Hailstone (4 page)

“You’re doing so well.” Magda slid off the table and fetched the vodka from under the sink. “Now have some of this. After all, you have two enemies, right? You should get to know them both.”

Amanda didn’t need much more prompting to take a healthy swig of vodka. She shuddered. “That burns!”

“Yes, it’ll warm you right up. Here, have some more.”

Amanda took another drink, then another drag of the cigarette. She started to giggle. “Did you know that your kitchen is really, really yellow?”

“I know
.” Magda lit her own cigarette, since Amanda wasn’t giving back the other one. “John picked it. He has terrible taste.”

“Maybe he likes eggs.”

Amanda’s statement made Magda giggle. Within moments both women were convulsed with laughter.

Amanda took a deep breath. “You know, I really do thank you for this opportunity, Magda – is that a kind of car?”

“I’m not a car. Call me Mags. Drink?”

Amanda swallowed more vodka.

“Come on,” Magda said. She slid off the table and collected her camera from the sideboard. “Let’s get back to the lounge room. You can finish curing me.”

*

Amanda, lying on the floor, giggling.

click
Amanda emptying the cooking brandy down her throat.
click
Amanda smoking cigarettes.
click

Maybe
Amanda wasn't so bad after all. Magda lay down beside her new best friend.

"Amanda."

Amanda turned her head to look at Magda. "Do you know you're really beautiful? But your walls keep moving. You might need a new house."

"Do you think so?" Magda moved closer; her mouth hovered a bare inch away from Amanda's. "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

Amanda looked at her very seriously. "Yes, I do. Beautiful like God."

"Then kiss me."

Amanda closed the distance between their mouths without hesitation. She moved her warm, slightly wet lips over Magda’s with more experience than she’d expected of a church-going virgin.

Magda lifted the camera up above their heads with one hand.

Click.

Amanda's eyes rolled back in her head. She passed out.

*

T
he day hadn’t been a dead loss after all; Amanda was more fun than she looked. Magda hummed to herself. She floated about the house clearing away all evidence of cigarettes and alcohol. She drank some water and ate some fruit to sober up. She wanted to have some kind of control when Preacher arrived to take Amanda’s report. She printed out the photos of Amanda from the computer and put them in a nice neat folder. She opened all the windows and sprayed air freshener all through the house to rid it of the cigarette smell. She washed up and hid the two empty bottles. Then she went back to Amanda with some water, an aspirin and the folder clenched under one arm.

Amanda snored on the lounge room floor.

“Amanda.” Magda nudged her with her foot. “Wake up.”

Amanda groaned in protest.

“Preacher will be here in about ten minutes darling, you really should wake up.”

Amanda opened her eyes and blinked. “What happened? I feel weird.”

“You’re still drunk. Here, take this.”

Amanda sat up and rubbed her head. “What? I don’t understand.” She took the water and the aspirin and swallowed both. She looked around herself. A frown settled on her face. “Drunk?”

“Yes. If I were you I’d go clean my teeth, your breath reeks. Use John’s toothbrush, not mine.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “You put something in my tea!”

“You sculled half my vodka of your own free will. It was fun. Here, check out these.” Magda handed her the folder. “I have copies hidden away,” she added. “So many I could paste them all over the church notice board next Sunday if I felt like it.”

Amanda went white, then bright red. “What is this?”

Magda leaned over her shoulder to look. “You kissing me. Gosh, that’s a bit gay, isn’t it? You could get in terrible trouble.” She took the photos back. “I bet Preacher would be really mad.”

"I have to make a full report to your father," Amanda reminded her in a shaky voice.

Magda tapped her on the nose. "And you will. You'll tell him I've turned my life around. I’ve sworn to God to renounce cigarettes and alcohol with all my heart and I don't need any further counselling. In fact, you’ve never had such a big success as me.”

Amanda gasped. "You're blackmailing me!"

“Yes, it’s very exciting, isn’t it?”

"And you're enjoying it! You really are a daughter of Satan!"

Magda shrugged. "You'd be surprised how many times I've thought that myself."

"I'll tell Preacher everything.”

"I'll tell Preacher you corrupted me with alcohol and lust, and I couldn't do anything but take photos to prove it," Magda shot back. "He'll destroy you and your little quit smoking club like Satan with a bottle of gin in a dormitory full of Catholic schoolgirls." She leaned forward. “He’ll probably want to do an exorcism.”

Amanda straightened her clothes, picked up her strewn books and folders and headed for the door rather too fast for dignity. "I'm going to pray for you," she said over her shoulder.

A moment later, tyres squealed and a car sped out of the street.

Magda took the photos into her bedroom and hid them under a loose floorboard in the bottom of the closet.

*

It was midafternoon.
Magda expected Preacher and John to turn up any time now; she continued to straighten up the house, and even got food out to cook for dinner later. For the most part, nobody had expected her to cook since she’d blown up potatoes in Preacher’s microwave once, but after having such success with Amanda, she was disposed to pretend to be a good wife. Life went much easier when she was in Preacher’s good books, even if that was rare.

The knock on the door surprised her. Preacher never knocked, and John, in theory, lived here when he wasn’t away on business. She went and opened the front door a crack. She beamed and opened it all the way. “Adam!”

“Hello my darling!” Adam leaned against the door frame and grinned. “You forgot something when you ran out on us last night.” He held up his hand; her bag dangled from one finger.

“You are wonderful.” Magda took the bag. She looked over his shoulder; the street was empty. “But you can’t be seen here,” she hissed.

Adam raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Preacher would have a fit.”

“Good. I’d like to see that.” Adam pushed himself off the frame and walked in past her. “Is this your house? It’s atrocious, darling.” He tapped a cross fixed to the wall. “Please tell me this isn’t your decor.”

