The Lightkeeper's Wife - By Karen Viggers Page 0,80

of plans and subterfuge. She’d concoct a way of shipping Mary back to Hobart and into a home. Better that she stayed away.

When Alex came in, Mary sat back to enjoy the company of her guests. Alex was full of admiration for Jacinta, and her granddaughter basked in it happily. Theirs was a gentle relationship, and Alex was such an open and affable man. He was dedicated and unswerving; a good choice for a husband. Pity about his domineering mother. But then, you couldn’t have everything in life. Mary was convinced Jacinta and Alex could do well together. They would have their ripples and waves, of course—no relationship could complete its journey without storms. But they had the tools to steer them through. Affection, patience and good communication were an excellent start. Perhaps more marriages might survive if they had such solid foundations.

Apart from the sheer pleasure of fellowship, there were other reasons Mary was glad to have visitors in the cabin. Over the past few days, in all the space and silence, she’d become aware of increasing patches of time when she suspected she might be losing her mind. It didn’t seem unreasonable anymore that Jack might be lurking in the cabin. She knew he’d been there; she’d felt his presence. And she’d talked to him, encouraged him to show his face. Even invited him to take a seat so they could reminisce on their better times.

She knew she shouldn’t indulge in these fantasies about Jack. But it was so reassuring to imagine him here with her. Despite the faults in their relationship, she missed him dreadfully after he died. Those last months of his life, she’d been consumed with caring for him. She wanted him to be safe from the torture of a nursing home and to have the dignity of dying in his own bed. When he passed away, a great emptiness had followed. His illness had given her purpose, and it was an immense wilderness to be without him.

Later, she had gradually found new activities to fill her time. She started helping out in the local opportunity shop. She signed up to deliver Meals on Wheels. It felt good to make her contribution to the community, and reminded her that she was fortunate to be in control of her own situation, for as long as it lasted.

Yes, it was good to have Jacinta and Alex visit for the weekend. And once they were gone she could resume her own agenda. There was information to be chiselled out of Leon—those bruises needed explanation. And next weekend was the scout camp at Cloudy Corner, close to East Cloudy Head. If there was some way she could get up the path to the head, even just a little way, then she could satisfy her commitment to Jack.

Jacinta and Alex left in an affectionate flurry on Sunday. Unexpectedly, two days later, Tom arrived.

Mary was at the window waiting for Leon when Tom’s old car surged over the dunes and pulled up on the grass. She watched her son jump out. He was like a boy, slim and lithe. How had forty-two years passed so quickly? It didn’t seem so long ago that she had folded him on her lap and snuggled him close. He had always been a serious child, and now he was a man, marked by hurt and fear.

But today was different. He swept into the cabin and gripped her in a hug, his face alight. Mary returned his embrace with as much vigour as she could muster. She hadn’t seen him so elated in years, and the blue sky reflected his delight—it was clear and celebratory. Not even Debbie had lit him up this way. Indeed, she couldn’t quite remember him ever looking so radiant and alive.

Jess seemed jubilant too. She bounded into the cabin and onto the couch with a shower of damp sand, panting unashamedly in Mary’s face. Even a fit of coughing didn’t shake her off. Tom was so distracted he failed to remark when Mary hacked up phlegm.

She waited a few minutes for him to divulge his news, but then gave in to her curiosity. ‘What has happened to you?’

He hesitated. ‘I don’t want to get your hopes up,’ he said.

‘Tell me.’

‘I’ve met someone.’ The admission rendered him breathless.

‘Wonderful. Your feet haven’t touched the ground since you walked in.’

‘Is it that obvious?’

‘Yes.’

His joy was tempered by agitation. Happiness tinged with terror. It seemed to Mary that he was having trouble giving in to