The Plantation - Di Morrissey [143]
‘That’s a fantastic idea. I’m sure I’ll be able to arrange an extra day. It will be lovely up there this time of year. See if Dad can get time off and come up, too,’ said Julie. ‘Gosh, it’s going to be interesting meeting an elderly Aunt Bette, when I’ve been reading about a headstrong adventurous young woman studying orangutans and living with the Iban in the jungle!’
Julie got a kick out of travelling to Cairns with Caroline and Paul. She couldn’t remember the last time just the three of them had been on a trip together.
‘What does Adam think of us taking off on this little family excursion?’ Julie asked her parents, sitting across from her on the plane.
‘To tell you the truth, darling, he doesn’t care. I don’t think he’s looked at any of your photos of Malaysia. He’s just wrapped up in the baby and finishing the house,’ said Caroline.
‘I was feeling a bit out of the loop, too,’ said Paul. ‘But having read Bette’s book about the Iban and the pamphlet about the orangutans, you get the sense that she’s a very intelligent woman.’
They checked into a two-bedroom suite in a small European-style hotel.
‘All very Tuscan, isn’t it. Nice pool area, and the suite is huge,’ said Caroline.
‘A few too many Greek statues for me,’ commented Paul. ‘But the urns of flowers are nice.’
‘And we’re very central,’ said Julie. ‘Let’s go for a walk and see what’s around.’
‘Not me. I’m going to sit out here with a beer and relax,’ said her father, settling himself on a lounge chair on the balcony. ‘I might go to the pool later.’
Julie and Caroline browsed through shops, ate a salad at an outdoor café, walked along the esplanade, chose a bistro they would go to for dinner and walked back to their hotel.
‘I’m trying to remind myself that we’re on a mission,’ Julie said, linking her arm through Caroline’s.
‘Can’t you just relax? At least for the rest of today and tonight,’ said Caroline.
‘Right. I just don’t know what to expect with Aunt Bette,’ said Julie.
When they arrived back at their hotel, Paul showed them the free local magazine he’d found on the coffee table in their suite. ‘Here’s an advertisement for her exhibition!’ It showed a picture of some of Bette’s paintings.
‘Wow, look at those! They’re exquisite,’ said Caroline.
‘Is there a photo of her?’ asked Julie peering over her mother’s shoulder. ‘Those flowers are gorgeous. You feel you can pick them off the page.’
‘No photo of her but she definitely has a particular style. I thought we were going to the exhibition to see Bette, now I want to see her paintings, as well!’
‘Did she suggest that you come to the opening?’ asked Paul.
‘Yes, she did. Just to say hello. I don’t think she realises we want to sit down and drag her life story out of her,’ said Caroline.
‘Must you?’ asked Paul. ‘Isn’t finding each other enough? Surely things will come out in due course.’
‘You don’t know women,’ said Caroline.
‘Oh, Dad, we’ll be subtle, and gentle,’ said Julie. ‘We’re not going to attack her!’
The art gallery was buzzing when Julie and her parents arrived.
‘This place is very trendy,’ said Julie.
‘Look at those flowers,’ said Caroline, pausing beside huge banks of tropical flowers and stands of orchids. ‘There are orchids everywhere. It’s quite spectacular.’
A pretty girl came towards them, holding a tray of glasses filled with champagne. They each took a glass and looked around the gallery, which was already filling with smartly dressed guests. They were ushered to a table spread with name tags, where there were ones for Julie and Caroline. Another was quickly written out for Paul.
People were still arriving when Julie nudged Caroline. ‘That must be her.’ She nodded towards an older lady sitting in a wheelchair and chatting to a small group of people at the far end of the room. ‘Let’s meander around the gallery and look at the pictures first,’ suggested Julie.
They took their time, studying each of the paintings, which were all intensely passionate. Vibrant flowers bloomed amid fungi