She shuddered, feeling herself being drawn back into someone else’s life, her grip on her memories sliding away into the shadows. She slipped a hand around his neck to bring him back to her mouth in the hope she would understand.
“You’re perky this morning, my love.” He smiled and pulled back from her. “Wilz, you know I want to make you happy but this isn’t going to work between us for much longer. We have to make alternate plans to deal with your father when the truth comes out.” He pushed away from her, a frown creasing his forehead. With his hands jammed into trouser pockets he threw his head fell back and moaned in frustration.
She leaned against the door and while he paced between the high-backed chairs and the small side tables. A day bed sat snug against one wall, its pink and green cushions scattered as if someone had brushed them aside carelessly. Perhaps she’d lain her amongst the tangled sheets, relaxed after a bout of lovemaking. Her skin heated and she knew the answer without saying the words out loud.
“You know how much I care for you. It’s your father you have to work on. Either you defy him and insist on marrying your lover or you make arrangements to take over the estate so he no longer has any say in your life.”
My lover? “Why now? Can’t we go on as we are?” She hated being pushed into a corner, how could she make a decision when she didn’t know the full story. How could she possibly ask him without appearing stupid?
He glanced at her, a lopsided smile on his face. Pursing his lips, Ernest strolled over to her, his steps jaunty. “You know we can’t. The time has come for him to make an honest woman of you and your father is going to have to like it or lump it. After all, his reasons for you not marrying me aren’t really valid. Uncle has no idea that we’ve outgrown one another and moved on. It’s our turn to be happy, Wilz, with people that we love. What do you say, continue the great fight, give it one great push and make him believe we’re about to get engaged? It might help to tip him over the edge. Heaven help you if he finds out who you really want to marry.”
Chapter 16
Sydney 1980
Alex sat on the lounge-room floor with his new pet. The tiny puppy busily chewed on the rubber bone Hamish had produced for it and growled when it was moved.
“Gran, if you don’t call the police, I will.”
Hamish glanced over at Frederick and then Lucy. They both paled at their grandson’s words.
“Can we discuss this later, Alex?” Lucy put her glass down and folded her hands on her lap, her lips thinning as if she was preparing for a distasteful battle with her grandson. Hamish had seen that look on her face more than once in the last few weeks and didn’t like Alex’s chance of winning.
“No. If you’re worried about Hamish hearing this, don’t be. I totally don’t care who knows and if it helps find Mom, then fine.” His hair fell over his eyes and he brushed it away impatiently. “I know how adults like to cover things up but I’m sick of hiding things.”
“I’m not sure it’s a wise move. Your mother has a reputation of going off the deep end as well you know, Alex.” There was steel in Lucy’s voice. “I honestly believe this is yet another case of her having a meltdown. It’s a shame she’s left you unaware of what’s going on, but …” She shrugged her shoulder dismissively and Hamish thought about what he’d said to George Fullerton. Lucy wasn’t acting like any normal mother would in light of her daughter’s disappearance.
“No. She hasn’t. I know she hasn’t. Mom’s so much better since we’ve been here. Only one gnarly panic attack in months and that was understandable. I know something is wrong and we need to find her.” He lifted his chin, a look that was so much like Lucy, it was almost like looking into a mirror.
“When did she have the last panic attack, Alex?” Hamish leaned forward, ignoring the glare from Lucy.
“When we had that power cut a few weeks ago. She was in the bath and I think she fell asleep. She’d been working hard on that last story and was pretty beat.” He stroked the pup’s head, toying with its ears, while avoiding its sharp teeth when it twisted around to nip at his fingers. “At least I think that’s what happened. There was thunder and lightning and the trees were scraping against the windows. I know she hates that sound, it scares her. I was almost asleep when I heard her screams.” He screwed up his face a moment. “When I went in with the torch the water was cold, and she couldn’t see her way out of the tub. I think going under the water must have woken her up.”
Hamish felt like a heel. He had to tell them about the one she had at the Easter Show too. She needed help and he could have tried harder instead of leaving her teenage boy to deal with her by himself.
“Lucy, I think we need to do something. It’s been five days since Billie left here and I for one am worried.” He stood up and slid his hands in his pockets. “There’s something I think I should tell you too.” Hamish glanced at Alex. “When we were at the show, Billie had a panic attack. Someone tried to steal her handbag and she reacted badly.”
“It wasn’t her fault.” Alex sounded stricken and Hamish knew the boy hadn’t wanted the story repeated,
