February 1985
Mark
It was a simple life at Wattle Grove, but one of contentment. Charlie was working with him and Catherine in the orchard, while making grand plans. Although the orchard was making a profit, just, Charlie’s ideas might turn it around. Mark was grateful for the small amount of money that trickled in from his song royalties. The Glen Carter track was still on rotation around the world all these years later, and two of his other tunes had been covered by other artists and been moderately successful. Their daughter, Sarah, would be eight years old in a few months, the same age as Angela when she’d started coming for piano lessons. Catherine was teaching Sarah piano now, and so the world turned, the seasons came and went. The dramas of the past resolved themselves or faded into distant memory. But now his oldest daughter was walking towards him. They’d agreed to meet here, on the small sandy arc of Petcheys Bay, away from any interruptions. He took in the stretch of water before him and the bridge of sky above. If this proved too hard he’d take his strength from the eternal presence of nature. He smiled. Stardust was influencing him more every year.
‘Hi.’ Angela’s wave was shy. Her eyes searched his, the golden highlights caught by the sun’s rays.
‘Hi,’ he answered. ‘Thanks for meeting me.’ He pointed to a log under a large eucalypt. ‘Shall we sit?’
‘Sure.’
It was a good strategy. They could both look out across the river instead of having to face each other. It would make this easier.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.
‘Still kind of weird, you know. But in a way it all makes sense.’
Mark nodded. ‘Yeah. It was weird for me too. Really tough. I’m glad you finally know the truth.’
‘Do you ever have any contact with my mother?’
‘Nah. Lara was always good at burning bridges.’
‘Oh.’ Her shoulders slumped.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. She did what she thought was best for you.’ Mark didn’t want Angela to know that Lara had never wanted her. What would be the point? He wasn’t here to condemn Lara. He was here to connect with his daughter. ‘Lara didn’t think it would be good for you to know about her. Too confusing.’
‘And you? What did you want?’
‘Just to be your dad. But it wasn’t possible. Lara was gone, I had Charlie to look after. You were so tiny, and so helpless. Annie told you what had happened?’
‘Yeah, Mum told me everything, about losing her own baby and then Lara coming along with me. It sounds intense.’
‘Losing the baby was tough on Annie, and Dave too. When he asked me to step aside, well, I wanted to do it for him. And you.’
‘And Mum?’
‘Annie knew what needed to be done. She never faltered.’ He swallowed the last residual piece of bitterness. It had rankled for so long that Annie had gone behind both his and Dave’s backs to register Angela’s birth, but that was a long time ago. Angela was with him now, with the full knowledge that he was her father.
‘And Auntie Catherine knew?’
‘Not at first. It was hard when she found out. She sent me packing, actually. She hates lies. Not that I lied to her. I just didn’t tell her the truth. But I’d made a promise to Dave. It was tricky.’
‘Yeah, sounds it.’ Angela dug her feet into the sand. ‘What happens now?’
‘Whatever you want. I’m here for you, whatever you decide. I’m not going to say we have a lot of catching up to do because we’ve spent time together every week for ten years, and before that I was always hanging around watching you grow. I’ve been lucky.’
‘So, you were my guardian angel in a way.’ She kept her head down but looked at him from under her lashes.
He chuckled. ‘A pretty useless one, but yeah, I guess so.’
‘And Charlie? Does he know he’s my brother?’
‘I thought I’d talk to you first.’
‘I think he needs to know, don’t you?’ Angela nibbled her thumbnail.
‘I think that’d be great. But it’s your call.’
‘Where is he?’
‘In the orchard.’
‘Well, let’s go tell him.’ She smiled at him for the first time. Mark relaxed a little. This was going better than he’d hoped.
As they walked up the hill towards the orchard Angela turned to him. ‘You know, I think it’s cool you’re my father. Dad will always be Dad, but my love of music clearly comes from you not him – he’s tone deaf.’ She laughed lightly. ‘Mum tells me she used to play the piano, but with so many kids she never had time. None of the boys are musical. I was always the odd one out.’
‘Catherine was astounded how quickly you picked up the piano. You’re a natural.’
‘Which must have come from you.’
