Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [187]
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Over the next two years Olivia turned their garden into a showplace. On a sunny morning with a hint of autumn crispness, Olivia sat by Gilbert, her head bent over a crewel-work cushion cover as she stitched the formal bouquet of roses. She paused to look about her garden and said to her husband, ‘I’m thinking maybe I might put in a rose bed. A token gesture to the old country. Cream and pink roses would be nice, don’t you think?’
She had become used to the one-sided conversations with Gilbert, but wondered what sort of company she’d be in the social world these days. Olivia rarely went out, and, apart from local shopping expeditions and very occasional trips into the city, she talked only to Mollie and Stan, who were now married.
Mollie and Stan had made a trip back to Broome when Minnie had died suddenly and peacefully.
Mabel Metta had written to Olivia … ‘she was pegging out the washing and fell down, gone, just like that. She had been quite ill with influenza which caused many deaths among the blacks. Alf has gone north to stay at the mission where he has relatives and will be well cared for … ’
Olivia tucked the blanket around Gilbert’s stick-thin legs and adjusted it around his chest saying, ‘I’m going for a bit of a wander. See if I can settle on a possie for the roses. Wind is getting up, don’t want you to get a chill … ’ She was about to turn away but before she lifted her hand it was grasped in a shaking claw grip. Stunned, she looked down to see Gilbert’s fingers scratching at her wrist. Then as she stared at him, unable to speak from shock, his head lurched to one side and his mouth twitched.
‘Gilbert! You can move! Can you speak? Oh, my dear! You’re coming back to us!’ She took his hand and felt the faint trembling as he held her hand. His mouth tried to form a word but no sound came and it seemed no other movement was possible. But this was a major breakthrough. Shaking with shock and relief she patted his hand. ‘Wait, I’ll get Stan. We must get the doctor. This is wonderful.’
She rushed to the house calling for Mollie and Stan. Panting, she told Stan to ride his bicycle to Doctor MacDonald and ask him to drive up immediately.
‘Mollie, please make tea and bring it to the gazebo. Quickly now.’ Olivia ran excitedly back to Gilbert. All the care, the patience, the prayers had paid off. A full recovery might not be possible but perhaps she would have a companion once again. She hoped Gilbert would regain his speech, there were so many questions she wanted to ask. Now they could communicate if he had movement at least. He could tap once for no, twice for yes with his fingers. Feeling tremendously elated she reached the gazebo and saw from behind that he had moved even further in his bathchair. ‘Now Gilbert, don’t try to do too much … ’ But as she walked in front of him her words froze. Gilbert was slumped slightly to one side, the one arm still outside the blanket, but his eyes were closed and his mouth hung slightly agape.
‘Gilbert?’ Olivia reached out and took his hand, straightening his head with the other and knew at once he was dead.
Mollie smiled in delight to see Olivia sitting and holding the master’s hand as they sat side by side staring into the garden. Olivia took the tea tray and placed it on the small bench and it was then Mollie saw her wet cheeks. Mollie’s hand flew to her mouth when she looked over at Gilbert and she took off for the house, frightened and distraught at how the spirits of death could suddenly arrive and take one away on such a fresh and sunny morning.
Doctor MacDonald explained that Gilbert had suffered possibly two strokes as a result of the blood pressure they could not control or treat. ‘That might account for the sudden movement, a minor stroke triggering a muscular response before the fatal one.’
Olivia shook her head. ‘No, Gilbert wanted to say goodbye. It was sheer willpower or God’s intervention that made him reach out to me,’ she said firmly.
The kindly doctor,