The Road Back (47 page)

Chris looked at her, his eyebrows raised. ‘Mum! I appreciate what you're saying, and I do understand that David's presence has made quite a difference in your life, but moving out here? It's just a bit of a surprise. Does that mean you're going to sell your house? It's got so many memories. Would you be happy doing that?'

Susan shook her head. ‘No, of course not. It's your home, Chris, as much as it is mine. Yours and Megan's. Maybe one day, if you move back to the city, I might sell it, but for now, I won't. Besides,' she added mischievously, ‘if things don't work out with David, I'll need a place to retreat to, won't I?'

‘Mum, if all this makes you happy, then who am I to argue?' Chris said, but he felt very pleased for Susan. ‘Have you told Kate about your plans?' he added.

‘Not yet, but I will now that I know everything is going ahead,' said
Susan.

‘I bet she'll be thrilled about your new life with David, especially the idea of your going to Europe every year, and her kids are going to love this place when they visit.'

Susan put her arm around Chris's waist and they hugged. ‘Things have worked out pretty well for me,' she said, withdrawing so she could see his face. ‘Who knew when I went to that reunion that my life would change so much? I hope that things work out as well for you. Have you any idea where your relationship with Georgia is going, if you don't mind my asking?' They resumed walking across the paddock.

‘Not at all, although there's not much to tell, really,' said Chris, tucking his hands in his pockets. ‘Now that I have bitten the bullet and decided to stay in Neverend, I thought that Georgie might become less enthusiastic about the two of us. But thankfully that hasn't happened. Maybe she will eventually decide that she can run her agency from here, and move up. I don't know, but it's what I'm hoping.'

‘I'll keep my fingers crossed that she makes that decision.'

‘But Mum, even if that doesn't work out, I'm happy with what I have, and that's my daughter. Megan has given me so much pleasure this year that I just kick myself about having missed out on so much of her life. Now I know that there is no job, no matter how glamorous or exciting, that is worth not seeing your children grow up.'

Suddenly Susan stopped and looked at Chris with a wistful expression.

‘And Chris,' she said, grasping his arm, ‘they grow up so quickly and move away, as you and your sister did, so treasure the time you have with her. It will fly by all too quickly.' Chris caught the hint of sadness in his mother's voice. That's what he and his sister had done. No wonder Susan had
become lonely after his father had died. Suddenly he realised how unkind he had been when he had initially objected to her relationship with David.

Chris nodded. ‘I'm really pleased that you found David,' he said sincerely, and hugged his mother again before she went to join David. They all walked back to the old house together.

*

Jean was pulling the tea-cosy over her large enamel teapot when Chris came into the kitchen to see if he could help. ‘There's coffee in the pot on the stove. I know you're a coffee drinker.'

‘That's very thoughtful of you, Jean. I hope it's strong.'

‘Ah, it is.' She sat at the table and began pouring herself a cup of tea. ‘You've heard their plans? I can't tell you how happy they have made me. What generous people they are.'

‘Yes, and I'm very pleased about their decision, too.'

‘I think your mother is a very kind person who loves you very much, Chris. You raise your children to be independent, self-sufficient and hopefully successful, and of course we all want our children to be happy, but maybe it's more important to know they are also caring and kind individuals,' she added with a smile. ‘I'm sure that's how your mother sees you.'

‘Thank you, Jean. I hope she's right.'

Jean smiled and raised her eyebrows. ‘Your mother has an exciting new interest in life, and she tells me that your daughter is happy and well-adjusted, and although I suspect you never thought you'd return to Neverend, you're at home in a place you love. I've never wanted to leave this place, because I didn't want to lose what I have here, but lots of people do leave. Some of them never come back home and that is their choice, but to find the road back is a great gift.'

Chris put his coffee mug down with a trembling hand. ‘You're a wise woman, Jean.'

‘No, dear, just old,' she said, laughing.

*

Several weeks flew by. The Carmichael case had dropped from the headlines, but there were still stories about commercial manoeuvrings, legal teams and feverish investigations.

