“Why not?”
Lucy swallowed and glanced down. It took a moment before she lifted her head. “I can’t say more than I already have.”
Billie shook her head, frustration creeping up the back of her neck. “Not good enough, Lucy. This is important. Sam said if I do well, he’ll point me in the right direction.” Billie stared at her mother willing her to understand. “You know how much I need to get back to my type of work.”
Lucy returned the glower, lifted her chin a fraction in a battle of wills. “In any other circumstances I wouldn’t ask, not at the expense of your career, but this is very important to me. Please, don’t go, Billie.”
Billie stood up and placed her glass on the side table as she did so. Neither Father nor Hamish offered any help or advice.
“There’ll be other opportunities, Billie. I know there will be. Father and I will make sure of it. Let this one go, please.”
Defiance rose in her throat. “You asked us to move across the world and live here with you, which you both know I really appreciate. You’ve let us move back home and given us a new start, refused to let us pay rent.” She straightened her back, stood taller knowing Lucy’s gaze was upon her. Visions of her teenage years and the constant bickering came back with a vengeance but Billie was incapable of stopping the tirade now she’d opened the door to her anger.
“That is where your obligation finishes. I’m the one who pays for our upkeep, our food and expenses. I’m the one who is responsible for my son’s welfare. I need my job to keep our heads above water. At almost forty years of age, I will not be told where and when I can or cannot work. It didn’t work when I was younger and it sure as hell won’t work now.”
Father sat down next to Lucy, draped his arm around her shoulders and gave Billie a faint smile as if apologising to her before turning back to Lucy.
“Why don’t you tell her why she shouldn’t go there, darling?”
The lines around her mother’s lips deepened. “No. I will not.”
For heaven’s sake. “Tell me why and I’ll consider it.”
“I can’t. I just can’t.” She wiped at her lips with a white handkerchief.
Chapter 6
Sydney 1980
Alex glanced from his grandparents to his Mother then glanced at Hamish with a cry for help in his eyes. His mouth worked but no words came out. He remained quiet. Hamish held out his hand to him, to offer what he thought the boy needed most. Alex looked like he was going to take it then bolted from the room. They could hear his footsteps as he raced down the stairs, through the foyer and out of the back door, slamming it soundly behind him.
“Add that one to your study, Hamish. Not only manic depressive and incapable of normal emotions, but cold and uncaring of those around her and their needs. She always was more concerned about herself than anyone else growing up. I see little has changed.” Lucy held the handkerchief to her mouth and fled the room with Frederick hurrying after her.
“That went well.” Billie sank down onto the chair again, reached for her glass. She swilled the ice around before taking a long drink, draining the contents. With her hand wrapped around the tumbler, thumb wiping the condensation Billie spoke again, her voice a little wobbly. “What study did she mean?”
Talk about getting dumped in it. His own fault for not telling her what he was doing. “Ah, you picked up on that. Sorry. I write papers for the university. At the moment I’m working on grief and the emotions attached to it, which are many and varied as you probably know. But before you think I’m stalking you and invading your privacy, let me assure you that I watch everyone. It’s one of my hobbies and what I observe, I tend to record.” He grimaced. “Totally nameless, I promise.”
“And that makes me fair game, does it? Don’t you think it would have been nice to talk to me about it before including me in your hobby?” She said the last word with a distasteful grimace, which made him wish he had refused the offer of pre-dinner drinks tonight. Between drawing blood, Lucy’s breakdown and seeing Billie’s reaction to his studies, it would have been better keeping his own company. Far less drama. “This is what I’d call stepping over the boundaries, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re right of course. It was terribly unethical of me and I have no excuse. I apologise, Billie.”
He stood in front of her, held out his hand and hoped like hell she’d accept his apology. The seconds dragged out and seemed like hours before she even acknowledged him. He swallowed, steadfastly holding out his hand waiting for a reaction from her.
“And if I don’t forgive you, what then?” Her pale blue eyes were cold and the chill burned his skin.
“I’d be very annoyed with myself, angry in fact. And I’d worry you’d feel uncomfortable if I came for drinks with the family which I do quite often. I greatly enjoyed our impromptu dinner the other night and to be honest, was looking forward to another meal with you both. That was if you were going to invite me again. And I’d miss Alex very much because I don’t think it would be a very good idea to visit him when his mother doesn’t think very highly of me and I really like him. He’s such a great kid.”
“That’s low, using my son to further your own needs.” She stood up, inches from his face. Visions of daffodils waving in the breeze came to mind as her perfume teased his nostrils. “Do you think I’m losing the plot, Professor or have I already lost it?”
Ah, straight
