Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [156]
Toby rose and refolded the newspaper. ‘I understand. It’s been a hard time for you. Maybe fate has decided to smile on you again. I wish you well, John.’
Tyndall didn’t make the journey to Singapore. Sergeant O’Leary called in to see him with information sent from the Singapore authorities confirming the identity of Gunther and Amy. Documents, including the death certificates, would be forwarded.
Tyndall was cabled for instructions and he requested that his wife be buried up there and her possessions sent to a charity. There was no mention of any pearls found. He had no idea of the whereabouts of Gunther’s next of kin. As to the fate of the Sylph, Tyndall told them to burn it.
Tyndall booked his passage to Fremantle, had new clothes made and packed what pearls had been found during the last of the season. He planned to deliver them to Monsieur Barat in Perth.
On the dock before he boarded the steamer, Ahmed pumped Tyndall’s hand, a broad grin spread across his face. ‘You bring back mem. We miss mem.’
‘Me too, Ahmed. I guess I have to believe in fate after all. You always said things would work out and they have. Tragically as it turned out, but there you are. Life goes on.’
‘Good luck, tuan.’
‘Thanks, Ahmed. I still have a lot of talking to do.’ But Tyndall couldn’t help smiling too. He was convinced Olivia would come round now that matters had been conveniently solved without loss of face or dignity. He anticipated her asking for a discreet waiting period, but marry him she would.
He was nervous, and smoothed his unruly hair, ran his finger round the high collar of his white pearling master’s uniform and presented himself at the door of the house in Phillimore Street.
The door was opened by a young Aboriginal woman whom he recognised as Minnie and Alf’s daughter, Mollie. He introduced himself as she opened the door wide, smiling and nodding. He passed on greetings from her parents and asked to see Mem Hennessy.
Mollie shook her head. ‘Not here, boss. She working at the clinic. She go to the office every day.’
‘Where’s that, Mollie?’
‘Same place Master work. Shaw Clinic, on Cantonment Street.’
‘The Master?’
‘Doctor Shaw. Mem now Mrs Shaw. They come back tonight but.’
Tyndall was having difficulty taking in the casually thrown out words.
‘Mem married Gilbert Shaw? The fellow she set up the girls’ home, or whatever it is, with?’
Mollie nodded smiling. ‘You bet boss. Mebbe two month ago. Me was there. Oh, it was lovely. Big cake an’ everything.’
Tyndall mumbled a goodbye and stumbled into the street, his world falling about him. The pain that burned in his chest made it hard to breathe and he walked towards the port in a daze before turning into the Fremantle Hotel on High Street and ordering a whisky. He sipped it slowly and was tempted to order another but decided he could not put off the ordeal of seeing her any longer. As he trudged to Cantonment Street he prayed Shaw would not be around.
He was ushered upstairs into the small room that served as Olivia’s office. She stood in front of her desk, her hands clasped in front of her, biting her lip. They stared across the room at each other as a girl quietly closed the door.
So much passed between them in the space of a second or two; memories of the past they’d shared, of joy and of pain. No matter how hard they tried or how much time had elapsed they could not ignore the threads that united them. The physical chemistry between them was undiminished and it unnerved Olivia to find she was just as drawn to Tyndall as she’d always been. She struggled to compose her face into a neutral expression.
‘This is something of a surprise, John. A nice one. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? How are things in Broome?’ She gave a hesitant smile.
Her politeness disturbed Tyndall. He’d been more prepared for anger, fierce questioning. He, too, adopted a civil, slightly formal tone. ‘Er, there have been a few developments. I wanted to come and tell you in person.’
Olivia looked immediately