The Plantation - Di Morrissey [179]
‘It’s a lot to take in,’ said Caroline in the taxi going back to their hotel. ‘I’m sorry Dad missed hearing about it all. What an extraordinary life she’s led.’
‘Now you’re anxious to know what happened between Roland and Margaret, aren’t you?’ said Julie.
‘I am. It’s something I didn’t think about all my life, it’s just how it was. Now of course I want to know what the relationship between the two of them actually was. I have a million questions.’
‘Gran was not very forthcoming, was she?’ said Julie.
‘No. She was a good mother, but when it came to family matters, she wasn’t approachable and I grew up knowing that it was a forbidden subject. I suppose it seems silly and unbelievable now.’
‘I don’t think so, Mum. I’m sure there are a lot of families who have mysteries,’ said Julie. ‘I’ll send the email to Shane and Peter.’
That evening while Caroline was recounting Bette’s story to Paul over drinks, Julie received a reply email from Shane.
‘Mum, he says that they know about Bill because they’ve read Roland’s memoir, too, but that’s all they know.
‘How disappointing,’ said Caroline.
But Julie was not to be deterred. She fired back another email asking her cousins if they would mind looking through Roland’s papers to see if they could find out anything more about Bill Dickson.
‘He’s probably dead,’ said Paul pragmatically.
Caroline and Paul were happy to get home to Bayview where they were flung back into the drama of the bypass. Julie felt as though she’d hardly had time to unpack when Caroline rang her.
‘David says he’s found out something important! We should call a meeting of all the interested parties. He sounds quite excited, can you come around tomorrow night?’
Julie debated with herself about dancing attendance on David’s little dramas, but she didn’t want to let her mother down. He really might have found out something useful. After all, he was an effective researcher. When she turned up at her parents’ house the following evening, she was surprised to see a large number of cars parked outside.
‘Jules, so glad you’re here. David is being so mysterious.’
A group of neighbours, several local councillors and representatives of the council were spread out along the verandah. David had set up a large board on an easel and had a lot of papers in front of him. He gave Julie a wave as she headed down the hallway to the kitchen to find her mother.
‘I hope he has something worthwhile, there are a lot of people out there. Can I help you with the drinks and tea things?’
‘Thanks, darling, but my friend Erica is giving me a hand. I wish Paul was here. I asked him to come home early. We have some nibbles, but I’m sure people will leave to get home to dinner.’
David took command of the gathering, asking the council representatives to sit at the front. He paid special attention to Fred Louden from the council who was looking smug and, as David began speaking, adopted a bored expression.
David thanked the Reagans for opening their home. ‘A home that, like so many in this area, represents what this battle has been about. A building in surroundings that have been here for a long time and represent a beautiful and historic part of this city. This is an area we do not want to see ripped apart for a large road bypass.’
‘Hear, hear.’
‘We know all this,’ interjected another of the council’s representatives.
David ignored him. ‘Perhaps we don’t know everything. We know that there was a similar plan for a bypass in a slightly different area some years ago. But the plan failed to go ahead. How fortunate for those living in that area.’ He paused and looked around the attentive group. ‘I’d like to show you all where that original bypass was going to go.’
‘That has nothing to do with the current situation,’ said Fred Louden in an irritated way.
David paid no attention, but unfolded a large picture that he pinned on the board for all to see. Like everyone, Julie craned forward, staring at the photograph. It was a picture of a large,