Flight of the Jabiru (22 page)

“I asked Rex if we could do anything. He just shook his head. I didn't press him for details, but I'd say the baby is stuck because it's so big. It doesn't look good.”

“Where's poor Carmel?” Betty asked, annoyed with herself for not wondering earlier.

“I had Peewee take her out on the boat so she couldn't hear her mother,” Joyce said. “I told him I'd hang a red cloth over the veranda railing when it was safe to bring Carmel back.

“That was kind of you, Joyce,” Betty said.

“We couldn't let the poor little mite hear her mother's agony. She might end up resenting the baby, if it's born safely...”

“Of course it will be,” Betty snapped, praying it survived and so did Rizza.

The mood in the hotel was somber for the next hour. The magnificent sunset over the billabong went unappreciated and then darkness quickly descended. Pee Wee brought Carmel to the pub as they were being attacked by mozzies on the billabong, so Betty took her home, fed her, and left her playing with the boys.

The residents of the town sat in a silent group in the pub, taking comfort in sharing their worry. As each minute dragged by, their hopes for a happy outcome faded. Betty had made sandwiches, but they'd hardly been touched. Lara was quite drunk and thankful that she didn't have to get off her chair.

“I'm glad you're all here,” Rex said wearily as he came in the door. He looked thoroughly drained; he'd aged ten years, and he was as pale as the moon.

“Is Rizza all right?” Betty asked. She couldn't hold back her worries.

“She's exhausted. She's had a really rough time,” Rex said tearfully. He loved his wife, but he'd never admired her more than he did at that moment.

“And ... the baby?” Betty dared to ask in a small voice.

The residents held their breaths collectively.

“He's weak, but Jerry says he'll be fine.”

“You have a ... son?” Colin said with delighted relief. Like everyone else, he'd been thinking the worst.

“Yes, I have a son,” Rex said breaking into a smile. The community cheered and congratulated him. “He's a big boy,” Rex added proudly.

“Who does he look like?” Monty asked, only to be jeered by the women who claimed it was too early to tell.

“He has his mother's dark hair,” Rex said, “And lots of it. Unfortunately he has my big ears.”

Monty offered Rex a much-needed pint and noticed his hand shook as he took it.

“You'd better have a sandwich with that,” Betty said, offering the plate.

“Maybe the protruding ears got him stuck,” Colin suggested.

There was a few seconds of silent disbelief. Betty couldn't believe her husband had just uttered those words. She'd kill him! But then everyone burst out laughing, including Rex, who collapsed onto a chair. He laughed so hard, tears ran down his face, but it was a blessed relief to set his emotions free. He'd contained them for Rizza's sake. When he recovered, he drank his beer and ate his sandwich, and never enjoyed anything more.

Half an hour later, Jerry walked into the pub. He looked exhausted, too, as he rolled down his shirtsleeves.

Rex jumped to his feet when he saw him. “Is Rizza all right? And the baby?”

“They're resting,” Jerry said. “Rizza should sleep for a few hours. Hopefully your son will, too.”

“You've earned this, doc,” Monty said, handing him a pint. Betty also offered him a sandwich.

“Poor Rizza did all the hard work,” Jerry said. “Luckily she's a strong woman, or she might not have survived what she just went through.”

“We'll make sure she gets plenty of rest,” Betty said and the other women agreed. They immediately began planning who'd do what for her.

“I need to talk to you,” Lara said to Jerry when there was a quiet moment.

He looked at her strangely. “Have you been drinking?”

“I've had three or four brandies,” Lara admitted.

“Brandy! You don't usually drink, do you?”

“No, but I was worried about Rizza. That she might be in trouble affected me more than I expected.”

“She's fine now. Perhaps a good sleep would do you good, too.”

“It would, but I have something I want to say first. Would you walk me home, after you've finished your beer and sandwich?”

“I think we'd better leave any discussions between us for another time,” Jerry said. “It's been a really tough day, and I'm exhausted.”

“I need to explain why I turned down your dinner invitation.”

“You don't have to explain,” Jerry said, feeling awkward and conscious that Lara might be overheard. “You're not obligated to go out with every man who asks.”

“I know, but I really have nothing to wear...”

“Nothing to wear!” Jerry looked insulted. “You don't have to make up lame excuses.” He drained his beer then said goodnight to everyone, and left.

Betty could see that Lara was upset and sat down beside her. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing! I'm going home.” Lara stood up only to find that she was a little unsteady on her feet.

