Page 94 of Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
‘I’ll give you my handyman’s number,’ Elizabeth says, then she stops smiling. ‘So, yes, Jon was my handyman. And my support – he always encouraged me to pursue my interests. After Charlie was born he made sure I had time to myself, so I didn’t get too overwhelmed.’
Another sigh, although this one is gentler. ‘He was a man of faith. Right until the end. I think it helped him accept what was happening.’ She blinks a few times. ‘Although I couldn’t. I still can’t.’ She smiles quickly but there are tears on her cheeks.
‘He was quite a serious person. Good sense of humour but … serious. He took the world seriously. Took other people seriously. Took his work seriously. He was cautious. And that’s how I knew that when he said he loved me he really meant it. He neverrushed into anything and he always meant what he said. So when he said he wanted to have a child, I knew he would embrace that. And he adored Charlie. I think …’ Another catch of her voice. ‘I think the hardest thing for me is knowing that Charlie won’t have that in his life any more.’
‘Rubbish!’ Lorraine declares and Elizabeth looks startled.
‘Youadore him,’ Lorraine says. ‘And I think he’s all right. Cyn probably does too, don’t you, Cyn?’
‘Indeed.’ Cynthia smiles. ‘He’s a delightful young chap.’
‘Kath?’
‘No better child,’ Kathy says and it’s the truth. She’s become very fond of Charlie, and given what Elizabeth has told her of Jon she’d say the boy has inherited his father’s best qualities.
‘So,’ Lorraine says, ‘that’s a few of us. Shirl and Barb seem to like him too.’
Elizabeth laughs. ‘Really? I thought he might be annoying them.’
‘No more than I do.’ Lorraine grins. ‘Anyway, there you have it: the kid has three aunties and you didn’t even realise it.’
‘Oh.’ Elizabeth’s mouth is open and Kathy wonders if she’s about to say something else.
‘Don’t get weepy,’ Lorraine orders. ‘We know we’re not the same as Jon, but what I’m trying to tell you is that we care. And we care about you too. Don’t get weepy about that either, though, please. I’m premenstrual and it’ll set me off.’
Lorraine pats Elizabeth’s hand and stands up. ‘Kath, I put some cheese and biccies in the kitchen. Wanna help me with them?’
‘Sure.’ Kathy stands and follows Lorraine.
She shouldn’t be as surprised as she is to hear Lorraine sniffing as if she’s trying to hold back tears. Lorraine always seems like such a force – always moving forwards, never stopping to indulge in sentiment.
‘Blast that Elizabeth,’ Lorraine says, opening the fridge and pulling out a plate holding different types of cheese. ‘I just want to give her a big hug and look what it’s doing to me.’
Faced with Lorraine’s unabashed emotion, Kathy decides there’s only one thing for it. ‘How about I giveyoua hug instead?’
Lorraine nods. ‘Good on you, Kath,’ she says, and they hug for a few seconds before Lorraine tears the Glad Wrap off the cheese and they set about arranging biscuits.
‘It’s nice, being here, isn’t it?’ Lorraine says as she picks up the plate.
Kathy nods. ‘Elizabeth has made a lovely home.’
‘And we made a lovely garden. Us and Jon, wherever he is.’ Lorraine looks like she may need another hug. ‘We do good, don’t we?’
‘I think so. Although I think the gardening does me more good than I’m doing for anyone else.’
‘Debatable,’ Lorraine says, then grins. ‘It’s doing us all good. I’m looking forward to getting back into it.’
‘Me too.’ Kathy stands back so Lorraine can walk ahead of her.
‘For now, though – cheese!’
Kathy laughs as she follows her friend back to the garden and into the evening light.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Thewaves are small today, not pushed to their cyclonic potential as they sometimes are at this time of year. The sand on this beach at Little Cove has a tinge of grey in its brown. It’s not golden or white, the way some sand can be; the way it is in glamorous photographs of exotic beaches. It’s the sand made of the basalt rocks around it, up against the road; the same sand Cynthia walked on as a child, and Odette after her.
Since Odette has moved into Wilfred’s house they haven’t had many moments alone – and moments they are, snatched in between the squalls of a hungry baby and visits from Pat and from Odette’s friends, who look at Jordan like they can’t work out if he’s real.
