Standing Strong (42 page)

He put the box in the open boot of Ethel's car, trying to ignore the close proximity of Jacqueline and her gorgeous scent. His fingers shook as he prised open the lid and lifted it.

‘Gosh, they've grown,' Jacqueline exclaimed.

‘Yep, they're doing well.'

‘Can I have a cuddle?'

Can you ever. Oh, you mean the kittens. Damn it
. ‘Sure.'

She eased the ginger one out of the tightly packed group and brought it to her chest. Damien nearly melted. She'd make the perfect mother to his children. Jesus, where had that come from? He plucked the tabby grey kitten out to hide his awkwardness. They stood there looking at each other as they silently stroked their kittens. Damien wondered if it could get any more awkward.

‘I got some good news earlier,' Jacqueline said, a little shyly.

‘Oh, what's that?'

‘I'm off the hook.
We're
off the hook. The board has decided there is no case to answer and have closed their investigation.'

‘Oh, wow, that's great. Good for you.'

‘Good for us, Damien. Doctor Squire received a reply too. Apparently he put in a submission including results from a petition …'

Damien concentrated on looking down at the kitten and his fingers stroking its soft fur. He hated keeping secrets from Jacqueline, but if Doctor Squire, Ethel, or anyone else for that matter, hadn't told Jacqueline everything, then he wasn't about to be the one to do it. Not now, anyway.

‘Well, anyway, the board, in a never-before-heard-of move, has decided to bend the rules. There's nothing stopping us being together now, Damien. I won't get in any trouble.'

‘Oh. Wow. Really?'

Jacqueline nodded.

Damien felt like a dumb teenager standing in front of a girl for the first time after the hormones had set in and made him realise boys and girls were different. Regardless of what she'd just said, he wasn't about to make some huge public declaration – he'd learnt his lesson on that front.

‘If you, um, want us to be together again, that is,' Jacqueline continued awkwardly. ‘I'll understand if you …'

‘Are you kidding? No way. I mean yes. I want you. I've … Oh, hell.' He quickly but carefully put the kitten back in the box and threw his arms around her and held on, breathing in the gorgeous apple scent of her hair and her fresh skin. He reluctantly released her after a few moments, held her back from him and looked into her beautiful face. His heart swelled.

‘Oh, Jacqueline, you've no idea how much …'

‘Oh, Damien, I've missed you so much,' she said, her eyes glistening.

They looked into each other's eyes another beat before locking lips, drinking in each other's love.

After what seemed hours, but was only probably minutes, they were roused by a round of applause, followed by a couple of whistles.

‘Yeah, righto,' Damien said, letting Jacqueline go. ‘Nothing to see. Move along now,' he said, blushing and laughing with embarrassment.

And then all the kittens started squawking, even the one Jacqueline was still cuddling.

‘Okay, okay, message received loud and clear, you guys.'

‘I'll sort these out while you eat,' Ethel said, appearing beside them.

‘Okay, thanks.' Damien was disappointed to have the spell broken, but told himself he might have the rest of his life to gaze upon this incredible woman. Could life get more perfect?

*

Eventually Lucy, James, Damien, Ethel and Jacqueline were sitting squeezed around the caravan's table, enjoying a cup of tea and marvelling at what a day it had turned out to be. Damien silently noted that he had all those he loved the most right beside him. He included James in that group – he'd taken a real shine to the bloke and knew they'd become firm friends, even though James was so much older. It was just such a pity he lived so far away, though he had promised to visit and come and help out at the farm from time to time.

Damien thought about ignoring his phone when it skittered on the bench and started ringing, but found himself reaching for it out of habit. He'd at least see who it was. ‘Mum Mobile' was lit up on the screen. He so didn't need his perfect day to be ruined, but it was usually just best to get these things over with. Otherwise he'd just have to phone her back.

‘Mum, hi, what can I do for you?'

‘I'm at the farm. You're not here. And someone's stolen the caravan.' There was the affronted tone. She wasn't worried about the van. This was the tone that said that it was unacceptable that something was going on without her knowing all about it – better yet, without her being the centre of things.