In Neverend, as the longer days heralded the start of spring, there was now a heightened sense of purpose. Susan gathered samples of floor tiles, plumbing fittings, fabric and paint samples; Megan and her jazz band rehearsed endlessly at the end of the verandah for a forthcoming competition, and Chris hammered away in his study on his new laptop, which he'd bought not long after he started working at the radio station.

One afternoon their endeavours were interrupted by a phone call from Jill. She sounded affable, so Chris knew at once that there weren't to be any complaints about Megan.

‘How're things, Chris? Megan tells me your mother is moving in with her boyfriend. That's a bit of a turn-up, isn't it?'

‘Not quite yet, their place isn't ready.'

‘Megan seems to be rather enamoured of the whole idea of this farm. Who is this boyfriend your mother's acquired?'

‘David and Mum go way back. She knew him even before she met my father. He's a really nice person, very intelligent and interesting, and I think he and Mum will be very happy together. And how're things with you?' he asked, pointedly, to change the subject.

‘Rather good. We are also contemplating a few changes.'

‘Are you coming back east?' asked Chris, suddenly worried that Jill would demand Megan's return.

‘Not at all. Actually, Trevor's had an offer of a job in Indonesia. It all sounds a bit foreign, but I've been told that the International School we'll send the boys to is quite good, and of course we'll have servants,' she added, trying to sound blasé.

Chris didn't know whether to laugh or be outraged. It struck him then how far apart he and Jill had grown, and how their decision to separate all those years ago, in spite of the heartache it had caused at the time, had definitely turned out to be the right one for both of them.

‘Do you think you and Trev will be able to cope with somewhere so foreign? You never wanted to live abroad when we were together.'

‘That was different. You would have had to travel, leaving me to look after Megan by myself. Trev is working for a big company and they will look after us. I don't know how much you know about Indonesia . . .'

Chris suppressed a laugh. ‘Jill, you'd be surprised. But you're right. I think it will be a marvellous opportunity for you and the boys. I hope they get the chance to learn Bahasa.'

‘Oh, the language? I don't think they'll need to; we will be part of the big expatriate community. Everyone will speak English. Now, I assume that you'll have no objections to Megan coming to visit?'

‘No, of course not.'

‘She could come and live with us, you know. The school up there is apparently quite exceptional and I thought that a couple of years in Indonesia might broaden her horizons.'

Chris froze. He answered carefully, ‘Jill, Megan has settled in nicely and is involved in so many things in Neverend, and she's doing so well at school. You can ask her, of course, but I don't think she'll agree.'

‘You don't have to be so defensive. You've proved your point, you've turned into a good father. I just thought you might like to have your old life back. Be fancy-free again.'

‘Jill, this is about what's best for Megan. And I think she is doing very well and is extremely happy just where she is.'

‘But you would agree to her visiting us in Indonesia? I'm sure it will be safe.'

‘I think she'd love that,' said Chris. ‘Where will you be?'

‘In Jakarta.'

‘Did you know my mother was in Indonesia in the sixties? I thought of writing a book about her experiences there.'

‘No, I had no idea about your mother. And a book! Well, that's all very interesting.' Jill became businesslike, her disinterest in Chris's life very apparent. ‘We'll be going there in a little over a month.'

‘I hope you enjoy it. I'll get Megan for you and you can tell her the news. And good luck, Jill.'

Chris went to Megan's room and handed her the phone. Then he walked out onto the verandah with mixed feelings. He knew that he didn't want Megan to leave him for a life in Indonesia, but it was hardly fair not to let Megan make up her own mind.

Megan joined him on the verandah a few minutes later. She was taken aback. ‘Mum asked me to go and live with her and Trev in Indonesia,' she said somewhat dubiously.

Chris said nothing. He didn't want to sway his daughter's decision, but he certainly didn't want her to go. Megan was quiet for a few moments, her brow furrowed.

‘Dad, do you think that Mum would be really disappointed if I didn't go?' she said finally. ‘I really have way too many commitments in Neverend. If I went to Indonesia, I would be letting a lot of people down. I shouldn't do that, should I?' Megan spoke in her most rational tone of voice. Chris tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn't hide his joy.

‘Megan, the decision to live in Indonesia is yours alone, but I am pleased that you are considering your responsibilities to others as part of that decision,' he said.

