Secrets in Pelican Crossing (Pelican Crossing #2)

Eleven

Liz couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t stop thinking about Julie. She’d actually spoken to her… her daughter, and Julie wanted to meet her. And, even better, Julie had a daughter. Liz had a granddaughter. Her name was Tilly, and she was fourteen years old, almost as old as Liz had been when Julie was born. Liz couldn’t contain her excitement. It took a lot of getting used to.

She tossed and turned, trying to picture what Julie might look like… and Tilly. Did either of them have Liz’s dark unruly hair, or were they like Julie’s father, the person Liz had tried to forget. Perhaps Tilly resembled her dad, who Julie hadn’t said much about other than that they were divorced.

It hadn’t been a long call. Both Liz and Julie were feeling their way with each other. Liz knew they lived in Brisbane – her daughter had been so close all those years. They may even have passed each other on the street on one of Liz’s trips to the city. She’d learned Julie was a librarian and Tilly was causing her some problems. They’d agreed to leave the details of their lives until they met, and they were going to meet. It seemed Julie had already planned a trip north in the Easter holidays. Now, she’d book into a motel in Pelican Crossing. Liz couldn’t wait. The timing was perfect. Both Tara and Mandy would be out of town, giving her time to meet her daughter and granddaughter – the very thought of having a granddaughter sent shivers of anticipation down her spine – without their knowledge.

She’d have to tell them, of course, and couldn’t imagine what their reaction would be. But it could wait till after Easter, till they returned, till she’d met Julie and Tilly.

It was almost three weeks till Easter. How would Liz survive?

*

Next morning, when Liz arrived at work, the talk was all about how the famous photographer, Martin Cooper, had walked into the centre with old Agnes. There was no mention of the local newspaper editor who’d been there too, and who had made such an impression on Liz. Trying to let the flow of conversation go over her head, she began on her usual tasks. But she couldn’t help thinking about the tall man with the thatch of white hair and those smiling grey eyes who had taken her breath away. At least it stopped her thinking about Julie, wondering if her daughter would like her, speculating as to what her granddaughter would be like.

Liz hadn’t had much to do with teenagers since Tara and Mandy, apart from those she saw in the medical centre. They were there because they were sick, but from them – and what she’d read – teenagers of today were very different from what they’d been when her daughters were in their teens. These days, they were likely to spend their time glued to their mobile phones, to listen to music which would deafen any sane person and to live in a completely different world to her.

Liz was grabbing a quick coffee break when her phone pinged with an incoming text. It was from Mandy.

RU free for lunch? Something to ask U. Blue Dolphin at 12.30? Mxx

Liz sighed. What was it now? No doubt something Mandy thought was urgent, something that couldn’t wait till after work – Mandy probably had other plans for then and took no account of the fact Liz’s schedule wasn’t as flexible as hers. Luckily, the centre wasn’t busy today. It would be easy for Liz to slip away, take a longer lunch break than usual if necessary. After checking with the other staff on duty, she replied.

Yes. See you there. xx

She’d never got into the habit of abbreviating her words the way the younger generation had. She supposed it made her old-fashioned, but she didn’t care .

The remainder of the morning passed quickly. Liz didn’t waste any time wondering what Mandy might want. She supposed she might need to borrow money for her diving trip. While the personal training business she’d set up seemed to be popular, Liz couldn’t fully comprehend how Mandy could make a living from it, even supplementing her income with a couple of nights waitressing at the yacht club.

When lunchtime arrived, Liz grabbed her bag and set off to walk to the café. She needed the exercise, and it was a lovely morning. She ducked down a side street and walked along Main Street, glad the proposed development had been averted. She loved the old buildings on this street, several of which were over a hundred years old. She stopped for a few moments to peer in the window of The Mousehole , the narrow shop which always looked as if it had been squeezed between the two neighbouring buildings as an afterthought. It was run by a group of local women, a potter, a couple of artists, and a woman who made the most glorious patchwork quilts. They took turns to man the shop and sell their goods. Liz always loved checking out their window. This morning a collection of painted, wooden cats caught her eye. They were not unlike the white one she’d received from the Secret Santa the previous Christmas. She was tempted to go in and purchase one to add to the one she already owned – or maybe it would be something Julie might like – or Tilly. But Mandy would be waiting, so she walked on.

