Authors: Margaret Tanner
“What are you going to do?”
“Look, Caro, I can’t talk now, the walls have ears around here. Can you meet me for lunch at Smokey Jack’s, about one o’clock?
“All right, I’ll be there.”
Caroline rang the hospital and found out the visiting hours were between two to four or six to eight, now that Mr. Harrington had been shifted out of Intensive Care. After meeting Kerry she would visit him, if Iris wasn’t there. With any luck, the old witch would be attending some society function.
Iris would want to go at the same time as Bryce, to inject a little more venom into him. How could a mother cold-bloodedly plot the demise of her son’s marriage? It was incomprehensible, downright evil.
At Smokey Jack’s Caroline and Kerry hugged each other. “What’s it like, being an old married woman?”
“Good, until yesterday, that is.” She told her friend what happened.
“Evil old bitch. Bryce should have stood up for you.”
“I know. He got upset about his father, but he should have supported me, or at least our baby. I’m frightened.” She grasped her friend’s hand. “Iris is going to plot and plan my downfall. Every single chance she gets, she’ll sink the boots into me. Her one mission in life will be to turn Bryce against me.”
“He’s a selfish, thoughtless pig, but if you want him, you’ll have to fight for him.”
“What can I do?”
“I’d say you’ve made a good start.” Kerry stared at her neck and Caroline blushed when she realized her friend had noticed the love bites. “Food and sex.”
“Kerry!”
“It’s true, nice food and plenty of hot sex is the way to any man’s heart. They’re the only weapons you’ve got, so use them.”
Caroline laughed. “You’re incorrigible. How are things going with Trev?”
“Terrible.” Kerry’s grin disappeared. “The
Australian Federal Police
came to his house on Sunday. If he doesn’t report to the recruitment place on Thursday, they’re going to arrest him.”
“No! What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. We’re going to an anti-conscription rally tonight. They’re forming an underground network to help draft dodgers get away.”
“The authorities will hunt him down.”
“I know, but he refuses to go. It’s not that he’s a coward, he just doesn’t believe in the Vietnam War. He’s a conscientious objector, but how can he prove it?” Her eyes darkened with bitterness. “If he were rich he could buy his way out, or stay at university until the war ends.”
“It’s not the army. It’s the
Australian
government. Andy says the soldiers don’t want to fight with conscripts.”
“Have you heard from him?”
“No, but he’s going to Vietnam within the next couple of days. He told me on Saturday.”
“I’m sorry. We’re a miserable pair of sad sacks, aren’t we?” Kerry downed her coffee in a couple of gulps. “I’d better get back to work.” She squeezed Caroline’s hand. “If Trev goes on the run, I’ll be with him.”
“You can’t.” Caroline’s heart droppe
d to her boots. “It’s madness.”
“I have to. I love him. You can understand that, the way you feel about Mr. High-and-Mighty. I mean, you’d do anything for him.”
She couldn’t deny it. She would travel to the ends of the earth with Bryce.
Chapter Se
venteen
Caroline caught a cab to the hospital and was shown into Alexander’s private room.
“How are you feeling?” She went over to the bed and kissed the old man’s cheek.
“I’m all right. I can’t stand all this fuss.”
“I’m sorry about what I said on Sunday. I was a guest in your home.”
“Don’t worry about it. Iris can be vindictive if she gets a set on you.”
“I think she hates me.”
He chuckled. “She’s no match for you, my dear. You’re like your father, he wasn’t afraid to
defend
himself.”
“I acted badly, and I’m sorry. I was having such a good time before, with the photos and everything.”
“I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, too.” He patted her hand.
“You’re such a lovely, warm man, and your wife is…” Caroline tailed off. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. Iris is cold, been that way for years, but she’s not a bad woman. She gets fixated on things and it impairs her judgment. Bryce and I have learned not to argue with her; it’s easier that way. Ashley Fontain and Bryce together would be a disaster. It’s as plain as the nose on your face, but Iris won’t have it. Give her time and she’ll see the light.”
Caroline didn’t think such a bitter, twisted woman would ever change. Then again, she was a mother fighting for her son. Now, that she could understand, sympathize with even. She would kill to protect her child from danger.
“Now, my dear, what’s happening in the outside world?”
“Not much. There’s going to be an anti-war sit-in at the university on Friday.”
“Feral, unwashed hippies. Round them all up,” Alexander growled. “Put them in the army. It might make men out of them.”
Thank goodness she hadn’t mentioned Trevor’s dilemma to him. Bryce would be equally unsympathetic. Born to money and privilege, conscription wouldn’t worry them. They could buy their way out of it. Only a poor man’s son ended up as cannon fodder.
She helped Alexander finish a crossword puzzle, and it was after three o’clock by the time she decided to leave.
“You don’t have to scurry away.” He chuckled. “Iris is coming in with Bryce after he finishes work.”
“I didn’t mean to be so transparent.” She laughed.
“I’ll be going home tomorrow or the next day. Iris has arranged for us to spend a few weeks with friends at their Portsea beach house.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It overlooks the ocean. Clive has heart problems like me, so us old geezers will have a few quiet rounds of golf. The women will hit the chicken and champagne trail, and the charity tennis tournaments.”
She didn’t want to return to Bryce’s cold, sterile apartment. If she lived there for any length of time, she would have to brighten it up somehow. Passing a florist shop, she impulsively bought two large bunches of red and yellow roses.
She loved Bryce and would fight to win his love by following Kerry’s advice. She was a good cook, the sex between them had been hot, and she would turn his stark apartment into a warm, inviting home.