Damien was sick of his mother's insecurities. He wasn't going to play along any more. ‘I'm down at the block. So is the van. I told you I was moving down here.'

‘But I thought …'

‘You thought what?'

‘Well, I didn't realise you were moving straight away.'

‘Well, I have. What can I do for you?'

‘I wanted to talk to you.'

‘I'm listening.'

‘In person. I've been to see Geoff. I need to discuss …'

‘Well, we're on our way in to Auntie Ethel's, you can meet me there,' Damien said, shooting Ethel a grimace that he hoped was both apologetic and questioning. She shrugged nonchalantly in return. A split second after Damien had heard his mother's voice, he'd realised he didn't want her turning up here. She was bound to cast her critical eye over things and give some caustic remark. He didn't need that today – or ever. He'd even put a padlock on the gate between the two properties. The last thing he needed was her barging in as if his block was still an extension of her property.

‘Who's we?'

‘Me, Jacqueline, Lucy, Auntie Ethel and James.'

‘Well, aren't we having quite the little gathering?'

‘I'll see you at Auntie Ethel's. Bye.' Damien felt a perverse amount of satisfaction in hanging up on his mother.

‘Sorry about lying and putting you on the spot, Auntie Ethel.'

‘No worries, I completely understand. You don't need her coming here and raining on your parade, right?'

‘Thanks. You're really are the best, you know.'

‘How 'bout you take me to the pub for tea to prove it?'

‘Good idea, we should at least celebrate your move,' Lucy said.

‘We'd better get cracking if we're to beat her home,' Ethel said.

*

‘I'm off to book into the motel. I'll save us a table,' James called to Damien and Jacqueline as he got into his car outside Ethel's.

‘Okay, see you soon,' Damien called.

‘Good luck.'

‘Thanks.' He walked inside holding Jacqueline's hand. He hadn't wanted to let it go at all since she'd shared her news, but driving a manual vehicle had made things a little difficult.

They'd barely got in the door when the doorbell rang. Damien, Jacqueline and Lucy went through to the dining room while Ethel answered it.

‘Hello, Jacqueline, lovely to see you,' Tina said curtly as she joined them.

‘And you, Tina.'

‘Tina, would you like to sit, or are you happy to stand there making the place look untidy? Cup of tea, maybe?' Ethel said.

‘No thanks, I can't stop.'

‘Mum, don't you owe Jacqueline an apology?' Damien ventured.

‘What for?'

‘Are you kidding me? How about for nearly ruining her career.'

‘Damien, I'm sure Jacqueline is mature enough to see it as a little misunderstanding made by a mother and concerned citizen doing her duty.'

‘You don't see what you could have done, do you?' Damien was aghast.

‘Damien, stop being melodramatic. It's not my fault Jacqueline did the wrong thing, broke the rules. I'm sure it will all turn out just fine, if it hasn't already.'

‘It already has, no thanks to you.'

‘See, all's well that ends well. What did I tell you? Now, I need to talk about the farm. Geoff and I are back together so there's no problem. Nothing will change. Isn't that wonderful?'

‘What?' Damien frowned and blinked. ‘But he's been cheating on you, Mum, he's a …'

‘No, he's assured me that's in the past.'

‘God, Mum, open your bloody eyes for once,' Lucy said. ‘He's a creep.'

‘Oh Lucy, just because you don't get along, there's no need to slander the man's name. He's got a good heart. He makes me laugh and he's very good to me.'

Damien blinked again. Where the hell had his mother gone – the strong version who was only just the other week declaring the man a lying, cheating prick?

‘It's not just me, Mum,' Lucy said calmly.

‘Yes, I know all about your little vendetta. Geoff's told me. You should be ashamed of yourself, Ethel, for being hoodwinked by two silly girls.'

Damien almost exploded. He could feel the heat of rage burning his face and neck.

‘I think you'd better leave, Tina,' Ethel said quietly.

‘Fine, I'm leaving. Anyway, I only came to say that the farm is fine and …'

‘You'll have to get someone else to run it, then,' Damien said.

‘What?'

‘I'm out. I told you. I've moved everything down to the block.'

