Secrets in Pelican Crossing (Pelican Crossing #2)

Forty-one

The next two weeks passed in a dream. Liz saw Finn every evening, she spoke to Tara and Julie most days, and Tilly often dropped into her office at the medical centre on her way home from school. Liz had taken to keeping cans of soft drink and a packet of Tim Tams in the small fridge in her office to treat her. Life would be perfect if only she could hear from Mandy, but her youngest daughter remained obdurate and ignored all her attempts to contact her.

The other blot on the landscape was her worry about what might happen if the campaign to save the courier failed. Would Finn have to leave town ? But each time she mentioned it, he reassured her the campaign was going well and it wasn’t likely to happen; he wasn’t going anywhere. She had to believe him.

Liz planned to go sailing with Finn on Saturday – he had arranged to hire a boat from Gary’s father, Jamie, who ran a fishing charter and boat hire business – but had decided to visit her mother in the morning. Although they’d spoken on the phone, she hadn’t seen her since Mother’s Day, and she wanted to make sure everything was okay with her, as she’d sounded tired on their last call. Joan assured her she was fine, but Liz knew her mother could make light of any illness and wanted to see for herself.

It was a glorious morning, and there were a few people wandering around when Liz drove into The Haven . Stan was one of them and he waved to her. Liz waved back, relieved he wasn’t with her mother. Although she’d now accepted he was part of Joan’s life, she’d prefer to see her alone .

Liz knocked on her mother’s door, then pushed it open. ‘Mum!’ she called. ‘It’s only me.’

‘Liz! I didn’t expect to see you today.’

‘We haven’t seen each other since Mother’s Day, and I didn’t want you to feel I was neglecting you. How are you?’ She hugged her mother.

‘I’m well. What about you?’ She held Liz at arm’s length. ‘You look blooming. Something – or someone – is agreeing with you.’ She chuckled.

Liz blushed. ‘I’ve been seeing a bit of Finn Hunter.’

‘Ah, yes. Our local editor, though perhaps not for much longer. I’ve been following the campaign, and it seems it’s still short of its goal.’

‘There’s still time.’ But was there? She felt a small niggle of doubt. The end of the financial year was only a few weeks away. They’d need a miracle to achieve the result Finn and Joe were hoping for. But miracles did happen, didn’t they? And Finn seemed confident they’d make it. Surely he’d have told her if he had any doubts?

In typical fashion, while they had been talking, Joan had put on the kettle and taken two cups and saucers out of the cupboard. ‘I must have known you were coming. I baked some of your favourite cookies yesterday,’ she said, opening a cake tin.

Liz opened her mouth to say she’d only just had breakfast but the sight of the gingernut biscuits she’d always loved as a child made her change her mind. She remembered when she was small how she’d loved breaking them on her elbow and, if one broke in three pieces, she’d make a wish.

‘Have you heard from Mandy?’ Joan asked, when they were seated in her living room, the familiar sound of the grandmother clock chiming each quarter hour.

‘No.’ Liz sighed. Mandy had been difficult in the past, but this had gone on too long.

‘She came to see me.’

‘She did? How is she? What did she say? Has she changed her mind about Julie and Tilly?’

‘I think she may be rethinking her decision.’ Joan took a sip of tea. ‘She came to tell me she’s pregnant.’

Liz almost dropped her cup. ‘She’s what?’ This was huge. She couldn’t believe Mandy had kept the news from her. ‘I’m her mother. She should have told me first.’ She knew she sounded pitiful, but she couldn’t help it. She was stunned to think Mandy was pregnant and had chosen to tell her grandmother instead of her.

‘In different circumstances I expect she would have. I think she’s a bit embarrassed by how she behaved and doesn’t know how to back down. Typical Mandy.’ Joan took another sip of tea and bit into a biscuit.

‘How can you just sit there as if this was an everyday occurrence?’ Liz asked, incensed at her mother’s attitude. ‘Your granddaughter – my daughter – is going to have a baby and you… you…’

‘Calm down, Lizzie. It’s not the end of the world. It’s a new beginning. You need to consider it from Mandy’s point of view.’

Liz stared at her mother. Joan hadn’t called her Lizzie since she was twelve when she told her it was too childish, and she wanted to be called Liz. ‘Mandy’s point of view… what do you mean?’

‘Think about it. Here you are, full of your reunion with Julie and the discovery you already have a granddaughter, and there is Mandy, suddenly about to provide you with the grandchild you’ve always wanted. It’s not surprising she came to me first.’

‘But… finding Julie and Tilly has nothing to do with how I feel about Mandy, how I feel about her having a baby.’

‘You need to tell her that.’

‘How can I? She won’t talk to me.’

‘Maybe you haven’t tried hard enough.’