***
Over the next couple of weeks, Caroline put her plans into operation. After buying a couple of recipe books, she asked Bryce’s housekeeper to help her prepare some delicious meals. She got colorful cushions and scattered them over the couch and armchairs, bought pretty country-scene paintings for the walls, and put vases of fragrant flowers in the kitchen and lounge room.
It was no hardship decorating a place with plenty of money to spend. Not cash money, but Bryce had set up accounts for her at a couple of exclusive department stores.
When he arrived home each evening she welcomed him with a kiss, poured him out a cold beer and handed him the newspaper so he could read it before dinner.
In bed, she went to him eagerly, happily. The sex was steamy hot, mind-blowing. He was an excellent teacher, she an apt, ardent pupil. It only took a few days for it to dawn on her that he never made love to her. It was sex, pure and simple. She didn’t know how she could tell the difference, but she could. Not once, even at the height of his passion, did he ever say he loved her
, b
ecause he didn’t.
One afternoon she received a frantic call from Kerry. “Calm down! I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Kerry started crying and talking at the same time. “Trevor, the police.”
“What!”
“The federal police arrested Trevor.”
“Why?”
“He refused to go to the army. I told you he’s a conscientious objector. He escaped, but I need two thousand dollars to get him out of Australia. I don’t know anyone with that kind of money except you.”
“I haven’t got much money.”
“Harrington has. It would be chicken feed for him. Borrow some. I’ll pay it back, I swear.”
“Bryce wouldn’t give me that much money.”
“Oh, God,” Kerry wailed. “Ten years in a military prison if he’s caught. You said Harrington lets you buy whatever you like.”
“He doesn’t give me money. He just set up accounts at a couple of stores.”
“Trevor’s parents haven’t got any spare cash, and my parents won’t help. Dad would hand him over to the authorities. You’re my last hope,” she finished off on a sob.
“Maybe I could buy something worth two thousand dollars and return it the next day for a refund. Where are you now?”
“At our apartment in Prahran. The lease doesn’t expire until the end of the month. Trevor’s in hiding. There are a dozen draft dodgers sheltering in a couple of safe houses, but the federal police are closing in. I think they’ve been watching this place, so meet me tomorrow at Smokey Jack’s with the money, okay? Thanks, I’ll never forget this.”
She didn’t want to get involved in this kind of thing, but Kerry was her best friend. Two thousand dollars was a veritable fortune, she thought frantically. What could she buy that would cost two thousand dollars? A diamond ring or a bracelet? She could say they didn’t fit after she got them home, and ask for a refund. Would they give her cash? More probably they’d just reinstate it on the account.
There must be a better way. She didn’t have a criminal mind and wasn’t particularly brave, but she had to come up with something. Ten years in prison to a young man like Trevor might as well be life.
If she bought jewelry she could hock it at a pawnbroker. It was the only idea she could come up with.
She paced the floor. Bryce was her husband, and she had proved herself a good wife. Surely it wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask him for money to buy maternity clothes and baby goods. He might fall for that.
Sheer will-power and the desperate desire to help Kerry wasn’t enough to allow her to prepare the filet mignon and scalloped potatoes she had planned to have for dinner. Her head ached, her stomach started churning, and she desperately wanted to cry.
She lay down on the couch. A few minutes rest might help her think of a better plan.
When Caroline woke up, she was shocked. “Five o’clock?” she shrieked, leaping off the couch. She could turn some leftover veal casserole into a curry. On a bed of rice it would look okay. Tinned fruit and ice cream for dessert? A pitiful menu, to be honest, but she had neither the time nor the energy to do anything else.
Bryce arrived home, hot and bothered and in a foul mood.
“Did you have a bad day?”
His quick, disinterested kiss skimmed across her mouth and landed on her cheek.
“An absolute shocker.” He struggled to loosen his tie and collar and she did it for him. “What have you been doing with yourself? You look terrible.”
“I’ve been feeling a bit nauseous and I’ve got a head…”
“See a doctor if you’re not well. I’m going to take a shower. I’ve got to go to Canberra tonight.”
“What!”
“The big army contract we tendered for, well, there have been problems with it. If I don’t front up to some special tendering board tomorrow and talk things through, we’re out of the race.” He stalked off.
She heated up some frozen bread rolls and put them in a basket, then surveyed the table to make sure it was set up nicely. When she heard Bryce moving around the bedroom, she spooned the rice into a pretty bowl and lifted the casserole out of the oven.
“What’s that I smell?” he said, striding into the kitchen.
“Curry.”
“Curry! I hate curry.” He peered into the casserole dish. “I’m not eating curried leftovers.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Your job is to provide me with decent meals.”
“Job! I’m not on your payroll. I’m your wife.”
“You cost more than my employees,” he shot back.
“And you don’t think you’re getting value for money?”
He picked up a roll, grimaced with distaste and dropped it back into the basket.
“You inconsiderate pig,” she screeched. She sounded like a fishwife but couldn’t help it.
The breath hissed from between his teeth.
“I’ve done everything to try and please you, and you’re never satisfied.”
“Don’t nag me. I’m not in the mood for it. I’ve had a hell of a day.”
“And I haven’t? I’ve been nauseous. I’ve got a headache and the zip on my favorite jeans won’t do up anymore.”
“Buy some new ones.”
Inadvertently he gave her the opening she needed. She took several deep breaths to control her temper. “Could I have two thousand dollars?”
“What!”
“I need maternity clothes and things for the baby.”
“Use the accounts I’ve opened up for you.”