The Plantation - Di Morrissey [54]
Margaret grabbed Bette’s hand. ‘It’s still hard. I need you around to help me, Bette. I hate this. I feel like an old lady. I’m bored, too. I can’t play tennis and it’s so hard to get around anywhere. I can’t even get to the club. You must stay on. You’re so good with Philip. Roland is away so much these days. All this war talk is driving me silly. Come on, entertain me, let’s play cards.’
‘Well, you know my ticket’s booked to go home next month,’ said Bette, but seeing Margaret’s anguished and pleading expression, she added, ‘I’ll speak to Roland. Father and Mother might be disappointed, but I’m sure they’d want me to stay and help out.’ She patted her sister’s hand.
Margaret lay her head against the back of the rattan chair on the verandah, her leg on an ottoman, her eyes closed, looking pained. ‘Thank you, Bette. It’s not as if you have anything pressing back at home, anyway.’
Roland was grateful to Bette when she told him she would stay on at Margaret’s request and would postpone her journey home.
‘Margaret needs a lot of attention while she is still incapacitated, Bette. I will send a telegram to your parents, to let them know your change of plan. We should follow it up with a letter to tell them not to worry about Margaret. Anyway, I think your father will be relieved that his daughters are sitting out these troubles in a peaceful place like Utopia.’
Margaret was pleased and seemed to cheer up once she was sure Bette was staying. She gave her a bright smile. ‘And staying on will give you a chance to see more of Gilbert, won’t it?’
5
Brisbane, 2009
IT WAS SUNNY AND clear, with just enough breeze to keep things cool for the crowd who swelled and then lingered at the fundraising fete run by the Campaign Against the Bypass Committee. Julie and her mother watched from the front verandah of their home, where tables and chairs were set for tea, scones and cakes. At the bottom of the front steps, under a shady awning, was a small bar where cold drinks were sold. Dotted all around the garden under colourful umbrellas were stalls selling everything from home-made jams and pickles to craft items, plants, a white elephant stall, books and odds and ends. Scattered throughout the garden were games such as hoopla, lucky dips, a chocolate wheel and a mini fun fair.
Julie was amazed at the transformation of her mother’s garden. A whole team of neighbours and friends had come together for this day, which would be the start of many events to raise money for a serious cause – to stop the council wiping out an area of beautiful old homes. But despite the seriousness of the purpose, the atmosphere was light-hearted, as though everyone had come to a party.
‘The more money we can put in the kitty to fight the council, the better,’ said Caroline.
‘The more people that come and see what a special place this is, the better too, I suppose,’ said Julie. ‘Not just our house, but the whole area. Then they’ll understand why it’s so important to preserve it.’
Caroline gave her daughter a big smile. ‘I’d better go, it’s my turn to man the chocolate wheel. Have you heard about that fortune teller? Her tent has quite a queue now!’
‘Fortune teller? That’s Mrs Godden from the pharmacy,’ said Julie.
Caroline shrugged. ‘Maybe, but people are saying it’s uncanny what she knows.’
‘Perhaps I should see her and find out what’s going to happen with the council. Could save a lot of time and effort.’
‘And miss all this fun!’ laughed Caroline as the two women walked down into the garden.
Julie watched David Cooper try his luck at the hoop-la. She couldn’t help but smile at the anthropologist who was wearing a check shirt with the sleeves rolled up and slacks. He was the only male in sight not in shorts. Julie walked across the lawn to join him.
A neighbour stopped Julie. ‘This is a wonderful event. Such fun, and so good to see the community working together. We simply