‘When it comes down to it, I think that going would be very unfair on Squire. I mean, he's old and he's no good for dressage, but I can't just walk away from him. And there's the jazz band. The competition is coming up, and we've worked so hard for it, and if I leave then the others won't be able to take part. Do you think that Mum would be okay if I just go up there over the Christmas holidays? You don't think she'd mind, do you?'

‘Darling, I think she would be absolutely delighted, and so would I. Living in Indonesia for even a few weeks would be a wonderful experience.'

*

One afternoon later that week, Chris found Susan watering her sweet pea seedlings.

‘Bronwyn just rang,' he said. ‘My position has been confirmed and I'm now a permanent staff member. I feel both relieved and pleased. I am enjoying doing something new, and one thing about working locally is that everyone thinks that they own a bit of me. I'm part of their community.'

‘I'm pleased to hear that. This is your town and your region, so you should feel a sense of belonging,' said Susan.

‘You're right. I am pleased to be working as a journalist in a place I love and now I also have a better salary than I had working for Frenchy. Not that I'm ungrateful for his help,' Chris added quickly.

‘You know, Chris, giving up your newspaper career and coming home for Megan's sake might have been a bit of a compromise in the beginning,' said Susan. ‘But when your daughter's an adult she'll look back at this time and understand what a magnificent father she has.'

*

A couple of weeks later, Chris arrived home from doing his radio shift to see Carla's motorbike parked in the driveway. Leaving his car in the street, he walked onto the verandah and immediately spotted her boots, leather jacket and helmet dropped on a chair near the front door.

He found Carla and his mother at the kitchen table amidst the remains of tea and homemade biscuits. Carla jumped up and Chris gave her a hug.

‘Been ages,' he said. ‘How was your gallivanting around the outback?'

‘Sensational. What an astonishing country we have.'

‘Neverend will do me. Any tea left in the pot, Mum? No, don't make a fresh one, I'll grab a beer.'

He grabbed a cold bottle out of the fridge and took a seat beside his mother.

‘Your mother has been telling me all the exciting plans, Chris,' said Carla. ‘Congrats on the job.'

‘Thanks, Carla,' said Chris.

‘And Carla, what's this news you have?' Susan turned to Chris and explained, ‘Carla has been waiting for you to get home so she can share her gossip.'

‘It's more than gossip. Greg says it's official.' Carla looked at Chris. ‘Carmichael's Victorian development is not going ahead. You know that he's in big financial trouble? Well, the plug has been pulled on the
shopping centre.'

‘Not surprising, I suppose,' said Susan.

‘My mate Greg has been keeping an eye on things,' Carla said with relish.

‘Is he the chap Chris met in Melbourne?' Susan asked.

Both Chris and Carla nodded.

‘Suddenly, Greg says, there have been a few whistleblowers coming forward to say that the rezoning was not quite as squeaky clean as it should have been. Evidently there were a few doctored reports, especially about the amount of new traffic that would be going through a
residential area. It seems that the figures presented to the council were fabricated. If the true figures had been presented, hardly any of the councillors would have agreed to the rezoning,' Carla told them breathlessly.

‘Well, I'm pleased that Greg was proved to be right,' said Chris. ‘I assume that people were bribed to create reports that would ensure Carmichael's plans went through.'

‘You assume correctly.'

‘I don't know if you've heard this, Carla,' said Chris. ‘But the latest I heard about Carmichael is that in an effort to stave off bankruptcy, he has done a bit of a money shuffle, robbing Peter to pay Paul, that sort of thing, but he still can't get enough funds. He's definitely going under.'

‘A good thing too,' said Carla. ‘But bankruptcy could be the least of his worries. It's not just the Victorian police that have been making inquiries into his construction operations, there have been interstate investigations as well. Greg has heard that there have been several arrests already and that the police are going to charge Carmichael too. If you ask me, if he was prepared to give out bribes for one development, I'll bet he did it for a lot of others. Once the lid on his activities starts to come off, well, who knows how much of the brown stuff is going to hit the fan?' Carla sat back in her chair with a large and satisfied smile on her face.