“God no.” Magda closed the door after another cautious look up and down the street. “It’s my husbands.”

“I’d like to meet your husband.” Adam spun around and put a finger under her chin. “I hope I didn’t bring this on you.” He brushed her newest bruise.

Magda shook her head. “No, it was my fault.”

“Not your fault, darling. It’s called abuse, didn’t you know? It’s actually illegal for a man to hit his wife.”

“John never hit me. Ever. It was Preacher.” Magda put her bag down and prodded Adam into the kitchen to change the subject. “Can I get you a coffee?”

“Sure.” He sat at the table and watched her make two cups of coffee. “I just can’t figure you out,” he said.

“What’s to figure?” Magda sat across from him. “I’ll get you your dress and boots while you’re here.”

Adam shrugged. “Next time. You might have need of them again.” He put his chin in his hands. “Kat said you were abducted from the dance floor by hairy weirdos last night. She was all for calling the police until I told her you were in a cult.”

“You didn’t!” Magda stared at him.

He chuckled. “No. I just told her I’d look you up and make sure you were okay, seeing as your address was in your purse. I respect your privacy. Especially where the press is concerned.”

“Thanks.” Magda sipped her coffee.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded.

“You don’t look it.”

Magda shrugged. “This is my life. I can handle it. I’m on a mission to get Preacher off my back this afternoon.”

“How will you do that?”

“Repent loudly.”

Adam made a face. “Why? Why not just leave?”

Magda sighed. “You know why. What happened last night will just keep happening. Preacher’s daughter can’t leave the
Congregation. He’d lose all credibility.”

“You need to live your life for yourself, honey, not some dried up old God botherer.”

Magda tilted her head and listened to sounds in the house. “They’re here,” she said. “You won’t get a good reception. Oh, and sorry, but I need this.” She took his coffee and hers, tipped them down the sink and washed the cups.

“Magdalene?” Preacher walked into the kitchen and stopped. The look on his face was priceless; Magda leaned against the sink and did her best not to laugh.

“Preacher, meet Adam,” she said. “He seems very nice. I lost my bag last night. He brought it back.”

“Sodomite,” Preacher said through
clenched teeth. “Magdalene, do you not know who this is?”

Magda gave him an innocent look. “Is he a friend of yours?”

Adam chortled. “Hello Preacher, lovely to see you again. Haven’t we got another engagement coming up soon?”

“Get out of my daughter’s house,” Preacher said.

John appeared in the doorway. “Oh, Adam, this is my husband, John McAllister,” Magda said.

“Fabulous.” Adam stood, pushed his chair in and walked over to John with an exaggerated mince; Magda pressed the back of her hand against her mouth. Adam had never minced once yesterday.
This was a lot more fun than she’d expected.

Adam shook John’s hand. “My, aren’t you a big fellow.” He squeezed John’s upper arms. “He’s everything you said he was, Magda.”

John looked like a rabbit trapped in a set of headlights. He looked at Preacher for help.

Preacher’s hands shook and his eyes bugged out of his face. A vein throbbed in his neck. “Get out, you unholy creature!” he yelled. “Out, Satan!”

Adam threw up his hands. “Okay darling, I’m going. See you at the news studio tomorrow.”

Magda hurried across the room. “I’ll see him out,” she said. She hustled Adam past John and to the front door, which she closed behind them.

“Well, you’ve met the family,” she said.

“Mags darling, if ever you need a place to go, just call me.” Adam’s smile had disappeared. “I know what it’s like to live with assholes. Trust me, I’ve been there. I programmed my number into your phone, okay? Us children of Satan have to stick together.” He winked, patted her on the cheek and left.

Magda went back inside. She took a deep breath and went back into the kitchen.

Preacher glared at her. Not a good start. She put on the kettle and made chamomile tea in her best imitation of a meek little wife.

“Did you know who he was?” he demanded.

“No Preacher, and I’m still not sure. Was he someone I shouldn’t talk to?”

“Most assuredly, Magdalene. That is Adam Seymour, Hailstone’s biggest purveyor of the scourge of alcohol. He also openly advocates his immoral, filthy lifestyle.”

“Gosh. And he seemed so nice, to bring my bag back.” Magda set the cups on the table. She gave John’s back a scathing look. She hated the way he never so much as spoke to her in her father’s presence.

Preacher’s fist landed on the table. His tea slopped over the side of the cup. “Do not talk to him again, do you hear me? He is my greatest opposition in our quest to eradicate alcohol from Hailstone. He opposes my efforts at every turn. He is only interested in you because through you, he seeks to destroy me!”

“Really? It’s all about you?” Magda wiped up his spilled tea. “When are you on TV next, Preacher?”

“Tomorrow, after the rally.” Somewhat mollified, Preacher sipped his tea. “Where is Amanda? I expected her report by now.”

“Oh, she had to leave quickly. Something about a family emergency.”

“How did you go?”

Magda sat down next to John and gave Preacher her most earnest look. “She was lovely, Preacher. It’s always nice to make new friends in the church. She really opened my eyes to what I’ve been doing to myself. I know now that I let myself down. More than that, I let you down. I’m sorry. Amanda and I prayed together and I promised God I would turn my life around.”

Preacher’s brows beetled together. He wasn’t buying it. But then, he wasn’t outright disbelieving her, either. “We’ll see, Magdalene, we’ll see,” he said. “John has decided to cancel his next business trip in order to stay with you and make sure you stay on the path to God.”

Magda smiled and patted John’s arm. “Oh, that’s wonderful!” she said. She felt John flinch under her touch, so she patted him again. “It’ll be so nice to have you around for a little longer, darling. Look, I’m even going to cook us dinner tonight.”