“I'll walk with you,” Betty offered.

“There's no need. You're tired,” Lara snapped.

“I'm walking with you, so no arguments,” Betty insisted.

The two women set off. Moonlight streamed across the peaceful billabong, setting a silver path that didn't stop at the water's edge, while dark shadows from tall trees crisscrossed the clearing. The silence of night was interrupted only by crickets and the soft voices of the locals in the pub.

When they'd been walking for a minute, Lara spoke. “I wanted to explain to Jerry why I turned down an invitation to dine with him in the city, but what I said made him angry.”

“He's exhausted,” Betty said empathetically.

“I know, but he's definitely upset with me. He must think I'm a shallow human being.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I live in three dresses and he doesn't understand that I don't want to wear any of them to dinner in the city.”

“I'm not following you.”

“I have nothing to wear to dinner. I bought three dresses in Darwin and I wear them all week. My English clothes are too fitting and warm for this climate and I can't go shopping for new dresses, because frankly, I can't afford it.”

“You know men don't understand when we women say we've got nothing to wear,” Betty said. “I haven't bought a new dress for at least two years, but Colin can't see what I complain about because I'm not naked.”

“You are not suggesting...”

Betty laughed. “Of course not, love. Don't worry, Jerry will be back to check on Rizza. Perhaps he'll be in a better frame of mind after he's had a good sleep.”

“Perhaps I'm being too vain, Betty. In England, all I thought about was fashion and what I looked like, and yet I would openly complain that men only saw me as a pretty package, someone to show off. I wanted them to take me seriously, but I also wanted to look like a movie star. There must be something wrong with me.”

“You're a beautiful young woman. You'd look elegant in a wheat sack. I doubt any man notices what you're wearing once you smile at them. You might as well be naked!”

Lara giggled. “I'm not putting that theory to the test any time soon,” she said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“I'm surprised to see you out here?' Betty commented as she climbed the two steps to Rizza's front porch on Saturday morning. Either side of the front door there were pots of various sizes containing chili bushes, citrus fruit, tomato bushes, and herbs, with Rizza's chair in the midst and her swollen feet elevated on an upturned empty pot. Behind the house, and along both sides, she had an abundance of fruit trees. Not a spare piece of ground that could produce something edible was wasted. “You shouldn't be out of bed after what you went through just two days ago,” Betty added with concern.

“The women on Taro Island give birth and then get straight back to work,” Rizza replied emotionally. “They'd be shamed to see me sitting on my backside doing nothing while Margie cleans my house and Doris does my washing.”

“Rizza, from what I've been told your baby was a whopper, and I can plainly see that it's true!” Rizza had the baby in her arms and he was enormous for a newborn. “No one drops a bundle like that and gets up to do chores. You were lucky things worked out as they did because your son's birth could've turned out very differently.” Betty hadn't meant to sound harsh, but she didn't want Rizza feeling guilty for resting. “So why are you out here?”

“My house is too small to have three women inside all wanting things done differently! Me and little Billy thought it better to get out of the way.” Rizza gazed at the sleeping baby in her arms and her expression softened. “Isn't he beautiful?” she sighed and kissed his forehead tenderly.

Betty peered at the contented baby. “Yes, he is. Is Billy short for William? That was my father's name and the family called him Billy.” She didn't add that her father didn't like the shortened moniker and often likened it to a goat's name.

“Rex named him William Arnold Westly. It's a good name,” Rizza said proudly. “But William sounds too grown up for a baby. So while he's little, it's Billy.”

“I'm pleased to meet you, little Billy Westly,” Betty said smiling. “I'm also relieved to see you look much stronger today, Rizza,” she added. “If Ruthie had been the size of a three month old at birth, I guarantee she wouldn't have any brothers.”

“I am stronger now. I should be doing my own washing and cleaning,” Rizza complained.

“Nonsense!” Betty barked crossly. “There's every chance you could hemorrhage and then where will your son be? Would you trust Rex to look after Carmel and Billy full time?”

“Not on your life!” Rizza was alarmed at the idea. “He might be good at fishing, but he's useless at everything else.”

“There you go. Goodness knows none of us want a newborn to look after full time, so you'd better take good care of yourself,” she scorned.

Rizza knew that Betty wasn't serious. Given half the chance, she'd already be cradling the baby. She adored children.