‘Mum!’ Mandy was seated at an outside table. She rose to greet Liz. She must have come straight from running a class, as she was wearing a white crop top with lilac leggings and had a sheen of sweat on her forehead.

‘Mandy, darling.’ Liz hugged her, puzzling not for the first time, how she and Tommy had produced such an athletic daughter. Neither of them had been involved in any sort of sporting activity. ‘Had a class this morning?’

‘Just finished. Sorry, didn’t have time to shower and change. I have another this afternoon. I’ve been really busy. All these yummy mummies wanting to get back in shape,’ she chuckled, as if she could never imagine herself being in their position.

So, maybe this wasn’t about money .

‘Let’s order,’ Liz said, picking up a menu. ‘I can’t take too long, and you probably can’t either.’

When they had placed their order – Liz choosing a ham, cheese and tomato toastie with a cappuccino, and Mandy a carrot, chicken and quinoa salad with a carrot, apple and ginger juice – Liz couldn’t wait any longer. ‘What do you want to ask me that couldn’t wait?’

Mandy fidgeted in her seat. ‘It’s Margot,’ she said.

Margot was the old schoolfriend Mandy shared a house with, and who was always getting into trouble of one sort or another. But she and Mandy had been friends since kindergarten and always got along well.

‘What’s Margot done now? She hasn’t involved you in one of her crazy schemes, has she?’

‘No. Oh thanks,’ she said as the waitress delivered their drinks. ‘She’s decided to go to Bali.’

‘So?’ Liz couldn’t see how Mandy’s housemate’s decision to take a Bali holiday led to this lunch.

‘She’s moving there. She has some idea of setting up a yoga school and…’ her voice trailed off.

It suddenly began to make sense to Liz. She stared at her daughter. Surely Mandy didn’t mean…? But she did.

‘I wondered if I could move in with you for a bit… just till I find somewhere else to live. I can’t bear the idea of looking for another housemate, of living with someone I don’t know. I thought… maybe… just until I come back from the dive trip. I’ll have time to look around then… or maybe Gary and I…’ She blushed. ‘It won’t be for long, Mum. Please?’

It took Liz a few minutes to think of a reply, during which their meals arrived. The thought of sharing her peaceful apartment with her untidy and often noisy daughter filled her with dread, but there was no way she could refuse. She’d never been able to refuse Mandy anything – hence the online dating, the hot air balloon ride. Though at least she’d managed to avoid going to the yacht club on the off chance of seeing Steve. But the timing couldn’t be worse, with the prospect of meeting Julie and Tilly.

‘Of course, darling.’ Liz bit her lip, but what else could she say?

‘Oh, thanks, Mum. I knew you’d agree.’ Mandy rose and gave Liz a warm hug .

Was she so predictable?

‘When…?’

‘This weekend?’ Mandy said hopefully. ‘Gary’s promised to help move my stuff. There’s not much, really,’ she said, clearly seeing the expression on Liz’s face as she mentally worked out how she was going to find room for all of Mandy’s belongings in her small apartment. ‘You have a storage space, don’t you?’

‘Ye… es.’ Liz’s storage locker in the basement car park was already filled with items from their family home, things which didn’t fit in the apartment, but she couldn’t bear to part with. ‘Maybe you could hire storage space yourself,’ she suggested. ‘You’d be more comfortable without cluttering the room up with stuff you don’t need.’

Mandy pouted, then smiled. ‘I’ll check with Gary,’ she said. ‘He’ll have some ideas.’

Gary again. It seemed to Liz this thing with Gary might be serious, more serious than Mandy’s previous relationships. At least she’d get to meet him if he helped Mandy move in. Just how much stuff did Mandy have, she wondered, envisaging her tidy apartment disappearing under a deluge of her daughter’s belongings.

‘Thanks again, Mum,’ Mandy said when lunch was over, and they rose to leave. ‘I won’t be any trouble. I promise. You won’t even know I’m there.’

Liz doubted it but hugged her daughter. Mandy would never change, and Liz loved her. But as she made her way back to the medical centre, her mind was working overtime, trying to figure out how she could fit one more person and her belongings into her small apartment.