‘I can’t claim the credit. Maybe there’s a musical gene in there somewhere, but your talent far exceeds mine. You could make a real go of it. But it’s not an easy life, no matter what you might read in magazines or see on TV.’
‘I want to know all about it. The bands you were in, the records you made. You were famous.’
Mark shrugged. ‘Not really, but yeah, I had my moments. My old band went on to be pretty big overseas and my other band did well in Australia. But they were different times.’
‘True, but I’m hoping you can give me some pointers. You’ve been where I want to be.’
‘I reckon you can go further than I ever did. It’ll be tough, but you’ve got the talent to take on the world, if that’s what you want.’
‘Big call!’ She dipped her head. He’d embarrassed her but he couldn’t help feeling immensely proud of his daughter.
Catherine was waiting for them on the verandah. ‘Hey, Angela. Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, actually. A lot of things make sense now. And I’m grateful, you know. I’ve been looked out for in so many ways.’
Mark’s heart swelled with love. Angela had not only taken this in her stride, she’d embraced it.
‘I’m glad. If you’re looking for Charlie, he’s in the middle block thinning the Granny Smiths. Then come back to the house and we’ll have some afternoon tea.’
‘Just like usual.’ Angela smiled.
Catherine threw Mark a questioning look and he nodded. She smiled as she went inside.
Mark took Angela’s arm in his as they walked and it felt right.
‘Charlie!’ Angela called out as soon as they spotted him among the apple trees.
Charlie turned. He was taller than his dad now, his dark hair tousled and shoulder length. Mark teased him, saying he’d have been right at home in the seventies.
‘Hey, Angela. What brings you into the orchard?’
‘You.’
He squinted at them. ‘Have I done something wrong?’
Mark shook his head. ‘Nope. We’ve got something we need to tell you.’
‘You and Angela? Now you’re freaking me out.’
‘God, no. Nothing like that. There’s been a secret in this family for a long time. It involves the Pearsons as well.’
‘This is getting weirder by the second. You and Angela, and the Pearsons?’
‘You have more than one sister, Charlie,’ Angela said. ‘And I have yet another brother. Lucky me.’
‘What? You’re not making sense. Who’s this other sister?’
‘Me. Your dad is my real father and your mother is my real mother. I was adopted, kind of, when I was born, by my mum and dad.’
‘That’s crazy.’ Charlie stepped back, as if needing distance.
‘It’s true.’ Mark put a hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘Angela is your sister. I couldn’t tell you until now. Annie and Dave decided it was time she knew the truth.’
‘My dad is your dad.’ Charlie spoke slowly. ‘And Lara’s your mother too?’ His expression changed. ‘Bloody hell, we both copped a lucky break then.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Lara was never good with kids. I was lucky Cat came along when she did. She felt like a mum even before she became my real mum. And Mrs Pearson? It was clear to everyone how much she adored you.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. And I’m so lucky to have yet another big brother to boss me around.’ She lightly punched his arm.
‘As if I would ever dare.’ He smiled at her, comfortable already.
Mark watched them as they joked around, testing the waters of their new relationship. It had always astounded him that no one had noticed the similarities between them while they were growing up. To him the likeness was clear, but others only saw Angela’s eyes and they were pure Lara. Charlie looked more like him. He smiled as his son put a brotherly arm around Angela.
‘Well, little sister,’ Charlie said. ‘That explains why Cat made butterfly cakes today. You’ve always loved them.’
Angela laughed. ‘You like them too. Or do you always have to force yourself to scoff most of them?’
Charlie threw up his hands in mock horror. ‘Who, me?’
‘I’m sure there are plenty for all of us.’ Mark chuckled. ‘Let’s head down to the house and have some afternoon tea.’
Angela’s face grew serious. ‘Does Sarah know? Does she know I’m her sister?’
Mark and Catherine had discussed the best way forward, depending on Angela’s response today. ‘Catherine is explaining everything to her now, in a way she’ll understand. It might take Sarah a while to get her head around it, but we decided we didn’t want any more secrets.’
‘Another brother and a little sister.’ Angela’s smile was back. ‘What a day!’
Mark let their chatter wash over him as he walked with his children back to the house. What a day indeed. A heaviness lifted from him to be replaced with a gentle sense of peace. No more secrets. His family was completed.