Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [97]
She thought of little James, buried down the coast and wondered if he should be here beside his father. Their brief struggle on the land emerged in her memories, and then the fortuitous partnership with Tyndall which had changed their lives.
‘Where’s Daddy?’ asked Hamish suddenly.
‘He’s in Heaven, darling. But this little place is where we come to talk to him. He has gone away, but to a wonderful place.’
Tears rushed from Hamish’s eyes. ‘Why Daddy go away?’
‘Oh, my darling boy. He didn’t want to go away and leave us … ’ Olivia knelt down and hugged him fiercely. ‘Sometimes God asks the angels to take special people up to Heaven. He knows you and I will be strong and good and we have Captain Tyndall and Minnie and Ahmed and everybody to look after us and one day we’ll all be together again … ’
Hamish still cried. ‘I want my daddy … ’
Olivia tightened her arms about him and tears came to her eyes as she whispered. ‘So do I, darling … ’ In a moment or two she pulled away, wiped her son’s tears and her own.
Seeing his mother’s sadness, Hamish grasped her hand and together they walked sadly back home.
Two shell openers making an early start observed her brief pilgrimage and one remarked, ‘She’ll be on the next boat back to the old country. Sell out to Captain Tyndall, no doubt.’
‘She’s no ordinary woman that one, matey. You heard how she mucks in down at the shed, takes food to the shell openers from time to time. Never heard of that sorta thing before. Still this town’s no place for a widow like ’er with a kid.’
For the next two weeks Olivia stayed mostly in her bedroom. The wooden cyclone shutters obscured the outside world, air flowed through the funnel-shaped wind scoop on the roof. In the dim stillness of the room she fought to come to terms with the tragedy that had shattered her life. Visitors were turned away. Only Minnie had right of entry, padding quietly in with food which Olivia barely picked at. Hamish was led in at regular intervals to sit with his mother. He didn’t really understand what had happened to his father or their ordered life.
For the boy the best part of these difficult days was at sunset when the familiar tall and swaggering Tyndall came through the gate carrying little Maya. Tyndall sat on the verandah and sent Minnie to ask Olivia to join him. She repeatedly ignored his request, so he sat and drank a rum, as he had so often with Conrad, and watched Hamish play with the baby girl he had come to adore.
Finally, one evening, Tyndall finished his sundowner, put down the glass with some force and, telling Minnie to watch the children, strode through the house and tapped on Olivia’s bedroom door.
‘It’s time, Olivia. Time to come out.’
There was silence but he knew she was listening.
He banged on the door. ‘Time, Olivia.’
‘Please leave me alone, John.’
‘No, I won’t. It’s time you came out and got on with your life. For Hamish’s sake. And Conrad’s. I miss him too, Olivia.’
There was a muffled noise.
‘Damn it, woman. I’m not talking through this door. I’m coming in.’
‘No! Please go away.’ Her voice was hoarse and tired.
Tyndall wrenched the door open and stood in the doorway, blinking in the near darkness. ‘God, woman, what is this?’ He went to the windows where the shutters showed slits of dusk light.
‘Please, leave me be,’ pleaded Olivia in a weak but tense voice that was teetering on the edge of hysteria.
‘Throw something if you want.’ The shutters banged open and a rush of last yellow light, perfumed by the tropical shrubs, surged into the musty room. With it came the giggles of Hamish and Maya. He turned to face Olivia.
She sat hunched in a chair, her hair falling lank and dull down her back. Her face was drawn and pale and she hugged a cotton wrapper across herself.
Tyndall pretended not to notice her appearance and spoke to her with firmness. ‘Olivia, I expect you to be down at the camp and office tomorrow morning. There’s a mountain of