Secrets in Pelican Crossing (Pelican Crossing #2)

Twenty-four

‘What do you mean?’ Joan stared at Liz as if she’d taken leave of her senses. ‘How can she be?’

‘I never forgot her and as soon as I could, I registered to say I was willing to be contacted. I’d given up hope when I received a letter from her. I replied and she – her name is Julie – is here on holiday with her daughter, Tilly. Your great-granddaughter.’

‘How dare she… after all these years.’

‘She’s my daughter, Mum, your granddaughter… just as much as Tara and Mandy are.’

‘I think we need another cup of tea.’

Tea, her mother’s solution to all of life’s woes.

‘No, you stay there,’ Joan said as Liz started to rise. ‘I don’t need any help.’

Liz stared at her mother’s unyielding back as the older woman made her way to the kitchen. She should have expected this reaction, been prepared for it. She had been, but had hoped… What had she hoped – that Joan would welcome Julie and Tilly with open arms? That was never going to happen. The best she could hope for was she’d at least agree to see them, talk to them. Julie and Tilly wanted it so much, and Liz wanted it for them.

Joan returned, handed Liz her cup, then took a seat, back in the armchair she’d been sitting in before. ‘Well,’ she said with a sigh, ‘I suppose you’d better tell me about them.’

Liz took a sip of tea, then placed her cup carefully on a side table. She clasped her hands together in an almost prayer-like pose. ‘They both look like me…. like you, too,’ she added, remembering photos of a younger version of her mother and the way Joan used to love telling her how much she resembled her as a young woman. It had always been a disappointment to Joan that neither Tara nor Mandy took after her.

‘Hmph.’

‘They live in Brisbane,’ Liz continued. ‘Julie’s divorced and works as a casual in her local library, has done since the divorce. Tilly’s fourteen and lovely.’ Liz mentally crossed her fingers. ‘She’s been having a few challenges at school and Julie hoped I might be able to help.’

‘Hmph,’ Joan said again, but there was a gleam of interest in her eyes. ‘And have you?’

‘Not so far. I’m hoping she may feel she can open up to me.’

‘Well, it all sounds a bit strange.’ Joan sipped her tea and grimaced. ‘I forgot the sugar.’

Liz hid a smile. It was so unlike Joan to make a mistake like that… and admit it. She must be feeling really uneasy.

‘And is that all she wants? How do you know she’s not after your money?’

‘Money? What money? Neither of us is so flush there would be any money to be had. Have a heart, Mum. This is my daughter we’re talking about. The daughter I was forced to give up.’

‘You were only fifteen, Liz. Your dad and I did what we thought was best. We gave up a good life in the country, moved twice so you could start again with a clean slate. There was no need to dig up your dirty laundry after all this time.’ Her hand trembled as she put down her cup.

Liz took a deep breath and counted to ten before replying. ‘I’m sorry you see it that way, Mum. I’m thrilled to have Julie and Tilly in my life. I’m only sorry it took Julie so long to decide to contact me. I’m glad she had good parents, people who were kind to her, who loved her. It could have been very different. I do realise I was too young, too young to have a baby, too young to take care of her, but it didn’t mean I didn’t think of her every single day, wondering where she was, if she was being taken care of, if she was happy.’

Liz had been staring at her hands all the time she had been talking. Now, she looked up, shocked to see tears in her mother’s eyes .

‘I didn’t know. I thought you’d managed to forget. We made sure no one in Pelican Crossing was aware of your past. You seemed happy in school here, made friends, married, had two beautiful children…’

‘I was, Mum. I am. But there was always a part of me that longed for the daughter I gave away.’ Liz felt her own eyes moisten. ‘Oh, look at us,’ she said, trying to laugh, but crying instead. She took a couple of tissues from a box sitting close by, handed one to her mother and used the other to pat her own eyes dry.

‘I’m sorry, Liz,’ her mother said at last. ‘But it was all so long ago. I can’t undo what we did back then. What can I do to help now?’

Seeing her opportunity, Liz didn’t hesitate. ‘You can agree to meet them.’

*

‘So, she has agreed to meet you both.’ Liz didn’t think it necessary to repeat all her mother had said. It was enough she’d finally agreed.

‘Do I have to?’ Tilly asked. ‘It’s weird. A week ago, I didn’t even know she existed.’

Liz shrugged. Tilly’s moods seemed to change from one day to the next. She remembered how Mandy’s had, too. Had Liz been like that as a teenager? She didn’t remember. She’d been forced to grow up too quickly.

Julie’s response was more measured, as if she could read what Liz hadn’t said. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked Liz doubtfully. ‘And, yes, Tilly, if your great-grandmother has agreed to meet us, you do have to go.’

Tilly pouted.

‘She’s invited all three of us to lunch on Wednesday. Doesn’t that sound as if I’m sure? And I have to warn you, lunch with my mother is full on.’

‘Yuck,’ Tilly said. ‘Didn’t you say she lives in one of those retirement places with other old people?’

‘ The Haven is a retirement village, and the inhabitants tend to be in their later years,’ Liz said, ‘but I don’t think many of them consider themselves to be old. In fact, Mum told me she has a new friend – a male friend. ’

Julie laughed. ‘I think I’m looking forward to meeting her too.’

‘Now, what did you two do today?’ Liz asked, and the rest of the evening was spent with Tilly going into raptures over their day spent on the beach where she’d seen a group kitesurfing. ‘And Mum says I can try it,’ she finished.

‘Wow, you’re a lot more adventurous than me,’ Liz said, prompted to tell them about her hot air balloon ride, which of course sent Tilly to check the rides on her iPad as Liz said it was something she had no wish to repeat.

‘I’ve booked us in for Tuesday morning, Mum,’ she said, looking up with a grin. ‘My treat, I’m using my birthday money from Dad.’

‘What, me too?’ Julie asked.

‘Of course. It’ll be great, Mum. You did enjoy it?’ she asked Liz.

‘Once I was up there, yes. But once was enough.’ She remembered the feeling of exhilaration but also the fear, the sense of having nothing between her and the ground. ‘I wasn’t sure about it to begin with, but once it got going, it was okay.’

‘It’s going to be better than okay,’ Tilly said. ‘And it says breakfast is included.’

Mandy hadn’t mentioned anything about breakfast being included . Liz was glad. She’d have hated sharing breakfast with the cheerful group from the ride… and their host. Strange how since meeting Finn, she hadn’t given any thought to the hot guy who organised the balloon ride.

Finn! When was she going to manage to see him again? Hearing her mother talk about the new man in her life, had made her want to see him, to feel his arms around her. It had only been a week since she’d wakened up in his arms, but it seemed as if it had been much longer.