Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [171]
When Olivia looked up to hand it back she found Maya looking intently at another photograph and was surprised to see tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. She said nothing for awhile then, as a big tear rolled down her cheek, asked quietly, ‘What is it, Maya?’
Maya hesitated. ‘We promised each other never to talk about our loss.’
Olivia nodded in understanding and gave a small comforting smile.
‘I’d like to show you. It’s the man I loved. Love still. Her father.’ She looked at the little girl absorbed in her playing. ‘Everything’s different now, isn’t it?’
‘I’d like that. Yes, I’d like to see him.’
Maya handed over the cardboard-backed photograph. She barely had time to notice the look of astonishment before Olivia collapsed to the floor between them. Maya’s scream brought a gentleman from the next compartment to the door. He rushed in when he saw Olivia and the two of them lifted her on to a seat.
‘What happened, lass?’ he asked.
‘I’m not sure. We were talking and looking at photographs and she just fainted.’
‘Odd business. She’s starting to come round.’
Soon Olivia’s face started to get its colour back, her eyes opened and she asked for a sip of water. Then she sat up, thanked the man and assured him that she was all right. When he had gone, she looked at Maya and asked for the photograph. Maya handed it over and watched as tears welled in Olivia’s eyes. ‘It’s Hamish. My Hamish,’ Olivia gasped.
‘What do you mean?’ exclaimed Maya quickly. ‘It is Hamish, but what do you mean, your Hamish?’
‘He’s my son.’
The full impact of what she said hit Maya like a body blow. ‘Your son,’ she whispered. ‘Your son. Oh my God.’ She threw herself across the compartment into Olivia’s outstretched arms and they hugged each other and both wept uncontrollably.
Gilbert listened in astonishment as Olivia and Maya told him their story when they alighted from the train in Perth. Oblivious to the bustle of passengers and people meeting them and the clatter of porters’ barrows, Olivia and Maya revealed details of what they called ‘our little miracle.’
Later, back at their home, he poured a glass of champagne for them all. ‘I think a little miracle is worth celebrating in style, don’t you? To the future,’ and they all clinked glasses. ‘It’s really lovely to be able to welcome you to our family, Maria … Maya. I think it is going to take some time to adjust to that part of it,’ he laughed. ‘And of course, it’s great to welcome our newest member. My, it’s a little odd suddenly becoming a grandfather. Can’t say I’ve ever seen Olivia looking so happy.’
‘You’re not the only one finding it strange to be a grandparent all of a sudden. But isn’t it just so beautiful?’ She and Maya wrapped their arms around each other’s waists and clinked glasses again.
They settled down immediately to discussing how to tell Tyndall and it was soon agreed that they would catch the next boat to Broome. Chances were he was still at sea and in any case a cable hardly seemed the right way to break the news.
That evening as Olivia kissed Gilbert goodnight in their bedroom, she whispered her thanks to him for the generous welcome he had given Maya and his immediate support for the trip to Broome. ‘There’s a lot of unfinished business there, Gilbert. I need to go back.’
‘Of course, I understand.’
But despite her joy at the news about Maya, as she lay awake beside the sleeping Gilbert, Olivia was overcome at the loss of Hamish. She cried into her pillow, the lonely grief of a mother who has lost a child. But slowly the tears stopped and she felt comforted that at least she had a link with him—her granddaughter, Georgiana.
The three stood at the railing as the steamer settled its bulk alongside Broome’s tidal jetty. Maya took Olivia’s hand and squeezed it, her other holding the small hand of the bouncing, excited little girl. All the smells, the sounds, the warm air, the crystal sharp colours of a bright Broome early morning