“I brought you some fresh bread, milk, eggs, and a meal for tonight,” Betty said, lifting a casserole dish out of the basket she'd put down. “It's my chicken specialty.”

“Hmmm. It smells delicious. Thank you, Betty.”

“Where's Carmel?”

“Rex took her with him in the boat.”

Betty's eyes widened in disbelief “He's gone fishing!”

Rizza nodded.

“I shouldn't be surprised,” Betty snapped crossly. “I suppose he said he was doing you a favor.”

Rizza nodded again. “He said he wanted to give me and Billy some peace and quiet.”

Betty rolled her eyes. “They're all the same,” she said, thinking of Colin who always claimed he was at the pub so he wouldn't get under her feet. “I suppose a bit of peace and quiet won't do you any harm, though.”

At that moment the women heard Margie cussing loudly after stubbing her toe on a chair, and they laughed.

It made Betty happy to hear Rizza laugh. They'd all been so worried about her.

Betty glanced in the direction of the rectory. “Has Lara been over to see the baby?”

“She was here yesterday evening, but only stayed a few minutes,” Rizza said. “I asked if she wanted to hold Billy and she was happy to until I mentioned the birth had been difficult. Then she became flustered. I didn't think it was possible she could be any whiter, but she proved me wrong. I thought she was going to faint.”

Betty shook her head. “That's nothing. You should've seen her when you were actually giving birth.”

“Why?”

“Jerry was with her when Rex found him and told him you'd started labor and that something might be wrong. Lara came rushing to the store in a panic. I took her to the pub, where we had to keep giving her brandy so she wouldn't faint. She even refused to go home in case she could hear your screams. She was quite drunk by the time little Billy came into the world.”

Rizza couldn't believe it. “How will she be when she has children of her own?”

“She'll be in hospital having plenty of that laughing gas they give women these days.”

“Did you have it?” Rizza asked. She and Rex had only been in Shady Camp for three years, so she knew nothing about what Betty went through when her children were born.

“No! I ended up having Richie in hospital but I got there too late to have any pain relief. A midwife lived in this town when I had Ruthie and Robbie, so she was a big help. God knows Colin was useless, and still is.” She grimaced. “Jerry had just moved up here to work when I had Ronnie, so he helped me deliver him. But unfortunately, he wasn't around when Richie started coming, so Colin drove me to hospital in one of the worst storms we've ever experienced. I'll never forget it. There was thunder and lightning and it was pouring rain. Colin was so worried that I'd have the baby in the car, and so distracted, that he nearly crashed. By a miracle we got to the city, but we ran out of gas two streets from the hospital so I had to walk.”

“In the rain?”

“Yes, it was bucketing down and Colin hadn't thought to bring an umbrella! I was soaked. Needless to say my husband wasn't very popular and I swore I'd never have any more babies.” She rolled her eyes at the memory.

Rizza couldn't help laughing. “I'm not surprised,” she said. “If Lara actually saw a birth, we could be certain she'd never marry or have kids,” she added with a wide grin. “I wonder where she thinks her pupils come from?”

Betty laughed. “There's no need to worry about her dating for awhile. She claims she's got nothing to wear.”

“Who'd notice around here?” Rizza asked.

“No one, but you wouldn't convince her of that.”

“Has she been asked on a date?” Rizza was mentally considering the possible candidates in Shady Camp. “There aren't really any single men of her age in town, except perhaps the new croc hunter.”

“Aren't you forgetting Jerry Quinlan?” Betty asked.

“Oh, yeah,” Rizza said excitedly. “It's time he was married and delivering his own babies.”

“He's very keen on Lara,” Betty said.

“Do you think so?”

“He goes weak at the knees whenever he sees her. Haven't you noticed?”

“I've been a little preoccupied. She's a real pretty woman, though. Having a courting couple in town would be exciting, hey?”

Just then they heard a car approaching.

“Speak of the Devil,” Betty said with delight. “He can't stay away for long.”

“Good morning, ladies,” Jerry said as he got out of his vehicle. He looked rested and sounded in good spirits.

“Hello, Jerry,” the women said in unison.

“How are you today, Rizza?” he asked as he retrieved his medical bag from the passenger side of the car.

“Much better, thanks,” Rizza said. “But I still have elephant legs.” She looked down to where she used to have ankles. “But little Billy is doing great.”

“Billy, is it?”

“William Arnold Westly. Arnold was Rex's father's and grandfather's name.”

