The Lightkeeper's Wife - By Karen Viggers Page 0,102
Jan were like strangers invading the house: Gary spent most of his time helping Dad or reading, while Jan clashed with Mum in the kitchen. Usually I took to the hills, keeping my distance till they left again and I could slot safely back into my usual routine. I remember the sad look on Mum’s face whenever I grabbed my coat and slipped out the door. But I had no qualms leaving the warm kitchen for the cold winds of the cape. The kitchen was too crowded for me.
‘I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea,’ I say.
‘How do you have it?’
‘Just black.’
‘God!’ Gary snorts. ‘Fancy having to ask my own brother how he has his tea.’ He glances at me almost guiltily. ‘Means we don’t have enough cuppas together, doesn’t it?’
‘I don’t like to get in the way.’
He laughs. ‘You’re always in the way trying to get out of the way. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind you coming over more often.’ He looks towards the house. ‘It’s Judy that’s the problem. She’s difficult. All women are difficult. I reckon you’ve got the right idea not having one.’
I say nothing and Gary grunts. ‘I’ll just get that cuppa,’ he says.
I watch him walking across the lawn. When he was younger he used to walk like Dad, loping with long, forward-leaning strides. Now he’s put on so much weight he takes short steps with his body tipped back to balance his weight.
It’s cold in the shade of the rotunda. In summer, Gary spends hours on the ride-on mower to keep the lawn looking like a bowling green. Judy would have it green now, if the weather wasn’t against her. Having a showpiece home is Judy’s number one goal in life. She and Gary decided long ago not to have kids.
Gary comes back carrying a tray with two cups of tea and some slices of cake on a plate. He looks ludicrous tiptoeing over the grass concentrating on not spilling the tea. I don’t mind a bit of tea in my saucer.
‘Here.’ He passes me a cup. ‘Judy said we could have some chocolate cake. It’s delicious.’
‘Thanks.’
He sits down beside me. ‘How are things?’ he asks.
‘Same as usual. How about you?’
‘Sick of work. It’s boring being in front of a computer all the time. But it’s good money.’
‘And you’re good at it,’ I say.
Gary works in IT for the state government in Hobart. Judy keeps telling everyone what a good reputation he has. She says he’s indispensable. She really means that his income is indispensable. All her renovations and redecorating would be impossible without it.
‘Are you hooked up to Foxtel yet?’ he asks. Gary hangs out for the weekends so he can watch the sport.
‘No,’ I say. ‘I don’t watch much sport.’
He looks bored. ‘No. You’re always off looking for birds or some goddamned thing.’ He snorts. ‘I’ve got a nutter for a brother.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Thank God you’ve got Jess. At least she’s normal. You didn’t let her crap on the lawn, did you?’
‘No, I picked it up.’
‘Dogs always want to take a dump on this lawn. Judy wants me to get one of those scare guns they use in vineyards. The ones that fire off every few minutes.’ Gary snorts again. ‘Reckon I’ll get a shotgun instead.’
I try to smile.
‘When are you going to see Mum again?’ he asks.
‘Wednesday.’
‘Mind if I come?’
‘Sure. Why not? She’ll be pleased to see you.’
‘I’ll take a flex day. I’ve got plenty of time owing. What time are you leaving?’
‘We can take the eleven o’clock ferry. So you don’t have to rush.’
Gary picks up a second piece of chocolate cake. ‘How’s Mum going?’ he asks.
I shrug.
‘What about Jan? Has she visited Mum yet?’
‘Not as far as I know.’
‘If she had, you’d know about it. She’s on the phone all the time. Bloody Jan. Too much pride.’ He shakes his head. ‘You heard from her?’
‘Once or twice.’
‘Isn’t she chewing your ear off? She won’t leave me alone.’
‘She’s been ringing a bit.’
‘If Mum dies before Jan sees her, we won’t hear the end of it. What about Jacinta? Have you spoken to her? Last I heard she and Alex were planning some fool expedition to the lighthouse. Jan was going off her brain.’
‘I don’t think they’ve taken her yet. Mum hasn’t mentioned it.’
‘Maybe they’ll take her next weekend then. Stupid idea.’
‘Why?’ It seemed to me that taking Mum to visit the lighthouse might be a good thing. Perhaps I should have thought of it.