Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [129]
‘Like hell it is. I want you back on that steamer and out of Broome. Go to Fremantle and we’ll negotiate from there.’
She gave a tinkly laugh like a patient mother with a recalcitrant child. ‘But there’s nothing to negotiate. As I’m your wife, my place is here and I don’t for one moment expect you to see me starving on the streets of Broome. What would people say?’ She settled herself in a chair on the verandah. ‘Now, Johnny. Don’t be difficult about this. I spoke to Mrs Hennessy today. I must say, she was rather ungracious, but she tells me she is moving to Fremantle, so that solves that matter doesn’t it?’
Tyndall was speechless.
‘By the way she told me she was a partner in your pearl business. I imagine you’ll need me in her place now, seeing how things have changed rather.’
Tyndall stared at Amy, seeing her steel inside for the first time. He was aghast at how fast things were moving. And moving out of his control. His mind raced, desperately searching for some way to take command of the situation.
‘Very well, Amy,’ he said, finally, ‘Stay here—for the time being. I will stay in the old house. As soon as I have sorted out the divorce and the settlement, you will be on your way.’
‘Johnny, dear. When are you going to get it through that handsome head of yours that I am not going to give you a divorce. I am not going anywhere. You’ll get used to the idea.’ She gave a coquettish smirk. ‘You’ll find I’m not so undesirable as time goes on. I’m very good company. Or had you forgotten?’
‘Yes, I had forgotten … all about you. And I have no desire to attempt to rekindle any sort of relationship. It’s over, Amy. Dead and gone.’
‘We’ll see, we’ll see,’ she answered affably, walking back to the door. Unruffled, she turned to him, all trace of the mock goodwill gone. ‘Don’t forget, I said I had documents. And copies are lodged in Perth. You’ll find changing the status quo frightfully difficult. By the way, if you are going to be selfish about your staff, I’ll have to hire more servants. Naturally all my expenses are being charged to you.’ She swept inside and Rosminah sidled out, giving Tyndall a sympathetic look.
For Olivia, the next two days passed in a blur. The nights were a black hole she swam through in some mindless nightmare, waiting for the dawn, when the same reality faced her. She struggled to explain the dramatic change in their fives to Hamish.
The boy looked at her, puzzled, frightened. ‘Why has this lady come here? Why didn’t Uncle John send her away? He was going to marry you, and we were going to live together.’
‘These things sometimes happen in life … things don’t work out the way you wanted. And sometimes grown-ups fall out of love and things … change.’
‘I don’t think I want to be a grown-up.’
‘Oh darling, I promise you things will be all right. You’re going to have a lovely exciting time at a wonderful school in Perth, and I’ll be close by in our house in Fremantle. On weekends we can do all sorts of interesting things.’
‘What about Uncle John and Ahmed and Yoshi and everyone?’
Olivia swallowed. ‘You can come back … school holidays … we’ll still have our house here.’ She couldn’t bear the thought of coming back, not while she was on the verge of fleeing. But she couldn’t let Hamish think everything he knew and loved was being cast aside. ‘Your father and I always planned to send you away to boarding school. This way, I’ll be close.’ Seeing his hurt, Olivia hugged him to her. ‘Oh Hamish, just believe me and don’t worry. You must trust me, darling.’
Toby and Mabel Metta were a constant support and help. They had agreed to transport Olivia and Hamish down to the steamer at the last possible moment to avoid her having to face too many people.
‘Olivia, I beg you to think this through. Are you sure you simply aren’t running away? Give John time to sort matters out,’ pleaded Tobias.
‘He hasn’t stopped loving you, nor you him,’ said Mabel supportively.
Olivia looked up from her packing. ‘Yes, I have thought