re little.”
“I suppose I could talk to him.”
“Look, Ning, they have peppermint tea at the hot-drinks station.” Tien placed a cup in front of Ning. “Can I get you something, Miss Clift?”
“No, thank you. I’ve still got some wine.” Ketty leaned closer to Ning. “Let’s think on it and chat again tomorrow.”
Ning nodded. “Thank you,” she mouthed as Tien began to tell them about the man she’d just seen.
“I’m sure he’s been on Amazing Race.” Tien gasped. “What if this was one of their challenges? Maybe Mr Visser is a part of it? He’s acting very strangely. Although he doesn’t appear to have a partner. Unless they’re incognito.” Tien scanned the area around them. “That box Mr Visser had might be something he has to retrieve or—” Once more she gasped. “Maybe he has to place the contents somewhere.”
Ketty tuned out and left Ning to try to talk Tien down from the dizzying heights of the story she was making more fanciful by the minute.
Rory turned up at Birgit’s side. “Let’s dance.” He drew her up from her chair, one hand on hers and the other beckoning her to the dance floor. Rhys asked Lacey with less fanfare, and they all wove their way between the tables to join those already dancing. A small ripple of unease prickled Ketty’s chest as Rory spun Birgit in his arms. She’d suddenly remembered what it was about him that bothered her. Her night was only getting busier.
Lacey had accepted Rhys’s offer to dance but the band started playing ‘Little Less Lonely’. The Adam Brand song had been another of Dean’s favourites and a sudden wave of sadness swept her.
“Sorry.” She almost bumped into Rhys as she turned away. “I can’t…it’s just…I’m not much of a dancer…and my feet are a bit…”
“You’re okay,” he said kindly. “I forgot about your poor sore feet. Another drink instead?”
She nodded. It wasn’t totally a lie. She’d been sitting a lot of the night and her feet hadn’t bothered her but her little toe was beginning to feel sore again. They moved to a quieter space and Rhys waved down a passing waiter. Lacey took another glass of champagne. She’d lost count of how many she’d had tonight.
“Hello, you two.” Ketty walked towards them, a glass of wine in hand. “Not dancing after all?”
“Bit crowded out there,” Rhys said. “And I didn’t want to tread on Lacey’s toes.”
“I’m sorry, Lacey,” Ketty said. “I heard about your blisters and I’ve forgotten to ask how you are.”