“A grand name for a fine boy,” Jerry said, stepping on the porch to peer at the sleeping infant. “Has he put on two pounds since birth?” he joked.

Rizza smiled with pride. “He likes his milk.” Her bosoms were like two ripe watermelons, so Jerry knew the boy wouldn't go hungry.

“Don't worry about your ankles. They'll soon reappear,” he insisted, holding the baby's tiny hand. He always loved the feel of soft, new skin.

“Thanks for bringing him safely into the world, Jerry,” Rizza said emotionally. “I didn't think he was going to make it there for awhile.” It was the first time she could admit this out loud.

“You did all the hard work, Rizza. You were very brave.”

“For a time there I thought I didn't have the strength to push him out. I've never been so exhausted,” Rizza admitted tearfully. “I couldn't have done it without you encouraging me.”

“I'm always amazed at the enduring spirit of a mother. It's something special.”

“Everyone in town is relieved that Rizza and the baby are going well and it's thanks to you, Jerry,” Betty added.

Jerry again shrugged off the praise. “Witnessing the miracle of a new life coming into the world is what makes this job worthwhile.”

“Luckily you don't do it for the money, hey, doc?” Rizza grinned.

“Yes, it's just as well,” Jerry agreed with a smile, thinking of the produce he was often given in lieu of payment, like eggs, chickens, or fruit. A couple of grateful father's had even offered their daughter's hand in marriage as recompense for services rendered.

“How are you, Betty?” Jerry asked.

“I'm fine. It's the same old routine for me, day after day. Rizza and I were just saying that it would be nice to go out somewhere for a meal for a change, but we've got nothing to wear.” Betty winked at Rizza, who fought a smile. “It's a common dilemma for a woman.”

Jerry straightened up and studied Betty to the point of making her squirm, but he didn't comment, so she didn't know what he was thinking.

“I know my Colin doesn't understand when I complain about having nothing to wear,” Betty went on. “Unless I'm naked, he says I'm fit to go anywhere. He'd have me meet King George in this old dress I'm wearing, and not see a problem with it.”

Jerry tried not to, but he couldn't help a fleeting grin. He briefly glanced towards the rectory. “What smells so good?”

“My chicken specialty,” Betty said proudly, holding up the dish that contained chicken pieces cooked with spices, onion, and tomatoes, and topped with melted cheese.

“Hmmm,” Jerry said. “After I've checked Rizza over, I'll be along to see you at the store, Betty,” he said.

“Me! Why? Are you hungry? I've got plenty of this chicken left.”

“It's too early for lunch, but I need a favor and you're just the person to help me.” He glanced towards the rectory again, something the women didn't fail to notice with intrigue.

Robbie Jeffries knocked on Lara's back door. “I have something for you, Miss Penrose,” he said, handing her a folded piece of paper.

“Who's this from?” Lara asked.

“I dunno,” he claimed, as he'd been instructed not to divulge that information.

“I don't know, Lara corrected,” as he dashed away. “See you Monday morning for school,” she called after him.

Lara sat at the kitchen table and unfolded the notepaper.

Miss Lara Penrose, you are invited to dinner this evening on the Shady Camp jetty at seven o'clock, (Dress - Casual).

Lara examined both sides of the notepaper, puzzled, because she didn't know whom it was from. She could only think that Rick had sent the invitation, but when she glanced through the kitchen window his boat wasn't at the jetty. He'd gone away to relocate a crocodile and hadn't yet returned. That made her wonder if the townsfolk had organized some kind of communal dinner. “I'll soon find out,” she thought.

Lara dressed and studied her image in the bathroom mirror, barely recognizing her reflection. Her hair needed cutting and styling, so she'd tucked it behind her ears, wishing she had rollers. Compared to her old self, she felt plain, even with a touch of make-up. She loved hats, but she hadn't worn one since she left England. She also loved her skirts, tailored jackets, and high-heeled shoes, but she couldn't wear them, either. She'd washed her three sensible dresses that morning, so they were all clean. At least everything dried quickly in the tropics, in the dry season at least. To one side of her back door there was a little porch with a washing line underneath it. She supposed that was where she'd have to hang washing when the monsoon rains came.

At seven o'clock, Lara set off for the jetty. She was wearing one of her three cool dresses, but at the last minute she'd put on a pair of heeled shoes in favor of flat sandals, as she didn't have far to go and for once she wanted to feel like the feminine woman she used to be.