Liz stared at her mother again. Had she lost her mind? ‘I’ve called and texted. She ignores every attempt I’ve made.’

‘Have you tried going round to see her? She and Gary are living in one of those riverside apartments. I can give you the address.’

‘I…’ It had never occurred to Liz to go to where Mandy was living… or even to try to talk to her at one of her training sessions. She knew where they were held. Was she at fault too? ‘So it’s my fault then?’ she said bitterly.

‘That’s not what I’m saying, but someone has to make the first move and it’s clearly not going to be Mandy.’

Liz thought for a moment, then, ‘Maybe you’re right. Let me have her address. I’ll go round as soon as I leave here.’

‘Good girl. ’

For once, Liz didn’t object to the term. She was too intent on what she was going to say to her daughter.

‘Now, be careful what you say,’ Joan said, as if reading Liz’s mind. ‘Mandy’s feeling very vulnerable. I need hardly say this baby wasn’t planned. She was in quite a state when she arrived on my doorstep, but I think I managed to calm her and help her realise it was something to be grateful for.’

‘Of course it is.’ Liz couldn’t quite believe it. After yearning for a grandchild for so long, to be soon having two was a small miracle. And it wasn’t Tara but Mandy who was going to make her dream come true.

*

As soon as Liz left her mother’s, she texted Finn to say she might be delayed. She couldn’t think of going sailing after what she’d just heard. She needed to see Mandy to ensure she was well and to find out when the baby was due. She was already planning what she’d knit for the baby. She’d never been one to spend much time knitting when she was pregnant herself, but a grandchild was different. And she couldn’t wait to tell her friends at their next lunch. She was sure Rachel and Poppy would be full of advice. She remembered Poppy talking about going baby shopping with Megan, and feeling envious of her. Now she might be able to do the same with Mandy.

She pulled herself up short. First, she had to see Mandy, to restore the trust that had been broken. Then maybe they could regain their old closeness.

Checking the address her mother had given her, Liz recognised it as being in the same development in which Poppy’s daughter, Scarlett, lived with her husband, Lachlan. She was surprised. Somehow, she’d imagined Mandy and Gary living in a rundown old fishing shack of which there were several in Pelican Crossing, places which had escaped the gentrification of their neighbours and were considered an eyesore by some, heritage dwellings by others.

It was a pleasant spot, peaceful, close to where old Agnes ran her pelican rescue centre, and not far from where she and Finn had enjoyed their picnic. Liz parked, took a deep breath and rang the bell on the modern home.

Mandy answered, giving Liz a look of astonishment. ‘I suppose you’d better come in,’ she said grudgingly, stepping aside to allow Liz to enter. There was no pleasant greeting or hug.

As soon as she was inside, Liz, deciding not to beat about the bush, said, ‘I spoke to your grandma. She told me you are pregnant.’ She heard an indrawn breath and, turning, saw Gary, his eyes wide with surprise. Then he grinned, picked Mandy up and twirled her around.

‘We’re having a baby! You didn’t tell me. Oh, Mandy, this is wonderful news.’

Liz didn’t know whether she or Mandy was the more surprised. It seemed she wasn’t the only one Mandy hadn’t told.

Mandy looked sheepish. ‘I’m sorry, Gary. I was afraid to tell you. I didn’t know how you’d react. We didn’t plan this.’

Liz wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She felt distinctly de trop . But she was here now, and it would look silly to leave.

Mandy turned to face Liz. ‘I’m sorry I let you find out from Grandma, Mum. I realise I’ve acted like an idiot, like a spoiled child. Gary’s told me a hundred times.’ She threw a glance at Gary who nodded. ‘I just couldn’t get my head around the fact you’d kept something this big secret from Tara and me. Another daughter, and her child. I couldn’t face them… or you. And the longer I ignored you, the worse it was. Grandma said I should contact you, said you’d be thrilled about the baby, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit I was wrong. I’m sorry,’ she repeated. ‘Can you forgive me?’

‘Come here.’ Liz pulled her daughter into a warm hug. ‘When you have your own child, you’ll realise there’s nothing they can do that you can’t forgive. Once you’ve carried that little person inside you for nine months, lived through the sleepless nights, the childhood illnesses, the teenage tantrums, you have a love that can never go away.’

By this time, they were both in tears, and Gary was looking embarrassed.

‘I think a celebration is called for,’ he said. ‘We don’t have champagne but there’s a bottle of wine in the fridge left over from last weekend. Mandy?’

‘Should I, Mum? ’

‘One small glass won’t hurt, and Gary’s right, we should celebrate both the baby and our reconciliation.’

‘Thanks, Mum. Tara says Julie and Tilly are all right. I think maybe I’d like to meet them.’

Liz felt her heart bloom. It was what she’d been longing to hear. Life couldn’t get any better.