‘But …'

‘Yes. And I hope you'll be reasonable in dividing up the bank account and insurance. Here's what I've come up with,' he said, pulling a sheet of figures from his pocket and handing it over.

Tina snatched it up and stuffed it in her handbag without looking at it. ‘Well, so much for holding onto the farm all these years so you have a job. Where's your loyalty?'

‘And where's yours – to Lucy? You've been dreadful to her over the years.'

‘Oh for goodness sake, Damien, Lucy has always had a very vivid imagination.'

‘Excuse me, don't talk about me as if I'm not here.'

‘Sorry,' Damien said.

‘Not you,' Lucy said, glaring at her mother.

‘Was there anything else you needed to say before you left, Tina?' Ethel asked calmly.

‘Yes. Geoff and I are moving to Adelaide. He wants a fresh start. And I agree.'

‘Get your head out of the sand, Mum. He
needs
to leave, otherwise he'll be run out of town.'

‘Oh Lucy, you've had your head buried in too many novels. People don't get run out of towns – it's the twenty-first century! If Geoff's having any trouble in town it will be down to your vindictive little crusade. Whatever that was in aid of, I'll never know. Ethel, you really should stop meddling in things that don't concern you.'

‘These kids do concern me. And you wonder why Lucy has so little to do with you. Yep, you're a self-centred, manipulative, emotionally blackmailling bully all right.'

‘Well, it takes one to know one,' Tina said haughtily and strutted out with her chin held defiantly high.

‘What is she, twelve?' Damien asked when they heard the front door slam behind her. ‘“Takes one to know one”? For God's sake.'

‘Wow,' Lucy said. ‘Thanks for saying that and defending me.'

‘You know I only speak the truth, Lucy, dear,' Ethel said, sitting down and patting her hand.

‘Sure you want to be a part of this?' Damien said, putting an arm around an obviously stunned Jacqueline. She hadn't said a word, had sat calmly and stony faced.

‘She's certainly a piece of work. Classic narcissist behaviour,' she added, as if to herself.

‘I'm sorry she didn't apologise to you,' Damien said.

‘Damien, you need to understand that no matter what she says and how cruel she is, she'll never apologise, even if pulled up on it. A narcissist will never believe they've done anything wrong. Any problem perceived is the fault of others, not them. It's best to avoid interacting with them, or at least limit your exposure. Lucy, you probably did the right thing by leaving. Mother and daughter relationships are known to be difficult at the best of times, but when one person is a narcissist, it can make life hell.'

‘So what Tina is has a name? Interesting,' Ethel said.

‘Any magic cure, then, doc?' Damien asked.

‘I'm afraid not. You can't help anyone who doesn't want help or doesn't see a problem. And with a narcissist …'

‘They don't think there's anything wrong with them,' Damien cut in. ‘I get it. God. These last few weeks sure have been an eye opener.'

‘You could escape inside your tractor or header and get enough peace before, I guess.'

‘You've got nothing to be sorry about. I needed to know. I don't want her treating Jacqueline badly.'

‘Oh, don't you worry about me,' Jacqueline said. ‘I'm a big girl.'

‘Well, thank God I know she's moving to Adelaide,' Lucy said. ‘I'm definitely not going to consider moving there now!'

‘Are you seriously thinking about moving back?' Damien asked.

‘Sort of. Maybe. But I'm scared if I give Mum an inch, she'll try to take a mile, and then next thing I know she's phoning every day for a chat and popping around for coffee.'

‘Yes, and if you work from home it'll be all that more difficult,' Jacqueline mused. ‘People tend to think those working from home aren't really working, certainly not keeping strict business hours.'

‘Especially narcissists, right?' Damien said.

‘Yes, especially narcissists.'

‘And I wouldn't mind betting if you're living in Melbourne or Sydney she'll see that as free accommodation for week-long shopping trips,' Ethel chimed in.

‘There is no way in hell I'm having my mother stay with me!'

‘Well, better start practising saying no, sis, while you're deciding what to do with your life. You'd be welcome to stay with me, if I had the space.'

‘The spare room here's available for as long as you want it,' Ethel said.