Danika jerks. To hear her mum say it is unexpected. Oh, she knows her parents have no issue or judgement when it comes to same-sex relationships, but it’s never beenherthey have to accept, and Danika knows some parents turn their backs when it’s their child that’s involved.
“I don’t know what it is yet.”
Her mum studies her. “And you don’t want to talk about it. I understand. Just know that you can, if you want to.”
“Thank you. You’re the best, you and Dad. You’ve always been there for me and Ronan.”
“Your brother was very needy when he was in his teens,” her mum says. “But after he found Leanne, and they moved to Perth, he’s been better.”
“Or maybe Leanne is now his emotional sounding board,” Danika says.
“That’s more likely. As it should be. But you, Danika, you hold things close for a long time. Too close, maybe.”
She thinks about how long it took her to tell her mother about Kim and Bella. “I think you’re right, but it’s how I am.”
“You do you, my love. That’s how it is. But don’t wait for soccer to restart. Invite them next weekend.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kim
Lucinda Highgrove is waiting at the house in Oakleigh on Monday morning when Kim arrives. The house is shabby, a dilapidated old weatherboard. Long grass, crispy and brown in the summer heat, pushes up around the house stumps. Kim spots rusted bicycles, tarps covering piles ofsomething, and a heap of old tyres under the house. She doesn’t like to think about what else is under there.
“Come in,” Lucinda says. “I’m sorry about the mess. My brother lived alone. He overdosed.” Lucinda’s lips compress. “No one found him for a few days, by then the smell…” She shudders.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He’d been estranged from the family for a long time.” She shakes herself as if shedding the memories. “Anyway, I’m in Australia for a couple of weeks, and need to get the house on the market before I go. I think this will be just a case of getting a couple of skip bins and a team to shovel it out.”
“Can I look around?”
“Sure.”
Lucinda follows Kim as she walks from room to room. It’s a two-bedroom, quite small, but the mess and decay areoverwhelming. She’s sure she sees a rat scurry behind a kitchen cabinet, and needles and drug paraphernalia litter the bathroom vanity. The room stinks of something she doesn’t care to identify.
It’s a wasted day for her. She faces Lucinda. “I’m sorry, but this is outside my expertise. I declutter homes for people who want to keep what’s important to them—you need more of a hazardous waste disposal team.” She pulls out her phone. “I can help you find one, if you’d like.”
Lucinda’s shoulders droop and her body folds in. “You’re right. I didn’t look too hard at your website. I just booked you, and I apologise for wasting your time. I’d appreciate your help in finding a suitable contractor to sort out this disaster.”
“I’ll gladly do that for you.” Kim looks around. “Is there anywhere to sit?”
Lucinda’s mouth turns down. “Not here. But there is a decent coffee shop up the road. Can I buy you a coffee?” There’s a hopeful look on her face, and Kim softens.
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
Together they walk to the coffee shop, and Lucinda orders coffee and a couple of cakes.
“No offence to you or Australia, but I can’t wait to get home. This is just a nightmare.”
Kim has a feeling Lucinda wants to spill. She mayn’t have anyone to talk with about this, not face to face. “Tell me about it if it helps.”
Lucinda sighs, and over coffee and cake she launches into a convoluted tale about Tom’s PTSD, his discharge from the British Army, drug use, stints in rehab and relapses, how he stole from their parents to fund his habit. How, when faced with an ultimatum from their parents to clean up or get out, he got out—all the way to Australia. “I don’t know how he got the money tobuy this house. I suspect through drug dealing.” She meets Kim’s eyes.
“And of course he didn’t have a will. That is its own sweet hell, with my family being on the other side of the world. We have a lawyer, of course, to sort it out, and the estate will eventually come to me and my parents—unless a partner or children come crawling out of the woodwork.” She massages her temples.
Intestate. She thought that applied to Chris when she couldn’t find his will. Then, she found out there was no such person in the eyes of the law, so her enquiries had stalled.
For the first time, she wonders if Chris—Danika’s Chris—had a will, and what it said. If any will had mentioned her and Bella though, she’d know, as the solicitor would have tracked her down.
