‘Lovely.They’re … interesting … aren’t they?’He gestured to a large canvas leaning against the wall beside Nel’s armchair.‘Did she tell you about the exhibition?’
‘She didn’t.’Nel looked at Faye who gave a little shrug.
‘It was just a joint exhibition at a little gallery in Mount Clare.I had a few works in it.’
‘A few?’Geoff said.‘Eleven!And she sold them all!’He seemed pleasantly baffled by her success.He must be one of those people who didn’t get art, Nel supposed, like her ex-boyfriend, Pat.She cringed remembering a visit to the Tate Modern when he’d pretended to mistake a rubbish bin for an exhibit.She should have known then that the relationship was doomed.
‘Wow.Congratulations, Faye.’
Faye gave her a self-conscious smile, then looked at her watch.‘Goodness, I didn’t realise the time.’She stood and picked up the mugs.
That was the end of the visit.
On a whim, Nel drove south instead of north when she left the Marshalls’ place.The streetlights came on as she reached theoutskirts of town.When she found Cliff Street, she scanned the houses on either side until she spotted the white Hamptons-style house she’d seen online.The kids were playing handball on the driveway.She drove past, not wanting Harvey to see her.When she reached a dead end, she turned around and pulled over a couple of houses before the Warners’.
There was a shout as one of the kids—a girl, the spitting image of Sophie—threw the ball at her older brother.Charlie yelled something as she charged inside the house, slamming the door behind her.The boys played on.
A few minutes later, the porch light came on, then the front door opened and Sophie appeared.Nel shrunk in the seat, hoping it was too dark for Sophie to see her.She held her breath as Sophie spoke to Charlie.He was arguing back, his gestures jerky and pointed, then he stormed into the house, leaving his mother with little Harvey.Sophie reached out and ruffled his hair.He smiled up at her and they turned towards the house.
Nel pulled out from the kerb, not realising that Sophie had turned back to fetch the wheelie bin from the end of the driveway.Their eyes met.Nel looked away quickly, but she was too late.Sophie had stopped, mid-stride.In her rear-view mirror, Nel could see her standing there, watching the car, until she turned the corner at the end of the street.
Chapter 26
It was only six o’clock when Nel got back to her mum’s place, but the house was in darkness.The only light on was a lamp in the lounge room, which cast a beam of yellow light at the end of the hall.Cath was sitting in Rob’s armchair, a glass of red on the side table next to an open bottle.The lamp threw shadows over her face.
‘Mum?’Nel stood in the doorway.Cath looked up, her wet cheeks shining in the lamp light.‘What’s wrong?’
Cath held out a piece of paper.‘I found it today.I was going through his things in the study.’
Nel turned the page towards the light.To Do, it said in her dad’s handwriting.He’d crossed offWrite reference for Andrew HurleyandCall hospice re Louise.She could feel her mum watching her as she reached the uncompleted tasks at the bottom.
‘Book angiogram,’ Nel whispered, as she reached the last line.The diagnostic procedure was only done if there were specific concerns.‘Did he mention he had symptoms?’
Cath shook her head.‘His own father died of heart disease at forty-three and he’s writing references for Andrew bloody Hurley instead of having a blasted angiogram.’There was an angry tremor in her voice.
They sat in heavy silence.How easily things could have been different.A coronary angiogram would have diagnosed the narrowing of his arteries that triggered the heart attack, and simple surgery would have saved his life.He would’ve been in and out of hospital on the same day.Nel had referred countless patients for the simple test, resulting in stents and a long life.She cursed her father for his foolish complacency.
‘He was always thinking of everyone else, never himself.’Cath’s tears flowed again.
Nel moved over to her and put one hand awkwardly on her back.‘You probably need a good cry, Mum.Don’t you think?’
Cath shrugged.‘I’ve never been much of a crier.’
‘Maybe long overdue then.’
She sniffed.‘That’s the pot calling the kettle black.’
Nel prickled at the comment but said nothing.She handed a box of tissues to Cath who blew her nose loudly.Cath took another tissue and dabbed her eyes.
‘I went to see Faye this afternoon,’ Nel said after a few minutes.‘She showed me her studio.Have you seen it?’
Cath shook her head.
‘Her work’s incredible, so bold and … I don’t know … forceful.’It wasn’t the right word but it was close.
There was a rattle at the front door then footsteps.
‘Hello?’Lauren’s voice echoed in the hallway.‘Why’s everything so dark?’
