The Plantation - Di Morrissey [141]
She thought of Christopher, how well he’d fitted in, and yet he had been unobtrusive. His company, laughter and friendship had crept up on her. She wished that she’d paid more attention to him right from the start. Now she missed him and longed to spend more time with him.
Julie tried to work out how she could get back to Penang. She’d used up all her holidays and her job commitments were heavy as she’d taken on two new clients. But a welcome diversion came when her father rang and asked her over for tea.
‘Dinner, I mean. I’ve made a rather good chicken soup. There’s a letter here you might want to sneak a peak at. It’s addressed to your mother but if we call her, she’ll say to go ahead and read it, I’m sure.’
Julie caught her breath. ‘Bette. It’s from Cairns?’
‘Yes. Just a card by the feel of it.’
As soon as Julie arrived at her parents’ home, she picked up the pale blue envelope, turned it over and slit it open with her father’s letter opener. Inside was a blue card with a few lines written on it in deep blue ink.
Dear Caroline,
Well, what a surprise! I am very pleased to hear from you after all these years. I recall you very well as a small child and am happy to know you now have a daughter of your own.
I would be delighted to meet or speak with you when time permits. I still dabble in my art and I am finishing off some watercolours for an exhibition, but after this month I will have some free time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly, your Aunt Bette
‘Gosh, she’s still painting. Dabbling. How sweet,’ said Julie.
‘Well, there’s no rush to go to Cairns,’ said her father. ‘She sounds quite active and together.’
‘I wonder if she’s still painting flowers,’ said Julie. ‘I have a book of lovely watercolours of Penang my friend Chris gave me.’
‘That’s something you can ask her. About her art, to get the conversation going,’ said Paul Reagan. ‘I’m relieved, I must say, for your mother’s sake to get this note. Bette sounds friendly and coherent. Did you tell me that she was nearly ninety? I suppose your mother will adjust to the impending birth, sort out the bypass and then turn her attention to Bette as her next project.’
Julie gave her father a hug. ‘Mum does have her projects, doesn’t she? What about you, Dad? When are you going to retire and “dabble” in something?’
‘I wouldn’t know what to do with myself, Jules.’
‘You could travel. Take Mum to Malaysia.’
‘After all that you’ve told us, that’ll be on the cards at some stage, for sure,’ he smiled.
Julie felt a smile break out. ‘I’d love to go back.’
‘Would that be a keen interest in more research, a holi day, sightseeing or dinner with a certain handsome RAAF officer?’ asked her father.
Julie laughed. ‘Can’t pull the wool over your eyes, you ol’ smartie, Dad. Well, hopefully, all of the above.’
‘You’d better call your mother. She’ll be hanging out to find out what’s in the letter.’
When Caroline returned home, they agreed over the phone that Caroline should reply to Bette’s note straight away. The next Saturday afternoon, Julie went over to her parents’ assuming she’d stay for dinner. She wanted to hear all the news about Adam and Heather from her mother who’d taken heaps of photos of their new house. But when Julie arrived, she was dismayed to see David Cooper standing on the front verandah talking with Caroline. She waved to her father as he pottered in the front garden and then went up the front steps. Before she could greet Caroline, David rushed to embrace her, and kissed her cheek.
‘Wonderful to see you, Julie! I’ve been hearing all about you finding your aunt! How amazing!’
‘Thanks to you, David,’ said Caroline. ‘Come and have some tea, Jules.’
‘Welcome home, Mum. Glad you enjoyed Adelaide.’ Julie kissed her mother.
‘Seems we all have a lot of catching up to do,’ said David. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing about how things