Page 135 of The Pearl Sister
‘There is, my darling. And yes, you’re right, perhaps it will be difficult, and perhaps everyone will be shocked by our union, but surely we owe it to future generations of men and women in this country to make a stand? And I am perfectly placed to do so. In twenty-four hours I will inherit huge wealth. Money talks – especially in this town.’ Charlie reached for her again and held her taut body against his. ‘My darling, we’re a family already, don’t you see? It was meant to be.’
‘No! I . . . you, an’ this’ – Cat patted her stomach – ‘are not experiment. We are human, and dis is our life, Charlie. We have lived side by side, yes? So close together, always, but truth is, we far apart. You walka the world as a whitefella with a veil over your eyes. You do not see how the rest of the world sees me, how they treatem me because of the colour of my skin. You do not see how so much of the world is closed to me, because you are free, and I not. An’ our baby will not be free.’
‘Cat, we would be man and wife and the law would allow it! And I will doeverythingI can to make sure you and our baby are safe, just as my mother did for Camira, foryou!’ Charlie wrung his hands as he tried to make her understand. ‘I have nothing without you.’
There was silence as they both listened to the rain drumming on the roof.
A long sigh escaped Cat’s lips. ‘Charlie, I thinkum you not live here in Broome for long time now. You don’t understand how it is.’
‘I don’t care how it is! We will baptise the baby in front of the entire town! I’ve been discussing this with Ted – the friend I have told you about whose father ran the Hermannsburg mission near Alice Springs. Ted has taught me so much, he even speaks Arrernte, and tells me that the Aboriginals in the mission are free to come and go as they please. The white-fellas respect your culture, and—’
‘Does he knowa ’bout me?’
‘Of course he does.’
‘Wouldheever marry a “creamy” like me?’
‘Goodness, I don’t know, I’ve never asked him . . .’
‘Hah! Things other fellas tell you but wouldn’t do themselves . . .’
‘No! That’s not right. Ted Strehlow is a good man, a man who means to make a change in Australia.’
‘He be dead long before it made.’ Cat tore off the amber ring and offered it to him. ‘I cannot take this. You have it back, please, Charlie.’ She pressed it into the palm of his hand. He was just about to entreat her to keep it when there was a sudden loud banging on the door. Both of them nearly jumped out of their skins.
‘Is someone in there? Good God, I’m being drowned out here, and so are my roses! Why won’t my key fit into the lock?’
‘Jidu!Hide!’ Charlie hissed to Cat.
Already Cat had stood up and was blowing out candles before removing the blanket from the centre of the floor.
‘Sorry, Mother, it’s me,’ Charlie called cheerily through the door. ‘I heard the storm and I’ve already begun to gather your roses together.’ Making sure Cat was well hidden in the shadows, he turned the key in the door as quietly as he could and threw it into Cat’s hands, as he made a facade of turning the handle numerous times. ‘Good grief, this lock is sticky, we need to have Fred oil it,’ he said loudly.
Turning back to the figure in the shadows, he mouthed, ‘I love you.’ Then, with an exaggerated jerk, he pulled open the door.
‘Mother! You’re positively drenched!’
‘I am indeed, but I shall dry off soon enough.’ Kitty stepped into the shed, dragging a tub of roses in behind her. ‘I’ve never known that door to jam before. One would almost think that you had locked it from the inside.’
‘Why would I do that? Right, I’ll dive out and try and save the rest of the tubs from imminent death,’ Charlie chuckled then stepped out of the shed into the pelting rain.
‘Thank you,’ Kitty said a few minutes later as the last of the roses had been brought in to their safe haven. ‘I pride myself on knowing when a storm is coming, but tonight,’ she sighed, ‘I was so very tired.’
‘Of course, Mother. You work too hard.’
‘And I will indeed be relieved to hand over the burden,’ Kitty replied. ‘By the way, I have invited Elise Forsythe to come to your birthday celebration. She is such a nice young woman. She told me today after you’d left that her grandfather hails from Scotland.’
‘What a coincidence. Now, Mother, shall we go to the house and get ourselves dry?’
‘Yes. Thank you, my darling. I know I can always depend on you.’
‘Always, Mother,’ Charlie said, as he closed the door behind them and Kitty locked it.
Once the footsteps had retreated, a figure emerged from the shadows inside the shed. After tiptoeing to the door and unlocking it with the key Charlie had thrown her, she opened it and made her way out into the night.
The storm had abated, at least for a while. Leaning back against the shed, Cat looked up to the heavens, her hands held protectively around her belly.
‘Hermannsburg,’ she breathed as a tear fell down her cheek. ‘Sanctuary.’
